You were always on my mind, you were always on my mind

Today was by far the most successful day we've had. We started the day decently early, heading toward Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guards. It was SO AWESOME! I have literally waited my entire life to see the palace and that whole little ceremony...I know it's really just a silly tradition, but to me, it was great. I was so, so happy I got close enough to get a bunch of pictures and videos!

After the whole shindig there, we headed over to Westminster Abbey to take the tour. I wish we could've taken pictures inside...I was in awe the entire time. Everything was so, so old--more than I think my brain can even appreciate--and it absolutely astounded me to see the graves of royalty and Dickens and Chaucer and Austen and the Brontes. I could have spent eternity in the Poets Corner, just staring at their tombs and wondering what went on inside their heads while they were writing. Darwin was there too, which was pretty exciting for me, as well as an exhibit for Will and Kate's wedding (I wish you could have seen it Mom!!). I loved it. I will remember that experience forever.

We grabbed lunch at a local pub afterward (more fish and chips...definitely not as good as Queens Arms, but it fixed the hunger problem) and we headed down our Westminster Walk. We went past Big Ben, Parliament, a protest in front of Parliament complete with the phrase we learned about in class (dulce et decorum est pro patria mori!), the outside of the War Rooms, the Cenotaph memorial for WWI/II, Downing Street, the Haig memorial (WWI commander), and Trafalgar Square. Pretty much everything I wanted/needed to see in London to feel complete.

Of course, there's more on my list, but now I feel like I'm actually in LONDON. Real London. And now, after a long, long day of walking, I'm chilling in the flat with Tiffany, Kalen, Kristine, and Alyssa. We had frozen pizza for dinner and just finished singing Benny and the Jets and watching Practical Magic and talking about ridiculous things. I could get used to this life, I really could. :)