Tuesday & Wednesday

I can't believe it's been two days now and I haven't gotten lost. Needless to say, things weren't as exciting. Since I had two days with relative peace I will post them together.

Tuesday, took me to Gloucester (the "ce" is silent). That is where they filmed the first two Harry Potter's (HP henceforth), at least most of the hallway scenes anyway. I got to walk down the same corridors, see where Moaning Myrtle's Loo was, the entrance to Gryffindor Tower, and so much more. It was great. The Cathedral was also very nice and extremely interesting. Maybe not so much now since I remember very little, but I spent an hour on a personal tour and learned a lot. Forgot most of it already but hey I can remember later when the need arises. Gloucester is also the place where Beatrix Potter wrote "The Tailor of Gloucester", the story originated there and the drawings in the book are of the house in town.

Wednesday, was supposed to take me to Alnwick Castle. But a train derailed and shut down all northern heading trains. So they gave us many options, waiting for the trains to start again, taking a bus, abandoning the trip and getting a refund, or abandoning the trip and trying again tomorrow. I was amazed at how calm everyone was, if it was all Americans there would have been a hug uproar! But everyone just took it in stride, I even heard one lady calmly making hotel reservations to pick up the trip from there tomorrow. I however headed back to London to try again tomorrow and spent the afternoon in Oxford.

In Oxford I got to go to the Great Hall from HP. There were no signs or any special recognition of it except for the sheer number of people all happy to be crowded into the dining hall, much smaller than it appears on screen. I also got to attend a service at the Christ's Church. Very nice service, but I think that after a while I would not enjoy the somber seriousness of them (and I'm Catholic!). I also found out that Alice in Wonderland was written in Oxford and is based on a little girl that lived there. There are great literature references everywhere here!!!

Sunday

Sunday was great, quick breakdown- Church, got lost, Church again, lost again.

Church-part 1

I got to go to Mass at Westminster Cathedral. It was absolutely beautiful inside, even if they were doing massive restoration. Afterwards I walked over to Buckingham Palace. Very cool! Didn't stay to watch the changing of the guards, since I would have had to wait over an hour and there are many things I want to do, so waiting wasn't on my agenda. I started to wander towards Picadilly Circus. Very exciting area with lots of people. From there I decided to get on a bus to Westminster Abbey.

Lost- part 1

The bus I got on was the right bus. . . In the wrong direction. Wish I could say I noticed but I didn't. Along the way I started to think that the ride was taking longer than I had expected but what do I know? I'm a tourist. I have decided I like the riding the double decker bus better than taking the underground. (The bus will be a story for another day.) From the top of the bus I noticed that there was a really great looking open market going on. There where TONS of people, you could barely see the road. I decided to get off the bus to wander through the market. I loved the market, got some tea and cookies. Also found some great pictures I loved. The whole thing was so much fun. When I was leaving was when I realized I had no idea where I was, since I was trying to leave. Finally I figured out I had merely gone the wrong direction on the bus line. Got on the bus and headed the right direction to Wesminster Abbey.

Church- part 2

Got the Abbey just in time for an afternoon service. It was AMAZING inside. And I got to sit in a very cool seat. I have no pictures to show, prohibited during serives, but I will have to find a picture to show you all later. From there I went to the Tower of London and the London Bridge. Both very fun to look at and intersting to learn how the bridge works. Leaving the bridge I decided to take a walk along the Thames River.

Lost- part 2

The walk was amazing. I started to head back to the dorm for an early night. But then noticed the Millenium bridge and decided to cross. Found St. Paul's Cathedral and looked around that. From there I had no idea where to go, but it took 3 hrs to get back to the dorm. All ended well.

I am now very homesick. And am ready to finally be home. I love you all!!