The Tate Modern and Why I Love Getting Lost

LONDON, England, U.K.

London is one of those cities where no matter how many times you return, you will always find something new to do or somewhere you've never been. It is just such a dynamic city that offers even the most seasoned traveler new experiences with each visit, and is one of the reason I love coming back. On this particular return trip my goal was to visit the Tate Modern.

My cousin Paolo has been living and working as an architect in London for almost 3 years. We share an interest in travel, architecture and of the fine arts, so it was he who ended up accompanying me to the Tate Modern. The Tate stays open until 11:00PM Friday and Saturdays, the rest of the week, the museum closes at 6:00PM. After dropping off my mother and sister at the hotel late that afternoon (they were tired, so I did not abandon them! hehe), I ventured out again and met my cousin at the London Underground station closest to his flat. Taking the London Underground was inconvenient and we couldn't find a bus that would take us to the Tate, consequently we ended up walking all the way there. I enjoy seeing a city on foot, it allows me to discover hidden alleys that lead to hidden courtyards, walk through areas that are off the beaten path, and interact with locals that you don't normally meet when you take other transportation. I just love getting "lost" (hence the name of this blog *hehe*). London at night is a very different experience as we made our way to the Tate, imagine walking through the financial/work district devoid of the 9-to-5 folks, St. Paul's Cathedral and it's familiar and reassuring dome taking on a more sinister atmosphere at night, instead of a sleek Millennium Bridge you find a dimly lit path over the Thames where the normally gleaming stainless steel is muted by raindrops and the dark night sky. For me it was a very interesting walk that made me forget the aches in my legs and feet that accompany the tail-end of a long vacation.

The Tate Modern is in a converted power station where the main hall gives new meaning to 'vaulted ceilings'. I admit I don't always understand "Modern Art", sometimes I look in awe and appreciation of a piece or exhibit or I find myself scratching my head trying to figure out what the efff the artist was thinking. From groups of silverware flattened by a steam roller and suspended by wires from the ceiling, to a whole new interpretation of 'soap-on-a-rope' (used soap from all over London strung together on a 30-foot rope), to gritty moving pictures of a naked man performing random actions played out in an endless loop, to more "traditional" modern art from the likes of Miro and Dali, the Tate Modern is a wonderful trove of exhibits that will compel and engage you one way or another. It is definitely one of those attractions you shouldn't miss or one of the reason you will want to return to London if you didn't see it the first time you visited.

Most tourist visit the Tate Modern during the day time and quickly leave for the next attraction on a tight itinerary. After our unhurried pace though the different rooms, my cousin took me to the top floor to have a drink at the restaurant/bar. What greeted us was a jaw-dropping vista of the London skyline at night. Imagine everything from Big Ben and the Parliament Building to the Tower Bridge (and in between) bathed in a soft glow and seemingly glistening from a brief late afternoon rain shower. I thanked Paolo for sharing this little nugget of tourist treasure with me and told him that this definitely made my U.K. trip worthwhile. Getting lost or simply experiencing a city at night gives you a totally different perspective on things. I could have easily nursed that bottle of beer until the morning hours, content at gazing out the view windows and appreciating London in an entirely different manner, trading stories and thankful of cousins who know just how to make your trip memorable in even the simplest of ways.