Last Day in London

Pictures:

1-2. Tower Bridge

3. Walking up the many many many stairs inside the Tower Bridge

4. Melanie and I finally made it to the top! We were SO tired. lol

5-6 Bridge!!!

7. National Gallery and Traflager Square!


GREAT last day in London!!!

Started off by going to the Tower Bridge. Which was SO pretty and so cool to see! It started pouring as soon as we got there and me being the ditz that I am forgot my umbrella so Melanie and I are squished under her umbrella and decide it will be great to walk across the bridge in the rain! We were soaking wet but cracking up the entire time walking across it. We had fun, everyone else was under any shelter they could find and probably thought we were crazy Americans. :) When we got half way across the bridge we realized you could go up for 5 pounds. So we went to the top and walked across the bridge, it was a great view of the city!!!

Melanie and Sarah then went to the Tower of London (Castle) but I didn't because I was going to go to it when Mom, Aunt Charlene and Debbie, and Kara get here. So I went to the National Gallery to see some of my favorite paintings!!! On the way there these London guys my age came up and asked me if I was American and all these questions about America. They said they had just been to Vegas in June and loved it. I thought that was pretty crazy because we had just been there too. They said they "got bloody drunk" in Vegas. I liked died laughing after I stopped talking to them because it was the first time I heard anyone use "bloody" here.

Oh and I tried to go to the bathroom today at one of the Tube stations but it costs 30 cents and I only had a 50 cent coin so the lady would not let me in the restroom. I even offered credit card but she shook her head. I'm pretty sure that's the first time someones not let me use a bathroom.

Then got to National Gallery which I got to see Mr. and Mrs. Andrews, Bathers at Asnieres, Venus and Mars, Madonna of the Pinks, Rembrandt's Self Portrait, and my favorite Sunflowers by Van Gogh! It was so awesome getting to see all my favorite paintings that I studied in school!

Afterwards I got lunch at Pret a Manger (my favorite) and sat in Trafalgar Square at watched everything going on in the square! I was in the middle of my lunch and it started pouring! I had soggy food afterwards but I'm used to the London weather by now.

I am home now and getting ready to grab dinner at the Pub we go to a lot- The Court. After that I am making a draft itinerary for London for when the family comes back here in a few weeks! Then packing :(

I'm going to miss this wonderful city. I never thought I'd like a city better than I liked Chicago but I have to admit London is my new favorite place! I find myself smiling everywhere I go, I wish I could stay here longer...

So schedule for next week of traveling:

Tomorrow: I believe we are going to Stonehenge.

Sunday: we are staying at a Medieval castle: St. Briavels. We are also having a feast there and apparently to get salt we have to perform a talent for the King and Queen, so I stole salt from McDonald's because I am talentless. haha :)

Monday: Ironbridge

Tuesday: Breacon, Wales

Wednesday: Broadhaven, Wales

Thursday: Cashel, Ireland

Friday-Saturday: The Burren, Ireland

Sunday: ARRIVE IN DUBLIN!

I have no idea what we are doing in any of these cities, UD won't tell us. The good thing is UD is paying for everything including food for this week! Considering I spent too much in London I am very excited about this! Bad thing: being on a bus for a week and staying in hostels every night.