London

Dear wonderful, dedicated readers,
My apologies for traveling to five different countries and not keeping up with blogging. The truth is that I didn't feel like lugging my Mac all over Europe and worrying for its safety. I also--GASP--tried to spend my time enjoying my friends and the places I was visiting. And, yes, I have been home for a few days now, but I haven't been able to blog for reasons I'll write about later.
To make up for my selfishness, the next few days will be filled with a series of blog entries about all the fabulous things we did.

"We?" you ask.
Yes--yours truly, Christina, Amy, and Emma, three of my best buds of college.

The trip began with a night in New York City and a morning at Times Square with Emma. We hit up a few toy stores and the Plaza Hotel, got lost three times, and managed to make it JFK for our international flight that evening.

(The Times Square Toys-R-Us was WAY cooler than actual Times Square.)

Amy met us at the airport for our flight to London with Aer Lingus, on which the pilot told us that nobody better get out of their seats during turbulence unless they "dramatically had to use the toilet". We had a layover in the very empty Shannon airport before a short flight to Heathrow, where we met up with Christina.

We ended up in a small apartment in the middle of quaint Arabic neighborhood. The street markets around us made me feel like we were in a third-world country, and the Lebanese restaurant beside us had the best baklava in the whole world.

The day after our arrival was full of sightseeing and left us absolutely exhausted. 

Because it was Sunday, we started with church at All Saints.

Followed by little bit of shopping on Carnaby Street and a stop at Hamley's Toy Store.

We took a gander around Picadilly Circus (the classy version of Times Square).

We had lunch at the park and walked down to Elizabeth's house.

She was having a parade for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.

We spent some time with our friend Ben.

The organ concert at Westminster Abbey was lovely.

And then there was this building.

The next day, Monday, was a rest day for Amy and me while Christina and Emma went to the National Gallery and the British Museum.

On Tuesday, we took a day trip to Bath.

We left bright and early from Paddington's very own station. When we arrived, we were met by Amy's friend Jacob, who was a great host and took us to all the places we needed to go.

The purpose of the excursion, of course, was getting to the Jane Austen Centre so that we could dress up like a gaggle of Bennetts.

Unfortunately, I am not the possessor of the group photo. But I promise we looked GRAND together.

We also saw this....thing...and...a cathedral.

(Culture is wasted on me.)

Wednesday, I split away from the girls to spend a day with Les, my British step-grandfather, and his travel agent, Gill. I hadn't seen Les since I was was little, and this was the perfect opportunity for us to catch up.

We began in Trafalgar Square at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, after which First Baptist Church of Knoxville was modeled.

Oh, hello National Gallery.

That evening, the three of us went to see Phantom of the Opera. 

Any lover of Phantom of the Opera could understand my giddiness and awe at seeing the show LIVE in LONDON in THE QUEEN'S THEATRE.

ESPECIALLY with LES and GILL.

I couldn't have asked for a better evening.

Thursday was our last full day in London, and it was more packed than our first day.

We began by waiting in an hour-long queue to take a picture at Platform 9 3/4.

(It was worth it.)

Next, we ran by St. Pancras Station and gaped at the marvels of the British Library.

                   We took a quick trip past the Tower of London and, of course, Tower Bridge.

We marveled at St. Paul's and stayed for Evensong, which featured the most beautiful choral music I've heard in my life.

Finally, we finished with Abbey Road--which was too busy for a Beatles picture--and Baker Street.

Overall, London was a beautiful and stressful whirlwind, filled with pretty buildings, Pret A Manger lunches, muggy nights, rides on the Underground, and fancy-looking people.

(Except us. We aren't fancy.)