London..

Thursday:
I had classes, ate dinner, and then everyone loaded on the buses. It was 3 1/2 hours to London but it went by pretty fast because Chris talked to Kellsey and I the whole time :) We got there around 9:30 put our stuff in the rooms and went out for a drink at a pub. I can't remember the name of it but it was exactly what you would expect of a pub; dim lighting, dark wood, drunk locals. I had 1/2 a pint of Strongbow and I was really disappointed in myself for not trying something new, but it was my first time ever ordering in a bar so I cut myself some slack. We went back and went to bed.

Friday:
Kellsey and I ate the nasty continental breakfast, like we did everyday, then went out exploring. I happen to be a huge fan of continental breakfasts and like them when most people don't, but the "toast" was pre-toasted/cold and there was never enough milk for cereal. We tried to go to The British Museum for about an hour and a half. It was fifteen minutes away but we kept getting turned around. London is not set up on a grid at all, and roughly every three blocks the street you think you're on will inevitably change names. We spent about 2 hours in the museum. My favorite thing that I saw was the Rosetta Stone. It was just fascinating to see a physical link to history and civilizations 1/2'' of glass away. Everything else there was amazing too but that was my favorite. I laughed when I saw the Easter Island head because it made me think of the Night at the Museum where the guy goes, "want more gum gum dumb dumb" then I laughed because that's Derek's favorite part. In trying to find the museum however, I asked for directions and was promptly told that I asked incorrectly, given false directions, and told that I was indeed not from the United States but from Spain.

We wandered trying to find Leicester Square so we could purchase tickets to see a play. We really wanted to see The Lion King but it was very expensive, so we got tickets for Chicago instead. We somehow ended up in Trafalgar Square. There were dozens of metal hand prints.. I guess, of famous actors, kind of like the stars on Hollywood Blvd. We passed the Natural History Museum but did stop in the Portrait Gallery. It was very weird but it was a cool concept. Kellsey and I just kept walking and we ended up by the river. We were seriously confused how we found the river when we hadn't crossed a single bridge yet, turns out it was the Thames :) On the other side was the London Eye (a ferris wheel with enclosed seating) and street performers. We crossed the bridge and midway one of us noticed Big Ben.. because it is so difficult to spot. Our map we were using did not have a key/legend telling us how many inches were equal to miles so we were soley going off street names.

Once we crossed there were people dressed as statues, magicians, dancers, (2) Charlie Chaplin..., and people in the grass eating. After being falsely told again, how to reach a store we were looking for, we ran into a street market, like with food. Kells and I found our way back, the whole time looking for SOHO to shop. We never found SOHO. Also apparently I become crazy when I don't eat so, I think I might have been a bit unbareable :( We stopped and ate the best pizza in the world then got ready for the play once we got to the hotel. Since we were in heels we hailed a cab to take us to the theater. Kellsey, Taylor, and I went and we had great seats. The music started and we were all so excited and after about 5 minutes I was already disappointed. The entire band was on stage and not in a pulpit, Roxi and Velma's hair was flip-flopped, and no one was a decent singer. Needles to say we left at intermission. We were planning on meeting up with people at a club but didn't end up doing so, which was for the best. After walking at least 3 miles in heels back to the hotel I was toast. Thank god I packed my sleeping evelope thing because the sheets were just awful.

Saturday:
After eating another awful breakfast, Kellsey and I booked it to the Thames to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. Well... I confused Buckingham Palace with Westminster Abbey on the map so we went to the wrong place. Luckily we got there in time. We actually managed to see their "dry run" and inspection, only to realize that there was a giant mass of people behind us on the other side of the street waiting for the soldiers to march. After trying to sift through the madness/mob of mean people we decided to find Princess Diana's Memorial site. We walked through three parks, on the trail that the guards carried her body before burial, to find a circular ring of water flowing. With kids in it. In their swimsuits. I was so disgusted. This was a memorial site for their Princess and people didn't have the decency to respect that. We didn't stay long.
We cut up Oxford Street with the destination of King's Cross in mind. Apparently Oxford Street is shopping central. It was like NYC on crack. We only stopped in one store, it was as crowded and chaotic as Filine's Basement in Chicago but as big as a Super Target. With that many people and bargains to be had, of course a fight would break out, 4 feet away from us. A clerk and customer got heated! It was all BLOODY THIS AND BLOODY THAT! The customer called the clerk a "fucking Asian bitch" only to be called "a hoe, and a slag." Well "slag" must be a very bad word because as the customer was already being restrained by other workers she broke through and the clerk was rushed to the back of the store. Kellsey and I decided that "slag" means slut+hag, in which case the clerk was accurate. The customer continued to yell, "I'm waiting for that bitch to get off work! I'm going to kick her ass! I'll be waiting outside!!" Scarey stuff.
After we left the crazy store we walked for what seemed like days and decided to get another pizza :) We recouperated and then walked to King's Cross to take our pictures at Platform 9 3/4. We of course thought that it would be between platforms 9 and 10. So we snuck onto the platform and it wasn't there. We went through a security gate backwards to find it :) But we have our picture and again walked back to the hotel.
I think we took a nap and then we got ready to go out for a drink. Well the first try didn't work. We tried again about two hours later and found a group of people to go with. Half of us were going to walk and the other half was going to take the tube. Well that didn't work out either. We walked about 3 miles to nothing and back. Kellsey, Taylor, and I just got a drink at the bar next to the hotel.

Sunday:
Happy birthday to Sam and me! Well I was kinda disappointed because no one said happy birthday to me at breakfast and it was only until my teacher saw me that anyone said happy birthday because she said it first. It was nice of her but I was still bummed. I had a 3 1/2 hour bus ride to look forward too as well as a 4 hour tour of some building. I just wanted to get back, get settled, and do some homework. Mom called me, I talked to Sam, and then I talked to Derek later that night, and I was really glad I got to talk to them. We got off the bus, dropped our stuff off in the living room, and ate dinner otherwise we were going to miss it. Kellsey and I got back and did our Biology lab and British Studies homework. Luckily for me, not all of my group members had sent me their information... I will never approve of group work when I am a part of them. I tried to plug in my electric toothbrush too and it won't charge :( I just want dentist-clean teeth.

Monday:
Waking up was HORRIBLE. I was dead tired. The British Studies lecture almost put me to sleep, then during class we had to present our information and one of my group-mates goes, "Yeahh... I didn't send you anything." To which I replied, "I figured that out." Then I went to Biology and turned in my lab. Went straight to lunch. Went to the room did homework for my class that was coming up at 4:10, put in laundry and was almost late to class. Good news is that my map test got moved from this Thursday to next Thursday. I still have alot of homework to do in my classes though. It's raining and I was actually going to go on a walk today but not anymore. I am so tired.