Nothing Like a Good English Roadtrip

This week we took our first road trip up north. 40 girls on a bus--not the best means of travel but it was still one amazing trip! We started up in York, and saw the Bronte sisters’ house on the way up. I love walking through old houses and hearing the history behind them, it’s so interesting to me.

After that, we drove a little further up to York and did a tour of the minster. I already told you that I love cathedral tours and this one was especially fun because we walked up all 200 something stairs up to the top. So that was really cool! Oh yeah, quick funny story. A group of us was eating at McDonalds (I’m ashamed that I eat that here, but it’s so cheap) and we asked this guy to take our picture. So he hands his camera off to his buddy and jumps in the picture with us. Ok sir? We were kind of confused but whatever, then he invited us to a club that he was singing at. We kindly turned him down, even though he was so fine with his nice scarf and mascara…Anyway, the next day we were in the store and his face was on EVERY magazine cover! He’s just some famous guy named Pete haha but it was funny, he probably thought it was so strange that we didn’t know who he was. Anyway, so that was a funny little bonus to our week.

This week I also got to see Fountains Abbey-AMAZING!!!! That has definitely been my favorite thing so far, it’s insanely beautiful there and we had the perfect day to go there! if I happen to land myself a wealthy man, I'm flying back out here and taking my bridals there...it would be perfect.

We made it up to the Lake District and I’m crazy about that place! It was so nice to see lakes and a bunch of trees to make it feel a little more mountainy that usual. Even though it was cold, I loved being up there! I'm missing the mountains more and more so it was great to get outside and enjoy a little somewhat Utah-like weather. We did a tour of Wordsworth’s home and that was really interesting. As we were pulling out we left two of our girls behind. Our directors weren't joking when they said to be on the bus at 10:55--we WILL leave at 11:00. I will never be late for the bus now! We also got to take a ferry across the lake to go see Beatrix Potter's house. Not only did I see her house, I saw Peter Rabbit too, he was just hopping around the garden being cute, waiting for somebody to write a book about him. Seeing the two writer's houses really was fun and I now feel inspired to write a book :)

 The next day we did a church history tour through Preston and it was so cool, there are so many interesting things about the Church in England that I never knew and I love learning about them. We went through a museum and down to the River Ribble where the first baptism in England took place. We also went to Downham, the cutest town I’ve seen. It’s one of those towns that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time into a Jane Austen book, it was so great. I also got to see the Preston temple and that was so cool. My first international temple! It’s a really beautiful temple with really nice grounds and I’m so glad I got to see it.

The next morning we went to Albert Docks at Liverpool and that was my second favorite part of the week. We talked about the immigrants who came and went preaching and seeking the gospel. The Spirit was actually really strong, especially when we sang "Come, Come Ye Saints," and it was the coolest thing just imagining people and ancestors who sacrificed so much. I loved that part.

We then got to go to the Beatles museum and that was a lot better than I was expecting. I’ve never been a die hard fan but it was fun to go through and learn about what they’ve done. Crazy Beatles. Did you know they actually had someone play the tambourine in their band for a while? Um yeah, I'm starting a band and I'll be the tambourine player, thank you very much.

On the way home we stopped at Chatsworth, also known as Pemberley!! Beautiful mansion-just miniature Sistine Chapel ceiling paintings in every room--no big deal. The Duke and Dutchess of Devonshire are some lucky people, I'll tell you that. There are also INCREDIBLE grounds and gardens with huge trees, fountains, and secret gardens. And we can't forget that perfect Mr. Darcy bust, one of my favorite parts of the day! So the trip was definitely a success but it's nice to be back "home."

Life in London town is good :)