The Rest of Day 1 and Day 2
by Lainey Nichols '09

Haggared and punchy, we entered into a lunch-time London where bankers move like ants and few smile. We were completely conspicuous, perhaps slightly obnoxious (we are just a loud group — no stopping us), but not rude.

We followed Coach into a tunnel-like shopping mall and were forced to merge into a stream of oncoming charcoal suits with pink and blue ties. It was terrifying. Haha.

Temmate Alexa Baird (or "Red" as Catawba football coaches call her) and I sat down at a place called Eat to stop and admire the sharp, tailored fashions of London. Both of us, usually bubbling with enthusiasm, were speechless. Well, perhaps out of hunger, haha, but speechless is a hard state to achieve when it comes to the two of us.

Day 2
Today we saw all that is, according to Clive Owen in the movie "Closer," the "theme park" that is central London. Still, it was a privilege to feast our eyes upon historical sites like the replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre (Dr. [Bethany] Sinnott [a Catawba College English Professor whose professional area of expertise is Shakespeare], your voice and teachings were all I could hear in my head) Trafalgar Square and the Tower of London. The entire country seems haunted to me — modern colors and shapes gliding effortlessly over ancient pavements and under an endless succession of coats of arms. There is nothing like this in America.

Bob, our tour guide, was an absolute joy, and a real-life version of the grandfather from "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang." Thick-mustached and proper, and having been a former "bobby," we won him over quickly with our gregarious team ’tude and affectionate joking. We were sad to see him go when he left us at the Tower of London.

Many of us opted to tour the Tower, and some went on their ways to explore. I wanted to see the crown jewels and decided to pay the 12 pounds to enter ... SO worth it.

Last on the agenda this evening was Covent Gardens. We hopped a "tube" (the subway) and walked into a brick and stone area of markets and street performers. Pigeons were everywhere, and unfortunately, they seemed intent upon flocking toward sophomore teammate, Andrea Dunshie (or "Dre") whom, God bless her, was inclined to scream every time one came within a two-yard radius of her.

"Lys" (Alyssa Shoenberg), Nikki Blackwelder, and I headed for a nearby soccer shop where we got the dirt on the teams we are to play. The Welsh National Team should give us a run for our money — gee, imagine that. Haha. We were absolutely wiped after our day in London. I thought we'd retire at a reasonable hour — not a chance. Haha. We started settling in at the last possible minute before curfew — I love our team.