Day 2

Hey guys here are some videos for day two. A little reminder, this is when we went to Oxford University. This is also some of the area where we got to see Shakespears house.

Day 12

Up and early…rise and shine. The sun hurt my eyes. I didn’t want to get up at all, but I had to. We went to Cambridge and it was very nice and peaceful. The markets sold everything from clothes to food. It was like an old fashion market with high prices for everything. I have beautiful footage and the history behind the beginning of these colleges. There were many famous people that we all have heard of or learned of that studied there. The scenery was grand and I would love to check it out again. For this even, I am sorry but the footage is the best. The architects of the buildings were fantastic. I felt that I stepped back in time and experienced a whole new adventure. The only problems that I felt were all the bikes that people were riding around. These bikes I mean are the ones you peddle yourself. Just think if we Americans did that more often???????? Things that make you say HUMMMM

DAY 11

We started the day dressed in our very best. We were on our way to Buckingham Palace and were just right with the lighting and the crowds were getting larger by the moment. As we were walking up they open the front gates and let us walk all the way up to the front of the Palace. We were able to watch the changing of the guards from inside the gate. It was wonderful. There are so many different guards that are involved which are: The Grenadier Guards, The Coldstream Guards, The Scots Guards, The Irish and Welsh Guards. There are many ways to tell the difference but you would really have to know what to look for. For instance, the buttons if they are single space or in certain rows. If there are certain kinds of particular badges on their collars, shoulder badges and most of all the Plumes that are in their Bearskin Cap. The other interesting thing I learned was that all of these guards are military. They have all done something and have been a part of some kind of war. It was a great honor to be and see this.

Now I know the last I left you with was with the Jack the Ripper tour…….. Well, all I can say right now was that I have some pictures and well the history of the story is great. Our tour guide was great as well, but there is so much to learn and of course we may never learn it all. There are too many theories out there and well it is pretty much up to you to find out what you believe. The cool thing is that there were still some of the old buildings that still exist today and that helped with the adventure.

Later that afternoon, we were able to see the New Scotland Yard, of course no photography or video, except on certain conditions. I was pretty excited to take a picture with the Olympic Vancouver torch from 2010. I loved that. I also learned a lot about what they do there or what you can say, what they have to do to plan certain events. The biggest event was their Nottinghill Carnival. This carnival is a four day event and just crazy. They talk about how many police officers they have to use and it is a crazy amount of around 5,000 officers and more. I think of Sturgis and that is nothing to what Sturgis deals with. The thing that floors me the most is that these officers while doing this are still unarmed and pretty much use their own force to try to keep control. CRAZY!!!!!

Day 10

Wed, today we got to see how the magistrate court worked. It was pretty close to how our system works but a few things different. If you go to the District Court Judge, he pretty much had you in and out. He/She decided if you would be dealt with there or needed to go to The Crown Court for your trial. It of course depended on the crime and the policy that is in hand. Then you have the (lay judges) or now called the Justices. There are three of them that will listen to your case and they all decide your fate, a lot slower process. I would have rather gone through the District Court Judge, in and out.

Tonight, we will be a part of the "Jack The Ripper" tour. I can't wait. I have always had an interest in this history crime. I just wish I was able to understand the jest of it, but then again there are probably many who think the same. Why, who, what, and so on. We will be walking some of the path of where the crimes happened and the path of the most sought out serial killer....Crazy.....  :)

Day 9

Tuesday was another day without video. We were able to check out a few art museums. The paintings look so real sometimes. You could tell which era they came from with the colors and of course the actual paintings that were hanging. I have a little video for outside of the museums but that is what it is. The two that we saw were The Natural Art Museum, and The Portrait Museum. The Portrait Museum had more modern pictures and paintings than the other. The one thing that surprised me was that there was a lot of painting that involved Christianity. I was thinking it would be more of Kings and Queens from here. Either way they were very neat and beautiful.

Later that afternoon we were able to visit one of the prisons that housed many different individuals. Some for petty things like no insurance, or assaults (disorderly conduct), to murder. Officer Palmer explained that they just treat them as they are human beings. Yes, you will have your problems but if you can just talk with them and treat them with respect it is easier to handle them. Usually it will diffuse the situation. Again, no camera's allowed but very interesting. This place has a long history from long ago to today. Many skeletons and horror stories that can be found like, where they hung prisoners to where the Governor would stay.

I would have to agree with Officer Palmer. Everyone can be on the wrong side of the law at one point, they are not always bad people. Sometimes that is when they find the help they need to become a "normal citizen", again.

Day 8

Monday, it was an okay day for weather. A little rain but not enough to melt me…heheh, see I am made of sugar. Anyway, we had a beautiful tour of the quiet side of town. This tour was meant to be for the learning or studying of the barristers (lawyers). The tour guide was very informational and explained everything to a tee. Even though we had to deal with the crazy traffic and the construction, it was still a peaceful event. It is neat to learn how their system worked and how the people that choose this profession, how they have to start. The tour guide also explained the wig process and that it is aging out, but most of the Judges still ware them today. There are three different kinds of wigs and each means something else. We all know about the long huge wig, which is more ceremonial today. The one that is still a little long but has curls are for the main Judges and the other judges that wore the smaller wigs were called the Lay Judges, (the rookies in a way). The wigs would cost more than the robes. If you were a crown court judge, you had a silk robe. The tour guide explained that these wigs are handmade and probably won’t be around much longer. The society has changed and things will not go back.

Later that afternoon, we got to tour Old Baily, which is the Old Baily Crown Court. This building still had the wall that the Romans built when they conquered England long ago. This place was so beautiful and you can’t imagine the marble and stone work with the art on the walls, ceilings and so on. It was great; too bad we couldn’t get any pictures though.

That evening I was able to go with a few of my friends to the Eye on London. It is just a huge ferris wheel that allows you to see the whole entire city of London and beyond. I will have some video of that so that you can see what I saw. But until than L you will have to wait.

Day 7

Day 7 was a lot easier, a day to try and come down from all the excitement. Train ride home with beautiful sites. Nodding off every now and than but overall a smooth ride. I didn't want to leave but had to. There is one more week to go and many more things to see and do. Again everyone, I am doing my best to get pics and videos out. It might come down to it all loading when we get back, but I promise all will be good and interesting. :)