With that out of the way I got back to our "flat" around noon and sat on my bed with intentions to do some homework and was asleep before I knew it - whoops! I took a 2.5 hour nap!!!! I woke up shocked, because I'm not a napper. Anyways, apparently left over jet lag caught up with me but I woke up feeling like a million bucks, showered, and then met with a group of girls and a guy to head to Westminster Abbey. check it out: http://www.westminster-abbey.org/
They are well known for not only having some of the famous services in the world such as Princess Diana's funeral and the sort or for having Charles Darwin and Isaac Newton buried there (ironic?) but for the services they hold. Almost daily they hold FREE (free in London?!) services at 5:30 called "evensong." Evensong is a service where the world renowned abbey choir is the bulk of the service. It's comprised of a group young boys and men who go through school all through their adolescents and are individually selected and practice for hours upon hours - translation: they are unbelievable and arguably one of the best choirs in the world! So after taking the tube to the westminster we walked up the steps from the underground and there was Parliament right up close and in front of us. Between practically being able to touch the iconic building and the sun setting it couldn't have been more gorgeous! Took pictures and headed to the abbey.
We walked to the main/west entrance and the man (priest actually) immediately said, "We are currently closed to the public." Madeline, one of my good friends here from Chicago, is a very prepared and research-oriented person thankfully and read that this is common. The priests, in order to keep out just anyone from entering the abbey, always deny any trying to get in past the regular hours where you pay so much to walk in. She responded, "evensong," and he stepped aside. For any service such as evensong they want to make sure that only the people coming strictly for the service and who know about it go in to appreciate such an event. Anywho in we went and it was THE MOST BEAUTIFUL interior of a church and building that I have ever seen!
As you walk up the steps the interior of the historical and iconic church is slowly revealed and it is by far the most incredible church I've ever seen. Antique and different styled chandeliers/lighting hang god knows how many feet (even miles) from the ceiling. I have no sense of measurement or direction, so I'm sorry if all of my adjectives are huge, massive, or beautiful but that is how everything is! There are gigantic (new adj!) stone columns that it would take at least 3 people to wrap their arms around, candles lit everyone, AMAZING stained glass windows, life size stone statues everywhere you look, and ceiling so high they could easily touch the moon. We were all in awe from the moment we walked in. Not long after we did I soon looked down and realized I was stepping over Charles Darwin's grave...totally normal right? I seriously couldn't describe the infamous abbey and give it enough justice even if I tried. The only flaw of that incredible church is that you can't take picture in it!!!!! I could have easily taken a memory cards worth!
We were led to the back of the abbey and the service began. It was incredible! The abbey chorus was the most beautiful I've ever heard and even the service only lasted about 20 minutes it couldn't have been more enjoyable. After the abbey we all got Japanese food at a place called 'Japanese restaurant
' and then headed home to do some homework (on a friday night!) watched a movie and went to bed. I love Lodnon :)
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