This is it!!

I can't believe I am saying goodbye to London tomorrow!! =(

Monday afternoon I had my final, so I spent most of the day studying while Madeline explored all of the museums in South Kensington!  We made time for a Wafflemeister break for lunch too... which was absolutely delicious!!

On Tuesday, Madeline and I walked to Kensington Palace then to Portobello Road Market!  After enjoying the market, we went to St. Mary's Hospital to see if there was any more action at the Lindo Wing where Kate is going to have her baby!! We got there at a very exciting time when the Palace Correspondences had just arrived too!!  There were tons of reporters and different news stations interviewing the Correspondences on any updates! Madeline and I just stood against the wall and got to hear all of it! It was super exciting to be there right in the thick of it, hearing all of the latest royal news!!!

 

After that, we met Allyson and had a traditional cream tea for the last time at the Muffin Man!! It was a perfect English afternoon!

Madeline and I shopped around on High Street a bit before coming back to the room for a few minutes!  For dinner, we went to the Goat Tavern, the oldest pub in Kensington, with Allyson and Kelsey!!  We all split four traditional English dishes for our last night out in London!

Me and Madeline then went on to see Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theater!!

Today, Madeline and I took on Harrods, Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, Borough Market, Platform 9 3/4, and went to an Evensong Service at Westminster Abbey!  (It was also extra sweet to be there on the 4 year anniversary of when Will and Kate were married there!!) What a fun last day in London!! Now we are packing up and heading off to Rome tomorrow morning at 2am!! Yikes!!

Wow... what an incredible semester this has been!! I can't believe I am leaving London tomorrow!!! It has been a terrific last week here, but it has also been very sad to say goodbye to this place I have made my home!!

Cheers for my last time from London!! =)

Brighton, St. George's Day, the London Marathon, and Madeline is Here!!

Here is a recap of my last weekend here in London!! =)

Friday Meg, Kelsey, and I took on Brighton, England!! We caught a train to this coastal town and explored the pier and shopped around for the day!  While it was quite chilly out, it was still very fun to be at the beach!  (And it reminded me a little of Rehoboth!)

On Saturday I met up with Mr. Ward, who graciously took my big suitcase and carry on back to the US for me!! It was crazy to pack up my whole room and everything I had collected over my time here this semester... also very difficult as I have accumulated a bunch of stuff that I needed to fit in to get back home!  After meeting up with him, I went to Sloane Square Market with Kelsey and Allyson!

It was St. George's Day this week, so this weekend there were a bunch of festivities around London!  St. George's day is a celebration of English culture and heritage, so there is lots of food and drinking and parties, etc.!!  I went to the Vauxhall Spring Gardens for a festival where there were people performing English skits, traditional fighting, and even a bird show (where I saw a barn owl and vulture!)

After that I went to Trafalgar Square for the St. George's Day Feast put on by the Mayor of London! This was really fantastic... there were games, performers, live music, and lots of fun food vendors!  Everyone was decked out in England attire and really happy to be celebrating together!

In the evening, I picked up Madeline from the bus station!!! I was so excited for her arrival!!  After dropping her off at her hostel, we had a little birthday celebration for her back in my room to finish off the night!

Yesterday, Madeline and I started off the day taking in all of the classic London sites like Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, and Buckingham Palace!  An added bonus was that the London Marathon was taking place all throughout the city!! We enjoyed getting into the spirit and cheering people on while following the route for a bit up to the palace!!

After that, we also went to the National Gallery and Covent Garden Market, as well as the Munch Food Festival by Tower Bridge!!

We finished off our Sunday night with a delicious meal at Da Mario's... my favorite Kensington pizza place!  =)

Planning to enjoy every moment of my last few days here in London before heading out on Thursday!

Loving my Last London Days!

Good morning from London!  It is crazy how quickly my time here is dwindling!  This week, I didn't have classes after Monday, so I have been taking advantage of my London days!

After class on Monday, Allyson and I walked to Portobello Road Market! After enjoying the market, we went to check out St. Mary's Hospital where Kate will be having her baby any day now!! There were already a few people staked out there waiting for the royal birth!  We also walked back through Kensington Gardens which are in full bloom!

On Tuesday I walked to Covent Garden Market!  It was a beautiful day, and I loved walking through Hyde Park, Green Park, past Buckingham Palace, and Trafalgar Square on the way there and by way of Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Green Park, and Hyde Park on the way back!  Meg, Kelsey, Allyson and I also went to Muffin Man for an afternoon tea!  It was such a sunny day, we enjoyed the evening with some wine and chatting in the park overlooking Kensington Palace!  Man, am I going to miss this neighborhood!!

Wednesday Meg, Kelsey, and I went back to Covent Garden and from there explored Neal's Yard (colorful hidden courtyard), Oxford Street (known as Europe's busiest shopping street), Carnaby Street (another shopping destination), Hamley's (oldest toy shop in the world), and Westminster area!  It was a lovely day spent out and about in London!

Thursday was a London Markets day!  I started off at Brixton Market, and then went to Lower Marsh Market, enjoyed some time on the Southern Bank of the Thames, had lunch at Borough Market (and saw the St. George's Day Parade dance through), walked around the Tower of London area, and then finished off at Chapel Street Market!  I loved the hustle and bustle of the day at some terrific markets and classic London areas!

BRIXTON MARKET

LOWER MARSH MARKET 

WESTMINSTER BRIDGE

BOROUGH MARKET

 

 

TOWER OF LONDON AREA

CHAPEL STREET MARKET

That night Meg and I also went and walked around Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, and checked out M&M World!

I have been enjoying this weekend so far too... but will post more in my blog about that tomorrow!  Madeline is arriving in London tonight and I am so excited to see her later!!

Happy Weekend!! =)

Oops, I almost forgot... this is a short documentary I made for my Video Production class too!  Just thought I would share!