So here it is. The long awaited post.
I am sorry to all my fans (if I even have any! Haha!) for not updating for over a week, but I had a much anticipated and needed visitor from back in the States- my boyfriend!! So here, I will try to update you and fill you in on everything we did. However, with just the pictures this is already a long post, so I am going to try to keep the writing to a minimum.
So here we go... happy reading!
Saturday, March 5:
My day started off like any other day... I woke to my alarm. With one exception- it was 3:30 am. But not even this fact could make me upset- ADAM WAS TOUCHING DOWN IN LONDON! Although his plane didn't land till 5:30, I had to get ready and then get to Heathrow. And because it was so early, the tube wasn't running, so I had to take two buses and a train to get there.
When I finally arrived at Terminal 5, I was about to burst with happiness. Seriously. I had the dumbest smile on my face. People were staring at me like, "Why the HELL is this girl so happy? Doesn't she know it isn't even 6 am?" But I didn't care. I probably looked like a little girl waiting to greet one of her parents. I was basically leaning over the railing at the International Arrivals gate, bouncing up and down, trying to catch the first glimpse of Adam. Ahhh, love.
Soon it was 6:15. I was getting way too antsy. WHERE WAS HE?!?! I breezed through Border Patrol, and I was staying for 5 months- not one week. At 6:30, I was going crazy.
Finally, there he was. I ran to the end of the railing to greet him, and basically tackled him.
It's amazing what a simple hug can do. All at once, I was in his arms again. I felt so happy and safe. And then I started to cry. What the heck. I was happy! So why the heck was I crying? Apparently, this greeting touched the hearts of all the limo drivers waiting to pick up their businessmen. When we turned around, they were all smiling at us. But I barely noticed. Adam was the only one I cared about. He might as well have been the only person in that crowded terminal.
...Ok, now I will stop being the mushy romantic that I truly am, and write about everything we did!
We hopped onto the train to get us back to central London, and then the tube to get us to Waterloo. We walked to my flat, and I had to sign Adam in with security. Now, usually, this would not be worthy of noting in my blog. I mention it because there is a funny story that goes with this. You see, before he came, I had to do all this paperwork so Adam could stay in the flat. When the guards saw his name, they asked me if I was serious. Since my boyfriend shares his name with a famous economist. Apparently, the guards thought this was some sort of a joke. Yes, because I enjoy filling out paperwork when I am trying to joke around. REALLY?! I had to show them his Facebook profile to prove that was actually his name. Crazy, right?!
Anyhoo, even though it was only 7:30 by the time we got back to the flat, we wasted no time. After letting Adam settle in and change, we headed out! After all, I only had 8 days to show him London!
First stop: Breakfast. We headed to Gabriel's Wharf and stopped in a little crepe place. I had never been because it has never been open when I have passed it, but by some miracle it was open today. We went in and ordered 2 savory crepes. Since all the sweet ones have Nutella. Seriously, have some mercy on all the people with nut allergies! O well, my crepe was AMAZING! Filled with spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and goat's cheese, I was in heaven. After eating our fill, (and drinking mass amounts of coffee) we set out again.
We continued down the east end of South Bank. We passed OXO Tower and Blackfriars Bridge, and made our way to the Tate Modern. Even though Adam is not a big art fan, I had to show him some of the insane pieces of "art". Luckily, Adam and I share a very sarcastic sense of humor, and we ended up having a blast.
Adam posing in front of "Adam" at the Tate Modern
Adam and I as "art" at the Tate Modern. And our first picture together in London!
After exploring the art scene, Adam and I continued down the east end of South Bank, stopping at the Globe Theater for a picture:
Adam and I in front of the Globe Theater
And then we continued on... we saw The Clink Prison, the Golden Hinde, a bunch of pubs, and then made our way to Southward Cathedral. I still hadn't been able to take pictures inside, so we stopped in so I could snap a few. I could finally check it off my list!
The interior of Southwark Cathedral. There was some sort of service practice going on, so I snapped a quick picture- hence the poor photographic quality...
This was Adam's first experience stepping on dead people's gravestones. And just like me at the beginning of my time here, he couldn't understand why people would want to be buried in the floor of a aisle.
Next stop was Borough Market, which was just a stone's throw from the Cathedral. We took some time perusing the crowded market. In particular, we enjoyed marveling at the cheese...
Adam eyeing a giant wheel of cheese. Possible birthday present?
By this time, Adam was feeling the jet lag, so we stopped in a little cafe to get some tea and coffee. It was only 12:30, and Adam was about to fall asleep. Knowing that it was important to keep him up till at least 9 (torture, I know), we got on the move again. We passed London Bridge, London Dungeon, and then made our way to Hay's Galleria in order to walk along the bank of the Thames again. There, we took in the sites of The Gherkin, HMS Belfast, City Hall, Tower Bridge, and the Tower of London. We even posed for a few pictures:
Adam and I in front of Tower Bridge
Adam in front of Tower of London and Tower Bridge
Although we could have easily crossed the Thames at this time, we wandered even farther down the east end of South Bank. I had never been past Tower Bridge on South Bank, so this was a new thing for me. We explored Butler's Wharf and went past the Design Museum (which had a 1950's Jag in front of it!), and then turned around. Adam was getting a second wind, so we picked up the pace. Onto The City!
Adam on Tower Bridge!
As we made our way into The City, we stopped by the Tower of London and gazed onto the grounds, and then continued on. We looked at some public gardens, and then walked west. Adam wasn't hungry, so we found a Sainsbury to get me a quick bite to eat, and then saw The Gherkin rising above the buildings near us. I still hadn't been there, so we made our way toward the massive building.
Adam in front of The Gherkin
After marveling at the sheer size and shape of the building from right under it, we decided to make our way to St. Paul's. By this time it was around 4 pm, so we decided just to glance at the Cathedral, and then make our way across Millenium Bridge and then go to my flat to rest.
Adam and I on Millennium Bridge with St. Paul's in the background
Out of the kindness of my heart (haha!) I allowed Adam to take a 20 minute nap when I uploaded pictures and then found out how far we had walked. 7 miles. Poor Adam! And we were still not done for the day!
Next stop: Dinner! Gourmet Pizza is not far from my flat, so we decided to go here. We feasted on pizza, and then decided that dessert in the form of British favorite Banoffee Pie was in order. Satisfied, I brought Adam on a walk over Waterloo Bridge so he could see London at night. As we crossed, the full extent of Adam's jet lag dawned on me- he didn't even NOTICE when Big Ben came into view!! HAHA! He did notice the London Eye though... good thing, since it is basically a couple hundred feet from the bridge.
I guided the spent Adam back to my flat, and we sat down to watch "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World". Which turned into Adam falling asleep at 8pm. O well, I tried. Best to let sleeping Adams lie....
Just for kicks, I am going to put a mile count of the amount of miles we walked each day... and then total it at the end... Prepare to be AMAZED!
Total Miles Walked Today: 8
Sunday, March 6:
You would think that after our adventures yesterday, we would take an easy day. WRONG! The day started out late morning. Adam and I headed to Doggett's Pub for lunch and had some "Sticky Chicken" or chicken covered in apple glaze, bacon, and melted mozzarella. I have seen this in every pub I have been to over here, so I finally tried it. It was great! Fueled up for the day, we continued on...
First stop? St. Paul's Cathedral. We had walked by it yesterday, but on Sundays you can get in to the entrance for free! Although you can't do the formal tour, you can still catch a glimpse of the altar, but you can't see the dome. O well! We went in, and gazed in awe at the magnificence before us. As we ventured toward a small nook in the Cathedral, guess what we saw! A MARRIAGE PROPOSAL! Adam had to drag me away before I ruined their moment.... I am pretty sure Adam and I were the only people to witness it! GAHHHH! I LOVE LOVE!
After looking around the small area we were allowed to walk around, Adam and I left the Cathedral- walking down the same steps Princess Diana and Prince Charles walked down after they were married. And then I pestered some people to take pictures of us.
Adam and I in front of St. Paul's
Next, we headed down Fleet Street toward the Strand, where I showed Adam Temple Church, my school library (which is like a castle), and then the Royal Courts of Justice. Since we are both taking the LSAT in June, we had to pause and snap a few pictures of us in front of the building.
Adam in front of the Royal Courts of Justice
As we continued down the Strand, we come upon King's College London, so I showed Adam where I have been going to classes. Then I showed him King's newest acquisition- Somerset House, the old Tudor palace. Admiral Nelson frequently paced the courtyard of this palace, so I had to take Adam's picture on the site:
Adam standing in the very spot Admiral Nelson once paced... Somerset House courtyard!
After admiring the palace, we again continued down the Strand, where I showed Adam my favorite telephone booth in London:
O hey there, Albert!
After all this walking, we felt we deserved a snack. Obviously, I had the perfect place. We headed to Covent Garden to my favorite store EVER- Snog! Here, Adam finally got to experience what delicious and nutritious froyo mixed with fresh fruit was like. He opted to mix Natural and Blueberry froyo with strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries. My creation was Spiced Apple and Blueberry froyo with pineapple, kiwi, and raspberries.
Adam and his first Snog!
Satisfied, we continued on to Covent Garden Piazza. Where we stumbled upon a street show. Adam wanted to stop and watch. BEST DECISION EVER! Why? Well, Adam was recruited into the show. Which involved dancing to the Village People's hit "YMCA". Dressed as the Village People. Adam was the American Indian... ironic, right?
Adam participating in a Covent Garden street show
Needless to say, this was hilarious. And when the street performer asked Adam where he was from and the response was "America", the man exclaimed, "O GOOD! Now we are going to get you back for George W. Bush!" HA! Turns out, my boyfriend is quite the dancer! ;)
After Adam was done performing, we walked around the Piazza and split a Milk Chocolate Chunk cookie from Ben's Cookies, which are kinda famous here. And for good reason. They are amazing. Warm and gooey, the cookies prices are not fixed- they are sold by weight. That is how you know it is good!
We then continued onto Leichester Square, and then to Piccadilly Circus, which is like NYC's Time's Square. Picture time!
Adam and I posing in Piccadilly Circus in front of the big screen....
While at Piccadilly, we stopped in Fortnum & Mason, which is the Queen's grocery store. We admired the leather-good section, the stationary and china sections, and the food hall- which had a lovely little display of Aunt Jemima pancake mix and Fluff. REALLY?
As if we didn't already spend enough time in a high-end department store, we continued west towards Harrods, where we arrived 30 minutes before closing. I was able to show Adam the most important part of the famous department store- the food halls! Adam then bought one of their famous macaroons for us to share, and we headed back to the flat on foot. Walking along Hyde Park, going under Wellington Arch and then walking along Green Park, we came upon Buckingham Palace. By this time the sun had set and darkness had fallen. We then walked along Birdcage Walk, and finally got to see Big Ben up close. We crossed Westminster Bridge and walked along South Bank toward my flat.
Adam and I pose in front of Big Ben on South Bank
By this time we were starving, so we went toward Waterloo Station. I hoped to bring Adam to Fishcoteque, however it was PACKED with elderly patrons, so we went to Caprini, the Italian restaurant nearby. Although the food wasn't bad, it definitely wasn't REAL Italian! After we were finished, we headed back to my flat, where we split the Raspberry Macaroon Adam got at Harrods. And it was amazing. We then attempted to plan out our days for the rest of the week, however we were exhausted from our day and called it a night after decided to conquer Greenwich tomorrow.
Total Miles Walked Today: 7.5
Monday, March 7:
Hooray for not having classes on Monday! Adam and I decided to take advantage of this and go to the outskirts of London to the borough of Greenwich. Although it is still considered part of London, it seems quite far removed. After taking the tube for only 30 minutes we seemed to be in a totally different place!
First stop? The Royal Naval College. We spent a good deal of time here, taking in Painted Hall, the Chapel, and the grounds. The Painted Hall was absolutely gorgeous- Adam and I couldn't believe that this room, which took 19 years to paint, is now the college's dining hall! The Chapel was also beautiful. It was small, but seemed bigger because it was so bright and open inside. And the grounds, as you can see in the pictures, were absolutely amazing- I still can't believe everything is so green here at this time of year!
The Royal Naval College
Adam posing in front of the Chapel, which is a mirror image of the exterior of the Painted Hall
Adam posing on the stairs leading up to the Painted Hall
Me posing in front of the green between Painted Hall and the Chapel
Inside the gorgeous Chapel of the Royal Naval College
Our next stop was the National Maritime Museum, which is next to the Queen's House. Thank God it was free, because it was probably the lamest museum ever. Adam and I rushed through, and then decided it was time for lunch. There was an Honest Sausage stand up near the Royal Observatory at the top of the hill behind the Museum, so we decided to get lunch, go to the Observatory, and then head back down the hill to see the Queen's House.
Never have I ever climbed such a steep hill. But the view from the top was gorgeous:
View of The Queen's House with Canary Wharf in the background from the Royal Observatory
As luck would have it, the guy working at the Honest Sausage closed shop for his lunch break right as Adam and I approached. Dismayed, we happened upon the Pavilion Tea Rooms, where we ordered Mac 'N Cheese and a Artichoke and Pancetta Pizza. Guess who ordered what... (Hint, Adam doesn't like artichokes!)
Next, we decided to look through the buildings of the Observatory, and then we did what we had been looking forward to all day- going to the Prime Meridian! We posed for a couple pictures, but this one is my favorite, and also melted the hearts of the tourists surrounding us...
Kissing my boyfriend across the Prime Meridian- I'm in the West Hemisphere, he's in the East
The Royal Observatory, which has one of the oldest time devices- that giant red ball.
After spending some more time at the top of the hill and then deciding to have a snack of Honest Sausage (which was now open), we headed back down the hill towards the Queen's House, which faces the Royal Naval College. It is filled with a ton of paintings, and was really pretty! By the time we finished the Queen's House, it was 4pm, so we decided to pose for one final shot in Greenwich, and then head back to central London.
Adam and I with the Royal Naval College in the background
After a quick tube ride, we returned to Central London. I decided that this was the perfect time to explore Trafalgar Square and some of Westminster. We got off the tube at Charing Cross, and Adam got his first glance of the center of London- Trafalgar Square and Nelson's Column.
Adam and I in front of one of the fountains at Trafalgar Square
As long as we were here, I decided we should pop into the National Gallery and show Adam their prized works. We then headed down Whitehall and saw the Horse Guards Parade, Downing Street, Ministry of Defense, Banqueting Hall, Westminster Abbey, and Big Ben and Parliament. We then decided to head back over the bridge, and finally have some traditional British fish and chips at Fishcoteque.
Adam and I in front of Big Ben
Adam and I on Westminster Bridge with the London Eye in the background
Adam and his first British fish and chips- HE LOVED THEM I SWEAR! He was just sick of me taking pictures...
Total Miles Walked Today: 5
Tuesday, March 8:
Today I have my Museums class at 2, so Adam and I had to plan our day around this. We decided to wake up early and go catch a debate at the House of Commons. Only problem? It wasn't starting till 1pm. O well! We were advised to return that evening, since the House of Commons would be sitting till 10pm. Rather than return to the flat and figure out something else to do, we changed our plans. How spontaneous! Haha!
Since we were in the Westminster area we walked to St. Margaret's Church. Adam is a Churchill fan, so I figured he would like to see where Churchill got married and had his funeral. We walked in and spent a little time, and then we ventured on. Pausing outside of Westminster Abbey, we took a few pictures and I told Adam about the history of the Abbey. I'm glad he puts up with me... The line was really long, so we decided not to go in, and instead I guided him towards Westminster Cathedral.
Adam and I at the exit of Westminster Abbey, where William and Kate will come after they are married!
Needless to say, it is hard not to be amazed at this cathedral. Adam's reaction did not disappoint. We spent a good deal of time in the Cathedral, and then Adam chose a postcard to send to my Nana. Before we knew it it was almost 12:30, so we decided to head to Embankment to get a quick bite to eat before heading to class on the Strand.
For lunch, we stopped at the popular Gordon's Wine Bar. You sit in the cramped cellar which is lit by candlelight, and it is absolutely amazing. Adam and I don't drink, so we just got some sandwiches at the grill and brought them inside. Although I felt a little out of place sitting amongst businessmen and women having their afternoon drink, Adam and I enjoyed the ambiance and each other's company. Too soon, it was time to head to class...
And Adam had his first look at the British education system. After an hour long lecture about collecting, we headed with my class to the Petrie Museum at the University College of London. SNORE! Two rooms filled with thousands of small Egyptian artifacts. After staying long enough to please the Professor, Adam and I snuck out to find some more interesting museums in London's "Museum Mile".
Our first stop was the Wellcome Collection, which is a collection of medically-related exhibits. The highlight for me? The entirety of the results of the Human Genome Project. Look at what a nerd I am, posing with the books that make up the code. Each chromosome has its own volumes, and each volume is thousands of pages. And the font size is probably size 4. Really. But still- I was way too excited.
Me and the Human Genome Project... NBD
Next, I decided that Adam HAD to see the British Museum... but I would just give him a quick tour of the major pieces- including the Elgin (Parthenon) Marbles. Although we only stayed for a bit, we basically walked through every room of the museum. My boyfriend was getting so cultured!
Adam in the Great Court of the British Museum
Adam in front of the Elgin Marbles!
By this time we were cultured-out, so we decided to head to a nearby Pizza Express (seriously, they are everywhere) and have some dinner. I had an awesome 2 for 1 deal, so we ate cheaply. Both our pizzas were awesome, and we even had some dessert! However, it was Fat Tuesday, so we decided to treat ourselves once again on the way to the House of Commons- to Wonder Waffles! The smell of these waffles tempts me every time I pass under the London Eye, so we decided to investigate.
The conclusion? Wonder Waffles are good, but not worth £6.75 each. O well, live and learn! Next stop? HOUSE OF COMMONS! No sighting of the Prime Minister, but we did get to listen to a representative drone on and on about some new EU law.
By this time it was around 9pm, so we decided to head back to the flat. Tomorrow was going to be a long day, after all!
Adam and I on Westminster Bridge with Big Ben in the background!
Total Miles Walked Today: 8.3
Wednesday, March 9:
Today was the day. 11 months ago, Adam asked me out. However, due to the fact that we were not going to be together in one month for our One Year Anniversary, Adam suggested celebrating the event a month early. What a romantic! An anniversary in London!
However, Wednesday is my busy class day. So when Adam slept in, I went to my classes from 9-1. When I returned to the flat, I found Adam all ready to start the day- he even cleaned up my room for me!
So we set out. First of all, we had to stop for lunch. I chose Pie Minister, so Adam could try his first British Pie, with the traditional sides of Mushy Peas and Mash. We sat outside and enjoyed the nice weather before heading to our next stop- The London Eye!
I had been saving going on the London Eye for when Adam came, so I was really excited. After waiting in line for 20 minutes, we had our tickets, and were on our way up! But not before watching the London Eye 4-D experience. Which was kinda lame, but included in the ticket price. As we embarked onto our pod, we found we were surrounded by French people! AHHHH! O well, the following 41 minutes went by too fast. We took TONS of pictures, and at the top a darling French man took me and Adam's picture.
Adam and I at the tippy-top of the London Eye, with Big Ben and Parliament in the background!
We enjoyed the ride immensely, and since it was only 2pm, we decided to head to St. Paul's. (Visit #3 since Adam arrived) We figured we had to see this Cathedral on Ash Wednesday! And guess what? We could go under the dome! The air inside the Cathedral was thick with incense, which started affecting my allergies. So after a quick Ash Wednesday prayer we headed back out...
The view of St. Paul's as we approached from Millennium Bridge.
Enjoying the fine weather, we followed Fleet Street to Strand, and then happened upon Dr. Johnson's House, so I had to take a picture. Then we went to Temple Church and Middle and Inner Temple (where the lawyers hang out) so I could snap a few more pictures. Three more things to check off the list! Feeling a bit peckish, we headed to Apostrophe. We didn't want to ruin our appetite for the meal we had reservations for later so we shared a thick hot coco and then headed back to the flat to get ready for dinner.
Dr. Johnson's House
Temple Church
Adam in the middle of Inner Temple
We quickly got ready and then headed out. Adam did a bunch of research and found a place in the south of London (still considered part of South Bank). It was called Chez Bruce. Not only did it get amazing reviews online, by locals and visitors alike, but it was actually in my London book and was HIGHLY recommended. It was also HIGHLY expensive! (Not compared to Gordon Ramsey's restaurant, but still...) I couldn't believe Adam was going to treat me to such a meal for our anniversary!
It was amazing. We took the tube to Clapham South and walked 20 minutes to the restaurant. It was a cute little place, and you HAVE to make reservations for it. When I called, they also took note that I was allergic to nuts and shellfish, and then advised me on what I could eat on the night's set menu! It was a fancy French restaurant, but the people were very pleasant. We got to chose between 10 choices for each course- 3 courses in all. For my appetizer I got a Warm Smoked Haddock salad with crisp panchetta, beets, and a fried egg. IT WAS AMAZING! Adam got chicken liver, and let me try some... and that was also amazing! I couldn't believe that 1) He ordered it and 2) That I tried it and LIKED it!
For my entrée Adam and I got the same thing- Rabbit leg swimming in meat sauce, covered in shaved Parmesan cheese, on a bed of sauteed spinach, grilled artichokes and squash, and the French version of Eggplant Parmesan. It was amazing. I never thought that I would eat Rabbit, but it was great! Seriously, I am drooling thinking about it right now. For dessert, Adam got Tiramisu, and I got a cheese plate. Cheese Plate. You would think this would be easy. Wrong. Never have I ever been intimidated by cheese... until now. They brought over a wooden block that was 2 by 3 feet, filled with at least 60 different cheeses. And then he told me to chose what I wanted. HA! I had no idea what I was looking at. So basically he had to walk me through the selection process. The smelliest cheeses ended up being the best tasting ones!
Other highlights? Bread boy. Really. They didn't give you a bread basket. They had a guy go around with a basket of bread, and he would go up to your table, pull back the sheet covering it, and then ask what you would like. Their focaccia was divine. Also, when we were done and asked for the check, they gave us some pastry cookies that were in the shapes of hearts. YUM! Also, their bathroom was really cool. And instead of having paper towels or a hand blow-dryer, they had individual cloth towels. And then hand lotion so your hands didn't dry out. It was insane! Definitely one of the coolest experiences of my life- I just wish it wasn't so pricey!
We then headed back to the tube station, but not before seeing this awesome sign...
Beware of the Wrath of the Elderly!
We got to the tube station around 10pm, and as such, enjoyed our own private tube-car to Waterloo. I had to take a picture to get proof.
Stuffed from our delicious French food, Adam and I reflected on what had been the most perfect One Year Anniversary EVER! Seriously, how are we going to beat this?
And that is how I celebrated one year with the love of my life and the most amazing guy on the Earth. :)
Total Miles Walked Today: 5.75
Thursday, March 10:
You might think that by now, Adam and I would've seen all of London. But no! After some thinking, Adam and I decided to do a tour of a building we had passed so many times this trip- St. Paul's Cathedral! I still hadn't taken the formal tour, so we decided to share the experience together. Queue Visit #4.
Unfortunately, there is no photography allowed in the Cathedral. As we listened to the audio tour for two hours, we learned all the ins and outs of the Cathedral and took in all the sights. It truly is worth the admission price. I have never been so amazed by a building. Luckily, Adam shares my love of architecture, so I wasn't rushed at all. After touring the Cathedral floor, we set our sights skyward... or may I say, dome-ward. We made our way up to the famous "Whispering Gallery" in the dome, where you can whisper across the expanse of the dome and hear the person across from you respond clear as day!
After the Whispering Gallery, we had the option of going all the way up to the tip of the dome. So we did. Up these creepy stairs:
The creepiest stairs you will ever climb... there were over 200 of these.
Apparently, Adam thinks I'm cute when I'm scared. Charming. But look at the views we got when we finally reached the top after climbing over 500 stairs!
The Gherkin from St. Paul's dome-top!
The Tate Modern and Millennium Bridge
South Bank and London Eye in the distance!
Adam at the top of the dome!
When we decided to head down, we found a door. With this sign at it:
NOOOOOOO! THERE IS NO WAY DOWN! Haha! After a good laugh, we found the right door and headed down to the crypt. Admiral Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, and many other famous Brits are buried down here...
By the time we were done, we were surprised to find four hours had passed! It was 2pm! Can you believe it?! We were starved, so we made our way to M&S Simply food, got a sandwich, and brought it back to the steps of St. Paul's... might not seem romantic, but to me, it kinda was!
We decided that we still had plenty of daylight left, so first we headed to the Strand, and took a quick tour of the Royal Courts of Justice. After looking at a collection of law uniforms (Wigs and dresses!!! haha!) we headed to Temple Tube Station, and took off to South Kensington. Why? So I could show Adam my favorite museum- the Victoria and Albert!
Well what do we have here?! An Adam in the wild! Ha! Just kidding- he's at the wading pool at the V&A!
Adam and I in the courtyard of my favorite museum
After showing him all the coolest parts of the museum, we headed out to Brompton Oratory next door so I could show him another cool church. Seriously, I have an obsession with churches. Then we headed to Royal Albert Hall, but only after passing the Natural History Museum, which apparently has a new exhibit:
Yes, even the Natural History Museum has a sense of humor!
Finally, we approached Royal Albert Hall and the edge of Kensington Gardens, which allowed us to see the Albert Memorial. Adam and I decided that should the same fate befell Adam and I, Adam's memorial will be "at least... THREE TIMES this size!" (Zoolander? Anyone?)
Adam in front of the Albert Memorial
With at least an hour left of daylight, Adam and I strolled through Hyde Park along the Serpentine, avoiding the pigeons that kept trying to attack me. No really. They're evil here. They are fearless. They are creepy.
As darkness fell, we exited the Park, and decided to dine near Harrods. Near Harrods. Not in. Both of us were getting moody due to lack of food, so we stopped in an Italian Caffe called Caffe Concerto. It was really good! I had Risotto and Adam had a Focaccia Tuna Melt.
...but going hours without food, we were still hungry after our meal. As we paid our bill, we spotted the McDonald's across the street....
...No. We couldn't. No. We could always have that in the US!
...FAIL! Dinner #2? McDONALD'S!!!!!! And guess what? It's better in the UK.
Can I just say how amazing it is that I found a guy that puts up with me having multiple versions of one meal... at different restaurants? First a fancy little cafe, and then a fast food joint? YES! This must be love...
Total Miles Walked Today: 3
Friday, March 11:
Today was definitely our least active day. Yet we still did so much! First off, I had to do some much needed grocery shopping. So Adam and I jumped on the bus (his first double-decker experience!!!) and headed to the giant Tesco on Old Kent Road. Can I just say how amazing it is to have help carrying all my bags back to my flat, especially by such a cutie?! Yay!
After unpacking the groceries, we had to head to campus for my Climate Variability class. We stopped at Tesco Express to grab sandwiches on the way, and ate in the King's building. Ah, sweet ambiance. After sitting through a particularly boring lecture (where me and Adam passed notes... yay for being five!) we got out 10 minutes early and headed down the Strand to the Strand Palace Hotel for....
AFTERNOON TEA! Which Adam ended up loving so much, he wants to have Afternoon Tea in the States upon my return! SCORE!
Adam hiding behind our delicious Afternoon Tea platter... it was demolished.
Extremely full, we headed down the Strand, to Admiralty Arch, and then continued down the Mall to Buckingham Palace. By this time, night was falling, so excuse the lousy picture quality:
We then headed through St. James's Park, annoyed some ducks, and then found ourselves back at Big Ben, where I had to take Adam's picture in a telephone booth. YAY STEREOTYPICAL TOURIST SHOTS! I even got Big Ben in on the action... WIN.
After sitting down and watching Iron Chef UK, we got our cooking on in my kitchen. After all, we had gone grocery shopping! On the menu? One Brie and Chicken Pizza with Cranberry Sauce, and one Mozzarella and Chicken Pizza with Tomato Sauce. Guess who ate what...
Stuffed beyond belief we slipped into a food coma... good thing we ate both pizzas- we needed the energy for the next day...
Total Miles Walked Today: 3
Saturday, March 12:
Today. Was. Epic.
We decided to take advantage of the fine weather (Seriously, 7 days in a row of sun and warmth?!) and go to Hampstead Heath. I still hadn't gone, so I was really excited.
We started off with brunch at the Hampstead Tea Rooms. Look at my Full English Breakfast... I ate that. All of it.
Apparently this is supposed to be breakfast and lunch combined for farmers in Britain- the original idea was that they could not come in for lunch while working the fields. So what does it mean if I was hungry again 1 hour later?
So after our brunch, Adam and I explored Hampstead Heath. It was gorgeous! We saw Keats' (The poet) House, and then went on to Parliament Hill, the rest of the Park, and Kenwood House. The park is filled with puppies and babies. Obviously my little Heaven on Earth. Instead of boringly describing every mundane detail, look at these pictures:
Keats' House
Me on Parliament Hill with Central London sprawled out below me in the background
Adam and I on Parliament Hill
"THE HILLS ARE ALLIVVVEEEEE!!!!!! ....With the sound of muuuusiccccc!"
(I wish I actually burst into song...)
Kenwood House at Hampstead Heath... filled with lots of paintings.
After Hampstead, I had my heart set on visiting Highgate Cemetery. This is the most famous and photographed cemetery in the UK, and basically the world. And Karl Marx is buried here. After trying to find it for AN HOUR we finally found it (Thank you Adam, for putting up with my foul mood due to frustration), only to find that you had to pay to go in! NO THANKS! I can take pictures through the gate... and it is probably better that I did not see Karl Marx's grave, since this would probably end up in me defacing it...
Highgate Cemetery through the gate
Next, Adam and I decided to head to Regent's Park, see the Open Air Theater, and then make our way to the Sherlock Holmes Museum, Madame Tussaud's, and the Wallace Collection. Here are some pictures... (can you tell I am getting sick of typing all the details?) However, when I say we went to the Wallace Museum, I mean we tried to find it, but my map was horribly inaccurate. So we WENT to Regent's Park, the Open Air Theater, Sherlock Holmes Museum, and Madame Tussaud's, and we TRIED to FIND the Wallace Collection. O well.
Regent's Park Open Air "Theatre"
Sherlock Holmes Museum
Look what we found right next to Sherlock?! THE BEATLES STORE! (Abbey Road is nearby)
Madame Tussaud's
By the time we were done looking for the Wallace Collection darkness had fallen, and the walk back to my flat was a little far... (we had already walked through Camden, and had had enough 'sketch' situations) so we took a bus! And sat in front of some REALLY ANNOYING Americans on break.
On the bus, we decided to go to Gourmet Burger Kitchen for dinner, which was near... ST. PAUL'S! Seriously... this building KNOWS us now! The bus dropped us off at Aldwych, and we walked the rest of the way. The burgers were delicious and hit the spot. Content, we skipped (kidding... maybe) back to my flat.... only to find out how many miles we had walked that day...
Total Miles Walked Today: 13!!
Sunday, March 13:
And here it was. All too soon. The day Adam had to leave. Seriously, 8 days had never gone by so quickly in my life.
We slept in (aka 8am), and upon waking, I made breakfast when Adam packed. After watching him pack, the waterworks started. Suddenly the flat seemed so lonely. When Adam got ready, I decided to check Heathrow's website to make final checks on Adam's flight. And guess what? Out of all the flights going to Boston that day, Adam's was the ONLY one that delayed- by over an hour! It seems Fate wanted us to have just that little bit of extra time together! We decided to venture out into London. Which for the first time since his arrival, was grey. And it rained. And was cold.
How fitting, right? We stopped for a quick lunch at Waterloo. Of Burger King. Really. I wanted to treat Adam, and he chooses that. But it was well worth the experience! Although Adam and I RARELY eat fast food, Adam and I always order the #11 at BK, something we discovered soon after meeting each other. Here, the double bacon cheeseburger is the #5. And is 3 times bigger than the one in the US. Really. And they say Americans are unhealthy? HA! Also, a #5 meal here is £6.75. Meaning it is about $9 and change. Yeah. Rip off. O well- at least now I know! (O, and the burgers at BK, like at McDonald's, are totally better in the UK than in the US)
With 2 hours to spare until we had to leave for the airport, we walked down the west end of South Bank- something we hadn't done yet. We crossed the Thames at Lambeth Bridge, walked by Parliament, and then battled the crowds on Westminster Bridge once more before returning to the flat to get Adam's things. And just like that, it was time to go.
The trip to Heathrow went way too fast, and a bunch of people got to see Adam take a shower in tears. YAY! Haha! Seriously, when did I become such a sap!
Total Miles Walked Today: 1
WHICH MEANS,
WEEKLY GRAND TOTAL: 54.55 MILES
For all you nerds out there, that is an average of 6.82 miles a day!!!!
So there you have it. The long-anticipated post. I tried to do the week justice, but my words never can. It was truly the most perfect eight days of my life, spent with the person my heart belongs to. :)
O, and thanks for putting up with my love-struck tendencies!
Until next time...
CHEERS!
