Today was my first "real" day in London, and I got to try figuring out public transportation in a new country. Luckily, London has an *amazing* transit system... and the signs all being in English helped a lot. I had my day today loosely planned out ahead of time, having looked up things I'd like to see ahead of time. One of the first things I had added to my list also happened to be closest to my AirBnB, so I stopped by the "wax house"
Which is an art exhibit... the whole house, excepting the roof, is made of wax. I arrived on the last day of the exhibit, it had been on display all summer, and was supposed to be "nothing but a roof" by the end of it. I think they perhaps underestimated the amount of heat it would take to melt the whole house. The white "mortar" wax they used reflected enough sunlight that barely any of it had melted. I believe the inspiration for this piece was a wax factory that used to stand on that spot, and the message was something about the transient nature of our society.
I came across some interesting utility covers which doubled as landmark guides:
And a building where they're *really* serious about clamping:
As well as a first-world anarchist:
Then I went to Tate Modern and saw some modern art:
Yes. That last one was really an art exhibit. The air duct was taped off and everything.
Then I rode on the Tate Boat down the Thames to visit the Tate Britain. On the way I got to see Big Ben:
and the London Eye:
At the Tate Britain I found a statue of the Rocketeer:
and a big art structure that looks like it really belongs in the Tate Modern:
I also came across the International Maritime Organization, which has a ship coming out the front of it:
And some living statues having a chat:
I also found a community of people living on boats, which I had read about in a magazine on the plane, including a guy who runs a book store out of a boat:
I was also planning on checking out the Barbican Estate, which is apparently something of an urban maze, a post-war housing project that's full of corridors and oddly shaped spaces. Unfortunately my ankles were rather done walking, so instead I made my way back to my bed for the evening.
