We're so awesome, the Pope stopped by

Well, I am here. In London.

And I couldn't be happier.

My flight to Boston, my lonesome 6 hour layover and my restless flight to London were fairly uneventful. I cannot, repeat, CANNOT sleep in vehicles of any sort, be they planes, trains or automobiles. I just can't. Therefore, I got absolutely no sleep on either flight. We landed and I groggily made my way through customs and through the baggage claim and finally found myself a cab to take me to the hotel at which all of the TCU students were meeting. We mingled a bit, getting to know each other, and eventually went out for some lunch with our Study Abroad Coordinator. Afterwards, we bought cheap cell phones and just vegged for a bit.

Then the exciting stuff began. Our plan for the evening was to take the Underground (subway) over to the Westminster area, where Big Ben and Parliament are located and take a little ride on the London Eye. To say that I was excited would be a vast understatement. The weather was absolutely beautiful! It couldn't have been any more than 65 degrees, and there was a little wind, which made wearing jackets necessary. I joked that I felt like it was Christmas, since that's what Christmas in Texas always feels like, right? Riding the London Eye was a truly wonderful experience. Once we got to the top, we could see almost all of London. This city is so varied. It is modern and old fashioned. It is quaint and bustling. It is a thousand other things that are just too numerous to mention here. In short, I already love this city.

Afterwards, we went out to dinner and walked all over the West End, stopping at Trafalgar Square to watch a very entertaining street performer. It is so interesting to watch the people here. I've heard many people claim that English people aren't good looking, but that couldn't be further from the truth. What makes them so unique is their innate sense of style. But it isn't that trendy, Beverly Hills sort of style at all. Rather, they seem to possess a talent for creating their own look and completely working it. And it truly makes them beautiful.

I cannot wait to spend the next three months in this city. The adventures have only just begun and I know there will be even greater ones to come.

Oh yeah, in reference to the title....yep. You read right. The Pope is here.