“The earth has music for those who listen” – William Shakespeare
As we set foot in London, after two lines of the Underground, we got to our Hotel in Shoreditch, an eclectic and trendy neighborhood, surrounded by graffiti walls and independent shops.
Our Citizen M hotel was cozy, with an easy-going urban vibe from the moment you enter –
the lobby was an open space with a funky bar, colorful chill out areas and contemporary bookcases crammed with colourful coffee table books.
Entering my room, I felt transported to the future or some sort of spaceship; while the room was small, it contained everything we needed – from the provided Ipad, one could control the whole room: change the mood lighting from relaxed to romantic, lower the temperature or set an alarm with just a swipe.
With barely having time to change we jumped on the tube to London Bridge and then strolled along the river Thames towards Shakespeare’s Globe theatre, where we were going to see the play As You Like It, which was to be performed by an all-male cast. Dusk was falling as we walked and the lights started to illuminate different shops and terraces.
Entering the Globe, we quickly headed to the front of the stage so we could enjoy the full experience of watching the play standing up, just as those who couldn’t have afforded seats would have done in Shakespearean times. At first I was a little hesitant at the thought of standing for two and a half hours watching some play. Yet this wasn’t just any play – we were so captivated by the talent of the actors, and the fun and humour of the story, that I barely felt the cold (the need for natural light in a theatre which would once have had no electricity means that the Globe has no roof! – not ideal for London in February…) or tiredness in my legs.
I’ve seen many plays before – Mamma Mia, Wicked, Mary Poppins, Phantom of the Opera,
All these plays took advantage of modern staging to present the audience with elaborate sets, intricate costume and complex props. However, here the play’s most precious asset was the actors. In a bare stage, with just a hat or pearl necklace, they performed their hearts out – I have never seen such compelling acting; they were so energetic and inviting.
One could feel the crowd was alive, dynamic, laughing, and eager to find a chance to interact with the actors. Despite the cold, the lively audience made it warm; spectators and actors worked in perfect synchrony.
After leaving the Globe, this sanctuary not just for Shakespeare lovers or people with complex minds and exotic souls, but for anyone open to cultural enhancing experiences.
We had dinner at the famous Swan restaurant next door, sampling fish and chips for the first time ever – and, to our surprise, all of the actors were there as well.
The next day after a tour of the Globe, we walked again along the South bank of the Thames, a river where the water emanates history. We wandered towards Big Ben, the street flooded with tourists, all as eager as us to make the best of that Saturday morning. I caught a glimpse of several street performers, and heard music coming from under bridges or right there on the street.
I heartedly thank street musicians for making ordinary moments seem like out of a movie, adding a soundtrack to scenery or a place – a touch on the shoulder; a reminder to stop and stand and stare and absorb the surroundings.
Immersed in this captivating melody I caught sight of Big Ben, superimposed against the grey sky, its golden details shining with the little sun that was beginning to escape from the clouds.
Turning to my left, there it was, the London Eye. The giant looking over the city, like its witness and protector. The bright white and modern lines of its structure contrasting with Big Ben’s gothic architecture and sand-coloured stone – two magnificent icons of the city from such different epochs.
After shopping in Oxford Street, we took the underground to Covent Garden, where an emblematic market building has stood there for one hundred and eighty years. Meandering through the piazza, full of cafes, restaurant and all kinds of shops - it was a perfect place to spent our Saturday. The plaza had lots happening: a crowd gathered for a spectacle put on by a street magician; people from the pub on the high terrace enjoyed the sun while they drank beer; families in Laduree sipping coffee complemented with macarons; and, finally, us – soaking up the scenes while we indulged in a Godiva chocolate soft serve ice cream.
Then, on Saturday night, we headed to the Lyceum theatre where we saw “The Lion King”, which we enjoyed – not just singing along to the well-known songs from our childhood, but marveling at the elaborate wardrobes and dazzling sets.
On Sunday, the last day of the trip, we had an early start so we could enjoy our last hours in London. We jumped back on the tube, this time the Northern Line to Camden, for breakfast at the Cereal Killer Café.
Here, we were suddenly transported to a room from the 90s, walls plastered with posters, TVs playing VHS - everything from Friends to Hey Arnold! Beds were used for seating, liberally scattered with popular toys from that decade.
And then, the breakfast itself: choosing our type of milk, our bowl size, mix of cereals, toppings…Who would’ve thought choosing the perfect combination of cereal and toppings was so hard?
After breakfast, we wandered back to the hotel and picked up our bags. As the train transported us from the busy heart of London out through the quieter suburbs to Gatwick airport, I felt that even thought we were just there for a weekend, we had managed to experience the real essence of London and absorb so much of what it had to offer – and yet, there is still so much there to discover.
“All the world’s a stage” and London is one I’d return to again and again.