All you need is love!

So I've officially been here for a little over a week, and I'm still absolutely loving it!!  I had my first full week of classes which included British Life and Culture, Theatre, British Fantasy Literature, and History of British Pop Music.  We haven't done too much in any of the classes yet, but am excited for what's to come.  Wednesday is our class field trip day and this week we visited Westminster Abbey and Churchill's War Rooms. 

I started in Churchill's War Rooms, which was in a basement and was the location of the British government during WWII where they kept track of what was happening during the war, and had very important meetings.  It was incredible how small the rooms were, which were stocked with only the essentials.  The maps that took up the entire wall, phones covering the rooms, and creepy statues of people really took me back to what it would have been like during WWII.  I wish that my family that is full of history nerds would have loved it!!  Next I went to Westminster Abbey where we toured the inside for over an hour.  I went there about 5 years ago, but it was so different this time, because my professor was so knowledgable about the history, and I know the history now of some of the famous people who are remembered and buried there. I saw everything from Poet's corner, the memorial to the unknown soldier, and the coronation chair. (Which as only left the Abbey twice ever)  Speaking of the coronation chair, there were numerous news cameras outside of the Abbey when I was there, because it was exactly 100 days before the royal wedding. And thus the countdown continues.  After seeing Westminster, we continued to walk through St. James Park and went all the way to Buckingham Palace.  Unfortunately the Queen was not in, what a busy busy lady.

Now for all the Beatles fans out there, I went with a group of friends Friday morning to Abbey road and attempted to get the infamous picture at the zebra crossing on Abbey Road.  While it was not perfect (we were slightly off on our spacing and feet but whatever), it was really great and I didn't get hit by a car.  Which was a miracle.  If you didn't know, Abbey road is very very busy, and at zebra crossings, cars have to stop and get very annoyed by the 20 tourists hanging around trying to get their picture while crossing the road. Also, in front of the recording studio on Abbey road, there are thousands of messages and names written on the wall with sharpie which actually have to get painted over about every 6 months because the wall gets so packed with song lyrics and messages.

While it's been a busy week traveling around to the famous sights of London, there was still time to go to the pub this week and relax where I found out that live music acoustic night is on Thursdays at The Green Man.  I know where I'll be every thursday night from now on. Also as a last side note, I bought a plane ticket for my first holiday to Dublin in 3 weeks.  I can't wait to start traveling!!

Just me chilling in front of Westminster Abbey.....

A picture from inside Churchill's War Rooms.  One of the main rooms where they had phones that called directly to Churchill's office, one of the maps with dozens of pins, and of course one of the creepy figurine people.

I tend to randomly take pictures of birds...ergo the black and white swans and random black birds.  P.S. these were birds around St. James Park where they covered the sidewalk..it was kinda scary.  They were like the squirrels in muncie, aren't afraid of people at all.

The wall on Abbey Road by the zebra crossing, with all the signatures and song lyrics.

Infamous picture, enough said

Me on Abbey Road. More pictures to come soon!!!