More Fun in the Sun

Just like yesterday the sun was beautiful today which was fabulous because we had major plans for today. After a relaxing morning we went to Portabello Road and I got a chocolate and banana crepe (which was amazing) and a fresh fruit cup. After breakfast we relaxed in the center for a while before packing a picnic basket full of fresh food we bought at Borough yesterday. We had such a feast...fresh bread, strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, snap peas, grapes and bell peppers....mmmm it was so good. We topped it all off with fresh apple/strawberry juice and a picnic basket Ari bought in Bath last week.

We took the tube out to Hampstead Heath and walked to the huge park there and ate and slept. It was so nice...warm and sunny with a little bit of breeze. I loved it.

Later in the afternoon we walked down Oxford Circus because it was closed to traffic for a fair type thing so we wanted to see what that was all about...kinda disappointing, but still fun.

News around the center is that everyone is sick...its no fun to be sick away from home, but it is especially not fun to be sick in a foreign country. I just hope it doesn't last long.

Busy Day

Today was another beautiful day in London. Since there wasn't any class I slept in a little and then started my day with a run. By the time I was ready for the day and had worked on my paper a little the group (me, Rachel, Jordan, and Ari) were ready to go down to Borough market and find some lunch. Borough market is a huge food market and one of my new favorite places in London. There is so much fresh food and it is all so cheap! I love it! I found lunch (a chicken wrap made right in front of me with fresh salsa, mayo, chiles and some lettuce stuff) for today and then we got some for tomorrow for a picnic. The best part....SAMPLES EVERYWHERE! Seriously...I can't express how much I love this place. mmmmm yum

After the market we went to the Natural History Museum which is one of the places we have to go to for our fine arts class (this does not classify as a fine arts museum in my book). It was fun though, very interactive, and we got our assignment done so thats good.

After dinner our little group went to ride the London Eye. Remember how the center didn't have hot water the first few weeks I was here? Well, since we were all so cooperative, the directors decided to treat us with London Eye tickets...whenever we want. It was very cool to go, especially since I have walked all over this city and I was able to point out different buildings I have been to. We impressed the other tourists in our little cab by pointing out all of the important buildings and telling them about them. It was way fun...especially since it was free!

Looking out over the Thames before our "flight"


Flying high in the sky
How much do I look like Danica in this picture?

London has exposed a serious problem in me...I love treats! Seriously...there are so many good treats all over this city and I just don't know what to do about it. There was a scale in the museum today and in the four weeks that I have been here I have gained 5 pounds! Thats crazy! (I do have reasons to believe that my scale in Provo was broken...so I don't know how accurate this is....but still!) I need to go home for my own good!...but of course I don't want to :)

Finally! A Sunny Day in Londontown

Today was a beautiful day! We were spoiled with them the first couple of weeks we were here but recently it has all been rainy. This morning I enjoyed a nice run in Hyde Park before breakfast...this time without the wind in my face the entire way. After breakfast and a couple hours of class I went with Rachel to the Apple store to get her computer looked at...they didn't have time to talk to her then so we went back to the center for lunch and then back to the Apple store...but this time we dragged Jordan with us. Jordan and I got totally distracted playing this Frenzie game on iphones...it was too much fun.

Anyway, Rachel got her computer fixed (we think) so we took off for a walk through the Kensington neighborhood and Holland Park. It was really cool to see some of the houses in the area we live in...some of them are worth millions of pounds. Its really amazing that something so small can cost so much. I love walking around the quiet neighborhoods and the parks...sometimes its so nice to escape from the busy city life (although I love that as well).

Tonight a group of us went to see Blood Brothers. It was way different than the other shows we have been seeing but it was still amazing. The acting was great and their voices were so powerful. The theater was packed with kids though. It was like a field trip or something. I swear kids in London are never in school...they are always at shows and museums and galleries...it gets really annoying sometimes.

Outside the Blood Brothers theater.

I realized today that I must be getting integrated into this fast London city lifestyle. I was getting off the tube at Queensway, by the center, when a bunch of tourists got off too. Since the elevator was so crowded (and they don't know how to pack in) I climbed the 123 stairs (yes they are labeled) and got up just in time to see a bunch of people get out of another elevator and stand in front of the ticket gates...and then look for their tickets! It was impossible to get out...standing there in frustration I said "I hate tourists!" then just laughed at myself. I guess I have been here almost four weeks though...what do you expect.

The Official Middle

Today marks the official middle of my study abroad here in London. I only have three and a half weeks left...which is kinda sad when I look back at the list of things that I want to do while I am here and it isn't even half completed. I think the problem is that I keep adding things, more than I mark off. There is just so much to do here haha.

The entire group took a day trip to Oxford and Blenheim Palace. It was really interesting to see how Oxford works...it is really different than the college system here. We got to tour Oriel college, one of the smaller collages at the school. Then we went over to Christ Church college, the largest at the school (the Harry Potter dining hall is filmed in their dining hall...with some help from computers of course), and visited the Oxford cathedral...the smallest cathedral in England. It was kinda cool...pretty much like any other cathedral...just smaller.

Outside of Christ's Church College.

A short drive from Oxford is Blenheim Palace, the ancestral seat of the Churchill family (Winston Churchill was born here...his cousin was the duke). The Duke of Marlborough still lives there, which is pretty cool. We got to tour part of the inside of the palace and then walk around the amazing gardens. There was a small train that led out to the outermost section of the gardens where a hedge maze is. We had to run through the maze because we were going to miss the bus which was actually a lot of fun.

Outside of Blenheim Palace.

On the train out to the maze and other gardens.

Running through the maze.

I can't believe this trip is halfway over. I have learned so much but I can't wait to keep learning more and experiencing everything this city has to offer.

You Can't Stop the Beat

Ok...two days, one blog post. Easy enough since not a whole lot was accomplished.

Yesterday the entire group went down to the Tower of London. I went there two summers ago when I was here with my family and its kinda a "been there, seen that" kind of experience (for me at least) but it was still fun to hang out with my friends. I did notice how much of a tourist attraction it is and how little history is actually there. It's sad really...


Outside of the White Tower.

Just guarding the Tower of London.

Pretty much everyone stayed in the center after dinner last night because we had a paper due today and a quiz to take in class, plus a book that we all had to finish. Needless to say everyone had some work to do. About tenish a group of us decided to see a movie since students go for 3.50 on Monday nights (I love being a student in this city). We picked Star Trek which was oddly entertaining even though I know nothing about Star Trek. It was definitely a good study break.

Today was class as usual but then Rachel, Jordan, and I went back to the National Gallery to finish up looking at all of the paintings we missed the first time (its a really big place). After dinner we went to Hairspray with Jenny, Rachel (the other Rachel), and Brittany which was a super fun show...much better than the movie. It was a really fun night...complete with singing on the way home and making people in the tube stop probably think we were drunk haha.

Outside of the theater for Hairspray!

Since today is my mom's birthday I want to make a little shout out to her. I was looking for pictures and I realized that I don't have very many with her because she is always behind the scenes. She does so much for me and our family...I don't know what I would do without her. I love her so much and I hope she knows how much I appreciate her. Love you mom!

My beautiful flowers after they had time to bloom.

Sunday Thoughts

Not much happens here on Sundays. We all get up for breakfast, get ready for church, and are all out of the door before 9 - even though none of us start until at least 10...it takes that long for us to get to all of the different wards.

After church the leftovers in the kitchen are raided and then everyone retires to their rooms for naps and stuff until dinner. Its a really nice environment actually haha. After dinner there is a fireside in the classroom followed by more kitchen raiding and then bed.

So...with a lack of exciting things to talk about, I have been thinking about all of the things the London Center has made me realize that I take for granted at home...

1. fast internet
2. hot showers
3. flushing toilets (not water closets)
4. hand towels instead of air dryers
5. my own bedroom
6. sinks where the hot and cold water come out of the same faucet
7. personal space in general
8. clean air without cigarette smoke
9. my car...driving in general actually
10. easy communication with a cell phone
11. free refills on everything
12. free water at restaurants
13. good customer service in general
14. boys
15. things being open past 7 at night
16. snacks
17. good toilet paper that doesn't scratch my bum
18. cooking for myself
19. music playing pretty much all of the time
20. sunshine

this doesn't mean that i hate it here...these are just things that i am now realizing are blessings in my life at home. thats all.

Celebrating 20 in Bath

Today was my 20th birthday, and what better way to spend it then taking a day trip out to Bath! Me, Jordan, Rachel, Ari, Nicole, and Jenny left on the 7:00 train which was super early but totally worth it. When we first got there I was a little nervous because it was raining really hard which sucks. We ran to the Marks and Spencer (one store that I am really going to miss when I go back home) and found some food for breakfast...and got some shelter from the rain.

After breakfast we went to Bath Abbey, a really quaint church that had a piano playing and just a really nice quiet atmosphere. Maybe it was just because there weren't a million tourists there. I dunno what it was exactly but it was nice.

From there we walked over to the highlight of the trip...Bath Spa. I loved this tour! It was so cool to see the transition of the Baths from Roman times to the 18th century to now. I had no idea it was such a huge complex...with a temple and steam rooms and everything. It was intense and so cool. After we even got to taste the water...and interesting experience to say the least...very mineral tasting and warm. I wasn't too fond of it but Rachel loved it.

In front of the main bath...it didn't always used to be green.



From the baths we walked around the shops for a while and then went to the Fashion Museum where we got to try on corsets and hoop skirts. So fun! I kinda liked the feeling of a corset, not gonna lie. Besides the fact that it makes me super skinny and gives a little lift...anyway...

My corset and hoop skirt (that was falling off).

After the museum we got some lunch at this noodle bar called Wagamamas...so so good. I loved it! And they even gave us refills on our water...unheard of in this country...seriously! From there we stopped by the Jane Austen center and got our picture with Mr. Darcey, a must when visiting Bath.

Mr. Darcey and the crew.

We hopped on the train to come back home and then celebrated my birthday by going to Ciao's...our favorite ice cream place. Their creations are so so good! Overall it was a great day. Oh and thanks for my family for sending the flowers. I loved them.

My dessert ice cream creation.

My flowers.