Alternative London

Thursday was the most fun. At least for me.

That's actually a complete lie. Thursday night was the most fun. Thursday day sucked.

I stayed home aka skipped class so that I could write my two papers that were due by midnight. I had started them the night before but Ii didn't get far because I was mainly reading articles and trying to find quotes on or about Joseph Gordon-Levitt so I could write my profile. So I had started but not much towards my 600 words per paper. And during the whole process of writing my papers, I was having trouble with my tablet/keyboard and couldn't find an effective way to type other than to start an email to myself. Plus I was going back and forth between calling my credit card company and the fly.co.uk regarding my plane ticket to France. My cc company flagged it as possible fraud even though I told them I would be out of the country between such and such dates and that I was planning on going to France sometime in between. I verified information with the automated system and another time with an actual human being. Everything was supposed to be fine. I also talked to the people that booked my ticket several times because I wasn't receiving a confirmation email so I could view my boarding pass. First I was told that everything was fine and that they were reprocessing it and I would receive an email in a couple of hours. If I didn't, then I was supposed to call back. I never got one so I called back. Once again, with Sara in the room hearing this, I was told again that there were no problems and that I would be getting an email in a few hours. Anyway there is even more to it but that is the gist of it for now. So yea, Thursday day sucked...just me writing papers and making a million of phone calls.

I finished my papers tho ( my JGL paper was nearly 1000 words...whoops! I guess I got carried away) and sent those to my professor. Then Sara and I went to Spitalfields Market area to meet up for our Alternative London Tour. We were there early so we were wandering around looking for a good place for a drink. We ended up stopping in this one place to have a espresso milkshake and we drank those outside where some sort of dancing lesson thing was going on. We chatted for awhile and discovered how much we had in common which was great! It's funny how we were drawn towards each other and have been doing all of these London things without actually knowing more about our lives. Anyway, I adore Sara.

When it was time, we walked over to the white goat statue to meet our guide. He was awesome. First he asked for my name and I told him Ashlee. He asked, "Is it spelled differently like leigh?" I was kind of surprised he even asked, b/c no one ever does. Either I specify or I just let them spell it ley. I said it was different but it was actually -lee. He was super excited about that and found that cool. Anyway, I'm getting off topic. He was hilarious from the start so I was in love lol. Sara was cracking up at me because everytime I really like something or get super excited I tell her I'm in love. She has heard it so much now I told her I basically fall in love with everything. I'll tell you later about my boyfriend Max, an owl that lives in London Zoo. ;)

It is true though, I was completely in love with this tour. Our guide was awesome and made it entertaining. He also knew a lot, from the history of the city to the artists, from the techniques to politics and current events. A real cool dude. And the art that we saw was fantastic. There is so much around Shoreditch, Spitalfield, and Brick lane, plus it is always changing. I wish I could put up my pictures!!!

I need to remember to look up this one artist that does exploding art...I feel like I have heard of him before but I need to refresh my memory. I did see a Bansky which was sweet. ;) During this tour, for the first time since I've been here (which I'm surprised about), I heard a Brit say smoking fags. I was so stoked when our guide was pointing out a gallery and said, "See that group over there, outside, smoking fags?" It was great. That was just my own personal excitement...anyway....

Another funny thing I should point out is that he was differentiating Permission, Comission, and Vandalism. Some artists are hired to do their art on walls/doors of buildings, others are given permission but not paid to do it, and others just straight up do it illegally. He was saying if it looks like it took more than ten minutes it was approved and if not then it was probably illegal. Then he added something along the lines of "unless they just have some huge balls and just don't give a ____" It was hilarious.

We talked about tags, cravings, stencils, spraypaint techniques, plaster, posters, statues...you name it. It was so good! Anyway, Sara and I had a blast =)

Afterwards we grabbed a bite to eat at a restaurant around there. I had a curried chicken pie with mashed potato and something else...I forgot to take a picture so I don't remember! I do remember that I had fresh mint tea and it was so delicious! mmm...=) Sara and I chatted for quite some time until we finally needed to get home before the tube closed. (I don't know if I have mentioned it or not but they close around midnight and open up again around 530am. Buses go all night, but tubes don't. And on Sunday they close earlier and open later.)

I went home and chatted with Emily for a bit. I had to give her back her computer...I forgot to mention that she lent me hers to type my papers earlier. So then I went to my room to pack for France and finish all my loose ends. I got to bed at about 230 that night...

Only if I knew what was to come...