Avventura (ah-vent-tour-a) - Adventure

      ....Soo the first day of London has been a complete and utter blur it sees and I feel as though I have been here for 3 days, not only 26 hours….but first lets start with last night…

            …last night Olivia and I got on a flight to London at about 7pm and the adventure began…when we landed we were off to find her cousin’s house who was letting us stay with him…we left the airport, asked and had a delightful conversation with a train man at the help desk, from Bedford (I know mom, I even asked if it was “falls” too J ) and so we got on a train to the city then tried to go get a taxi to Russel’s house, but the cabbie actually told us how to walk to 10 minutes instead and it was easy enough to find, so we thanked him and were on our way!....soon we were here….Russell made us dinner of rice, beans, and fried eggs, very kind of funny I know, while we all talked…..

then it was to bed after a while for an early morning the next day…..we both stayed on the couches and were up this morning at 7am to leave the flat by 7:30 for sightseeing….

            In the morning first stop was coffee and it was so odd…the cappuccinos were HUGE and it was take away coffee! We were feeling so wrong walking and drinking at the same time….after we headed to the Underground, figured out tickets and went to the center of the city….Trafalgar Square!!...it was spectacular J we walked until we found the office for our hop-on-hop-off bus tour and got our information and took off….since one of the walking tours that came with our bus tour was one for the changing of the guards an hour or 2 later we explored the area we were in and waited….

           ….well we started walking….turned a corner and I stopped walking and asked my friend Olivia, “hey uhh is that Big Ben?”….and for the rest of the day I think I was speechless….it was so amazing and so much more massive than I understood….that and the house of parliament were stunning….after we took a million pictures, we went back to walking around…     

 J ….we talked to him for a good 20 minutes then were on our way….he was 1 of my favorite memories so far…

           …I stopped a “bobby” (policeman) for a picture, to which he nicely said of course…and asked where I was from…I became the only person he knows from Idaho…his name was Grant and he was absolutely lovely and all I kept thinking was that he was so familiar, then it hit me…his eyes were the exact same clear blue as mom’s

            ..then we worked our way back to meet for the walking tour….we met up and headed toward Buckingham Palace…our guide explained EVERYTHING to us…took us to St. James Palace to see the old regiment (the ones being relieved) head toward the palace, then through st james park over to the barracks to see the new regiment heading out…..then went to the palace to go watch the change! It was so awesome!!....during this we also got to see the old and new regiments changing at Horse Guards….we got to see so much and learn a ton…then he ended it with the changing of the two guards in from of st james…

 J)…I was really surprised by this tour, worth every penny) …once at the Globe we ended up going on the tour of the theater…

           …after that we grabbed some snacks and hopped on the bus to just ride it around with the live tour guide who was sooo smart and funny….it was great….we saw a ton! We got off at St. Paul’s Cathedral to look around then found a GREAT little candy store to buy some fun snacks before getting back onto the bus to go to the Globe Theater….once again, had a great tour guide on the bus that was really funny & sooo smart (like reminded me of Mr. Riberich with how much stuff he just knew

            …this was the only way to go inside so we bit the bullet and paid to do it….this was really cool and got to see a lot that I have learned about in school….really a neat thing to do especially for a theater kid….i mean when your taking it in college, you kinda HAVE to see it…when we left there it was pouring so we got on the bus again…

            …this time we got on and because it was ending soon (the bus) we just got on and stayed on until we got to a stop called Victoria (instead of taking the tube) because it was the clostest stop to the Apollo Theater and WICKED!...when we first booked the flights to London, we looked at shows, seeing a show on the West End (London’s Broadway) was in my top 10 on my bucket list…and my favorite show of all time just happened to have the cheapest tickets of the musicals,,,,it was also Olivia’s birthday today so it worked out perfectly!

            ….before the show we went to find dinner and get out of the wet and cold….we stumbled onto a pub that had a restaurant above….and im not sure if it is because we were so coland hungry or if it really was that good, but man, it was such good food! J Liv got fish and chips and I got a burger….man it was so so good J we also got some local London beer (recommended by the waiter and it was really good too)….when we were done, we were full and happy,…after dinner we changed in the worlds smallest pub bathrooms into some dry better clothes and were off to “see the wizard”…

            …and oh my goodness gracious I was so happy!....if you know me you know I am kinda obsessed with this show and there is no better way to say it….since Wicked’s at the Apollo long term the front of the theater alone was breathtaking… and when you walked in the whole front of house/lobby was lit in green and the bar was even “The Elixier Bar”

(as in “have a drink of green elixir”) I got us some drinks (since it was her birthday after all)….and we cheers-ed to no longer being teens, and checking things off the bucket list….the show was phenominal…but again I expected nothing less….was totally weird to hear it said and sung with English Accents…that took getting used to for sure…cant believe, that I get to see it again in a few months in spokane too….so blessed….LOVE THAT SHOW….

            …when the show was over, we took the tube back to the flat where we are both just writing our journal post before bed,….tomorrow is another full day with an early morning….at 7am we are on a train to Birmingham! To go find Grandpa Wall’s house…I am so excited….then back here on a 3pm train for more sighseeing….and hopefully Westminister will be open….we didn’t realize it was literally right where we were this morning….and then by the time we made it back to that part of town on the bus it was closed….oh well…here’s to hoping…tomorrow is Harrid’s hopefully as well….then meeting up with my friend Lucas from Boise State, who is studying here at London MET….I cant wait…we meet him tomorrow night, so that’ll be fun….but phew that was just a massice and packed day….cant believe it though…just spending a weekend from school in London…no big deal….i love this life….