The Museum of London

Yesterday was a blast from the past...and who ever says stealing doesn't pay?  The London museum is located in a Greek mansion, the building is as cool as everything that is inside.  This museum is home to everything that Briton stole while they were an empire.  Artifacts from Asia, Africa, Egypt, Europe, all over the world.  This place is huge!  For me one of the coolest displays was the Rosetta Stone.



After visiting the museum in fly by mode we raced off through London to complete one of our London walks, which took me past Charles Darwin College, Charles Dickens stomping ground, the London Library and the oldest looking hotel that i have ever seen.  One of the most interesting sites was the college, it was an interesting though to study in a building that at one time was home to the greatest thinkers that ever lived.

The walked ended at the underground that took us back home, we ate dinner, and then raced off to Matilda.  This was an amazing performance! It was not as meaningful as all the other plays that i have seen.  It was played for laughs and entertainment, they did a great job.  The trunchble was played by a man with a femmy, Despicable Me twist.  Overall it was amazing, everything in the play was about extremes...as extreme as you can get.

The play lead me home and to finish some home work...what a wonderful crazy schedule!

West Minster Abby

Well just in case you didn't know, the difference between an Abby and a Cathedral is that a Cathedral is tied to a bishop or had been at one time.  Yesterday, we went and toured West Minster Abby.  Our tour was given by a blue badge, in which to earn our guide has had to have years of study and experience.  Therefore, she was absolutely amazing!

The Abby was extremely old and grand, this was the Abby the over 20 of the previous king and queen have been coronation in.  It is also the church that William and Kate were married in.  It has served the rule of King Henry the VIII because of all the members of his family that were buried there, it is riddled from top to bottom with shrine and monuments.  The ceilings are huge and grand in the ancient Gothic style.




After visiting west minster we came back for class and dinner. I must admin on our crazy schedule a three hour class at one was almost unbearable! Whooa!  From there however, we went to Le 
Miserables it was absolutely breath taking!  The voices were out of this world, the stage revolved on a center weal, which constantly turning showing up the front and back of every scene and allowing the characters to literally walk on stage.  The grand numbers of Bring Him Home and Can You Hear the People Singing left no one unmoved.

The night finished with a frantic sprint to finish today's homework.  We've all come to one conclusion--there will be no sleep in London! ;)

Hampton Court

We yesterday was crazy!

The day began with my first train ride!  It was amazing!

O what it would be like to live like a king!  We spent the whole day yesterday visiting Hampton Court, which is most famous for being the express mansion of Henry the VIII.  Everything in this palace was made for its grandeur.  Everything from the kitchen to the great halls and the pomp and circumstance, and finally to the grounds which and ten times as massive.  Everything is grand rich and beautiful.  They had an amazing audio tour of the palace, however even with the whole day we were not able to see absolutely everything.  It was so much fun, so interesting, and so grand.

After touring the mansion we ate dinner and then went to Disney's The Lion King.  That play was out of this world!  The entire stage floor was animated, the voices divine, the costumes surreal, and the music exalting.  That is one of the all time best plays i have ever seen!

Shakespeare

You could call yesterday a day of Shakespeare!  The day began with class, which i must admit is completely different when you are living in the city you are learning about.  It was altogether amazing!  We ended slightly early so that would could head out and get on the coach.

Upon getting outside however, we were informed that the coach was going to be a few minutes late.  So what do foreign students do on a nice day in London, sit on the porch of course.  So we sat a read and had a good time on the porch of the London center.  When the coach arrived we headed off toward Stratford-upon-Avon.





As we traveled we stopped at a little town Chipping-norton, this was a tinny little town with amazing little shops.  We stopped at a local backer and ate, the food was amazing!







We then go back on the bus and made it to Ann Hathaway house, Shakespeare birth place, and then the trinity church were he is buried.  It was an altogether amazing day.  One of the most impressing sights was the church for it was extremely ancient.









After a small break we headed off to the Royal Shakespeare theater.  We stop alone the river and ate at an amazing little Italian restruant.  It was the best food.











Trinity Church Burial Place

Birth Place











The night ended with viewing Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night. I must admit that this was my favorite play so far.  The acting was amazing and the stage was out of this world.

Sunday in London

Yesterday was Totally Ammmazzzing!! --The word amazing mean to read like little kid in The Incredibles.


The first few moments of the morning found me in the master living room on the couch.  This crown Victorian style room only adding to euphoria, found me updating my blog and doing a little bit of reading.  After a few minutes of reading Trent came in and announced he was leaving for the Tate Modern museum, i quickly asked if i could come along.

Needless to say after that i spent the entire morning on the seventh floor of the Tate Modern museum.  This floor hosts floor to ceiling windows with a great bar side seat.  I spent the morning reading, looking over the Thames river and all of Northern London.


After a crazy ride home, we went to church and enjoyed the singles branch.  The walk home was through Hyde park, as we walked the weather cleared and glorious summer showed her face. That was the best walk home from church i have ever had.




Arriving at home we found dinner and a wonder thought.  I spent the rest of the night in the library preparing for class.  It was a glorious day in paradise.

The Thames

DAY FOUR

It was a great day with another crazy morning!  We got up early and took off to Borough Market one of the worlds greatest food markets.  We had all kinds of great food and just enjoyed making new friends.

After Borough market we went in and visited another great cathedral in London and walked all along the Thames river.  While walking along the Thames we saw reminents of Bishop's mantion, a pirate ship, the London millenium bridge, the London Bridge, Big Ben, the eye of London, and much more.

The day ended trying to catch up on all my crazy reading! There is a ton!

The Play from Heck

DAY THREE

The day began with an up and gett'em trip: first thing in the morning we took off to the Tower of London.  The rain was crazy and the weather cold, but the Tower was amazing.  We spent time touring all over the castle including the crown jewels, the bloody tower, the white tower, ancient jails, and Tutor style homes.  It was so neat to view as see things that as so deep in tradition and add depth to why British people are the way they are.

After touring the tower we took off on a walk all along the old Roman wall.  We stopped at a very old chapel, visited many of the remnants of the old roman wall, and walked all through the financial district of London.

After finishing the walk we toured the Museum of London which is basically a complete history of London from the Roman's to the current day.  The museum including thing such as exhibits on the great fire, the black death, and old time relics.

Following the play we when and saw Big and Small this was one of the most modern plays that i have ever seen.  The play was written around the time of the cold war and focuses on one woman trying to fit into humanity, while humanity is facing extinction and all of its horrid follies.  My favorite part was talking about it after words with Jordan, Loren, and Emily.