Don't Worry, I donated my waterbottle to charity.

Friday I sat in Hyde Park and read a play for class. It was beautiful and peaceful. Then I went grocery shopping, came home, and worked on homework. It wasn't an eventful day, but it was a good one.
Saturday we went to Portabello Road. It was quite fun. There are all kinds of antique booths and such. I got myself a cute little pocket watch on a chain to wear around my neck, some adorable little earrings, and new wallet. Then we went on a tour of the National Theatre as a class. Before the tour, we stopped at the theatre cafe, and I had my first pannini. It was delicious! The tour was really very neat. We learned all about their different theatres, prop shop, etc. Then went straight into the Olivier theatre at the National and watched London Assurance. Fiona Shaw (Aunt Petunia in the Harry Potter movies) was in it. She was so funny! The entire play and cast was hilarious. The characters were completely different than I had imagined them when reading play, but they were so much funnier. I loved it! Then I just came back to the flat and ate dinner.
Sunday after church, Brianna and I set out in Hyde Park to search for the Elfin Oak and the playground for old people. We managed to find the Elfin Oak, but the playground was no where to be found. We plan to search again this Sunday.
Monday after class I wrote my paper and did laundry. I wanted to go to Primark to get a new belt because I'm tired of holding my pants up, but just as I was about to go I began hear shouting through my bedroom window. I went out into the front room and there were hoards of people marching down High Street Kennsington shouting things like, "Free Palestine!" They were apparently marching to the Israeli Embassy. I decided it would not be a good idea to venture forth at that point in time, especially not alone, so I waited a for a little while after all the marchers had past. I walked up the street to go to T.K. Maxx for the belt because I now didn't have time to go all the way to Primark. Just a few stores down from T.K. Maxx I noticed that the protesters were still gathered...right outside of T.K. Maxx. Needless to say, I did not get a belt that day, and I still do not have one. That evening we went as a class to All My Sons. We were definitely sitting in the nose bleed session and had a lovely view of the gobos aimed at the stage. The play was pretty good. I really enjoyed it.
Tuesday we got up bright and early, boarded a bus, and headed to Stratford-Upon-Avon. We stopped at Coventry Cathedral and Kennilworth Castle. The castle was my favorite! It was so neat just wandering around the ruins of the castle. Once we got to Straford, we went to Anne Hathaway's Cottage and Mary Arden's House. I ate dinner at The Garrick House, which is supposedly the oldest pub in Stratford. I got smothered chicken that was absolutely delicious. Then we went to Romeo and Juliet performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company. The production was really good, but the play is not my favorite. In Straford, we stayed in the most adorable little bed and breakfast run by the most adorable lady. She was so sweet.
Wednesday morning we got up and ate our delicious breakfast. I ordered the Full English with bacon, egg, and sausage. Plus there was a little buffet with fresh homemade bread, fruit, and delicious cereal. Then we went to Shakespeare's birthplace where everything "maybe might have been" used by Shakespeare. Next was New Play, which is the ruins of Shakespeare's home. Apparently the guy who bought the place was annoyed that his home was such a tourist sight, and when the government tried to charge him taxes, he demolished the house. Then we went to the Nash House, which was where Shakespeare's daughter and doctor husband lived. After that was Shakespeare's grave. By this time, I so very tired of feeling like I was worshiping Shakespeare, Brianna used our free time just wandering around Stratford and going in the cute little shops. We then had a "tour" of the RSC theatre, which consisted of two adorable little old ladies telling us stories about productions and showing us costumes. We then had more free time, so Brianna and I grabbed dinner and relaxed in the park. That evening, we saw Antony and Cleopatra. It was long...and boring. Also, Cleopatra had freaky long, skinny arms with hyper-extended elbows. It was weird.
Today, Thursday, I had the same delicious breakfast. We then loaded on the bus and went to Blenheim Palace. I finally got to go through a legit maze; although, we practically ran through it because we had so little time. It kind of made the experience a little better, I think. Then we went Oxford for a few hours. Brianna and I went to Alice's Shop where we bumped into Annalee. The three of us then went to lunch at the random cafe inside of a department store. The cafe was called "Restaurant"...creative, I know. I had a paninni that was not quite as good as the one I had the National, but it was still pretty good. Brianna and I then went to the National History Museum where we saw Dodo remains and shrunken heads. We then headed back to the meeting point and went inside KFC to use the restroom before our 2 hour journey back to London. Mind you, I had been carrying my water bottle around the whole time hoping to find somewhere to fill it up to no avail. Anyway, we walked in, and not realizing anyone was in there, I said aloud, "I'm going to set my water bottle right here, and if someone steals it they must desperately need a water bottle." Then I realized the second stall was occupied, and I waited for the woman to come out. Naturally, she did come out, and I went it. When I came out of the stall I noticed that Brianna had already left the bathroom, and my water bottle was there. I assumed that Brianna had taken it to play a joke on me. However, she denied having it. When I realized she was serious I started to laugh. I went back and checked again; it really was not there. We can only assume that the woman had actually stolen my water bottle. The good news is that I wasn't too attached, but I'm Mom and Dad...I donated your water bottle to that poor woman's cause. I hope you weren't too attached either. I hope she sterilizes because I've definitely been sucking on it for 5 weeks and haven't really legitimately washed it.