Of Palaces and World Premiers

Today was a fabulous day in London. We ate breakfast and held our first weekly house meeting, where  we discovered that the class we all thought started today does not start until next week or the following. Thus we had the day to ourselves (and I have a week or so to myself).
This semester I will be taking British Heritage and Culture, Art Appreciation, and Theater Appreciation with British professors. Then, I will be taking Coffee Talk Literature with a Samford Professor in Residence and an Independent Study of post 18th century British Literature. By the end of the semester my plate will be full, but for the first few weeks I have ample free time. I plan on splitting this time between catching up on the London adventures I missed out on last week and getting ahead on my independent study reading. Today was divided in that mannor.
Lia, Claire, and I went to a mall not far from the Shepherd's Bush Market tube stop, which held the closest Foyles (a chain bookstore). I bought two books for my independent study and claire bought some shoes. We had sandwiches at the house before Claire, Jacie, and I set out again. We all got off at St. James' Park, but they went to find the site of their internship and I went to Buckingham Palace (one of those things I missed last week). On the way to the Palace I wandered through the Park and enjoyed the gorgeous day London was having, and the Pelicans.

                     

At Buckingham Palace, I had to sweet-talk my way in. The ticket in my possession was a group ticket from several days ago and unvalidated. That ticket would not get me in, but I finally found a kind "super" who heard my story and secured me a valid ticket. He even changed the time for the ticket so I didn't have to wait at all! So, I toured the state rooms of Buckingham for the first time and they were exquisite. The audio guide played the coronation music from The Young Victoria as I walked up the grand staircase. What more can you ask for? So great.
The Jubilee Diamond exhibit was still open as well, so I got to see the crown and necklace that this classy lady is wearing, as well as dozens of other glittery items.  

Fun Fact about the Palace: QEII has a secret passage from her digs to the state room. So, she's classy AND awesome.

I met Jacie back outside the palace and we went to another Foyles to finish collecting the books I needed. We asked the woman checking us out for a dinner recommendation. Score! She sent us to this place a few blocks away from Charring Cross (the street Foyles was on) to an Pizza place called Soho Joe's. It was reasonably priced and delicious! Jace and I decided it's a definite repeat. 

After dinner we walked down to Leicester square, where Anna Karenina was having it's world premiere. Unfortunately we missed Matthew McFayden, but we saw Keira Knightly and Jude Law giving interviews from a distance! This was my first true celebrity sighting: a monumental moment. All in all, it was a fantastic day!