"Oh what fools these mortals be!"

     This replica of the original Globe Theatre was built, half-timbered and thatched, as it was in Shakespeare’s time.  (This is the first thatched roof in London since they were outlawed after the Great Fire of 1666.) 

Our view of the stage during intermission.  No photography allowed, but I had to take a few :-)

      The Globe originally accommodated 2,200 seated and another 1,000 standing.  Today, it holds 800 seated and 600 groundlings.  The working theater hosts authentic performances of Shakespeare’s plays with actors in period costumes, as well as other playwrights.  Our performance of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was phenomenal, hence the title of this post.  We laughed and laughed and laughed!

A view inside the globe.  See the people standing?  They stand for the ENTIRE show!

      Inside a grand, atmospheric interior with towering pillars, arches and stairways we experienced High Tea at The Wolseley. It consisted of assorted finger sandwiches, including cucumber, egg, chicken, and salmon, homemade fruit scones, served with clotted cream (similar to butter but less salty) and strawberry preserves, a selection of pastries and choice of teas every day.  We tried jasmine and ginger tea, learning how to strain and sweeten, and sip in a refined fashion. Wow!  What fun!  The English know how to do this well!

     London's answer to the Eiffel Tower is the world's highest observation wheel, the London Eye. This giant Ferris wheel, which towers above London opposite Big Ben, was built by British Airways. Designed like a giant bicycle wheel, it's a pan-European undertaking: British steel and Dutch engineering, with Czech, German, French, and Italian mechanical parts.

     It's also very "green," running extremely efficiently and virtually silently. Twenty-five people ride in each of its 32 air-conditioned capsules for the 30-minute rotation (each capsule has a bench, but most people stand). From the top of this 450-foot-high wheel — the highest public viewpoint in the city — even Big Ben looks small. The London Eye's original five-year lease has been extended to 25 years, and it looks like it will become a permanent fixture on the London skyline.

     From the top of this 450-foot-high wheel — the highest public viewpoint in the city — even Big Ben looks small. The London Eye's original five-year lease has been extended to 25 years, and it looks like it will become a permanent fixture on the London skyline.

The view atop the London Eye.

Ellie:        London was way cool! I really enjoyed it, especially since the main language was English. I loved that it had all the beautiful sights and sounds, but was much cleaner than Paris. The history is so rich, and full of stories of kings and queens and backstabbing and betrayal.

The Tower of London really fascinated me with all of its bloody history. The view from the top of the London Eye was spectacular, as was the gorgeous architecture and burial sites of Westminster Abbey. I was so excited that Dylan Thomas, my favorite poet (author of “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night), was buried there, as well as Charles Darwin. Dr. Whitacre would be so proud!

Going to The Globe was a really cool experience, something that should be on everyone’s “London To-Do List.” We got to try fish and chips at an authentic English pub. The food in general wasn’t as rich as in Paris, but familiar. England has made me into an Oxford fan and I have decided I want to go to college there, and work at Hamley’s in my free time. I could wear a tutu to work! What could be better?

High tea at The Wolseley was so very fun, and the pastries and scones were delicious. We got seated at a table among high-end Londoners. We were served jasmine tea with finger sandwiches, an assortment of finger deserts, and scones with clotted cream and strawberry preserves. They even had a tea strainer! The paper towels were the best I have ever used, and we took one as a souvenir. What a fun English experience!

We got to go shopping and I got a Dr. Who shirt. (Thanks, Andrew. Now you’ve got me hooked.) It’s not fair that the Europeans get to enjoy their high-quality chocolate and we are stuck with the sugary stuff. M&Ms seriously taste different here, they are richer and yummier! Leah and I have become pros at imitating the tube lady reminding us to: “Mind the Gap!” Ask me to demonstrate when we return to the States, or watch this video clip.

I got my first kiss at Hamley’s. For all you young, single ladies looking to marry into royalty….. Prince Harry is a great kisser XD. 

I really wanted to go on the Jack the Ripper tour, but I was shot down. Apparently Leah and Will would get too scared. But who wouldn’t want to learn about a brutal serial killer who chooses victims in the dead of the night?

Ellie's beloved Abe Lincoln is abroad and well.

     London was fabulous in nearly every way.  As you can imagine with traveling to so many different cities and countries, we were bound to have a few hiccups with our accommodations.  Especially since I booked online (based on reviews and recommendations from reputable websites). Well, we really hit rock bottom in London while staying at a youth hostel.  Laugh all you want, and enjoy a good laugh while you continue reading this, I encourage you to do so because it is funny! 

     Your first thought may be, “why would she stay at a hostel, is she crazy?”  The short answer is – YES!  However, I had my reasons, read on.  It was SO difficult to find a room for 5 people in London that was centrally located.  We did not want to spend ANY time commuting into the city.  Despite my best efforts, I could not find anything, unless we booked 2 rooms, which doubled the cost, short of staying at a hostel. 

I thoroughly researched the place, and it had SO many great reviews, was PERFECTLY located, and I booked the 6 bed suite with private bathroom.  Here’s the thing I want you to remember - are you ready?  A hostel is a hostel is a HOSTEL!  You have to pay for your towels, wifi, luggage storage, and EVERY scrap of food and water.  You sleep in bunk beds like a dorm, and have a small pillow and blanket per bunk (you just have to hope they are “clean” and move on).  You may be unlucky like us and have the STINKIEST, most FOUL smelling shower EVER!  It looked clean, it must have had serious plumbing issues. We were so grateful the door closed and the smell did not permeate into our bunk room, but we had to take a deep breath and go in breathing through our mouth only.  Some of my children (they will remain unnamed) refused to shower the 3 days we were in London, and I did not blame them.

     In conclusion, if you like adventure and not knowing what you will get, then go ahead and stay at a hostel.  However, if you like order and wifi (I got SO far behind on my blog!) and regular amenities like me, then it is NOT a good option.  The silver lining?  I can now say I have stayed in a hostel, it is checked off my bucket list (isn’t that one on everyone’s?).  

We stayed at the UK's version of our YMCA.  "Young man, there IS a need to feel down!"