england

      High school is filled with opportunities to grow, gain experience, and generally have the time of your life. Sixteen Wilby students were recently lucky enough to take advantage of one of the most dynamic, mind expanding opportunities possible: International Travel.
      On our recent trip to England we had many unique experiences that helped us develop new perspectives and expand our understanding of the world. We stayed 8 days and 7 nights in a land where it rains nearly every day, they drive on the wrong side of the road, there are no washcloths, and people are ruled by a the supreme will of a single monarch and royal family.
      We spent most of our time in the capitol city of London. In our extensive time sightseeing we visited many historic, world renown landmarks. One of our first stops was at the home of the Queen, Buckingham Palace. At the Palace we witnessed the impressive changing of both the infantry and cavalry guards. Later, we crossed the famous London Bridge and Tower Bridge on our way to the Tower of London. Here we saw the site where two of King Henry VIII's many wives were beheaded, and England's beloved ravens. Also in the Tower were England's Crown Jewels, including "The First Eye of Africa," the largest diamond in the world.
      We also visited many of England's historically religious landmarks. Among these were St. Paul's Cathedral, where Princess Diana was married; Westminster Abby, site of nearly all of England's royal coronations and the shrine to Saint Edward, England's first saint; and the church where William Shakespeare was married.
      Even with all of that we still found time to visit the Globe Theater, where Shakespeare produced many of his plays, and Madame Tousaud's Wax Museum which attracts people from all over the world to see its hundreds of real life replicas of celebrities.
      London's cultural offerings and night life were also well received by these tourists from Wilby. We saw a play(Smokey Joe's Cafe), a movie(an awesome English film titled, 24-7) and lots of live music(Mark Mulcahy, MYNK, Libido, The Playground). Some of us might have even been caught dancing in the world renown discotech, the Hippodrome. And, to get around to all of these places we used The Tube(London's subway), the famous red double decker buses, and old fashioned black cabs that, although common in London, are what you would expect in a Dick Tracy movie.
       We also spent a few days outside of London. We got to see some of England's beautiful, lush green countryside on our way through the Cotswald and the University of Cambridge. We also make stops in Stratsford-Upon-Avon, and the site of Stonehenge. This world wonder offered us a unique chance to marvel at the world's most famous man made mystery.

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