3/24-3/29

On Monday we went to the United States Embassy.The Embassy is located close to where we live. Andrea and I walked to the Embassy, basically cutting through Hyde Park by Marble Arch is where we had to go. When we got there we had to turn our electronics in and given a red visitor necklace. We went through metal detectors and then we were led to an auditorium room. We sat down and got to hear a married couple tell us about what the Embassy does, and their experience working for the Embassy. They have children and travel every three years to a new Embassy. Embassy workers get to " bid" on their new place for work and are constantly moving from Embassy to Embassy. They previously had been working at the Embassy in Baghdad. It depends what department you are in, but some of the duties are visiting United State Citizens in prisons. They go our into the prisons to not bail citizens out, but to make sure they are being treated fairly. They told us some stories about prisoners in China. They were visiting one man and he said that he was so excited because the prison just got a contract from Walmart. This enabled the prisoners to make Christmas Ornaments that would be sold in Walmart. So yes, ornaments that say "Made in China". Really "Made in China, by U.S. prisoners" is what they should say. This couple was just a hoot. Another time they were visiting a prisoner who said he was so tired from digging. This country believed that if you teach people how to help themselves in prison it will be of benefit. The problem is their way of teaching people was to have them dig a trench. They dig a trench from one side to the other, then they eat lunch, then they fill the trench back up with dirt. This was what they do every single day! We later found out that they both graduated from BYU law school. They are members of the church and have children who go with them to these different countries.

Later Monday night I went to the store and was walking around.  I spotted a guy (college age) who looked so attractive. There are not tons of attractive people here. Fashionable people, but usually the teeth just ruin it. Anyways, after passing him in the store I did the "look down and make sure I looked okay check". I look down and see that I am still wearing the Embassy red visitor card! I don't know how I managed to sneak away with it on (they had strict procedures for getting in and out). Monday was a pretty low key day. I had the stomach flu Monday night but it quickly passed. I think it was a miracle that it only lasted four hours and wasn't a day we were away from our flat! 

Tuesday we went to see Mamma Mia. I was so excited to go and see this! We had bought tickets a long time ago and had been looking forward to going. We went back to Food for Thought before the musical. Food for Thought is the vegetarian restaurant near Covent Garden. We were excited to get the Indian Platter again, but they didn't have it when we got there. We realized that this place changes the main dish and salads everyday. It is just the neatest restaurant and many locals eat there. You just go down these steep stairs to a tiny bottom floor. There is a chalkboard sign hanging over a counter with the options. The special dinner platter, and then quiche, and salads are pretty much the only options. You order and then just get whatever comes with it. It is all so healthy and reminds me of East West Cafe in Santa Rosa. They serve your plate to you right there (food is just out of normal cooking kitchen bowls). Then you pay and sit down at a table. One of the tables has pillows on the ground (that table is always taken). The tables are low to the ground and close together. There was an entire line going up the stairs to eat. We lucked out and grabbed a table from people leaving. We ate and then walked to the theater. Our seats were on the top balcony, first row. It feels like you are hanging over the entire theater. They were good seats because you could see everything going on. It was a great show and went by way too quick! At the end they all bowed and then came back out. All of a sudden they raise these big colorful lights and start breaking out into song and dance. The entire audience started singing (most people stood) and dancing. The ushers were even dancing! The best part of sitting in the balcony was getting to watch everyone dance below. Elderly ladies were standing up dancing, and their husbands were cringing in their seats. This last for about 4 songs. It felt like one big huge party! 

Wednesday we had our day trip! We went to the Black Country Living Museum. This is an entire museum about the industrialization of England from the 1800s-1930s. They have moved old buildings to create a village that resembles one from the 1800s. We were able to walk around the village. They have the bakery, general store, and suit shop all set up for us to walk through. We even got to go down to the coal mine. I can not even imagine working in a coal mine! We were only down there for 30 minutes and it was difficult! We saw the harsh conditions that these men/boys worked in. Most of the underground part we had to duck (five feet ceiling). We also got to go to the cinema. There we watched a 20 minute black and white silent movie. It honestly was like going back in time. 

Even had a carnival set up 

All the houses were even picked up and moved and put down exactly how they were on this land.

Getting ready to go down in the mine...we were mocking the helmets. We ended up being so grateful for them. The mine was pitch black and low ceiling. 

Cinema

We spent 3 1/2 hours at the museum and then headed to Benbow's Pond/Hill Farm. The farm is not owned by the church, so we could not go look around. We did get to quickly see the pond where Wilford Woodruff performed baptisms.

More about the pond:
On March 4, 1840, Elder Wilford Woodruff (an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and William Benbow, a recent convert, visited John and Jane Benbow at Hill Farm. Elder Woodruff had been sent from America to England to teach people in England about the church. He had been teaching in the Staffordshire area when he felt he should journey southward. William brought him here to his brother's home. John Benbow (farmer and owner of the property)  and his wife were affiliated with the United Brethren (break off of the Primitive Methodists). John Benbow allowed Wilford Woodruff to teach a group of people at his house. John, Jane, and four other preachers were baptized the next day in this pond. "I continued to preach and baptize daily. The first thirty days after my arrival in Herefordshire, I had baptized forty-fice preachers and one hundred and sixty members of the United Brethren" (From Wilford Woodruff's journal). By December 1840, Elder Woodruff had baptized more than 300 people, and converted 1200 others in the Malvern area.The Benbow's later assisted in financing the first British publication of The Book of Mormon.

After we went to Herefordshire Beacon. This is a hill that we hiked. Wilford Woodruff hiked this hill many times, and even dedicated the land from the top of this hill.

(Hali, Jillian, Hannah, Abbie, Me & Andrea)

We then went to Gadfield Elm Chapel. The United Brethren owned the land and built this stone chapel. The Gadfield Elm chapel became the central meeting place for the United Brethren. In 1840 Wilford Woodruff when members of The United Brethren accepted what Elder Woodruff was teaching they got baptized. They gave the chapel to Elder Woodruff as a meeting place. The chapel was then sold in 1842 to finance the immigration of the new Latter-day Saints to the United States. The building was used for several other purposes over the years (even was a barn) it eventually fell apart. In 1994 a group of local Latter-day Saints purchased the property and began restoring the building. It stands today as a reminder of Britain's importance in the history of what has become a worldwide Church.

This is how you find out the code to get into the chapel...thought it was cute.

So on these day trips we usually pack a lunch/or buy it. Then the bus will switch drivers on the way home and we run into the rest areas for dinner. They actually have really nice areas. They have a grocery store inside, and then 4-6 options for fast food. Lately we have been big fans of the Subway for dinner. The day trips are sometimes so tiring. I am so lucky to be here and see everything but can't believe how exhausting touring is! We got home around 9 p.m. and watched the Notebook. Hannah, Hali, Jillian & I watched from my top bunk bed (I am glad we didn't break the bunk, the bed isn't super sturdy ha).

On Thursday we had to turn in our religion project. The project was pretty open we could write an essay, sing a song, do a blog, or a travel journal. We decided to do a painting. Well, actually Hannah (who is very crafty) and Hali decided to do paintings. I was at the art store with them and the boards came in a pack of 3. I decided that I should just do a painting too. I am not an artist. We went around the art store getting acrylic paint, paint brushes, and special painting board. Today was the day we turned in our work. Here we are with our masterpieces:

London, England Temple, St. Arthur's Mount, River Ribble

After taking our paintings to his office we rushed to the tube station. We took the tube to the London Eye. We picked up our tickets and got a pass to see a 4-D London Eye film. It was a short 4-D film showing the view from the Eye. They had one part where children were having a birthday party in the eye. Bubbles started falling down. Then one part had flowers and the room smelled like flowers. It was neat. We then were led out to get onto the eye. Basically you ride in this big bubble room and see spectacular views of the city.

Big Ben

Buckingham Palace is the white building behind the trees.

(Abbie, Taylor, Hannah, Me, Jillian & Andrea)

(Me & Andrea)

Big Ben

(Abbie, Jillian, Hannah, Andrea, Taylor, & Me)

(Andrea, Taylor, Me, Abbie, Hannah & Jillian)

(Me & Andrea)

Friday we had another walk. We took the tube to the Thames River. We then took a boat to Greenwich. The boats run just like the buses do. We went to the Queens House. This was the home of Charles I's queen, Henrietta Maria. 

The pathway leading to The Queens House. It was a beautiful area.

We then went to National Maritime Museum.

This are what people used throughout the world to decorate the bows of their vessels. Sailors believed these figureheads protected their ships from the dangers of the sea.

We then walked to the Prime Meridian Line.

Prime Meridian line

On our way back we took a tunnel that goes under the Thames River. First you take an elevator to floor -1.

Friday afternoon Hali and I ran to the ATM to get cash out. We made a few pitstops on the way home. We live on a street that has so many cute shops. The tube stop is about a five minute walk down the street. The street runs parallel to Hyde Park (South Kensington). Anyways we stopped at Ben's cookies to try a cookie. We hadn't had lunch so the cookies tasted so good. We then walked passed Gap and decided we should run in. We looked at all the cute spring/summer clothes! We have been so depressed because we really only have a wardrobe of one color...black. We found some t-shirts that were colors and each bought one. It felt so good to add some color to the wardrobe. It was a good pick-me-up. We got home way later than expected. It is days like this that make me so happy. Just enjoying time in such a fun city with no plan! We went to Chinatown for dinner. 

Ben's Cookies is popular here. It is basically a counter with about 15 different types of cookies. They have milk, and milkshakes as well. 

Chinese food

(Hali, Betsey, Me, Jo, Hannah, Jillian, Molly, & Andrea)

 We walked Millennium Bridge. The bridge that is green in picture below changed colors. It was beautiful.

St. Paul's behind me

At the end of the bridge were photographers taking pictures! It was a funny sight!

Friday nights are so busy in London. The tubes are full of people and so are the streets. It was a blast just walking around and seeing the night life.