Marseille, France June 2010. During an European tour with my drama teacher, I ended up alone in the city while she was, with the director of the play we were perfoming in Italy and Spain, in Barcelona.
I decided to take the advantage of an offer of a plane ticket to Marseille for 3euros. I was staying in a very comfortable hostel in the centre of the city, where I'd been told to visit "The Calanques", a group of clifts around the coast with many hidden villages and a wonderful view of the Mediterranean sea.
So in the morning I took my most comfortable trainers, a bag with my swimming suit and good bottle of water since it was a very hot summer in Souther France and I was highly adviced to take plenty of water with me to avoid dihydration.
When I got there, I found out that the whole place was a tracking centre with many three kinds of paths, for beginers, intermediate and advanced. I decided to stay in the easy way since my shoes, although comfy, were not suitable for an advanced traiking path.
The place was beautiful! a virgin forest with many rocks and cifts, and although it was very hot, the breeze from the sea was quite refreshing. After an hour or two of walking around, I found myself complety lost. Admiring the views and smelling the wild rosemary on the side of the path I complety forgot about the signs along the way. Before I could notice, I found a red mark on one of the stones. I was in the advaced path! As I was complety lost, and I knew I had no training but I decided to keep going, may be the way was not so difficult or I might find some help along the road.
After one hour, I was stil in the advaced road and I was facing a huge stone wall, straight and sharp in a very tall part of the clift right next to a free fall into the sea and the only help available was a thick chain. There were two options, whether I climb that wall with no training and the wrong shoes or I turned back looking for another path. After may be 20min considering my opctions and the consecuencies, I decided to climb the wall. I was very scared, but turning back is never an option to me. It was vey hot, the wall was very tall and the clift was extremely high. I could see only sky and the sun above and the deep sea below. My legs were already tired and I was scared that I might have made a terrible mistake, may be the safe path was better. I was alone and nobody knew I was there except for a couple of girls at the hostel and my nearest familiar face was in Barcelona.
I kept going. I have no idea how long it took me to reach the top, but onces I was there, I had the most amazing view of the whole Mediterranean sea, the breeze was cool and i could see many fishing boats in the blue-green water of the sea, I could smell the wild rosemary and the salty soft wind. I was so happy I wanted to cry.
Sometimes it is like that, sometimes we think the safe path is better because we don't feel confident about something we have no training in and we are too scared if some obstacle makes us turn back. But where there's a will, there's a way, and I strongly believe in that. That's why I quited Puan and started taking drama lessons, and that's why I wanted to cometo London and give my carreer a try, I mean, why not?
Last wednesday, I felt I was climbing that wall successfully. I had my first acting experience in the UK filming a pilot TV show episode for the BBC. If the producers buy it, I could become a TV actor for a BBC show.
I had to wake up at 4am to be at Heathrow airport for shooting at 7am. We had 20 hours of filming. And my character was a French guy, so I had to make a foreign accent using a language that is not already mine. It was challenging indeed. The crew was very nice though, as well as my colleagues. We shot the last scene at 3am. I was tired, but with the most amazing view. I know I stil have to reach the top of that wall, and I have a lot of thing to achieve. But I alraedy feel so proud of myself for not turning back for the comfortable path! And the people who believed in me and stil does is my chain that helps me to climb every step. Thank you to you and please stay with me, I promess you an amazing view at the top of this wall we are climbing together.
Wednesday, 26 October 2011
Sunday, 25 September 2011
Una noche en el restaurante
Garron!! me toca trabajar turno "Middle" un sabado!! Si, asi empieza la historia.
Hay tres turnos en el resto: Lunch (10.30 a 18), Middle (13 a 23.45) y Diner (17 a closing). Este sabado me toco el mas choto, lo unico bueno es que hay una hora de break y te dan de comer todo lo que queres onda buffet, y al comida no esta mal.
OK, entro al vestuario y lo primero que veo es un chino durmiendo en una silla con el gorro de cocinero a la mitad de la cara y babeando, y un brasilero en slip fucsia planchando un delantal...yo pense "mmm no" y decidi ir a cambiarme al banio.
Entro al "pass", asi se llama mi area de trabajo, donde agarro la comida para llevarla al salon, entre otras multiples tareas, y me encuentro con mis companieritos de trabajo: un egipcio que no para de hablar; un brasilero que bien podria trabajar de protector de pantalla, si no hay actividad se pone a hacer pasos de samba; una polaca que es mas buena que el pan con leche (y asi de divertida tambien), un eslovaco que parece salido de la milicia alemana con su corte militar, cara de tuje y postura de "no soy tu amigo"; una brasilera que no tiene ni idea ni de por que esta en Londres; y el jefe de todos nosotros, obviamente un chino de como mucho un metro veinte pero que sabe artes marciales...como se eso? segui leyendo...
Caigo en medio del almuerzo para prestar refuerzos...juajua. Bandejas llenas de platos con comida salen a mil, otras con platos sucios pasan a las bachas (donde se lava), un ejercito de cocineros entre vapor, woks y freidoras sacan dim sums a rolete. Nunca habia trabajado en un resto tan ocupado, y te podras imaginar por que. No es que sea un completo caos, porque este justamente tiene una buena organizacion y es de cierto estandard, pero el tema es que terminas agotado!
Y ahi pense, que no habia estado en finde, y que si asi estaba un sabado al medio dia, a la noche debia ser un infierno. Pero entre una cosa y otra el almuerzo paso tranquilo. A las 16 tenemos un break de hora y media aprox para sentarnos a comer. A las 15.45 unos cocineros ponen unas bandejas repletas de comida en una mesada y onda buffet vas y te servis. Cual manada de hienas hambrientas el staff de 80 empleados se abalanzan sobre la comida a servirse antes de que se acabe! PARA UN POCO dije yo, todavia faltan 15min para el break!! Nadie pone orden?? Presente mi consternacion a mi jefe que em respondio sin mirarme "si no agarras un plato, no comes" o.O Bueeeeeeeno, OK. Claro, todos se reservan un plato para la hora del break porque si esperan a las 16 en punto no queda nada...CLARO que no queda nada! si lo agarran todos antes? Nadie se da cuenta de lo estupido que es esto?
Bue, al final me agarre un poco de pato con salsita, un puniado de arroz salteado con verduras y algo de repollo, tranqui. POR DIOSSS! como come esta gente! no se servian platos, se servian fuentes de arroz con absolutamente todo encima, no importa si pega o no, curry con papas con arroz, con carne con pato con lechuga con sopa de cerdo, no importa nada. Era una imagen como en "El viaje de Chihiro" cuando los padres se convierten en chanchos de tanto comer? Bueno asi (si no la viste mirala que esta buena).
Yo me sente a comer tranquilo con mi patito y arroz entre una chica mi cimpatica de Filipinas, una malaya y mi amigo egipcio. Al lado escucho una conversacion entre un tano y un gallego que recien se conocian, que hablaban italpaniol pero no era idioma en comun, porque no se entendian, era muy gracioso escuchar una conversacion donde uno preguntaba algo y el otro contestaba otra cosa. A pesar de que ambos idiomas se parecen, creo que nadie le dijo esto a esta pareja dispareja. Juro que la conversacion no tenia sentido, menos cuando el tano le pregunto al gallego si abria botellas con el culo o.O
En fin, despues de comer me fui a mi break, a tomar un jugo de mango y comer un muffin de chocolate como postre a la plaza que esta soleado. Tranqui, como siempre.
Cuando vuelvo, los manager nos reciben a todo el staff con cafe y macarrons (mini postrecito clasico parisino). Y yo dije "mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm buen trato, cafeina y azucar esto me dice que nos van a romper el..." y si, habia reserva para 455 personas OMG! Y me cambiaron de departamento. El manager gral me sento a parte a hablar con mi cafecito y macarron de pistacchio que me habia elegido y me comunica que su asistente me vio trabajar y dice que seria bueno para un puesto mas alto, asi que me queria ofrecer el entrenamiento acorde ^.^ Como obviamente agarre viaje, por esa noche estaria cumpliendo otras tareas. Que si bien no son mas faciles, son menos infernales que correr de la cocina al salon cargando bandejas pesadas, en su lugar estaria rearmando las mesas despues de usadas para nuevos clientes, cuidando las estaciones y ayudando a los waiters. Parece una boludez, pero este cargo permite estar en el salon y ver muchas otras cosas que de commis (puesto anterior) no podria ver. En otras palabras es una puerta de entrada a algo mas "copado" como jefe de salon que es lo que quieren que haga despues de mi training correspondiente.
Tenia la sensacion de algunos de mis companieros no em tenian mucha fe, porque cuando se anuncio en la reunion previa al servicio que no iba a estar en el pass sino en otra area, variso exclamaron algo como "uh, solo en relay un sab a la noche! juajua" y la polaca se me acerca, me agarra el hombro y me susurra "yo te voy a ayudar si puedo".
Yo le puse pecho, y despues de la breve introduccion a mis nuevas tareas, empece. Y tambien empezo a caer gente al baile como diria mi abuelo. Que manera de transpirar!! corriendo detras de los clientes para limpiar y arreglar toda la mesa antes de que las recepcionistas trajeran los nuevos. Imaginate en un salon que tiene nada mas de reservas mas de 400 clientes. Y ademas con las exigencias, que los palitos y la copa deben estar alineados con el plato y la servilleta debe tener esta forma y estar en angulo recto con la estrella del norte...por diossssss
Pero en medio del punto algido del servicio, mientras armaba una mesa, la manager de turno me toca la espalda y me dice "brilliant, good job" ^.^
Lo malo es que en el pass estaban emperrados como nunca! Obviamente me mandan a dar apoyo a dicho sector y encuentro a una tana puliendo cucharas en una suma tranquilidad mientras el chino en jefe le hacia una llave de arte marcial x al egipcio! Si, ahi confirme que mi jefe era jodido. Los dos brasileros que hablaban en portugues porque era tanto el trabajo que no les daba para hacerlo en ingles y rompieron la regla de la empresa que es "todos deben hablar ingles para no generar exclusion". El eslovaco que a los pedos armaba piramides con pickles de pepino (es parte de la entrada cuando uno se sienta a comer). Era un caos! Entro la manager conmigo y le dijo al chino que se calme que si necesitaba un break lo tomara, el egipcio que se enculo y se fue. Ok, entro en escena y doy mi apoyo. A los 10min el chino lo agarra al brasilero y le dice "conoces lo platos?" "no" le dice el otro; "ok esto es esto y esto es aquello, necesito irme" y desaparecio, porque tambien era ninja el chino parece. El brasilero entro en panic attack y los platos empezaron a caer. Yo salte con toda mi inocencia y mande un "yo te ayudo!" Los dos empezamos a decifrar de que se trataba el laburo que venia haciendo el chino: cada plato que viene de la cocina tiene un ticket que debe coincidir con el ticket que tiene el jefe del pass, asi armar las bandejas de forma estrategica para que los commis vayan a una mesa con todo lo correspondiente de esa mesa o al menos ese sector, sino obviamente es un caos. Un sabado a las 22hs te podras imaginar cuantos tickets habian. Los dos no llegabamos a con las manos que pareciamos Krishna con mis brazos para armar todo, los tickets que se imprimian llegaban al piso y se armaba la montanita. La brasilera me saltaba al lado preguntandome cosas que pobre empezo hace tres dias, no tenia ni idea de nada. Lo mandabamos al eslovaco a carrera de maraton llevando cosas. A todo esto la tana seguia puliendo cucharas, por dios! ubicate! hace algo mas importante! Los cocineros que se empezaban a calentar y nos trataban de ayudar con los tickets, pero te podras imaginar lo bien que entendiamos las instrucciones en chino...otra que armar una estanteria barata de "Easy". La polaca que sale corriendo en busac de ayuda, y a la que me doy vuelta estaba la tana que de la nada se puso a llorar y abanicar (???) por que???? jamas lo sabre, en una estaba puliendo cucharas y de repente estaba al borde del desmayo. En eso entra la polaca con una china que camarera experimentada hace anios y su expresion al llegar y vernos a los dos cubiertos de tickets y platos con los chinos gritando fue: O.O "OHH MY GOOOOOOD!!" Abrio los ojos que parecia un anime. Sacaron a la tana que se desmayaba y la china entro a poner orden que no se por que cazzo no vino desde un principio, sacando bandejas y gritando "go! go! go!" Al rato tambien fue demasiado para ella cayo "Junior", el entrenado por el chino en jefe, otro chinito mas joven mas o mensod e la misma altura que su mentor. Y al fin todo empezo a funcionar de nuevo. La polaca despues me conto que parece que el chino no soporta mas trabajar con el egipcio, porque habla mucho y es muy arrogante. La cosa es que todos nos fuimos tardisimo a casa. Era mas de la una de la maniana, y todavia habia gente en el salon, un pibe de Brasil y yo contando servilletas llegamos casi a las 600, una por cliente...
Al menos pasamos un buen rato charlando y la manager nos trajo una coca y unos pastelitos...si, de nuevo cafeina y azucar, no hay que ser muy brillante para darse cuenta de que esa combinacion efectivamente predice las sabias palabras de Confusio: ki-lom-boh.
Hay tres turnos en el resto: Lunch (10.30 a 18), Middle (13 a 23.45) y Diner (17 a closing). Este sabado me toco el mas choto, lo unico bueno es que hay una hora de break y te dan de comer todo lo que queres onda buffet, y al comida no esta mal.
OK, entro al vestuario y lo primero que veo es un chino durmiendo en una silla con el gorro de cocinero a la mitad de la cara y babeando, y un brasilero en slip fucsia planchando un delantal...yo pense "mmm no" y decidi ir a cambiarme al banio.
Entro al "pass", asi se llama mi area de trabajo, donde agarro la comida para llevarla al salon, entre otras multiples tareas, y me encuentro con mis companieritos de trabajo: un egipcio que no para de hablar; un brasilero que bien podria trabajar de protector de pantalla, si no hay actividad se pone a hacer pasos de samba; una polaca que es mas buena que el pan con leche (y asi de divertida tambien), un eslovaco que parece salido de la milicia alemana con su corte militar, cara de tuje y postura de "no soy tu amigo"; una brasilera que no tiene ni idea ni de por que esta en Londres; y el jefe de todos nosotros, obviamente un chino de como mucho un metro veinte pero que sabe artes marciales...como se eso? segui leyendo...
Caigo en medio del almuerzo para prestar refuerzos...juajua. Bandejas llenas de platos con comida salen a mil, otras con platos sucios pasan a las bachas (donde se lava), un ejercito de cocineros entre vapor, woks y freidoras sacan dim sums a rolete. Nunca habia trabajado en un resto tan ocupado, y te podras imaginar por que. No es que sea un completo caos, porque este justamente tiene una buena organizacion y es de cierto estandard, pero el tema es que terminas agotado!
Y ahi pense, que no habia estado en finde, y que si asi estaba un sabado al medio dia, a la noche debia ser un infierno. Pero entre una cosa y otra el almuerzo paso tranquilo. A las 16 tenemos un break de hora y media aprox para sentarnos a comer. A las 15.45 unos cocineros ponen unas bandejas repletas de comida en una mesada y onda buffet vas y te servis. Cual manada de hienas hambrientas el staff de 80 empleados se abalanzan sobre la comida a servirse antes de que se acabe! PARA UN POCO dije yo, todavia faltan 15min para el break!! Nadie pone orden?? Presente mi consternacion a mi jefe que em respondio sin mirarme "si no agarras un plato, no comes" o.O Bueeeeeeeno, OK. Claro, todos se reservan un plato para la hora del break porque si esperan a las 16 en punto no queda nada...CLARO que no queda nada! si lo agarran todos antes? Nadie se da cuenta de lo estupido que es esto?
Bue, al final me agarre un poco de pato con salsita, un puniado de arroz salteado con verduras y algo de repollo, tranqui. POR DIOSSS! como come esta gente! no se servian platos, se servian fuentes de arroz con absolutamente todo encima, no importa si pega o no, curry con papas con arroz, con carne con pato con lechuga con sopa de cerdo, no importa nada. Era una imagen como en "El viaje de Chihiro" cuando los padres se convierten en chanchos de tanto comer? Bueno asi (si no la viste mirala que esta buena).
Yo me sente a comer tranquilo con mi patito y arroz entre una chica mi cimpatica de Filipinas, una malaya y mi amigo egipcio. Al lado escucho una conversacion entre un tano y un gallego que recien se conocian, que hablaban italpaniol pero no era idioma en comun, porque no se entendian, era muy gracioso escuchar una conversacion donde uno preguntaba algo y el otro contestaba otra cosa. A pesar de que ambos idiomas se parecen, creo que nadie le dijo esto a esta pareja dispareja. Juro que la conversacion no tenia sentido, menos cuando el tano le pregunto al gallego si abria botellas con el culo o.O
En fin, despues de comer me fui a mi break, a tomar un jugo de mango y comer un muffin de chocolate como postre a la plaza que esta soleado. Tranqui, como siempre.
Cuando vuelvo, los manager nos reciben a todo el staff con cafe y macarrons (mini postrecito clasico parisino). Y yo dije "mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm buen trato, cafeina y azucar esto me dice que nos van a romper el..." y si, habia reserva para 455 personas OMG! Y me cambiaron de departamento. El manager gral me sento a parte a hablar con mi cafecito y macarron de pistacchio que me habia elegido y me comunica que su asistente me vio trabajar y dice que seria bueno para un puesto mas alto, asi que me queria ofrecer el entrenamiento acorde ^.^ Como obviamente agarre viaje, por esa noche estaria cumpliendo otras tareas. Que si bien no son mas faciles, son menos infernales que correr de la cocina al salon cargando bandejas pesadas, en su lugar estaria rearmando las mesas despues de usadas para nuevos clientes, cuidando las estaciones y ayudando a los waiters. Parece una boludez, pero este cargo permite estar en el salon y ver muchas otras cosas que de commis (puesto anterior) no podria ver. En otras palabras es una puerta de entrada a algo mas "copado" como jefe de salon que es lo que quieren que haga despues de mi training correspondiente.
Tenia la sensacion de algunos de mis companieros no em tenian mucha fe, porque cuando se anuncio en la reunion previa al servicio que no iba a estar en el pass sino en otra area, variso exclamaron algo como "uh, solo en relay un sab a la noche! juajua" y la polaca se me acerca, me agarra el hombro y me susurra "yo te voy a ayudar si puedo".
Yo le puse pecho, y despues de la breve introduccion a mis nuevas tareas, empece. Y tambien empezo a caer gente al baile como diria mi abuelo. Que manera de transpirar!! corriendo detras de los clientes para limpiar y arreglar toda la mesa antes de que las recepcionistas trajeran los nuevos. Imaginate en un salon que tiene nada mas de reservas mas de 400 clientes. Y ademas con las exigencias, que los palitos y la copa deben estar alineados con el plato y la servilleta debe tener esta forma y estar en angulo recto con la estrella del norte...por diossssss
Pero en medio del punto algido del servicio, mientras armaba una mesa, la manager de turno me toca la espalda y me dice "brilliant, good job" ^.^
Lo malo es que en el pass estaban emperrados como nunca! Obviamente me mandan a dar apoyo a dicho sector y encuentro a una tana puliendo cucharas en una suma tranquilidad mientras el chino en jefe le hacia una llave de arte marcial x al egipcio! Si, ahi confirme que mi jefe era jodido. Los dos brasileros que hablaban en portugues porque era tanto el trabajo que no les daba para hacerlo en ingles y rompieron la regla de la empresa que es "todos deben hablar ingles para no generar exclusion". El eslovaco que a los pedos armaba piramides con pickles de pepino (es parte de la entrada cuando uno se sienta a comer). Era un caos! Entro la manager conmigo y le dijo al chino que se calme que si necesitaba un break lo tomara, el egipcio que se enculo y se fue. Ok, entro en escena y doy mi apoyo. A los 10min el chino lo agarra al brasilero y le dice "conoces lo platos?" "no" le dice el otro; "ok esto es esto y esto es aquello, necesito irme" y desaparecio, porque tambien era ninja el chino parece. El brasilero entro en panic attack y los platos empezaron a caer. Yo salte con toda mi inocencia y mande un "yo te ayudo!" Los dos empezamos a decifrar de que se trataba el laburo que venia haciendo el chino: cada plato que viene de la cocina tiene un ticket que debe coincidir con el ticket que tiene el jefe del pass, asi armar las bandejas de forma estrategica para que los commis vayan a una mesa con todo lo correspondiente de esa mesa o al menos ese sector, sino obviamente es un caos. Un sabado a las 22hs te podras imaginar cuantos tickets habian. Los dos no llegabamos a con las manos que pareciamos Krishna con mis brazos para armar todo, los tickets que se imprimian llegaban al piso y se armaba la montanita. La brasilera me saltaba al lado preguntandome cosas que pobre empezo hace tres dias, no tenia ni idea de nada. Lo mandabamos al eslovaco a carrera de maraton llevando cosas. A todo esto la tana seguia puliendo cucharas, por dios! ubicate! hace algo mas importante! Los cocineros que se empezaban a calentar y nos trataban de ayudar con los tickets, pero te podras imaginar lo bien que entendiamos las instrucciones en chino...otra que armar una estanteria barata de "Easy". La polaca que sale corriendo en busac de ayuda, y a la que me doy vuelta estaba la tana que de la nada se puso a llorar y abanicar (???) por que???? jamas lo sabre, en una estaba puliendo cucharas y de repente estaba al borde del desmayo. En eso entra la polaca con una china que camarera experimentada hace anios y su expresion al llegar y vernos a los dos cubiertos de tickets y platos con los chinos gritando fue: O.O "OHH MY GOOOOOOD!!" Abrio los ojos que parecia un anime. Sacaron a la tana que se desmayaba y la china entro a poner orden que no se por que cazzo no vino desde un principio, sacando bandejas y gritando "go! go! go!" Al rato tambien fue demasiado para ella cayo "Junior", el entrenado por el chino en jefe, otro chinito mas joven mas o mensod e la misma altura que su mentor. Y al fin todo empezo a funcionar de nuevo. La polaca despues me conto que parece que el chino no soporta mas trabajar con el egipcio, porque habla mucho y es muy arrogante. La cosa es que todos nos fuimos tardisimo a casa. Era mas de la una de la maniana, y todavia habia gente en el salon, un pibe de Brasil y yo contando servilletas llegamos casi a las 600, una por cliente...
Al menos pasamos un buen rato charlando y la manager nos trajo una coca y unos pastelitos...si, de nuevo cafeina y azucar, no hay que ser muy brillante para darse cuenta de que esa combinacion efectivamente predice las sabias palabras de Confusio: ki-lom-boh.
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
AGAIN???
Fuck! Ok, the plan didn't work out as I wanted, I couldn't get a job in any theatre, so I am in the restaurant bussiness again. I'm glad to inform though that this one is much better than the last one I worked in. Again as a waiter (I promessed not to get into a restaurant kitchen again) in a very fancy restaurant in the heart of Soho, one Michelin Star (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelin_Guide#Stars), the people working there seem nice, again, lots of nationalities! 70% of the staff is Chinese, the rest is divided between: Brazilians, French, Italians, Spanish, Mexicans, Egyptians, Portugueses, Polish...and me! :p
The place is speciallized in Dim Sum, which is basically "little bites", small dishes you are supposed to share so you can try many different "bites". Traditionally you have them with tea, in fact the restaurant began as a tea-house, but obviously it was not so profitable and eventually it became a two-stage restaurant with a staff of aproximately 150 people.
Meanwhile, I'm stil looking for jobs on stage, but as you can imagine, it is far more difficult. I have to admit that I feel a bit frustrated by this, but I always knew it would be like this, so I don't give up on the theatre. I want to make it clear: I am just working in this place because I need (as anybody else in this world) a stable income in order to pay rent, food, transport, etc. Although I am working in a business that is not my career, I will give my best at work! I want to show to that fucking boss I had in my previous job in London that I am not a terrible waiter! (yes, that's what he said).
In the mean time, while these two paralel tasks go on (the restaurant and the stage), I manage to enjoy the city with my friends. I go out with Archy, who also got a job as a waiter in a small Thai restaurant in Acton; Askin who just came back from his hollidays in his home country, Turkey (I don't know hollidays from what, sinec he doesn't work at all! all he does is go shopping and dating many girls); Henriette, my English friend who is fun and serious at the same time, a spychiatrist-to-be from Gloucestershire. I met her in LAMDA and since then we became great friends (as I usually do with women of Gemini like her (?)). Chihiro from Japan appears and disappears every week. Also my friend Katie from the States who is studying in LAMDA and my brand new friend Yorgos, from Greece ^.^ who described himself as addicted to luxury o.O
A good friend of mine once said "it's boring to have normal friends"; and I can honestly say I am proud of my ability to always choose extraordinary people as my friends, who I cherish above all.
I also go to the gym three times a week in order to keep fit, which is becoming more and more difficult each time since the season is changing and London is getting colder every week. Days are obviously shorter, it's difficult to get out of bed sometimes when you look out through the window and you see the day is cloudy and everyone is using a jacket, which makes me think "If the English are using jackets, I will freeze!!", but then I remember "wait, there's must be like 4 English people at most in London, I'll be fine!".
This my fifth month in England and quite honestly I stil don't see why everybody complains about the weather here, they say is completely unpredictable, but in fact I believe it is very easy to predict: You always know it's going to be different from when you woke up, so although you have to take your sunglasses, you better take an umbrella with you; never go out without a jacket but remember to keep your T-shirt ironed. That's it! What's all the fuss about???
The place is speciallized in Dim Sum, which is basically "little bites", small dishes you are supposed to share so you can try many different "bites". Traditionally you have them with tea, in fact the restaurant began as a tea-house, but obviously it was not so profitable and eventually it became a two-stage restaurant with a staff of aproximately 150 people.
Meanwhile, I'm stil looking for jobs on stage, but as you can imagine, it is far more difficult. I have to admit that I feel a bit frustrated by this, but I always knew it would be like this, so I don't give up on the theatre. I want to make it clear: I am just working in this place because I need (as anybody else in this world) a stable income in order to pay rent, food, transport, etc. Although I am working in a business that is not my career, I will give my best at work! I want to show to that fucking boss I had in my previous job in London that I am not a terrible waiter! (yes, that's what he said).
In the mean time, while these two paralel tasks go on (the restaurant and the stage), I manage to enjoy the city with my friends. I go out with Archy, who also got a job as a waiter in a small Thai restaurant in Acton; Askin who just came back from his hollidays in his home country, Turkey (I don't know hollidays from what, sinec he doesn't work at all! all he does is go shopping and dating many girls); Henriette, my English friend who is fun and serious at the same time, a spychiatrist-to-be from Gloucestershire. I met her in LAMDA and since then we became great friends (as I usually do with women of Gemini like her (?)). Chihiro from Japan appears and disappears every week. Also my friend Katie from the States who is studying in LAMDA and my brand new friend Yorgos, from Greece ^.^ who described himself as addicted to luxury o.O
A good friend of mine once said "it's boring to have normal friends"; and I can honestly say I am proud of my ability to always choose extraordinary people as my friends, who I cherish above all.
I also go to the gym three times a week in order to keep fit, which is becoming more and more difficult each time since the season is changing and London is getting colder every week. Days are obviously shorter, it's difficult to get out of bed sometimes when you look out through the window and you see the day is cloudy and everyone is using a jacket, which makes me think "If the English are using jackets, I will freeze!!", but then I remember "wait, there's must be like 4 English people at most in London, I'll be fine!".
This my fifth month in England and quite honestly I stil don't see why everybody complains about the weather here, they say is completely unpredictable, but in fact I believe it is very easy to predict: You always know it's going to be different from when you woke up, so although you have to take your sunglasses, you better take an umbrella with you; never go out without a jacket but remember to keep your T-shirt ironed. That's it! What's all the fuss about???
Sunday, 21 August 2011
Weekend at LDN II
Friday: Despues de un buen desayuno de esos que acostumbro yo en mis manianas (Cereal de fibras con yogurt descremado natural, frutillas escocesas, mix de nueces y miel de Espania, dos tostadas de pan negro con semillas y queso Philadelphia, una taza de cafe con leche y una de te verde, ambas sin azucar...no me gustan las bebidas dulces) me fui al gym.
Ducha por medio, me dirigi a Central London por un plato de hummus con pollito y tsatsiky. Jump on the tube como se dice aca con direccion norte a ver una casa para vivir con mis ex-companieras de LAMDA, Katie (de EEUU), Elisa (de Italia) y Marta (de Portugal). Salgo muy feliz del subte con mi mapita; LLUVIA TORRENCIAL. "Oh shit!" fue mi expresion segun recuerdo. Caminando, o mas bien buceando, llegue a la casa en cuestion. Timbre.
Viejo x: (openning the door) Yes?
Yo: Hello!
Viejo x: ...
Yo: ...emmm I'm Matias.
Viejo x: Nice to meet you...
Yo: ...
Viejo x: ...
Yo:...I'm here to see the propperty.
Viejo x: Certainly not.
(LLUVIA TORRENCIAL de fondo, o mas bien sobre mi)
Yo: Isn't this a propperty to rent?
Viejo x: mmm No, I like my house.
Yo: oops! oh think I made a mistake! Sorry!
Viejo x: Perhaps, have a nice day!
(te parece? nice day? I mean......REALLY???)
Ok, no era el 5 de la calle Ble, era el 4...o sea en frente. Bueeeno! errores cometemos todos! Y si no me conoces por que carajo abris la puerta anyway???
Cruzo...el rio. Timbre...nada. Ok llamo a Heidi, agente inmobiliaria que deberia estar aca. Riiiing.
Heidi: Oh! hello Matias! You weren't there at 3:30, so i came back to the office (eran las 3:40...o sos demasiado literal o te fuiste mientras yo hablaba con el viejo x en frente ¬¬) Don't worry I'll be there in three minutes (wow cuanta exactitud).
Ok me refugio en la casa del al lado que tenia techito. "Siiiinging in the raaaaaaaain! Juuuust siiiingiiiing in the raaain..." Abre la puerta Vieja x CHAN!
Vieja x: Good afternoon.
Yo: o.O
Vieja x: Can I help you?
Yo: Oh! Hi!, no, actually I'm just waiting for an agent who's suppoused to show me the house next door, and I needed the roof. Thank you! :)
Vieja x: Oh! I see! poor you! look at you, all wet! Ok have a nice day. (no, seriously...REALLY???)
Que onda? aca le abren la puerta a cualquiera o estoy en un barrio de jubilados desesperados porque alguien los visite. Ay que triste :s
Heidi arrives! (en exactamente TRES MINUTOS O.O) veo la casa, bla bla. Linda, con todo el potencial pero mucho laburo para ponerle encima. Bua, seguire buscando, thank you very much indeed.
LLUVIA TORRENCIAL
Hecho sopa, jumped on the tube again. Destination: Primemark! necesitaba medias urgente! Cola kilometrica...paciencia Matu. Ok con medias cambiadas, siguiente destino: Starbucks...necesitaba un tecito y un muffin de arandanos.
Salgo de Starbucks con la pancita llena y el alma reconfortada: SOL todos en remera y ojotas. Como yo ya soy un Londoner, ya se que aca hay que salir con remera, campera, anteojos de sol y paraguas. Efectivamente en el mismo dia use las cuatro cosas.
Me dolia el cuerpo asi que decidi hacer uso del sauna de mi gym. Ahi conoci un tipo en sus 60, prof de ingles que me felicito por mi excelente manejo del idioma y me dio unos tips para imitar acentos locales...que groso! Sali renovado.
Saturday: Desayuno habitual. Me junte con mi amiga Henriette, inglesa de familia alemana/holandesa que conoci en LAMDA en Picadilly Circus, bajo la fuente de Eros. Fuimos a el mejor y mas barato sushi de Londres! "Wasabi", cadena muy popular. Comimos la delittessen japonesa en Soho Sq obviamente, bajo la lluvia. Fue una imagen muy simpatica dos mamertos acurrucados bajo un paraguas en medio de una plaza, bajo la lluvia, comiendo sushi. Pero bue, teniamos un capricho, y comer en el resto te cobraban extra, asi que TAKE AWAY!
Despues nos fuimos al teatro a ver "Yes, Prime Minister". GENIAL. Una obra MUY inglesa, con lo mejor del humor britanico, bien acido y super inteligente. El primer ministro britanico, tonto titere de su consejero de mayor confianza, un manipulador onda Yafar de Aladdin, con su secretario un bobo onda Reinfield de "Dracula muerto pero feliz", una secretaria sexy pero brillante que se las sabia todas (un pj mio basicamente). Este grupete disparejo se ve envuelto en un lio cuando la BBC se entera de que podria haber un plan para unirse al euro (escandalo obvio!) si se firmaba un contrato con el presidente de "Turushustan" por petroleo y un prestamo al gobierno europeo. A cambio el enviado del presidente de dicho pais quiere una noche en compania sexual de una menor de 16 anios. No voy a contar todo el plot, pero para dar una idea nomas. Muy divertida y muy inteligentemente escrita.
Salimos riendo a carcajadas y nos dirigimos a tomar un te con scons, cottage cream y strawberry jam on top. Luego volvi a casa a cambiarme y ponerme un lindo traje porque me esta misma chica me habia invitado a una cena formal con algunos de sus amigos. Donde? Chelsea! Lugar cheto cheto, de esos qeu sentis que gastas una fortuna de tan solo respirar y caminar. Wow que amigos paquetes que hago.
Resto italiano, muy bonito y original, caro por cierto, pero bueno, no podia decir que no. Es una de esas experiencias unicas en la vida, una cena formal en compania de ingleses de mucha tarasca en una zona tres veces mas valuada que Prto Madero. Todos modelos, chicas operadas de tacos muy altos, marca sobre marca...tenia dos opciones, o me dignaba a sentirme Betty la fea, o me subia a la ola. Decidi lo segundo, caminata segura, mano en el bolsillo, zapatos lustrados, camisa de Zara...facha, mucha facha.
Que dia mas British!
Sunday: Brunch entrada la maniana, lease mismo desayuno pero con dos huevos revueltos. Me fui al Japan Centre con mi guia amiga Chihiro, quien llega tarde. "Ok, no problem", el contesto el mensaje. Al rato veo una japonesita de metro veinte COMO MUCHO corriendo hacia mi, llega con las manitos juntas me dice "I'm sorry!! I'm sorry!!! sooo sorry!!!" (reverencia, reverencia). Sentia que me saludaba Sailor Moon. "Don't worry!" deja de inclinarteeeee por diosssss!!
Entramos al Japan Centre, un mercadito japones 100% hermoso lleno de todo lo que dicho pais puede ofrecer envuelto en un bello packagging. En la entrada habia una japonesa con una sonrisa y un kimono, una nena al costado, exactamente igual y una mesita. Nos ofrecen te verde y un postrecito minimini de quesito y polvo de te verde re rico.
Mina en kimono: Hello! green tea? (reverencia)
Yo: Oh! Thank you.
Chihiro: japonesjaponesjpaoneswatashiwajaponesjaponesjapones.
Mina en kimono: ohhhhhhh japonesjaponesteriyakitonkatsujaponessushioniguirijaponesjapones
Chihiro: japonesjaponeswasabipankojaponesjapones
Nena en kimono: ohhhhhh japonesjaponeswatashiwajapones
Chihiro: japonesjaponessaintseyajapones Domo arigatooooooooo (reverencia)
(las tres me miran): ahh thank you! (sonrisa y reverencia)
Yo: ... o.O ... ponele... thank you?
(jejeje se rien) oookeey
Paseamos, me conto mucho de la cultura japonesa, que sabe hacer la ceremonia del te, de su escuela, de sus comidas, de su familia, etc. Me encanto, super interesante. Fue como un mini viaje a Japon por un par de horas. ademas todos los que estaban ahi tanto compradores como staff japoneses. Claro, casi anda tiene traduccion, si tenes tu propia japonesa de metroveinte no cazas una.
Compramos unos pastelitos de crema de porotos aduki y crema delciosos y los comimos con un poquito de te verde. Luego fuimos a un Costa (cadena de cafe) por un chocolate caliente y un mocha cooler (cafe con chocolate pero frozen). Charlamos de Argentina y Japon, de Londres, etc. Una tarde super cultural y enriquecedora.
Bueno, quedamos para juntarnos a cocinar un dia.
Yo: what would you like to eat?
Chihiro: Pizza and empanadas!
Yo: ¬ ¬
Al final la japonesa era fan de la pizza y le encanto cuando le conte de la carne y las empanadas! jajaja que grosa Chihiro.
Ducha por medio, me dirigi a Central London por un plato de hummus con pollito y tsatsiky. Jump on the tube como se dice aca con direccion norte a ver una casa para vivir con mis ex-companieras de LAMDA, Katie (de EEUU), Elisa (de Italia) y Marta (de Portugal). Salgo muy feliz del subte con mi mapita; LLUVIA TORRENCIAL. "Oh shit!" fue mi expresion segun recuerdo. Caminando, o mas bien buceando, llegue a la casa en cuestion. Timbre.
Viejo x: (openning the door) Yes?
Yo: Hello!
Viejo x: ...
Yo: ...emmm I'm Matias.
Viejo x: Nice to meet you...
Yo: ...
Viejo x: ...
Yo:...I'm here to see the propperty.
Viejo x: Certainly not.
(LLUVIA TORRENCIAL de fondo, o mas bien sobre mi)
Yo: Isn't this a propperty to rent?
Viejo x: mmm No, I like my house.
Yo: oops! oh think I made a mistake! Sorry!
Viejo x: Perhaps, have a nice day!
(te parece? nice day? I mean......REALLY???)
Ok, no era el 5 de la calle Ble, era el 4...o sea en frente. Bueeeno! errores cometemos todos! Y si no me conoces por que carajo abris la puerta anyway???
Cruzo...el rio. Timbre...nada. Ok llamo a Heidi, agente inmobiliaria que deberia estar aca. Riiiing.
Heidi: Oh! hello Matias! You weren't there at 3:30, so i came back to the office (eran las 3:40...o sos demasiado literal o te fuiste mientras yo hablaba con el viejo x en frente ¬¬) Don't worry I'll be there in three minutes (wow cuanta exactitud).
Ok me refugio en la casa del al lado que tenia techito. "Siiiinging in the raaaaaaaain! Juuuust siiiingiiiing in the raaain..." Abre la puerta Vieja x CHAN!
Vieja x: Good afternoon.
Yo: o.O
Vieja x: Can I help you?
Yo: Oh! Hi!, no, actually I'm just waiting for an agent who's suppoused to show me the house next door, and I needed the roof. Thank you! :)
Vieja x: Oh! I see! poor you! look at you, all wet! Ok have a nice day. (no, seriously...REALLY???)
Que onda? aca le abren la puerta a cualquiera o estoy en un barrio de jubilados desesperados porque alguien los visite. Ay que triste :s
Heidi arrives! (en exactamente TRES MINUTOS O.O) veo la casa, bla bla. Linda, con todo el potencial pero mucho laburo para ponerle encima. Bua, seguire buscando, thank you very much indeed.
LLUVIA TORRENCIAL
Hecho sopa, jumped on the tube again. Destination: Primemark! necesitaba medias urgente! Cola kilometrica...paciencia Matu. Ok con medias cambiadas, siguiente destino: Starbucks...necesitaba un tecito y un muffin de arandanos.
Salgo de Starbucks con la pancita llena y el alma reconfortada: SOL todos en remera y ojotas. Como yo ya soy un Londoner, ya se que aca hay que salir con remera, campera, anteojos de sol y paraguas. Efectivamente en el mismo dia use las cuatro cosas.
Me dolia el cuerpo asi que decidi hacer uso del sauna de mi gym. Ahi conoci un tipo en sus 60, prof de ingles que me felicito por mi excelente manejo del idioma y me dio unos tips para imitar acentos locales...que groso! Sali renovado.
Saturday: Desayuno habitual. Me junte con mi amiga Henriette, inglesa de familia alemana/holandesa que conoci en LAMDA en Picadilly Circus, bajo la fuente de Eros. Fuimos a el mejor y mas barato sushi de Londres! "Wasabi", cadena muy popular. Comimos la delittessen japonesa en Soho Sq obviamente, bajo la lluvia. Fue una imagen muy simpatica dos mamertos acurrucados bajo un paraguas en medio de una plaza, bajo la lluvia, comiendo sushi. Pero bue, teniamos un capricho, y comer en el resto te cobraban extra, asi que TAKE AWAY!
Despues nos fuimos al teatro a ver "Yes, Prime Minister". GENIAL. Una obra MUY inglesa, con lo mejor del humor britanico, bien acido y super inteligente. El primer ministro britanico, tonto titere de su consejero de mayor confianza, un manipulador onda Yafar de Aladdin, con su secretario un bobo onda Reinfield de "Dracula muerto pero feliz", una secretaria sexy pero brillante que se las sabia todas (un pj mio basicamente). Este grupete disparejo se ve envuelto en un lio cuando la BBC se entera de que podria haber un plan para unirse al euro (escandalo obvio!) si se firmaba un contrato con el presidente de "Turushustan" por petroleo y un prestamo al gobierno europeo. A cambio el enviado del presidente de dicho pais quiere una noche en compania sexual de una menor de 16 anios. No voy a contar todo el plot, pero para dar una idea nomas. Muy divertida y muy inteligentemente escrita.
Salimos riendo a carcajadas y nos dirigimos a tomar un te con scons, cottage cream y strawberry jam on top. Luego volvi a casa a cambiarme y ponerme un lindo traje porque me esta misma chica me habia invitado a una cena formal con algunos de sus amigos. Donde? Chelsea! Lugar cheto cheto, de esos qeu sentis que gastas una fortuna de tan solo respirar y caminar. Wow que amigos paquetes que hago.
Resto italiano, muy bonito y original, caro por cierto, pero bueno, no podia decir que no. Es una de esas experiencias unicas en la vida, una cena formal en compania de ingleses de mucha tarasca en una zona tres veces mas valuada que Prto Madero. Todos modelos, chicas operadas de tacos muy altos, marca sobre marca...tenia dos opciones, o me dignaba a sentirme Betty la fea, o me subia a la ola. Decidi lo segundo, caminata segura, mano en el bolsillo, zapatos lustrados, camisa de Zara...facha, mucha facha.
Que dia mas British!
Sunday: Brunch entrada la maniana, lease mismo desayuno pero con dos huevos revueltos. Me fui al Japan Centre con mi guia amiga Chihiro, quien llega tarde. "Ok, no problem", el contesto el mensaje. Al rato veo una japonesita de metro veinte COMO MUCHO corriendo hacia mi, llega con las manitos juntas me dice "I'm sorry!! I'm sorry!!! sooo sorry!!!" (reverencia, reverencia). Sentia que me saludaba Sailor Moon. "Don't worry!" deja de inclinarteeeee por diosssss!!
Entramos al Japan Centre, un mercadito japones 100% hermoso lleno de todo lo que dicho pais puede ofrecer envuelto en un bello packagging. En la entrada habia una japonesa con una sonrisa y un kimono, una nena al costado, exactamente igual y una mesita. Nos ofrecen te verde y un postrecito minimini de quesito y polvo de te verde re rico.
Mina en kimono: Hello! green tea? (reverencia)
Yo: Oh! Thank you.
Chihiro: japonesjaponesjpaoneswatashiwajaponesjaponesjapones.
Mina en kimono: ohhhhhhh japonesjaponesteriyakitonkatsujaponessushioniguirijaponesjapones
Chihiro: japonesjaponeswasabipankojaponesjapones
Nena en kimono: ohhhhhh japonesjaponeswatashiwajapones
Chihiro: japonesjaponessaintseyajapones Domo arigatooooooooo (reverencia)
(las tres me miran): ahh thank you! (sonrisa y reverencia)
Yo: ... o.O ... ponele... thank you?
(jejeje se rien) oookeey
Paseamos, me conto mucho de la cultura japonesa, que sabe hacer la ceremonia del te, de su escuela, de sus comidas, de su familia, etc. Me encanto, super interesante. Fue como un mini viaje a Japon por un par de horas. ademas todos los que estaban ahi tanto compradores como staff japoneses. Claro, casi anda tiene traduccion, si tenes tu propia japonesa de metroveinte no cazas una.
Compramos unos pastelitos de crema de porotos aduki y crema delciosos y los comimos con un poquito de te verde. Luego fuimos a un Costa (cadena de cafe) por un chocolate caliente y un mocha cooler (cafe con chocolate pero frozen). Charlamos de Argentina y Japon, de Londres, etc. Una tarde super cultural y enriquecedora.
Bueno, quedamos para juntarnos a cocinar un dia.
Yo: what would you like to eat?
Chihiro: Pizza and empanadas!
Yo: ¬ ¬
Al final la japonesa era fan de la pizza y le encanto cuando le conte de la carne y las empanadas! jajaja que grosa Chihiro.
LAMDA
All about my experience in LAMDA (The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art):
As everyone may know by now, "Project London 2011" or "P. LDN '11" is something I'd been working in for at least three years. All my devotion, my energies, my savings, my learning process was focused at all times towards this project. What is the projetc about? Study, work and live in London as an actor. I am happy to say that the first part of this project is now completed! Finally, after all the hard work and studies, I finished my course in LAMDA, speciallized in Shakespeare's work.
I started the course in July and I've just finished it last week. I can say it's one of the best experiences EVER!
Classes began at 10am and runed until 6pm, with an hour break at 1pm to have lunch. During that time I had Stage Combat (with swords and unamrmed combat), Alexander Technic (posture and body awareness), Pure Movement (danza contact, balance and working in pairs to gain confidence), Physical Theatre (physical expresion through the exploration of your own body's movement, keep open to influencies), Pure Voice (voice training with and without text), Historical Dance (many traditional English Reinasance dancings such as "Volta" and "Thread in the needle"), Vers and Texts (analysis, Shakespeare's penthameter, literacy, etc), Improvisation (be in the moment, listen to your partner's suggestions, say yes instead of "no", be realistic, etc), Singing (traditional lute songs from Elizabethan times), Mask and Comedia dell'Arte (Arlequino e Tattanio, neutral masks, be open and keep your neck free!!), Accents (from all over the world applyed to English, from South England to Russia, from Australia to Scotland, from Chelsea to California) and of course Acting under the supervision of an important drama director, mine was Jeny Lipman, with a huge career in the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC).
During this course we've been asked to prepare a scene from any Shakespearean play, which under my director's supervition was to present at the end of the course showing as much as we could all that we've learned from our subjects. My scene was from "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Demetrius(me) and Helena (my partner Joceline). It was sooooo fun!! Our reviews were "(...) the most realistic scene." "It was so fun! I couldn't stop laughing!" "Simply the best one, by far!". So I am very happy indeed, not only because i did something others liked, but also because it was the end of my dream! At least the first part....TO BE CONTINUED. (the project...not the blog...lol)
Not only the classes were amazing at the school, but we also had a study trip to Stratford-Upon-Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare. We stayed in a 5* hotel, near downtown. Hotel's facilities included sauna, indoor swimming pool, gym, steam room, playground, among others. All my partners had to share the room, but I had a private room for reasons stil unknown! I must have an angel! We had breakfast and diner included, buffet!!! With everything you could imagine! I stil have dreams about those meals...seriously. We had tours payed to Anne Hathaway's cottage (Willy's wife), Willy's bithplace and a city tour around the lovely town centre. Included in the course price was two tickets to attend to RSC's performance of "The merchant of Venice" and "Cardenio". Two great plays which I really enjoyed.
The first pice was set in the 50's Las Vegas, within a Casino. Imposible to describe! And the cast included two mayor stars: Scott Handy as Antonio (who I met personally) and Patrick Stewart as Shylock. The play respected the text perfectly, as you might expect from the RSC, but with a musical shape, songs and an Elvis performing as Shylock's servant.
Cardenio was very interesting too, set in Andalucia, with gypsy music and candle lights. Fun and tragic at the same time. Very enjoyable.
After the trip to Stratford we made a short stop at Warwick Castle before comming back to London. A medivial castle in the countryside with nice activities such as archery and horse-riding. A little experience of Willy's time.
Once in London we also attended to performances at the Globe and the Old Vic. "Much addo about Nothing" and "As you Like it". At the Vic, "Richard III" with Kevin Spacey. I loved the Globe, but at the Old Vic, I got soooooo bored that I actually thought about going home during the interval! All the characters were screaming and Lady Anne was a disaster.
The Globe on the other hand is always the most pleasant experience.
All in all, LAMDA was one of the greatest experiences in my life so far. I'm so thankful I could do it! :D Thank you all for your support!
As everyone may know by now, "Project London 2011" or "P. LDN '11" is something I'd been working in for at least three years. All my devotion, my energies, my savings, my learning process was focused at all times towards this project. What is the projetc about? Study, work and live in London as an actor. I am happy to say that the first part of this project is now completed! Finally, after all the hard work and studies, I finished my course in LAMDA, speciallized in Shakespeare's work.
I started the course in July and I've just finished it last week. I can say it's one of the best experiences EVER!
 |
| Stage Combat practice seconds before getting our diploma with my good friend Henriette |
 |
| My group: From left to right Me, Nicola, Gabriel, on top Cameron, Catlin, Joceline and Rosie. Down from left to right Emily, Louise and Marta. Two more missing: Sophie (wasn't feeling good) and Grace (had some bad news from home) |
 |
| With my director, Jeny Lipman |
The first pice was set in the 50's Las Vegas, within a Casino. Imposible to describe! And the cast included two mayor stars: Scott Handy as Antonio (who I met personally) and Patrick Stewart as Shylock. The play respected the text perfectly, as you might expect from the RSC, but with a musical shape, songs and an Elvis performing as Shylock's servant.
Cardenio was very interesting too, set in Andalucia, with gypsy music and candle lights. Fun and tragic at the same time. Very enjoyable.
After the trip to Stratford we made a short stop at Warwick Castle before comming back to London. A medivial castle in the countryside with nice activities such as archery and horse-riding. A little experience of Willy's time.
Once in London we also attended to performances at the Globe and the Old Vic. "Much addo about Nothing" and "As you Like it". At the Vic, "Richard III" with Kevin Spacey. I loved the Globe, but at the Old Vic, I got soooooo bored that I actually thought about going home during the interval! All the characters were screaming and Lady Anne was a disaster.
The Globe on the other hand is always the most pleasant experience.
All in all, LAMDA was one of the greatest experiences in my life so far. I'm so thankful I could do it! :D Thank you all for your support!
Wednesday, 3 August 2011
Brighton (my first English sight outside London Town)
I know, I probably don't write as much as I should, but...you know me! :p
Anyway, so a couple of weeks ago Askin, Archy and I went to Brighton, a very nice small city (famous gay point as I've been told) on the coast side, South-East England, about two hours far from Central London. Actually, is not "about" two hours far, it took us EXACTLY two hours to get there and again another two hours to come back. We didn't believe it's gonna be so precise, but you know the English people!
The trip as we went to Archy's school was just £8,- each, really cheap! So we got there, we had lunch, and we went around the city for a couple of hours. Our first visit, as it was raining cats and dogs, was the Royal Pavillion. This was the summer house for king George, a really magnificent "little" palace by the sea. Outside you can imagine an Indian Taj Mahal, but inside is the most awesom Chinese-style palace. After we visited all the interiors, we had a nice cup of tea in the tea room, up stairs in the terrace, with a great view of the palace's gardens.
As soon as the rain stoped, we went for a walk around the city, visiting its nice narrow streets, finding traditional old shops where we bought some old-fashion fudge.
Finally we ended up in the beach taking some pictures (you can see them on facebook, there's no need to put the same stuff twice on two different places...). We took the bus and came back to Central London, yes in exactly two hours. As soon as we put a foot on London, the sun made his great appearence...that bastard!! So we went for a walk around Regent's Park. Great day for a great price.
Anyway, so a couple of weeks ago Askin, Archy and I went to Brighton, a very nice small city (famous gay point as I've been told) on the coast side, South-East England, about two hours far from Central London. Actually, is not "about" two hours far, it took us EXACTLY two hours to get there and again another two hours to come back. We didn't believe it's gonna be so precise, but you know the English people!
The trip as we went to Archy's school was just £8,- each, really cheap! So we got there, we had lunch, and we went around the city for a couple of hours. Our first visit, as it was raining cats and dogs, was the Royal Pavillion. This was the summer house for king George, a really magnificent "little" palace by the sea. Outside you can imagine an Indian Taj Mahal, but inside is the most awesom Chinese-style palace. After we visited all the interiors, we had a nice cup of tea in the tea room, up stairs in the terrace, with a great view of the palace's gardens.
As soon as the rain stoped, we went for a walk around the city, visiting its nice narrow streets, finding traditional old shops where we bought some old-fashion fudge.
Finally we ended up in the beach taking some pictures (you can see them on facebook, there's no need to put the same stuff twice on two different places...). We took the bus and came back to Central London, yes in exactly two hours. As soon as we put a foot on London, the sun made his great appearence...that bastard!! So we went for a walk around Regent's Park. Great day for a great price.
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Tuttifruti
Bueno, los que me conocen saben que jamas haria un diario dia por dia en un blog...mucha paja! y la verdad no llevo una vida tan interesante que lo amerite...
Asi que los pongo al dia con un poco de todo lo estuve haciendo la ultima semana.
Estoy sin trabajo, segun palabras textuales de mi jefe mas directo "Matias is a great person, but a terrible waiter. I don't need a good person, I need a good waiter." So, mas que nada por eso, estoy desempleado. Admito que sin experiencia me meti en un lugar complicado, donde habian muuuuchas reglas, mucha estructura, mucha exigencia y estres...y bueno, yo que soy medio dislexico y un poco distraido, era cantado el final! Me puse a buscar trabajo, pero unfortunately, no me llaman de ningun part-time, solo de full-time, y no lo puedo aceptar porque el 18 de este mes empiezo mi querido y ansiado "4-week Shakespeare" en LAMDA!!! (aca todos dicen "ohhh!!").
Don't worry, i have everything solved, I'll be fine. Todo esta bien. Por suerte tengo plan B, cuando se haga les cuento sin funciono! si no escribo en el blog en una semana or so, es que vendi la laptop para comer :s
Por suerte no soy materialista, si no mas bien del tipo sentimental, con lo que puedo decir tranquilamente, mientras tenga salud y amigos de verdad, estoy bien. No quiere decir que dejo de bsucar trabajo!! solo que no se preocupen por mi, estoy bien :)
Ademas de mis amigos que ya conocen A&A, y mi apoyo constante de Bs As, me llego una embajadora de alla que promete alegrarme aun mas el verano! Seeee!!! el sabado llego mi amiga Paola, que ademas de ser una gran persona con gran personalidad, es tambien una gran actriz y creativa. No solo eso, sino que ademas, trajo consigo un regalo inesperado: mi amiga Fiorella me envio un libro que ya empece a leer y disfrutar, y among other things, una carta en la que me llama "aventurero". Y eso me encanto! fue la palabra clave. De repente me acorde de las historias de aventura y exploracion que em conto mi viejo, de ingleses y alemanes, locos que salian en busca de explorar nuevas tierras en el corazon de Africa en el siglo XIX. Y pense, wow, que desafios habran enfrentado ellos? Estar sin trabajo aca por un tiempo no puede ser tan terrible, a ver, hay tantas cosas que enfrenta tanta gente...y de repente senti dentro mio una voz propia "I'll be fine!" (si, suelo pensar en ingles, aunque no siempre).
Otro tema: El sabado fue el Gay Pride en LDN Town, y como bien distraido que soy, cai de casualidad en el Soho pensando "che, que kilombo...esto es una mugre." (dije que que no siempre pienso en ingles!, a veces me salen celeste y blanco los pensamientos). Y si, miltrillones de personas bailando en las calles, tomando hasta el agua del florero, y desfilando los mas extravagantes vestuarios salidos de "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert". Un tipo estaba acostado inconciente con un vaso de cerveza en la mano, en el piso atendido por tres paramedicos. Cuando comienzo a pensar "mmm capaz que estaria bueno salir de aca..." ya era tarde, estaba en medio de un mar de gente. En eso recibo un llamado de Pao que anda por el centro, miro a un tipo desnudo con sombrero de paja bailando en el balcon y le digo "te veo en el M&M de Leicester Sq en CINCO MINUTOS. Cual auto que se pone detras de una ambulancia, voy detras de un tipo que vaso de cerveza en mano y vestido de rana, "nada" en estilo mariposa entre la gente y logro salir del tumulto, justo a tiempo antes de que una muy masculina Lady Gaga iniciara una street fight con un chino en cuero O.o ... ponele...
Luego de encontrarme con Pao, pasamos por el Soho ya que estaba "mas calmado" y vi a la fake Lady Gaga con capa arcoiris bailando arriba del Hiring Point de las bicicletas...asi que pense...pobre chino!
En medio de todo me encuentro con un ex companiero de trabajo que me invita una cerveza (como si el necesitara otra!), pero al ver las plataformas de Pao no logran salvarla de la montania de mugre, le dije "ehhh no, gracias!" Despues me encontre con Archy, y recibimos un mensaje de Askin que estaba enfermo, asi que nos montamos en el bus N7 y nos fuimos a verlo. A eso de las 2.30am le estabamos golpeando la ventana. No se preocupen! se puso contento que fuimos!! Asi que pasamos la noche los tres mas o menso acomodados donde pudimos, contentos de no estar solos en esta loca gran ciudad.
De paso les cuento que esta ciudad me inspira y ando dibujando en mis tiempos libres, aca les dejo un par de dibus que hice en estos meses. Si!! ya cumpli dos meses en Londres!!! mmm...merezco torta aniversario... : D
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Asi que los pongo al dia con un poco de todo lo estuve haciendo la ultima semana.
Estoy sin trabajo, segun palabras textuales de mi jefe mas directo "Matias is a great person, but a terrible waiter. I don't need a good person, I need a good waiter." So, mas que nada por eso, estoy desempleado. Admito que sin experiencia me meti en un lugar complicado, donde habian muuuuchas reglas, mucha estructura, mucha exigencia y estres...y bueno, yo que soy medio dislexico y un poco distraido, era cantado el final! Me puse a buscar trabajo, pero unfortunately, no me llaman de ningun part-time, solo de full-time, y no lo puedo aceptar porque el 18 de este mes empiezo mi querido y ansiado "4-week Shakespeare" en LAMDA!!! (aca todos dicen "ohhh!!").
Don't worry, i have everything solved, I'll be fine. Todo esta bien. Por suerte tengo plan B, cuando se haga les cuento sin funciono! si no escribo en el blog en una semana or so, es que vendi la laptop para comer :s
Por suerte no soy materialista, si no mas bien del tipo sentimental, con lo que puedo decir tranquilamente, mientras tenga salud y amigos de verdad, estoy bien. No quiere decir que dejo de bsucar trabajo!! solo que no se preocupen por mi, estoy bien :)
Ademas de mis amigos que ya conocen A&A, y mi apoyo constante de Bs As, me llego una embajadora de alla que promete alegrarme aun mas el verano! Seeee!!! el sabado llego mi amiga Paola, que ademas de ser una gran persona con gran personalidad, es tambien una gran actriz y creativa. No solo eso, sino que ademas, trajo consigo un regalo inesperado: mi amiga Fiorella me envio un libro que ya empece a leer y disfrutar, y among other things, una carta en la que me llama "aventurero". Y eso me encanto! fue la palabra clave. De repente me acorde de las historias de aventura y exploracion que em conto mi viejo, de ingleses y alemanes, locos que salian en busca de explorar nuevas tierras en el corazon de Africa en el siglo XIX. Y pense, wow, que desafios habran enfrentado ellos? Estar sin trabajo aca por un tiempo no puede ser tan terrible, a ver, hay tantas cosas que enfrenta tanta gente...y de repente senti dentro mio una voz propia "I'll be fine!" (si, suelo pensar en ingles, aunque no siempre).
Otro tema: El sabado fue el Gay Pride en LDN Town, y como bien distraido que soy, cai de casualidad en el Soho pensando "che, que kilombo...esto es una mugre." (dije que que no siempre pienso en ingles!, a veces me salen celeste y blanco los pensamientos). Y si, miltrillones de personas bailando en las calles, tomando hasta el agua del florero, y desfilando los mas extravagantes vestuarios salidos de "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert". Un tipo estaba acostado inconciente con un vaso de cerveza en la mano, en el piso atendido por tres paramedicos. Cuando comienzo a pensar "mmm capaz que estaria bueno salir de aca..." ya era tarde, estaba en medio de un mar de gente. En eso recibo un llamado de Pao que anda por el centro, miro a un tipo desnudo con sombrero de paja bailando en el balcon y le digo "te veo en el M&M de Leicester Sq en CINCO MINUTOS. Cual auto que se pone detras de una ambulancia, voy detras de un tipo que vaso de cerveza en mano y vestido de rana, "nada" en estilo mariposa entre la gente y logro salir del tumulto, justo a tiempo antes de que una muy masculina Lady Gaga iniciara una street fight con un chino en cuero O.o ... ponele...
Luego de encontrarme con Pao, pasamos por el Soho ya que estaba "mas calmado" y vi a la fake Lady Gaga con capa arcoiris bailando arriba del Hiring Point de las bicicletas...asi que pense...pobre chino!
En medio de todo me encuentro con un ex companiero de trabajo que me invita una cerveza (como si el necesitara otra!), pero al ver las plataformas de Pao no logran salvarla de la montania de mugre, le dije "ehhh no, gracias!" Despues me encontre con Archy, y recibimos un mensaje de Askin que estaba enfermo, asi que nos montamos en el bus N7 y nos fuimos a verlo. A eso de las 2.30am le estabamos golpeando la ventana. No se preocupen! se puso contento que fuimos!! Asi que pasamos la noche los tres mas o menso acomodados donde pudimos, contentos de no estar solos en esta loca gran ciudad.
De paso les cuento que esta ciudad me inspira y ando dibujando en mis tiempos libres, aca les dejo un par de dibus que hice en estos meses. Si!! ya cumpli dos meses en Londres!!! mmm...merezco torta aniversario... : D
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Archy 'n' Askin
I want you to know my friends in LDN, we share many things, and we some have kind of special connections. It's amazing how people from totally differents cultures, languages and backgrounds can become good friends in a couple of months. She is from Thailand and her name means "angel". I believe names have some meaning refering to the person who holds it, and in this case I think it is absolutely like that. She helped me when the auditions weren't very well, she came to visit me when I had a little cold adn she even brought me food when I was hungry...how cannot she be an angel? An she's always so sweet and kind!
He is from Turkey, and he makes me laugh every time I feel blue, he has this point of view of life "when it's bad, just make it a joke". He's also an artists since his photos are some of the best I've ever seen. He's so out going that it's very easy to meet new people with him. But he also has this spiritual/religious side going on that makes him sort of mysterious.
I feel I can know all the world with them, since they never come up with silly excuses to go out, they always come to me if I need them and they've been quite honest with me at all times. And you'd never believe how many experiences we shared in our lifes that make us feel or think the same things at the same time.
So, this is my way to honour them. I'd love you to meet Archy and Askin, by Matu.
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He is from Turkey, and he makes me laugh every time I feel blue, he has this point of view of life "when it's bad, just make it a joke". He's also an artists since his photos are some of the best I've ever seen. He's so out going that it's very easy to meet new people with him. But he also has this spiritual/religious side going on that makes him sort of mysterious.
I feel I can know all the world with them, since they never come up with silly excuses to go out, they always come to me if I need them and they've been quite honest with me at all times. And you'd never believe how many experiences we shared in our lifes that make us feel or think the same things at the same time.
So, this is my way to honour them. I'd love you to meet Archy and Askin, by Matu.
Monday, 20 June 2011
Weekend at LDN
All began last Friday night when I got out of work early cause the restaurant was quiet. I was so tired yet so happy!!! I went to an Italian restaurant and then to a pub in Central London and had a couple of Guiness, chat with some guys, got finally home at 1am. I got up at 10am for the first time in months, stayed in bed until 4pm, ate a salad, took a shower and then I jumped on the overgorund to Brick Lane where I met my Spanish friend from work and his friend from childhood. Brick lane is great place in East London, near Liverpool St, where rock n roll reigns, with a bit of punk and Indian restaurants. We had three or four beers relaxed on an old sofa of a punk pub, like an old warehouse with strange things and wired people, impossible to describe, it's something to be experienced. Then we picked up a friend at Liverpool St and had a barbecue on the street, yes on the street with more beer, chicken, saussages, chips, salad, more beer...
Then ths Spanish guys left and Archy arrived. we went to a club nearby and had more beers and vodka, dancing on the third floor of an old warehouse. When we got out we met a friend from Colombia and her two roommates andm went to another pub and had some mojitos, tequilas and dancing salsa in spite of listening to electronic music o.O
At 4am we where all in a Colombian flat drinking wine with cinnamon and talking nonesence. I woke up with a my Turquish friend next to me, Archy on the sofa and wine on my white shirt from Zara (noooo!!!! whyyyy????!!!!) Don't ask, cause I'm not able to answer. That morning I made brunch for everyone and we split our roads. However, Askin (my friend from Turkey) and I went to the Tower of London to take soem pictures, I felt asleep on the grass under the sun and then we had a humb with chips. We crossed London Bridge and walked all the way from Bank to Covent Garden where we took some pictures and enjoyed the shows on the square.
after that we ended in Soho having a couple (four may be five) beers, Guiness and London Pride at a pub, talking for hours...and I think Askin and I are taking dancing classes together...o.O I'm not sure.
What I do remember after that is tha a guy on a bike drop my friend Archy in Soho Sq and we went for something to eat at little cafe. So small that didn't even have a toilet, after those beers i had to go....so? I ended up in a gay bar asking for toilet, and for the first time in my life they asked me ID, which I didn't have so I shew him my "Miles and More" card of Lufthansa Airlines, he laughed and I could use the toilet. Then I don't know, we walked a lot talking nonsence, taken the three of us huged at Oxford Circus.
I have no idea how I got home or at what time, the only thing I know is that I have a terrible headache and in one hour I'm suppoused to be at work and be the best waiter around St Paul's.
Anyway, if I remember anything else, I'll let you know...or may be not!
Then ths Spanish guys left and Archy arrived. we went to a club nearby and had more beers and vodka, dancing on the third floor of an old warehouse. When we got out we met a friend from Colombia and her two roommates andm went to another pub and had some mojitos, tequilas and dancing salsa in spite of listening to electronic music o.O
At 4am we where all in a Colombian flat drinking wine with cinnamon and talking nonesence. I woke up with a my Turquish friend next to me, Archy on the sofa and wine on my white shirt from Zara (noooo!!!! whyyyy????!!!!) Don't ask, cause I'm not able to answer. That morning I made brunch for everyone and we split our roads. However, Askin (my friend from Turkey) and I went to the Tower of London to take soem pictures, I felt asleep on the grass under the sun and then we had a humb with chips. We crossed London Bridge and walked all the way from Bank to Covent Garden where we took some pictures and enjoyed the shows on the square.
after that we ended in Soho having a couple (four may be five) beers, Guiness and London Pride at a pub, talking for hours...and I think Askin and I are taking dancing classes together...o.O I'm not sure.
What I do remember after that is tha a guy on a bike drop my friend Archy in Soho Sq and we went for something to eat at little cafe. So small that didn't even have a toilet, after those beers i had to go....so? I ended up in a gay bar asking for toilet, and for the first time in my life they asked me ID, which I didn't have so I shew him my "Miles and More" card of Lufthansa Airlines, he laughed and I could use the toilet. Then I don't know, we walked a lot talking nonsence, taken the three of us huged at Oxford Circus.
I have no idea how I got home or at what time, the only thing I know is that I have a terrible headache and in one hour I'm suppoused to be at work and be the best waiter around St Paul's.
Anyway, if I remember anything else, I'll let you know...or may be not!
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
The Rabbit's hole
Finally the fiery rabbit has found its home, a little hole in West Kilburn/North Paddington, within five-minute walk from Queen's Park tube station. The area is very nice, quiet, there's school nearby, a public library, shops from Lebanon and other interesting facilities. I really like it since is all mine, private bathroom and a little space to cook for those I love. It costs just £650,- pcm, bills incl plus cleaning once a week, cool, right? Everyone tells me that I won the lottery with this comfortable place in North-west London. I have everything I need here! Just waiting for guests to arrive!!
Saturday, 11 June 2011
Friends will be friends
Now that we have the stage, let the actors come in!
It's well known that it's very hard to make friends in London, everybody can tell you that, especially londoners themselfs. During my second week in LDN, I met a nice chap on the street, we laughed about a mad woman driving and singing aloud. We spent three hours talking and we ended up having dinner together in a local restaurant. His name is Jon, tall, blond, blue eyes, and as a perfect English gentleman, he is very polite, quite formal, agrees with Her Magesty, drinks hot black tea with a drop of cold milk, shakes hands to say hello, uses words such as "bloody", "indeed" and "lovely" and of course, he loves his city. When we ended dinner, he gave me his phone number in a piece of paper that says "if you need a friend in London, text me". So I was lucky, but that's kind of an exception actually, and let me tell you that in spite of that, it is very hard to contact him, and when I do, there's always a formal and rather cold answer at the other side. That's just the way they are, polite, friendly, formal and private. That's why it is hard to make friends in LDN, and Jon was the first one to teach me that, a 100% pure Londoner.
So, what can we do about it? An Indian told me: "This is London my friend! there're lost of other things out there." He was talking about restaurants actually, but it applies to many things, such as nationalities!
Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you to my first friend in LDN Town: Archy Than, a very nice, sweet and friendly girl from Thailand. We met at the family house and "pegamos onda" from the very beginning and we've been going out couple of times since then. NO, she is not my girlfriend! She has her own business going on, we are NOT dating, and we'll NEVER be a couple. Stop those gossips! We are just in the same situation, foreigners in the same city, we've been here for the same period of time and for the reason I already explained above about friends in LDN, we share time in pubs and chat about living here, getting used to different stuff, looking for work, etc.
It's well known that it's very hard to make friends in London, everybody can tell you that, especially londoners themselfs. During my second week in LDN, I met a nice chap on the street, we laughed about a mad woman driving and singing aloud. We spent three hours talking and we ended up having dinner together in a local restaurant. His name is Jon, tall, blond, blue eyes, and as a perfect English gentleman, he is very polite, quite formal, agrees with Her Magesty, drinks hot black tea with a drop of cold milk, shakes hands to say hello, uses words such as "bloody", "indeed" and "lovely" and of course, he loves his city. When we ended dinner, he gave me his phone number in a piece of paper that says "if you need a friend in London, text me". So I was lucky, but that's kind of an exception actually, and let me tell you that in spite of that, it is very hard to contact him, and when I do, there's always a formal and rather cold answer at the other side. That's just the way they are, polite, friendly, formal and private. That's why it is hard to make friends in LDN, and Jon was the first one to teach me that, a 100% pure Londoner.
So, what can we do about it? An Indian told me: "This is London my friend! there're lost of other things out there." He was talking about restaurants actually, but it applies to many things, such as nationalities!
Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you to my first friend in LDN Town: Archy Than, a very nice, sweet and friendly girl from Thailand. We met at the family house and "pegamos onda" from the very beginning and we've been going out couple of times since then. NO, she is not my girlfriend! She has her own business going on, we are NOT dating, and we'll NEVER be a couple. Stop those gossips! We are just in the same situation, foreigners in the same city, we've been here for the same period of time and for the reason I already explained above about friends in LDN, we share time in pubs and chat about living here, getting used to different stuff, looking for work, etc.You can see I'm not alone here, in fact I have good company indeed. And even if I was by myself, I could never feel lonely with such warm, beautiful and lovely letters you gave me before I left, and all your emails and messages in FB you send me every day. Thank you very much indeed. I always think about you and I wish you could be here to share things and moments that remind me of each of you every time I pass by a theatre, a comics shop, a book shop, a restaurant, a museum, etc. And I think to myself, "oh, x'd like this" or "uh if x was here he/she would enjoy it so much!" or "mmm x should try this...".
I love you my dearest friends. See you soon.
Monday, 6 June 2011
He works hard for the money!
Yeaiiiii Tengo trabajo! Finally I got a job...let's see for how long though...
Si, tener un trabajo es muy importante, porque lo quieras o no, el dinero da muchas cosas, y ningun dinero da tanto como las pounds sterling. Deben saber que cuando uno viene a Londres desde otro pais, tiene la constante sensacion de que se es muy pobre, porque vengas con euros o dolares, ni hablemos de pesos argentinos (que en cualquier momento se empiezan a imprimir con la cara de Moyano o.O), uno siempre recibe menos libras que el numero incial, y cuando vas comprar se van tan rapido!! Londres es cara, si, aceptemoslo.
Estuve un poco al borde del freak out las ultimas semanas porque no encontraba trabajo y el tiempo (pero sobretodo las £££) se me iban. Fortunately, me dieron una oportunidad como camarero en un resto pleno centro de la ciudad en Paternoster Sq, a pasos literalmente de St Paul's Cathedral. Es un trabajo dificil, mucha gente piensa que cualqueira puede ser camarero o que es una tarea facil...y no, no lo es. "No es moco de pavo" como diria mi amiga la Lic. Laura Silva. Especialmente aca que son MUY exigentes, hay muchas cosas para saber, mil y un detalles a jamas olvidar, etc. Es un trabajo dificil y estresante, mucho mas de lo que te estas imaginando ahora. Hay que ir de camisa blanca, pantalon negro, zapatos lustrados y corbata, presentacion impecable, es alto resto.
Lo importante es que me alcanza para pagar el alquiler que incluye todas las cuentas, y comida. O sea, vivo bien.
Mis colegas, como podran imaginarse si vienen leyendo el blog, son de todas las nacionalidades imaginables. Y me dijeron que en realidad, tuve mucha suerte con el trabajo, ellos han estado al menos dos o tres meses buscando trabajo, siendo europeos y todo, quiero decir, no es un tema de discriminacion para nada, aca todos pueden conseguir un lugar. Conmigo Londres fue gentil y solo me dejo esperando 3 semanas y media.
Crisis tambien hay aca, y en menos o mayor medida, un poco se siente. En mas de una entrevista me hablaron de los cortes de presupuesto que han tenido que hacer algunas empresas. Pero debo decir que se esta bien, en mi primer mes aca, no he escuchado quejas sociales ni nada que se le parezca. Y en una encuesta reciente se determino que la pobalcion del Reino Unido esta dentro de las 15 poblaciones mas felices del mundo despues de Dinamarca, Suiza, Suecia, Canada y gran elenco. Conclusion: el frio hace bien. Mientras mas metros de nieve tengas encima, mejor para tu pais O.o ponele.......
Si, tener un trabajo es muy importante, porque lo quieras o no, el dinero da muchas cosas, y ningun dinero da tanto como las pounds sterling. Deben saber que cuando uno viene a Londres desde otro pais, tiene la constante sensacion de que se es muy pobre, porque vengas con euros o dolares, ni hablemos de pesos argentinos (que en cualquier momento se empiezan a imprimir con la cara de Moyano o.O), uno siempre recibe menos libras que el numero incial, y cuando vas comprar se van tan rapido!! Londres es cara, si, aceptemoslo.
Estuve un poco al borde del freak out las ultimas semanas porque no encontraba trabajo y el tiempo (pero sobretodo las £££) se me iban. Fortunately, me dieron una oportunidad como camarero en un resto pleno centro de la ciudad en Paternoster Sq, a pasos literalmente de St Paul's Cathedral. Es un trabajo dificil, mucha gente piensa que cualqueira puede ser camarero o que es una tarea facil...y no, no lo es. "No es moco de pavo" como diria mi amiga la Lic. Laura Silva. Especialmente aca que son MUY exigentes, hay muchas cosas para saber, mil y un detalles a jamas olvidar, etc. Es un trabajo dificil y estresante, mucho mas de lo que te estas imaginando ahora. Hay que ir de camisa blanca, pantalon negro, zapatos lustrados y corbata, presentacion impecable, es alto resto.
Lo importante es que me alcanza para pagar el alquiler que incluye todas las cuentas, y comida. O sea, vivo bien.
Mis colegas, como podran imaginarse si vienen leyendo el blog, son de todas las nacionalidades imaginables. Y me dijeron que en realidad, tuve mucha suerte con el trabajo, ellos han estado al menos dos o tres meses buscando trabajo, siendo europeos y todo, quiero decir, no es un tema de discriminacion para nada, aca todos pueden conseguir un lugar. Conmigo Londres fue gentil y solo me dejo esperando 3 semanas y media.
Crisis tambien hay aca, y en menos o mayor medida, un poco se siente. En mas de una entrevista me hablaron de los cortes de presupuesto que han tenido que hacer algunas empresas. Pero debo decir que se esta bien, en mi primer mes aca, no he escuchado quejas sociales ni nada que se le parezca. Y en una encuesta reciente se determino que la pobalcion del Reino Unido esta dentro de las 15 poblaciones mas felices del mundo despues de Dinamarca, Suiza, Suecia, Canada y gran elenco. Conclusion: el frio hace bien. Mientras mas metros de nieve tengas encima, mejor para tu pais O.o ponele.......
Sunday, 22 May 2011
Location, location, location
Well, after spending one week searching for a flat to rent in London town, I thought it'd be very convinient to explain what I've been through so you can avoid this situation if you ever think about comming to London as I did.
First thing you must know is what you probably already know, and that is LONDON IS VERY EXPENSIVE. The first time I came here in 2007 I stayed in fancy hotel room in Barbican, within an area called "The City", that's where the famouse Tomer of London is and of course the bank area and the Tower Bridge. Very central, very nice. But expensive. The second time, I stayed in a hostel room in Bloomsbury, Russel Square north part of central London near the British Museum, an even more expensive area but we could avoid paying a lot sharing the room with other 17 travelers. Wow, isn't it? Anyway, it was fun! we spent a great time there although I couldn't get into the beds, they were too small.
This time I decided to stay with a local family, which turned out to be the best option I could imagine. Why? Because you have the experience of living the English life, you can know the local experience, local food, etc. Besides, if you ever have a problem like I had, they'll tell all you need to know. For example, where's the nearest hospital and how to get there, which supermarkets are cheaper, how to buy a mobile phone, which neighbourhoods are better to avoid, etc. They're always a good sourse of local and practical information when you have been in London but not really lived in there.
On the other hand, staying with a family, although is cheaper than a hotel, it can't be teh definite option when you want to live in a city. So I went searching for a flat. Oh gosh!
Ok it's simple: if you want to live in Central London (zone 1), you must share, unless you are willing to pay at least £400pw (per week) a small one bedroom flat with kitchen and private bathroom in a decent location. Of course you have multiple options, you can always pay more! But if you share, you can find a comfortable bedroom in a decent flat for just £100pw, £170 if you go to Kensington, Nottin Hill, Hyde Park, etc. Bills included (very important).
If you don't wish to share and you want your own spot, you'll have to go far away from the city, to the London boroughs, (zones 2, 3, 4, 5, etc) where rent is cheaper, but you're far away from downtown. There you can expect to pay £170, £200 or £300 pw for a one-bedroom flat or even a studio (sigle room sometimes with a kitchennet built in and a toilet, shared or private depending on the price). But if you do move to one of these areas, is always good to visit them first and find out with local people if they're safe or not. For example, I've told East London is not so pretty as the West. Some areas of the North are more dangerous than others in the South, etc.
My personal experience tells me that is always good to be near a tube station, so keep that in mind.
When I look for a flat, I always make sure I'd be near a tube station, then I look in the map that station and that's how you can see how well conected that place is. The postcode is useful too, but you have to know it well. The first letters in the postcode indicate the area you are in, S (south), NW (north-west), etc. and a number that basically tells you how far you're from downtown. For example my postcode now is NW2.
The rest of the postcode are another number and two more letters, which I haven't deduced yet.
First thing you must know is what you probably already know, and that is LONDON IS VERY EXPENSIVE. The first time I came here in 2007 I stayed in fancy hotel room in Barbican, within an area called "The City", that's where the famouse Tomer of London is and of course the bank area and the Tower Bridge. Very central, very nice. But expensive. The second time, I stayed in a hostel room in Bloomsbury, Russel Square north part of central London near the British Museum, an even more expensive area but we could avoid paying a lot sharing the room with other 17 travelers. Wow, isn't it? Anyway, it was fun! we spent a great time there although I couldn't get into the beds, they were too small.
This time I decided to stay with a local family, which turned out to be the best option I could imagine. Why? Because you have the experience of living the English life, you can know the local experience, local food, etc. Besides, if you ever have a problem like I had, they'll tell all you need to know. For example, where's the nearest hospital and how to get there, which supermarkets are cheaper, how to buy a mobile phone, which neighbourhoods are better to avoid, etc. They're always a good sourse of local and practical information when you have been in London but not really lived in there.
On the other hand, staying with a family, although is cheaper than a hotel, it can't be teh definite option when you want to live in a city. So I went searching for a flat. Oh gosh!
Ok it's simple: if you want to live in Central London (zone 1), you must share, unless you are willing to pay at least £400pw (per week) a small one bedroom flat with kitchen and private bathroom in a decent location. Of course you have multiple options, you can always pay more! But if you share, you can find a comfortable bedroom in a decent flat for just £100pw, £170 if you go to Kensington, Nottin Hill, Hyde Park, etc. Bills included (very important).
If you don't wish to share and you want your own spot, you'll have to go far away from the city, to the London boroughs, (zones 2, 3, 4, 5, etc) where rent is cheaper, but you're far away from downtown. There you can expect to pay £170, £200 or £300 pw for a one-bedroom flat or even a studio (sigle room sometimes with a kitchennet built in and a toilet, shared or private depending on the price). But if you do move to one of these areas, is always good to visit them first and find out with local people if they're safe or not. For example, I've told East London is not so pretty as the West. Some areas of the North are more dangerous than others in the South, etc.
My personal experience tells me that is always good to be near a tube station, so keep that in mind.
When I look for a flat, I always make sure I'd be near a tube station, then I look in the map that station and that's how you can see how well conected that place is. The postcode is useful too, but you have to know it well. The first letters in the postcode indicate the area you are in, S (south), NW (north-west), etc. and a number that basically tells you how far you're from downtown. For example my postcode now is NW2.
The rest of the postcode are another number and two more letters, which I haven't deduced yet.
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
His place there
In a city I say there's a place for anyone, where am I? During my first weeks in London, I'm staying with a nice warm family. He's from Irland and his wife from Paraguay. They are very kind, the house is comfortable, my room is great, and the price of the room includes breakfast, which is quite complete I daresay.
Ahora en castellano para mis amigos de Bs As: 
Aca estoy preparandome mis tostaditas y mi tecito con leche. Son las 7am porque aca la gente se levanta muy temprano y se acuesta temprano, tipo 7 ya pueden estar cenando tranquilamente y a las 10 estar acostados.
Aca estoy preparandome mis tostaditas y mi tecito con leche. Son las 7am porque aca la gente se levanta muy temprano y se acuesta temprano, tipo 7 ya pueden estar cenando tranquilamente y a las 10 estar acostados. (Notese la barba de dos dias y la cara de dormido...oh my God!)
En fin, les paso a contar que es de mi vida durantes esa semana en la ciudad de la que les estuve hablando hace dos posts. Muy temprano en la manana empieza la actividad, buen desayuno, el tipico "breakfast" ingles tiene porotos en salsa, champignones, salchichas, huevos y algo de pan. Te con leche por supuesto o cafe (notese que en esta pc no tengo enie y aun no descubri los acentos).
Transporte por London: La mayoria usa el subterraneo o como le dicen aca "the tube", que es economico, rapido y muy puntual. En las estaciones se puede ver el trayecto de la linea y cuanto demora de estacion a estacion de manera que puedas calcular cuanto tardas de tu casa al trabajo y no llegues tarde. Los trenes son limpios y comodos, todos "hablan" diciendo sin falla: 1. la linea en la que estas 2. el destino de ese tren 3. cuidado que se cierran las puertas 4. cual es la proxima estacion y que combinaciones tiene la misma 5. al acercarse a la estacion repite el punto 4 6. al llegar a la estacion, menciona cual es y que combinaciones tiene 7. la famosa frase "Mind the gap between the train and the platform" o sea, cuidado no seas boludo no metas la pata entre el tren y el anden. Luego el circulo se repite.
Si les encanta esta prolijidad y estructura cronometrica, este es su medio de transporte. Solo necesitan conseguir una "Oyster Card", como una "Sube" de Bs As, ponerle pounds y listo! A tener en cuenta: La tarjeta se pasa al entrar a la etsacion Y al salir de ella, porque Londres esta dividida en circulos concentricos, cada uno es una zona, y moverse por diferentes zonas tiene diferentes precios. Tambien es importante la hora a la que viajes: Entre las 6:30 y las 9:30, y entre las 16 y las 19 es hora pico, asi que moverse por zonas 1 y 2 por ejemplo costaria £2.50, mientras que el mismo trayecto fuera de hora pico costaria £1.90.
Tambien a saber que la Oyster sirve tambien para el bus, si, esos famosos de dos pisos!
Adelante del famoso bus, hay un taxi, que aca son facilmente identificables, la mayoria son completamente negros, pero tambien algunos rojos y otros gris plata.
Londres tambien cuenta con una buena red de trenes para entrar y salir de la ciudad. Son muy comodos y en extremo puntuales, asi que si necesitan viajar fuera, digamos por ejemplo Salisbury y ver Stonehenge, tomense un tren y llegan bien y facil. Lo que si hay que fijarse ocn anterioridad por Internet porque hay muchas etsaciones en la ciudad que tienen diferentes destinos: London Bridge Station, Cannon Street Station, Blackfriars Station, Waterloo Station, Victoria Station, Euston Station, Charing Cross Station, Liverpool Street Station, King's Cross Station, St Pancreas International Station, Paddington Station, Myrelbone Station, Fenchurch St Station. Por ejemplo, si arrivan a Londres en Heathrow Airport, seguramente les convenga tomar el tren express a Paddington Station. Cuesta £18 pero en 15 m
in estan en el centro de Londres. Sino tambien pueden tomar el Tube, pero hay que combinar y se tarda mas.
Si piensan en alquilar un auto, deben recordar que aca se conduce por la izquierda, por ende, el volante esta del otro lado. Si nunca hicieron esto, la experiencia tal vez les resulte aterradora...o no! Lo que si a tener en cuenta es que aca hay camaras por todos lados, y la gente esta feliz con eso por lo que me dijeron, asi que a ceder el paso, parar donde se deba y nada de correr.
Para mi la mejor forma de conocer una ciudad es sin dudas a pie, es barato, no es rapido, pero si estan de visita, quien los apura?? Si viven aca, no esta de mas el ejercicio, para que pagar un gym cuando se puede tener ejercicio facil y con mejor vista que en la cinta con el culo de una gorda en calzas ajustadas delante.
Otra excelente opcion es la bici. El gobierno de la ciudad ha puesto en funcionamiento hace tiempo un sistema excelente de alquiler de bicicletas. Hay puestos por toda la ciudad dodne uno debe incertar la tarjeta de credito, le dana uno un codigo, con ese codigo saca la bici de su traba y se pone en marcha. 30 minutos de alquiler es gratis, luego por un alquiler de todo un dia (24 hs exactas) se cobra £1. Asi que no os preocupeis por la tarjeta de credito, uno puede tomar una bici, pasear y antes de los 30 min llegar perfectamente a otro "Hire point", dejar su bici, esperar 5 min, y sacar otra bici gratis, asi sucesivamente recorriendo toda la ciudad en lo que se conoce como la "London Network", a travez de la cual, segun este sistema, se puede llegar de London Bridge a Hyde Park en 27 minutos...cool!
Monday, 9 May 2011
About LonDoN Town (II)
So! What's the conclusion? Well: This city survived wars, plagues, fires and even floads. His population nowadays is a mixture of people from all over the world. I say: "El mundo esta en Londres" ("The world is in London"), cause I feel this is some kind of embassy of the world's nations! Why? Well, let me tell you about London from my point of view:
I haven't spent one here yet and I've already met or heard talking people from: Argentina, Brasil, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Irlanda, Escocia, Paraguay, Noruega, Finlandia, Chile, Polonia, Sudafrica, Libano, Israel, Turquia, Grecia, China, Pakistan, India, Japon, Australia, Rusia, Espania, Malasia, Italia, Francia, Estados Unidos, Suiza, Alemania, Iran, Portugal, Chipre, y la lista sigue y sigue, y sigue, y sigue....
And of course all of them put restaurants, shops, supermarkets, they teach their language, they study here, they work for some firm or they're just visiting. The point is they all leave their print. And that's what makes London a rich salad of flavours and spices, cause they all bring with them their ingridients (now it's my chef speaking...), their personal histories, their families, their ambitions, etc. And that's just GREAT!
In case you're not of the social type, this is not all London has to offer concerning culture: British Museum
(on of the greatest collection of arquelogical pieces from all over the world is there, all together in one building for you to go and look at them for a reasonable price of course: nothing at all. This fantastic museum containing human history is completely free.
Do feel you'd like to see paintings and so? Well, the National Gallery has one of the greatest collection of pictures in the world. Small pocket? Don't worry, this is also free. Don't like classical art? At the Tate Gallery you'll find all the modern art you may need, from Monet to Picasso, from Dali to Miro...and guess what! yes, free again. They just ask you to pay a volunteer donation of £3, isn't that cute?
Dont forget the Royal Albert Hall in order to listen to some nice music, the Natural History Museum or the Victoria and Albert Museum.
You're not feeling hungry and you find history and art a bit boring? Go to the theatre then!
London is the capital of the stage bussiness (no matter what they say in NY! : P). Here you'll find live performances everyday at all sort of prices, from £5 to £50. Musicals, drama, comedies, classical, innovation, Shakespeare, Williams, Chekhov, Pinter, etc. There are more than 50 official plays on stage right now! there must be something for you.
Not interested at culture at all? Go shopping! You can walk along the main shopping streets in London such as Oxford Street or go direcly to shopping centres such as Selfriedges or Harrods in Brompton Road. Small budget? Go on weekends to Portobello Market in Nottin Hill and you'll find interesting things at lower prices and take somthing more "authentical" with you: Again food from all over the world (paella, churros, falafels, french pastry, bruschettas), flowers, antiqueties, flee market, fresh fruits and vegs, etc.
No budget at all?! No problem! Just take the tube (underground) and go from one point to another and visit all the turistic places such as Bukingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament with it's famouse Big Ben, Covent Garden, the Tower of London where the jewels of crown are guarded, St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Soho, etc.
Or just avoid the tube and go walking around the city, London is a constant contrast of the old buildings from the middle ages to the new buildings made of glass. Cause that's the face of London babe! A face of contrasts! You'll see this clearly if you stand up at Millennium Bridge from St Paul's to The Globe and take a look at your left and see the Tower Bridge. Or standing at the Tower Briedge, take a look at the Tower of London and the building behind the tower, the so locally called "el pepino" in Spanish.
Do feel like this is too much for a day? Relax with a nice walk around one of the many huge parks London has such as Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Regents Park, Green Park, St James' Park, Archbishop's Park, Victoria Tower Gardens, etc. Or take a little boat along the Thames River, till Greenwich perhaps in case London's parks are not enough. Because yes! in the middle of this little world, nature has its space of course!
If you don't believe me, just go on the London Eye and take a picture from the highs of one the most exciting cities I've ever seen. Cause London rocks babe!
I haven't spent one here yet and I've already met or heard talking people from: Argentina, Brasil, Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Irlanda, Escocia, Paraguay, Noruega, Finlandia, Chile, Polonia, Sudafrica, Libano, Israel, Turquia, Grecia, China, Pakistan, India, Japon, Australia, Rusia, Espania, Malasia, Italia, Francia, Estados Unidos, Suiza, Alemania, Iran, Portugal, Chipre, y la lista sigue y sigue, y sigue, y sigue....
And of course all of them put restaurants, shops, supermarkets, they teach their language, they study here, they work for some firm or they're just visiting. The point is they all leave their print. And that's what makes London a rich salad of flavours and spices, cause they all bring with them their ingridients (now it's my chef speaking...), their personal histories, their families, their ambitions, etc. And that's just GREAT!
In case you're not of the social type, this is not all London has to offer concerning culture: British Museum
(on of the greatest collection of arquelogical pieces from all over the world is there, all together in one building for you to go and look at them for a reasonable price of course: nothing at all. This fantastic museum containing human history is completely free.
Do feel you'd like to see paintings and so? Well, the National Gallery has one of the greatest collection of pictures in the world. Small pocket? Don't worry, this is also free. Don't like classical art? At the Tate Gallery you'll find all the modern art you may need, from Monet to Picasso, from Dali to Miro...and guess what! yes, free again. They just ask you to pay a volunteer donation of £3, isn't that cute?
Dont forget the Royal Albert Hall in order to listen to some nice music, the Natural History Museum or the Victoria and Albert Museum.
You're not feeling hungry and you find history and art a bit boring? Go to the theatre then!
London is the capital of the stage bussiness (no matter what they say in NY! : P). Here you'll find live performances everyday at all sort of prices, from £5 to £50. Musicals, drama, comedies, classical, innovation, Shakespeare, Williams, Chekhov, Pinter, etc. There are more than 50 official plays on stage right now! there must be something for you.
Not interested at culture at all? Go shopping! You can walk along the main shopping streets in London such as Oxford Street or go direcly to shopping centres such as Selfriedges or Harrods in Brompton Road. Small budget? Go on weekends to Portobello Market in Nottin Hill and you'll find interesting things at lower prices and take somthing more "authentical" with you: Again food from all over the world (paella, churros, falafels, french pastry, bruschettas), flowers, antiqueties, flee market, fresh fruits and vegs, etc.
No budget at all?! No problem! Just take the tube (underground) and go from one point to another and visit all the turistic places such as Bukingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament with it's famouse Big Ben, Covent Garden, the Tower of London where the jewels of crown are guarded, St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Soho, etc.
Or just avoid the tube and go walking around the city, London is a constant contrast of the old buildings from the middle ages to the new buildings made of glass. Cause that's the face of London babe! A face of contrasts! You'll see this clearly if you stand up at Millennium Bridge from St Paul's to The Globe and take a look at your left and see the Tower Bridge. Or standing at the Tower Briedge, take a look at the Tower of London and the building behind the tower, the so locally called "el pepino" in Spanish.
Do feel like this is too much for a day? Relax with a nice walk around one of the many huge parks London has such as Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Regents Park, Green Park, St James' Park, Archbishop's Park, Victoria Tower Gardens, etc. Or take a little boat along the Thames River, till Greenwich perhaps in case London's parks are not enough. Because yes! in the middle of this little world, nature has its space of course!
If you don't believe me, just go on the London Eye and take a picture from the highs of one the most exciting cities I've ever seen. Cause London rocks babe!
Sunday, 8 May 2011
About LonDoN Town (I)
Have you ever felt a deep hapyness? Deep sense of peace at the bottom of your heart?
A friend of mine told me that's called "realizacion", and she might be right. The thing is I've been feeling that sensation during last week. That sensation you get when you've finally achieved what you'd been looking for. Here I am in London finally!! So what's in this place that makes me happy?
Well, let me tell you about London:
A friend of mine told me that's called "realizacion", and she might be right. The thing is I've been feeling that sensation during last week. That sensation you get when you've finally achieved what you'd been looking for. Here I am in London finally!! So what's in this place that makes me happy?
Well, let me tell you about London:
The Romans founded London about 50 AD. Its name is derived from the Celtic word Londinios, which means the place of the bold one. After they invaded Britain in 43 AD the Romans built a bridge across the Thames. They later decided it was an excellent place to build a port. The water was deep enough for ocean going ships but it was far enough inland to be safe from Germanic raiders. Around 50 AD Roman merchants built a town by the bridge. So London was born.
Then in 61 AD Queen Boudicca led a rebellion against the Romans. Her army marched on London. No attempt was made to defend London. Boudicca burned London but after her rebellion was crushed it was rebuilt.
The population of Roman London rose to perhaps 45,000, which seems small to us but it was the largest town in Britain.
The last Roman soldier left Britain in 407 AD. London was probably abandoned. There may have been a few people living inside the walls by fishing or farming but London ceased to be a town. But soon it rose again. A new town appeared outside the walls on the site of Covent Garden. It was much smaller than Roman London with perhaps 10,000 inhabitants.
In 597 monks from Rome began the task of converting the Saxons to Christianity. In 604 a bishop was appointed for London.
By the 640's there was a mint in London making silver coins. In the 670's a Royal document called London 'the place where the ships land'.
Disaster struck London in 842 when the Danes looted London.
King Alfred the Great totally defeated the Danes in 878 and they split the country between them. The Danes took eastern England including London while Alfred took the South and West. Despite the peace treaty Alfred's men took London in 886.
The Danes returned in 994 but this time the Londoners fought them off. A writer said ' they proceeded to attack the city stoutly and wished to set it on fire but here they suffered more harm and injury than they ever thought any citizen could do them'.
Edward the Confessor (1042-1066) built a wooden palace at Westminster. Later Parliament met here. Because of this Westminster became the seat of government not the city of London itself. Edward also built Westminster Abbey, which was consecrated a few weeks before his death.
William the Conqueror occupied the royal palace at Westminster and the won over the Londoners by making various promises. William was crowned king of England at Westminster on 25 December 1066. William gave London a charter, a document confirming certain rights. Nevertheless he built a wooden tower to stand guard over London. It was replaced by a stone tower in 1078-1100. That was the beginning of the Tower of London
London was a lively place in the Middle Ages.
The population of London may have reached 50,000 by the middle of the 14th century. At least a third of the population died when the Black Death struck in 1348-49 but London soon recovered. Its population may have reached 70,000 by the end of the Middle Ages.
The population of London may have reached 120,000 by the middle of the 16th century and about 250,000 by 1600. In the Middle Ages the church owned about 1/4 of the land in London. When Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries it released a great deal of land for new buildings.
Nevertheless the suburbs outside London continued to grow. In the late 16th century rich men began to build houses along the Strand and by 1600 London was linked to Westminster by a strip of houses.
All this happened despite outbreaks of bubonic plague. It broke out in 1603, 1633 and 1665 but each time the population of London quickly recovered.
The last outbreak of plague in London was in 1665. But this was the last outbreak. In 1666 came the great fire of London. It began on 2 September in a baker's house in Pudding Lane.
About 13,200 houses had been destroyed and 70-80,000 people had been made homeless. The king ordered the navy to make tents and canvas available from their stores to help the homeless who camped on open spaces around the city. Temporary markets were set up so the homeless could buy food.
To prevent such a disaster happening again the king commanded that all new houses in London should be of stone and brick not wood. Citizens were responsible for rebuilding their own houses but a tax was charged on coal brought by ship into London to finance the rebuilding of churches and other public buildings. Work began on rebuilding St Pauls in 1675 but it was not finished till 1711.
The population of London rose from about 600,000 in 1700 to 950,000 in 1800.
Many new buildings were erected in London in the 18th century. Buckingham Palace was built in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham. It was altered in the 19th century by John Nash (1752-1835) and the first monarch to live there was Queen Victoria in 1837.
London grew from 950,000 in 1800 to 6 million in 1900.
After 1850 Chinese immigrants started settling in Limehouse. There were also many Irish immigrants in the Docklands. By 1850 London had 20,000 Jews. Their numbers doubled in the 1880's when many refugees arrived from Russia and Eastern Europe.
Part of the reason for the growth of London was the railway, which made it possible for people to live away from the city centre and travel to work each day.
There were outbreaks of cholera in London in 1831, 1848-49 and finally in 1866. In 1859 work began on building a system of sewers for the whole city but it was not complete till 1875. After that deaths from disease fell drastically. The first underground railway opened in 1863. At first carriages were pulled by steam trains. The system was electrified in 1890-1905.
In 1834 Parliament was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt to a design by Charles Barry. The new parliament included a great clock, which is now known as Big Ben. Originally only the bell which struck the hour was called Big Ben (It was probably named after Sir Benjamin Hall, the Commissioner of Works) but in time people began to call the whole clock tower Big Ben.
London continued to be a great port but also a huge manufacturing centre.
Meanwhile in 1888 Jack the Ripper stalked the streets of the East End of London.
In the early 20th century London continued to grow rapidly.
The population of London rose from 6 million in 1900 to 8.7 million in 1939.
When the blitz began in September 1940 Londoners started sleeping in the underground stations and soon 150,000 people were sleeping there overnight. In the blitz about 20,000 people were killed and 25,000 were injured. The first blitz ended in May 1941 but in 1944 Germany began firing missiles at London and killed about 3,000 people.
In 1944 a plan for post war London was published.
In the 1950's London boomed. Car factories were very busy. So were the aircraft factories in north London. The docks were also very busy, employing 30,000 men. But in the 1960's the docks began to suffer from the break up of the British Empire.
In the 1950's West Indian immigrants started to arrive in London and by 1955 20,000 were arriving each year.
At the beginning of the 21st Century London continued to grow rapidly. The Greater London Authority was created in 2000. The same year the Tate Modern opened in a former power station. Furthermore the London Eye opened to the public in 2000. The 2012 Olympics will be held in London, confirming its status as one of the world's greatest cities.
Today the population of London is 7.2 million.
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
There was a guy who dreamed...
I always pictured myself living in another country, especially in Europe. May be because of my family, because of my studies or even because of my country's background. The point is I've never had any bad feeling about leaving Argentina, and I hope that feeling goes on for a few more months at least.
I just want to make it clear, leaving friends and family behind is never easy, nor for me or anybody, but as I traveled around during these years, and everytime with different people with different stories, I realised that if this is what I wanted to do, I'd better do it now, cause this is the time of my life. Youth, energy and freedom walk with me at this age, but surely one day they will go away.
After my experience in London in 2007, I knew that if I wanted to succeed in this project, I would have to seek some professional help, not a shrink but a really good teacher. I'd have to learn many things about Shakespeare, drama, theatre and how to work in it. And I thought, "I've lost 42 kg after a life of being fat...how hard can it be?" Well, it turns out very, and painful too, not so lonely though. The most importante thing is FOCUS and never lose your goal. There will be a lot of kind people willing to help you through.
I just want to make it clear, leaving friends and family behind is never easy, nor for me or anybody, but as I traveled around during these years, and everytime with different people with different stories, I realised that if this is what I wanted to do, I'd better do it now, cause this is the time of my life. Youth, energy and freedom walk with me at this age, but surely one day they will go away.
After my experience in London in 2007, I knew that if I wanted to succeed in this project, I would have to seek some professional help, not a shrink but a really good teacher. I'd have to learn many things about Shakespeare, drama, theatre and how to work in it. And I thought, "I've lost 42 kg after a life of being fat...how hard can it be?" Well, it turns out very, and painful too, not so lonely though. The most importante thing is FOCUS and never lose your goal. There will be a lot of kind people willing to help you through.
Monday, 4 April 2011
At the beginning...
The first time I went to the UK was in 2007. Why? An auddition at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama of London. Although I had a lot of preparation, I did not pass the auddition but I came back in love with the city. I promissed myself I will go back with all the training needed in order to pass the audditions for several schools and I will definitely stay in London. These are the chronicles of that promess.
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