A very Tired Day

Hey everybody, today was a very long day. Today was the hardest day to wake up yet and I definitely had 3 cups of coffee this morning. But today was different, because Ada was the one directing our little group around London on the tubes. At some points today this was very frustrating. It was also frustrating that I woke up again at 5 this morning. Anyways, today Darrell had class for 3 HOURS! Yes 3 hours. It was painful. lol. But nonetheless, I enjoyed it. After that we had 2 1/2 hours to get across London (even across the Thames River) to the Globe Theater for a class field trip.

So me, Liz and George sat off. We did great by ourselves. I was very proud because I was the one leading us. We walked across the Millenium Bridge which was a walking bridge designed for the Millenium New Year. After this we ate at a place called the Swan right off of the river. We had Cream of Celery soup, bread, and pomegranate juice....what I considered to be a European meal. it was good.

After that we met our group to go into Shakespeare's Globe Theater which was the second best moment of my trip. When I walked into that place, I had to catch my breath. Just to know the rich history behind such a theater and see it in real life was amazing. It was just like I had imagined. If you didn't know, it was Shakepeare's theater that he had built that was open to the sky with three different levels and an open floor for the poorest of people with a big extravagant stage that was never changed play to play because he always adds in the scenery of his plays. This was a very surreal moment in London because the atmosphere was so surrounding.

After this, we went shopping on Oxford Street, which almost made me vow to never shop in New York ever since it was soooo crazy. In Gap and Urban Outfitters, clothes were just thrown everywhere, I would hate to work there at closing time. Me, Liz, and George were beat so we started heading towards the place we were supposed to meet everyone for dinner. We took the tube to this street only to find that it was not there where we had been told. So after that, I got out a map and figured out how to get us back to this pub called the Lion and the Lamb, which is in our Top 10 book. We finally got there and met up with a couple people out of our class. I had fish and chips for the first time in London! Also served with peas! And it was very good!

After that we come home and here we are now at the hotel getting ready to go to sleep because tomorrow we have to wake up at 7 am to board the bus at 8 am. We are going to Bath and Stonehenge which will definitely be another breathtaking experience! Goodnight Kentucky and I love you all!

Big Ben, London Eye, Peace People

The Tube come at us real fast. :) Way fun to take everywhere and very easy.

Monday in London, a little more crazy than a Sunday, but nonetheless fabulous. First of all, I wake up every morning at 5 AM ready to face the world. Actually more ready to face the world than any other part of the day. This jet lag is getting thebest of me. I am really hoping that I have done enough walking today to make this not happen.

We started off the day with breakfast again, I found out that coffee is included in our free breakfast which I got really excited about...you have to pay for tap water at a lot of places. Anyways, we headed the London Eye which gives you an aerial view of London. It was beautiful but really foggy. But the best thing about going to the London Eye, was coming out of the Tube entrance and looking up and seeing Big Ben. Ah! I just can't imagine waking every morning and on your commute to work seeing something so intricate and beautiful!

After that, we went to watch the Changing of the Horse Guards...which I was too impatient for, nothing was happening but I got quite a few pictures. Then I had the best time taking pictures off to myself. Most of the time it has been very difficult to take pictures with everyone in our group. Everyone ends up with the same pictures, but George, Liz and I got off to ourselves for a little while next to a park and then Buckingham Palace, Westminster to see the Peace people. These people are really truly amazing. They are protesters sitting outside of the Houses of Parliament protesting the War in Iraq. They have been sitting there for over 5 years.

After all the fun in the morning, we headed to Notting Hill. We ate at Pizza Express which was really good. It was such a cute place and I felt like I was in the happiest place in the world. There were families there with young children and they were talking in their British accents and running around and playing in the restaurant. It seemed really safe. I enjoyed it. It actually made me really want to come home with a British accent...I'm trying really hard. :)

This part of town was very quaint and beautiful, just like it looks in the movie. There is a street there that was actually in the movie..Portabello Road. It's a market street. We went there in search of good finds, I found one, but other than that it was getting dark and there wasn't much going on. By the way, it gets dark here at like 3:37 in the afternoon.

We had class time at 5:30 this afternoon, so we came back and took an hour nap before class. This was a mistake for we are very tired. After that, we went out with our photography class to a place called the Stockpot. I had chicken and bacon with brussel sprouts, carrots, and chips (which are french fries). This was the most wholesome meal I have had so far and I was very content with it! After that, a few of us walked down to Piccadilly Circus (beautiful with big advertisements like Times Square) then walked down Regents and Oxford Streets, a very big shopping district. Most everything was closed but it was beautiful all lit up. It reminds me of what I think New York would be like!

And so now, we are back in our room and I am ready for bed. Tomorrow we are going to Southwark and the Globe Theater. This is Shakespeare's theater that is open to the sky.. very neat. After that, I think I may go shopping. :) Until tomorrow, I hope all is well in the States and especially Kentucky. Goodnight!

London, London, London

Tower Bride picture, taken from the London Bridge. Lol London Bridge is nothing but a bridge like at home over Drakes Creek. :)

Oh wow, okay, I am sure you all have been waiting for this...or maybe I am just conceited but anyways, there has been so much going on! Jet lag has gotten the best of me and so I didn't blog last night because I was soooo tired. Anyways, let me tell you all.

Plane ride was not that bad. I read the third Twilight book for most of the day at the airport and then couldn't sleep cause I kept reading. I only have a few more chapters left. I had a fairly good dinner for a plane ride and then finally once I went to sleep, they woke us up at like 12 in the morning (my normal time) to give us breakfast, which I thought this was hilarious.

My first messup as an American in a foreign country was right outside the airport. I was getting into the coach and went to the other side of the bus....yes, I know, make fun of me, everyone else has. :)

The ride to the hotel took an hour and a half and I didn't expect my ride to be anything like it was. It was through tiny tiny streets in a big coach bus that felt like it didn't fit on the road with billboards for American movies everywhere...strange I thought that there was so much American influence over here. I thought there would be some different movies.

By the way, this is the view out of our hotel window....very beautiful! To the other side is my future flat home....complete with rooftop garden!

Our hotel is very chic and nice. Supposedly it is 600 US dollars to stay here a night but we wouldn't think this because the rooms are tiny. lol. Our shower is all mirrors and a tiny piece of glass for a shower curtain, needless to say the floor gets wet.

After dinner and orientation at the hotel last night, we went out in search of something to do and when to this pub called Prince Regent's. It was fun but the most interesting experience was the supermarket, which sold really wierd snacks and bread in loaves....yes, I got ciabatta bread because I was starving. After that, we went to sleep.

This morning breakfast was pretty good...croissants, ham, cheese, cereal, yogurts and oatmeal. And it's free! After that, we got in the biggest coach I had ever seen....extra long and double decker. You can only guess which seat we wanted...front row up top. It was INSANE how well the driver had to maneuver through the streets. Stoplights would be inches away from our face in the bus... it was always crazy.

This ride though was the best. I finally felt like I was in London today when we saw such things as Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, Harrod's, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, London Bride, the Tower, and much more. These are the things that I have always dreamed of seeing and so it was really fascinating today.

At Buckingham Palace, I got my picture made with a guard, actually right outside of Prince William and Harry's house (they weren't there, I was real sad :( ) It was quite crazy to see them so stiff! I wanted to hug one of them, but I refrained. I caught eye contact with one that was pretty cool but then got scary quick. :)

But the best experience I had today was St. Paul's Cathedral, this is where Princess Diana got married. Also, Mary Poppins was filmed here (woman singing "Feed the Birds") Since it was Sunday, there was Mass, so the bells were ringing so loud and it was perfect, even the pigeons were flying everywhere, which may not sound very appealing but it was just the perfect London moment. We stood outside taking pictures and I felt like I was in a dream. We snuck inside to get a peek in between Masses and it was breathtaking. I cannot imagine the wedding that went on there. I think we are going to go back because you can go up into the dome part.

This afternoon we had our first class meeting...which was pretty funny because we got to leave the hotel and just roam around taking pictures while the other classes were sitting in the lobby writing papers! Ha! We grinned as we left...

So we took the tube for the first time. For an underground system it was pretty easy to maneuver around so we went to Camden Park...this is the "rock/mohawk" side of town. Neat little shops (I made my first purchase of a cute vintage dress for 20 euros!) We also ate Indian food, which was something I tried for my first time, it was okay, but I think I am ready for some regular food tomorrow!

Anyways, right now we are chilling in the room, getting ready to go out with some people in our class in about 30 minutes. I can't believe it is in the afternoon there! I am still so tired! I finally got my first cup of coffee about an hour ago and it was well needed! Anyways, I love you all! Hope I can write again soon!

Christmas Fun Sing Extravaganza!

Annually at White Plains, the Fun Sing Christmas Extravaganza is held. This year was filled with tons of songs and a hilarious Advent Tree Christmas play with all the little children, even little Kinsley Haven (Maleiah's baby) involved! It was especially precious, I realized how many children we have involved at our church! Here are a few pics from the night...

Kendall putting her ornament on the tree.

Oh little Ryan Paul! His first Christmas here in the U.S. with Mommy and Daddy! We are so blessed that he is here!

Ms. Mama Jaelyn doing her part. I have noticed the past couple times I have been at church that its not everyone packing her around anymore, its her packing around the little ones! lol.

Oh and Hayden! I had heard that she may be too nervous to put her ornament on the tree, but when it was her turn, she bounced up to that tree with the cutest smile ever!

And then after the children were done, Brett got his turn. He played Carol of the Bells. Me and Pat had been trying to get him to do this because it was so beautiful! Nathan finally got him to do it and I was so proud!

Cutting trees and shootin' mistletoe

Mallory! Take a look at what mistletoe is!

Everyone got their shot at the mistletoe.




Our beautimous tree that we cut down!

Oh the pastimes of a country Christmas, brought to life in the middle of town! Yesterday after church, I cooked up some amazing potato soup *I was pretty proud, it was my first batch! After that, we went out and found the perfect tree to put on the back porch and to shoot some mistletoe. I love doing this, its probably one of my favorite memories at Christmas times in the past. I figured I would share for those who have never experienced these pastimes! ;)

Merry Christmas!

Another Visit to Loretto

So me and my father, the bourbon conniseurs we are, decided to travel down to Loretto, KY for the Maker's Mark Candlelit Tours (where we are Ambassadors) last weekend during my finals. We called Uncle Mike and Aunt Blanca to come with us. Idy came as well.

A lot of fun was to be had! Normally tours are guided, but this night, we walked around and did our own tour and enjoyed the Christmas lights and the carolers at the visitor's center. After the tour, there was a food tasting from a bourbon-inspired chef in Louisville. After that, we bought a Christmas bottle to remember the day and took our picture with Santa. We even snitched more than just one bourbon ball! It was loads of fun!

On Santa's lap.

Mike, Blanca, Idy

I love the shutters! They are my favorite about Maker's Mark Distillery!