The Adventure Ends...in a long post!!!!

My home :)

The center!

 Sorry for not posting every day anymore. I kinda stayed up way to late enjoying my last few days. So I just realized that I have not told you anything about this week so we are starting with Tuesday...even though I have no pictures to represent that day. So, Tuesday, I went to Buckinham Palace! Which if you didn't know that is the home of the Queen in London. Since I was visiting she wasn't in London. So I wasn't able to take any pictures in the palace but it was so cool! We only went through the state rooms so I didn't actually see the Queen's living quarters but that is totally ok. There was a special exhibit this year because of the Diamond Jubilee. So the diamond scepter in the Tower of London (532 carats!) apparently was part of an even larger diamond! This diamond was cut into 7 diamonds that are all part of the royal jewelry. The other diamonds are not as huge but they are still gorgeous! It was amazing seeing the jewelry! It only consisted of diamonds because it was the diamond jubilee and it was just wonderful! After Buckingham I escorted two ladies in our group to the Making of Harry Potter. I did this because I wanted to shop some more. It was totally awesome. Then I went back to the house and studied for my finals.

Wednesday was a really boring day...all I did was study and pack. All day. That's it. I am not kidding. I only left the center to go and get lunch.

Thursday was D-day. We had to take our finals. I was so incredibly stressed but I did it! They are over!!!!!! After I finished the exams Kristina, Kim and I went for some shopping therapy. We went to Camden Market. I bought a new belt and a London hoodie. It was so fun. Then we returned to the center for our last group dinner. After dinner we went to see Julius Caesar. This production changed the setting and placed the Shakespearean play in Africa. It was actually a great set change. It placed this play into modern times in a situation that is not unusual. Especially since Julius Caesar is the story of differing political ideals. It was a wonderful production and I enjoyed it! After the show Megan, Jace, Aubrey and I walked around London. We headed toward Leicester Square. Our final destination was Piccadilly Circus. On the way we stopped by the M&M world where we took pictures with the London icons made M&M style. We also did a little bit of shopping for our touristy souvenirs. Then we headed home to get some sleep after the stressful finals day.

Julius Caesar: my last show in London

Elementary my dear Watson

 Friday was my last day in London. The first few hours that I was awake I was totally depressed. I didn't want this adventure to end, but I had to get over that so I could enjoy my day. Kristina and I headed to Oxford street to do some shopping. Our first stop? Primark the Forever 21 of England. Its a crazy place. Then we went to the Disney store so I could get a present and then headed back to the center. I went to lunch at Nandos with a large group of people and then headed off on my own to the British Museum. This is a place I definitely need to return to this museum I didn't even see half of it. Then I started one of the longest walks of my life. I rode the tube to Tower hill. I took one last walk around the Tower of London, crossed Tower Bridge and then I headed down the Thames. I walked for two and a half hours all the way to the Globe theater. It was a wonderful way for me to say goodbye to this city that had been my home. I also found 10 Wenlocks (Olympic mascot) around the city. Then I went on a walk with Jace, Emilee and Sarah. We walked through Kensington Gardens all the way to Hyde park as the sun set. It was beautiful. Then I went with Christina to meet Aubrey and Kristina outside Parliament. For the Olympics they were projecting a 15 minutes movie on the side of Parliament! So we stood across the river and just watched it happen. It was amazing. Then we walked to the bridge between Waterloo and Embankment. We ran into Lauren who started crying because we were at her favorite spot in London. Then we returned to the center to finish packing. I was up until 2 a.m. in the morning. We finally took a roommate picture at 2 am and then it was over...

Last meal at Nandos. Thanks Jace

Sun setting on the Serpentine

Christina, Aubrey and Kristina with Parliament in the background

Me, Megan, Sarah, Kim, Emilee and Kristina. My roommates!

Saturday I woke up at 6 am. I carried my things downstairs and said my goodbyes. Kim and Emilee were very sluggish because I woke them up enough just so they could hug me goodbye. Megan almost started crying and so she almost made me cry. Nothing was harder though then saying goodbye to Kristina. She was my best friend on this trip. We were both fine until we walked out the front door together. Then we both almost started crying but managed to not get to full fledged sobbing. Then I walked away... I hailed a taxi and drove to Paddington station. Then I got on the express train to the airport. There I got my last traditional English breakfast and I boarded a plane for the next ten hours. So ended my wonderful, amazing, stressful, exhausting, exhilarating adventure.