Shaftesbury to Coventry to London!

Buenos dias mis amores! Someone has been practicing her Spanish. Speaking of Spanish - I miss my Guatemalan friends so much!! I've been messaging a few of them regularly half in Spanish half in English. Sometimes google translate isn't very helpful! Oh well, at least we are trying to stay in touch! Anyways, I'm about to inform you about the second half of my England trip to see Anna and Zac!

Last view of Shaftesbury!

So, on Wednesday, we woke up early to walk around Shaftesbury one more time. It was partially sunny so we could get pictures as well! Ky and I printed off photos of us, Anna, and Wisconsin to give to her parents as a thank you for everything they did for you. Her dad drove us to Warwick University in Coventry where Anna studies North American history. On the way, we stopped at Stonehenge. Apparently not much is known about the rocks being moved and stationed where they are now. Still cool to see rocks :)  Once we got to Warwick, we went to a nearby city, Leamington, where a lot of uni students go for shopping and live. We made dinner in her dorm and met her friend Rachael who has a heavy northern accent (different than Anna's accent!) We drank cider and wine whilst we went through pictures and caught Anna up on all that happened in Wisconsin.

Stained glass in some museum of a bath in Leamington.

View in Leamington.

Thursday, we went to Stratford-upon-Avon. This is where Shakespeare was born! We took pictures outside his house and saw his grave. We also stumbled upon a store called 'Magic Alley' which was full of Harry Potter and other magic items. Kiley and I had fun going through all the stuff, Anna thought it was a little silly. We walked around for awhile and then headed back to uni where we bought our train tickets to London and planned out our stay in London. We went to the uni pub and had a pint.
 

Self-explanatory

I wanted this so bad and I'm not even a big fan of Harry Potter!

Ky. Anna. I by Shakespeare's Birthplace.

Shakespeare's Grave.

Friday was a lot of traveling. We took a bus to the train station, took a train to London, then took the Underground (Tube) to Zac's area of London called Kensington (the upper class area). Zac is studying abroad in London and doing research on Watson (who discovered the same thing as Darwin) at the Natural History Museum. After we met up with Zac and got rid of our suitcases, we hit the Tube to take us to downtown. We saw Parliament, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and other famous landmarks I cannot remember the names. Then at sunset, we went on the London Eye! It's the huge Ferris Wheel type thing by Parliament. COOLEST THING EVER!! When we went on everything was starting to light up - it was beautiful! It took about 30 minutes to complete the loop and I enjoyed all 30 minutes of it thoroughly! After, we went to a vegetarian restaurant called 'Tidbits' which was absolutely delicious! Anna stayed the night at her friend Maria's and we went to a pub for some cider. (See the theme of a pint every night?)

Parliament!

Buckingham Palace.

Big Ben!

Parliament at night from the London Eye!

London Eye :)

Night view in downtown London.

Underground - The Tube!

Saturday we went to the Natural History Museum. I could have spent all day in there! Literally all day. Then we went to Tate Modern, an art museum, and saw the London Bridge from a far distance. Then we raced back to the Science Museum before it closed. Then we had to say goodbye to Anna :(  What a terrible way to end a lovely day!! Zac made us pasta for dinner. No pub tonight since we had to get up early for our flight home.

Inside the Natural History Museum.

Outside of Natural History Museum.

Another reason why I love plants!!!

London Bridge in the far background!

Sunday, woke up, caught the Tube to the airport, and did the usual travel experience. London to Toronto, rush through customs and security, and then onto Chicago. Landed, grabbed our luggage, ran to the bus stop (last ones on!), onto Chazen Museum in Madison and then home sweet home. Open suitcase, find toiletries, brush teeth, floss, find clean clothes for pajamas, head hit pillow, asleep. I'm finally adjusted back to this time zone. I can stay up past 10p and wake up after 6a! Anyways, I'm happy to be back so I can kick my final semester in the butt and get on with graduation! 45 more days til graduation and 53 more days until I can legally drink! Woot woot. Thanks 2013 for being awesome!