Is this the Imperial War Museum?

Hello! So it's been a while since I've had a chance to update this, so it's going to be a massive post! Alright I'll pick up right where I left off! On Tuesday 17th, we went to the "Inside Out Animals" exhibit at the Museum of Natural History. It was mind blowing! Basically Body Worlds but for animals. Who knew chickens eat pebbles to help digest their food?! The next day, the 18th, we traveled to Stratford. It was really interesting to see Anne Hathaway's cottage and Shakespeare's house. There was a tour guide in Shakespeare's house who recited to us some Shakespeare from his cat's point of view! It was very clever and entertaining! Outside Anne Hathaway's house, Kristina, Maddie, and I found a fairy scavenger hunt through the woods! It was raining and some of the fairies were a little dodgy,but it was worth it! Fairies are real!

Thursday we went to Kew gardens which was absolutely gorgeous!

Friday the 20th, me and Ashley explored Hampstead Heath and found a super creepy cemetery ouside St. John's church. After lunch I headed out to the Globe theatre to watch Richard III. As I was walking past St. Paul's Cathedral, rain came POURING down in buckets! I was in flip flops and a thin sweater jacket; typical for an AZ girl. That's just what happens in London! A guy selling nuts on Millennium bridge saw my pathetic state and we both looked at each other and laughed! Richard III was amazing! I was right at the front of the stage and I stood next to a very friendly British couple who come to the Globe regularly. That night, a group of us went to the play "Woman in Black". It is a scary play and you may be familiar with the movie that just came out. I wasn't sure how they could make a play scary but it was brilliant! Ashley and I even screamed at some points! After the play, we went back to Hampstead and got the 'best crepes in London'. It was delicious!

On Saturday, we toured Parliament and it was really fascinating! I enjoyed learning about the traditions that they uphold in government. After that Ashley, Kristina, and I went to Camden Market and got lunch. That place is so massive! The first time I went, I only saw 1/10, so it was good to see the real thing.

Sunday, I finally got to teach my Young Women lesson at church and it went great! The professors' wives also made cookies for us that night, so it was a pleasant surprise and gave us all a taste of home. On Monday, the 23rd, we had a lecture on the basics of cricket and then went to a game! It was the 5th day of England vs. South Africa. I loved it and I am now a cricket fan. After that we went to the Olympic village and rode a gondola over the Thames. It was really cool to see all the Olympic preparation.

Tuesday we went on a hike through the English countryside in Kent. I tried lavender ice cream and raw wheat! I think I got a little carried away with the wheat..it was so tasty though! The landscape was lovely and it was nice to get out of the city for a day.

On Wednesday, I worked some homework and that evening, we had a lecture by Jeremy Black at the Stake Center. There was a protestor outside that just got off his restraining order for the church. I'm used to seeing that in Mesa with the Easter Pageant, but it was surprising to see it London! Afterwards we got gelato at Gelato Mio and that was simply divine! I asked George, a local in one of our wards, to take our picture. If you give a Brit a camera....

Yesterday Ashley and I went to the Museum of London to do a site report. After that, I planned to go to the Imperial War Museum. I was determined that the Museum was at the Westminster Tube stop on Parliament road. Ashley was a little skeptical, but she trusted me and we headed down the deserted Parliament street. We walked into the treasury and I asked the security guard where the Imperial War Museum was and he said it was the next door down. So we walk up to a small door, open it, and there are two, intense high security elevator things with card slots. So we were confused and I jokingly said "Oh maybe I just slide my Oyster card in here!" and I began to put it in the slot when a voice behind me says "Can I help you two?". A well-dressed British man was standing there and I absent-mindedly asked "Is this the Imperial War Museum?" and he laughed at my American ignorance and said it was on the other side of town and that this was the foreign office! So we booked it out of there laughing and feeling ridiculous! Lesson: you can't get into government buildings with an Oyster card! That afternoon, we watched the Olympic torch pass on Bayswater road. It made me really pumped for the Olympics, which begins today!! The opening ceremony is tonight! Yesterday night me Ashley and Karly went to Hamley's toy store, Liecester square, and the huge M&M store. We had a blast! Anyway I've got to go! Oh and we saw Chariots of Fire a few nights ago. There was a rotating stage to accentuate the running scenes! It was a great play and it made me think. One of the underlying questions Abraham was faces with throughout the play was "Why do you run?". It made me question the motives for things. Why do I run? Why do I get up in the morning? Why am I friends with the people I am? It's good to sometimes step back from life and just question. You can find out a lot. Anyway, so long, and don't miss the opening ceremony on TV!