We finally got to Barcelona Wednesday evening. As we were landing you could see them mounds of snow left from the blizzard on the landing strip, it was as if I had just landed in back in Chicago. We took a bus from Girona Airport to Barcelona, and Rachel’s friends Dana and Sean met us at the station. From there we took the metro to their apartment to drop our stuff off and get settled in.
One of the most famous Spanish dishes is called paella, it’s a rice dish made with either seafood or chicken. We went to this restaurant called Casa Juan, for some of the best paella in Barcelona. It was delicious, quite possible the best meal I had had in a long time. After dinner we headed back to their apartment to decide on our plans for the evening. We ended up going to a disco tech close to their place, and headed back pretty early since we were pretty worn out from all the travelling that day.
Barcelona’s culture of going out is a lot different than any other city I had been to. The locals here don’t bother going out until at least 1 or 2 and don’t actually get home until 6 or 7 in the morning! I’m sure you’re wondering how it is possible to function on little to no sleep, but they have come up with the perfect solution to this problem. First off, the days in Barcelona don’t start off early, and it is customary to take a siesta, Spanish for nap, each day. Many stores, restaurants and cafés close for a few hours in the day for a siesta.
Our first full day in Barcelona was a lot of fun. We started out the day by heading to Las Ramblas, a famous market in Barcelona located right on La Rambla street. There were a ton of street vendors, and a huge farmers market. Tons of fresh fruits, fresh fruit juice, vegetables, and more candy and chocolate than I had ever seen, flowers, vegetable plants for gardens and art work were all being sold. The street seemed to continue on for miles, but there was something very unique about this particular market.
Before we left the market we grabbed a quick lunch at a small falafel house. We then made our way to one of the famous parks in Barcelona, where Gaudi’s architecture can be observed. We took the metro to Park Güell and walked a steep incline, followed by hundreds of steps leading to one of the park’s entrances. We met Sean and Dana there, and walked through the entire park. It was at the highest point that we got an incredible panoramic view of the city. We took different paths which lead us to the “gingerbread houses”, to the famed arches designed by Gaudi, and to some beautiful mosaic art.
As it began to get dark we left the park, and headed to the Gothic Center for dinner. We went to this tiny restaurant called Pim Pam, one of Barcelona’s very own dives for the best burgers in Barcelona. After all that delicious food we head back to their apartment, an decided to get a good night’s sleep since we had a lot to cover tomorrow.
Friday proved to be a busy day, but we saw it all. We started out the day at Sagrada Familia, the famous church designed by Gaudi. Construction is still being carried out all according to his exact plans. Dana told us that in one of her classes, the professor mention that it is estimated to be completed in 50 years, which means somehow I will have to come back to see it completes! Each section is completely different, and there has been some controversy surrounding certain sections of the church, nonetheless it is still an incredible sight of the city.
We then headed back to the Gothic Center during the day, where some of Barcelona’s best architecture can be seen. There is a very old area of the Gothic Center, which includes the area that was the highest point of the city. Before building began spreading around the area from this point you could see straight across to the shoreline. And just about a five minute walk from there is the roman wall, and you can see how over the years it was added to and became a part of the city itself.
After leaving the Gothic Center went to go meet some of Rachel’s friends from home at the Arch de Triomphf. We then walked to see another beautiful park called, Parc de la Ciutadella. We walked around for quite a bit, and then headed to the beach. Although it was cold, it was nice to just walk along the beach and relax for awhile. We walked along the coast, and stumbled onto a demo track setup for the new Audi A1. We stopped there and got to see the latest model, and ever got to take a test drive of the car!
At the end of the day we headed back to their apartment, and got ready to go out to dinner. Out last meal in Spain was perfect, authentic Spanish cuisine, yum. We went out for a little bit, but turned in early since we need to catch our flight to the last leg of our journey. We woke us early, and began to make our way to Dublin, Ireland. Adios Barcelona, Hello Dublin!
Pictures: Barcelona, Spain
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Day Trip to Toledo, Spain
The next morning, we took a bus to get to the city of Toledo which is just south of Madrid. Adi had invited us to go with her, since she was travelling alone and talked a lot about what was there and why we should check it out. Toledo is a really unique and beautiful city, and I’m definitely glad that we got to see this small town.
It was a bit of walk to get o the town from the central bus station, but we made it. Toledo is interesting for a number of reasons, but one thing that I found particularly was the fact that three major religions were present here, from a more historical aspect. It was interesting to see how there were different sections of the city that were quartered off to specific religions. We planned to visit the main church, mosque, and synagogue. However the mosque was closed for restoration. It was interesting to apply what I had been talking about in my comparative religion course to what I was seeing when I visited each of these places.
Toledo is a tiny town, and we were able to cover it in half a day. Walking around proved to be a little difficult even with a map, since we managed to get lost a number of times. Almost every street ends at a fork, and the narrow roads are barely wide enough for a car to get through. While we were there Adi mentioned that a popular thing to try in Toledo is marzipan, and I have to say all though some of the best may come out of Toledo, it definitely was not my favorite. It was really nice to spend the day walking around and exploring the town
We took the bus back to Madrid in the evening and got our stuff together for our flight to Barcelona. Our last night in Madrid was pretty low key, and we grabbed a quick bite to eat at Café y Te. The past few days in Madrid were amazing; it was always the one place I knew I had to go before I left. Someone asked me before what my favorite place was that I have travelled, and so far it’s Madrid. It’s definitely on my list of places I need to go back to. Well, Adios for now, see you in Barcelona!
Pictures: Toledo, Spain
It was a bit of walk to get o the town from the central bus station, but we made it. Toledo is interesting for a number of reasons, but one thing that I found particularly was the fact that three major religions were present here, from a more historical aspect. It was interesting to see how there were different sections of the city that were quartered off to specific religions. We planned to visit the main church, mosque, and synagogue. However the mosque was closed for restoration. It was interesting to apply what I had been talking about in my comparative religion course to what I was seeing when I visited each of these places.
Toledo is a tiny town, and we were able to cover it in half a day. Walking around proved to be a little difficult even with a map, since we managed to get lost a number of times. Almost every street ends at a fork, and the narrow roads are barely wide enough for a car to get through. While we were there Adi mentioned that a popular thing to try in Toledo is marzipan, and I have to say all though some of the best may come out of Toledo, it definitely was not my favorite. It was really nice to spend the day walking around and exploring the town
We took the bus back to Madrid in the evening and got our stuff together for our flight to Barcelona. Our last night in Madrid was pretty low key, and we grabbed a quick bite to eat at Café y Te. The past few days in Madrid were amazing; it was always the one place I knew I had to go before I left. Someone asked me before what my favorite place was that I have travelled, and so far it’s Madrid. It’s definitely on my list of places I need to go back to. Well, Adios for now, see you in Barcelona!
Pictures: Toledo, Spain
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Two days in Madrid!
Madrid was AMAZING! There are so many things I could say about Madrid, and Spain in general, it is quite possibly my favorite place in Europe thus far! We got into Madrid Sunday morning, and took the Metro into the city from the airport. After three transfers, we walked out of Puerta del Sol and made our way to our hostel.
After we dropped off our bags we had to get out and explore Madrid. We knew we were going to go to the Prado later that day since on Sunday evenings it was free for everyone. After taking 6 years of Spanish, I was surprised to see how much I actually remembered from my classes. I remembering wondering why it we had vocabulary lessons on categories like the airport and restaurants, and thinking, “Will this really come up in conversation?” After talking to a few people I started to become more confident in my Spanish.
We made our way to the Prado where the line to get in was wrapped around the building. We finally made our way in, and I already knew that there were a few pieces I wanted to see, especially paintings by Velasquez, Goya, and El Greco. The Prado was not as daunting of a task to get through as the Louvre, but it was still pretty massive. It is a completely different feeling looking at small photo of a painting, and seeing a canvass take up the entire wall and to be standing right in front of it.
After leaving the Prado, continued to walk around Madrid, and eventually made it back to our hostel. We got a late dinner, and headed to one of many disco techs in Madrid to go dancing. We got back to our hostel later that night, and I couldn’t wait to see the rest of this amazing city in the morning.
We saw a lot on Monday, and learned a lot about the Spanish culture. It was a much sunnier day in comparison to the clouds and rain we had on Sunday, which only made the day better. We went to the Plaza del Toros right away. This is the famous bullring in Madrid, it was once the largest in the world, and the practice of bullfighting is an old tradition of the Spaniards. We got a tour of the ring, and got to walk down to the center arena where all the action happens.
After seeing the bullring, we made our way to the famous, Parque de el Retiro. It is an enormous park, and I can only imagine how beautiful it would be in the summer. There were fountains at ever major turning point in the park, and it was so big you almost felt as though you were in a maze. There was a pond near the center of the pond, and a few people had even rented row boats.
We made our way through the park, and walked towards the Reina Sofia Museum. It was filled with paintings and sculptures all done by Spanish artists. Once again there were a few items that I needed to see before I left Madrid. Number one on the list was Guernica by Pablo Picasso. It is one of his most well known paintings, that depict the horrors and tragedy of war.
When we left the museum we walked back to our hostel to regroup, and met our new roommate for the night. Her name is Adi, she was actually born in Israel, and has lived throughout Europe, and was now studying abroad for the semester in Florence. We got to get to know her pretty well, and then we got some bad news. Our flight from Madrid to Barcelona was cancelled because of snow! Of all the things to happen and to disrupt our break, snow was the last thing we thought it could be.
This bump in the road got me a little stressed, and we kept getting emails saying it was cancelled and then it wasn’t cancelled. We ended up rescheduling our flight for the next day and booking our hostel for another night. Even though it made me a little crazy, it all worked out in the end, and we already knew what we were going to be doing the next day. I was exhausted, and decided to get a good night’s sleep and go to bed.
Pictures: Madrid, Spain
After we dropped off our bags we had to get out and explore Madrid. We knew we were going to go to the Prado later that day since on Sunday evenings it was free for everyone. After taking 6 years of Spanish, I was surprised to see how much I actually remembered from my classes. I remembering wondering why it we had vocabulary lessons on categories like the airport and restaurants, and thinking, “Will this really come up in conversation?” After talking to a few people I started to become more confident in my Spanish.
We made our way to the Prado where the line to get in was wrapped around the building. We finally made our way in, and I already knew that there were a few pieces I wanted to see, especially paintings by Velasquez, Goya, and El Greco. The Prado was not as daunting of a task to get through as the Louvre, but it was still pretty massive. It is a completely different feeling looking at small photo of a painting, and seeing a canvass take up the entire wall and to be standing right in front of it.
After leaving the Prado, continued to walk around Madrid, and eventually made it back to our hostel. We got a late dinner, and headed to one of many disco techs in Madrid to go dancing. We got back to our hostel later that night, and I couldn’t wait to see the rest of this amazing city in the morning.
We saw a lot on Monday, and learned a lot about the Spanish culture. It was a much sunnier day in comparison to the clouds and rain we had on Sunday, which only made the day better. We went to the Plaza del Toros right away. This is the famous bullring in Madrid, it was once the largest in the world, and the practice of bullfighting is an old tradition of the Spaniards. We got a tour of the ring, and got to walk down to the center arena where all the action happens.
After seeing the bullring, we made our way to the famous, Parque de el Retiro. It is an enormous park, and I can only imagine how beautiful it would be in the summer. There were fountains at ever major turning point in the park, and it was so big you almost felt as though you were in a maze. There was a pond near the center of the pond, and a few people had even rented row boats.
We made our way through the park, and walked towards the Reina Sofia Museum. It was filled with paintings and sculptures all done by Spanish artists. Once again there were a few items that I needed to see before I left Madrid. Number one on the list was Guernica by Pablo Picasso. It is one of his most well known paintings, that depict the horrors and tragedy of war.
When we left the museum we walked back to our hostel to regroup, and met our new roommate for the night. Her name is Adi, she was actually born in Israel, and has lived throughout Europe, and was now studying abroad for the semester in Florence. We got to get to know her pretty well, and then we got some bad news. Our flight from Madrid to Barcelona was cancelled because of snow! Of all the things to happen and to disrupt our break, snow was the last thing we thought it could be.
This bump in the road got me a little stressed, and we kept getting emails saying it was cancelled and then it wasn’t cancelled. We ended up rescheduling our flight for the next day and booking our hostel for another night. Even though it made me a little crazy, it all worked out in the end, and we already knew what we were going to be doing the next day. I was exhausted, and decided to get a good night’s sleep and go to bed.
Pictures: Madrid, Spain
Monday, March 8, 2010
Day Two: Sintra, Portugal
Sintra was probably, if not definately, the best part of my time in Lisbon. We took a train from Lisbon to the town of Sintra located near the coast of Portugal. We got lucky with weather, and for the most part it was sunny, with a couple drops of rain here and there. There was a lot to see in Lisbon, and we decided to cover the main areas of Sintra first, and if we had time move further out to the coast.
We took a bus to the Palacio da Pena, which is this beautiful castle which reminded all of us of the fairytale castles you read about. Each section was a bright color, with detailed paintings around the trim. The architecture of the palace itself was incredible. I learned the a duke and his family lived there and until 1910 it was occupied by a family, and later opened to the public. The Palace was surrounded by a very large park, which seemed to be a huge forrest.
We wandered all over the palace, and were in awe of it all. After finishing at the castle, we headed to Quinta de Regaleria, another famous park in Sintra. Once again we all felt as though we were dropped straight into some make believe or magically land. There were trails that went in every which direction, and underground tunnels to explore. There were various towers I got to climb and the view was incredible. We explored an old Portugese castle, which at times was a little scary, gave us a breathtaking view of Sintra.
We made our way through different paths, and finally got to the underground tunnels. We walked through out them and found ourselves at the bottom of an unfinished well. There were stairs around the outside and we made our way to the top. Everything in Sintra was beautiful. It was all fresh, green, and all the people who helped us find our way were so helpful.
Before we knew it the sun was beginning to set, and we decided to head back to Lisbon. After all, it would take us about an hour just to get back. We got back to our hostel, and began to pack up our stuff since we would be leaving early the next morning. After packing we went for dinner adn talked all about the day, and the fact that we could have spent the entire week in Lisbon, it was absolutely fabulous. We tried to go to bed early to get a good nights sleep, and before we knew it we had fallen asleep. Next stop: Madrid, Spain!
Pictures: Sintra, Portugal
We took a bus to the Palacio da Pena, which is this beautiful castle which reminded all of us of the fairytale castles you read about. Each section was a bright color, with detailed paintings around the trim. The architecture of the palace itself was incredible. I learned the a duke and his family lived there and until 1910 it was occupied by a family, and later opened to the public. The Palace was surrounded by a very large park, which seemed to be a huge forrest.
We wandered all over the palace, and were in awe of it all. After finishing at the castle, we headed to Quinta de Regaleria, another famous park in Sintra. Once again we all felt as though we were dropped straight into some make believe or magically land. There were trails that went in every which direction, and underground tunnels to explore. There were various towers I got to climb and the view was incredible. We explored an old Portugese castle, which at times was a little scary, gave us a breathtaking view of Sintra.
We made our way through different paths, and finally got to the underground tunnels. We walked through out them and found ourselves at the bottom of an unfinished well. There were stairs around the outside and we made our way to the top. Everything in Sintra was beautiful. It was all fresh, green, and all the people who helped us find our way were so helpful.
Before we knew it the sun was beginning to set, and we decided to head back to Lisbon. After all, it would take us about an hour just to get back. We got back to our hostel, and began to pack up our stuff since we would be leaving early the next morning. After packing we went for dinner adn talked all about the day, and the fact that we could have spent the entire week in Lisbon, it was absolutely fabulous. We tried to go to bed early to get a good nights sleep, and before we knew it we had fallen asleep. Next stop: Madrid, Spain!
Pictures: Sintra, Portugal
Rain,rain go away
I was expecting perfect weather for spring break, but to my disappointment when I woke up it was raining. We decided that we weren't going to let the rain stop us from exploring Lisbon, and got an early start to the day. What we forgot was that in this general area of Portugal and Spain, the people and the lifestlye here is so relaxed, shops don't open at the time posted and service for the most part is generally slow, but hey it's part of the culture.
Despite the rain we got to walk around Lisbon for most of the day. A woman at the front desk of hut hostel gave us a couple suggestions of what we should do over next couple of days. She mentioned that a place that many people don't go to is called Pollux, it is basically a department store in Lisbon, but at the top is an amazing view of the city. The buildings are all different colors each more vibrant than the next, and I cannot forget to mention the characteristic that sticks out most in my mind, the terracotta roofs. Miles around it's the one common thing that stood out.
After going to Pollux we decided to visit the Castelo de Sao Jorge, where we got yet another view of the beatiful city. From every high point of the tower gave us a different view of the city. We spent aquite some time exploring the area and after building up our apetites, went looking for some lunch. Literally every place we went to was packed, but we finally found a small family owned restuarant, where all the meals were cooked to order by the wife of the owner. I go to sample homemade portugese food, and it was delicious!
By the time we finished our lunch, it started to pour and we decided to head back to the hostel. We talked to the people working at the front desk, and got suggestions of where to go for dinner and out for the evening. We figured out our plans for the next day, and got ready to go out. After dinner we headed to an area known as "Barrio Alto." It was streets lined with small bars and clubs, each booming with different music and crowds of people congregating and mingling with one another. After a night of dancing, we headed back to the hostel to get some sleep before our trip to Sintra.
Pictures: Lisbon, Portugal
Despite the rain we got to walk around Lisbon for most of the day. A woman at the front desk of hut hostel gave us a couple suggestions of what we should do over next couple of days. She mentioned that a place that many people don't go to is called Pollux, it is basically a department store in Lisbon, but at the top is an amazing view of the city. The buildings are all different colors each more vibrant than the next, and I cannot forget to mention the characteristic that sticks out most in my mind, the terracotta roofs. Miles around it's the one common thing that stood out.
After going to Pollux we decided to visit the Castelo de Sao Jorge, where we got yet another view of the beatiful city. From every high point of the tower gave us a different view of the city. We spent aquite some time exploring the area and after building up our apetites, went looking for some lunch. Literally every place we went to was packed, but we finally found a small family owned restuarant, where all the meals were cooked to order by the wife of the owner. I go to sample homemade portugese food, and it was delicious!
By the time we finished our lunch, it started to pour and we decided to head back to the hostel. We talked to the people working at the front desk, and got suggestions of where to go for dinner and out for the evening. We figured out our plans for the next day, and got ready to go out. After dinner we headed to an area known as "Barrio Alto." It was streets lined with small bars and clubs, each booming with different music and crowds of people congregating and mingling with one another. After a night of dancing, we headed back to the hostel to get some sleep before our trip to Sintra.
Pictures: Lisbon, Portugal
Thursday, March 4, 2010
London to Lisbon
What a day! I cannot believe that it took that long to get to Lisbon. We just arrived and settled into our hostel in central Lisbon at 12:00am. Our flight was delayed for 3 hours all because of a problem closing the door. It wasn't just that it was the fact the staff couldn't answer our questions, and that apparently "EasyJet Policy" is way more important than the laws stated by the European Union. Our wonderful compensation for losing half a day in Lisbon was a free drink, to say that we were a little upset would be an understatement.
We finally arrived in Lisbon, and made our way to our Kitsch Hostel. It's located right in the center of town, and so far after being here for only a few hours, I love it already. The beds are so comfortable, I'm sure I'll be asleep in no time. I cannot wait for tomorrow when we actually get to explore Lisbon all day! As for right now, it's time to go to bed and take a rest from the hectic day of travel. Until tomorrow, good night!
We finally arrived in Lisbon, and made our way to our Kitsch Hostel. It's located right in the center of town, and so far after being here for only a few hours, I love it already. The beds are so comfortable, I'm sure I'll be asleep in no time. I cannot wait for tomorrow when we actually get to explore Lisbon all day! As for right now, it's time to go to bed and take a rest from the hectic day of travel. Until tomorrow, good night!
Weekend in Munich
Guten Tag!
Munich, or München as the Germans call it, was incredible. Germany is on of the most historic places that I have been to thus far. I found it particularily interesting because when I was in middle school and high school, the history classes on World War II, seemed to be the most captivating. I went to München with my roomate Diana, and two other girls, who happen to also be Kappa Deltas, Katie and Cate. We got a chance to see a lot in München and of course we did visit a few of the famour beer gardens including the HofbräuHaus, but that wasn't even the part that I will always remember. The part of our visit to Germany that really had an impact on me was visiting Dachua, the first concentration camp that was establsihed, and the only one to function throughtout the entire reign under the Third Reich.
We took a day tour of Dachua and really got the chance to fuly understand the history of WWII and Dachua. It took about half an hour to actually get to the Dachua Memorial, and our guide Steve was incredibly knowledgeable on the history of Dachua. It is hard to really explain to you what I was thinking when I walked through, and hearing all the stories really made the experience all the more emotional and real.
I tried my best to capture it with pictures, and at a few places I panned around taking a video to preserve what I was seeing. One thing that kept going through my mind was: 1) Someone actually had to sit down and think about how a concentration camp need to function 2) People were running these camps, and were the ones doing horrible and painful things to other people 3) Those in charge actually set up the camps to look like safe places, for example gas chambers were disguised as showers so when people came for inspections they didn't question it. Take a look at the pictures, and the few videos I took, I hope the can give you a better idea of what Dachua was really like.
When we got back, we all had an uneasy feeling about what we just saw, but at the same time we all were thinking that, even with exisiting concentration camps open for the public to see there are still people that say it never happened. One thing our guide pointed out that I really wasn't aware of was who was actually held in concentration camps. Over a fifth of those held were Jews, but among the others were political leaders and their people from over 30 different countries.
I could probably go on and on about what I saw at Dachau, and it was only a fraction of my visit in München. There is still a lot I didn't get to see, and Germany in general is a place I definately want to go back to and explore.
Pictures: Munich, Germany
Video Links:
Gas Chamber
Dachua 1
Dachua 2
Dancing at the HofbräuHaus
Munich, or München as the Germans call it, was incredible. Germany is on of the most historic places that I have been to thus far. I found it particularily interesting because when I was in middle school and high school, the history classes on World War II, seemed to be the most captivating. I went to München with my roomate Diana, and two other girls, who happen to also be Kappa Deltas, Katie and Cate. We got a chance to see a lot in München and of course we did visit a few of the famour beer gardens including the HofbräuHaus, but that wasn't even the part that I will always remember. The part of our visit to Germany that really had an impact on me was visiting Dachua, the first concentration camp that was establsihed, and the only one to function throughtout the entire reign under the Third Reich.
We took a day tour of Dachua and really got the chance to fuly understand the history of WWII and Dachua. It took about half an hour to actually get to the Dachua Memorial, and our guide Steve was incredibly knowledgeable on the history of Dachua. It is hard to really explain to you what I was thinking when I walked through, and hearing all the stories really made the experience all the more emotional and real.
I tried my best to capture it with pictures, and at a few places I panned around taking a video to preserve what I was seeing. One thing that kept going through my mind was: 1) Someone actually had to sit down and think about how a concentration camp need to function 2) People were running these camps, and were the ones doing horrible and painful things to other people 3) Those in charge actually set up the camps to look like safe places, for example gas chambers were disguised as showers so when people came for inspections they didn't question it. Take a look at the pictures, and the few videos I took, I hope the can give you a better idea of what Dachua was really like.
When we got back, we all had an uneasy feeling about what we just saw, but at the same time we all were thinking that, even with exisiting concentration camps open for the public to see there are still people that say it never happened. One thing our guide pointed out that I really wasn't aware of was who was actually held in concentration camps. Over a fifth of those held were Jews, but among the others were political leaders and their people from over 30 different countries.
I could probably go on and on about what I saw at Dachau, and it was only a fraction of my visit in München. There is still a lot I didn't get to see, and Germany in general is a place I definately want to go back to and explore.
Pictures: Munich, Germany
Video Links:
Gas Chamber
Dachua 1
Dachua 2
Dancing at the HofbräuHaus
Lights, Camera, Action!
London is the center of everything, and tonight was interesting for a number of reasons. Myself and a couple other girls, who also happened to be from Bradley decided to check out a London movie premiere. It was my first premiere ever, so I really had no idea what to expect, but based on what we had heard on the news people were lining up and waiting since noon, and the actually premiere didn't even start until 6pm!
I probably should tell you that the premiere was for Johnny Depp's new movie, Alice in Wonderland. It was pouring rain by the time we got there and managed to find shelter under an awning. and despite the fact that we showed up at 4:30, made no difference, since we got to see the famed movie star.
Every five minutes you could hear people screaming with excitiment, and then crowds you all of a sudden begin to chant in unison, "Johnny, Johnny, Johnny," all of course in a british accent. After waiting for however long we were there, we finally saw him make his way to the crowd, despite the rain. I managed to capture a few good video clips of it all, and I should apologize in advance for the shakiness of the videos the crowds were crazy.
As for the reaction of the crowd to finally seeing him, it was quite comical. Girls, and a few guys too, were screaming, fainting, crying. Jen one of the girls I was with practically froze and I ended up pulling her with me so she could at least see her favorite actor. All in all it was a once in a lifetime experience of madness and excitment. I posted a few pictures and links to the videos, enjoy!
Pictures: Alice In Wonderland Premiere
Video 1: Alice in Wonderlan Premiere Take 1
Video 2: Alice in Wonderland Premiere Take 2
I probably should tell you that the premiere was for Johnny Depp's new movie, Alice in Wonderland. It was pouring rain by the time we got there and managed to find shelter under an awning. and despite the fact that we showed up at 4:30, made no difference, since we got to see the famed movie star.
Every five minutes you could hear people screaming with excitiment, and then crowds you all of a sudden begin to chant in unison, "Johnny, Johnny, Johnny," all of course in a british accent. After waiting for however long we were there, we finally saw him make his way to the crowd, despite the rain. I managed to capture a few good video clips of it all, and I should apologize in advance for the shakiness of the videos the crowds were crazy.
As for the reaction of the crowd to finally seeing him, it was quite comical. Girls, and a few guys too, were screaming, fainting, crying. Jen one of the girls I was with practically froze and I ended up pulling her with me so she could at least see her favorite actor. All in all it was a once in a lifetime experience of madness and excitment. I posted a few pictures and links to the videos, enjoy!
Pictures: Alice In Wonderland Premiere
Video 1: Alice in Wonderlan Premiere Take 1
Video 2: Alice in Wonderland Premiere Take 2
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Shop til you drop
Today was one of the first sunny and beautiful days I’ve seen since being here. One of the places I wanted to visit while I was in London was the famous Harrods.
I was speechless when I walked in. I was handed a map as I passed one of many security guards standing at the entrance and continues to walk through the first room in Harrods. Everything in the store was designer right down to the pair of socks on sale for £20. Each level was more extravagant than the next and catered to specific items. You could buy practically anything at from furniture to a pool table for your rec room to personalized stationary to of course the many clothes. It almost felt as if you were in a museum, where everyone watched you if you touched anything. Before I left I went to Laduree, to try their famous macarons, and they lived up to all the hype surrounding them.
After I left Harrods I decided to head to one of London’s many markets, on today’s list was Portobello Market located at Portobello Road, go figure! The street was filled with people up and down. As I walked down the road I saw small side vendors selling jewelry, bags, vinyl albums, and antiques. And I can’t forget to mention the kiosks of vendors selling the most delicious smelling food. It was unlike anything I had seen, and I wondered if I would find anything that I would really like. After looking around for a bit, I decided to get some lunch. I got a delicious chorizo sausage baguette with salad, and the first bite was just as good as the last.
After leaving Portobello Road I headed back to school. Later that night I met up with Rob Huber, who I worked with in North Carolina on the Obama Campaign. It was great to see a familiar face and catch up. Since the last time I saw Rob, he has become a temporary resident of London. He is now working for the State Department as a Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. Embassy, not a bad job to have!
And that was the end of Saturday in London, simple and perfect. Sunday’s weather was a testament to London weather, and the fact that you never really know what you’re going to get. It was raining all day, but I guess it was the sign I needed to sit down and get some work done. I had a lot of fun exploring London this weekend, and I can’t wait for my next adventure: Munich, Germany!
Pictures: Harrods & Portobello Road
I was speechless when I walked in. I was handed a map as I passed one of many security guards standing at the entrance and continues to walk through the first room in Harrods. Everything in the store was designer right down to the pair of socks on sale for £20. Each level was more extravagant than the next and catered to specific items. You could buy practically anything at from furniture to a pool table for your rec room to personalized stationary to of course the many clothes. It almost felt as if you were in a museum, where everyone watched you if you touched anything. Before I left I went to Laduree, to try their famous macarons, and they lived up to all the hype surrounding them.
After I left Harrods I decided to head to one of London’s many markets, on today’s list was Portobello Market located at Portobello Road, go figure! The street was filled with people up and down. As I walked down the road I saw small side vendors selling jewelry, bags, vinyl albums, and antiques. And I can’t forget to mention the kiosks of vendors selling the most delicious smelling food. It was unlike anything I had seen, and I wondered if I would find anything that I would really like. After looking around for a bit, I decided to get some lunch. I got a delicious chorizo sausage baguette with salad, and the first bite was just as good as the last.
After leaving Portobello Road I headed back to school. Later that night I met up with Rob Huber, who I worked with in North Carolina on the Obama Campaign. It was great to see a familiar face and catch up. Since the last time I saw Rob, he has become a temporary resident of London. He is now working for the State Department as a Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. Embassy, not a bad job to have!
And that was the end of Saturday in London, simple and perfect. Sunday’s weather was a testament to London weather, and the fact that you never really know what you’re going to get. It was raining all day, but I guess it was the sign I needed to sit down and get some work done. I had a lot of fun exploring London this weekend, and I can’t wait for my next adventure: Munich, Germany!
Pictures: Harrods & Portobello Road
All the World's a stage...
Within the first month and a half or so I have gotten to travel and get a taste of a variety of different cultures. But I haven’t really taken in London or England in general. Someone told me that by the time I leave I should be able to tell anyone travelling to London, where to go, what to do, and really give them an idea of what England is really like. So that being said this weekend I got to explore the city I have been living in.
I spent most of my day walking around London. I took the tube from Gloucester Rd to Green Park, to go witness the Changing of the Guard for the first time. I know what you’re thinking, that I’ve been in London this long and this was my first time. I figured out a couple things when I go there, one arriving about 40 minutes early was still not early enough. Two, I figured out where I need to be in order to see something other than staring at someone’s backpack. And three, to expect a big crowd, people shoving you in every direction, and that maybe there is no such thing as getting there too early.
After seeing what I could of the Changing of the Guard, I decided to explore the South Bank, in other words the Millennium Mile. I started at Parliament and crossed the Thames River. Thanks to my History of London professor, I can confidently tell you that without the Thames River, there would be in London. Way back when it provided another form of transportation, improved trading, and helped in the development of military strategy.
FUN FACT OF THE DAY: The Thames is the major water source for London, that being said according to my history professor, anyone who stays in London for at least three months would technically be a walking “Thames Aquarium,” because by that point at least 60 % of you would be the Thames. (Weird I know)
Anyway, I spent the day walking along the South Bank. This later became known as the Queen’s Walk, and today is recognized as the Millennium Mile. I walked past the massive line for the London Eye, and passed a number of people posing as statues and bands.
I made my way to Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, which was really interesting. It was rebuilt and in 1996, and took four years to complete, because Sam Wanamaker wanted to build using only the technology they had hundreds of years ago when it was first built. I got a brief history of Shakespeare, and I can’t wait to come back in April when I will get to see Macbeth with my class.
After I left the South Bank, I came back to campus and met up with a couple of my friends for dinner. After dinner I worked on one of my papers, and later went out with a group of students who also stayed in London for the weekend.
Pictures: South Bank
I spent most of my day walking around London. I took the tube from Gloucester Rd to Green Park, to go witness the Changing of the Guard for the first time. I know what you’re thinking, that I’ve been in London this long and this was my first time. I figured out a couple things when I go there, one arriving about 40 minutes early was still not early enough. Two, I figured out where I need to be in order to see something other than staring at someone’s backpack. And three, to expect a big crowd, people shoving you in every direction, and that maybe there is no such thing as getting there too early.
After seeing what I could of the Changing of the Guard, I decided to explore the South Bank, in other words the Millennium Mile. I started at Parliament and crossed the Thames River. Thanks to my History of London professor, I can confidently tell you that without the Thames River, there would be in London. Way back when it provided another form of transportation, improved trading, and helped in the development of military strategy.
FUN FACT OF THE DAY: The Thames is the major water source for London, that being said according to my history professor, anyone who stays in London for at least three months would technically be a walking “Thames Aquarium,” because by that point at least 60 % of you would be the Thames. (Weird I know)
Anyway, I spent the day walking along the South Bank. This later became known as the Queen’s Walk, and today is recognized as the Millennium Mile. I walked past the massive line for the London Eye, and passed a number of people posing as statues and bands.
I made my way to Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, which was really interesting. It was rebuilt and in 1996, and took four years to complete, because Sam Wanamaker wanted to build using only the technology they had hundreds of years ago when it was first built. I got a brief history of Shakespeare, and I can’t wait to come back in April when I will get to see Macbeth with my class.
After I left the South Bank, I came back to campus and met up with a couple of my friends for dinner. After dinner I worked on one of my papers, and later went out with a group of students who also stayed in London for the weekend.
Pictures: South Bank
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Punya Goes to Parliament
One of the classes I am taking this semester is PLT 301 British Politics: Inside Parliament. It’s somewhat of a foreign subject to me, but it’s one of my more interesting classes here.
Each Monday night at 6 we go to Parliament, and each time there are speeches are given by students on a major debate topic facing UK politics. Each visit is a bit different and depending on time we will get the chance to see the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and maybe get to sit in on a committee meeting or two. Our visits to Parliament are all supervised by MP John Hayes, who is a member of the Conservative Party.
On the second visit to Parliament, which was this past Monday, it was my turn! The topic that I would be discussing would be the question of who governs, in terms on the prime minister or the cabinet. In other words it would be like asking is the president or congress governs in the U.S. The obvious answer is that you need both, but I was ready to present my argument of why the prime minister rules, or at least as ready as I could be!
I have to admit I was really nervous, I don’t think I have ever been that nervous about a speech in my entire life! I got up there and delivered my 15 minute speech and before I knew it I was done. I think the most nerve racking part of all of it was that the MP John Hayes, critiques you in front of the class, but for the most part I got positive remarks which was exciting.
I don’t have any picture inside Parliament, but as soon as I do I will be sure to share them with all of you!
Each Monday night at 6 we go to Parliament, and each time there are speeches are given by students on a major debate topic facing UK politics. Each visit is a bit different and depending on time we will get the chance to see the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and maybe get to sit in on a committee meeting or two. Our visits to Parliament are all supervised by MP John Hayes, who is a member of the Conservative Party.
On the second visit to Parliament, which was this past Monday, it was my turn! The topic that I would be discussing would be the question of who governs, in terms on the prime minister or the cabinet. In other words it would be like asking is the president or congress governs in the U.S. The obvious answer is that you need both, but I was ready to present my argument of why the prime minister rules, or at least as ready as I could be!
I have to admit I was really nervous, I don’t think I have ever been that nervous about a speech in my entire life! I got up there and delivered my 15 minute speech and before I knew it I was done. I think the most nerve racking part of all of it was that the MP John Hayes, critiques you in front of the class, but for the most part I got positive remarks which was exciting.
I don’t have any picture inside Parliament, but as soon as I do I will be sure to share them with all of you!
Weekend in Amsterdam
Sorry for the delay on the Amsterdam weekend, but school does come first. On that note back to to the topic at hand. I had a great weekend in Amsterdam with a huge group of students from Richmond.
I flew out Friday morning, and after a chaotic journey to Gatwick Airport I finally made it to Amsterdam!
It’s a very unique city and it’s a little hard to describe. Amsterdam is one of those places that appear on every list when it comes to the best cities in Europe, and I can see why. Aside from the cold, it was a great weekend.
Friday was a first official day there and after breakfast we met in Dam Square. We are staying at different hostels and Dam Square was the perfect meeting point for all of us. After walking around, for a bit we decided to go to the Anne Frank House, which was incredible.
I cannot tell you how moved and touched we each were. What was once the office of a jam company where Otto Frank, the father or Anne Frank, worked became there secret hideaway amidst the harsh and difficult times of World War II. The building was converted to a museum, but what was impressive was that everything looked just like it would have back then.
All around the museum were painted excerpts from Anne Frank’s diary. It was as if you could get a small glimpse into the life they were forced into. As we made our way up very narrow and steep stairs we walked through the secret door that was once covered by a bookshelf. We walked through the rooms where the Frank family lived. As I walked in too Anne Frank’s room the pictures and clippings she kept and pasted to the wall were now faded photographs showing us her attempt to remember what life was like before WWII.
After someone reported that the Franks were hiding, they were separated and sent to concentration camps. What was really sad was that Otto Frank was the only to survive, and that Anne Frank died one month before the concentration camps were liberated. This was by far the most life changing part of Amsterdam. If you ever get the chance, it’s a must see.
After visiting the Anne Frank House, we continued to walk around the city, crossing one bridge after another. I had no idea how man canals and bridges there were in Amsterdam. Later that afternoon we decided to go to the old Heineken Brewery, which was really entertaining and informative.
We learned all about the history of Heineken and how it is produced. We went on a hilarious simulation as if we were the beer being brewed and left laughing as we walked out. One of most interesting parts of the “Heineken Experience” was learning how to properly pour and drink beer to get the best flavor. After that we got to sample two versions of Heineken, the original and extra cold.
After that we were all a bit tired and went back to go get ready for dinner, and enjoyed the nightlife of Amsterdam. The following day involved a lot of exploring the city. We practically walked all over the city. In the afternoon we went to the Van Gough Museum, which was pretty good, even though a few of the major pieces were missing. As we continued to explore we did a must and got fries from a small vendor on the side of the road. I have come to conclusion that food from little side kiosks is almost always cheap and delicious, it’s a little travelers tip to keep in mind.
I flew back Sunday afternoon and had a less hectic time getting back home, thankfully. As for next weekend, I will be exploring more of the great city of London, something that I really haven’t gotten to do!
Proost! (Cheers in Dutch)
Pictures:Weekend in Amsterdam
I flew out Friday morning, and after a chaotic journey to Gatwick Airport I finally made it to Amsterdam!
It’s a very unique city and it’s a little hard to describe. Amsterdam is one of those places that appear on every list when it comes to the best cities in Europe, and I can see why. Aside from the cold, it was a great weekend.
Friday was a first official day there and after breakfast we met in Dam Square. We are staying at different hostels and Dam Square was the perfect meeting point for all of us. After walking around, for a bit we decided to go to the Anne Frank House, which was incredible.
I cannot tell you how moved and touched we each were. What was once the office of a jam company where Otto Frank, the father or Anne Frank, worked became there secret hideaway amidst the harsh and difficult times of World War II. The building was converted to a museum, but what was impressive was that everything looked just like it would have back then.
All around the museum were painted excerpts from Anne Frank’s diary. It was as if you could get a small glimpse into the life they were forced into. As we made our way up very narrow and steep stairs we walked through the secret door that was once covered by a bookshelf. We walked through the rooms where the Frank family lived. As I walked in too Anne Frank’s room the pictures and clippings she kept and pasted to the wall were now faded photographs showing us her attempt to remember what life was like before WWII.
After someone reported that the Franks were hiding, they were separated and sent to concentration camps. What was really sad was that Otto Frank was the only to survive, and that Anne Frank died one month before the concentration camps were liberated. This was by far the most life changing part of Amsterdam. If you ever get the chance, it’s a must see.
After visiting the Anne Frank House, we continued to walk around the city, crossing one bridge after another. I had no idea how man canals and bridges there were in Amsterdam. Later that afternoon we decided to go to the old Heineken Brewery, which was really entertaining and informative.
We learned all about the history of Heineken and how it is produced. We went on a hilarious simulation as if we were the beer being brewed and left laughing as we walked out. One of most interesting parts of the “Heineken Experience” was learning how to properly pour and drink beer to get the best flavor. After that we got to sample two versions of Heineken, the original and extra cold.
After that we were all a bit tired and went back to go get ready for dinner, and enjoyed the nightlife of Amsterdam. The following day involved a lot of exploring the city. We practically walked all over the city. In the afternoon we went to the Van Gough Museum, which was pretty good, even though a few of the major pieces were missing. As we continued to explore we did a must and got fries from a small vendor on the side of the road. I have come to conclusion that food from little side kiosks is almost always cheap and delicious, it’s a little travelers tip to keep in mind.
I flew back Sunday afternoon and had a less hectic time getting back home, thankfully. As for next weekend, I will be exploring more of the great city of London, something that I really haven’t gotten to do!
Proost! (Cheers in Dutch)
Pictures:Weekend in Amsterdam
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Au revoir de Paris Trois (Goodbye Paris Day 3)
It was my last day in Paris, and I wasn’t ready to go. We finished breakfast, and rounded everyone up to go to the Louvre.
We originally planned to rent bikes and peddle down the Seine River to the Louvre, but our plans were quickly thwarted when we discovered we couldn’t use pay for them unless you had a special pass. Oh well, we managed to find the nearest metro, and made our way to the Louvre.
The feeling I had when I walked in, and made my way up the stairs can be summed up in one word: overwhelming. From the outside it may not look that big, but it would be a feat to see ever single piece displayed here. I heard someone say that if you observed every piece for a minimum of 30 seconds you would be there for years, and still not see every inch of this place.
I entered the first hallway, and it was a mass of people filing through trying to take in some of the most famous piece of art. Last spring I had taken a class that covered a large range of European artist and their work, and I could believe I was actually in front of the real thing. Obviously we there were specific pieces we all were dying to see like the Mona Lisa, and as we made our way in to the room, you couldn’t even see it. The only sign we had to the exact location was the massive crowd surrounding her and snapping dozens of pictures.
As I continued to explore what was quite possibly the most fascinating museum in the world I walked past some incredible pieces from Da Vinci’s Madonna of the Rocks to The Wedding Feast to the Venus de Milo. I spent over two hours in there and only seeing a very small fraction of the exhibits, but what I did see was astounding. One thing I noticed as I was walking around everything, including the information about the pieces was in French. It made it difficult to really understand and appreciate the pieces that I was seeing for the first time.
After leaving the Louvre, we made our way to the Arc de Triomph. From that point a number of streets meet at this one point. The architecture of the arc was amazing; it is hard to full take it all in. From there I was on a mission to try a macaron before I left Paris. I was given a couple of suggestions of places to go, but sadly they were all closed. I stopped in at a place called Pierre Hermé. I got a few different kinds, and as I took a bite of one, it instantly melted in my mouth, it was pure bliss.
Kristy, one of the girls I was with had visited Paris a few years ago with her sister, and mentioned that we needed try this monster of a sandwich called “The Grec”. We made our way to this tiny hole in the wall place to try the infamous Grec. I’m sure you’re asking yourself, what exactly is a “Grec”? It is a pita roll split open with a delectable cucumber and dill sauce, followed by fresh romaine lettuce, onions, tomatos, hamburger patties with cheese, and stuffed with french fries. Sure it sounds like a heart attack, but it tastes like heaven. It was the perfect last meal to have in Paris.
We made our way around Paris for one last time, stopping at the Eiffel Tower to say our last goodbyes. We headed back to the hotel to meet up with the rest of the students, boarded the coaches, and made our way back to the train station.
MOVIE TRIVIA:
For all you Jason Bourne fans out there, our guide was sure to point out the street right outside the station where they filmed part of the first movie. Our guide said, “You may have not seen any famous people while you were in Paris, but at least when you go home you can say, Hey I saw the spot where Matt Damon stood!”
Of course we all laughed, partly because that would pathetic if any of us said that, and partly because it sounded like a good anecdote to break the ice!
We boarded our train to go back home. Weird isn’t it, that for us to say we’re going home and we’re referring to London. But I guess it’s true it really has become our home away from home. On that note, I miss you all very much, and I cannot wait to tell you about my next adventure!
Pictures: Paris Day 3
We originally planned to rent bikes and peddle down the Seine River to the Louvre, but our plans were quickly thwarted when we discovered we couldn’t use pay for them unless you had a special pass. Oh well, we managed to find the nearest metro, and made our way to the Louvre.
The feeling I had when I walked in, and made my way up the stairs can be summed up in one word: overwhelming. From the outside it may not look that big, but it would be a feat to see ever single piece displayed here. I heard someone say that if you observed every piece for a minimum of 30 seconds you would be there for years, and still not see every inch of this place.
I entered the first hallway, and it was a mass of people filing through trying to take in some of the most famous piece of art. Last spring I had taken a class that covered a large range of European artist and their work, and I could believe I was actually in front of the real thing. Obviously we there were specific pieces we all were dying to see like the Mona Lisa, and as we made our way in to the room, you couldn’t even see it. The only sign we had to the exact location was the massive crowd surrounding her and snapping dozens of pictures.
As I continued to explore what was quite possibly the most fascinating museum in the world I walked past some incredible pieces from Da Vinci’s Madonna of the Rocks to The Wedding Feast to the Venus de Milo. I spent over two hours in there and only seeing a very small fraction of the exhibits, but what I did see was astounding. One thing I noticed as I was walking around everything, including the information about the pieces was in French. It made it difficult to really understand and appreciate the pieces that I was seeing for the first time.
After leaving the Louvre, we made our way to the Arc de Triomph. From that point a number of streets meet at this one point. The architecture of the arc was amazing; it is hard to full take it all in. From there I was on a mission to try a macaron before I left Paris. I was given a couple of suggestions of places to go, but sadly they were all closed. I stopped in at a place called Pierre Hermé. I got a few different kinds, and as I took a bite of one, it instantly melted in my mouth, it was pure bliss.
Kristy, one of the girls I was with had visited Paris a few years ago with her sister, and mentioned that we needed try this monster of a sandwich called “The Grec”. We made our way to this tiny hole in the wall place to try the infamous Grec. I’m sure you’re asking yourself, what exactly is a “Grec”? It is a pita roll split open with a delectable cucumber and dill sauce, followed by fresh romaine lettuce, onions, tomatos, hamburger patties with cheese, and stuffed with french fries. Sure it sounds like a heart attack, but it tastes like heaven. It was the perfect last meal to have in Paris.
We made our way around Paris for one last time, stopping at the Eiffel Tower to say our last goodbyes. We headed back to the hotel to meet up with the rest of the students, boarded the coaches, and made our way back to the train station.
MOVIE TRIVIA:
For all you Jason Bourne fans out there, our guide was sure to point out the street right outside the station where they filmed part of the first movie. Our guide said, “You may have not seen any famous people while you were in Paris, but at least when you go home you can say, Hey I saw the spot where Matt Damon stood!”
Of course we all laughed, partly because that would pathetic if any of us said that, and partly because it sounded like a good anecdote to break the ice!
We boarded our train to go back home. Weird isn’t it, that for us to say we’re going home and we’re referring to London. But I guess it’s true it really has become our home away from home. On that note, I miss you all very much, and I cannot wait to tell you about my next adventure!
Pictures: Paris Day 3
Monday, February 8, 2010
De Paris Avec le Jour d'Amour Deux (From Paris With Love Day 2)
The day started off fairly early with breakfast at 8 and a tour of the city starting at 9. We all bored the buses and started off on our tour of Paris. We crossed the Seine and made our way to Notre Dame.
Words cannot describe Notre Dame. The architecture alone is incredible, the intricate sculptures surround the outside, and the decorative stain glass was breathtaking. Before we went inside our guide showed us where “Point Zero” which is the official center of Paris. After leaving Notre Dame we continued on our way through the city of Paris.
We passed the Pont Neuf , which is the oldest bridge in Paris, we made our way to see the Hotel de Ville, which is actually their city hall, and past a number of famous churches in the area. We drove past one of a few opera houses in Paris, which was beautiful, and down the Champs Elysees, which was lined with stores and specialty boutiques. We made our way past the Arc de Triomph, and finally ended at the Eiffel Tower.
We made our way to the elevator, and only made our way to the top. The view was incredible; you could practically see the entire city from there. After spending time on top of the world, we grabbed a bite to eat and spent the rest of the day just wandering around Paris. Later that day we headed back to the hotel, and got ready to go out.
We went back to the Eiffel Tower, and walked around most of the night. We were trying to taken in as much of Paris as we could before we left tomorrow. Just as we walked past the Eiffel Tower, lights began to flash illuminating it, it was amazing. As we walked further down we passed these large pieces of glass with writing etched into them was the word peace in various languages from English to Hebrew to Arabic.
By the end of the night we were all exhausted and made our way back to the hotel. We still had a few places on our list to go see, so we headed off to bed.
Pictures: Paris Day 2
Words cannot describe Notre Dame. The architecture alone is incredible, the intricate sculptures surround the outside, and the decorative stain glass was breathtaking. Before we went inside our guide showed us where “Point Zero” which is the official center of Paris. After leaving Notre Dame we continued on our way through the city of Paris.
We passed the Pont Neuf , which is the oldest bridge in Paris, we made our way to see the Hotel de Ville, which is actually their city hall, and past a number of famous churches in the area. We drove past one of a few opera houses in Paris, which was beautiful, and down the Champs Elysees, which was lined with stores and specialty boutiques. We made our way past the Arc de Triomph, and finally ended at the Eiffel Tower.
We made our way to the elevator, and only made our way to the top. The view was incredible; you could practically see the entire city from there. After spending time on top of the world, we grabbed a bite to eat and spent the rest of the day just wandering around Paris. Later that day we headed back to the hotel, and got ready to go out.
We went back to the Eiffel Tower, and walked around most of the night. We were trying to taken in as much of Paris as we could before we left tomorrow. Just as we walked past the Eiffel Tower, lights began to flash illuminating it, it was amazing. As we walked further down we passed these large pieces of glass with writing etched into them was the word peace in various languages from English to Hebrew to Arabic.
By the end of the night we were all exhausted and made our way back to the hotel. We still had a few places on our list to go see, so we headed off to bed.
Pictures: Paris Day 2
Friday, February 5, 2010
Bonjour du Jour de Paris Un (Hello from Paris Day 1)
I arrived in Paris, France on Friday at around 6:30. Paris is unlike any other cit. It cannot be compared, and it is a city that I knew I would love.
We took the Eurostar from London to Paris. For those of you who didn’t know the three hour train ride was unique for a number of reasons, a big on being that in order to actually get to Paris we had to go through the “Chunnel”. The Chunnel is like a tunnel, submerged in water allowing us to travel the fastest way by train.
When I arrived, I checked into my hotel with the rest of the students. We were all a little hungry by that time and headed to a local store to grab a quick bit. One my staples for the week was a baguette with ham and swiss cheese, who knew simplicity tasted so good.
After getting settled we made our way to our evening cruise on the Seine River. Despite the cold, it was beautiful to see all the building lit up. It’s definitely a completely different experience to see the famous monuments like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame at night. I spent the majority of my time in Paris with three girls, Orlee who is from L.A., and Rachel and Kristy who are both from New York. We couldn’t believe we were actually in Paris; it was still sinking in that we were cruising on the Seine sharing a bottle of wine.
After the boat ride, we spent whatever was left of the night walking around Paris, after all we would only be there until Sunday. We walked down by the Bastille and a dozen or so different French Restaurants, and ended up at Route 66. There were about twelve of us enjoying a drink talking about what all we wanted to see, and soaking up the atmosphere and essence that is Paris. Before we knew it we were all ready to head back and get a good night’s sleep before the tour tomorrow
Pictures: Paris Day 1
We took the Eurostar from London to Paris. For those of you who didn’t know the three hour train ride was unique for a number of reasons, a big on being that in order to actually get to Paris we had to go through the “Chunnel”. The Chunnel is like a tunnel, submerged in water allowing us to travel the fastest way by train.
When I arrived, I checked into my hotel with the rest of the students. We were all a little hungry by that time and headed to a local store to grab a quick bit. One my staples for the week was a baguette with ham and swiss cheese, who knew simplicity tasted so good.
After getting settled we made our way to our evening cruise on the Seine River. Despite the cold, it was beautiful to see all the building lit up. It’s definitely a completely different experience to see the famous monuments like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame at night. I spent the majority of my time in Paris with three girls, Orlee who is from L.A., and Rachel and Kristy who are both from New York. We couldn’t believe we were actually in Paris; it was still sinking in that we were cruising on the Seine sharing a bottle of wine.
After the boat ride, we spent whatever was left of the night walking around Paris, after all we would only be there until Sunday. We walked down by the Bastille and a dozen or so different French Restaurants, and ended up at Route 66. There were about twelve of us enjoying a drink talking about what all we wanted to see, and soaking up the atmosphere and essence that is Paris. Before we knew it we were all ready to head back and get a good night’s sleep before the tour tomorrow
Pictures: Paris Day 1
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Edinburgh, Scotland: Day Two
Day two started pretty early. I grabbed some breakfast at the hostel, and met up with Kara and Anna. We had signed up for a tour of the Highlands. The Highlands are known for a number of things, but everyone I talked to said that it was a must to see when you go to Scotland. We checked in for the tour, and met out driver/guide Dave, who only added to the tour!
We drove through Sterling, Doune, and made out first stop at Kilmahog. Dave informed us that the most famous Highland cow, named Hamish is here. He told us that there aren’t many left, and I thought what could be so special about a cow. Turns out Hamish is basically a big, furry, cute cow who actually responds to his name! We got to feed him, and after a few photos of the area we headed on our way. Our next big stop of the day was a town called Oban, but we had quite the drive to get there. We passed a number of glens and lochs along the way, which were surrounded by snow capped mountains.
For those of you who don’t know what a loch or glen is, you actually do. The English call them lakes, the Scots call them lochs; and the English call them valleys, the Scots call the glens. I noticed that even today, the Scottish aren’t very fond on the British even after all this time. As we continued on our way we saw a number of castles, some which were burnt down in the midst of war, others where dukes and duchesses still live today. We finally arrived in the beautiful port city of Oban. The town was buzzing with tiny shops and restaurants right near the boardwalk. We stopped for lunch there, and wandered around the town. I wish we could have stayed longer; there was still a lot that we didn’t get to see while we were there.
The trip to the Highlands took the entire day, but it was well worth it. It is hard to describe in words what it was like, but I took plenty of pictures to show you. We headed back towards Edinburgh, for our last night in town. We were famished by the time we got back and grabbed a bit to eat at Pizza Express, which was delicious! We headed back to our hostel, changed and decided to go to a traditional Scottish Pub. We walked into the Scotsman Lounge; it was a small room which was filled to capacity. Everyone was cheers to the day and dancing to the live band, Ranctum Sanctum. That was probably the best part of the night, hearing the rich lively Scottish band. It was the end of another night, and it was no surprise that we were all really tired.
I woke up the next day, packed everything into my backpack, and checked out. I had some time before my coach was going to be leaving, and there was still one place I wanted to see, The Elephant Room. It is this cozy café where many famous authors would often go to right the beginnings of their novels. J.K. Rowling the author of Harry Potter would go to the very back where you had a view of Edinburgh Castle, and would draw inspiration for her book from the city. I left the café and started making my way to catch my coach back to London. The weekend was perfect. I never thought Scotland was going to be one of those places that I would say, “I have to come back here,” but it was. There is still so much that I wasn’t able to explore, but I was able to see I absolutely loved.
Slàinte mhath! (Cheers to your good health)
Pictures: Edinburgh Day 2
We drove through Sterling, Doune, and made out first stop at Kilmahog. Dave informed us that the most famous Highland cow, named Hamish is here. He told us that there aren’t many left, and I thought what could be so special about a cow. Turns out Hamish is basically a big, furry, cute cow who actually responds to his name! We got to feed him, and after a few photos of the area we headed on our way. Our next big stop of the day was a town called Oban, but we had quite the drive to get there. We passed a number of glens and lochs along the way, which were surrounded by snow capped mountains.
For those of you who don’t know what a loch or glen is, you actually do. The English call them lakes, the Scots call them lochs; and the English call them valleys, the Scots call the glens. I noticed that even today, the Scottish aren’t very fond on the British even after all this time. As we continued on our way we saw a number of castles, some which were burnt down in the midst of war, others where dukes and duchesses still live today. We finally arrived in the beautiful port city of Oban. The town was buzzing with tiny shops and restaurants right near the boardwalk. We stopped for lunch there, and wandered around the town. I wish we could have stayed longer; there was still a lot that we didn’t get to see while we were there.
The trip to the Highlands took the entire day, but it was well worth it. It is hard to describe in words what it was like, but I took plenty of pictures to show you. We headed back towards Edinburgh, for our last night in town. We were famished by the time we got back and grabbed a bit to eat at Pizza Express, which was delicious! We headed back to our hostel, changed and decided to go to a traditional Scottish Pub. We walked into the Scotsman Lounge; it was a small room which was filled to capacity. Everyone was cheers to the day and dancing to the live band, Ranctum Sanctum. That was probably the best part of the night, hearing the rich lively Scottish band. It was the end of another night, and it was no surprise that we were all really tired.
I woke up the next day, packed everything into my backpack, and checked out. I had some time before my coach was going to be leaving, and there was still one place I wanted to see, The Elephant Room. It is this cozy café where many famous authors would often go to right the beginnings of their novels. J.K. Rowling the author of Harry Potter would go to the very back where you had a view of Edinburgh Castle, and would draw inspiration for her book from the city. I left the café and started making my way to catch my coach back to London. The weekend was perfect. I never thought Scotland was going to be one of those places that I would say, “I have to come back here,” but it was. There is still so much that I wasn’t able to explore, but I was able to see I absolutely loved.
Slàinte mhath! (Cheers to your good health)
Pictures: Edinburgh Day 2
Edinburgh, Scotland: Day One
Destination: Edinburgh, Scotland. This weekend was my first time actually outside of England. I figured I’ll start out small and work my way around to the bigger cities in Europe while I’m here. I found out before I was leaving that two other girls were also going to Edinburgh, I was even more excited to know that I would have company along the way.
I took a coach from London to Edinburgh on Thursday night, arriving in there on Friday morning. I made my way to the hostel, and I have to admit I was a little nervous. I didn’t know what to expect when I arrived at the Castle Rock Hostel, which was located at the bottom of Edinburgh Castle. I checked in and went to go meet up with Kara and Anna, who are both from Richmond too. The town was covered in plaid. The seats on the buses were all plaid, a number of men were walking around in traditional kilt suits, and every store was selling plaid clothing; it was exactly how you would hope Scotland would be. We decided to go on a free walking tour of Edinburgh, since we knew there was a lot to see.
We learned a lot about the history of Scotland, from when the English came were in power to when William Wallace (yes, Mel Gibson played him in Braveheart) lead the first of many fights for freedom. After about an hour or so the cold finally got to us and we decided to explore Edinburgh Castle. The view was incredible; you could see the entire city from the highest point in the Castle. I was surprised to find out that they had built the castle on top of an extinct volcano. By the time we realized it, it was already 4:00, and we didn’t get a chance to go inside Parliament.
Anna and Kara decided to walk down there, but I decided to go to the “Heritage of Scotch Whisky Experience.” This was one of the most interesting parts of my time in Edinburgh, Dada you would have really enjoyed this! I got to learn about the famous drink of the region, and how it was made, which is quite a long process! I never knew that much actually went into making what to me seemed like such a simple thing to make. The oldest distillery in Scotland is Glenturret, which was founded in 1775.
After learning about how it’s made, one of the guides explained that there are four different regions of Scotland that produce Scotch whisky. We go to see just how different each region was by having an exaggerated small of what each smelled like. They ranged from vanilla to fruity to peat, the smoke used to dry the malt. We were then able to select a sample of which ever region. But even before we could try it, we were led into the room where Master Blender, Diageo Claive Vidiz which is indescribable, bottles which were served at the Queen’s Jubilee, or were made special for the sail of Titanic. The one thing that our guide told us to remember was, “Never listen to anyone who tells you to drink a particular scotch or tells you how to drink it. Scotch should be enjoyed to your taste” We were able to keep a glass that was designed specifically for tasting and drinking Scotch whisky. While I don’t particular car for the taste, I consider myself a connoisseur on Scotch whisky.
After that enlightening day of learning about Scotland, I headed back to my hostel to get settled in. I met up with Kara and Anna for dinner at a small pub. A tip for travelers: the best and least expensive food can be found at any local pub. After dinner we explored the night life of Scotland, were we didn’t meet a single person from Scotland, but people from Brazil, Australia, England, and Germany! By the end of the night we were exhausted and headed to bed, we had a very exciting day planned for tomorrow.
Pictures: Edinburgh Day 1
I took a coach from London to Edinburgh on Thursday night, arriving in there on Friday morning. I made my way to the hostel, and I have to admit I was a little nervous. I didn’t know what to expect when I arrived at the Castle Rock Hostel, which was located at the bottom of Edinburgh Castle. I checked in and went to go meet up with Kara and Anna, who are both from Richmond too. The town was covered in plaid. The seats on the buses were all plaid, a number of men were walking around in traditional kilt suits, and every store was selling plaid clothing; it was exactly how you would hope Scotland would be. We decided to go on a free walking tour of Edinburgh, since we knew there was a lot to see.
We learned a lot about the history of Scotland, from when the English came were in power to when William Wallace (yes, Mel Gibson played him in Braveheart) lead the first of many fights for freedom. After about an hour or so the cold finally got to us and we decided to explore Edinburgh Castle. The view was incredible; you could see the entire city from the highest point in the Castle. I was surprised to find out that they had built the castle on top of an extinct volcano. By the time we realized it, it was already 4:00, and we didn’t get a chance to go inside Parliament.
Anna and Kara decided to walk down there, but I decided to go to the “Heritage of Scotch Whisky Experience.” This was one of the most interesting parts of my time in Edinburgh, Dada you would have really enjoyed this! I got to learn about the famous drink of the region, and how it was made, which is quite a long process! I never knew that much actually went into making what to me seemed like such a simple thing to make. The oldest distillery in Scotland is Glenturret, which was founded in 1775.
After learning about how it’s made, one of the guides explained that there are four different regions of Scotland that produce Scotch whisky. We go to see just how different each region was by having an exaggerated small of what each smelled like. They ranged from vanilla to fruity to peat, the smoke used to dry the malt. We were then able to select a sample of which ever region. But even before we could try it, we were led into the room where Master Blender, Diageo Claive Vidiz which is indescribable, bottles which were served at the Queen’s Jubilee, or were made special for the sail of Titanic. The one thing that our guide told us to remember was, “Never listen to anyone who tells you to drink a particular scotch or tells you how to drink it. Scotch should be enjoyed to your taste” We were able to keep a glass that was designed specifically for tasting and drinking Scotch whisky. While I don’t particular car for the taste, I consider myself a connoisseur on Scotch whisky.
After that enlightening day of learning about Scotland, I headed back to my hostel to get settled in. I met up with Kara and Anna for dinner at a small pub. A tip for travelers: the best and least expensive food can be found at any local pub. After dinner we explored the night life of Scotland, were we didn’t meet a single person from Scotland, but people from Brazil, Australia, England, and Germany! By the end of the night we were exhausted and headed to bed, we had a very exciting day planned for tomorrow.
Pictures: Edinburgh Day 1
Monday, January 25, 2010
The first of my travels...
I really wanted to go somewhere this weekend even if it was some place small. I looked through my travel book at what was surrounding London, and what I could cover in a day. I decided to spend the day in Bath. I asked a few people if they would be interested in going for a day, but they were all pretty set on staying in Kensington. I didn't want to waste a weekend just staying in one place, and bought a round-trip ticket to Bath.
I was a little nervous about getting to Earl's Court where the bus was leaving from, find the stop, and a number of other things. I decided to leave a little early making sure to give myself plenty of time to get there. So when everyone else was still fast asleep, I woke up at 6:30 and headed out. I took the tube to Earl's Court, and went to confirm the location of the stop with one of the attendings.
I started making my way to "Stop D", the ticket listed two stops in earls court, and as I was walking a passed "Stop C" and then "Stop E." I'm not going to lie I panicked a little, there were no other stops along the road, so I made my way back to the tube station to double check, but no one had a clue! Finally one of the attendings said that the bus makes stops just up the road, which happened to be the other stop listed on the ticket. But of course I needed to double check again that I was at the right place. I called the number on the ticket to confirm the location of the pick up again, and he suggested I go to "Stop B."
As I waited I began to see buses turn the corner and I anxiously waited for the 403 to Bath. The drive took about three hours and made stops along the way. It was the final stop; I finally made it to Bath!
YOUR HISTORY LESSON OF THE DAY:
I made my way to the Roman Baths, a place with a significant amount of history. It was constructed in 74 A.D. and was only uncovered almost 300 years ago! When the Romans came to what is now known as England they wanted to bring with them traditions and practices from home. They built what many know as "The Great Bath." There is a balcony just above the Great Bath. If you look up you will see ten statues surrounding the entire bath. Each of these is a person of great importance including Julius Caesar, a number of emperor's and governors, as well as the "Head of Roma" which symbolizes the spirit of Rome.
As you tour the Roman Baths you will walk through what has been excavated thus far. This includes the East and West Baths, the Sacred Spring, the Temple, and Temple courtyard. Almost three-quarters of the courtyard have yet to be excavated. Along the way I learned quite a bit about Roman architecture and that there was a reason for the way everything was placed. For example, at opposite ends of the Temple courtyard was the moon and sun, representing opposites and complementary forces in nature i.e. man and woman, light and dark, and hot and cold.
After visiting the Roman Baths, I did what most do before they leave, I sampled the water. To tell you the truth it's just what I expected, it was warm and tasted a little funny, but it was all a part of visting this very historic place.
I then made my way to the Fashion Museum, which was pretty interesting. it showed the evolution of fashion in the UK, and how so much of what was worn back then was inspired by music and the arts, much like it is today. It went through some of the style icons such as Audrey Hepburn and Twiggy. I have to say, I feel a bit more aware about fashion! One of the things mentioned was how some people are just about to put garments together, and are able to make it work. (I think I know someone like that, Mama!)
The rest of the day I walked around and explored Bath. It is such an incredible place to visit. The view, the people, the architecture, it was all beautiful! There were so many older buildings, and you could see a style that was inspired by the Romans in a variety of different ways. And as the day went on, I noticed that the crowds of people walking around and going shopping started to get smaller, and it was only 4:30. I finished making my rounds, and tried to capture last minute pictures of Bath.
I headed back to catch my bus back to school. When I got on I sat down in my seat, and pulled out my copy of Twelfth Night to help pass the time on my journey. I couldn't believe what a great day I had. I may have made this trip on my own, but it was one that I needed to make. Minus the minor panic attacks of finding my bus and making sure I had everything, I feel a lot more confident about facing my future travels. Traveling on your own is always hard, but you'll never know you can do it unless you try.
Pictures: A Day in Bath
I was a little nervous about getting to Earl's Court where the bus was leaving from, find the stop, and a number of other things. I decided to leave a little early making sure to give myself plenty of time to get there. So when everyone else was still fast asleep, I woke up at 6:30 and headed out. I took the tube to Earl's Court, and went to confirm the location of the stop with one of the attendings.
I started making my way to "Stop D", the ticket listed two stops in earls court, and as I was walking a passed "Stop C" and then "Stop E." I'm not going to lie I panicked a little, there were no other stops along the road, so I made my way back to the tube station to double check, but no one had a clue! Finally one of the attendings said that the bus makes stops just up the road, which happened to be the other stop listed on the ticket. But of course I needed to double check again that I was at the right place. I called the number on the ticket to confirm the location of the pick up again, and he suggested I go to "Stop B."
As I waited I began to see buses turn the corner and I anxiously waited for the 403 to Bath. The drive took about three hours and made stops along the way. It was the final stop; I finally made it to Bath!
YOUR HISTORY LESSON OF THE DAY:
I made my way to the Roman Baths, a place with a significant amount of history. It was constructed in 74 A.D. and was only uncovered almost 300 years ago! When the Romans came to what is now known as England they wanted to bring with them traditions and practices from home. They built what many know as "The Great Bath." There is a balcony just above the Great Bath. If you look up you will see ten statues surrounding the entire bath. Each of these is a person of great importance including Julius Caesar, a number of emperor's and governors, as well as the "Head of Roma" which symbolizes the spirit of Rome.
As you tour the Roman Baths you will walk through what has been excavated thus far. This includes the East and West Baths, the Sacred Spring, the Temple, and Temple courtyard. Almost three-quarters of the courtyard have yet to be excavated. Along the way I learned quite a bit about Roman architecture and that there was a reason for the way everything was placed. For example, at opposite ends of the Temple courtyard was the moon and sun, representing opposites and complementary forces in nature i.e. man and woman, light and dark, and hot and cold.
After visiting the Roman Baths, I did what most do before they leave, I sampled the water. To tell you the truth it's just what I expected, it was warm and tasted a little funny, but it was all a part of visting this very historic place.
I then made my way to the Fashion Museum, which was pretty interesting. it showed the evolution of fashion in the UK, and how so much of what was worn back then was inspired by music and the arts, much like it is today. It went through some of the style icons such as Audrey Hepburn and Twiggy. I have to say, I feel a bit more aware about fashion! One of the things mentioned was how some people are just about to put garments together, and are able to make it work. (I think I know someone like that, Mama!)
The rest of the day I walked around and explored Bath. It is such an incredible place to visit. The view, the people, the architecture, it was all beautiful! There were so many older buildings, and you could see a style that was inspired by the Romans in a variety of different ways. And as the day went on, I noticed that the crowds of people walking around and going shopping started to get smaller, and it was only 4:30. I finished making my rounds, and tried to capture last minute pictures of Bath.
I headed back to catch my bus back to school. When I got on I sat down in my seat, and pulled out my copy of Twelfth Night to help pass the time on my journey. I couldn't believe what a great day I had. I may have made this trip on my own, but it was one that I needed to make. Minus the minor panic attacks of finding my bus and making sure I had everything, I feel a lot more confident about facing my future travels. Traveling on your own is always hard, but you'll never know you can do it unless you try.
Pictures: A Day in Bath
"It's London, baby"
The weekend is already here and I made it through my first week of classes! Along with the traveling around Europe and getting better acquainted with London, I am also taking five classes at Richmond University. They are:
History of London
We spend a lot of our class time just walking around London. My professor takes us to places you might not realize have a lot of significance to them, but it’s something that everyone must see when they come to London. He says, “In order to understand London and her history, you have to hear it and be immersed in it.”
British Politics: Inside Parliament
This is one of my most interesting classes of the semester. We talk a lot about the current political climate in the UK and look at the inner workings of Parliament. In addition to reading a number of different texts on the subject, ever few weeks we visit Parliament. We get an inside look at what goes on during sessions and during committee meetings.
Museums & Galleries of London
This class explores a variety of different museums and galleries in London, as well as their unique focus on art. I’ll get the chance to some really interesting and amazing artwork through weekly visits to museums such as the Tate Modern and the National Gallery.
Comparative World Religion
I will be learning in-depth about a variety of religions. We will be focusing on the Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Taoism. In this class I’ll get a better understanding of where and when they originated, where their place of worship is, what are their beliefs, and a number of other aspects to each of these four religions
Shakespeare & His World
London is the best place to study Shakespeare. I will be reading five of Shakespeare’s plays including” Twelfth Night, King Leer, Measure for Measure, Othello, and Macbeth. Along with studying the Shakespearean language I will be going to see three of the five plays I am reading. The last play I will be seeing is Macbeth which will be performed in the famous Globe Theater.
As you can see the majority of what I am taking focuses on British Culture. I only have classes Monday through Thursday, which gives me plenty of time to explore the rest of the UK and Europe as well. What’s great about the classes I am taking is that I won’t be stuck in a classroom the entire time, and I’ll really get to see London. Whoever said that after elementary school you don’t get to go on field trips never went to Richmond!
History of London
We spend a lot of our class time just walking around London. My professor takes us to places you might not realize have a lot of significance to them, but it’s something that everyone must see when they come to London. He says, “In order to understand London and her history, you have to hear it and be immersed in it.”
British Politics: Inside Parliament
This is one of my most interesting classes of the semester. We talk a lot about the current political climate in the UK and look at the inner workings of Parliament. In addition to reading a number of different texts on the subject, ever few weeks we visit Parliament. We get an inside look at what goes on during sessions and during committee meetings.
Museums & Galleries of London
This class explores a variety of different museums and galleries in London, as well as their unique focus on art. I’ll get the chance to some really interesting and amazing artwork through weekly visits to museums such as the Tate Modern and the National Gallery.
Comparative World Religion
I will be learning in-depth about a variety of religions. We will be focusing on the Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Taoism. In this class I’ll get a better understanding of where and when they originated, where their place of worship is, what are their beliefs, and a number of other aspects to each of these four religions
Shakespeare & His World
London is the best place to study Shakespeare. I will be reading five of Shakespeare’s plays including” Twelfth Night, King Leer, Measure for Measure, Othello, and Macbeth. Along with studying the Shakespearean language I will be going to see three of the five plays I am reading. The last play I will be seeing is Macbeth which will be performed in the famous Globe Theater.
As you can see the majority of what I am taking focuses on British Culture. I only have classes Monday through Thursday, which gives me plenty of time to explore the rest of the UK and Europe as well. What’s great about the classes I am taking is that I won’t be stuck in a classroom the entire time, and I’ll really get to see London. Whoever said that after elementary school you don’t get to go on field trips never went to Richmond!
Monday, January 18, 2010
First Weekend in London Part 2
When I woke up Sunday morning I was so excited to see the sunlight streaming in thorough my window. It wasn’t too cold outside it was the perfect day to go exploring London.
But before I could go off exploring, I need to make sure I had everything ready for the “Big Day.” I would start classes tomorrow, and while I was excited about all the classes I had registered for I was still a little nervous and didn’t know what to expect.
I stopped by Ryman, a supply store and picked a few folders and paper, and headed back to my room to get my stuff together. Time flew by and it was mid afternoon, and I knew I wanted to get out and walk around. I figured, I’m going to be here for some time and I need to figure out how to get around on my own.
I decided to head to Westminster for the rest of the day. I hopped on the Tube from Gloucester Station to Westminster; it was only about six stops away. As I walk began to leave the tube station I took the exit towards Parliament. As soon as a stepped out I looked straight up and there was Big Ben. I walked down the bridge and started snapping away trying to get a few good picture of it all.
I headed towards Parliament Square from there, and walked right past the Houses of Parliament. It was incredible. The architecture of the building was so refined and detailed, I couldn’t believe it. As I crossed the street I saw a sign the read “Welcome to Westminster Abbey.” I walked through the gates that surround the church, and walked in. I was fascinated by how everything had been preserved so well. I was standing in St. Margaret’s and the stained glass was absolutely beautiful as the slightest bit of sunlight passes through.
I continued around the square I noticed a number of statues of individuals who had in some way greatly affected the history of London. I am sure I will hear more about during my history class. After circling Parliament Square, I made my way to Trafalgar Square. Along my walk I noticed a number of government building each with guards on horseback outside.
Trafalgar Square is located at the heart of London, and is one of the busiest places I have been so far. There are two huge fountains and a number of sculptures all leading one of many museums. What I found interesting about the museums in London is that they are free to the public, which makes them more accessible to people to go in and understand the history in London.
From there I walked through St. James Park, where in the distance you can see Parliament. There were many people running and walking dogs, I was a little surprised to see that many people didn’t use leashes for dogs. Bonzi, my dog, would go crazy with all the people and kids walking around, he would be gone within seconds!
As I passed St. James Park I walked to Buckingham Palace, it was the second time I had been there, but each time it is a little different. Next time I go back hopefully it will be a little warmer when I go to see the “Changing of the Guards.”
I headed back to Kensington and went to dinner at Giraffe with my roommate. It was delicious; I ordered chips and chicken tikka skewers…yummm! And it’s the end of another day, and classes start tomorrow. Time to go learn something!
Pictures: First Stop: Westminster
But before I could go off exploring, I need to make sure I had everything ready for the “Big Day.” I would start classes tomorrow, and while I was excited about all the classes I had registered for I was still a little nervous and didn’t know what to expect.
I stopped by Ryman, a supply store and picked a few folders and paper, and headed back to my room to get my stuff together. Time flew by and it was mid afternoon, and I knew I wanted to get out and walk around. I figured, I’m going to be here for some time and I need to figure out how to get around on my own.
I decided to head to Westminster for the rest of the day. I hopped on the Tube from Gloucester Station to Westminster; it was only about six stops away. As I walk began to leave the tube station I took the exit towards Parliament. As soon as a stepped out I looked straight up and there was Big Ben. I walked down the bridge and started snapping away trying to get a few good picture of it all.
I headed towards Parliament Square from there, and walked right past the Houses of Parliament. It was incredible. The architecture of the building was so refined and detailed, I couldn’t believe it. As I crossed the street I saw a sign the read “Welcome to Westminster Abbey.” I walked through the gates that surround the church, and walked in. I was fascinated by how everything had been preserved so well. I was standing in St. Margaret’s and the stained glass was absolutely beautiful as the slightest bit of sunlight passes through.
I continued around the square I noticed a number of statues of individuals who had in some way greatly affected the history of London. I am sure I will hear more about during my history class. After circling Parliament Square, I made my way to Trafalgar Square. Along my walk I noticed a number of government building each with guards on horseback outside.
Trafalgar Square is located at the heart of London, and is one of the busiest places I have been so far. There are two huge fountains and a number of sculptures all leading one of many museums. What I found interesting about the museums in London is that they are free to the public, which makes them more accessible to people to go in and understand the history in London.
From there I walked through St. James Park, where in the distance you can see Parliament. There were many people running and walking dogs, I was a little surprised to see that many people didn’t use leashes for dogs. Bonzi, my dog, would go crazy with all the people and kids walking around, he would be gone within seconds!
As I passed St. James Park I walked to Buckingham Palace, it was the second time I had been there, but each time it is a little different. Next time I go back hopefully it will be a little warmer when I go to see the “Changing of the Guards.”
I headed back to Kensington and went to dinner at Giraffe with my roommate. It was delicious; I ordered chips and chicken tikka skewers…yummm! And it’s the end of another day, and classes start tomorrow. Time to go learn something!
Pictures: First Stop: Westminster
First Weekend in London Part 1
I cannot believe how fast this first week has gone. I got to see go around London a little more on Saturday and finally got a good idea of how the Tube works.
In terms of weather it was pretty cold and it was the first of many rainy days that I would witness during my time in London. I and a few other study abroad students had gotten tickets to go see the Tower of London. Although it was pouring up until we were about to leave, it was still very interesting.
We were able to walk through and see a film of the coronation ceremony for Queen Elizabeth II, which was pretty interesting. I can only imagine how exciting and historic it would to be in London as it took place.
There was a viewing of the crown jewels, crowns of previous kings and queens, and nearly everything was covered in diamonds, emeralds, rubies and gold. Sadly I wasn’t able to take pictures at the exhibit, but the image of such historically important items is still vivid in my memory.
As we moved on from the “Jewel House” we went to the White Tower located at the center of the square where were able to see an exhibit on the infamous King Henry VII.
YOUR HISTORY LESSON OF THE DAY:
For those of you who are not familiar with the story and legend of Henry VIII, he belonged to the Tudors. He is most well known for having six wives and because under the rules of the church he was not able to divorce his wife, he became the head of his own church and had two of them executed. While he wasn’t the friendliest of kings, his 37 year reign as king left him a legend. He is also the father of Queen Elizabeth I; she too left a lasting legacy for London’s history.
Later that evening I went to dinner with a group of students in my program at a local pub called Gloucester Arms right near our campus dorm. I tried the ever popular “Fish &Chips” for the first time, and let me tell you that was what every person in the pub had ordered.
After dinner we met up with the rest of the study abroad students to go on the “Jack the Ripper Tour.” It was a walking tour of the area where London’s first serial killer took the lives of five women, and was never caught. At the end of it all were left with was the only a handful of possible suspects and a long walk back to the Tube.
Pictures: Tower of London
In terms of weather it was pretty cold and it was the first of many rainy days that I would witness during my time in London. I and a few other study abroad students had gotten tickets to go see the Tower of London. Although it was pouring up until we were about to leave, it was still very interesting.
We were able to walk through and see a film of the coronation ceremony for Queen Elizabeth II, which was pretty interesting. I can only imagine how exciting and historic it would to be in London as it took place.
There was a viewing of the crown jewels, crowns of previous kings and queens, and nearly everything was covered in diamonds, emeralds, rubies and gold. Sadly I wasn’t able to take pictures at the exhibit, but the image of such historically important items is still vivid in my memory.
As we moved on from the “Jewel House” we went to the White Tower located at the center of the square where were able to see an exhibit on the infamous King Henry VII.
YOUR HISTORY LESSON OF THE DAY:
For those of you who are not familiar with the story and legend of Henry VIII, he belonged to the Tudors. He is most well known for having six wives and because under the rules of the church he was not able to divorce his wife, he became the head of his own church and had two of them executed. While he wasn’t the friendliest of kings, his 37 year reign as king left him a legend. He is also the father of Queen Elizabeth I; she too left a lasting legacy for London’s history.
Later that evening I went to dinner with a group of students in my program at a local pub called Gloucester Arms right near our campus dorm. I tried the ever popular “Fish &Chips” for the first time, and let me tell you that was what every person in the pub had ordered.
After dinner we met up with the rest of the study abroad students to go on the “Jack the Ripper Tour.” It was a walking tour of the area where London’s first serial killer took the lives of five women, and was never caught. At the end of it all were left with was the only a handful of possible suspects and a long walk back to the Tube.
Pictures: Tower of London
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
The first of many
Hello from London and welcome to my first blog!
This year has been a year of firsts for me and it's only getting better. I still cannot believe that I'm here. London has been incredible and it's only the beginning of day four. I arrived on Tuesday morning, and took the Underground or "the tube", my first on many times I am sure, to Kensington.
Kensington is one of many neighborhoods throughout London. This is where the upper campus of Richmond University is located. Restaurants, pubs, cafes, small shops and markets line the street. It’s easy to get around; you’re a hop, skip, and a jump away from everything. You can walk to Hyde Park, go shopping at Harrods, or hop on the tube and arrive in Piccadilly Circus to see a show.
Thursday night I went with a group of students to the Comedy Store and got a taste of British humor, and they weren't shy about poking fun at all the students who were studying abroad. There are so many shows and plays to choose from, I wish I could see all of them while I’m here!
My classes start on Monday, and I'll be taking five courses while I am here, most about the history and culture of London. I have only been here for a few days and I absolutely love it! I have so much to see and do here. I cannot wait to share it all with you the experiences, the pictures and all the exciting stories along the way!
Pictures: First Few Days
This year has been a year of firsts for me and it's only getting better. I still cannot believe that I'm here. London has been incredible and it's only the beginning of day four. I arrived on Tuesday morning, and took the Underground or "the tube", my first on many times I am sure, to Kensington.
Kensington is one of many neighborhoods throughout London. This is where the upper campus of Richmond University is located. Restaurants, pubs, cafes, small shops and markets line the street. It’s easy to get around; you’re a hop, skip, and a jump away from everything. You can walk to Hyde Park, go shopping at Harrods, or hop on the tube and arrive in Piccadilly Circus to see a show.
Thursday night I went with a group of students to the Comedy Store and got a taste of British humor, and they weren't shy about poking fun at all the students who were studying abroad. There are so many shows and plays to choose from, I wish I could see all of them while I’m here!
My classes start on Monday, and I'll be taking five courses while I am here, most about the history and culture of London. I have only been here for a few days and I absolutely love it! I have so much to see and do here. I cannot wait to share it all with you the experiences, the pictures and all the exciting stories along the way!
Pictures: First Few Days
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