Live by the Sun - Love by the Moon: DAY 8 - To the Big City of London

Sept. 10 - Our 1st Show: Les Miserables

This photo was actually taken last night when we all stayed up to watch some English TV serial that everybody was really in to. These are such great people and I have been so very welcome in their home. I will forever be grateful to their hospitality and for the whole community welcoming us Americans into their lives.

Emily's boyfriend, Emily, Laura, and the girl's mom - Helen

The next morning, Jayne came over to say good-bye before she left to go teach. Such SWEET girls!

Thanks for everything!

Then their dad, Bill, came over. He lives by himself since his wife died a year ago. He usually gets his own breakfast at his own home, but takes turns spending the nights at his daughter's homes. It works for everybody! And he's 99 years old!!

I feel like he's my own father - what a wonderful man he is!

Then my cousins came to pick me up and we all said good-bye!

Helen says good-bye to the cowboy...John.

This is our English rental car.

We drove back to Derby to return the car and to catch our train back to London. Of course we got lost AGAIN! The round-abouts are CrAZy!! And the map is hard to read and you can't imagine how 3 heads together still can't find the way. We asked several people to help, but we finally gave up and called a cab to come get us and lead us to the rental car place.

So glad that we're done with this driving experience! Wrong side of the road and on the wrong side of the front seat. (of course, the English don't feel that way - ha!)

The taxi driver puts our luggage in his car and whew!! We're on our way!

The Cockney Girl that rented the car to us.

We went to the train station in Derby and hung around there for awhile, had lunch, and I went for a walk.

Sandwich with cream cheese and jelly. Tasty!

Nice hotel lobby next to the train station.

What handsome escorts I have taking me to the train station!

I thought this was funny on the back of the toilet in the train.

We were on a 1st class car, so we had our choice of snacks and bicuits (cookies), tea and juice.

The boys seem to be having trouble getting out of the station with their tickets.

Looks like John wins for having the biggest suitcase!

We waited on the wrong side of the station for our limousine to pick us up. After 45 minutes of waiting, we went to the other side, but no car....so we got a taxi.

We are HAPPY that we don't have to drive anymore, but just be carted around by a taxi, coach, guide, limousine, etc. for the next few days. that will be a treat!

"At your service!" says the hotel doorman or bellboy.

Now this is a fancy hotel lobby - let's go talk to the consierge for tickets to a show tonight!

Photos from my own private room. what a treat! Only downside....the windows are not there - they are fake and they don't open, so I feel a bit claustrophobic.

I decided to go for a quick walk before the show.

The famous double-decker bus.

A very cool Candy store.

I walked into the courtyard of the Burlington House.

I had to take photo of "Lloyd's Bank."

We took a taxi to the Queen's Theatre where Les Miserables was playing. It has been playing in London since 1985....the world's longest running musical ever.

It's been a long day...I wonder if we'll all stay awake?

Les Miserables is one of my favorite musicals. I saw it for the first time in 1991 in Salt Lake City. We went with some good friends of ours with our four oldest children. I think we'll all remember it! Victo Hugo is amazing! I never read the book, but I have enjoyed reading some of his quotes.

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent”

“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.”

“Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.”

“To love another person is to see the face of God.”