London, in a nut shell

(sorry! there is no actual proof that I was really here, I was behind the camera in all these photos. take my word for it :)

I have tried posting a couple times during my week here in London with Hillary, but every time I get kicked off the internet right before everything gets uploaded.  Naturally I haven't been saving what I have written (like I could be so prepared), so I'm going to give you all London in a nut shell.

After my first day here I was able to go to class with Hill and see meet the people with whom she spends most of her time.  On Monday we went to the Museum of London, where Hill works for the Portable Antiquities Scheme (www.finds.org.uk), for her Education and Archeology class. 

 It was nice to walk around the exhibits because if I wasn't interested by the soft spoken proffesor, there was a lot to look at so I wouldn't look like I wasn't paying attention.  Tuesday we had 4 hours of class starting at 10.  I was psyched. After walking around "campus" she pointed out the British Museum (where she also works), the Union (where there is a dirty student bar that always smells like pee), and the place of the London bombings in July of 2005- in front of a park dedicated to peace.  The bomb, that was placed in the back of a bus, exploded right in the face of this beautiful Ghandi statue.  

Hillary says that there was no coincidnece, but that it was purposefully set off to fly in the face of peace.  The walk was as good idea and the air did me well.  When class started I was awake and ready to hear about a subject which I know almost nothing about.  I sat in on Antiquities in the Law, and got through the 2 hour lecture without too much trouble.  Once __________ started, however, there was no hope of my paying attention.  Even Hillary was bored, so I don't feel too bad about it.

The next day I was spaired from going to class, and when Hill got home we took the tube to the center of London and when on The Eye, the largest farris wheel in the world.  

Even though it was a little rainy, so we couldn't see very far, the city was beautiful.  We got there just in time to watch the sun go down (because of the clouds, this just meant watching the sky go from gray, to grayer, and eventually to black), and to watch the lights of the city come up.  

We then met up with some friends for a dinner of Indian food (my first time), hopped the tube and went home for an early night.

Thursday night Hillary had bought us tickets to see Three Days of Rain, a play starring James McAvoy.  I really liked it and recommend it.

Friday Hill had people over for a Friday the 13th party (using it as an excuse to have everyone over).  I was able to meet even more archeologists, and felt extremely under-qualified to even be in the same room.  It was said at one point "yeah, I can't imagine hanging out with someone who wasn't an academic.  What would you talk about if the other person was dumb?"  I sat there a was silent. Not considering myself to be an academic, I only have my measly Bachelors degree (with the abbreviation of B.S.), I wasn't quite sure how to react to that.  What I found out though, as the night went on, was that even smart people can drink themselves stupid.  I didn't feel so bad once the boys started dancing. hahahahahah.

All in all I had a great time.  It was a really fun week and I am glad that I was able to visit Hill.  She has been so many places and continues to jump around, its really nice to catch her in one country long enough to visit.  Trying to leave was something else, and I did not get to the airport in time enough to get on the substantially over booked flight.  Apparently, even though I was on time, once enough people check in to fill the flight, they close check in to anyone else, and 17 people were bumped to a flight going out tonight at 6pm.  I'll be leaving for the airport at 2pm just to be safe.

Wish me luck and keep me in your prayers.  I am not sure when the next time I will be able to post will be.  The next few days may be a little hectic but I cannot wait to finally get this adventure started.  It seems so long ago that I left home, and only now is there nothing standing between me and my long anticipated arrival in Durban.  That is nothing but the over-booking of flights.  Lets hope that doesn't happen again.