* Day Three *

Thursday, March 28th, 2008

This morning we (Sis. Debbie, Gayla, Cindy, Leann, Naomi, Tiffany, and I) went out intending to purchase tickets for Phantom of the Opera. We ended up getting a late start and went straight to the changing of the guards. They do a 2 day shift so there was not one yesterday; and Wednesday they didn't have it because the President of France was there. I got a couple of cool videos of the bands moving in, but we were too far away to see the actual guard change. At this point things got a little crazy. We got separated from Sis. Debbie and Gayla. The rest didn't want to wait, but at the last minute we found Gayla... but no Sis. Debbie. So - I stayed with her while the others left and we planned to meet later at Harrods. We did finally find Sis. Debbie and then headed to Harrods. That place is HUGE!! I've actually never heard of the place, but supposedly a world-wide known store. They have everything you could possibly imagine. The only thing that I bought was food - some fresh sliced turkey, some weird cheese with rosemary on it and samples of a Greek and a Mediterranean salad. Not with greens, but with tomatoes, cheese (mozzarella and feta) and olives. Yum!! Now the cheese with the rosemary in it made me soooo sick. I had to get out of the store and definitely puked on the streets of London. Great huh?

So, by the time Sis. Debbie and Gayla were done shopping and we got back to the hotel, we had just missed the others. The rest of the group had gone on an all day tour of Bath and Stonehenge. So we set off to find tickets to Phantom. First we wanted to go yesterday, but Naomi had plans with her daughter and granddaughter, so we decided to wait. Then she backs out anyway. Well, we find a place that has 2 tickets, first balcony, center for 55 lbs. More than I wanted to spend, but okay - I'm here to spend $$, never been to the theater, and will never again have the opportunity to go in London every again. So we purchase them for Sis. Debbie and I. Gayla had seen it last night with the others so she got a ticket for Mama Mia. We RACED back to the hotel to freshen up (Gayla went on to St. Paul's Cathedral) and literally RUN back to pick up the tickets. However, there is a different person on duty who says he has no tickets b/c the theater would not sell them after 5pm. What The Crap!! We then try to run down to the theater-- and I do mean RUN. We were able to get our money back. No, let me rephrase that, Sis. Debbie DEMANDED our $$ back (ha!) Turns out, they have only one seat in the entire house for 55 lbs. Sis. Debbie talked me into going without her, and I'm glad she did. It was absolutely amazing!! I ended up being dead center, isle seat, 8th row from the stage on the main level. Perfect! I was directly under the chandelier when it fell. =o) On the way back to the hotel, I managed to spend the rest of my $$ on souvenirs and a carmel hot chocolate from Starbucks.

Tiff ended up getting to go the Jack the Ripper Tour with Naomi and they really enjoyed it. Kinda bummed that I didn't get to go, but Phantom!!! So... I showered, packed up, and I'm ready to head out at 8:15 in the morning for PARIS!!!