Our Walk Through London on Sunny Saturday

Our family explored London five years ago on our way to Ghana, West Africa. At that time, we took a on-off bus tour of the city. Today, we explored the city on foot. It was delightful! We walked through the Palace Guard Grounds, into St. James Park to Buckingham Palace and then onward to Westminster Abbey, past Big Ben, across the Thames where we tried to buy a ticket for the London Eye but the lines were to long so we gave up. We'll do the London Eye during a weekday.

This morning (Sunday) we went to church at Holy Trinity Brompton where Nicky Gumbel is the Vicar. Nicky Gumbel started the Alpha Course which 15 million people in the US have taken. John and I partner with Jim and Barb Blechl to lead Alpha for Chinese graduate students for 12 weeks every spring semester.

Our Location in London

We wandered around London getting oriented. We went back and forth across the Thames River and finally approached Trafalgar Square where we saw the National Gallery of Art. As we stood in Trafalgar Square we looked up and saw a familiar sight - the flag of the University of Notre Dame. Check out the location of the ND building. We took these photos from Trafalgar Square which is just one block from the ND building.

Out of our Flat and onto a Movie Set

When we walked out of our building yesterday morning, we ventured down a block close to the palace guard grounds and stumbled onto a movie set. After asking around we discovered that Rowan Atkinson (aka "Mr Bean") was filming "Johnny English 2". He is a big star here in London and I happen to really like him. I used to watch him as "Mr. Bean" in train stations in China. His shows used to play on screens in many train stations in China. Atkinson also played a bumbling vicar in "Four Weddings and a Funeral". The movie he is making now, "Johnny English Reborn" will be released in 2011.

First Day in London

We've arrived in London and the Notre Dame building is amazing! Here are pictures of the faculty and staff lounge. Check out the grand piano where Laura is practicing her Phantom of the Opera and Christmas pieces.

We attended a Notre Dame orientation for students yesterday - the day we arrived. It was really nice to meet the law students who will be living in London and taking classes here for the year.

Our family is really excited about the location of our flat (apartment). The Notre Dame building is right next to the National Gallery of Art which is on Trafalgar Square. Amazing location! We have already cooked a big pasta dinner in our flat.