We interrupt my North Africa catch up posts with a quick update on what I’ve been doing in London since I returned from Spain (confusing chronology & geography, I know)…

Wednesday, March 12 – Harrow on the Hill

I’m back in the city at the Royal Academy of Music this evening for a performance by the Academy String Orchestra. The concert will take place in a more intimate venue from when I last attended for the Jazz Orchestra in January.

The performance included Elgar’s Serenade for String Orchestra in E minor and Schubert’s String Quartet No. 14 in D minor. Very impressive! I enjoyed the venue too. And the bonus? A ticket was required, but the concert was free (you know I love that!)! I think most of those in attendance were family and friends of the students.

Thursday, March 13 – Harrow on the Hill

I was invited by Mary & Tony to join them and their walking group today on a canal themed tour from Kensal Green to Paddington Basin. Fun!

After a short bus ride we arrived at our first stop. Kensal Green Cemetery opened in 1833, it covers 72 acres of grounds. It is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries in London.

Following the cemetery walk, we made a stop at the Double Shot cafe for a coffee break (or, in my case, a hot chocolate and peanut butter cookie break!). Our group of 14 kind of overwhelmed the little cafe!

We’ve now made our way to the The Union Tavern for lunch.

We are now near the end of our walk in Little Venice, located around the junction of the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal, the Regent’s Canal, and the entrance to Paddington Basin. The origin of the term Little Venice is in dispute. Some say it was coined by Robert Browning, others claim Lord Byron named it as a joke.

As we made or way to Paddington Station, I noticed this rather nondescript office marking. My affinity for Nissans required that I stop and take note!

This was a fun walk! Thanks to everyone in the group for letting me join in. And thank you to Mary & Tony for the invitation.

Sidenote: Mary, Tony and I took the Met line back to Harrow on the Hill station. We ended up in a four seat section of the car that was already occupied by a young woman. The conversation between the three of us turned to my recent travels to North Africa and Spain. Well, the woman eventually joined in by commenting on how lucky I was to have visited those different countries. How nice! Thank you! It turns out she is from Iran, and is doing her master’s studies in interior design in London. We ended up having a nice talk. Her background is impressive: bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture; and she’s been involved in protests in Iran against the current government. Protests that resulted in her being shot! Amazing! This was a lovely encounter. I’ve said before that I don’t take my ability to travel for granted, and this conversation only served to further that belief. As she mentioned to the three of us, we are lucky to have been born in the U.K. and U.S. Completely agree!

The day concluded with Mary, Tony & I attending a performance of Macbeth by the Harrow School boys at the Ryan Theatre.

As to be expected, the play was wonderful (despite the fact that I still have a hard time understanding Shakespeare!).

Friday, March 14 – Harrow on the Hill

I’m back in the city today, this time to repeat one of my favorite experiences from my time here last year: Attending a free lunchtime recital at the Royal Opera House. Last year was amazing, with a soprano performing her favorite arias from various operas. Today’s performance will be a surprise, as they are not announced in advance.

The recitals begin at 1pm, with the doors to the Royal Opera House (ROH) opening at noon. Last year I arrived a little before noon, and there was a small group of people waiting to enter. Once the doors were opened we were placed in a queue to await the opening of the performance hall. As I was near the head, I secured a front row seat. Nice!

This year’s process was completely different! I arrived at the ROH around 11:30am, and there was already a fairly long line waiting to enter. Once inside following the noon opening, we were given a numbered token.

Following the receipt of the token we were not placed in a queue, but instead told to enjoy the cafe or gift shop in the ROH, and return to the area of the performance hall entrance at 12:35pm. Okay. Eventually a line started to form into the hall, so I asked one of the staff if the number on my token indicated the order of entry. He stated that it didn’t, and also mentioned that the line forming was meaningless, as it was pretty much a free for all when the doors opened! Crazy! But glad I asked! Taking advantage of that advice I was close by when entry started and was able to obtain a front row seat once again!

Today’s performance did surprise me: Ballet! (Note that last year photography was allowed during the performance, this year it was not)

The recital turned out to be a rehearsal for an upcoming Mother’s Day performance (March 30 in the U.K.). The rehearsal was led by the choreographer, Melissa Hamilton, who also happens to be the Principal Dancer of the Royal Ballet. Wow!

She led three dancers through what was only their second attempt at the routine, performed to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. It was a fun session to watch, and by the end they performed the entire routine, and nailed it! So impressive.

Following the performance, I made my way from Covent Garden over to Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.

Saturday, March 15 – Harrow on the Hill

I’m excited to be attending a matinee of an “off West End” play this afternoon. Excited for both the play and the venue.

The venue is Wilton’s Music Hall. Opened in 1859, it is one of very few surviving music halls of the East End of London and retains many original features.

And the play is Black is the Color of my Voice. It is a one-woman performance exploring the life of Nina Simone, an American singer, songwriter, pianist, composer, arranger, and civil rights activist.

I really enjoyed this. Florence Odumosu was amazing in the role of Nina Simone.

If you’re unfamiliar with Nina Simone, here’s a sample of her work.

Sidenote: Speaking of one-woman shows, another one of my favorite experiences from my time in London last year was attending the play The Picture of Dorian Gray. Also a one-woman play, starring Sarah Snook, in which she portrayed 26 different characters! The role earned her the best actress Olivier Award (U.K. equivalent of the Tony). Well, I bring this up because the play has now moved on to Broadway, where it will be running through mid-June. Cool!

If you’re interested in the play, here’s a link to a recent CBS Sunday Morning story about it and Sarah Snook.

Sunday, March 16 – Harrow on the Hill

Over a month ago Mary tipped me off to a tour of Harrow School taking place today. It sells out quickly, so I made sure to book a ticket right after she told me (cost: £8.50). Mary attended as well, along with her daughter and granddaughter.

We visited six different buildings/rooms of the school during the 1 hour, 45 minute tour. There were four different groups taking the tour, each with about a dozen people. The groups started in different buildings, so that there was no overlap. Unfortunately, Mary and her family were in a different group.

Our first stop was the Speech Room. I’ve posted many photos of this beautiful venue in the past, so instead I thought I’d focus on a couple different details of the room. The first is this portrait of the Harrow School’s most famous graduate: Sir Winston Churchill.

And here are plaques commemorating the seven Prime Ministers and the Victoria Cross recipients who have graduated from the school.

We are now at the entrance to the War Memorial Building. This monument is in recognition of those students who were killed in the battles of World War I.

The Alex Fitch Room, dedicated to the memory of a student who was killed in action during World War I. His parents donated the room with its furniture and fittings as a place where the boys could meet with their parents. The oak paneling comes from Brooke House, Hackney, where Queen Elizabeth I stayed and held court in 1587. The fireplace carvings date from the reign of Henry VII, and the fireplace itself from that of Henry V.

Sidenote: Parts of an Ed Sheeran video were filmed in this room. You can watch it here.

Our last stop is the original Harrow School classroom, which dates to 1615.

By tradition, each of the boys carves their name into the walls of the classroom. Sir Winston’s carving can be seen in the middle of the photo.

For those of you who are Harry Potter fans, the Wingardium Leviosa wand class scene from Harry Potter & The Philosopher’s Stone was filmed in this ancient room.

This was a fun tour. Thanks for the tip Mary!