Keep Calm and Carry On

WEDNESDAY
ONE WEEK UNTIL DUBLIN!!
Wednesday Weekly Wondrous (W)Day-Trip. Today we went to Dover (cue Eric Johnson’s “Cliffs of Dover”…yes, I had it stuck in my head allll dayyy). We went to the Dover Military Base on the white cliffs of Dover. Fun fact#1: the white cliffs of Dover are white because of the skeletal remains of plankton algae. We went to the four miles of secret underground tunnels where the Brits were stationed during WWII. They acted as underground hospital grounds, barracks, mess halls, and communication bases. This was also where D-Day was planned and executed. When the war was over, it acted as headquarters for preparation in case there was a nuclear attack on England. Fun Fact #2: Dover is the closest distance between England and France across the channel (~20 miles). Yes, I could see France from where we were. The coast was beautiful.

.:Anna & I @ Dover:.

.:Dover Castle with Sarah:.
Right next door was Dover Castle and I don’t know the significance of it haha. But at the top of the tall tower you could see all around the countryside.
We then went to Canterbury to see the cathedral and St. Augustine’s. Built mainly to be a burial place for royalty and the Archbishops of Canterbury, St. Augustine’s was a church that was destroyed in the dissolution of the monasteries.

.:Roomies @ St. Augustine Abbey:.
According to Dr. Cooper, Canterbury Cathedral is about equivalent to our Temple Square in SLC. In BritLit, we read “The Canterbury Tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer, which was about pilgrims making a pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral. Way back when, St. Thomas, the Archbishop of Canterbury and of England, was murdered in the cathedral because of a “misunderstanding” between himself and his friend the King. He was buried there in the cathedral and people would take pilgrimages out to his grave to be healed or to ask for specific things. Supposedly St. Thomas could perform miracles during his lifetime, so pilgrims wanted to take advantage of this power. St. Thomas isn’t buried there anymore, but a memorial stands where he was murdered.

.:Canterbury Cathedral:.
We had a few hours until the bus left for home, so Annie, Laura and I walked around the cute little shopping area by the cathedral.
When we got home, we watched “Phantom of the Opera” to prepare us for the musical. I’m really really really excited to see it.
I love Wednesdays in London.
THURSDAY
Post-class time, me and a few girls went to try to get tickets for “Phantom” for the same night, but there were only bad seats left, so we’re going Monday. AHH!!
After dinner, Annie and I braved Primark. Practically everyone has gone to Primark in our program and I needed a party dress, so we had to check it out. Primark is scary. It’s like Forever 21 on steroids with about twice the amount of shoppers. I got some cute stuff and it was all cheap, so that’s an advantage.
FRIDAY
Lovely London Day-Trip Day at The Banqueting House on Whitehall. We had an hour before they let us in, so Annie, Kira, Brittany and I took a walk through St. James’ Park. We got some peanuts from an old guy and we fed a squirrel. The animals in this park are a bit nicer than the ones in Hyde Park. At the end of the park is Buckingham Palace. The flag was up, which I think means that the queen is at home. I’ve never been so close to royalty in my life. What happens if you run into one and you’re not a UK citizen? Are you supposed to curtsy or bow or shake hands or smile and not make eye contact? I honestly don’t know what to do if I run into royalty. It’s weird to think about.

.:Buckingham Palace:.
The Banqueting House was where poor King Charles I was executed because Oliver Cromwell wanted no more royalty reign. It’s the first building in England built in the Renaissance style. The ceiling in the great hall was the focal point of the building, with elaborate paintings influenced by mythology done by Reubens.
Then it was time for another trip to the awesome British Museum. May favorite thing from this time around was the ancient Egyptian stuff. I also got to touch a really old coin in the money room and old Roman tablets used to pay taxes.
Friday night was SO MUCH FUN. There was a YSA (young single adults) dance. When we got there, it was pretty much just the Americans, but gradually other people started showing up. Even if it had just been us, it would still have been really fun. It was hilarious when “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus came on because the Americans just started freaking out and rocking out. We definitely didn’t try to blend in haha. The people in the program with me are so fun.