Art Project: Let's Make a Model

Welcome aboard Grade 2's!  I really enjoyed reading all your comments.  It is great knowing I have a team at home to help me if ever I need some support on my journey.  I hope you don't mind if along the way I ask you guys to do some research to help me with my journey?  You guys have already given me so many great tips.  Thank you!

Today I wanted to share with you another great art project you can try at home.  While I was visiting the Tower of London I came across a model of the buildings. 

A model is a great way of clearly showing someone how something looks without them having to see the object or building.  You should try to make a model.  You could make a model of a community building, or a form of transportation in your city.  Don't worry about using new materials, check your recycling bin at home and see what items you have in there first.  Can you make a model completely out of recycled objects?  I can't wait to see how your models turn out.

British Candy

 
For years now a good friend of mine Samantha has been trying to get me to try Turkish Delight, but I have resisted.  If you have ever read The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe you will know that the Ice Queen lured Edmond away from his family by tempting him with Turkish Delight, so trying it always seemed like a bad idea.  A popular candy in the Victorian Era (around 1890), Turkish Delight is still available today in London, but today’s version is a little different.  Now Turkish Delight is covered in chocolate!  I picked some up at a local shop for 60 pence, which is about one dollar, to see if I would like it.

What does it taste like?  Think of a big, giant gummy bear that is rose flavoured and then dipped in chocolate.   Turkish Delight hasn’t become my new favourite candy bar, but it is an interesting treat to sample every once and a while, (if you like eating flowers that is).

Alvin Ailey Dance Company

Whenever I am in London I always enjoy going to the theatre.  It is great watching people perform on stage, it helps me get inspired for the performances we do on stage back at school.  This time while in London, I got invited to watch a dance performance by the Alvin Ailey Dance Company.  They are an American dance company that focuses on presenting contemporary dance from an African-American perspective.  The various dances that they produce are stories, and they were quite moving.  My favourite piece was called The Hunt.  It was dark, and mysterious and was choreographed to loud, fast drumming sounds.  I can’t wait to watch more dance as I make my way around the globe.

A London Establishment: The Wolseley

I was invited out for a fancy lunch with Jenny and Lewis, Arren’s mum and stepdad, and I couldn’t turn down the offer.   They treated me to a meal at The Wolseley, a great place to enjoy a long and leisurely lunch while looking around trying to catch a glimpse of celebrities and famous politicians.  The menu is very grown-up with things like chopped liver and steak tartare (basically raw meat) being items you can find on the list.  I enjoyed a goat cheese and tomato tart, followed by Wiener Schnitzel Holstein and then for dessert I had a Lemon Meringue Coupe, which is a special way of saying a Lemon Meringue Sundae.  It was a perfect afternoon.  Take a look at the menu and see if there are any items you would like to try?

Wiener Schnitzel Holstein - Breaded Veal, with an egg and anchoives ontop.

Tower of London: Stepping Back In Time



The entrance into the Tower of London

The Tower of London is an amazing place where you can learn a lot about London and the people who lived in the city over one thousand years ago.  London in the Middle Ages was very different to London today.  Back in those days if the King didn't like you (maybe you said he couldn't do something he really wanted to do), chances are you would end up in jail, or even worse, lose your head!  Punishments were always pretty cruel.  If you were found gossiping (talking about your friend in a mean way), you would have to wear this mask for a while.  Looks pretty uncomfortable if you ask me.



The Gossip Mask

I found it interesting that jail wasn't always a terrible punishment.  Some jail cells looked like this.  They had furniture and a fireplace, almost like a modern day hotel room.  Some prisoners were even allowed to have their families live in the Tower of London with them.

A jail cell at the Tower of London

Today the Tower of London is still used as a fortress.  It is where all of the Queen's jewels and gold items are kept safe.  During the day you can go into the massive safe where all the treasure is kept, but at night guards lock up the safe to keep all those diamonds out of burglars' hands.

Magic in a Big City.

London is a pretty big city.  It has a population of around 7.5 million people.  That is 3 times more people than Toronto.  So what are the chances of bumping into two people you just emailed the day before?  That is exactly what happened to me when I bumped into Franda and Steven, a lovely couple who just last year moved from Toronto to London.  You can imagine how weird it was to run into them without having planned it.  I wonder what other magic will happen as my trip continues.

London Fashion

Dear Boys and Girls,

Next week is London Fashion Week, so to help celebrate the occasion I asked my sister-in-law Lucy to help me out.  She is the Creative Director at a fashion reporting and consulting company called BLINK, which means she knows a lot about fashion and what people like to wear around London.  She took me to a store called Topman and in under five minutes she picked out three outfits for me to try on (I wish she could always come shopping with me!)  Which look do you think I should buy?  I can't wait to hear what you think.

How about you?  Are you still wearing your summer clothes, or have you started to wear your fall wardrobe yet?

Mr. Pimentel

Outfit A

Outfit B

Outfit C

London Street Food

Only in London will you find fancy street food like Champagne and oysters.  Sounds like street food the Queen might enjoy!  I wonder what other kinds of street food I will come across as I travel?

What is it?

Today while walking along the Southbank in London I came across this.  What do you think it might be?  A dinosaur egg?  A giant jellybean?  Do you have any ideas?

A Kid’s Guide to London

Now that I am in London I need to start planning out how I am going to spend my time here. There is so much to see and I only have a few days before I head off to a new city. Here are some ideas to consider,

I love the London Eye and I have done that before. I have also seen lots of theatre in London, but I have never watched a dance performance in London, so maybe I will do that. I like all the restaurant suggestions and hope I can visit one that you have recommended. I can’t wait to start exploring.

Thanks for all the tips!

Mr. Pimentel

I Am Here - London, England

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