From Paul to Potter

Since the London Eye is overrated (and overpriced), to give our friend Alexa a view of the city, Zoe, her roommate, and I decided to take her to St. Paul’s Cathedral. Built between 1675-1710, the building has seen an amazing amount of history: From the fallout of the British civil war to the Blitz (in which it served as both a navigation point for the Germans and a rallying point for the English). I had been meaning to visit since I came to London.

I wish I could show off photos of the breathtakingly ornate and elegant interior, but pictures are expressly forbidden within the cathedral.  What we were allowed to take pictures of was the view from the dome. You see, included within the ticket price is the ability to climb all 528 steps to the top, first to the Stone Gallery and then to the Golden Gallery. And I thought the inside of St. Paul’s was breathtaking…

The crowds peering through the stone on the Stone Gallery. © Violet Acevedo.

My friends pondering the view. © Violet Acevedo

Tourists taking in the cityscape from the Golden Gallery. © Violet Acevedo

The City of London. © Violet Acevedo.

Westminster and Lambeth. © Violet Acevedo.

After we were back on Earth, our legs aching from the exertion, we hurried to catch out bus to the Warner Brother’s studio to do what else but see the Harry Potter studio tour.

Alexa and Zoe were ecstatic, the giggling-uncontrollably, unable-to-stop-smiling type of ecstatic. I was excited but much tamer. While I’m a fan of Harry Potter (both the movies and books), it simple wasn’t as big of a part of my life as it was for them. But once we were grandly shown into the Great Hall at the beginning of the tour, I began to understand what they were feeling. The place was beautifully designed to engage people in not only the Potter-ness of everything but also the craft of the movies. It brilliantly showcased all the detail and talent involved within the making of all eight films. Everything was a monument to classic movie magic (literally and figuratively), and it was the film geek in me that became ecstatic.

Presenter introducing the tour before letting people into the Great Hall. © Violet Acevedo.

Crowds gathering around the professors’ costumes in the Great Hall. © Violet Acevedo.

Kid staring at himself in the Mirror of Erised. © Violet Acevedo.

Woman looking around in Dumbledore’s office. © Violet Acevedo

Dumbledore’s costume standing in his office. © Violet Acevedo.

Taking pictures of the case containing the Time Turner, Philosopher’s Stone, and much more. © Violet Acevedo

Practicing dueling moves from a video of the stunt coordinator. © Violet Acevedo.

Posing at the platform 9 3/4. © Violet Acevedo.

Waiting in line to board the Hogwarts Express. © Violet Acevedo.

Outside one of Hogwarts’ many bridges. © Violet Acevedo.

Make-up effects. © Violet Acevedo.

White card model of Hogsmeade. © Violet Acevedo,