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London to Brussels

6/14/2013

6/14/13 London to Brussels
Last day in London. The train leaves at 3pm. I wanted to try to take the tour of the Globe Theatre, but it was kind of far and I wanted to get more in this morning. I decided to go to Temple Church to see the ephegies of the Knights of Templar (the ones featured in the Devince Code) which was really interesting. I couldn't stay for long unfortunately. They said no pictures because it is still a sanctioned church, so the pictures aren't the best.
Then I went to Westminster where they had the same no picture policy, so again pictures aren't so good. I tried to get the memorial for the Bronte Sisters and Jane Austen, but no go. It was so crowed, that I wasn't able to really get much a feel for it. Although since it was Friday they had a minute of silence for Good Friday, or the death of Christ and for any who we may have lost. It was really nice.
Then I rushed back to the Metrogate to get my bag and Henry so we could be to the train station meet up with Joseph who was waiting. His mom had to take the 2pm train because there was a mix up. He was worried about leaving her 15 year old son alone, I can't blame her for that, so we needed to hurry to meet him. We met him near platform 9 and 3/4, then quickly ran over to the British Library to see the Devinci notebook, Michaelangelo notebook, a Guetenburg Bible and the Magna Carta. Then ran back next door to the train station and got on the Eurotrain to Brussels. Our train want 20 meters under the ocean through a tunnel to get there. It was only about 2 hours.
We met a Nun from Israel named Azzezuhm. She is in Brussels for a conference. She works with Israel and a few other countries.
Brussels smells weird. A lot of chemicals and cigarette smoke. Although the street art is amazing. I've never seen artwork like this in the states. The skateboard park is spray painted like waves. I'll try to get a picture.
We are staying at the Hotel Barry on the edge if the Arab quarter, not many women around.
We went to the grocery store, picked up supplies for dinner. Walked to a nearby park and found where the women were. Ty were sitting on the park benches chatting while the kids played soccer and on the jungle gyms.
Afterwards, we went back to the hotel. I sent the emails that I could because the Internet was really slow.

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June 12th, 2014

6/12/2013

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This morning I had to pick up my London Pass, so that took us to Trafalgar Square. Then we walked down to the Thames to catch the river cruise. On the way down we saw so many things:
Trafalger Square, St. James Palace, Her majesty's Calvary, found out that tomorrow is the Diamond Jubilee, celebrating 60 years of the Queen's coronation. Tickets starting at ￡15.

Thames River cruiseWaterloo Bridge made of self cleaning limestone whenever it rains it cleans itself.
St. Paul's 365 feet talk tallest building in London until 1625

By 6pm the Thames river tide will be too high for the ships to pass under the bridge. Millennium bridge known as the wiblywobbly. Two hours after the queen opened it, police had to close it because I was swaying so much people were falling down. The designer said there was nothing wrong with the bridge, the people were walking wrong on the bridge.1615 - anchor
Francis Drake's pirate ship. London Bridge, 1st built 2000 yrs ago by the Romans.Tower Bridge.

London Tower
The London Tower tour was really interesting. London tower has a fascinating history the main building (White Tower) was built by William the conqueror. The medieval toilets where a hole that went out to the moat, which is needless to say became one of the most disease infested places in London. Ann Bolyne was beheaded there. It has one of the last remaining Tudor buildings in existence, which in part is still used by the queen. Speaking of the queen, found out we could go to the queen's public birthday celebration for ￡15 tonight, where the queen is supposed to attend. I'm doubt I'll end up going to that though.
After London Tower, we headed to St. Martin's church to do some brass rubbing. I did mine with Ann Bolyne, I felt it followed the theme for the day.

Brass rubbing
After the brass rubbing, the others went back to Metrogate, while I headed to Leicester Square (pronounced Lester) to try and find m&m world. On my way it started to really rain, luckily I had my umbrella. However I did get to walk through London's Chinatown which are made up of some cool back streets. Then when I turned back onto the main square I saw a lot of people gathered behind a fenced barrier and giant screens playing Superman previews and heard police offers redirecting people unless they had a cinema ticket. I thought it was people getting ready for the midnight showing or something. But it was even cooler, it was the London Premier of Superman. I was less than 50 feet from Russel Crow and Henry Cavil, though it was difficult to see much detail because it was raining so there were many umbrellas. I was able to find my way around the barrier and got to go to the Red carpet/ superman carpet. They had already moved down the carpet, but it was still pretty cool. I found a guy who had gotten signatures on his superman poster. Then I went to find m&M world. 4 floors of m&m's. I was able to try the new peanut butter chocolate m&m which was yummy. After which I met up with everyone and we went to Hyde Park: princess Diana memorial, feeding swans in royal gardens, Kensington palace.

Dinner at Da Lisa, and grocery shopping for breakfast and lunch for the next few days.

Pictures:
London Eye
Mormon.org bus
Parliment
Westminster Abby
Big Ben

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Oxford to London

6/11/2013

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Side note: my daily logs may be a little short. I'm typing them into the notepad app on my phone. It probably looks like I'm texting, a lot.

Side side note: on the plane the inflight entertainment were screens in the back of the seat in front of us. We were able to choose from a variety of movies, tv shows, games, etc. in hoping to spend more time sleeping rather than watching a movie, so I read while he lights were still bright and then during the meal I decide to watch a tv show, then go to sleep. Well, 5 episodes and 2 hrs of sleep later, I still have the Big Bang Theory theme song stuck in my head. If we're being completely honest it's been more than 24 hours later and the song is still stuck in my head.

Oxford to London Breakfast:
English Black Pudding in OxfordLeaving a little late, but I feel better because at least I was ready on time.

It looks like we're in for another English Summer, meaning cold and cloudy.

Harry Potter Experience: Since we're running late we have to take a black cab to the express train. ￡15 later we make to the train, 20 minutes later we're boarding the black doubledecker to Warner Brothers to he Harry Potter studio tour. Once we arrived everyone was so nice. We checked most of our stuff, for free. They told us about complimentary cards we weren't aware of and then there was Jerome. Jerome was a fun ticket taker who spoke with a lot of American southern slang. I was convinced he was from Georgia. Then he leans over and whispers in an English accent, I'm not really American, I was born in London. His coworker next to him rolls her eyes and says, "please don't encourage him."
The Great Hall was pretty great. This was a pretty great experience because although it was very touristy, it was also ver authentic. Fun note: we met some Mormons from DC in Diagon Alley. And butter-beer is good. It tastes like cream soda and spiced heavy cream. Goblet of Fire, 14 year old girl who with a terminal illness was immortalized as a Gryffindor student on page 145. She sadly died before finding this out.
Four hours into HP tour at gift shop, "We haven't even made it to the candy yet, and FYI I saw a chocolate frog."

Then we wandered the streets, actually we went to find the pub we heard had skittle games. Basically a medieval precursor to bowling where cheese tossing is involved. Alas, we found the pub, but no skittles. We did find a great little park in Hamstead where we listened to the birds on the pond while a group of young boys played futbol in the grass. At one point the ball when rolling towards the pond and a boy yells, "Noooo!"'Splash'"I'm going in!" The biggest boy said and in he went.
On this little journey we came across a store, Jane and Dada. I had to get a picture of that one.

Afterwards, we found a great little Italian restaurant that Donell, my co-worker/friend would approve of, owned by some really great Italian women. They have strong personalities, speak with their hands and are so nice. Da Lisa - the owner. Her cute poofy puppy joined us for dinner. Our deserts: torta Della noniCannoliCasatina
Not quite according to plan but all in all a pretty good day.

I even got to ride in a Black Cab