Saturday and the volcano is still erupting

So since the airports are pertty much just closed until Monday we aren't going anywhere. I am really glad my parents didn't come over and get stuck here too because things are looking pretty grim right now. One of our professors even explored the option of renting a coach and driving us across Europe to fly out of Europe somewhere else. Of course, that is a last resort and is highly unlikely. For now we just wait. I guess BYU is pretty concerned that they can get kids in and out before the next semester starts. There are currently 60 BYU kids over here in Europe and 400 waiting to come for Spring semester. Today a few of us are having a fast just that we can get back safe and soon.

Yesterday we had to get our morale up. Regardless of the fact that I don't get to see Germany and France it's still an opportunity to be here. This week I am going to try to be more productive and go see more stuff because I might not ever get back here again and it's a blessing to be stuck in such a cultured city. So our first stop yesterday was Camden Market. This place is the best. They have great ethnic food and all sorts of diverse people. There are literally just markets and markets of handmade crafts, cheap clothes, a billion things you never knew you needed. It's great. We also went into the cyberworld store feature in Mary-Kate and Ashley's film "Winning London" where they do the fashion show. We walked around a little more and I bought a sterling silver ring for eight pounds. I am pretty excited about it.

Afterwards we headed to the "tulip" festival at Trafalgar square. In reality it was a beer drinking festival with a few small stands selling tulips. They have a pole vaulting exhibition and a huge stage with bands performing. For some reason everyone was wearing neon orange. Is that Holland's national color? They also said "Holland!" all over them. I thought it was funny that of all the sporting events to have in the middle of Trafalgar square they chose pole-vaulting. Definitely a culture difference right there.

We next walked down to Big Ben and then over to Buckingham because Reesa hadn't seen the palace. And since our tube passes expired we walked home. It was a significant distance but we went through Green Park and then Hyde Park. The parks are packed with people here. It's almost sad to me because I feel like part of my home is an amusement park. I am so glad I came Winter semester when tourist season isn't happening. Afterwards I sat down and read my book for the rest of the night (minus the break we took to go to Nandos and to celebrate Caroline's birthday). It was the best thing being able to read a book for enjoyment and not have any homework or anywhere to be. I am feeling a lot more relaxed even if I still harbor a little anxiety to see the mountains of Utah.