Okay, I'm back. So yeah, this has been pretty crazy. I saw all the touristy stuff in London, and I also got to hang out with the "locals" at my youth hostel...these people that live there full time. What's that? You th hostels are supposed to be for travellers? Au contraire... these guys had suits hanging from beds, towels drying, etc etc. It was pretty funny, except for the stench of unwashed socks wafting from beneath the beds. I actually lost a couple things under one of the beds (I think) but I decided my nose would rather that I just buy a new one...

So I think I have come to a scientific and unisputable conclusion about the best landmark in London. BIG BEN. The thing is, my cell phone was not working, so I never knew what time it was. I got to feeling a bit silly stopping people every half hour or so to find out the time. Big Ben solves this in a great way. It also has the added benefit of being a tall landmark, so I always knew where I was (more or less) when I saw it. That works pretty well with the London Eye, but the London Eye doesn't tell you the time. So...the ability to answer the questions of "Where am I?" and "What time is it?" all in one fell swoop (Get it...London? Shakespeare...?) makes Big Ben the best landmark in London.

Yeah, so I took a little excursion to Leed's Castle and then on to Canterbury on Monday, and then yesterday I visited Oxford. Oxford is so amazing, and it actually reminds me of Lexington in a weird way. It's such a historic, removed, amazing campus that feels so strangely different from the rest of the town. I climbed all the way of the chapl tower to see the whole city...let me tell you, that was a lot of steps. I counted them on the way down...126? Or was it 162? Iforget. But that was the best thing I did all day.

Today I have been packing and traveling. I can't wait to meet up with Katie, settle in, and SHOWER. Carrying two backpacks around England on a hot summer day is just gross!!