Thankfully because there are so many Americans in the program, we were able to host a proper feast for our European building-mates. Everyone was responsible for a different dish, or contributed a bottle or two. It was one of the best Thanksgivings I've ever experienced, full of cheerful camaraderie. We sat on the floor in our hallway and feasted. The wine flowed. I'm not sure what made it so fun, except that it was a new experience for a lot of people, we were all in it together, and it came off admirably. (And there was lots of wine.) It was fun to share a positive tradition - we even went around and did the 'what we're grateful for' bit. Mostly: each other, and the opportunity of being here.
So now it can officially be Christmas season! To celebrate I went skating in the Somerset House courtyard rink, and managed to bang up both elbows. As usual with injuries, you never realize how much you use the body part in question until it hurts every time you do. Still, it was worth it.
I also went off to explore Greenwich today, to get 'out of the city' in a small way. It was lovely - we managed to fit all the major sites into one afternoon, though I may have to return to hunt down the Queen's Oak (legendarily linked with Elizabeth I, why else?). A boat took us down the Thames to Greenwich Pier, from which we meandered through the gorgeous architecture of the Naval College, the Queen's House (art museum), and the Royal Observatory. Say what you will about empire...standing on the Prime Meridian, feeling for a moment what it might have been like to stand at the center of the universe, was pretty cool. We finished off with tea, cakes and a short stroll in the park as the sun was going down. All in all, a good day.
Annie
P.S. Click the pictures to enlarge.