London Bridge Keeps Falling Down...no just Maggie

Current state: still sick, but content.


Managed to carry 15 pounds of groceries back to flat. Miraculous.


Amanda and I made a family dinner together. By made- I mean she ended up cooking the chicken and giving pointers for next time. However, I did successfully stir fry my vegetables. Julia Child here I come.


Anyways as I'm trying to catch up my blog, I thought I would share my Tower of London experience with you.

The first thing I thought of when we entered through the gates of the Tower of London was....this is a grown up renaissance faire. I really wished Ryan and his family were with me, as we always make a necessary yearly summer visit to the "Reni"-faire. (yes-costumes and all, we're very serious lords and ladys)


It was incredibly hot and barely any shade. Unfortunately, I was still sick, but I couldn't pass up the chance of going to the tower.


Some of it was a little too cheesy and obviously mocked up for tourists. However, the names and stories literally carved into the wall by hand from previous prisoners, was very very very very creepy.

It was almost like an entire village was preserved within the wall of the tower.


But- here is where the real story begins.


We were following a small interactive play of Sir Thomas Moore....I think. Anyways, we watched Moore get conned into being labeled a traitor. oh no! Especially oh no, when they were discussing chopping his head off with an axe, instead of being drawn and quartered at least!


Thought process at the end of play:
1. Axed...that still sucks
2. They boiled his head? Nasty. My head feels weird now.
3. Man is it hot. I should prolly go sit in the shade.
4. Eww they stuck his head on a stick.... that's really nasty. I feel light headed probably should go sit but it's almost over. It's not like I'm going to pass out...
5. Black
....
....
....
...
...
6. This is definitely not my bed.....I mean my mattress is hard but springs should not feel like rocks
7. ......oh....still at the tower......hi everyone....


So ya, I passed out because it was just soooooooooooooo gory. That's my excuse at least. I was only out for like 5 seconds, luckily the performers finished their story before I went down. Still can't help that my pride fell a little, but I got up smiling. That's the Dunphy way- could you expect anything less?


Stephen- my knight of the day- caught me just in time so I didn't hit my head on the cobble stone..PHEW!! (see mom everythings fine!!!!) Unfortunately I didn't get to see the Queen's jewels. But Stephen also reminded me that the Tower has been here for over 900 years....it's probably going to be here for 900 more...and you will for sure be back.


Time for sleep!! Going to crash the Sex and the City Premiere tomorrow with Amanda!


Paris Countdown: 3 days

Oranges, Knickers, and Fist bumps

Current state: sick in bed.

Thus, giving me time to stop running around like a crazy person and be a better blogger.

Last week I got to check off one of the most important items on my London to-do list. I got to have high afternoon tea at the Orangery in Kensington Gardens. When I was in London three years ago with my family, it was one of my favorite places that we went.

It was the perfect day. Early morning shopping on portobello road. We met a fashion designer who was absolutely insane, but we ended up talking to her for a good half hour. We learned many things from that conversation. She let us know that she did not enjoy fat and ignorant

americans, multiple times. The new york times is not a national paper, but

a local paper. Also the most important thing that we need to get in Paris was sexy French knickers. Additionally on the plus side Parisian boys might stare at us on public transportation. Not leering, but stare at you because they appreciate you. "Alice", as we later decided to name her was one of the most colorful people I've met in London. Her shop is full of scarves, tops and jackets with literally every color you could ever imagine. Alice was a traditionally 60s girl, literally, and she kept insisting it too. She believed that you should be able to express your true personality through your clothing. Might be stopping back for a little shopping trip.

our absolutely fabulous lunch

The Orangery still has kept up it's beautiful and classy self. Kamilla, Meagan and I enjoyed having finger sandwiches, the best biscuit I ever ate in my entire life with homemade raspberry jam, and the best fruit tart I've ever had.

pouring my delicious orange tea (takes major skill)

Sitting in the middle of Kensington Gardens, the Orangery is full of life and beauty with it's historic looks from inside and out. It was one of the first times since I've be

en in London that I was completely relaxed and calm. No rush to get to a museum or an exhibit, to purchase before the store closed, to be tightly stacked together on a tube car like a game a tetris. It was just completely and utterly peaceful.

We also had a little time to explore Kensington gardens, where we stumbled upon one of the most BEAUTIFUL gardens I have ever seen. Even more beautiful than

all the colors in the fabrics of Alice's shop.

I finally got to see my favorite flower- tulips!!

I think the picture speaks for itself.

We then went exploring at the British Museum. We couldn't believe how much history was right in the heart of London. We learned about ancient rome, greece, the egyptians and so much more.

We were also a little hyper after our dessert at the Orangery as you can see...I made the biggest epic fist bump known to man kind.

Meagan also got the biggest Snookie punch to the face of all time....

As you can see.... we're having a blast in London.

Goal: Will continue to update daily even when not sick.

For now, time to rest my feet a little bit. Got a lot more running to do in order to get to everything for the last 6 weeks.

Count down: Paris is in 4 days!

Last two weeks update because I'm bad!

It's 830 AM and I'm sitting alone in the kitchen eating a very delicious orange. It's quiet, but the air is warm and crisp. I decided that I should probably catch you up on what's been happening.

Class is great- it should be a very interesting semester. I just finished my homework last night and it's not due until monday. (for some reason did not procrastinate badly)

I've been running around like crazy, I think you all would be a little worried about me if I wasn't. My internship is absolutely wonderful and I couldn't wish for anything better.

The past two weeks have gone by incredibly fast. But most important, I've booked my trip to Paris next weekend!!

Unfortunately Ireland and Rome don't look like they're going to pan out, but poor me I'm stuck in London? I think I should probably just spend an entire day in Top Shop- it's a close comparison.

So far- we haven't found a very young pub crowd. Unfortunately, I managed to catch the attention of two at least 40 year old men in one case. BLAH!

London is always just a bustle of energy and historic appreciation. While it's very crowded and tight, the beautiful building architecture and the moldings makes what could be a stuffy atmosphere very charming.

I have already been to the Natural History Museum, British Museum, Big Ben, Kensington Gardens, markets, vintage shopping and more.

Luckily the weather is heating up. It's finally going to be a balmy 75 degrees today!! Yay no more 50s!!

Tower of London and Camden markets are on the schedule today. I also will be posting my afternoon high tea adventure at the Orangery very soon.

Mastering the Tube

This morning I walked into the tube station made it to my interchange at Kings Cross. Then the dreaded news over the crackly intercom- Piccadilly line is shut down after Green Park....

Great. and the British accent didn't make it sound any better.

I can't get to my internship and I only have 40 minutes to get there.

I had to run across the station, get back on the other side and get on the circle line. I then had to interchange again and ask for directions to the right platform. But I made it to my train just in time! However, I learned that the circle line likes

to stop randomly throughout its course for random 5 minute spurts. After I got out of Kensington South station, I couldn't find a

ny street signs, but I asked a couple natives to point me in the direction of Harrods.

I walked into my internship an hour late....but so did other people! So it was no problemo.

Lesson of the day: Today I learned how to find my way from South Kensington, found the Grace Kelly exhibit, and also found how to get to Green Park Station! I'm mastering the Tube one day at a time!!

I'm loving my internship and enjoying learning British slang and pop culture. Also, I like talking about how the US is going to dominate England. I can't help it that last time England won the World Cup was in like 1966, and they only have about a 60% winning average. Even though I think Bob Bradley (the US coach) is completely mental for not taking Charlie Davies, I think we stand a chance. We'll have to see, but I could see there being a big upset in the office!

Plans for tomorrow:

Shopping on Oxford and maybe some window shopping on Brompton!

Antique Market on Oxford Street

Cheers!

Jet Lagged

Finally- in London and settled in.

Sunday:

After traveling for literally 24 hours straight, I arrived at our flats. They're very nice and have a beautiful floor length window, giving us a great view of part of the London scene.

We explored for a little bit. Grocery stores are crazy!! There are people running around and the brands, well, there's really nothing to compare it too

in the states. I got a few essentials and figured I will try to master the Tesco later this week. After that, we went to a quiet little Italian restaurant thanks to the J-school! We then basically went straight to bed because we couldn't move another step.

Monday:

This morning we toured around the city. We got to see all the sites on the bus and got to walk around buckingham palace and watch the changing of the guard. However, I'm looking forward to spending more time and experiencing all the history London has to offer.

We then met with Anglo America and had an orientation about how to be safe in the city and about if we ruin anything in apartment we're dead.

**INTERESTING FACT: pepper spray is illegal to carry in London!**

Tonight, we went to Phantom of the Opera. My grandma still talks about how she saw it when she was in London around 20ish years ago (I think, I know that it's been a long time). It was absolutely amazing. We ended up getting 10th row seats. The singing was stunning and the set was absolutely remarkable and complex. I want to see it again!!

That's all for tonight. Internship in the morning. Let's see if I really have mastered the Tube.

Send Me on My Way

Checklist

• Finish finals (check!)
• move out (check)
• say final goodbye to Jen and Gwen (check)
• picked up beautiful Kate Spade sunglasses (check)
• Mom's friend's BEST TASTING STEAK DINNER AND CHEESY POTATOES! (check)
• last minute shopping trip (check)
• Watch Lost in Austen (check)
• quick pedicure so I have pretty toes for my first day at work (check)
• call the bank (check)
• call AT&T (check)
• get Apple charger converter (check)
• one last chicago hot dog (check)
• get a European new look from my Parisian hair dresser Veronique (check)
• visit and get spoiled by Grandma and world's best aunts (check) plus watch the dog get a dog treat stuck in his mouth hahaha (check)
• figure out what to bring for the summer (check) with multiple changes (check)
• pack my life into a 50 lb bag and a carry on (check) multiple ways (check)
• packed Bridget Jone's Diary (check)
• bought my own London diary (check)
• watch most of the game 3 where the Hawks DOMINATED! with my awesome boyfriend....where I fell asleep from complete exhaustion. (It's ok though because he kept watching and gave me a recap) (check)
• say goodbye to family (check)
• say a "see you later" because we never say goodbye to my amazing best friend/boyfriend (check)
• received goodbye text from my hilarious sis " so have fun in London. Sorry I couldn't say goodbye. Love ya! P.S. You're not gonna go to pemberley, homo." (check) I'll miss you too (check)

My bag weights 50 pounds on the dot. I'm waiting in the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. I'm officially ready for London adventures :)

Especially Arsenal vs. Fulham tomorrow at 3 (15:00 british time!)

Send Me on My Way- Rusted Root