A play, a park, and a pirate

It has been another lovely week in London!  As you can see from my Pantone yellow journal I am trying to bring in the sunshine in whatever way I can.  I have gotten used to the complete inconsistency though.  You always have to travel with an umbrella and a pair of sunglasses because you will probably get a bit of both most days.  Always have a back up plan for all events too.  I love dressing in layers though.  That is one of the best parts about the weather.  While dodging raindrops and soaking in moments of sunshine I have done quite a few cool things lately and had some random moments.  I took the tube towards my favorite stop....Westminster.  Just like each time before, I got butterflies stepping out on to the street with Big Ben chiming my arrival.  I am not sure why it surprises me each time but it does.  My favorite pub (st steven's) was getting a face lift so I didn't realy hang out

Tower and Bridge

 there but I did at least pop in.  One of the most interesting things I did this time was going to see a play at the Tower.  Most of you know I have a slight obsession with the Tudor family and I suppose, all the old royal history so the tower and the palaces are just great fun for me.  When I saw that there would be a play at the tower I couldn't pass it up.  I was a bit disappointed when I arrived and saw that it was in a random upstairs room in the newer part of the tower but once it started my whole attitude changed.  It was the story of Anne Boleyn  and her Brother George who were both killed at the

Say hello to the Queen...well at least her ride.

   tower for some not so good choices they made together....look up the story.  With only 2 actors performing and only about 45 of us in the audience it was a very intimate show which really made the story come alive and was absolutely beautiful.  Being royal or trying to become some part of royalty was rough business back then.  It's so sad to see the horrible things that people were forced into so that "the family" could advance.  It was so amazing to experience a story in the actual location where it happened all those years ago.  I did walk around the tower also since I am the nerd that still has an annual pass to the palaces.  The weather was rubbish but during a break in the screaming wind and spitting rain I headed up to the top above the river to take a few photos. As I was up there I noticed a quite shiny and blinged out barge cruising by.  I snapped some photos and then looked it up later....turns out it was a royal barge.  No one special was on board but still it was neat to see.  I did have one almost royal encounter the next day when I was headed out to meet up for my Royal walking tour.  There was a car with a police escort pulling out of Buckingham palace.  I tried to see inside but it was a bit blurry as it

St James Park

drove by.  Some people said it was the Queen...maybe it was and maybe it wasn't.  I guess I will never know.  Either way another random moment filling my days in London.  Going on the Royal walk was a great experience too.  I realized that I had not gone on any walking tours really here  in London so I decided to do it.  I also had not walked over by Buckingham palace area since my very first trip with my mom and Priscilla which seems like such a long time ago now.  My tour guide was great and had a wealth of historical tid bits for us.  Also on the tour I met a guy who is going to be traveling the whole west coast soon and it was fun to talk about America and all it's beauty with him.  He was as excited about going over there as I was about coming here.  As our tour progressed the sun started shining and when we got to St James Park it was completely glorious.  I felt a bit like I was at Disneyland minus the rides.  There were people mulling about everywhere feeding ducks, relaxing in the chairs you can rent or just laying in the grass taking a nap.  I just love London on a sunny day.  People really know how to make the most of it.  Apparently people call off work if it's this nice and just go outside.  I suppose if we

House Cleaning Pirate

did that in San Diego we would never go to work but it would be nice.  I also was able to get to go with Belinda and the family to her Royal Ballet School show at the White Lodge.  Ok first off this place was amazing.  There were literally about 20 deer just running free in the park that bordered the long driveway we took to get up to the school.  When we walked in I was in awe of the building.  So beautiful.  There also was some chatter going on around us because one of Belinda's friends (Ed Watson) was with us and he is a well known dancer in the Royal Ballet.  It was kinda funny to hear the little girls going "oh my gosh...that's him"  The show we watched was beautiful.  I loved getting to watch all these little ballet boys and girls doing their dances.  Also knowing Belinda had taught some of the was so neat.  I felt like I got to be a part of her world and it was wonderful.  After the show my work time...if you can call it work...was over and I was moving in with Lauren for the remainder of my time here in London.  We had a weekend out in Twickenham...lots of random crazy moments as always .  Monday rolled around and I popped in to see my little man Rudi and he was just doing his thing as a housecleaning Pirate.  Seriously...can't get enough of this kid.  I have one more week of discovering to do here...I'm thinking underground artsy area and theater time.  I'll keep you posted.