Westminster & Croissants

I finally saw Big Ben today! I must confess though, I really thought it'd be bigger. Nonetheless, it was a fun experience and it was pretty cool walking out of the tube station and finding the giant clock standing there right in front of you. Fun Fact: Big Ben is the name of the giant bell inside the clock tower. It took 2 weeks to cool when it was cast, and weighs about the same as an elephant. Also, the clock is wound 3 times a week and the clock keeps ticking due to the gravity that pulls down at the weights on the cables attached to each set of gears. There's also a pendulum that keeps the gears rotating to maintain it's speed, the clock engineers add or remove to the base of the pendulum. That's all I know. Now go impress your friends.
I walked across the bridge to get a better view of the Houses of Parliament and found myself in front of the British Film Museum and the London Eye. Wanting to save the Eye for another day, I opted for the 'Movieum,' as it's nicknamed. Apart from my amazing photo op with Hans Solo and a storm trooper from Star Wars--it was probably the worst 10 pounds I've spent in London thus far. Kind of like a very bland British Planet Hollywood without fries. Halls and halls of Excalibur memorabilia, Charlie Chaplain photos, and proof that America beats London in the field of entertainment ten times over.
Oh--but one tidbit I did find interesting...The Hollywood sign on the hill was originally constructed in 1923 to advertise a new housing development and read 'Hollywoodland.' The 'land' was removed in 1945....one of the misplaced facts in the Chaplain expo. He was in the biz before the sign was even built.
Then it was off for a quick view of Westminster Abby and a lot of walking--cause when it came right down to it, this day was mostly about eating. Kate told me to visit Patisserie Valerie--this cute pastry cafe and had gone on so about the awesome croissant grilled cheeses, that I made it a point to mark the nearest location on my map. When my feet hurt, I decided to brave the bus system and hopped on my first double-decker! I was feeling so proud of myself until I realized that, a) double-decker buses make me sick--all the stopping and the winding streets, etc... and, b) I was headed in the complete opposite direction I had intended to go. When I figured this out, I hopped off as quickly as I could and found myself smack dab in front of a Patisserie Valerie shop...very lucky. I proceeded to enjoy one heck of a croissandwhich and an apple tart--that I must say, would rival my own...if mine ever came close. After a while of getting lost, finding my way back and picking up my weekly dose of Indian from my friends at Bengal, I headed to FHE where I, and 5 other people spent 2 hours wrapping one shoebox for a 'Christmas in Romania' service project. It was just as fun as it sounds. I did meet some very nice girls and one boy, who I think only talked to me because I told him what I was studying and he was an illustrator looking for work....
So, now I'm very full, and very tired, and looking forward to falling asleep as soon as this post i
s finished.