Sunday, May 19, 2013

"Honey, you should see me in a crown."

17 May 2013
     Today we visited the Tower of London. I had been relatively excited about this excursion since receiving the schedule, but I was in a weird mood today. I'm not sure what it was - but I feel like I woke up on the wrong side of the bed, that is once I woke up. I was the last one up today (which is shocking since I'm usually the first by a long shot) and had less than 20 minutes to get ready. It's not that I was particularly crabby or anything, I just didn't feel I was very present. It seemed like I was a few steps behind the conversation and what was going on. I was seeing, not observing, and everything I heard seemed to be going in one ear and out the other. Which is kind of sad. But I suppose it's to be somewhat expected. Thinking about it, I truly haven't rested at all since I have come to London. So a slight breakdown from a constant going-about and information overload the past two weeks is to be expected. I just hadn't thought about it since I was having so much fun. but nonetheless - I forced myself to wake up after we explored the first tower and from then on it got better. At least I was awake! We got to see the crown jewels which of course was super exciting. I had no idea how much history and procedure was involved. I didn't really surprise me, but it was really cool. You got to ride the airport flat escalator things... hopefully you knwo what I mean, across the room past all the really significant articles and all I could think of was:
so that was really entertaining for me lol. Ironically enough, before that we went into the crown jewel shop (not after like it's set up to be) where I found a lovely gift for Grammie. But no spoilers - it's a suprise! <3 But I was pretty excited about it. We did a lot of walking around and it was very cold - much too cold for the dress I was wearing. Yahoo weather lied to me unfortunately. But it definitely kept me awake I'll say that much. 
   I must say Tower of London wasn't exactly what I was expecting. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't what I was anticipating. Not that I didn't like it though. Who couldn't like a centuries worth of history in the form of an infamous castle?! 

Tower Bridge 

Roman Wall with Shard in the background

Beefeater


Tower and Gherkin - Old and the New

Catapult taken from the moat




The Racks

Manacles
     After Tower of London and great deliberation, we went to lunch at Garfunkle's. We all were starving and cold, so it was a very happy sight indeed. The food was all really yummy, and we were stuffed to the brim. Almost directly after, Tanner, Christie and I went to see what I've been waiting for for qutie some time. STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS. YAAAAAAAAY! Lol I was much more excited about it than I should have been, but then again it had my favorite Benedict Cumberbatch in it so what do you expect? I thought it would be fun too to go to a movie theatre in England. I like doing the smaller, more commonplace things in different countries to see where the real differences lie. I find it very intriguing.
    I'm not sure if it was just this particular theatre, the Empire in Lesicester Square, but oh my goodness!!! It was giant and kind of very fancy! There were actual curtains that opened and closed before/after the film. I kind of felt like we went back in time to the talkies - with curtains and appearances from the actors "Singing In The Rain" style. It was super neat! 
     And quite beautiful actually. The colors kept changing and I really liked the stars. P.S. What you're seeing is only half the audience. !!! But my anticipation for the movie and high-expectations were not all for naught. I absolutely adored the film - and geeked out pretty hard whenever Cumberbatch was on. He was so fantastic! But so was everyone. But him especially. I found myself not liking him by the end of the movie which is saying something (since I think I'm in love with him. Lol!) I imagine I'll see it at least two more times in America. Haha! But it was a really fun excursion and definitely snapped me back to normal. I'm so glad we did it.

   But time for bed now and much needed rest. Cheers!

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