Monday, February 27, 2012

first day

When I grow up, I want to be a stockbroker.
- Reflections from my first day at the office!

out in gator country

When my alarm went off at 6:00am on Sunday morning, I must admit that my first inclination was to go immediately back to sleep.  Looking back, I am so very happy that I did not.

I arose early that morning to leave for a tour to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Bath.  As I climbed aboard the bus just before 7:30, I knew that I certainly had a busy day ahead.  The first stop on our grand tour was Windsor Castle.  As we approached this historic site of monarchy, I saw the flag flying jubilantly overheard, and I quivered with excitement.  The queen was "home"!
As we wandered around the vicinity of the castle, I saw the long walk where royalty used to stroll leisurely on sunny days like this one. 

I also peered through the royal entrance where the members of the monarchy glide through in their horse-drawn carriages (or perhaps their Bentleys).  
One day it sure will be nice to live here - when I marry Prince Harry of course!

To take further advantage of this beautiful day, we walked along the Thames, stopping to admire some beautiful swans along the way.  
We completed the first stop on our tour by taking a quick walk through Eton College - where my boys will inevitably go one day.  Shall I put them on the waiting list now?
We then returned to the bus to make our way to the next stop: Stonehenge.  As our coach approached this circle of stones from a distance, I reflected fondly on my very first art history class.  Stonehenge must have been the fifth image in the text.
I enjoyed the audioguide, but the best part - honestly - was taking a neverending supply of pictures in front of this gathering of stones.



We returned to the coach once again to make our way to the final stop of the day: Bath, England.  We began with a tour through the ancient Roman baths.  Once again, I was excited to be able to apply my art history knowledge to this historic site.
I even tried some spa water that came directly from the source.
After exiting the baths, we proceeded on a walking tour of the town center.  I wandered past cute cafes...
 The house of Jane Austen...
 And the Royal Crescent - with some of the most expensive real estate outside of London.
I could not possibly have asked for a more perfect day.  I would very much like to thank our wonderful and knowledgeable tour guide William for providing us with all of his insight and expertise - also for his picture-taking and coffee break services!




Saturday, February 25, 2012

life is okay, fashion should be amazing

London Fashion Weekend 2012

Jennifer Potter, Student Intern at Killik & Co, London

Wearing a Leifsdottir jacket from Anthropologie, Zara skirt, Alexander McQueen scarf, H&M bag and booties








"Life is okay, fashion should be amazing.  It's an escape you don't need your passport for, the ticket to somewhere better... Fashion is going to save the world."

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

east meets west

I can officially add Prague to one of my favourite places in the world.  This weekend, I travelled to this miraculously-preserved city with two amazing friends, and we had the trip of a lifetime.

The adventure began before we even left for the airport when we learned that WizzAir would charge us a ridiculous sum for bringing anything larger than a piece of hand luggage on board.  At the last minute, I completely abandoned my original packing scheme - my large hiking pack - for my Longchamp pink shoulder bag.  I stuffed it with three lululemon Run Swiftly shirts, a pair of wunder unders, and some toiletries and left for the airport hoping that I would not regret this decision.
The adventure continued as we first laid eyes on the plane.  I simply could not take the hot pink colour seriously.
Making things even more laughable - only because we did actually arrive safely - was the fact that I am fairly certain that our pilot was more than mildly intoxicated.  Then, once we landed in Prague, our independence was immediately tested as we were forced to navigate the local bus system and the tram lines to find our hostel.
We emerged from the underground tram system in the Stare Mesto, the Old Town center of Prague.  Even though it was dark, we could tell that we were no longer in London.  The cobblestone streets and the Eastern-style architecture made us feel as though we had left the Western world.  Eventually, we arrived at the Hostel Tyn where we would be staying for the duration of our stay.  As we approached the front desk to check-in, we were greeted by a group of middle-aged men enthusiastically downing shots of vodka.  What had we gotten ourselves into?  Luckily, one of them was sober enough to hand us our room keys, and we immediately ascended the flight of stairs to crash onto our beds.  Surprisingly, they may have been more comfortable the ones provided in Atlantic House in London.

After a well-deserved rest, we rose early the next morning to begin our first day in Prague.  First stop, we headed to Bohemia Bagel for coffee and breakfast.
Then, feeling energized to begin the day, we decided to tackle the first destination on our itinerary.  Hopping back on the tram system, we made our way towards Prague Castle.  After climbing what seemed like a neverending flight of stone steps in the drizzling rain, we reached the top and discovered a picturesque view of the city.
We were also greeted by some pretty enthusiastic palace guards.
After pausing for a photo op, we entered into the massive complex of Prague Castle to begin our tour.  After purchasing tickets, we initially felt overwhelmed with everything to see here.  Unsure of what to do first, we followed the crowd and joined the massive queue in front of one of the entrances.  When we reached the front, we learned that we had stood in line for a special exhibit containing objects from the Kremlin in Moscow.  We shrugged our shoulders and decided to experience it.  Once inside, we discovered gorgeous costumes, religious icons, and jewelry that was visible for the first time outside of Russia.  We were definitely glad that we had chosen to enter!

After finishing the exhibit, we decided to go inside St. Vitus Cathedral which was built by Charles IV in the fourteenth century.  
From the outside, I marveled at the stunning Gothic spires and flying buttresses.  Within, I was floored by the beautiful mosaics and exquisite examples of stained glass.
Once again, I drew drastic comparisons between the east and the west.  Having spent time in Paris, I compared this cathedral experience to touring places like Notre Dame and Chartres.  While these Gothic structures have been miraculously restored overtime, St. Vitus Cathedral really seemed to reflect years of history.  As an art history major who loves architecture, this was certainly one of my favourite stops of the day.

Also within the castle complex, we visited St. George's Basilica and the National Gallery, which houses a collection of Czech art.  This was also a necessary stop for an art history major.  Feeling slightly overwhelmed from all of this art and history, we were unsure of whether or not we would make it to the next stop on our itinerary: the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Loreta.  Not wanting to miss anything though, we began our hike up the road behind the palace.  When we arrived at the site, we were immediately glad that we had chosen to make the journey.  In stunning contrast to the medieval architecture of St. Vitus, this baroque structure, which houses a replica of the Santa Casa (the house of the Virgin Mary), was not to be missed.
Finally, we began to make our way down the hill back towards the town center.  Of course, I could not resist doing some shopping on the way.  We even stopped at a cute puppet store that sold Czech hand-carved marionette dolls.
The view on the way down was not too bad either.
Also on our way home, we strolled across the infamous Charles Bridge, an essential landmark of Prague.  
When we arrived back in the Stare Mesto, we were confronted with the task of finding a suitable place for dinner.  With none of us being huge fans of goulash or mulled wine, we were slightly limited in our choices.  We ended up sitting down at the Hard Rock Cafe which actually ended up being one of the best decisions of the day because we met Prague's own Justin Bieber.  
Exhausted from our busy first day, we returned to our hostel for another well-deserved night's sleep.  

The next morning, we rose early again to enjoy our second day.  After coffee at Bohemia Bagel again, we wandered around Josefev, Prague's Jewish Quarter where we discovered old winding streets and numerous synagogues.  
Continuing our walk, we made our way towards St. Wenceslas Square, which, throughout history, has been marked by protest and controversy.  Once arriving, we were greeted by the magnificent stature of St. Wenceslas of Christmas carol-fame, but we also saw the memorial to Jan Palach and Jan Zadjic, both of whom burned themselves alive in 1969 in protest of the Soviet invasion of Prague.
Moving forward in history, we also visited the Museum of Communism which is a sobering memory of Prague's more recent turbulent past.  
After exiting the museum, to lighten the mood, we decided to visit a traditional Czech bar called U Zlateho Tygra.  Supposedly, when President Clinton visited Prague, President Havel of the Czech Republic took him here to show him an authentic pivnice (traditional pub).
Indeed, hanging prominently on a wall inside is a photo of President Clinton himself, most likely enjoying a large stein of Pilsner.

To create a perfect end to our second day in Prague, we chose to dine at a restaurant called Country Life.  In defiant avoidance of "traditional Czech" dumplings, sauerkraut, and roast pork, we chose this all-vegan buffet for supper.  We left happy and full.  

The next morning, we awoke to our last morning in Prague.  For our last stop, we decided to visit a local cafe called Kava Kava Kava for some delicious coffee.  As we sat here enjoying our last few hours in Prague, we all agreed that this weekend could not have been more perfect.  After staying here for three days, we were already beginning to feel like locals who could navigate the winding city streets with ease.  I also could not imagine a better two people as travel companions.  We got along marvelously, never once arguing or growing tired with each other's company.  In this historic city where east meets west, I think that I can confirm that I have made two friends for life.  





Tuesday, February 14, 2012

only in london

Today it fully occurred to me just how lucky I am to be in London.  This afternoon, I rode the Piccadilly Line and exited at King's Cross Station.  Located next to this hub of Harry Potter-fame is the British Library.  I had read about this place, and the current exhibition of Illuminated Manuscripts greatly intrigued me.  I really did not have any expectations for this place though.  As I approached its mammoth gate, however, I realized the magnitude of this site.

A quiver of excitement filled me, and I dashed through its grand entranceway to see what lay within.  

Finding a map, I began to plan my first course of action.  I decided to head first to the Sir John Ritblat Gallery, which is home to some of the Library's greatest treasures.  
While this room may not contain diamonds or fine furs, it truly contains some of the most precious objects that I sure I will ever see.  I began my tour of the circumference of the room, viewing original copies of Shakespeare's sonnets, Handel's composition of Messiah, and Paul McCartney's scribbled lyrics of Yesterday.  In the center of the room, I found illuminated manuscripts of both Eastern and Western faiths, a King James Bible, The Gutenberg Bible, and original Buddhist sutras.  In a room to itself lay the infamous Magna Carta - a watershed document in history. 

Standing back, I contemplated the written works that I had just seen.  Slightly comically, I remembered the age-old argument of word v. image.  As an art historian, I am always quick to assume the superiority of the image, but, today, word may have received my checkmate.  

I felt simply amazed that so many exquisite works could possibly be held in one room.  As I turned to say goodbye to this awesome space, I thought to myself satisfactorily, Only in London


Monday, February 13, 2012

isn't life brilliant?

One name:

Yayoi Kusama.

Today I experienced my most fabulous day in London yet.  After attending a service at St. Paul's Cathedral and walking across the Millennium Bridge, I stood in the long queue at the Tate Modern to purchase a ticket for the new Yayoi Kusama exhibit that just opened last Thursday.
I have grown quite accustomed to art in London being free, so I was initially wary of the 9.50 pound price tag.  Was this show going to be worth it?  In spite of my apprehension, I bought a ticket and prepared to enter the exhibit behind the crowds of people who were also eager to see what lay ahead.
When I emerged from the exhibition showrooms over an hour later, it was clear that Kusama had altogether surprised and pleased me in so many ways.  

The show seems to provide a timeline of the artist's life and works.  It starts with her beginnings as a painter in Japan, influenced by the surrealist movement.  The next room shows her evolution to an almost minimalist state.  Later works showed how her career continued to change as she travelled to New York City.  Here, she came under the influence of the Abstract Expressionists.  Her art from this time period also illustrates her feminist anxieties in a male-dominated art world.  Kusama also transitions from painting to large-scale installation pieces.  

As time progressed, Kusama also became fascinated with the 1960s counterculture movement in America, and her work from this period has a hallucinatory quality.  Then, in the 1970s, after the loss of a dear friend, she checked herself into a mental hospital to recover.  However, her art-making did not cease.  In fact, my absolute favourite piece in the whole exhibit was an interactive installation called Infinity Mirrored Room - Filled With the Brilliance of Life that existed in the final room of the exhibition.  Upon entering the initially dark room, one becomes surrounded by an expanse of mirrors, and fluorescent lights twinkle energetically throughout the room.  

Ultimately, this exhibit attempts to demonstrate Yayoi Kusama's search for self-meaning that can be traced through her evolution as an artist.  As I wandered awestruck through this final room, gazing at my own reflection in these mirrors, I, too, was inspired to go on my own quest for self-discovery.  

This weekend, it began to occur to me that the amount of time that I have left to explore London was dwindling away before my eyes.  This thought worried me, and I felt a surge of panic to see and do it all before time runs out.  Today, though, after visiting Yayoi Kusama at the Tate Modern, I can confidently say that, no matter what else I experience in this great city, I am wholly satisfied.  

Wow.  That's a relief.