Pomp and Circumstance: Trooping the Colour

Pomp and Circumstance: splendid celebration with ceremony and fuss

When I was studying and interning in London ten(ish) years ago, I had the opportunity to view the Queen's arrival for the State Opening of Parliament.  I was steered toward a good vantage point by my co-workers and had a great view of the Queen and Prince Philip in their carriage, which was a pretty fabulous way to start my work day!  It was not until I returned back to the office to my co-workers that I realized just how much they wanted me to have loved and been impressed by it.  As one of my colleagues put it, "we do pomp and circumstance better than just about anyone, don't you think?"  I had to agree!

Fast forward a decade.  I woke up yesterday to the news that it was the Queen's ceremonial birthday and Trooping the Colour was taking place at Horse Guards Parade.  A quick scan of the interwebs revealed that I was obviously months late in securing some sort of ticket, and hours late in securing a decent viewing spot of the procession along the Mall.  Undeterred, and perhaps emboldened by the fact that the oh-so-elusive sun was actually shining, I gathered myself together and took off for Buckingham Palace.  I figured that even if I could not see the procession, I would enjoy being among the atmosphere and seeing the fly-over.

I arrived just in time to find a semi-decent vantage point and actually managed to see all of the royal family on their return trip to the Palace.  The crowds of course cheered loudly for  Duchess Kate on her final public appearance before her due date.  But the loudest and most loving cheers were reserved for the Queen, of course.  (For the record, though you cannot tell from the photo below, she looked resplendent in blue.)

Perhaps because I am so used to "seeing" Washington officials being ferried about in blacked out suburbans or limousines,  but it was surprising and refreshing to see these very public figures riding by in open air carriages, laughing and waving.  For all its formality and precision, there was something very intimate about the whole thing.

The weather threatened to put a damper on the festivities (of course it was the one time I left the house without an umbrella!) but the rain stopped just in time for the impressive Royal Air Force flyover.

 

Just as ten years ago, it was thrilling to take it in along with the thousands of well-wishers, overflowing with anticipation and excitement...and pride.  And a very fun way to kick off my first weekend in London!

(Photography classes start tomorrow, lets hope there is a notable improvement in my pictures moving forward!)

Good Morning London! Now What?

It's official, I am in London and, according to the stamp on my passport, allowed to stay for six months!  I have to admit, of all the things I did to prepare for this adventure (more on that later), getting a visa was not one of them.  Generally, the UK allows visitors from the U.S. to stay up to six months without a visa, but it is not guaranteed you'll get permission for the full six months.  After looking into applying for a visitors visa, I decided to take a chance in hopes that I would get a nice border agent at Heathrow that would give me the six month stamp and sure enough I did (mind you, I basically had to give him my entire life history - pity the person behind me in the line!). So now I am here, and after a quick trip to the Kings Road for some necessities (sim card! linens! clothes hangers - exciting stuff!), I am settled into my little flat.  It is a 300-ish sq. foot studio, garden ("english basement" for you DC-ers) apartment in the Chelsea/Fulham area with everything I will need for my time here, and not much more, which, after spending a month cleaning, organizing and packing up my house in DC,  is exactly what I need!

But after spending the last six weeks with what seemed like a never-ending, constantly growing t0-do list, I woke up this morning feeling a little lost.  My to-do list had been my roadmap, my job, and in some ways, my crutch. I never had to come up with anything to fill my time, I had a fifteen page to-do list with a rapidly approaching due date!  Now, I'm without that crutch, that roadmap, that job.  Which was sort of the whole point of this trip, but like anything else in life, it might take a little getting used to.

Soon enough I will start my photography classes, and have more of a routine.  But for now, it's Monday morning in London and I have no idea what to do.