The Big City Over the Pond...(You know, the one with the big old clock?)

Let me pause in my introduction of Oxford for a brief interruption of our most recent adventure: London!

Truly, it was an adventure! I think I have already gotten so used to Oxford and generally being able to walk everywhere (within a reasonable amount of time, of course....) that the absolute hugeness of London was a bit shocking. Thankfully, we had passes for any type of public transit, so we could maneuver around any way we wished: double-decker bus, then Underground, then walk, then another bus, then another train, and another, and finally....we would get there(:
    London is a myriad of tensions (good tensions, don't worry!). There is this rich oldness to it- grand cathedrals, ancient castles, historical monuments galore. But across the street from a beautiful old abbey is a Pizza Hut, and among the skyline dominated by St. Paul's Cathedral are tall modern skyscrapers and cranes building a weird, torpedo-shaped building. Stylishly dressed teenagers saunter past older couples holding hands and scarlet-clad soldiers with big poofy hats stand at attention nearby (and they never smile! Trust me, I tried...) And while one street is cobblestone and quiet, the next has an abundance of pavement and whizzing cars. You can just feel it as you step off the bus- the pull of history yet the tug of  the modern present.  A delicious tension(:
    Our first stop was to the hostel, which was an education in itself. I had never been to a hostel, which is to be my primary mode of residence while traveling, so I was a bit (just a bit...) curious. It turned out to be in this awesome old historically-preserved building with a basement/bar/clubbish- area and big rooms that would fit tons of people (16 girls, to be exact; which, let me tell you, started to smell like tired feet after about day 1). They served a great breakfast (as much toast and nutella as you could pile on your plate at one time) and it was neat to see all the different travelers. Most were teenagers (hhm, I wonder why?) but from all over! There were other Americans (we all could spot each other from across a crowded room) and plenty of Europeans. Lets just say that none of us cared too much for the Italians- If you thought Americans were loud and/or rude, we have nothing on the Italians. But I shouldn't stereotype...
     Now I'm not much of a Shakespeare person- it took two different teachers and a commentary to help me finally understand what Romeo was saying to Juliet- but Shakespeare on the Globe stage?! Fabulous.  I had forgotten that he wrote his plays specifically for that stage; they tend to be a bit more stiff when read in 8th grade English class(: We saw the Merry Wives of Windsor, and they were definitely merry! (Shakespeare must have been too, while writing it...) After a long day of walking, it was a bit disheartening to be handed a groundling ticket (aka standing in the pit), but afterwards it felt like we had gotten the real experience being able to lean up against the stage. I'm so thankful that it didn't rain that night!

    The next day was see-everything-possible-in-one-day scramble across London(: Here are some of the highlights. Are you ready? K, go.

 Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross Station

If only it could be so...

Trafalgar Square. Absolutely beautiful. Tons of annoying pigeons trying to eat your rather expensive McDonalds (yes, we caved). Takes about 10 crosswalks to get to, but worth it. The funny thing is, I have no idea why its called Trafalgar... 

More of the square, and my friend Margarita. We were...being American.

Westminster Abbey: Very majestic and very, very big. If I went here and came late to church (as I usually do, sorry!!) I don't think I would be able to hear anything the bishop said because I would be about a mile away from him...

Buckingham Palace! The official residence of Queen Elizabeth II. The flag was flying, so she was in, but we had to decline her invitation for tea since we had places to be and other people to see(:

The Tower of London.

It was a bit intimidating when the first thing our tour guide told us was how many hundreds of people had gotten their heads cut off here. Apparently the Tudors especially were a bit...short-tempered. 

Famous be-headed included: Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard (two of Henry VIII's many many many wives) Apparently Catherine Howard called out as she was heading to the scaffold the name of the man she had truly loved more than the king. She might have warned the poor man- he was standing right in the crowd. He didn't keep his head long either.

Queen Mary of Scots

Thomas More

and last but not least, the Duke of Monmouth, which is actually the name of the pub next to our house. We were a bit shocked to hear that apparently the executioner was as fond of his ale as he was at keeping a job because he missed the Duke's head several times and ended up hitting his shoulder and arms instead. Yes. We are so happy that pub is near us. 

Anyways, after our gruesome curiosity was satisfied, we got to see the Crown Jewels (the multiple crowns, scepters, golden plates, etc that are basically made completely of jewels).  The gentlemen going in with their ladies were a bit shocked walking out at what they had to live up too. 

The original Scotland Yard headquarters! It was tucked way way back in a dim old alley. 

Sherlock Holmes fans...take a deep breath.

A nap in St. James Park, which was right outside Buckingham Palace. We strolled along were young kings past had grown up playing. It still felt like a park though! And it had a lot more stupid pigeons (which, actually, are probably the most hated animal here- everyone pays a huge amount of money to have all these little spikes installed on their roofs and eves so that the pigeons can't land. Yet the pigeons go on. )

#10 Downing St

Residence of the Prime Minister, who currently is...? 

David Cameron. I didn't know that one either. The British, who love to be on the up and up of current affairs, would not be impressed with me, but lets keep that secret to ourselves, shall we?

Anyways, this was about as close as we could get, which I think is about 10 yards closer than the White House? Someone should call the Obamas and complain(:

The inside of the famous St. Paul's Cathedral, where Winston Churchill's funeral was held and where Princess Diana and Prince Charles were married. It was exquisite, and apparently costs 7 million pounds to maintain. Yeah.

Outside the Cathedral. We were a bit confused, because we thought this happened in Rome somewhere... Anyone a biblical scholar?

A visit to the Churchill War bunker and home of the War Committee during the duration of World War II, which was kept top secret until only a few years ago. It had a massive, 3-foot thick metal and concrete ceiling secretly placed on top. How they were able to do that in secret is beyond me... Its right under the Department of Defense and is in the middle of a busy square. 

And finally, Big Ben, which actually refers to the bell inside the tower, which is called the Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster. One can see why they shortened it. 

Anyways, that was the scramble through London. Don't ask us how many times we got lost, but it was an amazing adventure. Hopefully another visit will be in line shortly!

Oh, and this was perfect. We found it on the back of a street sign. 

So watch out(: