Lauren and Amelia in London Again

I had been telling Lauren all week what a wonderful time I had getting Afternoon Tea in Castle Combe, so Thursday we decided to try Afternoon Tea in Oxford. We arrived at The Rose just minutes after noon, but thankfully the goodies were already prepared, so we were able to have an early tea before our train to London. It was a really charming tea! I got earl grey, like a good trekkie, but resisted the urge to order it hot. I did use far too many sugar cubes for a really adult tea, but I am still only using about half as many as I would have used a year ago, so I think I am finally developing a taste for tea.

Look how proper! 

Look at that food!

When I get home, I think I am going to buy a small tea set and have afternoon tea on Sunday afternoons. It's such a wonderful tradition. I think it is important to learn things when you go abroad and bring them home to enrich your life. This time I will be bringing home a new appreciation for tea, as well as a new appreciation for taking time to sit and relax around mid-afternoon. I think sometimes Americans forget to relax. I know I do. 

After tea, Lauren and I went to London. Though we were in London on Sunday, we were in such a hurry to get to Canterbury, it didn't really feel real. This time we were very aware that we were back in London together. The last time Lauren and I were in London together was seven years ago, between our sophomore and junior years of high school. It's really a shock to think how long ago that is! 

Because we were celebrating our return together to London, we wanted to revisit something we did on that first trip. I looked through my photos and found one of us sitting on the lions at Trafalgar Square. We decided to recreate that photo by climbing the lions again. What we didn't take into account was that the first time we were helped onto the lions by some of the boys in our group who gave us a boost. Without help, I wasn't sure I could get up on the lion. I am lacking in upper body strength, and very scared of falling and hurting myself. Lauren was able to pull herself onto the statue, but all I could do was to get the top half of me on the platform. I couldn't find a way to pull the rest of me up. Finally, Lauren reached over, grabbed my belt loops, and pulled me onto the platform! A nice family took our picture, and we successfully recreated our photo from seven years ago. Isn't it crazy how time flies?