On Seeing London

So I have failed on getting things up quickly but I promise that I haven't forgotten! Lots on the brain tonight so I'll start the part on London.  London began with meeting my roommate: Carlyn.  And our room which was tiny for us but huge compared to some of the others.

And had a tiny center console from ages ago:

The buttons in the center controlled my lamp, her lamp, the tv and the outlets.  It took us FOREVER to figure them all out as there were no labels or instructions! LOL  After a quick refresher from the trip over, we met our whole group in the lobby.  After officially meeting everyone and hearing some basic guidelines from our tour director, we set off to our included dinner at The Swan.

After our dinner of fish and chips Mary Agnes, Codi and I set out to explore Hyde Park.  It was gorgeous! Filled with huge fields that were covered even late in the evening!  There were fountains and private cottages. It was breath taking and interesting to see the different groups of people in the park.

Codi, Myself, Mary Agnes

After exploring the park, we began to find our way back to the hotel.  On our way back, we ran into a telephone booth.  This led the the traditional picture (of course)!

After making back to the hotel, I fell asleep for the next 12 hours.  Waking revitalized and ready for our walking tour of London, I was super excited!  Our tour guide lead us through two parks: Hyde and Green to Buckingham Palace. We saw expansive fields and gorgeous flowers!

Then we saw the Wellington Arch.

Myself, Carlyn, Amy, Moriah, Laura, and Kelly in front of the arch

Myself and Carlyn

After walking through the parks we came to it: BUCKINGHAM PALACE!  Though it was not as massive as I had imagined it, just being surround by history was amazing!

Even the statue across the street was impressive! London has lots of statues for just about every country and every person our guide said and though he was probably exaggerating, we did see plenty of them!

Our guide timed it just right for us to see the changing of the mounted guards, which was interesting.

And then we followed the band back to the palace.

Then we went through St. James Park to get to Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and Parliament.

Kelly and Myself

Carlyn and Big Ben

After this journey, we took the subway to see the heart and oldest part of London.

Matt, Codi, and Mary Agnes

Our first experience with "Mind the Gap" - we heard it plenty over the next day!

First look at the Tower of London! First began to be built in the 1100's.

Myself and the Tower Bridge

This was where our tour ended and we were free to go our own ways.  I chose to go eat!

Mary Agnes, Codi, Matt, and Myself at The Tower Diner

After eating (which by the way, the do not split checks, tabs, there! So keep plenty of cash and change with you) we decided to go ahead and tour the Tower of London and see the Crown Jewels.

Mary Agnes, Matt, Codi and Myself in the Tower of London - in front of the City Hall

The partly original Middle Tower

The Bell Tower - built 1190

The tradition of the guard and the London Guard/Beefeater changing the tower password.

They don't really have a password anymore and the Beefeater was making the guard crack up and he was trying so hard not to laugh! :)

While we were there, they had a special exhibition set up that showed armor from over 500 years!  It included past king's armor and incredible looking weaponry.  The exhibition titled "Fit for a King" was very interesting to see.

How can one go to London and not have a picture with a Beefeater? I'm not sure so I made a huge effort to get mine!

Then we got to see the Tower Bridge up close!

After this impressive bridge, we walked down a few blocks and saw the London Bridge! Though it's not the original one (it's in Arizona) it was still cool!

Can you see the words?! :) They are there! On the right of the base before the green mold.

We decided to buy tickets to go up in the London Eye and to see the London Dungeon tour (if you buy them together they are discounted).  We ate before going up in the Eye and it was super cool! It's the world's largest wheel (I think I have that right) and takes 30 minutes to go all the way around! We were on the last round and went up at dusk and came down at night.  When we got off we were FREEZING!

Waiting in line - which wasn't that long at all! Thank goodness for waiting!

Myself and Big Ben - looking rough after a long and hot day!

The London Skyline

More skyline

The capsule outside! It's just a clear pill looking gondola.

Big Ben

Parliament

The next morning we awoke and went to find Abbey Road. And find it we did! :)

In front of where they recorded!

Matt and I walking across the crosswalk!

After Abbey Road, we decided to go ahead and use our London Dungeon tickets.  It is one of those interactive tour attractions that you walk through and seeing as I'm not a huge fan of the scare factor, it was quite interesting for me to walk through. The best part was the end where they actually had a drop ride that took our picture right after it dropped.  It was very funny!

We had lunch and then headed to The National Gallery.  The gallery had beautiful fountains out front and even had an interesting tribute.  See pictures below.  The gallery houses over 2,300 paintings from 8 centuries and hundreds of different artists.  We only browsed through the most current paintings as one could spend all day in there and still not see everything!

The four of us in front of the National Gallery (can you see us?)

After getting our fill of paintings, we headed to see Parliament up close.

After walking around and just seeing this governmental part of London, we hung out in St. James Park and enjoyed the sunshine.  For our last dinner in London, we ate at Garfunkel's.  That evening, we put our walking shoes back on and went to King's Cross. And guess what we found?! That's right! Platform 9 3/4! :)

On Seeing the World - Making it to London

At the Atlanta airport, I met up with 14 other Auburn travelers.  We were and eclectic mix of students with different personalities and majors ranging from civil engineering to systems management to education and human development. The first flight was a very long one as we left at 6 pm EST.  And were flying into the next day.  And for most of us, myself included, this was our first overseas flight.  This flight was long as I was excited and ready to start seeing the world.  This did not allow me to have successful sleep on the flight over.  We successfully made it to Frankfurt, Germany where we hung out for a few hours.

Kelly takes an nap while Laura entertains herself. :)

I had to convince Amy to take this pic with me while Trevor does puzzles.  At about 30 mins before our flight was supposed to leave Trevor, Matt, and I realized that our flight info was not on the board and that we were the only ones sitting there.  So I went to ask the other desk and she informed us that our gate had changed and so we took off for the new gate as she had informed us that it was on the other side of the terminal.  The other side of the terminal ended up being just down an escalator but it was a scare nonetheless.  We all made it on to the flight and settled in for the last hour and a half before reaching London.  Most of us slept on this flight as sleep on the long flight never came for many of us.  At the end of the flight, we were in London!  Ready to meet our tour director and get started on doing all of the fun things listed in the brochure!

On Packing

So after getting all of the ducks in order on May 22, I was off.  Off to Europe for 17 full days of traveling by boat, plane, train, and automobile!  Off to exploring parts of the world that have been around for anywhere between 500 - 2,600+ years.  I was exhilarated! As I packed, Matthew kept me company.

And then Mom called to make sure that I was packing everything

Which of course I was! :)  I even made sure to pack the AU flag!  It was going to make another 5,000+ mile journey!

So now that everything was packed. I could be off! Next stop: London!

On Seeing the World

So most of you know that I've always had the traveling bug and wanted to travel anywhere!  Well as my graduation in December approaches and I'm classified as a senior at Auburn University, my family and I received brochures about a graduation trip that is offered through the Auburn Alumni Association and AESU Travel Agency.  After much discussion with the parentals,  we decided that I could and should go!  Boy was I excited! The actual trip took place from May 22 through June 7.  Over the next few days I will be updating my blog with the things I did while on the trip as well as pictures!

I had so much fun and plan to get back over there ASAP (hopefully within the next 5 years).  I'll start the trip posts sometime tonight! :)

On Homework After Spring Break

I am not a good blogger apparently.  I initially started this as a knitting/life blog and let's just say that with a full load of classes the knitting has gone by the wayside :(  I know, sad.  I haven't given it up, but I'm more focused on graduating from Auburn University soon! LOL December graduation here I come!

Let me update you on life though, for it has continued onward with no stopping or slowing. A full load of classes has been hectic for me at times, but not terrible.  I love most of them and the online class hasn't been bad either.  I was ready for Spring Break though after a week full of 4 tests!  Spring Break was spent in Miami with Megan!  We had a blast! A trip to Key West and a week of our favorite pastime: eating; it doesn't get much better than that!

Above are pics!  The first is my favorite drink down there: Batido de Mamey.  Mamey (mom eh) is a fruit similar to a papaya.  It is consumed with a fritas (sandwhich, Cuban style with small potato chips on it). I forgot to take a picture of the fritas because I was so hungry I ate it! :)  I also forgot pictures of the empanadas! *Sigh*  The middle and third pic are in Key West.  Myself, Kelley, and Megan at the southern most point, and yes I know that I have on a long sleeve shirt but with my fair skin and no sunscreen I wasn't taking any chances!  Finally Megan and myself at the beach in Key West.  I miss her like crazy the moment I get back on the plane to come back...wish we were closer!

So now, it's back to the books to finish the last five weeks of class! I CAN do this, I must do this! The end is so near! :)

On A New Year

   

So I have not been too productive this year, but the end of last year was a knitting spree.  I was getting all of my Christmas presents ready and finished.  Little did I know how well I had picked my presents for everyone.  They all loved their scarves!   I have included pictures (above).

In the time I have not updated I have also produced a one row scarf.  It is simply garter stitch the whole time but changing the yarn after every row.  This one includes 10 different types of yarn and one that has even been spun by myself.  The sides are different and I love it! Linda gave me a shawl pin for it and I have enjoyed wearing it!

I have also began attempting entralac.  My first attempt was pretty but not like I wanted it.  It was stiff and too wide.  I have it pictured above as well.  It was frogged.  When I frogged it though, most of it came apart into pieces.  So now this yarn is in short pieces waiting for me to spin it back together.

I cannot wait for this semester.  It is my last semester of classes! Then summer of work and volunteer.  Next will be an internship somewhere anywhere. Finally will come graduation! I just pray that senioritis will not play into any part of my year.  I am excited about the future and the changes it will bring!

That's it for now...HAPPY NEW YEAR!