“What the world can show”: Friday on the Southbank.

“By seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show.”

— Samuel Johnson

The Southbank never ceases to amaze me.

When my beloved mother came to Londontown for a visit in April, we had such a good time meandering past street performers and carnival rides that I knew I had to make sure my best friend Jen and I did the same last week. And–true to form–the Southbank didn’t disappoint. There were plenty of metallic-painted posers for us to gawk at, but so much more than I’d expected.

I wrote a few days ago about a brilliant mosaic display we fell in love with on one of the many beach huts currently lining the river.

These huts, though, were only a small part of the entire festival celebration. Another display–called “A Great Day out on Sea”–first caught my attention with a vintage tourism poster for Southend-on-Sea. It was part of a much bigger floral exhibit promoting the unique Victorian vegetation of the seaside town–there was even an old rowboat set amongst the seagrass and brightly colored flowers.

While Jen was bemused by the concrete overhang that was home to graffiti and a slew of skaters, I was charmed by the section of sidewalk that had been converted into a beach. Whilst it seemed to be more a place for less active hipsters to hang out away from their parents–the many yellow sandbuckets making for a great seat–the makeshift beach was a nice reminder to me of summers spent in the Outer Banks as a child.

And then we came across what would be, for us, the pièce de résistance of the afternoon. Just past all the displays for the Southbank festival was a curious set-up: a small tent top and a big bus on the side of which was assembled a temporary stage–all of it proclaiming, “Lyon, the ideal French city.” Although I’d spent the entire week before Jen arrived scouring the web for free performances in London and had come up with nothing, I’d unknowingly led us to just the thing–“Lyon on Tour,” the most creative tourism-promotion scheme I’ve seen yet.

On the stage a number of black-clad dancers were stretching and warming up, part of the “Pockemon Crew,” a world-renowned breakdancing troupe. While Jen and I weren’t entirely impressed when they danced as a group (a little synchronization never hurt anyone), we were mesmerized by the individual performances–from spinning on their head to back flips off the stage. After all, the show was free.

After the show finished, we were sadly forced to scurry off towards Piccadilly Circus for a dinner reservation, but I left grateful as always for the Southbank.

Not only because it takes the pressure off me as a host–guaranteeing an afternoon along its shore will be well spent–but for continually showing me a new side to a city I call home (for now) as well…