6/28/10

The Dream is Realized...I arrived in England: June 10th




I hope you enjoy my blogging of the big trip to the UK. I did a post per day mostly. So make sure you see all of them...you might have to click on "older posts." Some of the posts come directly from my iPod where I journaled some of the trip. Excuse the misspellings and lack of capital letters, it is hard to type with big fingers on that little keyboard! Don't judge. It was a fun trip and I am glad to share it with all of you.

If you want to see all the pics be sure to check out facebook. Again, if you are not friends with me on there yet...shame on you! JK...no pressure! Friend me, if you want to see the pics. They may be public too, if you just search for me! Who knows?(I will get those pics up tomorrow so be patient. I must go to bed now, though!)
Cheers!

Thurs. Arrived late at night. Had to "reclaim" luggage. Customs were
so easy. Driver was from India and drove a VW van. It was very
shocking to ride on the left side if the road. The fasination with
signs began in the airport as I saw the funny looking lady with the
wide hips for the sign.

Big Ben, I finally saw Big Ben! Friday, June 11th






Pics: That guard is serious, Marching and Marching, Telephone Booth, Me and Big Ben (in reverse order!)

Friday. Buckingham palace for the changing of the guard. Got there
just in time. The guards are actual members of the military. The march
from the barracks in st James park to the palace. The mall in front is
lined with union jacks. The flag above the palace is either the royal
standard when the queen is home or the union Jack when she is home.

The red telephone booths are still everywhere. They make me smile.

At night Cindy and Dan (Aunt and Uncle) and I went to the big Ben area. We saw the
river tames(Thames) for the first time. We also saw the house of
parliment, London eye and westmister abbey. We saw a group of people
camping out to protest the war. The river has a tide effect. It is
higher at the beginning of the day and real low at night. We heard the
clock strike 9pm.

Let's Celebrate the Queen's Birthday! Saturday, June 12th






Pics: The Queen, What an Event!, Tower of London, Beefeater, Tower Bridge

Saturday. Went to parade for when the Queen celebrates her birthday.
Her actual birthday is in April. They have this parade every
June(better weather) for any king or queen. Lots of horses and
military. Also many VIPs went in the gates and were apart of the party
to say bye to the queen.

Went to the Tower of London. The beefeater tour was way cool. Could
have uses more time in the tower. We got stuck on bus route thanks to
the parade being by picidilly square.
Saw the crown jewels. It is cool yonder the actual crown. Also went
through the white tower where the first king lived and saw some of the
torture tools they used on prisoners. The roman wall could be seen
outside the walls o the tower. The ravens were cool. I is said that if
they leave the wall of the place will crumle. The Tower Bridge can be
seen from the tower. Beautiful.

Bus Trip to Stonehenge, Bath, and Stratford: Sunday June 13th






Pics: Me and Cindy @ Stonehenge, Bath Abbey, Roman Bath, Bath, Shakesphere's Birthplace.

Sunday. Stonehenge and the countryside was impressive. It is fun to
make up theories of how the ancients got the stones and piled them.
The burial mounds around are in a circle as well. The henge actually
tracts hours and months. There is a ditch circling the henge a well as
a few other stones that make a squre if connected. Drove past where
Jane Austen lived in bath. Saw bath abbey. Also toured the roman
baths. Amazed by the feeling that I was walking the same steps the
Romans did.
Stratford on Avon was cool. To be where William Shakespeare was born
was inspiring. Want to read his sonnets this summer. The town shut
down early because it was Sunday. Had a dinner at pub.

Monday June 14th






Pics: Kenningston Palace, Garden at Palace, Uncle Dan in garden, Mom and Ruth by Diana Fountain, Cindy in Hyde Park

Monday. On way to Hyde park we were easily distracted by shops. Dan
was very patient. Toured Kenningston palace. It was enchanted and
awesome. Learned lots about some of the princesses. Garden was so
pretty. Had an adventure trying to fin Dianna fountain. Ate lunch on
park by the Senine Lake in Hyde Park. Tried to go to British museum but were too
late. Rode the tube during rush hour. Got back and ate vinegar chips
and candy for dinner. Glad to be sitting.

Art wonderful Art! June 15th






Pics: Brittish Museum of History, Me and Mom coming out of Tube, Statue people at Trafalgar Square, Buses, Trafalgar Square.

We went to both The British Museum of History and The National Gallery today. It was cool to see the Rosetta Stone and sketches from the Renaissance including those by Da Vinnci and Michelangelo. Trafalgar Square is a very busy and cool place. I love "Sunflowers" by Van Gogh. Had great Italian food for dinner. Funny little post, isn't it?

Westminster Abbey is Great: Wednesday, June 16






Pics: Me at Westminster, Westminster Abbey, Egyptian influence at Harrods, Memorial, Yummy food!

We finally figured out that we could ride a bus from our hotel to Victoria Station. Hmm...that would have helped the last week! Sad.

We rode the bus to Westminster Abbey. It was a very cool place and ranks up on the top of my London like list. There are hundreds of people buried there including many monarchs and famous British people. The church itself reminded me of lots of the churches in Russia. There were many side chapels and I was intrigued by the alter where the coronation of the British kings and queens happen. It was pretty cool to think about all the historical figures who stood in the same places I did. I also loved the poets' square where writers like Chaucer, Dickens, and Tennyson are buried. So many of whom I studied in college were there or memorialized there. There was a moment of silence for prayer and I got chills as I thought of all the historic prayers and people who worshipped there. It was also cool to see the actual coronation chair.

We then went to Harrods. I couldn't afford anything at that swag mall. The memorial to Princess Diana and Fiat was pretty cool and the Egyptian escalators were interesting.

I bought lots of shirts and souvenirs that I didn't need and then met up with my mom and her friend, Ruth for dinner. It was so good! Roast and both fried and mashed potatoes and my new favorite thing: Yorkshire Pudding. We stopped at Victoria Station again on our way back and got some yummy chocolate. Good stuff. I am starting to get very interested in "football." The World Cup is so fun to watch in a country that gets soccer and loves it! So fun! I even had a funny moment when my mother was talking about watching football with people back in Wisconsin and I totally was trying to figure out why they were watching soccer back here! Too funny!

Leaving London, on to Scotland: June 17






Pics: Kings Cross Station, Pic of Scottish town from train, Haggis, Allotment, Pretty Flowers.

I took a cab to Kings Cross Station because my mom was a little nervous for me to use the Tube. It was actually a good adventure because my taxi driver gave me a good last tour of London.

The train ride was fun because the countryside is so pretty. Lots to see and it was relaxing. The Scottish people speak a different language because I had a real hard time understanding the train conductor when he would say where we were stopping. Good thing there are signs at the stations.

Steve and Mary Beth picked me up at the Dundee station and we went grocery shopping and we then had a tradition haggis meal. (It was actually vegetarian so no gut casing.) We then went to their garden allotment and it was pretty. Good first night in Scotland!

p.s. It is chilly in Scotland. Being next to the water and being more north sure does make a difference!

Friday, June 18: Good Ol' Dundee






Pics: Museum, Cemetary, Desperate Dan(he was a comic published in Dundee), Broughty Castle, More Castle.
Well, today was excellent. Scotland is beautiful and I think I said that around 1,000 times today.

MB took me to downtown Dundee where we took in the sights of the museum and a cool little cemetery. We then met Steve for and Indian buffet just by the Tay River. You could see the The North Sea in the distance.

We then took a bus to Broughty Castle. My first castle in Scotland did not disappoint. It was along the Tay but you could see The North Sea in the distance. We walked along the beach and found a cool garden.

We went to a traditional Scottish dance at the church. It was fun to dance one of the dances. Steve then took us to a cool lookout over the city. I didn't have my camera which was a bummer but I have the memories. Great day!

Day Tripper: Saturday, June 19th







A day trip with MB and Steve. The countryside of Scotland is gorgeous. We drove around to three different little cities that were within about a 50 mile radius of Dundee.

The day started with Steve making me a traditional Scottish breakfast. It was yummy and meat filled. Black pudding=not bad!

We started our sightseeing at Falkland Palace. It was gorgeous and so full of history. The Royal Tennis Court was a highlight! The game played on the court is different than regular tennis and seems to be a cross between racquetball and tennis. (They can play off the walls). I also enjoyed the palace itself because it was redone and felt like I was walking back in history. The chapel was my favorite part because I felt the spirit as I thought about the twelve apostles that were honored by the gate before the alter. The grounds of the palace were very well kept. The flowers were simply amazing.

We had fish and chips alongside the beach at Anstruther. Man, I think that was the best fried fish I have ever had.

We then headed to St. Andrews. I didn't know much about that place until today. The famous university is where Prince William went to school. The place has a rich history due to the reformation of the Church of Scotland. A Catholic monastery and chapel once stood there.(Now beautiful ruins) Some of the challengers of the Catholic Church were executed at St. Andrews. The monastery actually had some relics including body parts of St. Andrew. He was crucified on an X. This is where the Scottish flag comes from! The university is there because Pope Benedict and another man organized it. Rich History, eh?

What an excellent and beautiful day in Scotland!

Sunday, June 20th. A Chill Day!

Going to church in Scotland was nice. It's always good to know that you can go anywhere in the world and you are guarenteed that church will be the same(If you are a Latter-Day Saint, that is!)

We ate some awesome roast afterwards. It was so very yummy. We had a low key kind of a day and then went to the resavoir. It was a pretty place and I was sad that I did not bring my camera. You could see lots of beautiful green rolling hills all the way to The Black Sea. There were lots of fisherman in little boats. I also saw some swans.

When we got back to the flat, we had some pretty amazing Strawberry Shortcake. Steve and Mary Beth are such good cooks and bakers. I am being spoiled!

Castles...we love Castles! Monday, June 21






Pics: Drum Castle, Steps to Tower, Cragievar Castle, Burn O' Vat waterfall, Burn O' Vat cove

Mary Beth was brave today and was willing to drive me all over the countryside to look at castles. We dropped Steve off at Scotland Agricultural College(where he works) in Aberdeen, Scotland.

The first castle we saw was Drum Castle. We took the tour and it was pretty in a typical Victorian style like most of the castles that have been restored. The highlights actually came after the tour when we were able to see the neat little chapel behind the castle and had the opportunity to climb up to the top of the tower. The top was my favorite and was very worth the scary little circular stairway.

The second castle was Craigievar Castle which we only stopped and took picture of the outside. It was way pretty and pink! I think more of the castles should be pink!

After we picked up Steve, he took us to Burn O Vat, which is basically a carved out little cove. It had a waterfall and it was gorgeous. We then drove through the highlands and I even saw one of those hairy large cows!