a busy londoner

Wales was absolutely amazing and I am currently getting pictures developed from my waterproof camera and should be able to pick it up on Monday, so stay tuned!
In the meantime, my week was a pretty normal one filled with classes Mon-Wed sun up to sun down followed by homework and going out yesterday to a place called "China White." Ck it out here: http://www.chinawhite.com/
As you can tell it is a very upperclass, funky place complete with lingerie dancers holding sparklers, loud techno/dance music, and drinks that start at 25 pounds and only go up from there. There were bottles of champagne on the drink menu for 5,000 pounds! Needless to say I sat/danced and looked pretty while taking in the scenery. As always on the London scene, it was an experience.
On a even more adventurous note, I have been such a busy Londoner today! I started out my Friday morning bright and early by attending a famous and very traditional criminal court session at The Old Bailey courthouse. It was definitely not like a U.S. Senate meeting that's for sure. You can't take pictures and I couldn't even find any on google of the courtroom (guess they're that strict), but hopefully that image will give you an idea of the setting. Every member on the floor as well as the judge had a white wig on, flat on top and tons of rolled white curls going down the sides. They were all in black robes, the jury was on the side opposite us, and then the public gallery (where I was) is located in the far left, top corner - sounds bad but actually quite a panoramic view. The case on trial was a murder case and they were heavily interrogating a black, English college student. Granted she was up for murder but the interrogation was intense - I almost felt bad for her, but then again, it just further emphasized that in the Old Bailey or any courtroom they don't play and definitely mean business!!! So, that was super interesting to say the least.

My next stop was the Banqueting House at the Whitehall Palace. I actually studied this palace and my professor at the time, knowing that I was going to be in London this semester, said I couldn't leave London without seeing it in person. Well now I know why. Located on Parliament Street, within feet of No. 10 downing street it lies. This Banqueting Hall is the only surviving in-situ ceiling painting of Peter Paul Rubens is also one of the most famous from a golden age of painting as well as one of Charles I’s last sights before he lost his head. The King was executed on a scaffold outside in 1649. Furthermore, the canvases were painted by Sir Peter Paul Rubens and installed in the hall in 1636 and have had little refurbishments since. 
Within the absolutely magnificent hall they had mirrors set up on the grounds so you could get a close up of the ceiling and it was incredible! Seeing works of Rubens from 1636 in tact, in person, in the very room is like walking the Great Wall of China versus seeing pictures - it's one of the aspects of life where your descriptions do it no justice unless you experience it yourself. The Banqueting Hall falls into that category - absolutely amazing! ...and so does St. Paul's Cathedral, my third stop for the day. I don't know what William and Kate are thinking, but as brilliant as Westminster Abbey is I would probably have picked St. Paul's as my royal wedding venue. I was taken aback by St. Paul's beauty even more than Westminster's as far as interior. I could spend hours and days looking at every single detail and analyzing the interior and never get the slightest bit bored. I have never seen anything like it in my life, and as large as the structure looks from the outside, it's even larger on the inside. Gold trimmings, statues, paintings, moldings, fixtures, and unbelievable architecture are all within inches of each other. When I walked in, I got a student donation ticket which is valid for a year. Soooo for the next 2 months I can take a 25 minute tube ride and go to St. Paul's anytime I would like...one of the perks of being in London.
I continued by little Friday touristic journey by getting back on the tube towards Parliament Street where Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Parliament are at one end and Trafalgar Square is at the other end. I swear everything in London meets at Trafalgar Square. It's in the heart of London and within it are numerous statues, fountains, the National Gallery, among other things. This picture is from me standing with Trafalgar Square to my back - this is Parliament Street...one of my favorites in London.
Figuring I should start heading back now I couldn't resist not getting a picture with one of the guards and horses at the museum. While smiling for the picture I felt something nibbling at my jacket...it was the horse! I'm not sure if he was being friendly or it was close to lunchtime, but anywho, what better way to end my day then with almost being bitten by a royal horse?
CHEERS!