AFTER A WEEK in Prescot, and a week in Gloucester, I decided to brave London and its omicron variant situation.
This I have to say: I am scared for them.
People on the streets hardly mask; and even in transport and in mandatory places, some people don’t mask.
Again, that reminder: “Some people cannot wear masks, and the reasons may not be obvious.”
My Filipino mind says: If you cannot wear a mask, stay at home. Get a taxi.
***
But life goes on for ThePSN.
Otherwise, how can I be an inspiration for braving the whole new world?
I’ve exercised caution by not going out much.
(But I also blame it to laziness, and the gloomy English weather—no sun until about 8am, and sunset is before 4pm.)
Still, we need to move on.
Go on living, and show this pandemic that it will not have my fear.
***
The train to London can cost me $150.
I took the bus (and travel at unholy hours) that only cost me $30.
I took a banana and a pear with me so those fruits kept me full until dinner.
I even had a water jug so I didn’t have to buy bottled water.
I walked most of my way in London, and stayed mostly in the city of Westminster.
***
From the Victoria Coach Station, I went straight along the Buckingham Palace Road to… Buckingham Palace, of course.
I was in front of the gates by 9:30am, but I guess I was too early for the Queen. Haha.
Been there before, in 2017, but I felt like retracing my steps.
There were the parades of the guards, and I just love the idea that Her Majesty and I were breathing the same air that morning.
***
After 105 photos of the Buckingham, the details of the gates, and the Queen Victoria memorial, I headed to the St James Park.
I never explored the greeneries before, so now I did.
I noticed the ducks and other waterfowls, the blue bridge, the fountains, the boy statue, the birds.
I decided against visiting the cafe, thinking of the cost.
***
Then, I went to check out the Guards Museum and Chapel.
I mean, who does this?
Churchill War Rooms, really?
The Whitehall buildings for civil service and government.
And then, I was off to Parliament Square in Westminster.
***
Big Ben is still under construction (four years since I first saw it!).
But this time, because I am alone, and was not in a lightning tour with family, I went inside the Westminster Abbey.
$32, baby! But being a completist, I just had to do it.
***
What’s with these English burying their noble and famous dead inside the church?
Couldn’t they afford an open field like Libingan ng mga Bayani? Haha.
***
Again, stained glass, statues, unique tombs, important seats for important people during important celebrations like royal wedding, noble and famous people’s funerals, et cetera.
If I only took 200 photos at the Westminster, I wouldn’t be ThePSN.
So yeah, important kings and queens, Winston Churchill, unknown soldiers, literary and arts people (names I’m most familiar with), scientists and bishops are all buried in there.
It’s really a wonderful place.
***
More and more, I’m thinking of a memorial park in my little property in Dumangas.
I want famous people and the nobility (meaning ‘rich’) to be buried there.
I mean, I want the place to be, in the word of the Brits, “posh.”
I want it beautiful and greatly maintained so that people can visit and pay their respects.
Of course, we must consider the business side of this: building cost, burial space cost, admission cost. Haha.
***
I am greatly disappointed that the National Portrait Gallery is closed until 2023!
But I settled for the National Gallery, which was free to the public.
I met this birthday girl from Dumangas, and introduced her to my old friends Michaelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, Titian, Rubens, Caravaggio, down to Monet, Van Gogh, Gaugin, Seurat, et al.
The biggest compliment I got was that birthday girl said that I forced her into it, and she actually liked it.
She actually texted me earlier to count her out of my museum tours for the day, but we had time to kill (since I’ve already decided to watch “The Prince of Egypt” musical with her in West End).
***
Dinner was at Eat Tokyo in Soho, in the West End of London after a walk about in Christmassy Leicester Square (avoiding crowded Chinatown).
FYI, SoHo in Manhattan, New York is short for South of Houston Street. Haha.
I had a bento box (remember I only had a banana and a pear); and I was classy enough to order some plum wine to go with it! Haha.
***
Anyway, redemption was the theme of “The Prince of Egypt, the Musical” based on the DreamWorks animated film of the same title.
I remember the backlash received by the movie for its supposed “unfair representation of Old Egypt.”
Well, isn’t Stephen Schwartz a Jew?
I mean, of course, he’s a little biased to tell the story of the Hebrews.
***
What I liked about the new musical is the redemption of Rameses.
I’m not sure now of the story of the original film; it’s been years since I last saw it.
But I feel that Rameses here, now, was given more redeeming qualities to balance with the greatness of Moses.
I even felt that he was the real prince of Egypt in this version.
***
For those who vilify Rameses based on the Bible stories, this new musical is an eye-opener.
And I am glad I saw this.
This is a great rewriting of history, in a sense.
Unfortunately, in the Philippines, we cannot, and should not tell a different story of the dictatorship and their ill-gotten wealth.
We should not be rewriting history to glorify them!
Or God should punish us!
And there will be no redemption for the Filipino people./PN
