Fall Break-London

I realize it's been awhile since updating. I will do my best to give a good description of my adventures of Fall Break....starting with London. I'm probably going to copy and paste out of my journal.
*Friday, Oct. 23rd, 2009 10:20pm London time, 11:20 pm Florence time, and 4:20 pm home -------Blimey! I'm in London! It's been awhile since writing, once again. I've been preparing for mid-terms, taking them, and getting all of my stuff together for fall break. The only fun things I've really done lately are go to the Perugia Eurochocolate Fest and go to the Creative Arts Festival Rave. The choc. fest was amazing. So much deliciousness in one place and a lot of samples, freebies, and discounts. We met other people from LDM and they were pretty cool. We also met two guys studying at a really small town in Italy (don't recall the name of the town).They hung out with us for most of the day and we've added them on facebook since then. The rave was...interesting. They play "house music" or awful techno. Haha. We danced like fools anyway! My mid-terms went great in some classes, and in others...just decent. One mid-term made 2 girls cry..I got a C on that one...and that was a high grade. I got 2 A's and 2 B's in my other classes. It made me feel accomplished! :) I got an A in Italian...which means maybe I'm learning something!?!?! :) But now, I'm laying in my hostel bed in London. I flew to Stansted Airport from Pisa. Other than "background" checks taking a long time...it all went smoothly. But, it was already close to midnight. On the bus into town towards the Liverpool Street Station, I met a really cool girl (Francesca) who will be DJing at a party this weekend. We chatted a lot and she gave her number so if I want to go to the party she can add me to the list. I had to ask around a LOT to figure out how to find the stop for the next bus I needed. I took it, found the hostel and checked in at 2 am. It's a little scary to be traveling alone that late at night..but I toughed it out. Haha. I called Jill to let her know that I was ok. I had to fumble around in the dark to figure out which bed was mine and I had someone asleep in my bed. So, I took the one above. I just slept in my clothes because I knew getting my pjs out of my strategically packed back pack would have made so much noise. Friday was a great first day. I met my roommates (there were 3 that I hung out with most of the day). We had a free breakfast at the hostel. Then, we met up for a free tour provided through the hostel (St. Christopher's Village). It was a 2 1/2 hour tour and it was great. Our tourguide was named Pip. No, that's not short for anything, or a nickname...that's his whole first name...Pip. We saw: Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park (corner of it), Nelson's column, Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, the outside of the National Gallery, St. Jame's Park, Wellington arch, Horseguards at the palace, Whitehall, Big Ben, 10 Downing St., Churchill's War Cabinet Bunker, the house of Parliament, St. Martin in the fields, and Westminister abbey. After it was over, a few of us walked around by the London Eye and got some food. Then, we all went seperate ways. I went and got tickets for the matinee of Avenue Q. After doing that, I decided it would be a good idea to look for my theatre Geldum on Shaftesbury Road. On the way, I accidentally stumbled upon China Town (which was on my to-see list anyway). I explored China-town for awhile, found the theater, and stopped at Costa Coffee (which is a HUGE chain that I'd never heard of?) for a snack(choc. muffin) and drink (summer fruit smoothie). Very good and a nice way to use some of my time before the show. After I made my way there. It was a very nice theatre and my seats were decent. Then I was informed that I would be moved one row bafck, but in the direct center of the stage, which made it great. The show started and it was AMAZING! Avenue Q is SO inappropriate and delightfully tacky, just how I like it! Hehe. I laughed through the entire show. After, I met a girl and her mom from Holland and they walked and talked with me all the way to the underground. I found my two lines and made it to Borough High St (right off the London Bridge). I walked to the hostel, had some fish & chips and a couple of cocktails. Chatted at the bar and went to bed. I am exhausted from such a full day!
*Saturday, Oct. 24th, 1:40pm London time, 2:40pm Florence time, and 7:40 am home time
--Well, I'm part way through day 2. Today I went with those girls to buy show tickets, but they were too pricy for them (and I've already seen the shows they wanted to see). We went our seperate ways. I stuck around Leichester Square for a ltitle while, and ended up buyin tickets to the "Sister Act". Hopefully it's good. There is another tour today, but it's not free and I felt like doing my own thing. So, I hopped on the tube and rode to Lancaster Gate because it sounded cool. I wandered the streets and found Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park. It's beautiful here. I've been wandering aimlessly all morning (past 3 hours at least) and taking pictures. Currently, I'm on a dry bench (surprising b/c it's been drizzling all day, but yesterday was sunshiney and beautiful) under a huge tree. It's leaves are a gorgeous array of yellow, orange,and green. There's a man and his beautiful black dog on the bench directly across. I've been watching them play catch. The man is so tranquil and the dog so noble...except when he intentionally drops the ball JUST out of reach, or under the bench so his owner has to get up to get it. It makes me laugh. I've been pointing out where it is when the man can't find it. Currently, there's a large group of rugby players passing by and MAN are they HOT! Man! They look to be going to Kensington Palace (took all this wandering to find it) so I think I'll go now. Hehe.
-5:17pm--Well, it cost 11 pounds to enter (the pound is OUTRAGEOUSLY EXPENSIVE) so I opted out. The rugby team didn't go in either. Haha. I did go through the grounds and see the sunken garden. Before leaving the park, I stopped at Princess Diana's memorial playground for cappucino, a banana, and tomato basil soup (basically spaghetti sauce...not soup) with bread. I was sooooo cold,and it was a good refresher. I started to head for Notting Hill, but got a little side tracked. I was in the area, saw some amazing houses, some neat churches, but decided it would be fun to not look at the map and see where I ended up. I just kept wandering and enjoying the sights. Then I decided to find my way back to the tube and find a new direction. I chose Camden Town. OH MY GOODNESS!!! It is innnnnnssssssaaaaaaannnnneee there. The biggest freaks would feel normal here! Crazy packed, people of all ages, vendors galore, food, tattoo/peircing places EVERYWHere...and more tutus, colored hair, dreds, mohawks, piercings and weird outfits than you can possibly imagine. Haha. It was quite a sight. This would be the the jackpot of all people watching spots. I wanderd and looked around. Found gifts for Jill, Maggie, and Naomi and made my way back to the hostel. I'm now in a room with 20 people. It's nice, but we'll see how quiet it is when I'm trying to sleep. I've got to get my stuff ready for the show.
*Sunday, Oct. 25th, 2009, 5pm London, 4pm Florence, and 11 am home...daylights savings here
--Well, the show last night was pretty cute. Maybe not worth the money, but that's ok. It was fun. I almost didn't get there in time due to the streets and sidewalks being so incredibly busy!! But I did, and saat next to a nice woman and daughter from Lanchester. She loves Americans (which is refreshing but oh-so rare!). They were going to the NE Patriots game tmrw (today) and I was jealous. I'm missing it. After the show, I came back and crashed. My bed was right by the door and everyone kept coming in and out. Or better yet, forgetting their key or not being sober enough to used it. This resulted in a drunken stupor door-POUNDING session that woke everyone up. But, no one got out of bed to let them in...making me the one to do it. I got crabby and would open it, take their key...demonstrate how to use it and say that next time I wouldn't open it. Obviously, it didn't work...and I kept opening. The only way anyone would get any sleep! Except me...that is. Today, I had breakfast, checked my bank accounts (which are SO low) and then went to Marble Arch to find cheap luggage. My bag was stuffed because of all the gifts. I had to improvise on how to get there because the tube stop was closed. I found a bag and loaded it at the train station. Hopefully it will prove sturdy! Then I went to lunch..trying to spend my pounds...and it was decent. Then I found my way to another train headed for the airport. Myself and one other guy, Danny, were the only ones on it for the first few stops. He was nice and wanted me to go to dinner with him, but I would rather be early for my flight and stay at the airport. My flight isn't until later, but oh well. I'm excited to be in Ireland!!!! I'm talking to Eric on the phone; he called via skype. Gosh, I miss him! I am no where near ready to be going home, but will be sooooo excited to see him when I do! <3