Love in London

Well another week has gone by and as usual LOTS has happened. On Tuesday morning I woke up early to hop on a bus and pick up Anthony from the airport! He came to visit me through Sunday. I weaved through the airport with butterflies in my stomach, wondering if he'd look the same or if I'd be able to contain my excitement of seeing him after so long. As I walked up to the Chicago arrivals at Heathrow there he was, walking towards me opening up his arms for a big hug.

It was so strange to have him physically here, in front of me, in London!

Eventually we got on a bus towards my London home and later headed off for Anthony's first time in Central London. I showed him my favorite building (my Big Ben) and then we walked around Westminster Abbey, traveled lazily swing hangs through St. James park towards Buckingham Palace in the London fog. We decided to head to Oxford street after that (the big shopping street) and while looking at a map, Anthony gave the quote of the week, "If we just head around this building here then we can get to that street on the other side." I proceeded to look at him astonished and as he wondered what he said wrong... "This building here?" I pointed. He caught on and laughed, "Yeah?" "This BUILDING here! That's how you reference Buckingham PALACE, as THIS building here!" I practically shouted. I couldn't imagine simply calling one of the biggest, most renown palaces in the world as "this building here." But I will admit we had a pretty good giggle about it afterwards.

Eventually we finally go to Oxford street and Bond street (aka the "high end street with the location of Tiffany Co., Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, Jimmy Choo...need I saw more?) and walked around, found Anthony some fancy European shoes and caught dinner at the fanciest burger place we'd ever seen where we shared a single milkshake with two straws.

The next day we headed to Dover to visit the Dover Cliffs and Castle and spent time traveling up the cliffs, walking around the small port town and having dinner at a fancy hotel. The cliffs are truly a wonder of the world. It's hard to imagine how they were made but the only explanation for their beauty is that God is amazing and all his creation is gorgeous beyond our comprehension.

The next few days we headed back into London having a fancy date at night and going on the London eye. We also went up the river towards the Tower of London and visited the location of Anne Boleyn's grave and beheading site, went through a museum housing the crown jewels, and Anthony got to see manly ancient armor and lots of guns in the armory museum at the white tower.

I refuse to talk about the day he got back on a plane and left me instead of taking me with him but I will say it was an amazing week and I am so grateful I got to share it with a very special person in my life. :)

Now I am left for the next 3 weeks remaining to concentrate on homework and finishing up the rest of my classes. No more future trips have been planned, but I look forward to a time of simply staying near London and enjoying my last days in the city of my dreams.

I will continue to post more pictures and blogs to the site on my other trips so please continue to check Living London!


Till then...



audra