Summer in the City

Last Sunday, a group of us decided to venture into the city since it's the only day during the week that the guys don't have to work. There's a bus that goes just across the bridge to the bronx, and then we just took the subway into downtown. Our first stop was Central Park- quite the happening place on a Sunday afternoon. 

One of our favorites, however, was the roller-salsa. Some of the best entertainment of the day!

On the subway. We found that New York stations are VERY different from any european stations. No tax dollars = no cleaning people. ew. 

After Central Park we made our way down fifth avenue... all the way down to the Empire State Building. I'm not sure how long of a walk it was, but all I know is that my feet were KILLING me- and I was even wearing my running shoes! haha. 

Ryan, Alicia, me, Nick, Spencer and Britt on top of the Empire State Building

Just because we get a picture like this everywhere we go...

The Big Move

The past week has been quite an adventure. I had my first experience taking the ultimate road trip... 33 hours! I'm used to multiple hours in planes, not cars. All in all, it wasn't as bad as I expected and we spread it out over three days. Once we finally got to New Jersey, we spent a few nights in a hotel due to unfinished apt... and then another few nights in our "finished" but unfurnished apartment. Anyway, we finally got our furniture this morning, so the move in is now complete! We couldn't be happier with where we're living. Our complex is in Fort Lee, New Jersey and is about a ten minute walk from the George Washington bridge, which goes across the Hudson to the Bronx. After that, it's just a subway ride into downtown NYC. Not bad.
Driving a car around here takes some getting used to... lots of highways, lots of angry drivers, and most of all, lots of horns!
It's a different world out here, but we like it so far!

London

Last year during the summer, Nick won a trip to London from Platinum, who he sold for last summer. The company paid for our flight and hotel for a seven day trip! It was Nick's first time to Europe and had so much fun. My parents flew out for the last few days that we were there to do some sight-seeing with us. It was a blast. I have to say thought, we realized that seven days in Europe is quite different from seven days in Hawaii. We were exhausted by the end of the week! But it was totally worth it. 

Of course, we couldn't go to London and not visit the famous Kings Cross Station from Harry Potter... and platform 9 3/4.

H.M.S. Belfast- a British battleship from WWII that they keep in the Thames as a museum.

The Tower of London- We got to see the crown jewels, including the biggest diamond in the world-538 carats!! We also got to see all of Henry VIII battle armor. Pretty cool. 

Church on Sunday

Natural History Museum

We spent LOTS of time on the "tube"

A personal favorite....at the V&A museum

Harrods. Some of my favorite items: an antique billiards table for around 1 million British Pound.... a fendi fur bed through for 3,00o pounds... perfume for 2,000 (if that gives you an idea). haha. 

Windsor Castle- where the Queen spends her holidays and weekends. The oldest lived-in castle in Europe

Lion King with mom and dad and the Lycium Theater.

Warwick Castle

Shakespeare's House

Oxford University- they filmed part of Harry Potter in the cathedral there

Our tour bus

And last of all, our hotel. We stayed at the Bailey's Millenium Hotel in Kensington- a beautiful part of town, a short walk from Hyde Park and just across the street from a tube station. We loved it!

The staircase in our Hotel

Our First Apartment

After Nick and I got back from our honeymoon, we had about 3 1/2 weeks left before we left Provo after finals. Luckily, we were able to find this cute apartment at Aspenwood Manor to live in until we were done with school. It's an adorable restored mansion and all of the rooms come furnished and decorated. It worked out perfectly for us and we loved the time that we got to live there. It's a great place to stay if you're ever looking for a hotel in Provo!