Once-A-Year Day

Saturday, May 24th

Stayed up till 2am again. I credit that to my freshman roommates. I got used to staying up insanely late every once in awhile and still making it to work. I'm not sure if it is a good thing, but it happens. Justyne and I left the house by 8:30 to go get tickets for Matilda for five pounds. We took a new route though since the day has come that Glouscter Station's Piccadilly Line has been closed for work. We knew this day was coming. Our walk to South Kensington was a little farther, but it is not bad.

The rain has come back. Waiting in line for tickets. Too bad they sold the last two to the couple right in front of us. Bummer. We'll try to get day tickets another time. We walked over to the ticket booth in the middle of Leiscter Square and realized we both really wanted to see Pajama Game. Tickets were cheaper at the box office and we even got to sit front row for the matinee. The morning was successful and then we went to meet Dallin, Jace, and Tracy at Monument Station.

We walked over to the church St. Dunstan in the East. The church was destroyed during the blitz of WWII. Instead of tearing it down or rebuilding, the city turned the ruins into a garden. How is cool is that??

London is the ideal place to take pictures. Yesterday we actually saw a photo shoot near Borough. We pretty much had our own here. 

I was really just sitting here like this. No picture intended.

"Be contemplative!"

Dallin, Justyne, and Jace.

On and off all showers all day. Truly London.

For 2.70 quid you can climb to the top of the monument for the great fire of London. It is a spiral staircase of 311 steps straight up. You get a certificate too for climbing it! I suggest doing this if you are dubious about St. Paul's. It is much easier. You get a similar view and the stairs aren't as freaky. Really relating to Rapunzel up here in this tower.

Tracy, Justyne, Me, and Jace. 

Tower Bridge in the distance.

Did it again. I don't even like heights. YOLO - You Only London Once or DIFTE - Do it for the experience. Shout out to Melissa and Jenni. 

Is there a way you can take a Mary Poppins Rooftop tour of London? I would do that.

According to George, Prince Charles doesn't really like the new modern architecture popping up around London. I think it brings personality. Everywhere has a different story It is fun seeing super ancient buildings and then this cartoon looking tower. Dallin thinks it looks like a toaster.

Standing over London.

Descending the Monument. There were a few ledges to play or rest on. Here is Jace.

The Monument is conquered!

Dallin, Justyne, Tracy, Jace and I. 

Wandering around the area. This light is extremely suspicious. The hobbit across from it was funny too. The block of wood strapped to the wall was from 75AD, when the Roman port stood in England. Uhm, what?!? 

More shots of London Bridge. I finally found the engraving on it to prove this is the bridge. We sang the London Bridge song while walking under it.

Climbing the Monument you say? Done! The view from the river.

Jace and I. 

The guys went to see The Amazing Spider-Man 2. I completely support this decision. Good movie. We decided to continue to walk along the river.

Revolution of Conscience ... ? I like it.

Justyne and Tracy on the River Thames.

Photo bombing by Tracy.

Whenever Justyne thinks she is photo bombing she is really just making a cute pose for the picture. We found our way back to Tottenham Court Road from Cannon Street. We celebrated while changing lines how proficient we have become at navigating through London. Tracy made her way to Paddington Station for Percy Pig gummies and a Paddington Bear for her sister.

Modern Art! This is much better than absurd-ism. Love the colors.

Lunch at Byron just across the street from the Shaftsbury Theatre with Justyne. The one near home has a catch phrase on it that says, "Proper Hamburgers." I didn't know there was such a thing. Ben says the American diet is really popular right now in London. Think of Byron as a British take on Red Robin or Johnny Rockets. Just like every restaurant you can choose to pay extra to stay in to less for take away. It's a British thing. I got a Miami Style burger and the fries were very American. We vote yes for Byron! I liked the shake even better this time. Usually service charge (a tip) is factored into British bills, but this one you could choose your tip since it was American style. By the time we were done eating there was this freezing rain coming down and crazy wind. The two tables by the window watches us prep to run across the street and laughed as we psyched ourselves out since umbrellas wouldn't help in the wind. 

The show was so great!! Why have I never seen The Pajama Game before?? Justyne knew the movie and we both loved it. The girl sitting next to me talked to us before the show, during the interval, and afterwards for a minute. She doesn't live in London, but she is British. We asked her for suggestions on shows, food, and things to go in the area. We even talked to her about the church since she asked us if we had seen Book of Mormon the Musical. Breaking down the unfriendly British stereotypes. I love it. She was the one who started the conversation with us. No rain after the show.

Once I got home I sorted out the paperwork for our trip to Ireland and then went to Metro Gate to print it all out with Sarah. We talked to Ben for awhile in the common room. Printing was easy though I had to check in again to the airport to print the return ticket. Sarah walked back alone and I stayed to skype my family in the computer lab. It is quieter here and I don't know the people from Metro Gate so it wasn't awkward to have them walk in on our conversation. Valerie made me this awesome British flag! I need to find her a small one next time I go to the markets.

I'm hilarious. I also love how they have the same response. Miss them.

Justyne and I sang snippets from Pajama Game all day. It was so great!!! I think I may take a class over summer after to talking to her all day and mom later that night. Just working is going to be long. Especially in comparison to this rockin spring. You might be sick of Harry Potter, but check out this video that Sarah made. Her vlog is probably going to much more exciting than my blog. 

http://youtu.be/1FZu0OG9rIg 

I Take It In, But Don't Look Down

May 23rd

The beginning of the day was filled with class. Class isn't too bad... you just want to be out in London or asleep instead. After class I went home to eat. I started talking to Sarah and Justyne in the kitchen about musicals. Tracy and Chelsea contributed a little too, but it isn't really there thing. I love theatre. I love music theatre. I wish I was a better dancer and had the time to devote myself to all of it. I know business is the right path though and I love where I am. Sarah decided to come with me to meet Alli, Delanie, and Amanda at St. Paul's Cathedral. We met at the front steps and then toured the inside. It was beautiful. Like many of the churches, theatres, and museums, you cannot take pictures.

You can take pictures outside! After exploring all of the Cathedral Floor, we took 259 steps to the whispering gallery. It was just a spiral stair case made from wood to get there. The whispering gallery is the perimeter of the dome inside St. Paul's Cathedral. Supposedly, if you whisper on one side of the gallery the sound carries all the way across to the other side. We found this did not work since there were so many sounds reverberating from the ground below. 119 more steps and you are at the stone gallery. This balcony sits at the base of the outside dome. These stairs were a little more difficult to deal with. There was literally a point in time where I kept my elbows in and squatted/ crawled through a space that got smaller and smaller. I am positive I have visited this place in a nightmare before. These stairs were mostly stone and it did not help the growing claustrophobia I had. Reaching the outside was wonderful. We didn't stop there folks. Another 152 steps up and you reach the golden gallery. This is the very top of St. Paul's Cathedral. Delanie claims it is one of Bennedict Cumberbatch's favorite places in London. This last set of stairs was like climbing several ladders. They were small metal spirals that I felt like I was crawling up. Amanda was wonderful to carry on small talk as I tried not focus on making a misstep and falling to my doom. Drastic, I know, but I was altogether 528 steps up.

The view is worth it, and being able to say you climbed all the way up to the top of St. Paul's. I do not know if I would do it again. I do not regret it though. I am proud I made it to the top without having an anxiety attack. The physical exertion was not too bad and the claustrophobia did not bubble over. If you truly hate heights and are trying to be conservative with money, stick with West Minster.

I love this city. Everyday I dream about coming back once I am forced to leave.

Yes, freaked out. I felt more safe outside than I did inside, but it is still a far way down.

After some time on top of the world, we descended to the crypt. My legs were literally shaking and felt slightly light headed by the time I got down there. It is dark and a little creepy. There is interesting stuff in the crypt. Some of the girls bought food or drinks at the small cafe and then we all headed up to the main floor after using the toilets. We had perfect timing for evensong. I would try to explain evensong, but I am not sure I truly understand what it is. I do suggest it! The young choir boys are shockingly good.  

Next on our journey was Canary Wharf. George was right. Walking out of this tube station feels like you enter Chicago or some other American city. We were a little early to catch the bus to the theatre. George, Leslie, Audrey, and Cosette happened to be in front of us on the escalator so we waited for them to get dinner while we sat on the wharf. I ran into Pret with Alli and Delanie for dinner back near Borough Market. I had a cheese, ham, and tomato, baked croissant. Thumbs up for Pret. I am not in love with it. It is convenient though and I see no reason to spurn it. People are silly. Sarah and Amanda got fish and chips. Sarah claims haddock is even better than cod, so I guess I'll have to try some more.

Fashion shoot with Delanie. Sarah is such an artist taking the pictures.

Jace's Face in the Space. Photo bombing to a new extreme.

Brooke said the whole feel of the building reminded her of Lemony Snicket. I'll agree with that. It was an interesting black box theatre that we went to see Romeo and Juliet in. I really liked how they utilized a small space. The Rose the other night did a good job with limited space as well. Romeo and Juliet was a nice small scale production. I do not like falling into the habit of writing papers about shows. They make me so critical. I search for something wrong with each production. I believe theatre should be entertaining. I do not enjoy agonizing over analyzing each decision, but it is not bad and I am doing it in the best circumstances possible. 

I think it was Jace that let me try Turkish Delight. Narnia, anyone? The candy was good. Think of it as a very gooey or jelly gummy covered in powdered sugar. Mine was lemon. Gummies are not my favorite. However, I would consider buying these again.

The bus ride back to the tube was interesting. A group of young boys were the only other people on the bus. They were giggly and fun at first, but then they started screaming. Not usual joking screams. They let out the most piercing scream they could muster several times. What hooligans. I hope they do not make it a habit.

I really like the song On Top of the World by Imagine Dragons. It accurately describes how I feel when these mini miracles happen; receiving scholarships, making it to London, getting good grades, and so on. Recently we talked about the opposition in all things. I have been affected more greatly by the dips in life during the last semester than before. I think it is because I set a high standard to live up to. When I do not meet my expectations of what my life should be, it is depressing. Feeling down is part of beauty though. Without pain we cannot experience joy. As much as I love the perfect life social media can provide, it is extremely annoying. People still work. They sleep. People even sit around and do nothing for a few hours. Yes, these pictures are incredible. I love love love my time here. However, just like college and life, there are slow times and boring moments. The pictures are not the whole story. They are the highlights and artistic streaks. Embrace your whole life, from moments of nothing to pure adventure. It will all happen, but we choose what to focus on and remember.

I love London.