Experience Europe 2015: London, Day 2

After an early rise, a quick shower, and a healthy breakfast of granola, fruit, and nutella-covered digestive biscuits (it's a thing), we loaded up on Bart's bus and rode to the British Library.



We couldn't take pictures inside the library, which is unfortunate because I saw some INCREDIBLE things there. I spent most of the time in one room (this one), which at first may seem lame, but let me just tell you what was in this room that I saw:

• Magna Carta
• Gutenberg's Bible (1455)
• Leonardo da Vinci's original notebooks and sketches
• Shakespeare's first books/scripts
• Handel's Messiah (his written score,with notes, lyrics, etc)
• The Beatle's handwritten lyrics when composing songs
• Jane Austen's desk
• Jane Austen's notes/drafts
• Orignal manuscript for Jane Eyre, one of my favorite book

And they had MANY more treasures. I was just slack-jawed and amazed the whole time.  I could have spent much more time in there looking at and reading about everything, but our next stop was at a genealogy business called FindMyPast (http://www.findmypast.com/).  We were here for about an hour.  We listed to a presentation on the mission, history, and function of their company and asked some questions.  Because the tour is through BYU-I's business and communication program, we spent quite a bit of time visiting companies, and businesses, touring them, learning about them, etc.  This was one of our first.  

Our next stop was St. Leonard's/Shoreditch church!  

 

Inside, an eclectic old man with more energy than 35 jet-lagged young adults told us many, many, many, many, many stories and facts about this church and not about this church. Also, for those who might be interested, there was a cat living in the church.



Next was without a doubt, one of the highlights of London for me.  We toured the BBC studios!




I learned SO much here, and was really interested in a lot of what I was seeing, because I'm a communications major, emphasizing in journalism/reporting.  It is sufficient to say that I was nerding out quite a bit.  Especially when they let us get real involved:



We talked about written news, broadcast news, radio dramas, sports, music, everything, my friends!  I could write a lot more about what I learned, but just ask me if you want to hear more about this part!




After this, we were set loose to find food.



And our last stop was All Saint's Church.  This was the first of many beautiful, large, extravagant churches we were blessed to see.  I love churches.

 



Then, just like always, we went and met our trusty driver Bart, who took us home.
...But first we had to enjoy some of the beauty that downtown London had to offer:



As I was falling asleep that night, I remember thinking to myself, "I would be more than content if this was it.  If this was all I got to, I wouldn't even mind."  It was such a full and fun day.