Halfway Through Our Summer in London

Inevitably, quite some time has passed since my last entry. We are so busy here, we hardly have time to enjoy it. It's making time go by too fast.

Beginning an update is difficult when so much has happened that you don't know where to start anymore. I guess I'll first name off the memorable places we've been for classes, outings, activities and independent fulfillment: Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace (with pictures of the Queen and Prince William in the parade as souvenirs) and the Tower of London (castle). We took an hour-long boat ride in the canal that goes through Camden Town (the town I work in), we had lunch at "Speakers' Corner" in Hyde Park (where anyone can go and say anything they want - where the phrase "set up your soap box" came from), and we walked through Westminster Abbey. We spent a weekend in Edinburgh, Scotland (have you seen P.S. I Love You? Then you know what you're missing. It's beautiful).

And photos:

The Queen of England looking right at me at Trooping the Colour: http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs337.snc3/29444_404171489307_580174307_4078810_571416_n.jpg

aaand Price William: http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs346.ash1/29444_404171444307_580174307_4078803_2700703_n.jpg

Canal through Camden: http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs049.ash2/35795_406352119307_580174307_4134839_55132_n.jpg

A speaker at Speakers' Corner: http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs089.snc4/35795_406347439307_580174307_4134411_5174256_n.jpg

Westminster Abbey: http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs522.snc3/29714_404077354307_580174307_4075401_5576568_n.jpg

My love, Scotland: http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs140.snc4/37355_406645744307_580174307_4143220_3281668_n.jpg

Tower of London: http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs525.snc3/29844_403461444307_580174307_4057115_8168159_n.jpg

More recently, we took a day-trip to Brighton, England, which has pebble beaches with deceivingly round, smooth, soft-LOOKING pebbles. Walking to the water from our towels one time made our feet numb. There, we toured the Royal Pavilion, which King George IV had built as his vacation home...whiiich he visited twice. TWICE. It was designed to be a fantastical escape; the outside of the palace makes you feel like you're in India, and the inside makes you feel like you're in China. The kitchen was the best room in the place. Then just yesterday, for our British politics class, we visited the Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill Museum in Westminster. We learned a lot about Winston Churchill's leadership and life during the war, in addition to how the military lived in the bunkers. The bunkers were set up just like they were when soldiers actually lived there. It was unreal.

And photos:

Brighton beaches: http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs109.snc4/35828_408254994307_580174307_4182336_4892067_n.jpg

Royal Pavilion: http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs109.snc4/35828_408254979307_580174307_4182333_5832818_n.jpg

Cabinet War Rooms:

Finally, we went to Wimbledon yesterday! Everyone was extremely good-looking and well-dressed, and the tennis players were even better looking. We hovered outside Court #2 (which was closed off due to Andy Roddick's presence inside), peeping through the cracks between security guards. I got some good pictures of him, even though he lost the game. It's OK Andy, I still love you, and so does every other female in the world.

Future hubby: http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs060.ash2/36367_408905434307_580174307_4199012_7717808_n.jpg

Sorry to post an entry that's so long and generic, but there was a lot to cover and I'm getting antsy now. We're having a pizza picnic in the park now! Will be more detailed next entry, I promise!