Last 24 hours in London...

Well, I packed my bags and laid out my clothes last night but then headed back to the Thames Festival for some food! It's a good thing I've been walking 5-10 miles a day because I feel like I have eaten my weight at meal times.

I joined the queue (haha, line) and went up to the Southwark Bridge for the festival on the bridge. There I had an amazing toffee apple, a chorizo sandwich with roasted red pepper and greens, a chocolate chocolate chip brownie and a hot chocolate. I was sooooooooo full. The bridge was done up really cute. Half of it was covered in sand and there were beach chairs and tropical themed stalls. The other half was covered in turf and there were couches and a banquet hall set up. There were tons of different kinds of stalls from confectionaries to BBQ to brewerys to storytellers. I stayed up there for a bit and then wandered back down to the main festival.

Since I was stuffed I didn't even bother stopping at any of the other places but the smells were enough to make me want to! I got all the way back down to the London Eye where there was a really cool show going on. Six percussionist were suspended on a giant chandelier from a crane. Trapeze artists swooped and flipped below to the chimes and drums. Then bursts of red flares went off and more people were revealed dancing on platforms high above. I sat on the ground in the park and watched. By the time it was over it was nearing 10:00 and I was getting tired.

I walked back to the hostel, took a shower and fell straight to sleep. I was a tired little girl!

This morning I woke up at about 9 and checked out of my hostel. I put my bags in luggage storage and set out for the Tower of London. Before I got on the tube I stopped and had a full English Breakfast. The Brits can't make a sandwich to save their lives but they really know breakfast. I had OJ, egg, bacon, sausage, toast and baked beans for just a few pounds. Readyyyyyyyyy... I walked through the gates just in time to join a tour which led through the castle and explained what everything was along with little stories. When the tour was over I started to explore the tower. I started with the Crown Jewels. WOW. Seriously, they are so beautiful and sparkly...I envy the kings and queens who get to wear them (only every once in a while but still...). I saw Queen Elizabeth's coronation robes and all the coats of arms for each monarch since William the Conquerer.

Next I went and saw the graffiti the prisoners carved on the walls and then to the torture chambers. I saw King Henry's quarters and got a great view of Traitor's Gate and the Tower Bridge. I also saw the Tower Ravens (legend has it that if they ever leave great misfortune will befall England). Anyway, I'd satisfied my curiousity after a few hours and set off for Shakespeare's Globe.

I arrived a little too late to see the Globe as the matinee performance was already taking place. Typically the tour goes to the Rose instead which was the first theatre that Shakespeare and Marlowe composed for. Turns out, in honor of the festival, the tour of the Rose was free! I walked over and saw the excavated site. It's okay, but once was enough. Next time I am here I will definitely have to buy tickets to see a performance at the Globe.

Anyway, I was a little hungry (I know, can you believe it??) and set off walking along the festival again. I got some awesome ice cream with a flake (kind of like a stick of chocolate) from a vendor and then kept going til the Eye was in sight. There I saw a stand for banana fritters. I had to get one...it was DELICIOUS! I couldn't put one more thing in my stomach though so I decided it was time to get out before I ate more just because it smelled good!

I leave in an hour or so for Liverpool Street, then a bus to London Stansted, then Ryanair to Shannon, then back to JFK...then I drive back to Columbus!! A lot of traveling ahead of me in the next couple days but it will be nice to be back home! I'll be sad to say good-bye but there's so much I didn't get to do I have no choice but to come back!!

On top of the world...

Well, the Thames Festival started today which means I dragged myself out of bed early and walked over to the Tate Modern to take part in the Footsteps for Children walk.

I did the 5-mile walk about London. First stop was the Tate Modern. I saw works by Matisse, Picasso, Steve McQueen, Monet, Roy Lichtenstein, Man Ray and many more. It was sweet because it was totally free to go in. Big bonus.

Then I set off walking along the Thames. When I got to the London Eye I bought a ticket and got on. It was really cool, maybe a bit pricey but it is like the Eiffel Tower of London, you really can't not do it.

Then I set off to take some cool pictures of Westminter and Big Ben and even walked across the "Wobbly Bridge" as the Millenium Bridge is known. I saw Shakespeare's Globe (which I will tour tomorrow) and Victoria Gardens. I took a rest there in the lawn chairs they set out. When I got to the end I got a goody bag and a medal for participating. So cute!

I tried to go to the Tower of London but I was a bit late. I'll visit there tomorrow.

I leave London tomorrow evening for Ireland and then home the next day...yikes, I better go get packing!!!

A seriously amazing day...

Well, no worries about the suspicious package. It tutrned out to be nothing as most do...but I'm glad that the London police were on top of it...makes you feel a little safer, ya know?

Anyway, I went back to my room to drop my stuff off and then took off for some sightseeing. I went to Leiscester Square and wandered through some upscale shops (just browsing) until I got to Piccadilly Circus. I wandered into a ticket seller's booth just to see what was being offered and it turned out that Wicked tickets for that night were more than half off. Duh, I'm all about that.

So, I bought a ticket and continued my wandering.

I went over to Trafalgar Square and then to Parliament Square. I got some excellent pictures of Westminster, Big Ben, the London Eye (which I'll go on tomorrow), St. Katherine's, and the fountains and statues of Trafalgar Square.

I caught a glimpse of myself and realized that I seriously needed to change before the theatre so I headed back to the hostel. I changed into a loose neck sweater, skinny jeans and black ballet flats. I looked very London-appropriate if I do say so myself. Then I went to the coffee shop down the street and grabbed a mocha (just in case). I headed to the Victoria Station so that I would be at the theatre around a half hour early.

I got to the Victoria Apollo exactly when I wanted to. My seat turned out to be AMAZING. It was right in the center of the theatre, ground floor, twenty rows back. This is pretty perfect because you have a full view of the stage but are still close enough to see the actors' faces.

The show was incredible. First of all, the actresses that played Elphaba and Glinda were completely awesome. At one point I was crying, they were that good. The story was changed slightly from that book but it was entirely engaging and made for a more complete ending. The songs were incredible and the lines were sad, funny and moving...each when the time called for it.

London's West End certainly is awesome.

The Thames Festival starts tomorrow and I have a lot more walking to do so I am going to go take a shower and go to bed early. The hostel has some activities going on tomorrow that I will probably take part in although, to tell you the truth, it is awesome going about by myself. I've been able to totally determine my schedule and see some really sweet stuff.

Loving it here...

To Market, To Market...

I slept in a bit this morning. I got up at 10:15 and took my time getting ready. Eventually I got hungry enough to get my butt moving. First I stopped at the Borough Market which is just down the street from my hostel. I had an excellent breakfast of an egg, bacon, fried tomatoes, toast with marmelade and OJ.

Satisfied I got on the underground and headed out to Camden to check out the market. It was a really cool area and two years ago I would have gone crazy shopping around, but Camden specializes in the punk look and I bet that wouldn't fly at work. I bought a few pashminas as I have been dying to find some and then headed back to my hostel.

Turns out I can't go in because there is a suspicious package on the street. The police have blocked off the street. Arghh...stupid people leaving backs lying about most likely. Better safe than sorry I suppose. I headed to the nearest internet cafe and wrote this. Then I'll probably head out to get something to drink as I am oddly parched. Haha, hopefully it opens up soon!