Friday, July 18, 2014

Ain't Nobody Got Time Fo Dat (especially blogging)

My apologies for not blogging in a bit but you see we have been so busy and the last priority, unfortunately, has been blogging.  So lets start from the end and I'll take you back through the past two weeks or so.

Yesterday was spent tour St. Paul's and Parliament.  In the morning we, as a group, went to St. Paul's and took an audio tour.  The ceilings in St. Paul's are amazing with very beautiful tiled mosaics.  Sadly we weren't allowed to to take pictures sooo I can't really show you what it looked like.  Maybe google it or something. We were also able to climb to the Whispering gallery and to the top of the dome.  I loved the top of the dome.  I didn't love getting there.  To get up, you have to climb lots of super tight spiral staircases.  You know that feeling where you are so uncomfortable and you are just about to freak out.  Ya that was me.  But the 528 steps were totally worth it!  The view was AMAZING.


Chelsea and I also were lucky enough to get a private tour of parliament by her dad's friend who is an MP.  It was a really cool experience as we got to see the House of Lords and Commons and were able to go into this court yard that is closed off to the public.   


To end off a great day, I got a package from home. THANK YOU FAMILY!! Never have I been so excited to see goldfish.  Seriously such a treat.

Yes they are princess goldfish and yes, that princess goldfish's name is Brooke. 
 All you need to know about Wednesday is frozen yogurt and frozen painting!
The best lunch in London



Go watch the music video for "Do you want to build a snowman?"

Monday we visited Blenheim Palace and Oxford.  Both were amazing.  At Blenheim we actually saw the duke that lives there.  He just casually pulled up in his Range Rover, gets out, and nonchalantly walks in.  





The Eagle and Child is a pub in Oxford where famous authors (I forgot exactly who but I know the dudes that wrote Lord of the Rings and Narnia are involved) met often and critiqued each others work.

Really yummy shake place in the Covered Market in Oxford

 Last week was spent traveling Northern England and Scotland.  I am too lazy to try to sort these photos out (sorry not sorry) and to be completely honest I don't know if I could tell you the exact order of how we did things because days all blur together but here is a little run down of how the week went:
Hadrian's wall.  The best photo taken on study abroad thus far.
Many awkward family photos were taken at Hadrian's Wall

Hadrian's Wall

the Lake District.  One of the prettiest places I have ever been.

At the top of Arthur's Seat in Scotland.  Beautiful views of the Edinbrugh

A park in Preston.  We took a tour about church history in Preston and learned a lot.

Preston temple.  So beautiful!


We stayed a night in Liverpool and were able to go to the Beatles museum.  It was an awesome museum

Beatles fan-girling 

Cottages in the Lake District

Sara's gingerbread in the Lake District.  So yummy





Arthur's Seat





Hi Alex Bressler
Walking through York


We spent a night in York and I sat on this bridge

Thuggin it at Durham Cathedral

Such pretty flowers at The Shakespeare pub in Durham

York Minster.  Ooooo artsy

Hiking (really just walking up a little hill) to Hadrian's Wall

Hadrian's Wall

Playing ultimate ninja destruction at Hadrian's



I was so brave and tried fish and chips.  It was definitely a one time thing. 
Edinburgh--the Royal Mile

York Minster

Birthplace of Harry Potter--Where JK Rowling wrote the first book
The trip up north was a blast!  Although sleeping in a hostels wasn't our favorite and we were really grateful to come home to the centre, it was overall a great trip.

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Camden Market: an ode to hipsters....aka pictures of food

 Camden market had the best food I've had since coming to London.  Anyone who tells you the food in London is good is lying to you.  Don't trust that person.  You should also probably run far far way from them.  For example: tonight we were served cat food for dinner. Literally.  I am not trying to be dramatic but I would rather be shot in the face than eat this stupid food (baby mama reference).  I would upload pictures to show you but I don't want to make any of you gag.  Anywhoooo Camden Market. The best food in London.  Think of the Provo Food Truck Round Up x1,000,000.


Homemade mac and cheese 
So happy to actually be eating good food


Cute Chels and Sarah eating...well we don't really know but they say it was good

Banana strawberry kebab coated in melted white, milk, and dark Belgium chocolate
YUMM


Chels and I shared this wonderful chocolate creation and I to say I severely wish I had gotten my own would be an understatement.  It was delicious.  Yes I was the chocoholic that was spooning the left over chocolate into my already chocolate filled mouth after the fruit was gone.

The famous banana man stand

We left Camden Market very full and very happy!  We loved it there and definitely plan to return because well we know we will be well fed if we do.