My best friend from home, Lori, came to visit last week. It worked out so well because we were both on spring break at our respective schools. She arrived in London on Saturday morning and we hit the ground running from there! The week before her visit it had been in the 50s and sunny. This weather unfortunately did not want to stick around because it was cold, cloudy, dismal and snowing at various times in the trip! We had a schedule of things planned so we could get in as much as we could in her week here. We visited the Lichtenstein show at the Tate Modern and the Light Show at the Hayward Gallery at South Bank.
We walked around London from Piccadilly Circus, to Trafalgar and Leicester Square, and finally Big Ben.
I introduced Lori to the concept of kicking pigeons. Most of you will think to yourself, "Oh my gosh, that is cruel! Call ASPCA!" Pigeons, unlike squirrels, are the nastiest creatures- they are flying rats! Lori took the challenge whole heartedly and has probably kicked more pigeons than I have. At one point, she made full body and beak contact. When we were on the escalators inside the tube we saw a man swerving back and forth ahead of us. Lori, standing directly behind him on the escalator that climbed up 3 or 4 stories quickly realized it was probably not a good idea since he was so intoxicated/on drugs. We passed him at the top and climbed the next escalator. As we looked back at the stumbling man, he stepped onto the escalator and 1/4 of the way up we see him slowly fall straight back and hit his head on a metal stair with a boom, continue to fall all the way down to the bottom, and continue falling as the stairs moved up. Finally, someone hit the emergency stop button and the man was escorted out. We would have been dead if we hadn't moved to get in front of him!!!
Monday, we visited Tower Hill where we saw crown jewels, swords, and other historical objects from the Tudors and on through the 1700s.
Later Monday afternoon we visited the Kensington Palace Orangery for High Tea. This is one of my favorite things to do here in London. If you want to feel like a princess I suggest you stop in for some cakes, clotted cream, and a pot of tea. Monday night we went with Kate to see the Lumineers. They were fabulous in person! They played most of the songs from their newest album including 'Hey-Ho' and 'Classy Girls', my two favorites.
On the tube on our way home from the concert, Lori spotted an asian Jacob from Twilight... of course we got pictures- who do you think I am?? <--------see asian Jacob here
Scotland was a really fun time! Edinburgh is really cute and very historical. The buildings are beautiful. It had snowed so the distant mountains were covered and the views were amazing. Our second day in Scotland we went on a Highlands Tour! We saw highland cows, a few castles, Glencoe, Loch Ness, and really beautiful valleys.
On Thursday when we returned home we went to see Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and the Avett Brothers (thanks to my friend Suzie for giving us the tickets!) Another great show in London. Grace Potter is amazing. 
Friday, we went to Borough Market and walked around the South Embankment for a while, then we went with my friend Jessica to HARRY POTTER FILMING STUDIOS!!! So awesome, we got to see all the original sets, costumes, props, etc. I got my picture on a flying broom..I know I'm really cool. One of my favorite things about the tour was getting to try the butter beer! It was delicious. It reminded me of cream soda but a bit thicker, and it had a thick butterscotch cream on top that gave us mustaches. Dinner at Da Marios (my favorite restaurant in London) followed and then the group headed to the tunnels for some fun.
Gryffindor common room----------->
Finally, the sad morning came for Lorigirl to leave. The trip went WAY to fast. I'm so glad that she got to come see where I've been living and what I've been up to!
Lori leaving the flat
