Europe Part One: London

Les Miserables

When I was ten, I resolved to learn and belt out "Do you hear the People sing" whenever able. It was about freedom and right overcoming wrong-And I eagerly looked forward to my first viewing of Les Mis when it came to Los Angeles and I prioritized it when I went to London for the first time. Since then, it has become a tradition. If I am in London I watch Les Miserables. And somehow it has never bored me.The themes fascinate me as do the nuanced interpretations in the different productions. This Fantine was dirty and desperate. She played her part like a true woman of the night. The last Fantine was playful. Her downfall was pathetic. This Marius was boyish. His loves scenes were convincing, but his sorrow elicited little response. This Val Jean was the best. He changed the intonations and made the other Val Jeans unmemorable. But regardless,who is performing; justice, mercy, freedom, humanity, redemption and love is shown."Do you hear the people sing lost in the valley of the night/It is the music of the people who are climbing towards the light." What is the light? It is redemption, hope. And one leaves the show convinced that love is redeeming and that men are not perfect, but grace can take a man "no worse than any man," and bring him salvation

St. Paul's Cathedral

The step's to the bell tower are narrow and twisty. The last ascent is particularly "'perilous" as one must brave an iron Victorian staircase where one sees through the rungs. Right before entering the bell tower there is a small hole to look through. Hundreds of feet below, is the Cathedral floor with little ant people and ant furniture. Your stomach collapses in and then expands back out, but when the top is reached, and the crisp air blows away the sweat of the climb, the effort is worth it. All around is London, old London, new London, the Thames, the Eye, the Globe Theater. Slowly, one walks the small circumference. One takes a couple pictures and then begins the descent down, down, where the angelic choir sings filling the whispering gallery and the main chancel. -Leilani