London Bridge is...

Actually not as exciting as I always thought it would be... I really enjoyed walking along the south bank of the Thames river though. There are actually several bridges in London, and I took a lot of pictures. Today was my first time on the South Bank. I went with Allie. We saw Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the Millenium Bridge, the Tate Modern, a HUGE house, St. Paul's Cathedral (in the distance), and the Tower Bridge as we followed the 'Queen's Walk.' The pathway was lined with these lamp posts with strange fish statues wrapped around the base. There were many people, busses and pigeons. It was a beautiful day!

The Millenial Bridge and St. Paul's Cathedral

The Globe Theatre

Portobello Road

On our first Saturday here, Allie, Andy, Caitlin, Whitney and I went shopping at the Portobello Road Market. It was so fun to look at all of the little stands and see so many people. I wish we had fun little Saturday markets in Idaho! It was a beautiful day and a fabulous day to spend the morning.

A fruit/vegetable stand.

Caitlin trying on a fabulous hat.

There were SO MANY people!

This was a small row of very colorful townhouses on one of the side streets.

Trafalgar Square, etc.

On September 4 we went to the British Museum and the National Gallery. There are some pretty incredible exhibits both places, and I look forward to returning for further perusal. We had a couple of class assignments to visit specific exhibits so I saw the Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles, and an exhibit about landscape painting through the nineteenth century. After walking through the National Gallery, we spent some time walking around Trafalgar Square and then made our way down to Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliment and Buckingham Palace. It was so beautiful. I fully plan to go back.

Trafalgar Square; National Gallery in the background.

Houses of Parliament.

In front of Parliament.

Statue at Buckingham Palace.

With the Palace in the Background.

The London Centre

I thought it might be nice to post a bit of a walk-through tour of the Centre. Here are some photos of where I live:

My bed! And roommate Allie on the bottom bunk.

More roomies: Andy and Caitlin.

My little closet.

One of seven flights of stairs I walk up and down every day. With 62 million people in such a limited space, the English have learned that up--not out--is the solution to space issues :)

Well my friends, that's all for now! Hope you love my house as much as I do. :)

I MADE IT!

So after several hours of travel, I am happy to say that I arrived in London healthy and happy, albeit very tired. I sat next to a very precocious seven-year-old boy on the way from the US to London, and I had the opportunity of hearing his whole life story. It was great, but it did make sleeping a bit difficult.

When we got to the center we were briefly oriented by our professors, and then we had the task of hauling our luggage up the stairs. I live in bedroom four, which I think is on the eighteenth floor or something... No, not really--it just felt that way. I have to climb six flights of stairs to get to my room. I am going to be in fabulous shape by the time this semester is over. I will post pictures of the Centre one of these days, but probably not until things settle down a bit. It's so great to finally be here!

Mom and me at the airport in Salt Lake

Waiting [with luggage in tow] for the shuttle to take us to the Centre