This past week we took a trip to London (the on-again, off-again plan was discussed in a hilarious previous post). We got up at 4:30am (which is just 04:30 in Paris) and then took 1 bus and 5 trains to arrive at the London apartment around 10:30. We were lucky enough to be able to stay in the BYU London Study Abroad director's apartment while they were traveling in Scotland. Their apartment made me very grateful for our beautiful Paris apartment which I vow to never speak ill of again.
Early morning wake up call.
This was our first time riding the bus in Paris.
It was really fast and convenient (this may only
be true at 5:30am). We took the bus because our
metro line hadn't started running yet.
The streets were pretty empty.
So were the train stations.
Waiting for the RER which was about 20 minutes late.
We were starting to get a little nervous about making
our next train. Don't ask about the glasses.
We made it in time!
At the Disneyland station we caught our first bullet train (as Luke loved calling them). It took us to Lille, France where we had to change trains and go through customs and get our much needed stamps (showing that we left the Schengen area and will no longer be overstaying our passports).
I actually feel more tired than I look (if possible).
Our second train went through the chunnel which is a 31 mile tunnel that crosses under the English Chanel. I thought it might be a little claustrophobic and/or frightening. But it is totally dark outside the train and you really just feel like you are in a tunnel and not under unknown tons of water that could come crashing in on you at any moment.
St Pancras (not pancreas as we were calling it) Station
We crossed the street to Kings Cross Station so we could visit platform 9 3/4. Of course a Harry Potter store has taken control over the platform and they have props and pictures available.
Our apartment was on the Bakerloo line (doesn't that sound very British). We changed trains at Baker Street.
Weary travelers in front of Sherlock Holmes.
It was an exhausting day of travel but it was still early and we decided to get in as much sight seeing as possible.
The London Eye
We couldn't justify the expense of going on it, but it
was still cool to look at.
Big Ben
Big Ben from a distance.
There were lots of red phone booths around.
They appear to be used solely for tourist pictures.
We saw lots of people taking pictures with them and
nobody using them to make a phone call.
Except Libby making this fake phone call.
Lunch at the park. Finding a place to eat
is just as difficult in London as Paris.
Giant chess at the park.
Double decker bus (these are everywhere)
and a Book of Mormon advertisement.
Buckingham Palace in the background.
Buckingham Palace
We decided not to take the time to watch the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace but saw a few minor guard changes at other stations.
Buckingham Palace guard.
Guard near Buckingham Palace. We were fascinated
by this guard who is a Sikh and wearing his turban
instead of the hat the guards usually wear.
Getting dark at 4:00. We were surprised at how early
it got dark. Daylight savings here was earlier than in the U.S.
We ran across lots of small differences between the English language in England and English in America. Although it was nice for me to be able to read signs and understand the language, it did still feel foreign at times.
British people don't yield, they give way.
We lasted until about 6pm before we had enough and headed back to the apartment for dinner and an early bed time.
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