And just why do I love it so?

Before Aaron surprised me with the trip to England... he asked me why I loved England so much. I didn't really have an answer to that. I just have always wanted to go because it just seemed amazing! Now, after bring there... I have come up with some of the reasons why I do love England!


In a nut shell--- Everything is CUTE in England!

The doors have the doorknob in the middle!---CUTE!!!

Instead of saying yield, they say....

CUTE!!!

I dont have a picture of this...but their accents...come on...CUTE!!!

(But not as cute as Alaska accents! wink wink)

The fact that the subway is called the tube...is SO cute to me! (Heres my first ride on the tube. I will admit that I felt a little embarrassed when he took this picture. Therefore, I think it turned out looking like I was a little girl going to her first day of school! Funny!)


So many famous places and things..maybe not so "cute" but oh so fun!!!

Sherlock Holmes (Aaron is telling him that its bad to smoke! He's such a good public defender!)

London Bridge (Another song that I sang a lot! I do believe each time we passed it-which was often! )


St.Paul's cathedral (This was Aaron's song to sing- You know- Mary Poppins...where the old lady goes to St. Paul's and Feeds the birds "Tuppence a bag!" Yeah, I didn't know it too well, but its a good thing Aaron did!)


Notting Hill

"You say it best- when you say nothing at all!"

Oh how sweet! Ü


Drury lane

Do you know the Muffin man who lives on Drury Lane? :)


You see- I really tried to not be the "Queen" But Aaron always insisted that we take pictures of things like this! This is "Great Queen's Street". I think he was trying to upgrade me from Princess to Queen! Wahoo! I think it just makes him happy to know that he is dating royalty! :)

Up above where it says "The Prince of Whales" you can see it says "Great Queens Street". I don't know if you can zoom in-but if not just take my word for it!


I don't think Aaron will fully know how excited I was when he surprised me with the trip here! I was besides myself with joy!- but I think that I was in so much shock (plus Jet lag) that I didn't fully let him know how thankful I was to go! Honestly- THANK YOU! It was amazing there. You are wonderful! That was one of the best surprises ever!!!

Now on to Berlin!

You gotta go here!

England is full of amazing places to visit... Here are 4 that you should definitely put on your list to go see!!!

London Temple!

You know, temple grounds are beautiful. They are. But there was something so calming and serene with the London temple. It could have been the fact that the temple is in this quiet little town, set back from the road, and we were the only ones there (vs. In the middle of downtown with lots of traffic and tons of people!) It just was so beautiful!

They had this beautiful pond and the flowers were just gorgeous! On the train ride there, Aaron asked what my favorite flower was. Besides roses I told him tulips. He told me that he thought that I loved Daffodils. I don't know why he thought that, and as much as I think daffodils are pretty, tulips win in my book! When we got to the temple, Aaron was amazed. The grounds used to be covered in daffodils and they were replaced by...you got it! Tulips! So funny! Aaron seems to think that I am a princess- so I play along! Ü But it is kind of funny and interesting when things like that happened! I was even beginning to believe it!

(My camera kind of washed out how really and truly beautiful it was!)

The inside was just as beautiful! I loved it there!!!

Buckingham Palace!

You've got to see the changing of the guard! It is amazing how many people come out for this. I had to keep reminding myself that they weren't reenacting things that happened long ago. This was for real! They were protecting the queen! The interesting thing to me was that the changing of the guards was just that- they actually changed from the "regular" guard to the Malaysian guards! Who knew?!

So we were all watching intently trying to figure out what was going to happen next and then they got out their instruments and started playing. Wow! Totally didn't see that coming! As if it was a "band off"! Hmm...not what we were expecting. They each played 3 songs, then the Brits left and the Malaysians stayed!!

I was just waiting for the queen to come out. Any moment I was sure of it! I mean, Aaron had me believing that I was a princess...so where was my personal tour of the palace?!

We did have good weather though. The clouds parted as we got there- and the rain came as we were done! You can call that good luck! One could get used to being a Royal huh! We were very thankful that the weather was on our side!

Across the street is St. James park. It was so nice to walk around and enjoy. Plus, It has so many beautiful flowers! They also had a huge section of- you guessed it...tulips! HA!

Abby Road!

For those of you who know me well, know that I love the Beatles. Thanks to Allison Rock- they became a big part of my life in high school. ( Yep- I was one of the many in love with Paul McCartney!)So...we had to visit the infamous crosswalk and Abby road studios! Yep- Thats me-crossing the road...just like the Beatles!However, I was a little worried because there was so much traffic!!! Aaron had to keep reminding me that I was in the crosswalk! They had to stop for me! I still didn't trust them though! I would never live on this street! Way too many tourists! :)

When we went to the studios, Aaron insisted that I write my name on the wall. I tried to tell him that doing graffiti was wrong, but he took my hand and made me do it! I'm the innocent one in the matter!

(okay...not true, but on his blog he made me out to be the bad guy!) So.. the truth is, he told me that people always write their names on the wall and then after a while they white wash it and start is over again. So I thought why not! And THAT is the truth! Ü

Portobello Road

It has come to my attention that this road isn't as well known as I had previously thought! I am amazed that when I tell people that we went here, I get a blank stares in return! Its as if I said something like- Then we went to Fredicks road. Simple and not famous. The problem with that statement is- Portobello Road is famous and special! Did these people not watch Bedknobs and Broomsticks?! What kind of childhood did they have?! I guess they dont know that its the street where the riches of ages are stowed! Anything and everything a chap can unload- is sold off the barrow in Portobello Road. Yep...you better believe it. I sang it and sang it and sang it! I enjoyed myself. I'm not sure others around me did! Luckily Aaron is a good sport and sang it with me!

Aww...the memories! :)

The next day..

So the actual purpose for being in England was so that Aaron could go meet with his professors in the University that he didn't make up! So the conundrum was- what to do with Jill?! He asked me if I wanted to just sleep in (keep in mind I had only been in Europe for 2 days at this time...my body was still out wack!) and kinda spend time in the house we were staying at until he got back, or go to the British Museum. I only had to think a moment about it (because sleep is SO enticing to me!) before I thought! Hey! I'm in England- I'm not staying the house all day! I gotta see this place!

So once we got to the museum, Aaron got me a little audio guide and left for his meeting- as I left for the ancient Egyptian exhibit! (I think that I got the better deal!) I just wanted to say that mom- you should be so proud of me! I went from being so overly humiliated as a freshman at Ricks when we went on the tour of the campus (on the golf cart) because there were a few students walking around- and they might have seen me!!!!- to being able to walk around with headphones on- all by myself- in a museum full of thousands of people! oh, sniff, I've just grown up so much!!! So I took the picture for you mom- to show you that I did it!

I enjoyed wandering around and learning about all the different ancient artifacts. I decided that The Egyptian artifacts were the most intriguing to me! I'll just put a few of the highlights on here- so as to not bore the "I don't like museums" people! The funny thing here was that each time I went into a room- I would usually be one of the few people there. I would read about it etc.. and then as I got my camera out- Its as though the circus was in town! Lines of people were everywhere! Tour groups came out of no where! After about 10 times of that- I learned to first take the picture and then learn about it!

So lets take a walk back into history and learn about what happened long long ago...

This marvelous piece of work is what people are calling the "Rosetta Stone". Yep. A HUGE deal and little ole me had never heard of it! Luckily Aaron had talked it up on the way over so I was really excited to see it. Super cool because (for those of you like me, who don't know what it is...) it is a single passage that is written in 3 different language(one of them being hieroglyphics). Therefore, by having the other languages above it, people were able to decipher hieroglyphics! (Please history scholars out there correct me if I'm wrong! ) But thats what I am remembering that it is.

And the next stop on our tour we shall see...

Some Egyptian drawings that look ever so familiar to me! It really reminded of the drawing that is in the Pearl of Great Price... Do you see it?! So I had to get a picture of it. (As you can see there is a flash in these pictures ! I was so annoyed and didn't realize until after I had left the museum, that there was a museum feature on my camera! Oh well! Live and learn!)

And lastly, just some more thing that I liked! I just found it interesting that these things were the ACTUAL things from ages ago! Like- how on earth did they get that horse person out of the ground and all the way to Berlin without breaking it?! Mind boggling really!

There were pieces of the Parthenon in the museum that England had stolen from Greece, so that was cool to see and last but not least- in the Chinese portion of the tour- there were many many Buddha's . However, I had never seen a Buddha quite like this one before.

You know, I'm walking around and seeing all these serious Buddha's and then he popped out of no where! Look at how HAPPY he is! Isn't that funny! He made me smile, so he gets to be on here!

I think he was the Buddha of good eats and that was why he was so happy! Therefore, I think that the moral of the story is this- Chubbiness= Happiness. Skinniness =misery and stiffness . Don't believe me-Here's the picture to prove my point. So...where did I put that chocolate bar?!

After a few hours, I did actually begin to get lonely and was thankful that Aaron had returned. When we walked out of the museum he pulled 2 tickets out. Knowing that London is known for it's musicals--He surprised me with 2 tickets. But it gets even better. He knows how much I love Lord of the Rings. and even though he doesn't like it all that much- like at all- that is (I know I know, we're working on that! :) ) he still bought 2 tickets to the musical LOTR . Before our trip, I didn't even know that existed! I guess its not going to be there for long- so we got in just in time! I was so excited!!! He is so great like that! In the picture below, I describe myself as so overly excited, it borders on the word "freaky"!

So before we went to the show, we decided it was time for me to eat some infamous fish and chips! We saw this cute place (I think that I was the one who called it "cute"- I doubt that was the wording that Aaron used! ) we went in, ordered, and it was actually super yummy!

As we walked out, I THEN realized the name of the place that we had been eating in! Check it out!

You know, since our family is from England and all- I left their believing that it was an old family restaurant! Had I know beforehand the name of the place, I would have asked for a free meal! (Actually we did get a free desert! The owner said that he gave anyone going to the LOTR a free desert, but now I'm wondering if he really knew who I was- and used that for a cover! hmm...curious! Curious indeed!)

I'm pretty sure that's a picture of great great G-pa Young. Don't you think dad?! (Wink wink) :)


Then over to the show...



And here we are inside! It was a beautiful building!




Yeah, I was practicing being Royal in this picture. I kind of did that a lot this trip! Sad, I know. But true!

I do believe we crashed that night! It was a long, but wonderful day! Did I mention how much I loved England?! Okay, just curious!

The first of many

Well, this is the moment that many have been waiting for! Finally pictures of my trip to Germany! I do apologize that it has taken so long. Honestly jet lag has become one of my least favorite things! So I hope you're all happy that even though I am tired right now- I will do you the honors and start the first of many posts that will give you a flavor of my most wonderful vacation!

I honestly had such a great time. I really enjoyed Europe. I was a little nervous about how I would feel not knowing the language and using the bus/subway system. But really- it was all great! I loved the feeling of being there and learning so many things! So I thank Aaron for showing me such a great time!

Well to start off... As most of you know, Aaron surprised me with a trip to England the first night I got there. We took off April 29 and spent 4 1/2 wonderful days in jolly old England! When we got there and were going through customs, I could help but smile, and sometimes even giggle as I listen to the people talking! I am in love with that accent! From the security guards talking to someone to the guy looking at our passports- I was grinning from ear to ear! One time Aaron turned to me and was like "you're loving this aren't you!" and of course I replied "YES!" :)

I will try not to bore you with too many details and pictures- so I hope you enjoy! Since I am me- lots of adventures were had during these 3 weeks. However, I'm just going to post pictures today because my brain is too tired to write out all the funniness that goes with them... but with time it will come.

One of the first stops was to a train station. I did find that a little strange, but since I just figured he knew what he was doing- I followed him. and low and behold look at what we found! We tired to go in, but alas, it was blocked!

Get it?!

I thought that was really cute! Those Englishmen are quite creative huh!

I then had the privilege of seeing the university that Aaron is attending. If you zoom in on the bottom red building picture it says the name. "University College London". So I guess it he wasn't lying to me and the University DOES exist! :)

That night we ate in China town. Isn't it interesting that there is a china town in every major city? hmm... curious. There was a funny moment here though. We went to a Chinese buffet and after I had gone to get my food, we realized that you were only allowed to go to the buffet 2 times and you had to eat everything on your plate or you would be charged extra! Ahh! Lets just say we both finished what was on our plates, one of us struggling a little more than the other...simply because there was a larger amount of food on the plate then there was in the stomach. I'll just leave it at that! But that is a memory that I wish to never be taken from me. It still brings a smile to my face! Each agonizing swallow- one after another! Good times...

In walking around, I found a phone booth. Everyone needs a picture in the classic British phone booth! I was so excited that Aaron took a picture as I was entering.....
but then we realized it was LOCKED!!! How rude! I used all my strength...but to no avail!

A few days later- we finally found one that actually opened! And I added my name to the list of people with a picture of the cutest phone booths ever!


So...that was all the first day! That night we also walked around and saw many beautiful sights! So I leave this post with a few of the wonders of London! :)




Big Ben and the tower of London are featured here. (and some of Trafalgar square). Unfortunately- the pictures dont really do it justice!

For some reason.. I didnt take pictures of the other things we saw that night- namely Tower bridge which is beautiful, Westminster Abby, the rest of Trafalgar square and much much more!!!

Well I hope that this got you ready to see what else is in store in the next few posts! Stayed tuned for what happened the rest of the week! :)