Sunday

Today we got a guided tour around London which I really enjoyed.  Especially because we didn't have to walk.  I think I've done enough walking tours.  I loved our tour guide, she was really good.  I liked seeing the famous spots and historical places.  It never ceases to amaze me how much history is in England.  I feel like I'm always immersed in it.  Maybe it's that way in the States too and I'm just not on tours all the time and therefore don't realize it.  But one thing we certainly don't have is Harry Potter!  I am so excited about that.  I'm such a Harry Potter nerd and I got really excited whenever she mentioned that.

After the wonderful tour, I went to China Town and ate lunch there with some of the girls.  The place we wanted to eat was unfortunately closed, but this was good too.  After lunch we went to the National Gallery which was quite good.  It was cool to see Van Gough and Picasso.  I hope to go see some other museums on the free day.  After that I decided to head back to the hotel for a nap.  All in all it was a good day.

Monday

Today we went to the Tower of London which was one of my favorite things that we have done so far.  It was simply magnificent!  The guide was really enthusiastic and interesting to listen to.  The Tower of London has quite a gruesome history.  The "disappearance" of the two young princes is especially sad.  As awful as it may be, I find the history of the tower quite fascinating.  I really enjoyed seeing the "tools of torture."  It looked so awful.  I can't imagine someone enduring that kind of pain.  I also liked the white tower.  (I think it was called the white tower- I'm not sure.)  The armor is really amazing.  I especially enjoyed seeing how they have changed over time.  We went around the bloody tower as well and then finished with seeing the crown jewels, which are beyond description.  They are positively gorgeous.

I then spent afternoon wandering around the wharf.  We found a used book store over by the National Theatre and I picked up some good reads.  Then we grabbed some supper at a pub before heading over to the Globe.  Of course then it started to rain.  I know they had us in standing seats like the "real Shakespearean audience", but between the rain and my aching feet, I was having a hard time concentrating on the play.  The language of Henry VIII is particularly hard to follow at times and it wasn't hard to space off.  We had the option to leave early, but I decided to stay and tough it out.  I kind of wish I hadn't though because we didn't get back until quite late and the schedule was changed for Tuesday so instead of the intended 9:30 departure, we are now meeting at 8:00.  Lovely.  

Tuesday

8am, bright and early we headed off for Oxford.  I got to sleep most of the way, which was nice.  We really didn't spend too long in Oxford.  We went to Christ's Church (at least I think that's what it was called.. I don't really recall) and looked around there.  Most of the place wasn't open to visitors, so there wasn't a lot to see.  I'm glad I decided to go in though because at least now I can say I was in the Great Hall where Harry Potter was filmed!  Oxford is a really nice place and maybe I'll study abroad there some time.  If I wasn't so tired I would have spent longer there, but I really wanted to sleep so I headed back with a group to the hotel.  After a nice nap I went out with Margaret for her 21st birthday!  That was a lot of fun.  It was a good ending to the day.