A Couple of HighLights

Well i'm a little behind on the whole journal thing, a week without internet will do that to you.  But i will get the rest of the lake district up soon.  There was too much there!

Changing of the Guard
   On Saturday we went to changing of the guard.  We got there way early, like and hour and a half, but the lines were already beginning to form out side of the gates.  I met two awesome ladies right next to the fence and began talking with them.  They were form the states as well.  We became friends and i ended up sitting next to them the whole time.

The guard came in, in all their glory, and style.  It was truly fun to behold.  However, my favorite part of the entire ritual was when they stood just in front of us and performed some amazing musical numbers.  Most of the numbers were popular pieces.  My favorite number was the Imperial March there is just nothing like watching the British guard play the Imperial March.  It just one of those things!




Wicked
   This show hold my favorite musical number yet!  Wow! Talk about blow your socks off!!!  Both of the two main stars of the show were out of this world deva! The sound would almost pin you to the back of your seat! There were no show stopper or regrets!!  So my favorite musical number of all time Defying Gravity!!  One of the fun notes, half way through the show we noticed that there were seats further up on the balcony that were unoccupied so after intermission we moved up.  That is the first time that i have done that but i highly recommend it!

One of the cool things as well was to watch all of the girls come out of the theater crying, its just fun and moving to see those around you so moved and so touched.

I must admit i truly love London and the longer i'm here the more i realize the more there is to see.  Just when you think you have seen it all you turn a corner and there is something even more grand that blows your socks off.  Truly a man who is tired of London is tired of life!

Lake District Day Two

I woke up to a knock on my door...i had agreed to go with Jared to the lake and see the ruins, but i slept in.  In a flash however i found myself ready and at the lake with Jared.  We wandered around and watched the sun continue to rise over the water, the view was truly breath taking, but i must admit i wish i had had my boat and water ski!  

By 8 we were back at the B&B for some poached eggs and toast and then met up with our group at the river house.  We then proceeded to hike up to one of the tallest mountains in the area.  The walk was glorious the entire way and so HOT.  Once on top we enjoyed the view from three amazing summits.  The final summit was my favorite as it looked out over the entire lake.  The is no view quite like it!  Trent and i talked about how for our honey moon we would like to come up there and camp on the side of the mountain and then be up to watch the sun rise.  While on the mountain we read some of William Wordsworth's most famous poems, it was a time always to be remembered and never to be forgotten.

After the hike we took a few minutes for lunch, i on the other hand bought some shorts and sandles instead, i can't tell you how hot i was.  I wore those shorts the rest of the trip!  After lunch we headed off for a night at Dove Cottage.  It was a small quaint little home.  The history so exciting that at one time it used to be a pub.  However this little cottage head one amazing view of the lake and hill side.  One of the man features of this cottage is the garden in the back, with the gardens culmination being a wooden bench at the very time over looking the area.

After touring the Cottage we went over to the Cottage Library and handled some of the earliest copies of Wordsworth's works.  Including the 1st edition of his poetry and the 1st edition of Frankenstein. We also read some of Wordsworth letters and so forth.  It was really a cool experience.  While there a bought a book of his poetry and read it through out the trip make notes of all the places i was when i read them in the book.

Then we took off across town a little ways and visited Wordsworth's grave and church.

Getting back to Dove Cottage we enjoyed dinner there in his home.  It was one of his known dishes with real lemonaid.  It was a great dinner.  After dinner we headed back to Ambleside and i found a great new foot path through the middle of Ambleside that lead down to the lake.  It was another great night at the lake. While at the lake i heard a loud group across the way...i thought they were a bunch of drunks because of how crazy and loud they were being...turns out it was our group...go figure.  

We ended up back at my apartment -- Jared, Evin, and I...we stayed up till midnight talking about our professors and their kids and everything else we could think of...it was a lot of fun!

Welcome to the Lake District

Well can i just welcome you to one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Over the past week i have been in Amableside, Edinburgh, and York.  The trip started in Amblesdie.  One of my favorite parts of this trip is the fact that it didn't just arrive.  The entire way to Amableside was lined with rolling hills and trees and lakes.  It was the most beautiful view from the time we headed out, it only got better when we arrived in Amableside.  When we arrived in Ambleside we stayed all over the city.  All 40 of our were scattered in different Bed and Breakfast hotels.  It was truly a treat.

Jared and Evian stayed in the same B&B as me, they were on the top floor and i was on the ground level.  My room was truly out of this world.  It was be a great place to have a honey moon ;)  One thing that made the B&B's hard was the fact we were all scattered and our schedules for Amableside were divided into two groups; therefore, the two i was staying with (Jared and Evian) were in a different group, so i had to scramble the town looking for people in my group.

In the end i found some girls that were in my group and headed out with them to get dinner.  As we literary wonder through town we came across one of the restaurants that our professor has suggested...it was some of the best food that i have ever eaten--even though it was some split pea thing!

After dinner we raced off meet back up with our group and spent the evening hiking the force (water fall).  It was one of the most beautiful hikes that i have ever been on.  We went up through the trees near sunset as the sun permeated the thick forest canopy.  It was very warm, after reaching the top we hiked down the other side.  A little bit down the trail we found a great place to go and stand in the water fall, as it pooled in one spot.  The pool was shallow at one end and about check deep in the middle.  Now, let it be known that it has always been a dream of mine to swim in water fall and well you can most likely guess what is coming next.  I jumped it!  The shirt was thrown and i swam in the falls.  It was so much fun..you only live once right!  The water was cold on my feet but really i felt it nowhere else...i was too hipped up!  Check that off my bucket list.

Walking down the mountain in wet jeans wasn't the funnest thing that i have ever done, but the falls was worth it.  We continued to enjoy a bunch of bridges and glorious views the entire way down.  After the falls we walked down to the lake.  At the lake side contains more glorious views and the ruins of an ancient Roman fort.  I wondered around with a small group for a while but then when back to my apartment to change into some dry cloths.

After drying off i went back down to the lake and climbed out over the lake on a tree that was suspended over the water.  There i met up with Kaylee, Loren and Alisa.  We sat and talked over the late as the sun finished setting and the night set in.

The night ended with a great walk up to my apartment and a warm shower ;)

Sunday

Just another day.

Church was great and the weather a little bit colder again.  One of the interesting things about living in London is the fact that getting to church requires public transportation...but one fun thing we ended up with an entire tube car to ourselves, for a bunch of college students in London--its just fun ;)

After church did some reading for school and then a couple of us got together and messed around on the piano and the guitar.  It was just fun.

Parliament

If i remember correctly the formal name for Parliament is Westminster Palace.  It was originally one of the kings palaces but fell into disrepair of the years and then was given to Parliament.  Not to long thereafter the Palace was destroyed by the war and by fire.  It was then latter rebuilt specifically for Parliament.

Parliament is very similar to USA, because the USA copied Britain in many respects.  Their government is divided up over three powers: House of Lords, House of Commons, and the Royalty.  The royalty over the years used to be the ruling power over the three but now most of the power resides in the House of Commons.  This is because the House of Commons members are elected by the people.  The number of representatives that one has in the House of Commons is determined by population.  There is still a lot of pomp and circumstance that happens with regard to the queen and parliament but i'm of the persuasion that it help remind them of their past and therefore make better decision now.

Some of the rooms in the palace are out of this world.  The have huge vaulted ceilings with the most intricate detail of decoration on ever square inch.  Every inch is therefore cover with reds, golds, paintings, carpet, and all manner posh.  One is truly blown away by the detail and money that went into building these palaces.  

After touring parliament we set off down town to the Sherlock Holmes pub.  The walk there was almost as fun as eating at the pub.  There was a beautiful garden along the way as well as a great view of the river Tames.  Upstairs, in the pub, they have a fun little display of what his apartment might have looked like.  The food was good but overall it was just a fun experience.

After lunch we walked around Charing cross for a little bit, which is know for its book stores.  They have some of the largest collection and some of the oldest books in these little book stores.  In some of them we found ancient copies of The Lord of the Rings, Jane Austin, Wordsworth, and Shakespeare. It was kind of fun looking through these ancient books.

After our perusing was done, we wondered back the center to finish home work, papers, and everything else that we have to do.  It was a fun and crazy day.

A Day in D Minor

It has been a homework heavy few days.

A couple of days ago we went and toured from a distance the Olympic sights here in London.  It was a lot of fun to see the east end of London.  It was really different from the west end of London.  As per tradition the east end of London is the slums and the poor, you can still see this fact today.  It is still very run down and dirty.  It was such an interesting notice to see that part of the city and to realize why it is that way.

Yesterday we went to a Bach violin concerto by candle light.  It was a wonderful night in classic Briton, talk about skill in order to play those pieces.  They performed

Bach - Violin Concerto in A minor
Bach - Violin Concerto in E major
Handel - Harpsichord Concerto
Pachelbel - Canon in D
Bach - Concerto for 2 Violins

My favorites were Pachelbels Canon and the 4 Seasons which is not listed.  After the concert in a majestic hall we travel to a gelato house called Scoops.  It was a kick just to hang out and get something sweet.



I went to bed at 11:00....whoot that is so early! Booya!  Really, my current schedule is 12:30 to 6:30 its a little rough! I've got figure out this whole school/London thing, tell you what it sucks trying to figure out how to balance the two. Currently London is winning...
 

Just when you thought you had seen it all!

Wow, just when i thought that it couldn't get any better it does! Yesterday, despite the early morning was literally out of this world!

The day started on the bus with a trip to Jane Austins living quarters.  It is in a quiet little town.  We went out to the church were her mother and sister are buried and then to the cottage were she publish and or wrote her 6 novels.

The church was truly old and the grave yard ancient.  This is just stuff that looks made up in the movies.  It was rustic and beautiful.

The cottage was quaint and inspiring.  It is no wonder she had a great time writing here.  While at the cottage we wrote with a quill and smelt lavender.  I also played on an ancient piano.  It was just fun, after reading Sense and Sensibility it was interesting to see the sights that possess her books and writing, as well as to learn in many cases she lived the life captured in her novels.  It was so interesting to walk where Jane had walked to see first had some of the things that surly filled her novels.

After Jane's home we traveled to Stourhead to tour the gardens there.  Upon arrival we grabbed a small lunch, i bought a loaf of sun flower seed bread and a small chunk of mature cheddar and had a great Europe lunch.  After lunch we went into the gardens, I have never seen anything like this in my entire life.  They have literally taken a mountain rang and turned it into a garden.  The Garden of Eden is the only thing that comes to mind.  It is glorious and beautiful.  The entire garden is full of pavilions, water attractions, flowers, every kind of tree, shaded pathways, Lillie ponds, a lake, caves, pavilions, bridges, and grass hills.  The every corner holds a new picture and it looks so glorious that one cannot help but think it is made up.

This is also the place were parts of Pride and Prejudiced were filmed, and yes we stood in the exact spots! It took us three hours just to walk alone one of the condensed path ways.  I have never seen anything so breath taking.

We then traveled to Bath.  We walked all through the ancient Roman bath. I never realized how truly large these were.  They were extensive, very comparable to the fitness centers that we have today.  It was really cool to see this ancient building and see the systems that they designed to use this ancient spring.  These baths were a series of pools with complicated drain systems and supplementary heating systems.  While there i got to try some of the bath water, much to my surprise it tasted a lot like home! Everyone else disagreed with me though.

We finished our tour of bath by walking up the city to see The Circus and The Crescent these were truly cool.  After seeing these ancient building we got some dinner and headed home.  While traveling home i saw some of the most beautiful country that i have ever seen!  Wow England is glorious and awe-inspiring.

National Gallery and Legal London

I had so much fun yesterday!

 The day started with my three hour British Literature class, which believe it or not is absolutely fascinating.  It is one of the best classes i have ever taken.  There has never been a three hour class that goes by so fast!  We talked yesterday a lot about Sense and Sensibility and different readings that can be done: we talked about Eliza and Marianne characters and how we still see them today.  We talked about how Jane Austin is so much more that just love and guts!  The way her characters jump off the page is just one of the great artistry of Jane Austin.

After class we headed over the National Gallery and viewed some of my most favorite pieces of art yet!! You know up until this gallery i wondered why people spend so much time 'viewing' art.  But as i viewed a few of the painting i felt that catharsis that i get while watching plays and listening to music.  It was the first time i have ever been moved by a piece of art.  It was really cool...needless to say i have three pieces of art coming home with me!

After the National Gallery i took off on a tour of Legal London.  It was one of the best walks yet!  The walk is full of grand glorious building that rise high into the air adding majesty to the sky.  The sidewalks are full of Armani suits and Rolex watches and BMWs.  While walking we went into the Great Hall and Great Hall Art Gallery; the Great Hall was a magnificent call full of banner and national war heroes.  They were preparing for a event so we were unable to fully go in, but to look at this great building was amazing.

After we traveled through the art gallery, my favorite part of the art gallery was some Roman ruins of a coliseum.  They discovered these ruins while doing some work on the upper art gallery.  The ruins are now on display with green neon lights filling in the gaps of what is missing.  It is truly cool!

Also while on the the walk i ran into other glorious building and treasure, as well as hidden streets.  The Temple district was also a neat find.  However, i was unable to go through it because it was closed...everything closes here at 4 it seems.

But none the less the national gallery, great hall, art museum, temple church, and getting lost in London made for a great day!  Just when you think you have seen it all you round a corner and London surprises you with an ancient treasure that blows your mind!  There will never be a time to get tired of London.

The rest of my night was spent reading William Wordsworth and other great pieces of literature...in London!  This is the Life!

Written on the Heart

This is going to be a week that involves a lot of home work as i foretell.  Yesterday was therefore a lot of home work!  Not so fun, but i did something that i didn't think possible: i finished Sense and Sensibility.  It was an interesting novel, very well written, not one of my favorites.  I think one reason for this is the crazy schedule in which we were asked to read it and everything else, therefore this meant i was reading it on the train, tube, buss, and every spare second...its hard to concentrate in these moments.

However, for lunch Kaylee and I went to the Princess Diana cafe.  I had Humus and Falafel, it was way different but good!  It was fun to just get out and see the city again...there is so much that i want to do here, London is out of this world, it always brings something new and exciting around any turn.  If one wants a new adventure just get off at a different tube stop and walk around.




After lunch and dinner, we went to the play Written on the Heart which is a play concerning William Tyndale and a Bishop working to translate the Bible in two different era's: one, the time of King Henry VIII and the other James I.  King Henry VIII persecuted this attempt and killed all those who attempted the work, while James sponsored the work.  The contrast between these two times was vivid.  It was interesting to me to see played on stage some of the contentions on how the bible was to be translated.  The play depicted the struggle between church and state, and how this struggle translated directly into the work of translating the Bible.  The word chooses were directly affected by the offices and positions of those involved, none the less the king and Arch bishop himself.  They argued over words to help color the meanings they sought to portray, for example wither a word should be translated: church or congregation; penance or repentance; fold or flock ...

The play was also telling in that it gave birth to questions of integrity and repentance.  Should we do the right thing regardless of the circumstances and can we learn from past mistakes?  One of the most interesting points is that the main character despite visions with William Tyndale himself still decides to sway the bible in light of his position, this shows a view that they believe the bible has been erroneously translated in cases to fit the view of the time.

All in all a very great play, it left me thinking about what was paid for the Bible and how grateful i am for the restored Church of Jesus Christ.

Mother's Day

Sunday's are great!!

I truly love the ward that i have been assigned to, in all reality i wish i could just stay here!  How cool they are.  I have been working with the Teachers and now i'm working with Ryan the Teacher's advisor to plan a trip to tour a few parts of London with the Teachers.  This should be a whole lot of fun!  I will also be teaching the last lesson.

The lesson in Teacher's was also very unique.  They talked about every member a missionary and putting together their ward mission plan, as they did so i couldn't help remember a young man in my ward that our family prayed for over the years.  This young man who is now married in the Temple and amazing, but who for years we thought would never become fully active.  It was just one of those neat experiences.

I then got to talk with my mom multiple times, which was great!!  I sure hope she had a great day in spit of it all...  I also had the chance to pick up a rare artifact for her for mothers day... check it out...
I think she really likes it ;)

The rest of the day was spent reading! I hope i get it all done!

Well here comes the start of another great week.

Portobello Market

Yesterday was a slower day with a ton of reading!

The day began catching up on my blog, which was no small feat after traveling to Paris.  After i got my blog up to date i headed out to Portobello Market.  It is an amazing market in which people from all over the world come and shop.  Shops range from ancient antiques to the equivalent of farmers markets.  It was a lot of fun roaming the street just looking.  I got a crape which was exceedingly good.

After traveling half way down the street, i found the coolest little bakery.  I ended up sitting out side and ordering french toast.  The french toast had a creamy, vanilla mozzarella cheese with caramelized rhubarb and sprinkled heavily with powdered sugar.  While sitting out side on  Portobello street eating my french toast, i read Sense and Sensibility and listened to a live guitar rendition of fur elise being played just in front of me.  Yeah it doesn't get any better!  Did i mention i'm in London!

After the market we went to the BYU Singers concert in the St. James Concert Hall.  It was one of the best performances that i have heard so far.  The music and their voices were out of this world! I have now found one of my all time favorite songs that truly captured my soul: Sure on this Shining Night by Morten Lauridsen.  There are not words to describe the transcendent catharsis and euphoria that this concert brought.  Just goes to show you, you don't know the talent that is in your own back yard.

It was a great day!!

One day Left

With only one day left, we knew we had to make it count.

The day began with a visit to the Louvre art museum. It was one of the coolest places that i have ever seen.  We spent about three hours there and didn't get even close to seeing it all!  I saw the Monalisa and other extremely famious works of art.  My favorite part was all of the ancient Greek and Roman statues.  This museum is housed in a mansion that is as historic as every in it.  It was amazing.

After the Louvre we went to Orangerie were Monet's Waterlilies is housed.  This is an amazing
painting that spans two huge rooms, in which the
painting runs across all four walls.  This is magnificent and one can even see trees hanging over the water,



shaded areas, the sunset, and clouds in the distance.  It creates a beautiful reflective feeling and peaceful mood.

After the museums we began another quest for food.  We found an amazing little couples shop called "Pain and Chocolate."  It was some great food and one of the coolest little restaurants that i have ever been in, it was decorated and beautiful.  We then continued down the street to two bakeries for desert.  It was an amazing time.  I have never seen such a crazy assortment of pastries and breads.  We also learned that French people want one to "take it out" if it is not a restaurant.  It was interesting.

After lunch we went to the Museum Rodin and saw some amazing sculptures.  Some of which included the original "Thinker" and the metal "Gates of Hell."  Indeed these were amazing and most of them were showcased in a beautiful garden surrounded by trees.


The last few moments in our Paris trip were a sprint out of our group of six: two when to walk to the river, two get a water color from the book sellers and two to get shirts from the Latin Corner.  I went and got two shirts: a button up and a Paris shirt.  This was mostly done because i had 40 Euros left
 that i didn't want to convert back to pounds.

We then all raced back to Eurostar for our train ride home.

This was an amazing trip! Paris was great i had so much fun and ate some of the best food and some of the greatest works of art.  Paris is a dirty city from the attitude to the streets to the air, but it hold that young lover romantic charm.  I loved this trip.  It was also interesting to note that i was so grateful to back to London, i love London's tube, i love its people, and i love living here.  It is going to be so hard to leave!  

Live'n the Dream!

PS: it is just wrong to make one pay for public Toilets.

The Greatest Day--A Blitz on Paris

No one has a continental breakfast like Paris!  The day began with one of the best breakfast's that i have ever had in the hotel.  We had fresh cheese, begets, craps, fruit, cereal, and juice. It was totally amazing.

After breakfast we rushed off to Notre Dame.  While on our way to Notre Dame we took a stroll along the "la Seine" river.  There are walkways all along the river side, we drop down to one of this walk ways and walked along the river for most of the trip. The river lead us right to Notre Dame.  

We began by walking through a beautiful park at the rear of the cathedral and then made are way up, the short walk was nothing but possessed by this majestic building.  The building is grand and huge.  There is an old ancient smell in the building.  The most captivating part of this building is the view down the grand hall and the huge circular windows on either end of the great hall.  We also went through the treasury in the cathedral were we saw numerous relics.  Some of which are bones from saints and fragments of what is believed to be the cross Christ suffered on.  

After that we walked along the island to Conciergerie, which is were most of the prisoners were held before they were executed.  This build was an excellent example of Gothic architecture.  With the great hall full of ancient columns.  It was amazing to behold.  Off to the side of the great hall was a series of small jail cells that held the prisoners.

After the justice hall, we walked just down the street and entered St. Chipelle which is an old chapel that was build to hold the crown of thorns that was put on the head of Christ.  This chapel is rather small but holds huge stained glass windows.  These windows tell stories from Genesis to the passion of Christ.  The chapel is ancient and glorious.  

After these amazing sights we headed to the second island for some world famous ice cream from Berthillon.  This is bar none the best ice cream i have ever eaten!  It was rich beyond belief and creamy with vivid tastes that were as brilliant as their color. We then continued down the street and tried a little crape place that produced some of the best crapes.  My was chocolate and coconut.  It was amazing.  One funny thing that we noticed with restruants here they never split the bill.  So after ever meal it is 4-6 Americans playing with foreign change trying to make the bill work out right ;)  On the way out of the store we heard a couple people speaking English wondering where to go...we quickly told them the crape place was good and to our joy the first bellowing words out of his mouth, almost before we could finish our sentence, were "Thank G--, English" we erupted into laughter because basically we were feeling similar.

After the lunch we headed down the river to the Shakespeare and Company Bookstore.  It was an ancient store that was build for writers to come and find themselves in Paris, so of the best authors have written there.  This old building is full of ancient books and new ones as well.

Continuing up the street was found some of the coolest little shops, i latter came back here and got a shirt.  But at the end of the street and to the right we found the Pantheon.  This is a mimic of the Greek Pantheon and has changed roles over the years.  It has gone from a church to a memorial of French history and accomplishments.  It hold amazing painting of french history and victories, especially about the french revolution. This building was lack luster until Kaylee and i found the crypt, for in the crypt there are huge history boards describling everything up above, they had english subtitles.  It was awesome, we also saw Victor Hugo's crypt, along with crypts and memorials of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Voltaire.  It was so cool!    

We then walked through the Luxembourg Gardens which were also extremely beautiful.  One of the interesting things that we noticed that they treated the gardens like Americans would treat a beach, it was interesting.

Just North of the gardens we walked to a world famous bakery, with the idea that the pastries must look just as good as they taste.  It was amazing to see so many amazing things so impeccably done.  We had fun eating there.

After the bakery we headed over to Hotel de les Invalides which is were Napoleon's tomb is.  It was huge and we learned that Napoleon is actually buried in several layers of crypts (wood, metal, marble, etc).  One thing that was bad is that the building closed as soon as we arrived so i litterly got to see it and walk out, but it was crazy.

From the tomb we went to one of the most famous art museums Musee d'Orsay.  I must admit that by this time i thought my feet were going to fall off, but we walked all through the museum and had a great time.  We had an assignment to complete there in which we had to find certain painting...it was fun because the names we had were in English but all the id cards on the paintings were in French...one of group members called it the "Scavanger hunt from H---."  One of my most favorite pieces was "The Gates of Hell" by Rodin.

After the museum we found one of the best restruants and ate pizza and pasta.  It was a very nice place with a killer view of pairs streets.  It was a good find because we were all getting a little edgy after being hungry and running all day.  I had the best spicy pasta with lemonade. It was so much fun.

We had a late night that night running in about 11:30, we thought we were lost a few time but found the Metro alright.  However the metro didn't want to be found so when our friend Tiffany went through the turn style it decided to fight back and hit her in the face.  It split her eyebrow open and caused quite a mess.  It was crazy as English people told us to call the french 911 and all sorts of crazy things.  In then end we just got home and put a band aid on it and all was well.

The Best Day Ever!! Wow!

Welcome to Pairs

Have you ever tried to type on a frech keyboard it is so much fun! Not really.

Well yesterday was totally amazing! the day began by traveling to pairs on a train. that was my first train ride ever.  We left from kings crossing which is the famose because of harry potter and platform 9 and 3/4.  After ariving in Pair we took off across town to the heart of the city it was out of this world.  We saw the Louve, and the great arch. 

On our way to the arc we stopped and got lunch at a little place called Jour wich is a small little bachery.  The owner was so cool as he asked us a little about ourselves and laughed with us.  He taught me how to say thank you in french...after several attempts we received our first catch phrase from him..."No Mercy."

We climed to the top of the arch and saw all of pairs from this monument comemerating Napoleon and his victories.  The arc also hold a memorial to the unknown solider which is guarded at all times.  It was breath taking.  From the arch we could see all of Pairs flowing into monument.

After seeing the arch we travel past two musiems to the  Eiffel Tower.  I have been to the top of the Ifel Tower, the ride to the top was amazing, there is nothing like watching the ground leave you behind as you climb over 900 feet. It was amazing.  The view from the Eiffel Tower was literally breath taking. After we visited the tower we went to dinner at the coolest little restaurant, that was one of the most peacful dinners i have ever had, and it was so good!  It was a little restaurant tucked into a monument garden.  The atmosphere was quiet and proper.  It was so much fun.

Dinner found us on the lake taking a tour of pairs by boat.  This ride was amazing as we saw many of Paris's great historical monuments and listened to stereotype Paris music.  The mood was romantic and "Welcome to Pari." Along the way we saw lover's bridge, which is a bridge that lovers visit attach a lock to the bridge and throw the key into the river..."Paris holds the key to your heart."  My wife and I are going to Paris.  Towards the end of the trip all the lights began to hit the city, there is nothing quite like Paris at night.  The boat ride ended with the sparkling show of the  Eiffel tower.  It was somthing that one only dreams of...there are no words to do it justice.  It was a dream in pairs.

Phantom

Welcome back to class!  We had another fun three hour experience yesterday, though these are grueling, there is something about learning history and literature here ... the hours do pass quickly and there is a magic that makes everything real and alive as it is learned, when trips can be made to see what was discussed.

After class we headed down to Regency park, this walk began with me complaining about heading to just a park instead of some of the more dense and history packed sites.  By the first few steps of the walk i was changing my tune, this was no park!  Regency park is huge!  There was more to it than could be walked in two hours, between the sculpted gardens and majestic waters, rivers, and islands, this was one of the most beautiful places that i have seen.

After the part we headed down to Phantom of the Opera! This was amazing and extremely well done production.

Ill say more later but we're headed out... More to come soon.

The British Library

The day began with Shakespeare!  Can't be a bad day right!  We spent the morning in our English Literature class talking about Shakespeare and his 12th Night.  Interesting 12th Night was actually the height of the party during the celebration of Christmas, it was a time when everyone came out on the street in masks.  It was a party in which anyone could be anyone, and often times the fool became the King for the day.  This was a time to let it all go, therefore, 12th Night really plays with this idea of letting sexual tendencies, gender roles, and everything else go.  It explores the idea of what love is and how fickle.  All in all it was one of the best classes i have had.

After class we took a few minutes to talk about what we wanted to do during our free travel week.  I was looking at previewing Rome but have decided that is too expensive, so i'm going to stay here during the week and blitz London.

We then headed to The City toward the British Library, we spent the afternoon in the Library looking at original copies of Handel's Mesiah and Shakespeare's works.  We walked all the way around the Library and then found a nice corner to just sit and do some homework.

Later we to the 50 minute tube ride home in order to do our dish crew only to discover that dinner had been canceled.  I really have never been so mad, unfortunatly it rippled through the rest of the day.  We set back across town to hit up a famous pub back across town only to remember that it was a national holiday and everything was closed, which let us back across town again.  After wandering the streets a bit, Nick suggested sticky fingers.

Sticky Finger is a restaurant that was created by a member of the Rolling Stones.  All their burgers were half off yesterday and so we all had burgers.  It was really a cool place loaded with rock and roll memrabillia.  The night ended walking home and

Welcome to the Ward

Yesterday we were able to received our ward assignments.  I was assigned to the most ligit ward!  I attended the best fast and testimony meeting that i have heard in years, the best Sundayschool lesson, and saw one of the coolest teachers quorums that i have ever seen!  It was totally wicked!!  Well, if you haven't guessed, i'm in the teachers quorum as an assistant.  I have been asked to put together a small tour of London and teach a few lessons.  The teachers quorum is small, about 5 members (Gem, Johnny, Chasum, Enoch, Matt, and Duke).  I'm looking forward to getting to know them better.


After church Katie and I took off across the City.  We followed an old path through countless churches and ancient building.  I was neat to see how England is so riddled with the past, and how ancient Roman markets are modern markets today.  Almost every corner you turn holds a new building and a new ancient sight.

Dinner found us home and working.  It is now my teams turn to carry out and do dishes and set up.  I was fun to be able to work with and get to know a few new people.

Brighton and Canterbury

On the road again! We the hit the coach for the second time and headed to Brighton and Canterbury.

The morning was a little earlier that we usually make it out, which meant being Saturday breakfast was really on our own, i got up early in order to head to a local bakery extra, but upon striving to write my blog i crashed my computer.  With a quick blessing i had it running an hour latter, but say goodbye to breakfast--that was fun.

Upon finishing my blog we raced to the coach and within a few hour arrived in Brighton.  Brighton is a famous fashion and beach town and has been since the time of George the IV.  George came to Brighton and built the Brighton Pavilion.  The is the most unique of the mansions that i have seen thus far.  This mansion is completely decorated in an oriental style with the most ornate decorations from Asia, especially china.  One example is a several hundred pound chandelier that hangs from a dragons mouth--the dragon being the size of small car minus his appendages.  As i went through i could only think of how this was over the top!  It is no wonder that this was his party house.

While in Brighton i froze my butt off!! It was so cold!--So glad it was a beach town ;)  But while there we found the coolest little shop that was literally a nice hold in the wall.  I had a full English breakfast, which was amazing, not sure i would have it again but i can say i had a full English breakfast in Briton on the beach.

Finishing lunch found us on the bus again and heading to Canterbury, but i must first say the country of Briton is out of this world!  It is some of the most beautiful country i have ever seen.  Glorious rolling hills carved by countless rivers and stream, not an ounce of land that is not green, with each rolling hill framed in trees, with the occasional field of glorious gold.  The view from the coach was worth the ride itself.  But our driver played music during the trip, not my favorite.

Arriving in Canterbury found the weather warmer but still mindnumbingly cold!  We traveled through the most outrageous mall, i actually wish i would have had time to shop!  We arrived and Canterbury cathedral which is the martyr place of St. Thomas Becket and center for the church of England. Many people still pilgrimage to Canterbury church because of Thomas Becket (just a note his death was a rallying point for favoring the church's powers over the kings).  While visiting the Westminster like cathedral, we had the privilege of attending evening song.  It was amazing to hear the unique voice a young male voice echoing through an ancient cathedral.






The day finished with a small group of us going out to Masala world.  This Indian restaurant was recommended to us by an Indian woman that we met on the tube a few days ago.  She was correct in her recommendation of the Thai!  It was just a great time.  

Day In

Yesterday turned out to be a work day!

Got up in the morning and had a few minutes to write in my blog before breakfast.  After breakfast it was another three hour class in a hard chair, i tell you what i want to avoid three hour classes at all cost, those are hard to swallow. 

After class we headed out to Nandos for lunch; it is at Nandos that i discovered their fire sauce.  There is nothing better that their chicken burger with garlic bread, chips, and fire sauce.  I totally agree with Brian there needs to be one in the states!

After lunch my times was spent in the library finishing up my news papers and then writing my media paper.  I finished the rough draft of my paper and then read 12 Night.  One of the most interesting parts of 12 night for me was the word play on gloves and the English language.  He refers to sentences as children's gloves that can be easily turned inside out.  He then says he wishes his sister didn't have a name, implying that because a person is named they can change just as fast as a sentence from good to bad.