I'm Alive!!!!

And the sun shines for me today...kinda

Platform 9 & 3/4 at Kings Cross

Token Red Telephone Booth

only kinda cause London has only about 10 minutes of actual sun a day. But regardless, I'M ALIVE AND IN LONDON!!!!

It is Day 4 and I have moved into my apartments so I actually have internet access now allowing me to finally post something.

Buckingham Palace at Twilight

 

The first two days I spent at a hostel right near King's Cross. First time at a hostel and it wasn't that bad. A few other girls from my program (Gloria, Christy, Brittany, and Cassandra) also stayed at the same place so I wasn't by myself. I also went some really cool people (specifically a Kiwi rugby player who happened to be ginger. YES, that is right. Day one and I already met a ginger man. Fave  :)   But that day Christy and I went on a night bus tour. While waiting for the bus to come we wandered around a park near the Ritz Carlton and all of a sudden BOOM!! Buckingham Palace was in front of us. It was weird. The palace is just sort of there. I fangirled over the palace, like a total American tourist but I couldn't help it; I saw the balcony that Will & Kate stepped out onto after their wedding. The night tour was awesome and slightly overwhelming. Once we saw Big Ben and the London Eye, it hit me that I was actually in London. The city is just so historical. I don't feel like I have enough time to see it all which worries me. But I will do my damned best to see it all. Next day included a walking tour which ended up with us buying Pub Crawls and agreeing to do the Grim Reaper tour (which is gonna happen this upcoming Saturday I think).

                                          

Big Ben at Night

London Eye

On Saturday, I hailed my first ever taxi (after about 90438540938543 million failed attempts) and we left our home of two days to move into our apartments. We are in a pretty wealthy part of the city, Bloomsbury. My flat is at Bedford Place and only a minute walk from the British Museum (btw almost all museums here are free! ). After checking in we took the tube to Trafalgar Square to see the West End Live event. It was a free event where they had casts from all the musicals at the West End do performances of songs from their musicals. I saw Les Mis, Phantom of the Opera, The Bodyguard, Mama Mia, Jersey Boys, Matilda, Wicked, Top Hat, We Will Rock You, and a whole bunch of others. I almost cried during Les Mis (shocker) and Cassie and I are definitely gonna get tickets to a showing one night.

Big Ben Again

WestEnd Live in Trafalgar Square

God Save the Queen

Jersey Boys Performance

Yes that is Dudley from Harry Potter. 

We have all been getting used to the time change and living in the apartments. Our apartments are super nice and have an awesome view. It is surrounded by parks and really close to the Russell Square tube station. Despite the fact that London is super expensive to live in, I have been having so much fun. We bought groceries, finally, to save money and walked over to the Camden Markets today. I got some amazing cute stuff and even got some great souvenirs. The market is huge and has stuff for literally everyone! I got lost a few times and didn't even see a fourth of it. I really hope to go back on Friday to check more of it out.

Outside our flat

School starts tomorrow and it is the last thing everyone is trying to think about. The orientation we had today, brought us back to reality a bit. The professor seem amazing though. We had some great conversations over our free Indian meal, which was the best ever even if it was a bit spicy. Our classes are from Monday-Thursday and take up most of the day. With the 3 day weekends, everyone is trying to book trips to other countries. I definitely want to find a way to get to Paris the week of their Bastille Day cause that would just be amazing. So far, only Ireland is book though. The conversion rate is just killing us though.  

The amazingly large markets in Camden

World's End Pub! 

Garden in Russell Square near the flat

Besides all that, it is AMAZING!!! Exploring the city has been amazing and we have so many more plans for things. More to come later on after I finish being scholarly tomorrow  :)   Love you all and miss you.

Cheers!!!!

Wesminster Abbey

Wellington Arch

Parliament

Changing of the guard