This morning I woke up late, about 11, and then I realized that I didn't reset my clock for daylight savings and it was actually 10. I wandered around the hostel for a little while in my pajamas, made some peppermint tea and toast, and sat down to write some emails when I got a text message from Andy saying that Hermione Granger was signing autographs at the Camden Town Market today. I quickly got dressed and ran out the door to meet them at the market. Much to our dismay Hermione was no where to be found, and instead about a million people were walking around the 2 block area, bumping into each other. Notice, however, the rack on the right of the picture above.
The trip to Camden Market wasn't a total bust though, Trace, Andy, and I popped into a pub for lunch and to escape the crowds for a little while. The underground line that we needed to take back home was closed today for repairs so we decided to walk to the next station. Through a lucky accident we found ourselves at Regent's Park. Walking through the middle of the park we were surrounded by soccer, rugby, cricket, lacrosse...just about every English sport played for recreation. It started to rain a little, but not hard enough to ruin the walk, or the experience. It felt very English to take a "Sunday afternoon stroll through the gardens." (The picture at left is Andy in the park). Andy headed home to take a nap after being up all night at his new bar job, and Trace and I went in search of free wireless, which we found at a small coffee shop/bar called Prague. Imagine a smaller version of Paris on the Platte, in a bit dodgier borough, and you've got Prague. Since I'm still unemployed and incredibly cheap I try to walk anywhere I can. I'm learning that this city is not all that big, if you're just willing to walk for 30 minutes or so. It was a really nice night and I didn't want to pay for the underground, so we walked to Prague. About an hour and a half later we arrived. Apparently it was a little farther than it looked on the map. We sat there drinking tea for a long time, he updating his blog and checking email, I searching for flats. I found a few, and I am going to check them out tomorrow. I'll let you know how they go. I also start a new job tomorrow. It's a pa job (personal assistant). it's only part time and pays only minimum wage, but I start a catering job on Tuesday. Hopefully between the two I'll be able to make enough to cover rent. Remind me again why I chose to move to the third most expensive city in the world? I should probably get to bed, it's now 1 in the morning and ross would tell me that it's way past my bedtime.

Today started with a cold and wet walk to Piccadilly Circus at 7 am. I went with Sophia and Bethany, two girls from the hostel, to stand in line for cheap front row tickets to "Guys and Dolls." Ewan McGregor is starring in the Broadway show, which opened recently and is basically the big thing in the London theater scene right now. Another hostel-mate Sarah dislocated her knee a couple weeks ago, so she couldn't join us to stand in line, but came tonight. Actually she got the last front row seat, while the rest of us stood in the back. It's pretty funny actually, we bought standing tickets and we literally leaned against the railing behind the last row. The show was amazing! There was so much energy, the singing and dancing. And Ewan was great (of course we're on a first-named basis)! We were all a little star-struck. Rumor on the street said that he speeds away on his motorbike after the show without greeting fans at the stage door like most of the actors. We didn't give up hope though, and stood outside the stage door like groupies. To our dismay, they were correct and after a short while we heard a motorbike start up and a streak of light drove down the street while cameras flashed behind. The night was wonderful though, it was fun to go to the theater and enjoy some London culture.

These pictures are me, Bethany, and Sophia in line in the morning.
Bethany with the poster of Ewan.

Last night I walked down Abbey Lane...that's right, the real Abbey Lane. I met up with some BUNAC guys that I met at orientation and some of their friends at a pub. It was really good to sit and laugh with people. It's funny being in a place where you know no one. Even the people you do know you don't know very well, but just a night at a pub with strangers becomes the highlight of your week. And even though you drink a beer and laugh together, you still go your seperate ways at the end of the night, unknowing what will come of the next day. I guess I'm learning this about living in a big city.
Today I met the same guys (Andy and Trace) at the Bunac office. Since we are all unemployed, (and awaiting return calls from potential employers) we had the afternoon free. I hadn't been to the British museum yet and wanted to go, they came along. I'm still amazed at the ability of beautiful architecture to take my breath away. I was wandering through the Ancient Greece and Rome section and turned a corner to find myself standing in awe of a smaller version of the Parthenon. Perhaps it was the lighting that was strategically placed by museum workers to highlight the marble, or the neirid statues with dresses that seem to be blowing in the wind. Whatever it was I couldn't help but stand there, staring, with my mouth wide open. The same sensation came over me the other day when I was walking up the steps to the Millenium Bridge, preparing to cross the Thames and saw St. Peter's Cathedral. Two years ago when I was in London the cathedral was under construction, cleaning the black pollution stains. While part of the building is still covered, the front has been restored and is gleaming white. Again, I lost my breath and couldn't will my legs to move. There are so many things to look at here, so much to experience. There are moments when I realize that this is my life right now. That I'm not just on vacation for a few days. Those moments happen often, when I'm riding the underground, or walking down the street and catch a glimpse of Hyde Park or the river.
Tonight we went out for fish and chips. Some girls in the hostel are having a "girl's dinner" and several people wanted to flee the sound of the squealing "sorority house." So, we ventured to a pub not far away and officially inducted ourselves into London with a big plate of greasy fried food, my stomach is very full.

Yesterday I was at the bank setting up an account and I had to give my home address abroad. When I said Boulder, CO the guy behind counter said, "oh just like Mork and Mindy" (you have to read that with a British accent or else you don't get the full effect!) The last few days have been busy, and good, and overwhelming all at the same time. There's so much to do, between finding a job, getting everything set up here for taxes and insurance, and findng a place to live. Yesterday when I finished at the bank I was pretty close to the Tate Modern so I decided to take the rest of the morning off and go enjoy some wonderful art. As I was walking around there was an art class there, sketching from the paintings and sculptures in the collections. Watching them made me strangely nostalgic for school and going out on sketch classes around town. And, then, I was completely jealous that these students get to go to the Tate Modern for their sketch classes, whereas we had to go to the denver art museum. When I came home and told one of my hostel-mates about the museum she suggested that we take a hostel sketch trip around town. There's several artists and wanne-be artists (in my case) in the hostel, which creates a fun atmosphere to be around.
I got a job offer last night! I don't really know if I'll take it or not. It's a pa position (personal assistant) for a woman who owns a bar in South Kensington. It's only part time and it only pays minimum wage, which in the third most expensive city in the world, just does not pay the bills. So, I'm going to keep looking and hopefully something else will come up. Thanks for the emails and notes from everyone, it's great to hear from everyone at home!

After three days there are things I already like about London:

1. It's very much a "walking city." Few people have cars, and as a result you will see people walking down the street carrying the strangest things.
2. Everyone is in a hurry. Don't cross the street without checking for rushing cars, but don't stand on the sidewalk for too long because another pedestrian may get fed up and crash into you.
3. Everyone seems to be from somewhere else. When you ask someone a question you never know what accent will come out.
4. I get to carry around a polka-dot umbrella at all times.
5. Everyone wears scarves. all the time. finally i'm in a place where it's normal to wear a scarf and no jacket..indoors.

Here are some fun pictures from the last few days. The picture on the left was from our jaunt in Hyde Park on Friday afternoon. The second is dinner last night. Some of the girls in the hostel, all piled around the little table in the kitchen. On our way back from Hampton Court Palace we stopped at the store and picked up some Indian food for our feast. Hampton Court Palace was great fun. There are beautiful gardens and a human maze through the bushes. It was fun to get out of the city for a while. Today has been very lazy, it's pretty slow around here on Sunday. I did begin the job search, and got set up for a cell phone...so things are coming along!

Today is my first full day in London. I have so much to tell already, but I'm going to Hampton Court Palace in a few minutes, so I'll keep it to the important stuff. I arrived safely yesterday, the flights were no problem, except that we had to circle around the heathrow airport because the rain was too heavy to land. I made my way through the underground and to my hostel successfully, and then a few other hostel-mates who were heading downtown and invited me to tag along. The hostel is not really a hostel and more like a dorm. There's a lot of people living here, and besides the three others who arrived yesterday I've yet to meet someone who's been living in the hostel for less than a month. It kind of reminds me of "the real world" actually....it's humurous. anyway, yesterday we walked through Hyde Park, the sun was shining and it was blue skies, then rode a double-decker bus to Piccadilly circus and stopped for a coffee break, walked to Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey and the London Tower. It was a full day, but fun to see the sites. It's nice knowing I'm going to be here for awhile, I don't feel rushed in seeing everything in one day! Trafalgar Square (and of course the National Gallery) is only a 15 minute walk from the hostel. It's not raining yet, but I think in London it's always just around the corner, time to go!

A Milestone

Last night my boyfriend agreed to dress up as Harry Potter for the movie opening in November. He has signed a written contract, complete with witnesses, to go to the theater, take pictures, and sign autographs. This is the end of years of denying his striking resemblance to everyone's favorite wizard.