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
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