That's sooo cool!

Today I found myself saying "thats so cool" so many times. This morning Sam, Natalie, Kinsey, Megan and I did the London eye: a massive Ferris wheel that has capsules that hold up to 20 people. I've seen really long lines so I was prepared for a wait, but we practically walked right up and into our capsule. The ride takes a half hour and takes you up 135 meteres. The views we got of London were incredible. I took about a billion pictures of Parliament and the Thames. I was glad that we did this when we did because it was nice to be able to see everything we have done. Afterward we walked over to Chinatown for a great lunch and then I bought some postcards. I got back to an empty flat and decided to take advantage of the quiet and started packing. I am actually mostly done, which makes me equally relieved and sad. I have moments where I'm really ready to come home, then other times where I can't imagine not being in London. But ready or not Monday is coming.

This evening was fun because we were all in silly moods. Natalie and I danced to HSM songs, which is always fun and then we made a new creation dubbed "big dessert." Natalie thought it'd be fun to mix hot chocolate and ice cream and so we made a big ol batch for everyone. It was quite tasty. Then Jordan, Kinsey, Sam, Natalie, Amanda and I went to The Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London. This thing is a pretty big deal; Jordan had to apply to get us tickets 2 months ago and she could only get tickets for 6 of us. This Ceremony is done every night at the Tower and has been done this same way since the 1800s some time. We got led in by a yeoman, one of the resident guards at the Tower and he told us some of the history of the Tower of London and the ceremony and explained what would happen.

First the head yeoman marched over with his lantern and the keys to where these four guards were (all decked out in their bear skinned hats and red coats). Then they all march down to this one gate to lock it and on their way back another guard who has appeared out of nowhere points his gun at them and screams "HALT" and they do so. Then they do this question and answer thing where the head yeoman tells the guy with the gun that he has the queen's keys so he best not shoot. Then they walk through this gate and we have to run after them. We then reassembled in front of this staircase where there are more guards. They then look at each other and do some stomping things then at 10 they start talking again and it ends with someone yelling "God save Queen Elizabeth" and we all yell "Amen" and then one of them plays the trumpet while the head yeoman takes the keys away and the guards all go back to bed. The whole thing lasts around 30 minutes. It was really official and even though I didn't understand all of it, I really enjoyed being there and being part of the tradition.