I'm at home! but in Bristol...

After packing and storing my luggage, I was able to catch mass at Westminster Cathedral, the mother church of the Catholic community in England and Wales (ref: Wikipedia). The church was beautiful and quite unique, which is really something considering the number of churches I have toured over the last weeks. As you can see below, the baldacchino (which is the free standing arch above/behind the altar) is very striking, especially in front of the dark walls and ceilings, which almost give the church a gothic-like feel. Above the baldacchino, the mosaic on the far wall immediately calls attention to one entering the church.

I tried to capture the third eye-catching detail, but I'm afraid I am lacking in the photography area. The large crucifix, portraying Jesus in front of a striking red background, dominates the whole of the Cathedral. It is beautiful.

This was my first English mass to attend in quite some time, and it felt great. Besides talking with and seeing my friends and family during this trip, I think hearing the mass in English was the only thing that I have missed from America thus far. And, look, I can find that in England! Now all I have to do is get my friends, family, and job over here, and I'll be set!

the front of the Westminster Cathedral.

Careful not to waste precious time in the city, I did not linger long after mass, but quickly hopped a bus to Waterstone's bookstore near Piccadilly. I have already finished the two books I bought in Paris. With the help of a saleslady, I found three books that caught my attention. (I could not turn down the 3 for 2 deal; I am obsessed with books, I know.) I bought One Day by British author David Nicholls, Life of Pi by Yann Martel and The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga. I am ready for Tuesday's ten hour flight!

With three new books in hand, I picked up my bag and headed for the coach station. While my ticket read the bus was to leave at 15:00, the bus was lined up and ready to leave at 14:30 - glad I got there early. The bus ride was not bad at all (probably because of my books!). I arrived in Bristol, and memories came flooding back. I only lived in this city for about a month four years ago, and my memory is generally pretty terrible. Still, I remember the bus station near the hospital: we were once late for the bus and got lost, so we hailed a cab and the cabbie drove us around the block to the station. I passed a restaurant and remembered having mussels and a beer sampler there, for lunch, I think, with Paul and Greg and Kate. I got a bit lost and wandered thru areas I had no recollection of. Did my group not thoroughly explore the city, have things changed, or have I simply forgotten? I have changed and grown up so much since then - four years is quite a long time at nineteen.

around the harbor.

I rang the Dooleys, found them to be home, and jumped in a cab. Yay! The girls have each grown SO much, Debbie and Joe look the same, and the house is beautiful. They have done quite a bit of remodeling and redecorating in the last few years, and now I love the house even more. I have decided to take some pictures tomorrow, in order to remember exactly how I want my future apartment to look. We all shared a fantastic Sunday dinner - steak, chips (fries), salad, tomatoes, bread - yum. The girls and I compared music for awhile, then sat down for a nice movie night. And, although I was only here for about four weeks, this place still feels like home. I am getting so sad just thinking about leaving them tomorrow; I feel as if I will be homesick for them once I return to Mississippi.

Tomorrow Harriet, Megan and I are going to go into town, possibly for some shopping. I believe Martha has some revisions to do on her work; she has the remainder of her finals next week. After that I will head back to London and prepare for my journey home. 

Friends and family, start preparing yourself now: you will act as my distraction from thinking of Europe 24/7 once I arrive back home! :)