London Day 3

Today's weather reminded me of prime-quad-season at James Madison University. Everyone in London was sitting around in beach towels and on the grass of St. James Park enjoying the outdoors and laying out in the atypical sunshine.

For today's adventure I went to Kensington Palace where I learned a great deal about former resident Queen Victoria and her husband (and cousin) Albert and their eight children. I also toured the gardens of the palace and took in the beauty.

After Kensington, St. Paul's Cathedral was our next stop. Unfortunately they were having an ordanation ceremony and therefore no tours were going on. However, now we are going to attend CHURCH SERVICE there tomorrow morning at 8. What an opportunity of a life time! 

We had tickets to tour Winston Churchill's War Room and although I didn't take any pictures it was such a cool experience! They had remote-like-audio guides so you could tour at your own pace and listen to the recordings as you go from room to room. The bunker was pretty crammed but it was interesting to learn some more WWII history and get the sensation of going back in time.

After the bunker tour, and walking (what felt like) 10 miles throughout London and St. James Park, we decided to view Buckingham Palace and the British Cavalry Museum as our final destinations before dinner. 

The museum definitely made me miss my soldier, but I was still able to have fun and dress up in the camouflage I saw other cavalry soldiers wearing. Not a good look for me though :P

Thank you for your continued support and comments! I am having the time of my life here.

London Day 2

London Day 2
06/28/13

Today it rained, but it was not too bad because 1) I expected it to rain a lot and 2) it made everything beautiful. When the sun came out the streets and buildings were glistening and the cool breeze felt refreshing. I could actually get use to this weather...

I came prepared with my rain jacket! 

Today I began to truly "experience" London. I took the tube (The Underground) from the Paddington Station to the Westminster Station and got to walk around Parliament Square and see Big Ben, and tour Westminster Abbey (if you want to see my photos click the link I posted which will redirect you to another one of my blog posts). 

The beauty of Westminster Abbey took my breath away. It was stunning! I stood by the burial sites of monarchs such as Anne of Cleves, Charles II, Edward I and Elanor of Castile, Edward III and Philippa of Hainault, Edward the Confessor and Edith, Edward V, Edward VI, Elizabeth I, George II and Caroline, Henry III, Henry V and Catherine de Valois, Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, James I and Anne of Denmark, Mary I, Mary II, Mary Queen of Scots, Richard II, William III
The names in bold are the ones I am explicitly studying in my courses at the University of Cambridge, so it was especially chilling standing by their graves.
Not just royals were buried or commemorated at Westminster, in fact other intellectuals like Charles Darwin, Issac Newton, and Percy Shelley were those among the aisles. 

It sure seems like Westminster Abbey is just a gigantic mausoleum, however it is also host to 38 coronations from William the Conquerer in 1066 to Elizabeth II June 1953. And not to mention, the location where recently Prince William and Kate Middleton said "I do." 

After a couple hours at Westminster we stopped for a traditional English lunch. Fish and chips anyone? The joint we went to was recommended from a local Londoner, and the fish was more delicious than I anticipated!

Our next destination was The London Eye

The view from up there was spectacular. The structure itself was gigantic and while I was up there a couple in my pod got ENGAGED! 

Our last stop before the day was done was the London Bridge (not what I was expecting, it just looks like a typical bridge because it has "fallen down" over four times) and the The Tower Bridge.

So far I am in love with London and I want to get all that I can out of my days here before we leave to other sites like Oxford, Stone Henge, Cardiff, Hampton Palace Court, Canterbury, and Edinburgh Scotland. My jet lag is almost completely gone (thank you Melatonin). 

I am missing everyone back home! Your post cards have been purchased and I am going to start writing them and sending them as soon as I can :)

Some observations...

So after touring London for about 9 hours I have come up with a few of my own personal observations, and I have decided to make an ongoing list os some of the things I notice about London in comparison to the United States. If you have ever been and disagree with me please speak up. This is just what I think so far: 

One: The way people drive here gives me panic attacks.
Seriously... cars get within inches of one another, and there are not big roads like I am accustomed to back at home. I have so much respect for those that choose to drive in this city. Today we saw a man on a bike get hit by a car, and I feel like that is not too uncommon. It is so crowded and scary. I just cannot...

However... Two: Public transportation here is amazing.
The Underground rail and trains here go above and beyond any form of public transportation we have in the United States. It is the most effective way of navigating through the city and probably the least expensive.

Three: Personal style here is so intriguing.
Everyone has a very eclectic wardrobe, and for the most part nobody seems to really match. I saw a woman with a crochet sweater (like granny squares...) a black skirt, orange tights, and a green scarf. Everyone's style seems quite original and I sense a hipster-flair. This is nice because everyone seems comfortable being adventurous and figuring out their own sense of personal style, and it is not as follow-the-trend like it is in the United States (if that makes sense). Personal staples: black tights and slouchy boots. I have seen these everywhere.

Four: Literally, EVERYONE SMOKES.
I was so surprised, I knew that in Europe it was common for people to smoke, but it seemed I couldn't pass a single person on the sidewalk today that was not carrying a cigarette. It makes me curious as to why Europeans smoke so much in comparison to Americans (not saying Americans do not smoke, but I feel like it is more frowned upon in America than here).

Five: Bus Tours are a trap!
Whatever you do, do not do it. Cost for a tour around London run around 29 pounds, and that is way too expensive when it comes down to what you actually get for your money. The tours take you through the city while you plug in complementary headphones into a box attached to your seat. The box plays music (Greensleeves over and over...) advertising, and now and then you will learn a fact. London traffic is the worst so it can take one hour to go stop and go for 6 or 7 blocks. Not worth it. Walk.

Flat Tour

Today was my first official day in London, and I am completely exhausted.

I got absolutely no sleep on the Red Eye flight from Dulles International to Heathrow. I woke up early Wednesday morning and, currently it is Thursday 8:40pm in England and I am surviving on only 1.5 hours of sleep from a recent nap.

We spent about 9 hours touring the city before we got authorization to move into the flat we are staying in for four days. Thankfully I packed Melatonin to help re-regulate my sleep schedule onto London Time.

Here are a couple of pictures from my flat, I am so lucky to be staying at the heart of London, in Little Venice for a couple of days.

Here are pictures of the family room. The couch is so comfortable, I think it is made entirely from goose feathers because it just feels like you're sinking into pillows.

So pretty and clean!

The cute kitchen :) Tonight we made Margarita Pizza with a side of Chicken Caesar Salad. 

The rooftop porch. I am definitely planning on drinking my morning chai tea here. We are up 5 stories so the views are breath taking. 

My most favorite feature: the soaker tub! I had one of the best baths of my life here with the window cracked open so I could see the sky. It was so relaxing and just what I needed to wash off the plane ride.

Business Class Experience

So I am incredibly fortunate that my parents were able to upgrade my airplane tickets to Business Class because they had so many frequent flyer miles!

Having always been a coach girl my eyes were completely opened to the opulence and swankiness that business class 'clients' receive. I definitely didn't fit in, wearing my grey quarter zip and funky 3 year old rainbows. I took full advantage of the experience though.

Before the flight I spent about an hour and a half in the Club Lounge for British Airways.

Complementary drinks and food were served, and there was even an open bar!

These are the nice arm chairs in the lounge, as opposed to the black seats by the terminal. Twinkly music was playing and everyone smelled really good. It was so quiet and peaceful. (I obviously stood out like I mentioned, everyone else was wearing business suits or carrying Louis Vuitton bags)

Couldn't help myself to these pre-flight snacks. Carrots with bleu cheese dressing, ham cheese and mayo sandwich, and cucumber cheese and salmon sandwich DELICIOUS!

Here is me enjoying my complementary cappuccino :) 

About to board my flight! It was a Boeing 747

The pod I was sitting in was in the middle of the plane, and I was facing backwards. There was a fabric stool that extended from a wall in front of me so that when I leaned my chair back all the way it formed into a bed. I was mystified by the touch screen television, and watched Hitch and The Big Bang Theory to keep my mind off of my fear of flying over open water.

They served dinner (not pictured) and it was so delicious I cannot even begin to describe. Steak tips, mashed potatoes, green beans and carrots. Prior to that we had a cooled tomato and goat cheese starter with arugula and pesto. And for dessert: chocolate and lemon cream pie. I also ordered 2 cokes with bacardi to help take the edge off my anxiety and help me fall asleep (it didn't work because it just gave me a headache and forced me to pee a lot).

When we arrived early in the morning they served us breakfast as well.  Bacon biscuits, croissants with jam and butter, cinnoman muffins, fresh fruit, orange juice smoothies, and coffee. 

I was in heaven! Best flight ever :)