Another Trip to London!

After taking the train from Oxford to Paddington Station in London, we started our sunny day in Leicester Square. We waited in the tkts line, with 20 other ticket-hungry tourists, for half-price theatre tickets. It only took about 10 minutes to make our way to the front of the line and purchase two prime seats (12th row, middle) to the 5 p.m. Avenue Q show. A screamin' deal indeed...we ony paid 28 £/ticket (originally 56£). Woohoo, time to tour London! With our walking shoes on, Elizabeth used her previous knowledge of London to tour us around the big city...

Picadilly Circus: Even though I hate to see the golden arches in a foreign country, I have to give props to McDonalds for creating a clever (and fun) marketing campaign. The interactive billboard allows tourists to become posers (a.k.a. look like idiots). I never miss a chance to engage in an action photo (or look like an idiot)! Left: I am squeezing the frog in hopes that a prince will pop out. Right: Elizabeth flexes her "sturdy American" muscles as she lifts a 2-ton dumbbell.

Trafalger Square: we jumped, spit, and were entertained by a group of crazy Irish rugby players who were singing and waving their flag with pride. Why is it that when a group of Irish dudes get together...they always sing? I do not know...but I like it and I jumped in their honor.





















Buckingham Palace: Queen Elizabeth it is time to don your tackiest leopard skin print, crimped hair, jelly bracelets, and your neon legwarmers...apparently the 80's are back!

Big Ben! Need I say more?

Chinatown: A HOT Malaysian dinner (chicken laksa curry) resulted in sweaty brows and steam coming out of our ears.



Gielgud Theatre: Avenue Q show...hilarious and rogue. The Sesame Street gone South Park for adults. I learned that internet is for porn, everyone's a little racist, explicit puppet sex on stage is okay, and it sucks to be me. Overall, a brilliant show and a fantastic day!

A Day in London--Notting Hill!

Sunday was my first trip out of Oxford. I bought a (student discounted) roundtrip bus ticket to/from London for £13 ($21 U.S.) aboard the posh, double-decker, red Oxford Tube bus, complete with wifi. In the first 15 minutes of the 1.5 hour bus ride to Notting Hill, I was fast asleep. (There is something about a moving bus, train, or airplane that makes me narcoleptic.) I met my friend, Jorunn from Norway, who was stopping over in London before embarking on a BIG PhD adventure in Australia. She was awarded an international scholarship to study at the Centre for the Study of Higher Education at the University of Melbourne. We caught up, re-lived our Eramsus Mundus experience and laughed about where life has taken us since those sweet memories in Portugal. The funky environs of Notting Hill and Embassy row at Kensington Park added to the fantastic day. Even though we did not spot Julia Roberts or Hugh Grant, the Portobello Market was bustling with tourists, antiques, vintage wear, and cool, funky little cafes. Good luck Jo!