LONDON

Sunday, March 3:
          It took seven hours to get to our hotel in London, but I didn't mind the trip because I had the very back row in the bus and I laid across the seats to nap. Towards the end of the trip, Justin (my photography professor) and some of my classmates thought it would be fun to do some gambling. We played the card game 31. I was all set up to win the second game, but I was too bus sick so I had to forfeit. Our hotel, St. Giles, was in central London and was very nice in location and quality. After settling in, we walked to the British Museum. One could spend days in there and not see everything. I spent most of my time looking at the European History and Ancient Greece and Italy exhibits. After a couple hours, Wade took some of us on the Underground to go on the London Eye. We timed it perfectly. We got on at twilight and when it was over it was dark. It was amazing for picture taking. I would highly recommend going on the London Eye; it is so worth the price. Then, we walked around Big Ben and took the Tube back to our hotel. I loved riding the underground; it is such a fast and easy way to get around. I bought some caramelized cashews and almonds off a street vendor. They were delicious. I saved them over the next couple of days and had them in the evenings with my coffee or tea:)

 Monday, March 4:
          I ate a good breakfast at the hotel and was all ready for the fun-filled day. We first toured Parliament. Westminster Palace is stunning. I wonder if the politicians ever get distracted by their royal and grand surroundings. We had a lovely redheaded tour guide who told us all sorts of entertaining stories and facts about the history and current events of the site. There are so many ceremonial rituals performed at Westminster, such as the knocking on the House of Common's door and searching of the cellars for gunpowder at State Openings. Next, I toured Westminster Abbey. I got to walk the same path as kings and queens of old did for weddings and coronations. I also was able to see all the famous royal and noble tombs, including Henry VII, Elizabeth of York, Mary Queen of Scots, and the Dukes of Northumberland to name but a few. After that tour, I walked up to Westminster Cathedral. It was built in the Byzantine style. Later on, Wade took us on a walk from Parliament Square to Buckingham Palace to St. James's Park to Horse Guards Parade to Trafalgar's Square. We went to see the National Gallery and afterward I walked back to the hotel and grabbed a Turkish pizza wrap for supper. I freshened up and took the underground to Victoria Palace Theatre for Billy Elliot. We all really enjoyed the show and it was about the North East of England. The cast was incredible, especially the talented boy who played Billy Elliot. He was thoroughly impressive. We took a bus back to the hotel where I took a nice long bath after a long day.

 

Tuesday, March 5:

          Woke up early to eat breakfast and go grocery shopping before we headed off to the Tower of London. I spent an hour looking at the crown jewels. I had a Yeomen Warder tell me the history of several different pieces and gemstones. I went on a tour and got to see the burial place of the queens of Henry VIII. Wade took us on a walk to Tower Bridge and along the River Thames. Mychaela and I relaxed and went mud larking on the riverbank, which is searching for treasures. We didn't find any treasures, but we did find some pretty shells. We spent five minutes in the Tate Modern. It was too nice of a day to be indoors. I took a walk over the Millennium Bridge and down Fleet Street. We visited the Museum of London, where I learned about Londinium, the plague, and the great fire. That night I went to evening song at St. Paul's Cathedral. It was so nice to see the church in use. I recommend going to evening song versus paying money to tour famous churches. From there, I walked several miles around London and back to the hotel for the night. 

Wednesday, March 6:

          On our last day in London, we found ourselves at the British Library. I got to see the Magna Carta, the Lindisfarne Gospels, the Gutenberg Bible, the Codex Sinaiticus, and works of Michelangelo, Durer, Shakespeare, and Leonardo da Vinci. Then, we were off to our last stop: Hampton Court Palace. The Versailles of England. I toured the Tudor Kitchen's, the Tudor Apartments, and William III's Apartments along with the gardens and grounds. Most of the other students headed back to London and are traveling to various locations, but Anna and I were done for the week. I decided not to travel because all the places people were going to were places I would already be seeing with Kari in the summer. The bus ride back was  nice and I had Lion's Tower to myself at the castle:)