Mi Mum and Sue visit Londontown

As you can see, I had my first visitors to London... Mi Mum and Aunt Sue. They got here on Friday morning.

But earlier that week I saw two plays: London Assurance and Money. Money is basically the most ridiculous play that I had ever seen. The only reason that it was manageable was because half way through they offered us a glass of champagne. Now, most of the audience had only 1, however since I strategically placed myself right next to the cart, I ended up having 4. The play got a lot better after that. It was an interactive play...which sounds awesome, but I had no idea what it was about so I couldn't even help the actors out. Mind you it was also pretty scary, the lights went out all the time and there was this half naked man with feathers all over him (apparently he was representing a feral child...did not get that). London Assurance was good, except there were some parts where I could not understand the Cockney accent.

Friday came along and I met Mi Mum and Sue at their hotel. It was a really nice hotel. We went on the hop on/hop off tour that took us around London. Then we hopped on the river boat cruise up the Thames River. Then we had dinner at a local pub where they got to try cider for the first time. Delicious!

Saturday- Took a train to Stratford upon Avon aka Shakespears home. We met one of my mom's work friends there, Siva. We walked around Shakespears' home and his daughters as well. It was a really nice town right outside London. Then we went to dinner at this amazing Mexican place called Wahacca. Its like Mexican tapas. Then we got churros and chocolate for dinner...YUM!!

Sunday- Woke up at 7 am to catch an 8:20 tour to Oxford, Stonehedge and Windsor Castle. Windsor Castle is where the queen goes on the weekend, so we were in the same place as the queen for 2 hours. Unfortunately, her butler did not give her the memo that I was visiting, so she did not get to have tea and crumpets with us like we all had planned. Oh well. Maybe another time. Then it was an hour bus ride to Stonehenge. Now if you are a fan of my blog, you know I have been already. But, I am not going to lie, it was still jsut as cool as the first time. We got an audio tour this time so we learned more about it. Apparently there is a woodhenge which is where people lived and stonehenge is where they were buried. Interesting facts huh? Then another hour bus ride to Oxford. Oxford is not just where the uni (university) is, its actually home to about 6-8 colleges. Its beautiful as well...puts American colleges to shame. We got to tour all town and even see where JK Rowling got her inspiration for Harry's scar. Story goes she did not know what the shape of the scar was going to look like until she saw this lighting bolt engraved in the pavement. See below. We got some tea and scones there and then headed back for home. At night we went to this Indian restaurant. Then skyped Stacy!!

Monday - We stayed in London this day. I finally got to go to the London Tower. It is where all the toruting and executions happened in the 15-19 centuries. Also, it is home to the crown jewels. The crown jewels are just what they sound like they are. They are the crowns that the kings and queens where when they have appearances or are inagurated. They are so extravagant with their precious stone. One had a 570 carot diamond... LIKE WHAT?? They have to be worth $100 million dollars each... no lie. Then my mom and I had a tour of the Towers. We heard stories of how one executioner was drunk butcher. So one time when he was beheading someone, it took 5 times because he kept missing with the sword, so he finally had to take his butcher knife out and kill them that way. Anne Boelyn, Lady Jane Grey and many more important figures where executed there. If anyone wants to go to London... this is the first stop. Then we met another one of my mom's co-workers for lunch. Matt took us to wagamama noodle bar. Again, good food. Suprisingly, England isn't known for food, but its been good. Then we walked to Paliament and Westminister Abbey. It is an ornant church, where the monarchs are sworn in and famous people like Darwin, Jane Austin, T.S. Elliot, Alexander Olivier and Newton are buried. We ended up in Winston Churchill's museum and cabinet war rooms. This is ACTUALLY where Churchill made orders for WW2 to defeat Hitler. It was extermely interesting. Churchill was a very witty, funny man I learned. After a long day, we hung around at a pub and saw Mousetrap. It is what inspired the movie and game Clue. Then I had some complications with my spring break flight, since British Airways went on strike...UGH. But it was figured out and everything is fine for now... to be continued.

Tuesday - Last day that they were here. I had class till 2:30 then I met up with them at the British Museum which is a 2 minute walk from my classroom. We walked around that for a little then headed to Covent Gardens. It is exactly like Fanueil Hall, with lots of street performers. Then I said goodbye :-(. But they are off to Florence, so not too sad for them.

Miss you guys and am really happy you came. LOVE LOVE LOVE XOXOXO

Today - since Mum and Sue had 3 day passes and only used 2 days of them, myself, Jake and Taylor went to St. Paul's Cathedral. Its a beautful cathedral that you can walk to the top point. Its only about 500-600 narrow stairs, that where hard to walk up. We went to the millenium bridge (the one from Harry Potter where the dementors destroy).