Merry Christmas!

ESA-Wales

45 minutes.

That was our time to explore Wales.

So like any good tourists we got ice cream, spent money, and took pictures.

So here is my one picture in Wales:

Wales really was gorgeous though. It was like Lord of the Rings and The Sound of Music got married and had a baby. 

ESA- London

I lo-lo-lo-lo-ve London.

I'll just let the pictures do the talking.

Except the first one needs explaining. I'm on a double decker!

ESA- Travel

I attempted to take a picture of my feet everyday we were over there.

It failed.

But where my feet took me was more important right? 

What travel consisted of was lots of bus rides and lots of walking.

A lot of walking.

We also took some ferries and, of course, planes.

Both on which I got super sick on.

Most days consisted of 2-3 sites per day.The main exception was London which was go, go, go everyday (I loved it!). I also became a master using the underground system and mimicking the voice that said, "Please mind the gap." 

We stayed in hostels, etaps, and a bed and breakfast. While it was cool to get the full European experience and stay in a hostel, I was glad to be in a place where I could take off my socks.

The sites were glorious, but travel is travel and I was glad to ditch the suitcase after a month of it.

ESA- Favorite Places

Every moment on the trip was amazing, but there were a few places that just made me fall in love.

Cliffs of Moher: Ireland

How lovely would a lunch on the cliffs be?

Some of my favorite movies filmed here: Leap Year, The Princess Bride, and Harry Potter and the Half-Blooded Prince

Can't you see Dumbledore and Harry there hunting for the Horcrux?

Just wonderful.

Inishmore: Ireland

The craziest ferry ride I went on. Us on the top deck were holding on so we wouldn't topple over.

Inishmore is just a beautiful island...

...which we got to bike around on.

An ancient old fortress called Dun Aengus.

Don't fall down.

The moors: England

Think Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, or The Secret Garden

I fell in love with the wildness of the moors. Maybe its because I am wild deep down and I need to escape the order and form of society. 

Not really, but it could make for a good poem or book, right Bronte sisters?

We live in a beautiful world. 

ESA- Ancient Ruins

Hore Abbey: Ireland

Yes its name is a contradiction, but that's its name. 

Rock of Cashel: Ireland

Under conservation, obviously. Just up the hill from Hore Abbey.

Linlithgow Palace: Scotland

The view from one of the towers:

Kenilworth Castle: England

Not me I promise Mom!

But this is:

Stonehenge: England

Stonehenge from 4 directions and me attempting Broadway, yoga, scholarly, and jumping.

Ancient ruins were my favorite historical sites. They provided information, but left out enough to create a mystery. Climbing up to the towers and running around the ancient halls; it was a playground for me. 

ESA- Church

We were gone for 3 Sundays and with this being a BYU school, it was imperative that we attended sacrament meeting.

1st Sunday- Scotland

We attended a branch where we doubled the size of the congregation. They were elated that they had a pool of piano players to choose from as well. 

2nd Sunday- London

I have a couple of friends serving in the London mission, but I didn't think I would run into any.

Turns out I was wrong.

*Elder Brawn Baker*

This ward was an international ward located right by Hyde Park. They're use to visitors so we weren't quite the novelty we were in Scotland. The church building looked like white apartments or office buildings. 

3rd Sunday- England

This was a really special meeting for our group. It was General Conference weekend, but we had other things planned during the hours Conference is aired. We were given special permission to conduct our own Sacrament meeting at a local church building. 

We also had devotionals every morning. Mostly on the bus, but sometimes in a parking lot or other area. Those meetings and devotionals were little comforts throughout the trip. 

ESA- Museums and More

Irish National Stud: Ireland

*I saw a lot of this style of artwork*

The Irish National Stud is Ireland's National Horse Breeding farm. Lots of horses and such is about all I can tell you about it (it was our first stop after the flight).

This picture was in a Scottish soldier museum.

Apparently cheetah is the new plaid.

Tate Modern: England

The world's largest modern art museum. 

It was a little too large in my opinion.

Not only did they have art pieces, they had some dance group doing weird stuff on one of the floor levels. 

American Memorial WWI: England

We sang the anthem and said the pledge which was a great reminder that even when you're away from America, it's spirit of freedom stays with you.

Museums are probably the biggest sticklers about taking pictures.

Other museums that I went to:

Irish History Museum

Highlander Township: Old Scottish way of life

Scotland's National Museum

Scotland's National Gallery

British Science Museum

British War Experience: Blitz room with creepy dummies

British National Gallery: Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Monet, Da Vinci

British Gallery: Jane Austen journal and writing desk; Beatle lyrics on a napkin; Magna Carta

Courtald Gallery

British Portrait Gallery

Irish National Gallery

Irish National Museum: Bog Bodies

Irish National Library