CHAPTER 1

TRADITIONAL LONDON LONDRES TRADICIONAL

I love visiting London.

Yo amo visitar Londres.

It's one of the most exciting cities in the world.

Es una de las ciudades ms excitantes en el mundo.

There's something for everyone - a rich history, wonderful museums, great theatre, innovative music and an incredible variety of ethnic food.

Hay algo para todo el mundo - una historia rica, los museos maravillosos, gran teatro, msica innovadora y una variedad increble de comida tnica.
Recently, I visited London for the New Year with Pablo, a Spanish friend of mine.

Recientemente, yo visit Londres durante el Nuevo Ao con Pablo, un amigo espaol mo.
He had never been there before.

l nunca haba estado all antes.

At the end of our first day, we went to a pub.

Al final de nuestro primer da, nosotros fuimos a una taberna.

Like many pubs in Britain, it had a very relaxed atmosphere.

Como muchas tabernas en Bretaa, tena una atmsfera muy relajada.

There were comfortable chairs, a carpet on the floor, and lighting wasn't very bright.

Haba sillas cmodas, una alfombra en el suelo, y la iluminacin no era muy brillante.
Like most British pubs, it also had an enormous selection of beers, which are usually served in pint glasses.A pint is approximately half a litre.

Como la mayora de las tabernas britnicas, tena tambin una seleccin enorme de cervezas que normalmente se sirven en vasos de la pinta. Una pinta es
aproximadamente medio litro.

We got a couple of pints of beer and sat down to talk.

Nosotros conseguimos un par de pintas de cerveza y nos sentamos para hablar.

Our conversation was soon interrupted by the barman.

Nuestra conversacin fue interrumpida pronto por el mozo de taberna.

"Sorry, gentlemen," he said.

"Disculpen, caballeros," l dijo.

"We're closing in twenty minutes. Can I get you anything else?"

"Nosotros estamos cerrando en veinte minutos. Puedo hacerles algo ms?

I ordered two more pints and promised the barman that we would finish them before closing time.

Yo ped dos pintas ms y promet al mozo de la taberna que nosotros los terminaramos antes de acabar el tiempo.
"He's joking, isn't he?

"l est hablando en broma, no est l?

It's only 10.40!"exclaimed Pablo, as the barman went to the bar to get our pints.

Son slo las 10.40!"Pablo exclamado, cuando el mozo de taberna fue a la barra para conseguir nuestras pintas.
"No, he isn't," I laughed.

"No, l no es," yo me re.

That's what happens here."

so es lo que pasa aqu."

"Then let's finish our beer quickly and find another pub that doesn't close so early," said Pablo.

"Entonces terminemos nuestra cerveza rpidamente y encuentre otra taberna que no cierra tan temprano," dijo Pablo.
"You don't understand," I explained.

"Usted no entiende," yo expliqu.

"Most of the pubs in Britain close at the same time - 11.00 pm."

"La mayora de las tabernas en cierre de Bretaa al mismo tiempo - 23.00."

"Well, maybe that's the reason why British people drink so quickly!" I said.

"Bien, quiz sa es la razn por qu las personas britnicas beben tan rpidamente!" Yo dije.
As we walked out of the pub, I asked Pablo what his first impressions of London were.

Cuando nosotros salimos de la taberna, yo le pregunt sus primeras impresiones de Londres eran a Pablo.
His answer surprised me.

Su respuesta me sorprendi.
"I think it's a very traditional city," he said.

"Yo pienso que es una ciudad muy tradicional," l dijo.

"The buildings, the way of life - even the time that the pubs close!"

"Los edificios, el estilo de vida - incluso el tiempo que las tabernas cierran!"
I had never thought of that before. He was right!

Y nunca lo habia pensado antes. l tena razn!

London's a very modern and cosmopolitan city, but it is also very traditional.

Londres es una ciudad muy moderna y cosmopolita, pero tambin es muy tradicional.

"Well, Pablo," I said.

"Bien, Pablo," yo dije.

"Tomorrow I'll take you for what I think is Britian's most distinctive tradition - afternoon tea."

"Maana yo lo tomar para lo que yo pienso es Britian la mayora la tradicin distintiva - el t de la tarde."
"But the British drink tea all the time.

"Pero el t de la bebida britnico todo el tiempo. ?*?

Why is drinking tea in the afternoon so distinctive?"

Por qu beber t por la tarde es tan distintivo?

asked Pablo.

pregunta Pablo.
"You'll see why tomorrow," I said.

"Usted ver por qu maana," yo dije.

"Trust me."

"Confe en m."
The next afternoon, I took Pablo to a good hotel in the centre of London.

La prxima tarde, yo 'tom' a Pablo a un hotel bueno en el centro de Londres.

We sat at a table in a beautiful room enjoying the tea and the atmosphere.

Nosotros nos sentbamos a una mesa en un cuarto bonito que disfrutando el t y la atmsfera.
Everyone in the hotel's tearoom was nicely dressed.

Todos en el cuarto del t del hotel ibamos muy bien vestidos.

"Everything is so civilised!" Pablo suddenly exclaimed.

"Todo es tan civilizado!" Pablo exclam de repente.

"Yes it is, isn't it?

"S es, no es? ?*?

I replied, smiling.

Yo contest y sonriendo.
The tea room was full of people sitting at tables, drinking tea and talking quietly.

El cuarto de t estaba lleno de las personas sentadas a las mesas, bebiendo t y hablando calladamente.
Many of the people were eating small cucumber sandwiches, cake and scones.

Muchas de las personas estaban comiendo sandwiches del pepino pequeos, pastel y bizcocho ingls.
Scones are a type of sweet bread that you eat with jam and cream.

Los bizcochos ingleses son un tipo de pan dulce que usted come con mermelada y crema.
I don't like cream, so I ate my scone just with jam.

No me gusta la crema, para que yo me coma mi bizcocho ingls slo con mermelada.
"It's difficult to believe that I'm in the largest capital city in Europe at the end of the twentieht century," said Pablo.

"Es difcil creer que yo estoy en la ciudad importante ms grande en Europa al final del siglo del vigsimo," dijo Pablo.
"It feels like I'm in one of those old British films!" said Pablo.

"Se siente como si yo estuviese en una de esas pelculas britnicas viejas!" dijo Pablo.
On New Year's Eve, Pablo and I went to Trafalgar Square, which is the traditional place to celebrate New Year's Eve in London.

En la Vspera de Nuevo Ao, Pablo y m fue a Trafalgar Square que es el lugar tradicional para celebrar la Vspera de Nuevo Ao en Londres.
It is an enormous area quite near Big Ben, the world's most famous clock, and there were more than 20,000 people in the square.

Es una rea enorme bastante cerca de Big Ben, el reloj ms famoso del mundo, y haba ms de 20,000 personas en el 'cuadrado'.
Almost everyone was wearing funny hats and there was a very festive atmosphere.

Casi todo el mundo estbamos llevando sombreros cmicos y haba una atmsfera muy festiva.
Midnight finally came and we waited to hear Big Ben 's bells announce the New Year.

Medianoche vino finalmente y nosotros esperamos or las campanillas del Big Ben que anuncian el Nuevo Ao.
The countdown began.

La cuenta atrs a comenzado.

"Ten! Nine! Eight! ... Three! Two! ..."

"Diez! Nueve! Ocho! ... Tres! Dos! ..."

Suddenly, people began shouting, "Happy New Year!"

De repente, las personas empezaron a gritar, "Feliz Ao Nuevo"!

We couldn't hear the bells because there was so much noise.

Nosotros no podramos or las campanillas porque haba mucho ruido.

A man turned round to wish us a Happy New Year and saw that we looked disappointed.

Un hombre se volvi a desearnos un Nuevo Ao Feliz y vio que nosotros mirabamos alrededor defraudados.
What's wrong?" he asked. "It's New Year's Eve!

"Qu va mal?" l pregunt. "Es la Vspera de Nuevo Ao!

It's time to have fun!"

Es tiempo para divertirse!"

"I didn't hear the bells," I replied.

"Yo no o las campanillas," yo contest.

"I thought that people came here to listen to Big Ben's bells at midnight."

"Yo pens que las personas vinieron aqu para escuchar a las campanillas del

Big Ben a medianoche."

The man smiled and said, "Well, I've been here many times on New Year's Eve and I've never heard them.

El hombre sonri y dijo, "Bien, yo he estado aqu muchas veces en la Vspera de Nuevo Ao y yo nunca los he odo.
There are too many people here.

Hay demasiadas personas aqu.

You need to be nearer to Big Ben to hear the bells."

Usted necesita estar ms cercano al Big Ben para or las campanillas."

Pablo and I were completely confused.

Pablo y yo estbamos completamente desconcertados.

"Then why do you come here?" asked Pablo.

"Entonces por qu viene usted aqu?" Pablo pregunt.

The man didn't hesitate.

El hombre no dud.
"Because it's tradition, mate." he said.

"Porque es tradicin, compaero." el dijo. * * * * * * *

One of London's greatest is traditions is producing some of the best theatre in the world.

Una de las tradiciones ms grandes de Londres es hacer un poco del mejor teatro del mundo.
I don't think a visit to London is complete without going to the theatre. There are 52 theatres in the West End, London's theatre.

Yo no pienso que una visita a Londres est completa sin ir al teatro. Hay 52 teatros en el Extremo Oriental, el teatro de Londres.
I try to go to the theatre at least once when I visit London.

Yo intento ir por lo menos una vez al teatro cuando yo visito Londres.

My most memorable theatrical experience in London was two years ago and it wasn't in the West End.

Mi experiencia teatral ms memorable en Londres era hace dos aos y no estaba en el Extremo Oriental.
It was in an area called Southwark (pronuncied Suthar) on the south bank of the River Thames, at the Globe Theatre.

Estaba en una rea llamado Southwark (pronunciado Suthar) en el banco sur del Ro Thames, en el Teatro del Globo.
The original Globe Theatre was where most of Shakespeare's plays were performed for the first time.

El Teatro del Globo original era donde la mayora de las obras de Shakespeare se hicieron por primera vez.
It was built in 1599 but unfortunately, burned down in the middle of the 17th century and was destroyed again 30 years later.

Se construy en 1599 pero desgraciadamente, se quem a mediados del siglo 17 y se destruy de nuevo 30 aos despus.
The new Globe Theatre was finished a few years ago, only 300 years later!

El nuevo Teatro del Globo fue terminado hace pocos aos, slo 300 aos

despus!
I had a fantastic time at the Globe.

Yo tena un tiempo fantstico al Globo.??*(se referir a posicin, sitio, vista)

I had studied Shakespeare at university and was excited about seeing one of his plays in the theatre where they were originally performed.

Yo haba estudiado a Shakespeare en la universidad y estaba entusiasmado sobre ver uno de sus obras en el teatro donde ellos fueron realizados originalmente. El Globo tiene la forma de una "O" y obras que slo se realiza durante los meses calurosos de mayo hasta medio-septiembre porque no hay un tejado encima del centro del edificio.
If it rains, you get wet - and it rains a lot in London!

The Globe has the shape of an "O" and plays are only performed during the warm months from May until mid-September because there isn't a roof over the centre of the building.

Si llueve, usted se moja - y llueve mucho en Londres!

I went in August and it rained both before and after the performance, but fortunately not during!

Yo fui en agosto y llovi ambos antes y despus de la actuacin, pero afortunadamente no durante! (MENTIRA)
The theatre has seats for 1000 people and another 500 people can stand in the of the "O" .

El teatro tiene asientos para 1000 personas y otras 500 personas pueden estar de pie en el del "O."
The people who stand are called "groundlings".

Las personas que estn en esta posicin son llamados "brezos de tierra."
I bought a "groundling" ticket for the afternoon performance.

Yo compr boleto a un "brezo de tierra" para la actuacin de la tarde.

Nearly every had an umbrella with them and the ground was wet and muddy from the rain.

Aproximadamente todos tenan un paraguas con ellos y la tierra estaba hmeda y barrosa de la lluvia.
I was quite cold at the start of the play, but soon forgot about it because I was having a great time.

Yo estuve bastante fro en la salida de la obra, pero pronto se olvid de eso porque yo estaba teniendo un gran tiempo.??*"time no se"??
The actors made some of their entrances and exits by pushing through the audience.

Los actores hicieron algunas de sus entradas y salidas empujando por (en) medio del pblico.
I almost fell into the mud when one of the actors pushed me as he was exiting.

Yo casi ca en el barro cuando uno de los actores me empuj cuando l estaba saliendo.
(J0DTe TA TENIAS CABER MATAO)

Luckily, a young man behind me caught me.

Por suerte, un hombre joven detrs de m me cogi.

I took advantage of a five-minutes break between acts to thank him.

Yo me aprovech de un descanso de los cinco-minutos entre los actos de dar las gracias.
His name was Mike and he was a lighting designer from a theatre in the West End.

Su nombre era Mike y l era un diseador de la iluminacin de un teatro en el Extremo Oriental.

"This is incredible," I said.

"Esto es increble," yo dije.

"Except for the fact that everyone is wearing modern clothes, I feel like I'm

back in the early

1600S." "Salvo el hecho que todos estamos llevando ropa moderna, yo me siento como m regresa en los antiguos aos 1600."
"Said, there are a few other differences," said Mike.

"Bien, hay unas pocas diferencias," dijo Mike.

"Really? What are they?" I asked.

"Realmente? Cul son ellos"? yo pregunt.

"Well, one difference is that today women play the female roles," Mike explained.

"Bien, una diferencia es que hoy las mujeres interpretan los papeles hembras," Mike explic.
"Women weren't allowed to be actresses in Shakespeare's time. The female roles were played by teenage boys."

"No se permitieron a las mujeres ser actrices por el tiempo de Shakespeare. Los papeles hembras fueron interpretados por muchachos adolescentes."
"Yes, I know.

"Si, lo saba.
I must admit that I prefer seeing real women on stage!"

Yo debo admitir que yo prefiero ver a las mujeres reales en escenario!" Yo dije.
I said.
(pues yo no putas muertes vivientes de la mierda)

"So do I, mate," agreed Mike.

"Lo mismo yo, compaero," estaba de acuerdo Mike.

"What are some of the other differences?"

(MALTIDO feminista)

"Lo que es algunas de las otras diferencias?"

"Probably the biggest difference between Shakespeare's time and now is that the 'ground lings' then ate, drank and talked during the performance."

"Probablemente la diferencia ms grande entre el tiempo de Shakespeare y ahora es que el ' brezos de tierra entonces comian, bebian y hablaban durante la actuacin."
"But then they'd be too distracted to watch the play, wouldn't they?"

"Pero entonces ellos miraban la obra para distraerse tambin, no habra ellos?" ??*no habra ellos*no*

"Believe me, they paid attention," Mike assured me.

"Crame, ellos prestaban atencin," Mike me asegur.

"As a matter of fact, if they didn't like an actor's performance, they shouted at him and even threw food at him!"

"De hecho, si no les gustara la actuacin de un actor, ellos le gritaban a l e incluso le tiraban comida a l!"
"It's a pity that modern audiences are much more polite.

"Es una piedad que los pblicos modernos sean mucho ms corteses.
It would be fun to feel like a real "ground ling" from Shakespeare's time," I said with a laugh.

Sera divertido sentirse como un "brezo de tierra" real del tiempo de Shakespeare," yo dije con una risa.
Listen, I've come to the Globe many times," said Mike.

Escuche, yo he venido al Globo muchas veces," dijo Mike.

"The audiences are more polite, but I've seen some strange things happen here."

"Los pblicos son ms corteses, pero yo he visto algunas cosas extraas pasar aqu."
Before I could ask him to give me some examples, the next act began and we both started to watch the performance.

Antes de que yo pudiera pedirle que me diera algunos ejemplos, el siguiente acto empez y nosotros los dos empezamos a mirar la actuacin.
"Of course," I answered.

"Por supuesto," yo contest.

"Then look to your right."

"Entonces mire a su derecho."

I casually looked to my right and was completely surprised by what I saw.

Yo ocasionalmente mir a mi derecha y estuve completamente sorprendido por lo que yo vi.

There was a girl standing a few metres away from me feeding a small dog she had under her arm!

Haba una muchacha que est de pie unos metros lejos de m alimentando un perro pequeo que ella tena bajo su brazo!
It was definitely the first and only time I've seen a dog in the audience at the theatre!

Fue definitivamente el primero y unico momento que yo he visto un perro en el pblico de un teatro!
Mike and I went for a coffee together after the performance.

Mike y yo fuimos a un caf juntos despus de la actuacin.

He told me that he could get me free tickets to the theatre whenever I visited London.

l me dijo que l pudiera conseguirme los boletos libres al teatro siempre que yo visitara Londres.

He's a good person to know!

l es una persona buena para conocer!