SWORDS SWORDS SWORDS!

I had combat class on Thursday. I HAD COMBAT CLASS! Holy poo. It was so much fun. We worked with rapier and dagger (combo) sword play learning this thing called the mystery circle. Everyone had a really good time and learned how to attack and parry. From there we had other classes, but I don't think anyone really cared. That kind of took the cake. The nerd in me died. Two young guys were helping the Globe's combat master, and they demonstrated some choreographed fights from various Shakespearean plays. Very cool. Very intense. I was jealous. The next day we had a costume seminar and we got to see the Globe's costume store. WOW. All the original practice costumes were in storage. Incredible. We were all drooling a little. A lot actually.  Saturday we went and toured a replica of the Golden Hinde -Sir Francis Drake's privateering ship -I studied him at the British Library. SO COOL! Also...pirates. Need I say more? From there I went into London and explored with my friend Jordan and we went to Primark on the street where Kate Middleton does a lot of her shopping. Places like Top Shop and the like. It was intense. Sunday saw Jordan and I at Fortnum and Mason's. It's beautiful. We did some more general exploring and enjoyed ourselves. This morning Meredith and I went on a run that was going to be short and ended up in a giant circle of London. An hour later we had seen Big Ben, millennium bridge, Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, the Royal Cavalry Museum -and the guards that have to be stoic and not move or show emotion, there were tourists taking their picture with him, poor guy -and St. Paul's cathedral. It was a wonderful morning. I finished out the day with classes at the Globe. More to come!