Quantum of Site-Seeing

11-7-2008

This poster is everywhere in London. Bus sides, tube stations, billboards, corner stands, anywhere there is advertising space, it's there. I would not be surprised if the marketing for this movie costs as much as the making of the movie itself.

However, after seeing the film this afternoon and realizing how many on-site locations all over the world they had to shoot on and the amount of expensive car frames they had to destroy, I'd take that previous statement back. I watched Casino Royal for the first time the night before Quantum of Solace so it was an interesting experience taking in a whole new Bond in a mater of 36 hours. After much debate, I can honestly say I like it. He's darker and much more hardcore. This Bond, just like the Bond's of the past, fit the time in which he lives.

I started thinking about Bond films in a new way this time around as well. Instead of thinking of each Bond (Connery, Brosnan, Craig etc.) as completely different franchises, a friend explained to me how it's easier to think of each new Bond as existing in the same world as the previous Bond. The "code name" Bond is bestowed upon the new 007 agent who takes the place of the Bond before him who assumably retired or was killed. Make sense? Am I way off on thinking of Bond this way? Or is this a common understanding and I'm just way behind the curve? Anywho, enough film review.

We saw the film which was lovely. I must compare the cinema experience here in the UK to that of the US. Let say a movie starts at 1:15. The previews start at that time, the film, however, will not start until 1:45. And the previews do not just consist of upcoming films, but rather entertaining commercials as well. A good way to spend an afternoon in London after all. Following the Bondage (haha) we did a bit of window shopping in Camden.

The rest of my Friday was spent playing tour guide, which believe me, I don't mind in the least. Two of my roommate's friends came to visit for the weekend from Poland. So we figured it would be nice to show them around. It was actually really interesting watching some one's face light up the first time they saw Trafalgar square, Picadilly Circus, or Big Ben. I'm sure that's they way I looked just a little over a month ago. But now I feel more like a citizen of London and some of those sites don't wow me quite like they did. However, that's why taking people on a little site-seeing tour like we did is a great way to keep things in perspective. It's not hard to do, but I every so often I have to remind myself that I'm in London. I'm seeing amazing sites everyday, and living a life that I once only dreamed.

Our friends Nick and Sarah definitely didn't want to waste a second here and hence didn't take any of it for granted. We walked to Parliament Square then over to Trafalgar where we once again climbed upon Nelson's column. After chill'n there Nick tried out his freestyle walking and jumped off.

But not before we got a picture next to on of the four massive lions protecting Nelson. I know it's a touch dark, but that's me on the top riding the lion, riding him all the way home.

It was a perfect night for a bit of touring around London, as it was the first night the Christmas lights around the city were illuminated (at least, the first night I saw them). Stretching over Regents like webs spun from a spider-man on fluorescent crack were massive stars dropping down so low it looked like they were going to scrape the tops of the double-decker buses as they drove down Regents Street.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, London's got class. Their tasteful display of Christmas lights is yet another example of how the UK will always be more classy than the US.

Speaking of classy, it was time to go out clubbing. After all, we had visitors and there is no way one can say they've official done London without going clubbing once.

One can also not claim they've been to London without riding the tube. So we took them for a journey to the club on the most famous underground rail system in the world.

I would not, however, suggest running you fingers along the train as it pulls into the station. No damage will be done, but the blackness that forms on your tips will have you wondering just where the train has been. Definitely the least hygienic thing I've done since being in London.

Following that short dirty ride back up to Camden, we visited the Koko club, one of the best clubs in London. Most weekends featuring big name bands and every night of the week housing some of the best DJs around. Tonight there was a band that I did not know, yet they rocked the place with their classic British rock-pop sound.

Once the band finished we made our way to the cheapest drunk munchies we could find... and I mean cheap in every way: food, quality, and price. But there's no better way to end a day in Londontown.