a lil more o' london

Blogging has been a little slow lately, so I apologize about that.  Its just, there's SO MUCH TO DO AND SEE here!  I did not anticipate this.  Like my friend's grandparents always say, "If you're bored of London you're bored of life."  

Anyways, here are a few pics from the last couple of days.  I'll 'splain as I go.  

SUNDAY

aka: pub night!  England was playing in some big-deal football cup, so a big group of us decided to go and check out the scene.  We took a nice Sunday walk down to Fat Cats, the local pub, to watch the game (and in my case, just to join in the cultural experience). It was crazy to me just how many pubs were full o' football fans!  We had to stop by three pubs till we found one with room for some n00b Americans to squeeze in.

on our way home from the pub: 

me and a couple new besties saw a pretty building... so we took a pic, obvs

 and then we stopped by our local grocer to get some sweet treats... don't worry, I don't plan on trying these, probably ever.

MONDAY

After class in the morning, I headed over to the Summerset House which is hands down MY FAVORITE MUSEUM THUS FAR.  I was dying the whole time!  It was the cutest little hole-in-the-wall museum and it was free, so when I began stumbling upon masterpieces by Monet, Manet, Seurat, Degas, Picasso, and Van Gogh I about had a heart attack. Seriously, SO worth going to.

I mean.... THIS GUY WAS THERE. HOW COOL.

 our tube stop to get to the museum. just thought it was a cute photo opp

at THE summerset house with some new friends

 YOLOing in the summerset fountain on a beautiful day

My second class of the day met in Westminster Abbey. Yep you heard me. Unreal, I know. It was BEAUTIFUL in there. We also were able to attend the 5:00 choral service inside which was an amazing experience. Heck, the prime minister of Mozambique was even there. Also, I swear the choral leader was the same guy that led the choir at the royal wedding. Or else it was his twin.

 westminster! the outside is pretty breathtaking too

an artsy angle. 

After class, we were finally cut loose! We did some wild sightseeing which involved walking along the river, eating dinner, and overall bonding.

rachel, sarah, me, and big ben!

 carrousel + nighttime + london, england... you do the math

 parlament and big ben at night

the london eye! we ate dinner along that warf

portobello market

Today I fell a little deeper in love with London, and all credit goes entirely to Portobello Market. As you know, anything second-hand or old gets to me, so searching for antique treasures all saturday morning was way too perfect.  Here's just how perfect:

I meandered down Portobello's cobblestoned road, taking in the smells of fresh falafel and crepes cooking in the background.

I went from stand to stand, trying on vintage diamond rings and watches and talking to cute old British men about their antique book collections. 

Stamps, printing press letters, cameras, binoculars, monocles, collectable cigarette cards, tea sets, and other random nick-nacks were all too charming to pass up without a closer look and a conversation with the vendor.
All I can say after this is, my flea market standards have definitely skyrocketed.

portobello road

my FAVE book booth!  I am going back because the old man running this booth was my favorite. plus I want an old winnie the pooh book so badly.

 

we didn't eat here or anything but I just think this is cute, and very English.

 homemade mallows!  free samples were had.

 I had to take a picture of this thrift store classic, done better in the UK.

 the dollar store!  haha

 cameras cameras cameras. vintage and in working order!  

without fail, jewelry stops me in my tracks #attractedtoshinythings

 old type blocks!

fruit stands errywhere!

tomatoes sold on the vine

bakery stands errywhere!

Portobello Market, you have my heart. 

CHEERS!

I'M OFFICIALLY IN LONDON. And life couldn't be sweeter.

I have been here for four days so far, and I have already:
-used over 20 pounds on my tube pass
-eaten fish and chips
-dedicated a whole day to riding the red double decker bus
-paid a visit to the British Art Museum and the National Art Gallery
-seen Les Miserables in theater!
-walked through Hide Park
-visited Kensington Palace
-tried 5 new candy bars
-gone thrifting
-said hello to Big Ben
-took a boat ride past the London Eye and the London Bridge
-pretty much perfected my English accent, thanks to the help of a rapper selling CDs on the street.  he gladly taught us the hippest slang. apparently my accent's brilliant.
-made forever friends!

To some it up, I think imma love this place.

my first glimpse of parlament and big ben

the london eye from our boat

british museum!

fish 'n' chips with bri!

legit street art

DENIM THRIFTING. the real reason I know imma like it here.

good to know! haha

hahahaha

my hot and tempting new friend, sarah

YOLOing

friends!

~THESE 6 WEEKS ARE GONNA ROCK~

sprang

BROVO. Where the livin is easy. 

Spring term is almost over, and all that I can say is that I am gonna miss this place for real... and the people in it. Energy drinks. Dance clubs. Countless redbox trips. Bikes. Rollerblades. Mattress parties in the living room. Overplayed CDs. Starting the day with a soak in the hot tub. Hikes. Late nights and late mornings. Uneven sunburns. Oh, and school too. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but I don't think these pictures do spring term justice at all. But here, you can still look at them.

lazy sundays on the grass

rollin with the homies

shrimp: a daily tradition

bike rides on campus are the best kind

shaved ice shack on sunny days #aloha

mona rope swing @ midnight

4th meal... just some hoodrats that I know and live with

truckin. ain't no better way to travel.

making memories at the solar eclipse

I DYED MY HAIR

more bike ridin, more bros

us and our $w@G hats at our favorite diner

*~*~BROS 4 LYFE~*~*

#literally

party in the usa

SHE'S BACK, SNITCHES.

And she defies all the RM norms:
Socially awkward?  Never met a better conversationalist.
50 pounds overweight?  Never seen such a fittie ;)
No more personality?  Still the spunky Laura I dropped off on the MTC curb 20 months ago.

I welcomed her back by taking her to her FIRST concert! And re-introducing her to the American sunshine, which they don't have all that much of in Mother Russia. (note the very bad sunburn on my neck)

Here we are with a few of our favorites #imaginedragons #ofmonstersandmen

Of course we stopped by Oakland for a little garmie-run...

it is BEAUTIFUL

we are BEAUTIFUL

Glad to have you back, Laura! Velcome to AMUREEKA!