Museum, Park, Sherlock Holmes, and the Beatles

Hello from London! I have lots of pictures today! I realized I haven't talked about me for a while, just what I've been doing. So, before I update you on my adventures, I want everyone to know I am having a GREAT time! I can successfully navigate the tube, the buses, and I don't get lost in my neighborhood! (This is quite an accomplishment for me!) I love the quirky things I notice that remind me I'm in London--like seeing a sign for the "toilets" instead of the restrooms, or when I hear an awesome accent (technically I'm the one with the accent here...), or when I see the green walking man at a crosswalk... So many great things! Anyway, I am having a blast exploring and spending time with my friends. My days are SUPER full and I come home exhausted, but it's worth it! Anyway, right now I am finally getting better from a cold I've had since last week. YES! Luckily, it didn't stop me from experiencing anything, but I'm so happy to be almost better. Well, that's all I can think of about me right now... If you have any questions, you can ask in the comments section and I will try and answer!

And now, without further ado... what I've been up to!

My roommates and I FINALLY went across the street to Hyde Park! We also took pictures with the telephone booth, because it is awesome and we had to. :) We will definitely be going back... it's so big and so beautiful! But here's our first go!

Look at me using that phone! :)

This represents Asia. (They had a statue for each part of the world!)

This is the back side of the statue above. I decided I would be this leaning guy if I was in the sculpture. I like the casual pose. :)

Any guesses? See the picture below for the answer!

This one's Europe! Did you get it right?

Take a guess!

This is America! This guy was on the back of the statue. I like his hat! :)

Africa!

Just a pretty, windy path!

Super cool enormous rocks stacked on top of each other!

That's me. :)

Me at this great tree

Jumping from the tree! Getting the timing for this picture took some work! Let's just say I have many bloopers!

Here's my roommate jumping off the tree!

And here's my other roommate posing on the tree...

...and looking slightly creepy. :)

I pass by this statue every day on the way to class! Just thought y'all would like to see it!

 After Hyde Park, we went to see The Audience (a play about the queen meeting with the prime ministers). Helen Mirren was playing the queen, and GUESS WHAT?!? I got to meet her! :)

Here she is! She signed my ticket!

 Anyway, that was yesterday. Today we went to the Victoria and Albert museum... It was amazing! Here are some of the things I saw:

At first, I was horrified by this picture! Then I realized it was Achilles.

I thought this was really sad!

Star Trek Nerd Moment: When I saw this, I immediately thought of the Borg regenerating! It looks just like it!

I thought this bowl was super cool!

This was a pulpit for Islamic congregations.

An ivory box

A wedding veil

A fancy tea set!

This room was gorgeous!

See what I mean?

This is Handel!

 Some of my favorite parts of the museum were the interactive exhibits... :)

I am wearing a giant petticoat! I couldn't stop laughing when I looked at myself! :)

I also learned how to tie a cravat.

Totally off subject, but I thought this model looked a lot like the Kirtland Temple! Pretty cool!

I tried on a gauntlet. Surprisingly, it is pretty comfortable!

I tried on one of those neck things people wore a long time ago. I think I look like some weird clown. Not my favorite.

This was SO impressive! This leaf bowl is made out of brass!!!

Shakespeare

Look at all those books! Such a great library!

The books were huge! I put my hand up for scale. 

How would you feel having this set of drawers? :)

Or this chair for kids? :)

Or this swirly bookshelf?

Dad, I thought you would like this table. It is made entirely of wood.

This is where I ate my lunch today! :)

I really liked this solid gold statue of a ship! It was so detailed!

Some giant silver lions

The Torah

Close up

The bible with a silver cover

It looked really fancy!

I liked this picture. Unfortunately, it was really hard to take a picture of. This is the best I could do.

A bust I saw while there.

This was a costume in a play! Two people would be inside moving it around!

A skull used in Hamlet

Look at those shoes!!!

 Here's another interactive exhibit! :)

This one looks like a big moo moo... (I realize that's spelled wrong, but I don't know how to spell it. )

I LOVED this jacket. If I could buy one like this I would! Unfortunately, this jacket was children size, so it didn't fit in the front. But the back did! :)

It was fun to spin in! :)

Lion King costumes

 Then, this afternoon, we went to visit Sherlock Holmes stuff. My roommate is a BIG fan! :)

This wall is at the tube station! Pretty cool!

My VERY excited roommate

Waiting for the Sherlock Holmes Museum

The gift shop

I love this "toilet" sign!

This roommate LOVES the Beatles! There was a Beatles store right by, so we stopped in. She got this great bag!

People in my group today.

Such interesting faces...

I thought this was a cool quote.

And this too!

Finally, I want to show you this delicious thing I got the other day. After class on Monday, a lot of people from class decided to go to the Creperie. They have every kind of crepe you can think of (within reason... no anchovies, etc.) I got a strawberry cream one. It was delicious!

It was SO messy! I had to take it home to eat it because stuff was falling out onto the street.

Sherlock Holmes Pub... I have a feeling we'll be back here sometime. :)

Here I am!

Thanks for reading! You're all awesome! :) Goodnight!