Since this is one of my most UNfavorite days of the year, and this year I don't even have my mom or her valentines day treats to make me feel better. I don't feel like writing so enjoy each picture and know that behind each picture is a story (some really aren't worth telling, don't worry).
Even though it rains almost everyday and you get about 10 minutes of sun the entire week… I can honestly say that I absolutely LOVE this place. And this is why…
CASTLES & CATHEDRALS
Every wednesday we set off on this large tour bus to destinations outside of London. And almost without fail, every wednesday we see a different Castle and a different Cathedral.
MARKETS!!!
Camden, Spitalfield, Portobello, (but most importantly) Borough. I have loved going to many different markets that London has to offer. From sketchy salesmen at Camden to the most amazing Grilled Cheese sandwiches at the Borough Market, every market is so different and so fun!!
Shows.. Shows.. Shows.
The hard part of shows is trying to space them out so I get to enjoy them throughout my time here in London. Wicked, Henry V (starring Jude Law), Mamma Mia, Cirque Du Soleil are some of the shows that I've seen. The theatre here is amazing and one of my most favorite things that London has to offer.
HARRY POTTER
My love for Harry Potter has grown, who knew that was possible, even more since I've been here…I may or may not have carried a wand all around the Harry Potter Universal Studios Tour… drank butter beer, and rode on a broomstick. (yes, I bought those extremely overpriced souvenir pictures, because sometimes, you have to.) We went to the Millennium Bridge and acted like total idiots, quoting Harry Potter and casting spells on the bridge. I could just imagine the people passing thinking "those stupid Americans". After a quick stop at Hogwarts, via platform 9 3/4, I unfortunately had to return back to London due to a mixup in my acceptance letter… seems to have gotten lost (wrong owl).. so until then, I must continue to attend classes in London.
TAYLOR SWIFTS MOM… AND OBVI T-SWIFT..
k.. so for those who really know me, know that things like this NEVER, EVER (like ever.) happen to me.
Let me back up… We bought tickets during the first week we were here, and got literally the worst seats, but they were only 45 pounds each for Taylor Swift's last show of the RED tour. We were bound and determined to get chosen for her "T-Party" where you get to meet her and have tea with her after the show. So we bought these battery operated lights and made posters so we could be noticed. We got to the O2 arena, and of course our seats are at the very very top… touching the back wall of the entire arena. WORST SEATS EVER. But we didn't care.. We were there. After the Vamps opened for her, we turned on the lights and danced to the songs they had playing throughout the arena. Of course Ellie Goulding's "anything can happen" came on which gave us even more false hope. While dancing to "American Woman" (people were staring at this point) I noticed some security guard person pointing up towards us… So we danced even more wildly.. and then this guy started climbing and once he finally reached us… he asked us if….
WE WANTED TO BE MOVED TO THE FRONT ROW.
like what??!! from the very back to the very front?? WE WERE SCREAMING AND CRYING AND SPRINTING DOWN TO THE FRONT. We kept thinking they would stop us but they kept taking us closer and closer to the front until we were at the very front! Taylor's mom had seen us and chose us to be moved up to the front!! (Thank you Andrea!!)
To top it off, Ellie Goulding was her special guest.. which made it that much better and made "Anything Can Happen" our official theme song.
Lets just say, this night was one to remember and was literally a once in a lifetime opportunity.
(I'M STILL NOT OVER IT…)
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| we moved down to the entrance of the nosebleeds to make it seem like we were closer than we actually were… |
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| little did we know.. we'd be moved to the front row. |
That poor security guard had to watch us freak out all night…
LONDON.. MY FLAT & MY FRONT YARD (Hyde Park)
This city is HUGE and full of so much to do!! I am obsessed with its energetic and fast paced lifestyle! It's packed with history around each corner and I've learned things about this city that I only would learn living here… It quickly became one of my most favorite places in the world. Some of my favorite times have been when I just go out and about on my own. I see only the things that I want to see and at my own time. IT'S SERIOUSLY THE BEST (and sometimes much needed).
Yeahh… so I live RIGHT across from Hyde Park in the CUTEST flat ever. I run in Hyde Park (past my neighbors Will, Kate & George), and sometimes bike through the park to Buckingham Palace. You can't live this close to Kensington Palace and Hyde Park without visiting the Orangery for tea and of course the Peter Pan statue.
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| Never growing up… and never coming home. |
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| my favorite people. |
OTHER WEDNESDAY EXCURSIONS AND FRIDAY WALKS
We do get to see a lot of things besides cathedrals and castles, I promise.
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| Cambridge.. starting my application now.. HAHAH |
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| The view worth climbing the 527 stairs to the top of St. Paul's Cathedral |
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| Roman Baths.. |
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| Playing dress up at the Jane Austen Center |
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| And for some reason… I always end up being the boy.. OH well at least I was Mr. Darcy this time. |
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| literally a circle of rocks stacked on top of each other…. |
MOST OF ALL… I LOVE THE PEOPLE THAT I SHARE THESE PLACES WITH!!
These peeps definitely make up for the fact that I can't share these places with my family..(YET. already have a list of stuff to do, Mom and Dad!!) All the fun and crazy times that I've had with each of these people have made this experience one of the best yet. Its the times when you're in the middle of nowhere and have to make it home together (which is an adventure in itself when the tube is closed for the night), the times when you look for something that doesn't exist (Trader Joe's.. SO NOT MY FAULT), the times when they're missing home just as much as you are, ghost hunting in every old museum and castle, the deep conversations over dinner at a pub, those moments that are perfect and time seems to stop, truth or dare on the tube (the dares are always too outrageous to actually attempt), and the spontaneous things that you find when you aren't really looking for them. To say that I've grown during the past 48 days is an understatement…Even though I'm dying to see my mom, I don't want this semester to end.
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| london bowling league |
CHEERS to those having to spend Valentines Day back home.. probably alone. I'll eat cadbury chocolate and kiss a British boy for you! (kidding mom…) kinda…
xx
