And the Hits Just Keep On Coming

It's been quite awhile since I posted last, but that's because there's been so much to do. In the past three and a half weeks I've gone to the Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio, loads of museums, parks/gardens, the English countryside, Abbey Road, Buckingham Palace (where I saw the Queen!!), and a bunch of hidden places that require reservations and the utmost secrecy.  London is the place for doing things, let me tell you. Or, rather, let me show you.

The Rosetta Stone - British Museum

A real-life (or dead) mummy! - British Museum

A little creepy, but still cool. - British Museum

Bart Simpson chilling on the South Bank

The Tempest at Shakespeare's Globe

These next couple pictures deserve more words. As a class, we got the opportunity to tour the Houses of Parliament. It's literally a once-in-a-lifetime chance for me as an overseas tourist. According to its website, only British citizens can book tours and, luckily, our professor was a Brit through and through. We were led around by a pretty famous/infamous Labour party member named Dennis Skinner. Andrew (our prof.) had us look him up on Wikipedia and such beforehand and boy; he was one colorful character. He definitely kept us entertained as well with his snide comments and sometimes sarcastic remarks. It would get a little lost in his strong Derbyshire accent, but we were able to keep up well enough. We weren't allowed to take pictures of the current houses in use, but I did snap a couple of the entrance that was once a Parliament hall before the houses burnt down.

Entrance to the hall that splits into the House of Lords
and the House of Commons.

Continuing on...

Kensington Gardens

And the fluffiest flowers I've ever seen!

Prince Albert Memorial

My little trip out to Farnham, Surrey was absolutely lovely and on a perfect day weather-wise. Luckily I had a friend who lives out there so she led me around. We trekked through the countryside from the train station to Waverley Abbey, a Cistercian monastery that was in use from 1128 to 1536. It lies in ruins now, but seeing it in the middle of someone's farm was fascinating. And the walk there was beautiful.

Farnham, Surrey! Also known as the
English countryside (or where Londoners
go to get some peace and quiet)

Waverley Abbey ruins

Waverley Abbey

Me and Waverley Lane

The easiest tree to climb ever

One of my favorite things ever was the Warner Bros. Studio Tour I went to in Watford with my friends. We took a train there to northwest London and a shuttle from the studio came and picked us (and the other 100 people) up and took us there. The studio itself was amazing for a huge Harry Potter nut as I and I was finding myself in awe of, firstly, the set designs, the thought put into it, and the building techniques, and second of all, with movie magic. The way film can manipulate reality is so interesting. It definitely encouraged my thoughts of attending film school after my undergrad. Worth every pound I paid (and then some). The gift shop was also amazing and I think all of us, my friends and I, spent quite a bit of money there. But hey, when will we ever come back?

And another fantastic piece of info we found out afterwards: Prince William, Prince Harry, and Kate Middleton had visited hours before us. WHAT! Yeah, that was our reaction too.

The Owl Emporium

Books, books, books!

Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes!

Gryffindor! Woot woot!

The Gryffindor Common Room

Harry's wee cupboard

The Hogwarts Bridge

Hogwarts

Hogwarts again

"Just stick out your wand hand, step
on board...

...and we can take you anywhere you
want to go!"

Ugh, the Dursleys...

Props! PROPS!

Yeah, that's right. I'm riding a broom. 

The beloved Time Turner (it wasn't destroyed
after all!)

The two secret places my friends and I went were both equally awesome and equally expensive. The first was called Evan and Peel and it was set up as an underground Detective Agency which becomes a bar. It was really hidden away and required reservations and imagination. I'll only show a photo of the door because I was sworn to keep the inside a secret (but they've got creative good drinks if you're willing to pay a bit for 'em).

The other is called Soho's Secret Tea Room and I went there for a bit of brunch and tea. This place also requires reservations. We had to enter a pub where older men were having their midday drinks and tell the lady our reservation. She guessed it; it was clear we didn't fit in with the pub crowd. We went upstairs that was completely dressed up as a 1940's tea room complete with a record player and quaint decor. It was lovely, the tea was lovely, and though it was a bit pricier than other tea houses, the environment (and the scones!) were worth the price.

Now for the highlight of my week: I SAW THE QUEEN. She was on her way to Parliament for her annual speech at the State Opening of Parliament. We went to Buckingham Palace to catch her on her way and she passed by us in her lovely carriage, having been preceded by her son Prince Charles (and his wife) and the Crown Jewels (in its own carriage - fancy that).

Buckingham Palace

The band of guards making their way to
the queen's gate

IT'S THE QUEEN!

IT'S THE QUEEN AGAIN!

 And Prince Charles too, but he wasn't nearly as exciting.

I have one full day left of London until my program as a whole and my time in London is officially at an end. The program itself has been such a wonderful experience and the people I've been with I'm actually going to miss. It does get a little tiring being with the same people day in and day out, but I know we'll miss each other once we've parted. It's been one heck of a time and I'll miss London dearly, but I'm glad to say my travels don't end here. I'll be traveling after the program for two more weeks around Europe. I'm lucky I have friends who live in this part of the world who I can visit, but lots of my traveling will be by myself. I'm excited and a little nervous, but I have done a lot of touring of the city on my own anyway both in Florence and London. Being here and fulfilling my dreams five years in the making has been so rewarding and I'm lucky to say I did it! And have some amazing memories and pictures as evidence.

And I have to say this: favorite play of the eleven we've seen is definitely War Horse. Theatre in London is so great and it's worth coughing up a few pounds to see a play or musical! There are half-price tickets in Leicester Square and, while I'm lucky my program paid for most of them, the tickets I purchased on my own were at great prices for fantastic shows. London theatre (along with so much else) is top-notch!