Jersey Boys

Last week we saw Jersey Boys! I loved it the first time I saw it in NYC and was excited for the girls to see it, and hoped they loved it like I did. We had a blast! We were singing and dancing through the entire show. Everyone was up during the finale dancing and singing and just having a ball. I was so glad that everyone loved it! We walked out just giggly and giddy. It was really fun. As always we headed over to Ed's diner for some good food and fun signing along to the juke box. These really are becoming my favorite nights here in London.

The tube was down this evening and so we opted to split into two groups and take a taxi. My first taxi ride in London. Thank goodness we had this idea, becuase we never would have made it otherwise.

Me, Sarah, Ana

Ed's Diner (we're becomming regualrs... the secruity guard Michael expects us each week from now on)

Sarah, Me, Patrice, Alyssa

The shakes in London are more runny and milky... not my favorite.


Doing my favorite dance move from the show! So Franki Valli...Who loves you pretty baby!
Sarah, Me, Steph, Ana, Patrice

If you didn't know this is what a Good Time looks like!
Alyssa, Molly, Me, Ana, Steph

Canterbury

Last stop of our day trip was Canterbury Cathedral. If you are like me and thought it was Cadbury and very disappointed then you're not alone. It was a cool stop. I swear I've been to more cathedrals than I have temples in my life. But this was a fun trip. My friend Sarah Mabey and I were proactive in learning and had a tour guide take us around to educate us. It made the trip much more interesting!

Canterbury Cathedral

Me and Sarah. This is where they believe the phrase "one foot already in the grave" came from. Do you see how his one foot is covered by a sheet and the other is exposed?


To help rebuild parts of the cathedral, the Americans donated money. So for their contributions they sculpted this. It is a donkey, elephant, and an eagle. Pretty neat.


It is documented that this is the place where J.K. Rowling came and pondered while writing Harry Potter. These ball fixtures that have the leaves on them (there are two on each side) stuck in her had and which later became the ball for the game quiddich (I have no idea how to spell that). Cool Huh!

Me with the Black Prince. He never ruled because he died in battle before he could take over the throne. He is also the man who started chivalry.

St. Augustine's Abbey

The second portion of our day trip was to St. Augustine's Abbey (or whats left of it). It was bombed a while ago and we went and saw the remains. It was not very eventful at all, so we decided to play hide and seek... and I touched base in the first minute of the game, so I got bored pretty quick; Its too bad that I'm so good at hide and seek.

St. Augustine's gravestone...

Love Lane

What's left of St. Augustine's Abbey

White Cliffs of Dover

These are the WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER.. we actually just stopped on the coach for a second and looked out the window, while our professors wife, Sister Crisler, sang the "white cliffs of dover" song on the loud speaker. I can't decide if it was weird or awkward. It was the closest I felt to being on an Asian tour bus!

Dover Castle

We went to Dover Castle on our Day Trip. We got to go into the War Tunnels (no pictures allowed) that were built and used for WWII and the Cold War. They were pretty darn cool, but sort of cheesy because the tour is animated with a story being told through the speaker system and its "staged" of how it was like back then. They even had fake pot roast dinner in the kitchen. After the war tunnels we roamed around Dover Castle and it was a let down because they wouldn't let us go in, so we just walked around and took pictures to kill time. We had a good time!

Me and Sarah

Abby and Me in a castle tunnel



Cheese!
Steph, Ana, Molly, Abby, Me, Elizabeth, Srarh


Dover Castle

The English Channel. My favorite part of the day... So pretty.

St. Pauls Cathedral

We visited St. Paul's Cathedral and it was the best cathedral I've been to by far! Absolutly beautiful. My neck hurt after a while because I looked up the entire time. It reminded me of Grandma Irene because of all the gold and angels. Pictures were not allowed which was a bummer. There also was alot of construction going on outside so getting a good picture wasn't very easy. This picture is the best I could do. Me and Connie.

SNOW in London

Last night SNOW in LONDON!!! Crazy Cold and so pretty. We had to take pictures and good thing because this mornings BREAKING NEWS on BBC News "England has the worst snow it has seen for 18 years, causing all London buses to be pulled from service and the closure of Heathrow's runways." It is still snowing like mad and predicted to snow through Wednesday.

IT'S SNOWING!!!

Me and Kate... Freezing

It's sooooo cold!


Me looking out the library window

Palace Court in a snowstorm!

Stourhead -- BREATHTAKING!!!

Stourhead was the best part of the Day Trip! And not only because of the first picture "spread eagle" but because it was beautiful. Jaw Dropping and Breathtaking. I hope to go back there again. I roamed around with my friend Elizabeth. It is a two mile walk around the gardens. Very enjoyable and peaceful. Lovely.

It doesn't get much better than stumbling across a Spread Eagle Inn!!!

The Grotto. This portion of the gardens were roped off, but Elizabeth and I snuck in and took a look. It was totally worth it!


I think at this point my face is saying "oh my gosh another group picture"


The temple that Elizabeth and I wanted to go to but missed the trail...

But that didn't stop us... we climbed over this fence and down through a bridge-like structure and I got so dirty (why I'm pointing to my pants)... It was hilarious. This is where the famous engagement scene in Pride and Prejudice took place (the newer version).

Great Scenery Shots of Stourhead! You must stop here if you're in or near London!

Portchester Castle

Another portion of our day trip was visiting Portchester Castle. We expected this to be quite boring, but we made the most fun we could. It was fun going to the top and seeing the great views and being close to the English Channel. I love water! I just wish it were real beach.

Kate, Me and Connie -- Portchester Gift shop. My hat was voted best! Highlight of the trip :)

View from the top of Portchester Castle. This is the nearby cemetery/church. Look at the English Channel behind!


Climbing the stairs to the top! It was so narrow and spiraly. Fun, but not if you're in a hurry.


Me and Kate at the top of Portchester Castle.

Portchester Castle (in Winchester).

Winchester!

Today we took our day trip to Winchester! We honestly all thought this portion of the day trip was boring. Our professor was having attitude because he was lost in getting us to the Grand Hall. It was quite comical! Overall we had a fun day. It was rainy all day which wasn't fun, but luckily I had my waterproof coat.

Here's the group... yes I am a good 2-3 inches taller than most!

Jane Austen's gravestone in Winchester Cathedral... probably the most entertaining part of the trip to Winchester Cathedral, sadly. Cathedrals are getting a tad old...


Me in Winchester Cathedral--do you see any differences between other cathedrals that I've posted??? Yeah, me neither!


Sarah, Molly and Me killing time inside the Great Hall

Abbey and Me outside the Great Hall in Winchester... yet killing more time.


King Arthur's Round Table at the Great Hall. They recently found out that this really isn't his table... so the point of stopping here???? I think they are going to wait till they sell all the "round table merchandise" then take it down haha!