Oh What A Night...

Finally made it to Notting Hill! We got there early to avoid some of the crowds and ended up being very thankful we did. By about one o'clock you could barely walk back up the street. 

A luggage set that was beautiful! I didn't purchase, but wanted to sooo bad!

Who wouldn't want a viagra prawn wrap? We didn't try these, however we did have a nutella and strawberry crepe for breakfast (excellent) and one of the best chicken baguettes I have had yet in London. They use the freshest ingredients, which makes such a huge difference. For desert we had strawberries topped with ice cream (delicious)!

We found so many great little shops, but my favorite part were all the booths set up on the street. I wish they had something like this at home. I know I missed so much. The antique booths were amazing with all the old furniture and books and decorations. I am not sure though whether my favorite part was all the antiques or the food. It is a very close race!

This is on our way back to the tube station. Madness!

After Notting Hill we went back to our flat and got ready for dinner and the theatre! This is one of my flatmates Laura!

We saw Jersey Boys. The music was, of course, amazing. The guy that played Frankie Valli had a mind blowing voice! I couldn't believe that he too could hit those notes.

Today was a beautiful day in London! It has been so cold and rainy, today was a welcome surprise. To start off the day we headed over to Buckingham Palace and watched the changing of the guard!

The front of Buckingham Palace!

On their way into the palace gates. We got there early for us, but late for a spot at the front of the palace.

In front of the palace and fountain. This is also where I had breakfast this morning!

New favorite restaurant! Cafe Rouge. If you have ever watched Bridget Jones Diary, according to our professor, this is where she and her friends hung out. They have Croque Madame, which is Croque Monsieur topped with a fried egg. It is seriously delicious! 

While waiting to tour Buckingham Palace and see Kate Middleton's wedding dress we took a break in the park right outside the palace. Not a bad view! 

We weren't allowed to take pictures inside but this is the backside of the palace! 

Gardens at the Palace!

After touring the palace we able to get right up front and take pictures of the front! 

The sun setting in London is such a beautiful thing to witness!

You can also see the London Eye from the palace

A great end to a beautiful day!

So as you can see the last two days have been quite busy! Yesterday the morning started off early in Notting Hill. We had gotten a tip that the earlier we got there the better we would be able to hit most of the stands, which was 100% true! I found some really great things, some I purchased others I didn't. It was so much fun and I would go back in a heart beat. The food section could possibly have been my favorite. Everything was so flavorful and the fruit and vegetables are so good. We had dinner that night at Spaghetti House near our flat and then went to Jersey Boys. The music was fantastic and I had a great time! Today we got up early to see the changing of the guard! We didn't get to see it up close, but we did see all the guard go in and come out. After that we went to Cafe Rouge for lunch and then went back to Buckingham Palace to tour the state rooms and see Kate Middleton's wedding dress. This was amazing! We saw nineteen of the state rooms each one more beautiful than the next and her dress was absolutely stunning! She is so tiny and much shorter than you would expect. If you saw pictures from the wedding, the red room where the family is posed after the wedding with the queen and her family, we were in that room! It was such an amazing experience! It is almost hard to believe I was actually in Buckingham Palace! Well that is all we did today! Hope everyone is doing well! 

Love you and miss you!

Love and Happiness...

We went to Hampton Court Palace yesterday and this is the inside courtyard. 

This one of the rooms inside Hampton Court Palace. People coming to visit the king would have waited here in this small room.

Outside. If you like at the sky you can see the weather we have been experiencing.

BILLY ELLIOT. One word...AMAZING. Truly a great experience and the young boy who played Billy was brilliant. 

The inside of the Victoria Palace. The theatre was much smaller than I expected kind of making it more intimate.

Jill and I in the theatre.

After the play. So happy!

I wanted to post these so that y'all could see what we did yesterday and last night. Billy Elliot was so amazing as I said earlier. We made it to Kenwood House this morning and were able to explore the house and Hampstead before it started pouring. We had a little bit of a walk after we got off the tube and on the way home I got sprayed by a taxi...twice. I was completely soaked. It was actually really fun, being that it was the kind of thing you expect only to happen in movies. We are chilling a little before we go to do the Jack the Ripper tour. Until next time I love you all.

Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me...

This is from my first day in London. The sun was just about to set over Parliament and all the other amazing buildings. Absolutely beautiful.

First boat trip down the river Thames. We went all the way down to Greenwich and then came back up to the London Eye. It was freezing and windy, so I decided to use my scarf as head to stop my hair from whipping me in the face. 

Peacock from Warwick Castle. He was trying to mate with the ugly female. We were able to get really close to him and he was so beautiful.

It's official I have been crowned! 

We did multiple tourist traps and this is from the inside of one where you are NOT supposed to take pictures. Naturally we did! 

I don't remember which building this is outside of, but every time I look at the guys face I crack up. You may need to zoom in to get the full effect! Enjoy!

In Trafalgar Square they were broadcasting live from the Royal Opera House, so we decided to gather our flat and go and see Cinderella in French. We stopped and grabbed dinner and snacks on the way. This is mom's favorite snack and it is actually really good. It has most definitely become a staple in our flat. 

My flat mates and I after we climbed the monument with our certificates!

About to get on the river boats for the second time so that we could go do the British Music Experience. Don't worry set in the boat this time so as not to freeze. We also brought lunch aboard and I started eating early which is what you are witnessing in this lovely shot!

The inside of the tube cars. We were lucky, but only for one stop, to have this car to ourselves. This is very rare.

On top of the hill in Scotland. 

Our friend that guarded our hotel room in Scotland. He was really nice!

Punting in Oxford. I was just rowing (for a second before I pulled out nutella and pretzels) to help get started. I don't think it helped. This was a lot of fun though. Oxford is much bigger than you would expect and quite beautiful. There is a lot to do in this little town. 

Warwick Castle. 

Warwick Castle

Stratford-upon-Avon. This welcomes you to the street that Shakespeare's house was on. This town is as charming as you would expect. We didn't get a lot of time there, but it was fun. We did find a delicious ice cream restaurant! 

Shakespeare's House!

One of the bedrooms you see when you go in. 

Oxford University

The main courtyard at Oxford. Behind me in the shot would be Christ Church College, which is the only college in the world to have it's own chapel.

The dorms at Oxford. I feel like if more universities had dorms like these students would want to live there. 

St. Mary's at Oxford. You can climb to the top but we never got the chance.

Yesterday we went to Hampton Court Palace with our class. Really beautiful and last night we went and saw Billy Elliot which was amazing. I am so happy I finally got to see it. I would go back in a heartbeat. Today we are going to Kenwood House which appears in Notting Hill with Julia Roberts. Then we are trekking through Hampstead Heath to Hampstead Village. Tonight we are doing the Jack the Ripper tour with our flat mates. It has the potential to be extremely scary. London has been very rainy for a while now, but we are still enjoying the time we have here, which is quickly coming to an end. We have only two weeks left and so much to do. Well I am off to class, but I will post again soon. 

Love you all!