Westminster Abbey is Great: Wednesday, June 16

Pics: Me at Westminster, Westminster Abbey, Egyptian influence at Harrods, Memorial, Yummy food!

We finally figured out that we could ride a bus from our hotel to Victoria Station. Hmm...that would have helped the last week! Sad.

We rode the bus to Westminster Abbey. It was a very cool place and ranks up on the top of my London like list. There are hundreds of people buried there including many monarchs and famous British people. The church itself reminded me of lots of the churches in Russia. There were many side chapels and I was intrigued by the alter where the coronation of the British kings and queens happen. It was pretty cool to think about all the historical figures who stood in the same places I did. I also loved the poets' square where writers like Chaucer, Dickens, and Tennyson are buried. So many of whom I studied in college were there or memorialized there. There was a moment of silence for prayer and I got chills as I thought of all the historic prayers and people who worshipped there. It was also cool to see the actual coronation chair.

We then went to Harrods. I couldn't afford anything at that swag mall. The memorial to Princess Diana and Fiat was pretty cool and the Egyptian escalators were interesting.

I bought lots of shirts and souvenirs that I didn't need and then met up with my mom and her friend, Ruth for dinner. It was so good! Roast and both fried and mashed potatoes and my new favorite thing: Yorkshire Pudding. We stopped at Victoria Station again on our way back and got some yummy chocolate. Good stuff. I am starting to get very interested in "football." The World Cup is so fun to watch in a country that gets soccer and loves it! So fun! I even had a funny moment when my mother was talking about watching football with people back in Wisconsin and I totally was trying to figure out why they were watching soccer back here! Too funny!

Leaving London, on to Scotland: June 17

Pics: Kings Cross Station, Pic of Scottish town from train, Haggis, Allotment, Pretty Flowers.

I took a cab to Kings Cross Station because my mom was a little nervous for me to use the Tube. It was actually a good adventure because my taxi driver gave me a good last tour of London.

The train ride was fun because the countryside is so pretty. Lots to see and it was relaxing. The Scottish people speak a different language because I had a real hard time understanding the train conductor when he would say where we were stopping. Good thing there are signs at the stations.

Steve and Mary Beth picked me up at the Dundee station and we went grocery shopping and we then had a tradition haggis meal. (It was actually vegetarian so no gut casing.) We then went to their garden allotment and it was pretty. Good first night in Scotland!

p.s. It is chilly in Scotland. Being next to the water and being more north sure does make a difference!

Friday, June 18: Good Ol' Dundee

Pics: Museum, Cemetary, Desperate Dan(he was a comic published in Dundee), Broughty Castle, More Castle.
Well, today was excellent. Scotland is beautiful and I think I said that around 1,000 times today.

MB took me to downtown Dundee where we took in the sights of the museum and a cool little cemetery. We then met Steve for and Indian buffet just by the Tay River. You could see the The North Sea in the distance.

We then took a bus to Broughty Castle. My first castle in Scotland did not disappoint. It was along the Tay but you could see The North Sea in the distance. We walked along the beach and found a cool garden.

We went to a traditional Scottish dance at the church. It was fun to dance one of the dances. Steve then took us to a cool lookout over the city. I didn't have my camera which was a bummer but I have the memories. Great day!

Day Tripper: Saturday, June 19th

A day trip with MB and Steve. The countryside of Scotland is gorgeous. We drove around to three different little cities that were within about a 50 mile radius of Dundee.

The day started with Steve making me a traditional Scottish breakfast. It was yummy and meat filled. Black pudding=not bad!

We started our sightseeing at Falkland Palace. It was gorgeous and so full of history. The Royal Tennis Court was a highlight! The game played on the court is different than regular tennis and seems to be a cross between racquetball and tennis. (They can play off the walls). I also enjoyed the palace itself because it was redone and felt like I was walking back in history. The chapel was my favorite part because I felt the spirit as I thought about the twelve apostles that were honored by the gate before the alter. The grounds of the palace were very well kept. The flowers were simply amazing.

We had fish and chips alongside the beach at Anstruther. Man, I think that was the best fried fish I have ever had.

We then headed to St. Andrews. I didn't know much about that place until today. The famous university is where Prince William went to school. The place has a rich history due to the reformation of the Church of Scotland. A Catholic monastery and chapel once stood there.(Now beautiful ruins) Some of the challengers of the Catholic Church were executed at St. Andrews. The monastery actually had some relics including body parts of St. Andrew. He was crucified on an X. This is where the Scottish flag comes from! The university is there because Pope Benedict and another man organized it. Rich History, eh?

What an excellent and beautiful day in Scotland!

Sunday, June 20th. A Chill Day!

Going to church in Scotland was nice. It's always good to know that you can go anywhere in the world and you are guarenteed that church will be the same(If you are a Latter-Day Saint, that is!)

We ate some awesome roast afterwards. It was so very yummy. We had a low key kind of a day and then went to the resavoir. It was a pretty place and I was sad that I did not bring my camera. You could see lots of beautiful green rolling hills all the way to The Black Sea. There were lots of fisherman in little boats. I also saw some swans.

When we got back to the flat, we had some pretty amazing Strawberry Shortcake. Steve and Mary Beth are such good cooks and bakers. I am being spoiled!