Was I even awake for this?!?!

Going to the Harry Potter Premiere definitely had it's consequences....like being totally exhausted for several days after. So I know I did a lot of really cool thinks the past few days but I'm pretty sure I was half asleep for all of it.Thankfully I took pictures to remind me what I did.

Friday was a catch up day with classes, shopping, and running errands.

Saturday the group went on a tour of the Houses of Parliament. That was really cool and interesting but getting up at 7 am on a Saturday to tour Parliament was not my idea of fun.

After the tour Lisa and I headed to St. Paul's to see the Lord Mayor's Show. This is a big parade that the mayor of London puts on every year.

The Lord Mayor himself

Saturday night a bunch of the girls and I watched What A Girl Wants. I love that movie and the fact that we went to Parliament that day made it so much cooler. I actually understood all the Lords, Commons and all the other parliament lingo that is in the movie.


Monday:
PLATFORM 9 3/4!!!!!!!!!!!!
In honor of the Harry Potter Premiere last week and the movie premiere this week, the girls at 27 Palace Court are on a POTTER PILGRIMAGE!!! Monday's Potter adventure was to see Platform 9 3/4.

I then went and did a bunch of random touristy things like the British Library, British Museum, Regent Street, Piccadilly Circus and went to see Mamma Mia.

Tuesday was a day trip to Cambridge American Cemetery and  Cambridge University. This was filled with seeing cool old buildings, punting on the Cam River, shopping and Evensong at the King's College Chapel.

Shopping included buying matching Cambridge sweatshirts with Anne and THE ENTIRE HARRY POTTER  BOOK SERIES!!!!!!! I even got them shipped to the good ol' USA! I am so excited to have the entire British series.

Cheers!

HARRY POTTER 7 pt. 1 WORLD PREMIERE!!!!!!!!

MOST EPIC NIGHT OF MY LIFE!!!!!!!!
My childhood is now complete and I can die happy.

Do you realize that the first Harry Potter book came out in 1998 when I was 7? I grew up with Harry Potter!!! I have grown up with the stars of Harry Potter. I have now been within 3 feet of almost the entire Harry Potter cast.

Some may ask, Was it worth the 2 hours of sleep and the 17 hours of waiting in the freezing pouring rain?! Yes, YES IT WAS!!!!! I have never been so physically, mentally or emotionally exhausted in my life. But the stars of Harry Potter were worth every minute.

A few of us headed over to Leicester Square to scout out what was going on around 10 pm on the 10th. There was already a line of about 150 people camping out. We meet some girls, took a picture with them and that picture made it into the Daily Mail. The group of us study abroad girls are in the back right corner of the picture.

At 3:15 AM 19 BYU girls left the centre looking our finest!

After 15 hours of waiting, this is what we saw...

J.K. Rowling's autograph

"You made our childhoods magical Jo!" - It's so true!

We ended up stealing one of the World Premiere posters and a part of the red carpet!
What an incredible day!

Cheers

Christmas Season is upon us!!!

Due to the fact that they don't celebrate Thanksgiving in England, CHRISTMAS SEASON IS HERE!! The lights are lit and the city is eager to shop til they drop in London's shopping district.

Tuesday was the official lighting of the Christmas lights on Regent Street. They set up the stage and had an awesome line up of performers.

The first was the West End Gospel Choir. They were fun and entertaining but a little tune deaf at points..... not good if your a singer.

Next was Alexus Jordan. Such a diva but I love her songs and dancing. The backup dancers outfits were awesome.

The cast of Jersey Boys came and did a medley of all the major songs from the musical. I had been debating whether or not to go and see the musical but now since I saw it for free I don't need to pay to go see it.

Joe McElderry...ever heard of him? Yeah me either, until Tuesday. He won X-Factor last year (England's version of American Idol). I loved his performance.

Georgie Henley (Lucy), Ben Barnes (Prince Caspian)  and Will Poulter (Eustace Scrubb) from the Chronicles of Narnia came on stage for interviews and to flip the switch to turn on the Christmas lights on Regent Street!!

Lisa and the Lights of Regent Street!

After the show Lisa and I headed to go see the play When We Are Married. It was so funny. This play is about 3 couples who are celebrating their 25 wedding anniversary only to find out that the man who married them all wasn't authorized so they aren't actually married.

On Wednesday we went to Windsor Castle and Hampton Court.
I loved Windsor Castle. It's the British version of Versailles but better. There was the Queen's doll house that was absolutely ridiculous. It has electricity, running water, pure silver dining set, and other such things that a doll house should never have. I stood on top of the grave on King Henry the VIII. We got to see the changing of the guard and a sign that says KJB territory.

That's right...it's KJB territory

Hampton Court was cool but not as beautiful as Windsor Castle.

Passed out drunk on the Wine fountain

Cheers!