London Week 2 May 15 - 21

London is a dream!

I can't believe we got two weeks in London. Wow. We stayed for 2 weeks so we could take advantage of FIE Housing. Like I said, wonderful neighborhood, close to many wonderful things. Dorm like living, but that's ok. It was totally worth it and I got used to my pillow. I also came to love Partridge's corner store. We stopped there a lot for bananas, soda, bread, salami, etc. 

Sunday we went back to church at Hyde Park Chapel. After church Natalie and I went back to see more things at the V&A. We also went on a walk around Kensington Gardens. We got rained on a bit, but it wasn't bad. We found Speaker's Corner where early missionaries would teach. Then a bunch of us went to a free organ recital at Westminster Abbey. It was really good. I just sat there with my eyes closed and enjoyed the organist's talent. There is a free organ recital every Sunday night there. So wonderful. 

Monday, my sister Karen's birthday, the Dishoom crew (Natalie, me, Jared, and Logan) went to breakfast at Dishoom. I was intrigued from day one with their breakfast menu which included banana fig porridge. I got it and it was really good. The others got more hearty offerings with eggs and sausage and bacon. I tried them and they were good too. We decided that for the price, we prefer dinner. After a yum breakfast, we boarded a bus to go to the Harry Potter Studios outside of London. We saw costumes, learned secrets behind the magic, tried butter beer ice cream, and generally had a great time. On the way back from Bath, while driving in London, we noticed a sign that said "Abbey Road." The Beattles rock band had a famous photo taken on a crosswalk on Abbey Road. We were actually close to it and our nice bus driver stopped there so the students could get out and see the crosswalk and take photos. It would have taken us over an hour by train/bus to get there. It was such a nice little stop. 

Tuesday was another walking tour to learn about the latest in design. We also went and saw Saint Paul's Cathedral. After we left, we learned that you could climb up to the top of the tower. We went back in and climbed up. Natalie and I were both so tired, but realized that we'd be mad at ourselves if we didn't do it. It was a great view. It's the church featured in the "Feed the Birds" song in the movie "Mary Poppins." Then we all had a picnic in Kensington Gardens. Everyone brought something to share and we had quite the feast. We really had a great group of students. They were good to each other and included each other. They helped each other. 

Wednesday was a tour of the Globe Theater. It would have been great to have the tour before we saw a play there, but the timing didn't work out. The tour was very interesting. We learned all about Shakespeare, his acting company, the theaters, etc. They were rehearsing for an upcoming play, so we got to watch the rehearsal. Natalie and I went to Din Tai Fung for dinner. Jared and Logan came with us. She had a whole list of places she wanted to see, food she wanted to try, etc. I just enjoyed her list and went along for the ride. That night found us back at the West End to see "Marry Poppins." So fun! I love that production. I've seen it before. It's so colorful and fun. I had to leave at intermission to take a student home. She wasn't feeling well. That's my job as a director. It's ok. 

Thursday we went to the Fashion and Textile Museum in London. We got a guided tour of the current exhibit, which highlighted the royal school of needlework. We also got to have a hands on workshop and see and touch couture pieces. We saw and handled pieces by Chanel, Versace, Dior and many more. I couldn't believe how beautiful the hand finished edges were. Each raw edge was sewn by hand to finish the edge. Dawna, Craig, Natalie, Jared, Breckyn, and I went to see "Lion King" that night. WOW, that is an amazing show. I told the other directors that I vote we take the students to 3 shows in the West End next year. 2 gives you a good taste, but 3 really allows you to compare and contrast in your head, Hamilton has a great story, unique music, and diverse cast. The cast is small, with many people double cast. Mary Poppins is bright and lively and whimsical. The set is like a dollhouse. It's difficult to describe, but magical. Lion King is a production that feels very immersive, with characters walking down the aisles right past the audience. The performers are not only singers and dancers, but they are almost puppeteers. Jared had never seen a Broadway play and he saw 5. I asked him which one he would se again and he said Mary Poppins. 

Friday was a free day and it was a rainy day. Natalie and I and 3 students went out to Windsor Castle. It's a train ride outside of the city. It was great. I got the most beautiful hot chocolate and used the bathroom. I also got a scone and clotted cream. I can say I've eaten and gone to the bathroom in Windsor Castle. I also lit a candle in the chapel on the grounds where Harry and Megan were married. It was a super fun way to spend the day. Dawna took a few students outside of town to see a man who does pleating for designers. She wanted to see if it was a possible visit for next year. It sounds fascinating. 

While in London we also got delicious donuts and cookies and places Natalie had heard about. We tried meat pies. Mine was way better than Natalie's. Hers was downright gross. It was beef and stilton. We both thought it sounded good, but it wasn't. We spent a couple of evenings getting caught up on American TV, specifically "This is Us" and "Survivor." We had a movie and pizza night in the women's living area/kitchen. Some girls talked to me about their friends dating their crushes while they were in Europe. I told them they needed to find new friends. Dawna told them they needed to find new crushes. 

Saturday we took the train from London to Paris. It was pretty weird to walk back to the train station 2 weeks after we had arrived. The walk from the train station to our lodging seemed so long the first time we made it. We didn't know where we were going. Our first dinner in London was at a pizza place that the housing RA's recommended. We all loved it and went back again and again. We walked to that same train station everyday, sometimes multiple times/day. The walk to and from became so familiar. To make the final walk was sad, but we were on to Paris. 

Obligatory bathroom selfie in Sketch. The pods house individual toilets

I found a unicorn...a drinking fountain in Europe. Now to find a free bathroom. 

The cast room in the V&A had replicas of famous works of art. This big column had pieces on all sides depicting the story of Adam and Eve. Much art and stained glass taught bible stories, as many people couldn't read.

More student selfies from Harrod's. Sophia and Jared.

Sarah, Lily, and Belle

Emily, Breckyn, Taylee, and Rachel

Sophia, Taylor, Allison, and Kenzie

Sarah, Mercedez, and Maya

Went in search of the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens and found it.

Caviar, toast and that perfect little egg yolk

Look at the beautiful spread at Sketch

Director bathroom selfie

Because I promised some people a photo of inside the pod

After Sketch, Natalie and I went to a really fun toy store. Legos

Beautiful food area at Harrod's

I've started to spend money. Purse from Ospray

Rainy afternoon in the park

I loved this train station. Most are underground. It's so refreshing to get off at one that is above ground

the pizza we loved so much. Fire Away Pizza

Dishoom breakfast

Look at the beautiful bathroom in Dishoom. 

More of the London bathroom tour

Her royal Lego-ness

Windsor is beautiful

Me, Jared, Natalie, and Breckyn at Lion King

Love the flags

The Dishoom crew

This is what bags for 27 people looks like. Not bad. Everyone was limited to a carry-on and a backpack

Guard at Windsor

Embroidery

Look at my royal hot chocolate

Our pizza/movie night

Rainy Windsor - at least we were inside most of the time

Theater for Mary Poppins

Bao at Din Thai Fung

Logan snapped this picture of us at breakfast at Dishoom. Shame on us!

Windsor

Dior

Our picnic in the park

Lingerie made by Royal School of Needlework

Chanel

Students examining the lovely designer pieces

Best photo we could get with this guard. We didn't feel like waiting in line for a better shot. 

I had to go back to Dashing Tweeds and get this cap for dad. This is the owner/designer, Guy

More handmade, hand embroidered lingerie

Each symbol represents a letter of the alphabet

Needlework kits were sent to soldiers to help them in their recovery. Look at the frame around the photo - it's an embroidery hoop

Photo of flowers for Karen

Dior inside and out

Alber Elbaz

Versace

Lion King!

The bathroom tour continues - Windsor

Sample sweets that Natalie bought at Windsor

The Windsor crew - Natalie, Maya, Breckyn, Jared, and me

Metrogate House: Craig and Dawna Baugh, Jared Arner, Abbi and Jonathan Jensen, Logan Bushman, and Natalie Hancock

The walk to the metro stop for the last time