the countryside.

Today I fell in love with the countryside. It was the most beautiful day...but I have to rewind because the days started out horribly wrong.

We woke up early, and caught the train for our 1hr ride back out to Hatton Cross so we could pick up our car at Sixt car rental. We arrived showed our booking information, and were told we needed to pay the young driver surcharge because we weren't 23. The only reason I booked with Sixt is because I called them twice and they told me both times they don't charge the young driver surcharge. They advertise that on their facebook page and website, but apparently it is different in Europe. I explained I told the guy when I called I was picking the car up in Europe, but to no avail we were given a 90 GBP charge for the young driver thing. Which just about doubled our entire payment for the car. Did I mention I turn 23 while we have the car...still nothing could be done. We finally agree to pay the amount, and then they check our drivers insurance. We have insurance back home, but because it doesn't cover over some crazy amount they needed to charge us for the insurance which was another 90 GBP. Then there was the VAT tax, british office tax...etc. etc. etc. we were money rapped etc.

Then we discover Kenny doesn't have his credit card, so we have to take a bus back to Feltham where Elder Price lives to find the Credit Card or else Kenny can't drive the car blah blah blah. We get there think it is lost for about the next 40 minutes of searching. I call Doris to see if we've left anything...she wants to know where I am, and isn't understanding my questions.

We eventually find the Credit Card. Call our insurance company to discover Europe requires some ridiculous amount of insurance so insurance from America doesn't cover it so we need to pay that insurance.

Long story short we end up back at Sixt car rental, and pay way over 350 GBP which is like $600 for a blasted car rental. We arrived at the car rental place at 8:30 and didn't get the actual car rented till almost 1. So we were charged like crazy and lost most of our day. We were pissed at this point...in fact I'm still pissed thinking about it. Maybe someday it will turn into something we laugh at, but I'm still not there.

We however got on the road, and I was instantly calmed. I could die in these rolling green hills. They are unbelievable. I was literally obsessing. It was like every period drama timed in England was coming to past right before my eyes, and it felt incredibly romantic. I've been dreaming of this place for almost ever. How can you not picture Mr. Darcy walking up the hill to Pemberley when you see hills like this. I was in a crazy romantic dream world. I think I told Kenny like 10 times how I've been romanticising English countryside my entire life, and it didn't disappoint one bit. I'd like to thank Jane Austen and my mom for making me watch the 6 hour version of Pride and Prejudice for that.

To pay her a tribute we stopped at her house. Absolutely beautiful. I think I could actually write books like hers if I lived under such conditions...okay maybe not, but she really grew up in the most beautifully quaint town.

Afterwords we plugged in the gps coordinates for StoneHenge. We were busy gabbing away not really paying attention, and we came up over this hill in the middle of literally nowhere. Settled in the most beautifully green lush landscape sits StoneHenge. I think I gasped it was so beautiful. I really didn't have any expectations for StoneHenge and I was blown away. I think I was obsessed mainly because of this setting, but I have never seen anything remotely like it. It really does have a spirit about it, and it how those rocks got there is beyond me. I loved the place. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Completely surprised me how much I loved it. I think the sheep grazing around it were just the cherry on top to my obsession.

We started heading to Wales, and we were within probably 40 minutes of it, but decided to not take the rest of the journey because it was already getting dark. I was so bummed and wanted to start cursing sixt car rental again.

We decided to drop in on Juliette so we headed up to Bidford on Avon. Kenny didn't have her number and she had no idea we were in England, but he still had her address memorized from the first day he met her. So we just drove there and hoped for the best. It was completely dark when we arrived, and he was positive it wasn't the right house until he saw a picture on the wall of Rebecca so we knocked, and I wish you could have seen their faces. Juliette and Rebecca both came to the door. Kenny had a shadow over his face, but the minute he stepped into the light they screamed Elder Schreiner!!! It was amazing. They were thrilled, and I was so relieved for a minute they weren't sure who he was apparently he has lost a lot of weight since he served in Redditch.

My heart was warmed to see Kenny's picture upon their shelf from their baptismal day. They said they were talking about him earlier today, and sent a package to us last week. So we came home from England to a package with a union jack tablecloth. So happy about that.

We had been there about 45 minutes when Kenny asked if we could sleep over. ha ha Nothing like dropping in right? It was wonderful to stay up late talking in the kitchen about the growth their family has had in the gospel. I felt so full of God's love listening to her share her story from the day she met Kenny, and the steps to baptism. What a beautiful gospel. God is so mindful of each of us. He picks us up right when we need it most.

Juliette shared of the struggles and triumphs she has experienced over the past 2 years, and she is planning to go through the temple this March. How I wish we could go through with her. She has the most beautiful conviction and testimony.

We finished the with pajamas on, hot chocolate, and laughing together. It felt like I had known her my entire life. What a beautiful night.

london exploring

We started the morning off exploring Kings Cross Station. I'm in love with the exposed brick here. Of course we bumped into platform 9 3/4. 

 

Our plan was to wake up early so we could make it to the tower of London for their first tour. We however slept in till 830- 9ish. We hurried to the London Tower to discover it was closed because of the new year.



To be honest I wasn't too bothered by it. We spent the morning strolling along the Thames River, walking the London Bridge, and just seeing London on foot. It was beautiful, and did I mention the sun came out?!!!

Next we got off at Buckingham Palace. The gates on this place are a bit too ornate for my taste ha ha but it was still interesting to see. The queen was in because the flag was raised on top of the house.

We walked along Hyde Park, and eventually made it to the shopping area so we could see Harrods. I'll be honest I walked in the front door, and exited the next door I came to. Too big, I felt overwhelmed by the entire place.

Next we caught the train to Camden Market. Seriously one of the best decisions. I absolutely loved the place. Crowded yet so picturesque with the waterway, millions of little stores, and all the authentic food.

We ate some asian food from a little booth, and took our seat on the scooter. Seriously one of the best ideas. 

 

In front of us was the waterway with a boat thing set up for concerts. If I ever live in England I will come to one of the shows played on that boat. Loved the entire environment of this place. 

If you've seen what a girl wants with amanda bynes and collin firth this is where they shop together and dress up. Okay so I've wanted to come here since I was a tween. Perhaps that is why I liked it so much. 

We bought the coolest little handmade double decker bus in one of the booths, and I also bought some amazing shoes for 10gbp. Couldn't be happier. 

We made a quick stop on the way home at Leadenhall market to see where they filmed a piece of Harry Potter...the diagon alley part.

annnd we stopped at Baker Street to see 221B...Sherlock Holmes House.

 

a london new years

Can I tell you living out of 5-6 suitcases is really the worst. I tried organizing them at least a dozen times and yet somehow the tooth brush was always misplaced or I would swear I left my deodorant in a certain pocket... I would just recommend if you are traveling for over a month try to stay in the same climate. That will be our goal for our next adventures.

We finally made it out the door reorganized and packed for our two nights in London. We picked a train at Hatton Cross station to London Kings Cross on the Picadilly line. A day pass for zones 1-6 is about 8.50 GBP...not horrible but by all means not cheap.

At Kings Cross we walked down to the British Library in the pouring rain. I kinda love the rainy English weather though. There is another free exhibit in the British Library, and it really was amazing. We saw so much. I really couldn't believe all they had in this one giant room exhibit:

• Jane Austin
• Jane Eyre
• A Gutenberg Bible 
• Tyndale's New Testament
• Wycliffite Bible 
• Beatles lyrics written on random paper or napkins 
• Handel's Messiah 
• Music by Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert 
• Magna Carta 
• Charles Dickens 
• Leonardo Da Vinci study of mechanics, and notes on arithmetic 
• 7th century Qur'ans from arabia mecca and Medina 
• Captain Cooks journal 
• Shakespeares first folio and other manuscripts
• Sigmund Freud Manuscripts

Afterwords we walked to our hotel. We stayed in Kings Cross Tune hotel, and it was literally 5 minutes from the station, and right next to a bunch of corner shops. I think Kenny about died when he found his favorite pineapple coconut carton drink at the corner shop nearest to us. Over the course of the next 3 days I think we went through about 4 cartons. No objections from me...I loved the stuff. 

After we settled in we spent time shopping/ exploring Oxford street. SO MANY STORES. I really couldn't believe how much shopping there is available in London. Everything was lit up in Christmas lights still, and I was again reminded that Christmas actually happened while we were in Ghana. We found a nice Indian restaurant for dinner. Indian food is everywhere, and Mexican food is no where to be found. After dinner we caught the train further down Oxford, and started exploring. Somehow we ended up in Leicester Square, and the closer we got to the London Eye the more crowded it became. Seriously so many people.

By about 9 we made it to Big Ben area to find the bridge was already completely full and blocked off. I can't even begin to describe the amount of people. It was insane.

 

We found a perfect spot to see the fireworks and basically camped out for the next 3 torturously long hours. I mean squished standing 3 hours. We made lots of new friends especially when we pulled out the ipad. There were moments where I would think 30 or more minutes had gone by, and I would check my watch to find only 7 minutes had passed. hence the first picture below... 

 

 

The one perk to begin completely smooooshed in a giant pile up of humans was I was never cold during the 3 hour wait which was amazing. As we got closer to 12 you could feel the excitement in the air. People were lighting little fireworks. The crowd was screaming and cheering over practically nothing. Teenagers were struggling to get out of the crowd because they were going to hurl from all the alcohol, and occasionally a floating lantern was lit.

When the crowds were out of order a policeman came on a horse to calm things down. I about died the first time I saw them up on their horses...London did not disappoint my childhood imagination of  Europe. 

Eventually we were within 10 minutes of 12. Little lights illuminated the top of the crowd as everyone  tried to position their cameras for the big show. The lights on the London Eye were changing colors at this point, and the excitement was touchable. When 30 seconds hit the countdown began. Giant numbers were being projected onto a building behind the Eye. The last 10 seconds were the best. Everyone was screaming the countdown...10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1!!!!! 

The fireworks were unreal. There were points that you could barely look at all the blurred light in front of you because there were so many. Many were lit through the center of the London Eye, and really it was the best firework show I've ever seen. The only one that comes close would be the Olympics one is SL. So crazy. 

After they were over everyone kinda just stood there dazed, smiling, and still cheering. What a dream. I can't believe we were able to bring in the new year in London. Afterwords the police shut down all the streets, and herded us around like we were animals. We decided it wasn't worth trying to get on the train so we made the 2 mile trek back to Kings Cross. By the time we made it home I was complaining like a crazy person. ha ha The cold finally hit us, our feet were numb from all the standing, and tired was an understatement. Going to bed was seriously the best feeling in the world.

We welcomed 2012 in on the beaches of Puerto Rico, and said goodbye to it on the banks of the Thames River. Couldn't have loved the year anymore. Hands down by far the best year of my life. 

What a night. What a year. I have a good feeling about 2013.