May 24 - Day 30!!!
First: HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my b-e-a-utiful sister Ashley!!! :)
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This picture is from a long time ago....
But the only one I can find of us together. -- You're adorable Ash :) |
Love you Ashes! ;)
So... I've officially been here for an
entire month. Crazy. Yes? Yes. I'm having a hard time believing it. Time's definitely starting to speed up.
Also - Super sunny day again today :) Pure joy and happiness. :)
However, this morning, regardless of the sun, started out as one of those that things just keep happening that make you think "Why did I get out of bed this morning??" Rundown?
I left the flat.
After walking with Alexis, Taylor and Brighton half way to Gloucester station realized I
didn't have my train tickets.
Ran BACK to the Flat -
Didn't have my keys. (Cause, why wouldn't this be the one time I would
actually use them?)
Knocked on the outside flat door (there's a door to the building, then an inside door to the actual flat), hoping and praying someone would home - or hear me.
Nope.
I turned back around, half running to Gloucester Road Station, since I now had no one with me and I had NO IDEA where I was going (since I didn't have the train ticket to tell me!)
But.
This is the part when I
knew the Lord was on my side, and prayers ARE answered.
I got to the station and Alexis, Brighton and Taylor were STILL THERE.
I think Taylor had to stop to put more money on her Oyster card - and also both the District
and Circle lines were down (2 very main lines at Gloucester Station) therefore, everyone was cramming themselves onto the Piccadilly line. SO MANY PEOPLE. We had to watch at
least 4 trains go by, stuffed FULL with people, before we SMOOSHED ourselves into one. Great times! Also very up close and personal times.
Then, when we reached the train station, I expected to need to purchase a new ticket -- but Cosette didn't feel too keen on going today - still getting over her concussion from her travel week. Poor girl. But Becky had brought Cosette's train ticket with her, in case anyone had forgotten theirs. Which I was very grateful for. So I grabbed them from her, and we were all on our way as a group to...
Hampton Court Palace.
All the different palaces I've been to are beautiful. I can't say that this one was my absolute favorite-- but, it was beautiful, and also a BEAUTIFUL day. So perfect - also tiring, because we were all hot and sweaty - but SO pretty outside. I almost got burnt, actually - but luckily I just freckled instead ;)
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| Our Train.. |
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| The Gate |
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| The Palace! |
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| The Base Court |
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| Once again - lighting fixtures for the artsy pictures. |
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| Beginning of the Kitchens of King Henry VIII |
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| Yes, the Alleyway is Fish Court - Because it's so narrow, there was a way they could keep it cold enough to keep the fish cold! |
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| Ovens |
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| Pies! The outsides were made to look like that because it also acted as the pot to cook it in as well as a crust! |
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| Coal ovens |
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| Bread Oven |
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| Giant fire-grilling oven - for meats and such |
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| I call this one "Light and Arch" |
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| And of course - what would they do without all their wine?? |
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...He wouldn't let me have any of his wine.
Haha... |
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| Henry VIII's "Great Hall" area |
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| Bahahaha... |
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| Gorgeous staircases and paintings? Um, yes. |
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| Gotta love beautiful courtyards :) |
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| And of course - the painted ceilings and walls of GREATNESS. |
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| Barometer anyone? |
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And here comes the part where you're thinking, "Wow, you're definitely you're father's daughter" again. Haha.
Look at the wood work on this BEAUTIFUL TABLE!!
Swirly legs, chess board IN the table.... love it :) |
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| Gardens :) |
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| The MAZE! |
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| ....Which Ariel and I decided to not go in, as it was extra money--and it was hot. |
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And now for better pictures of the front!
Since the sun came out more and there were less people in front :) |
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And the Thames. :)
I've decided that the Thames just kinda appears out of nowhere - wherever you go, it's always there. |
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| Hampton Court :) |
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| Back home... |
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And this, my friends, is what we hear every. day. of our lives. They don't always have it actually painted out for people to read, thus why I took a picture this time. But they announce it each time the doors of the tube or the train open and close -- "Mind the gap" so you don't biff it and fall on your face...or, ya know, fall in between the train and the platform. That would be awkward.
And this probably makes more sense now for those of you who have noticed the name of my Facebook album of pictures... |
Then--- Ariel and I had talked this morning about the possibility of going to Les Mis tonight. And, regardless of how hot, tired and sweaty we already were from being outside and roaming the palace all day --- we went. We got student rush tickets. It. Was. Amazing.
Really. I still don't understand just how, exactly, I haven't seen this play before!??? Ha!
I just have to say: The lighting? Beautiful. Set? PRO. Costumes? Loved! Sound? Awesome. All those things put together as one? PHENOMENAL. Everything matched together perfectly - the color scheme of everything. The gel color picked for the lighting design accentuated the right things, brought in really really cool effects, and just.... was amazing. I love it when you see a play that the different design teams TRULY worked together in everything. The colors just all matched so perfectly.
Oh! And the set? Super cool. Depending on how they moved certain pieces in, the entire area was changed - AND they collapsed sideways, fitting together to create the "barricade" in the war scene. SO COOL. And and - they had a turn table. Which made scenes with a lot of fast movement SUPER cool. And scene changes were super smooth and suave because of it!
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| Tired, squirley-haired Kenzie... |
So beautiful. And also - now I can officially feel a little less pathetic for calling myself a theatre major :)
Oh- but the weird thing? We're thinking that Brit's don't believe in Air Conditioning. It was SO HOT IN THAT THEATRE. I was feeling horrible for the actors. Cause-- if we, as the audience are dying, I can only imagine the uncomfortable heat they felt on stage! Now there's dedication for ya.
And another greatly happy thing about the day? I no longer feel like a train hit me. My voice is just gone. Which, I'm honestly just fine with! (Always the best excuse when people can't hear me-- because
it's just not possible to talk any louder then I am! Haha...)
Life is beautiful (especially with the sun!). Les Mis is beautiful. London. Is. Beautiful.
