London: Days 4-5

Tuesday:

This trip seems to be going by at slow pace and I LOVE IT!!!!!!!! Most trips fly by because we stay so busy. I love waking up in a good mood. This morning I got up and got ready to go for a run with Krislynn, but we were both halfway asleep at the beginning because we got on the elevator and forgot to press a button. After sitting there a minute we laughed and realized we had better press a button or we'd be sitting there all morning. Our run/trip to Starbucks at the end of the run made it to the top two/three during this trip. It was amazing. We were probably gone about two hours and it felt like a moment. We continue to get into incredible conversations whenever we are together. I guess being together so much will allow for lots of good conversations huh?! As we ran, she listened to me talk for most of the time, which I felt bad about. But in the end we talked and talked as I began to realize more about who I am and what I'm called to do. It's been such a sweet time of growth in my life. 

Although our talk together was the best part of Starbucks, it's also important to mention we've befriended this guy that works there whose name is Jayce. He's hilarious. I mean, how can we not talk to someone we see every morning? Since it was just me and Krislynn at Starbucks today, we talked to him a little more than normal. After our sweet conversation together, we headed back to the hotel because we didn't want the guys to have to wait too long in order to start their day.

Once we were clean, we headed to Sacred, a nearby coffee shop that was decorated in New Zealand themed things because the owners were Kiwi's. Warmth inside. Amazing hot chocolate. Relaxed atmosphere. Loved it.

fern!

Since the stores were closing on Sunday we didn't get to spend much time at H&M and that's where Krislynn and Sean really wanted to go, so back we went. Of the three stories, I was impressed I found things I really liked. My arms were full as I entered the dressing room.

Tibits is one of the restaurants the guy we met at Masala Zone told us about. We decided to look for it and give it a try. It is a vegetarian place where you put whatever you want on the plate and you pay by the weight. I have really enjoyed trying all different kinds of foods this week. We all really enjoyed it.

After lunch we continued to stop but we split up a little bit and Krislynn and I went to Anthropologie and back to H&M while the boys went to the Apple store.

We rested in the room for a little while before preparing ourselves for dinner. Earlier in the evening we decided to dress up one night, so Italian food night seemed to be the best choice for dressing up. We ended up at Piccalinos, which was a restaurant across from Tibits. It was an enjoyable evening all around. Don't let any pictures trick you! 

Krislynn and I start some amazing conversations while taking trips to the bathroom. This is not the first good bathroom conversation we've had and I'm sure it won't be the last. 

Who are you?

Wednesday:

Our plan was to get up and run, but we ended up getting ready and Krislynn, Sean and I went to Starbucks to write a little.

We ate lunch at a place called Pure. I immediately got a bad taste in my mouth for the place because I was rudely asked not to take a picture phone.

Then we headed to the train station. While there, Krislynn and I got to talk a little while Jeremy and Sean dealt with buying us tickets. We ate some yummy cookies and saw a one-legged pigeon. Our trip to Oxford seemed to fly by. On the way there, we played a quick game of "Never have I ever". 

We finally arrived in Oxford and Krislynn couldn't contain her excitement because if there was one thing she would want to do in England it would be to visit the Eagle and Child pub. The pub is one where great authors and thinkers went to hang out, process information, and to write. Authors such as CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien spent much time here and she couldn't wait to walk where they walked and sit where they sat. 

We left Krislynn at the Eagle and Child so she could write and think like her favorite authors and we walked around the town of Oxford. 

After a few hours in Oxford, we headed back to the train station so we could catch a train back to London. On the ride home I sat with Krislynn and we listened to the guys who were engaged in a pretty deep conversation about love languages. Krislynn didn't hesitate to jump in near the end! :)

Sean parted ways with us for a little bit as he visited a friend he stayed with last time he was in London. Since we were hungry, we headed out to find something to eat. We ended up at Tibits again since we all enjoyed it. As we sat and ate, we talked. Jeremy ended up telling Krislynn his story since she didn't get to hear all about him in Kosovo. It is yet another conversation I will never forget. We are being filled to the brim with amazing conversations and love for Sean and Krislynn.

On our way back to the hotel, I fell up the escalator. One that was stopped and more like stairs. Please let me explain. Krislynn and I were running up the stopped escalator and were trying to beat Jeremy. I stopped running at some point because I was exhausted. I picked up my pace again as I neared the end but somehow I miss-judged how tall the steps were as they got smaller and flattened. I somehow managed to trip but caught myself and clung to the railing. Krislynn heard a loud grunt and turned around to see me clutching the rail as if I was about to die. We laughed the whole way back. My foot was pretty skinned up though. Before making it back to the room, we went to a store to find some gummy bears. Both Krislynn and Jeremy had been craving them. We finally found some gummy worms but they worked. Krislynn and I stayed in the room when Jeremy went to meet Sean at the tube station. During this time we chatted and then skyped our new friend Jayce. When the guys arrived back, we chatted some more. Before going to bed we ended up having one of the funniest conversations about gauged ears. We laughed and laughed about what it would look like if there was an aquarium with a goldfish inside of someone's ear. It brings a whole new meaning to ear nibbling!