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I decided to include a picture of the door to our flat.
So...we slept in very late on Tuesday morning and got a late start. Then, as we arrived at the tube stop, we realized they had it gated off and there were security guards standing in front of it. We really wanted to make it to Westminster via tube because it was pre-paid, so we asked what was going on. Apparently just one stop west of ours, someone had "fallen" in front of the train. I actually was really affected by that news. I had heard of that happening on the railroad tracks in Chicago, but it was never that close to me. I easily could have been on that train, or even seen it happen. That affected my emotions for a couple hours. Apparently it happens pretty frequently in London, accordinding to our airport cab driver. I can't imagine a more selfish and visual way to go. Not only do you take your own life, but you traumatize everyone who watches from the platform and the conductor to a point they may never recover, and you ruin the commute of thousands of people (since it happened at Monument station that has three or four train lines). I couldn't even decide if I'd rather think someone accidentally fell or really committed suicide.
So we were told to take the number 15 bus to Westminster instead, since our Oyster cards would still work with the bus system. So we go to the stop and a ton of other people are there. There was a boy from Kentucky (highschooler?) with his grandmother who randomly started talking to us who was also going to Westminster. We couldn't figure out which bus to take, since they were all labelled 15, and once everyone at the stop decided to get on one, not everyone could fit. Apparently the boy's grandmother got on the bus and he didn't make it. So he started freaking out since they didn't have a way to contact each other, and he got on the next bus with us. We didn't know what to do. We got off at St. Paul's Cathedral because the bus driver told us we should transfer to number 11. So then I randomly asked the boy if his grandmother would have gone back to Tower of London to find him again. Apparently it dawned on him that she would have done that, so he bolted away, crossed the street without looking very well, and got on a bus going the other direction. It was extremely weird, but I hope he found her.
So we got on a double-decker and rode it to Westminster. We rode on bottom, so I can't tell you what riding on top is like. But when we got to the bus stop, we walked along-side the Parliament building until we reached Westminster Abbey. FYI...it's another place that a student should bring his or her ID, because you get a discount. I forgot mine at the flat and felt bad.
Westminster Abbey is so cool! You can't take pictures anywhere inside the abbey, so I have no photographic proof that I went there. You get a map and an audio guide when you walk in. However, there's a ton to see there, so the audio guide kinda gets old fast as you get crowded in among all the people in the chaples listening to the same thing very loudly in languages you don't understand.
There are several highlights to the abbey, though. I really enjoyed Elizabeth 1's tomb because the audio guide said the face plate was molded from her real death mask and is the most accurate portrayal of what she looked like. She had a rounded, bent nose.
I think it's so weird that queens would have their tombs made to look how they wanted themselves to look instead of how they really looked back a long long long time ago. Where they really that insecure that they wanted to go down in history as looking like someone else? I also really enjoyed the different things they had with King Edward 1...like the coronation chair he stole from the Scots that is still used today. Yeah, that's my bloody and conquering great-something grandfather for ya. Another cool thing is that I saw the oldest door in England...from the 1000's. Also, there's a really cool circular room that has very old paintings on the walls and is a place where monks would sit in the mornings. Finally, make sure to go to the gardens. The oldest cultivated garden in England is there, and you can only go on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays the audio tour said. It's pretty. Here's a picture of me pretending to listen to my audio tour in the "college garden":
So we went through the entire abbey and never found King Edward 1's tomb. The abbey was closing up, but we decided to ask to see if someone could tell us where it was at least. We were pointed by an old woman in a green robe to a monk (I know they're called something else now) who helped us out. He actually un-did all three gates that had been closed up in order to show us. The reason why we missed it was because his tomb was just a large box. According to the monk, Edward 1 willed himself to be moved from his plain tomb in the abbey to Edinbourgh as soon as England counquered Scotland. However, England's never conquered Scotland so he remains in his non-ornate box. I also saw the tomb of his wife, Eleanor, which actually has a statue on top. The monk said that's most likely not what she looked like but how she wanted to look. The best part about the whole thing was that he took us into a chaple that's closed to the public in order to see the tombs up close instead of from the walkway. I think it was called Saint Edward the Confessor's Chapel. I felt priviledged.
After Westminster was closing, we decided to go try to find a place where we could get high tea. We stumbled upon a hotel a few blocks away that turned out to be beautiful. It was called the Jolly Hotel I believe. We ordered tea and I found out I actually like English tea with milk. Usually I hate black teas. But my heritage is British so it makes sense I suppose. We drank tea and ate almost all of our pastries, sandwiches, and scones. Overall, it was a terrific experience.
The hotel was really cool too! It had a gorgeous ceiling, and when we read about it's history, the pamphlet said there is an underground tunnel connecting it to the House of Parliament. That is because Lords and Representatives have stayed there often over the years. However, the tunnel is closed now it said. Sad. But exploring the rest of the hotel was fun, and they had a fake Number 10 Downing Street which I think was someone's office. Of course, I had to take a picture with it since I'd never get that close to the real Number 10 Downing Street.
After we left the hotel, we walked to Trafalgar Square where we found souveneir shops that were still open (many things close early there). We bought a lot because the prices were pretty reasonable.
The next morning, I woke up at 3:30 in order to leave by 4:50 for the airport. It was so early, but I didn't feel tired because it was like I took a rejuvenating nap. However, I DID get tired on the plane and slept most of the ride home. I had wanted to watch another movie, but I just ended up watching the end of Penelope. I wish I had watched the whole thing because it's not something I'd probably spend money on renting, especially since I know the end. But I really wish I knew what happened in the beginning. Overall, though, the actual flight itself was uneventful. However, going through Heathrow airport is a nightmare. Even at 5am the baggage check line took forever. Then we had to go through tons more security then I went through in America. Then, I walked through the duty-free shopping where I wish I could have spent more time (haha I'm such a girl). But we had to go because it takes FOREVER to walk through Heathrow. They literally told us to give 2o minutes for our walk to our gate. Then, once we got to our gate, we had to go through security AGAIN. It was overwhelming and I never once had anyone in England stamp my passport. I question if passport stamps are a thing of the past.
Ok that's all I can think of now about my trip to England. If I think of more pointers or things to remember, I may post again. Until later, cheers!
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