FOR JESS: Walk Through the City

The Shard

This was an interesting walk and not what I was expecting, though there was a lot to see and learn. This seemed to focus a little more on the business side of London which is... always so very interesting! Right? I'd be lying if I said lots of exciting things happened on this walk, but I can tell you about the educational things I learned (this is for you Jess!).

London loves architecture. Everywhere you go there's some sort of history that's told through the architecture. They don't tear down old things around here. It's like you're constantly walking through centuries of history - well you are walking through centuries of history. They don't recklessly tear down anything there. We were even taken to the first ever coffee shop. How do they even remember these things? There's just such respect for history! So we were able to look at a variety of buildings. Some were structured like ancient Greece (though clearly not dating that far back), others were ancient and crumbling, others were renovated and still old, and even others were brand new designs trying to break new barriers.

Fantastic blend of old and new

Modern Gherkin mixed with
old architecture

Little old church tower in
a big city

The Monument

 Along the lines of history, this walk also discussed the Great Fire and it's repercussions. It's hard for me to imagine the kind of devastation this caused on such a huge scale. If something like that were to happen in DC we would all be horrified for the lost history alone. So for a city that respects and honors their history so much, it would be very difficult to come to terms with the loss of their identity and their culture. There are many things which we no longer have or have been rebuilt after the fire. It's really too bad. So Londoners waste no time commemorating the Great Fire and have built "the Monument". Christopher Wren (huge architect around here) built the monument so that if you tipped it on its side it would reach from Pudding Lane where the fire began to the Thames. It's in the middle of all these building, but it still stands apart and still somehow summons respect.

Gorgeous architecture

So I mentioned Christopher Wren and let me tell you, he is everywhere. I swear that every building in town somehow leads back to him. Because of the Great Fire, Christopher Wren actually took it upon
himself to rebuild the city as much as he could, so tons of churches were built by this guy. I honestly didn't know much about him (is that just me?) so I looked up some information. This guy is responsible for St. Paul's Cathedral which is just unreal. He was crazy intelligent - he was proficient in mechanics, geometry, philosophy, and he invented a number of things (though nothing super worth noting). He was a gentleman of sorts and he was really revolutionary to make architecture something of a hobby for a gentleman. He also designed the library in Cambridge and was responsible for the Baroque design of Hampton Court. (If it's not baroque, don't fix it!)

Here's another fun fact: the guy who wrote this book we fondly refer to as Dr. B (Dr. Bassett) is definitely a grown man. There were so many dark alleys and passageways he wanted us to walk down. As a group of girls, we found this super sketch. So it's something of a thing now that if we see a place that looks like you could be assaulted, we all say that it's someplace Dr. B wants us to go!

My favorite people in the world

My favorite man (besides 
my daddy) in the world

"Architecture aims at Eternity" - Christopher Wren

FOR JESS: Westward from the City: Theatre Walk

Do you know the Muffin Man?
(Theatre district sign)

This walk was madness. Complete madness. But we successfully followed our schedule and that in and of itself was an accomplishment. Life is a crazy blur so let's think about what I learned this time around.


So for anyone who knows anything about theatre there is this place in London known as the West End. It is a crazy madhouse of a place. I loved exploring the area because it really helps you understand why London is known for their shows. Around every bend there is another theatre producing a major show. They could almost be little holes in the wall only they're clearly popular and well-known. Their street signs even list that you're in the theatre district which really demonstrates that they don't take theatre lightly - it's a living, breathing part of the city. And lemme tell you, we love this part of the city. We definitely detoured and bought tickets to Les Mis...

Shakespeare and I

Londoners commemorate so many people! All around this walk (and tons of others if we're going to be honest) there are statues! They love to acknowledge people that have contributed to their culture and their past. I feel like there are times when someone so insignificant is even honored because they are so generous. One interesting thing that I found was this statue of a man - "Bomber Harris" who super contributed to the bombing of Germany during WWII. He's not too popular amongst Germans and also not very popular with Brits as well, yet he still has a statue featured on the Strand. I liked one statue of a Robert Raikes who was the originator of Sunday Schools - something that has a lasting impact on LDS culture! Perhaps most importantly is the statue of Shakespeare. What more need be said of him?

Sitting atop the giant lions in Trafalgar
Just try to imagine the hilarity of us
trying to get atop one of these

We also had the fun opportunity to visit Trafalgar square. This place is absolutely filled with a variety of individuals. There are people levitating, bubbles filling the square, guitarists, bikers doing tricks, artists, chalk, statue men, and a variety of other things. I was impressed to see that there was this area where you can chalk on Trafalgar Square and someone had drawn the Twin Towers to commemorate 9/11. Honestly here I'm learning more and more about cultures and respecting one another and really becoming one world versus individual countries. The center is full of individuals who are spending a fun day out and about and that makes it a fun event for us. It really is just a square full of life and events and I feel like it's a wonderful example of London: people from every corner of the globe coming together and enjoying the city. It's also super common to find street performers and this square really epitomizes London for me in many ways.

Enjoying our time in Chinatown!

Finally, who can forget the wonderful corner we know as Chinatown! It's a wonderful little oasis in the middle of the city (if we're going to be totally honest here, it's actually in the middle of the old red light district...) It's crazy to me that no matter where on earth I go - literally - these delightful little China Towns emerge. I've been able to visit China Towns in both New York and San Francisco and now I've visited another one in London! (Fun fact; Sherlock fans anyone? Chinatown?) Many Chinese gathered here and their culture became its own thriving business. We loved exploring the little street and getting to know yet another corner of London.


"Oh, I love London Society! It is entirely composed now of beautiful idiots and brilliant lunatics. Just what society should be." - Oscar Wilde

We happened upon Fashion
Week during our voyage.
We all thought we fit in
rather nicely.

Gotta love Keats

Apparently it's kosher to
make someone pay to pee.
.... Problem for me.

Group photo of my awesome peeps

Just your average, everyday
sight in London

Prep for the walk AKA hoofin' it

It may come as a shock to many people (as it did to me), but when you're on a study abroad it's not all fun and games and sightseeing and watching shows. There is a lot of homework we have to do - tons and tons of reading for one thing. Then we are assigned different museum visits or different photo essays or any number of things. I could never complain that I'm assigned to go to the National Gallery for homework and I love it. But... slide that into a schedule that is already airtight = stressful. Especially because these walks take time. A lot of time. Hours of the day. In a very busy day - like five hours for homework all together. So how did we fit in an almost six mile walk you ask? Extreme and unreal time management. Here was the schedule we put togther.

12:45 - 1:00 / get out of class. Use the toilets, pack a lunch

1:00 / on the dot walk out of the flat leaving behind anyone who isn't there (this was a real thing)

1-1:30 / travel time on the underground including any possibility of getting lost

1:30 / arrive at destination and begin our walk

Take fifteen minutes per page (that's fast) and end at 4:00

4-4:30 /  walk to and go through three rooms for the British Museum for Humanities

4:30-5 / walk to the Queens theatre, purchase tickets for Les Mis, get on the tube and leave

5:30 / arrive at home in time for dinner. 

I can't stress enough how tight of a schedule that is and how exhausting it is to do all that in one small five hour period. Just so you have an everyday idea of our schedules. Yup.

"A bad day in London is still better than a good day anywhere else." - Pinterest

Where In The World Has Lisa Been?

The above is a very good question because I've been ridiculously, crazy busy. I can hardly keep track of what I'm doing everyday. So let's see... I"m just gonna list what I've done that I think is notable.

• Stonehenge
• Stourhead Gardens
• St. Michael's Mount
• National Gallery
• British Museum
• Carisbrooke Castle
• Osborn House
• Swimming in the English Channel
• Tintagel Castle
• Salisbury Cathedral
• Wells Cathedral
• Glastonbury Tower
• Isle of Wight
• The Globe - Comedy of Errors
• RICHARD III WITH MARTIN FREEMAN
• Buckingham Palace
• Roman Baths
• Tea in Bath

I'm sure there's more that I just can't remember. Basically it's crazy busy as heck. I'm having a blast though and making friends with everyone. We pretty much find ourselves in variety of groups and just mix it up all the time so there's no cliques really. Which I am 100% in love with. I love my friends here and I just love London!!!!

"I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives." - Persuasion

Personal favorite: "You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope... I have loved none but you."

Standing at the Globe. Yes I
rested my head on the stage
while they performed

Stourhead - GORGEOUS

Salisbury Cathedral

Tintagel Castle

Friends at Tintagel Castle

View from Glastonbury Tower.
We started where those houses
are and came up and down in 30 min.
It was hysterically awful.

Wells Cathedral - the Duke of
Gloucester definitely was
coming that day

Why, yes, I am in an Austen novel.
There was also an Austen convention
occurring while we were there.
So cool!

Roman Baths!

Drinking tea in Bath

Richard III with Martin Freeman.
AMAZING production

Buckingham Palace

Carisbrooke Castle

FOR JESS: Kennsington Gardens

The Italian Gardens

This walk was very pleasant and somewhat confusing. If I'm a Londoner, perhaps I'll know when I reach Flower Walk, but... I have no idea what different paved roads are called. That aside, it was a very beautiful walk and I'm glad I was able to experience the tiny little oasis! It's crazy because there are buildings and busy streets just outside the border, but inside it feels a tiny bit like I'm near my mountains. My handy-dandy book informs me that they cut some parts of the lawn and then leave other parts to grow so it has a very realistic feeling - bit ironic, really. But it definitely feels peaceful and beautiful. It really emphasizes to me how much they value beauty in nature. Everywhere we go in London there are beautiful gardens and clearly a lot of time and money taken out to make their city so artistic and beautiful.

Scared of the angry men with guns

When walking along Millionaire Row (aka Embassy Road), try to avoid looking suspicious and/or act American. Also, maybe crossing the street when you're being stared at isn't the best idea. Especially when they're guards with guns because it might antagonize them. Clearly my American nosiness gets the best of me when I get to walk along a road filled with plots of land that are rich and have different countries barricaded from one another. It's actually genuinely fascinating. Just along one road there are so many countries that come together and live next door. That seems to be what London is all about. They love to embrace all kinds of cultures. In my church alone there are tons of different cultures meshing together in one. It's definitely very different than my small little Utah town.

The Albert Monument towers
over the trees

I learned - a lot more visually - that Queen Victoria adored her husband and that when you're the Queen, you can dedicate an entire statue to the consort after he dies. Seriously though, it's really quite striking and is a beautiful monument from a wife to her husband. So that's really quite adorable. It has a really clear statement about the British Empire as well. The frieze has tons of philosophers, authors, musicians, etc. and each corner there is a representation of each of the four main continents (sorry Australia and Antarctica...). You definitely get an image of the kind of empire Britain was at the time. It's a very impressive monument.

No matter where you are or how old you get, literature can cross so many barriers. (What's that? You think I'm an English major?) There is a whole park for Princess Diana that is Peter Pan themed. (She's totally adored by the British people. I knew she was, but it's unreal. I think it's because she really was a princess of the people.) Well anyways, I wish I had a picture, but look it up. Think actual giant pirate ship. In another section, there is also this adorable statue of Peter Pan that was set up in one night to give the impression that faeries set it up - that has got to be one of the cutest things I've heard. Evidently JM Barrie lived right nearby the park which is really cool. I love that Peter Pan is a universally loved boy. I just super relate because I love the exuberance and playfulness of children and I never want to grow up. So Peter Pan is a bit of an idol to me. I love to know that he's an idol to others as well. Oh the power of words and storytelling.

Kensington Palace - I could
afford that... ... ...

I know it's hard to tell:
Queen Victoria is in the back,
I'm in front

Birds are everywhere and
they have no fear 

Syd tried to push me in... So we took
a picture.

Things like this are common

Here I come Neverland!

"To have faith is to have wings" - Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens

The Tower of Terror - sorry - London*

As I'm not assigned to write on this event and the movies on Netflix are different here, I'm not gonna take too much time to describe the Tower of London. Know that it was fabulous and I had a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The crown jewels are ginormous and I definitely think Richard 3rd's nephews died of "natural causes" in the Bloody Tower. Here are some pictures!

Tower of London with poppies
commemorating the deaths of
800,000 British soldier - one poppy
per death

Tower of London my friends

Yeomen Warders - two talk while they're
being photographed because when you're
employed by the queen you can do what you
want. The other one does bunny ears and tells
Americans to "clear out."

The is one of the famous
ravens of the tower. Look
them up.

Inside the white tower  -
tower for prisoners

This man is my kind of soldier
-- he clearly loved his biscuits

I rocked at shooting arrows

I also was a fantastic cannon
ball firer man person

Gorgeous Window

Amazing view of the Tower of London
AND ALL THOSE POPPIES

This wasn't part of the London
Tower, but... we got candy
together!

Sorry I'm not sorry about making this post look good.



"Bloody thou art, bloody will be thy end;
Shame serves thy life and doth thy end attend" Richard III (4.4.196-96)