March 31, 2010
Kelsie left me… for France. At 5AM on Monday morning, she caught the tube to King’s Cross and then the Chunnel to Paris. I gave her a few tips for Paris, not that I know that much about the city. Everything is great there. You can’t not have fun. Kelsie, if you are reading this, you better have gone to the top of the Arc du Triomphe at night or we’re not friends anymore. Just kidding… I’m sure you are having a great time while I’m still here doing homework. Not really. I’m procrastinating. Doing every possible thing I can instead of working on my presentation for history class. I even did laundry! I must be desperate if I’m doing laundry… And now I’m here, writing this blog, which should take up a good hour. Perfect.
On Sunday morning, a big group of us headed across London to the east side and more specifically Whitechapel. We got off at Aldgate East and headed straight for Petticoat Lane Market. And we never looked back. I attempted to barter with the vendor guys but I’m no good at that. Linette, I need you! I bought a shirt and a dress. All the clothes in Petticoat in are either stolen from department stores or damaged so the department stores don’t want them anymore. You’ve got to be careful about what you buy and make sure you wash it before you wear it. There are racks and racks of clothes to sort through. It is so much fun.
Next, we headed over to Spitalfields Market. This one is a bit more legit. The entire complex was built over an ancient Roman burial ground by the Tudors and is a huge shopping center today. Why not? There are a few stores and restaurants surrounding the big arcade where the market lives on the weekends. Mostly crafts and accessories, I didn’t get anything here but a latte. Yum. After Spitalfields we found Diagon Alley from Harry Potter… not really, but we saw the place where they filmed it on our way to the bus stop. We also showed Kelsie a few of the spots in the East End that are synonymous with Jack the Ripper. The pub where he picked up his last victim. The place where they found the body of his second victim… scary! We got out of there fast. Not really, it’s a really nice area now, just not so much 100 years ago. We hopped on the double-decker at Liverpool station and sat at the top so Kelsie could see the town as we road to Piccadilly for more shopping. There was this terrible man in a wheelchair who kept yelling at the bus driver. He was so mean! Poor driver – just doing his job. I could never drive one of those huge buses. No one in this city knows how to drive. Except the cab drivers. And they drive like crazy people!
We got off at Piccadilly and headed to this huge, touristy shop called Cool Britannia. It is amazing. And hilarious. They have absolutely everything you could ever want with the Tube map, the Union Jack, or the Queen’s face on it… Seriously everything. We walked up Regent Street next. And then Carnaby Street to Oxford Circus. So much shopping! I love London! At Oxford Circus lives the biggest H&M I’ve ever seen. Seriously, death to my savings account every time I step into that store… Ugh. We headed down Oxford Street, stopping at a few stores on the way. Oxford, Regent, and Carnaby are the epicenter of shopping London, maybe Europe. You can’t walk down any of them without buying a million things. And at the end of Oxford Street sits the holy grail of cheap retail shopping: Primark. Nothing in that store is over 10 pounds, I swear. There are always about 10,000 people inside, but that is part of its charm – screaming, pushy girls and their boyfriends who were forced to tag along. I love it! I got four shirts, one dress, and a scarf for 14 pounds.
We got a bit worn out after Primark. Is there such a thing as too much shopping? I didn’t think so until that day. Exhausted, we headed across Hyde Park toward our flat. It was sunny and beautiful. Hal and I showed Kelsie the Marble Arch, the Serpentine (which is either a river, pond, or lake, and I can’t figure out which one), Kensington Gardens, the Diana memorial, and Prince Albert Memorial. Good end to a busy day I think.
We went out for ice cream, but then had an early night. I had to write a paper and Kelsie needed to leave the flat by 5AM the next morning. Somehow, our early night turned into pretty late one. Kelsie couldn’t sleep, I skyped my mom and the Campbells in the bathroom before finishing a paper. I love Skype! It was so good to see the Campbells! And Mom, of course.
And compared to Sunday, the last two days have been pretty boring. I’ve had class and homework. I’m pretty much ahead of schedule now so when Amy, Mom, and Grandma come I won’t need to do any class work while they are here. Way to go me.
Last night, Hal, Viv, and I did go to a concert in Camden. We saw a band called Phoenix that Viv especially loves, I like a few songs, and Hal was pretty much indifferent. Just went along for the experience. And it was amazing. At the beginning, we had to stand around for quite a long time, but when Phoenix finally came on, I had the best time. They played my favorite songs first and last. I danced, got completely crushed when the lead singer appeared in the middle of the crowd and started singing, and got beer spilled on me! Whooo!
Amy, Mom, and Grandma are coming tomorrow and Friday! So excited for that.
Love, Kelly
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Curry and Dippy
March 27, 2010
Kelsie is here! And after two and a half days of wandering around London, we are dead tired. I think Kelsie is taking a nap on the floor and I’m up here in my bunk, trying to remember all of the great things we’ve done. We’ve had a bit of trouble picking out exactly what we wanted to do for Kelsie’s weekend in London. There is so much to see and eat and experience! But I think we’ve done a good job with picking the best stuff!
Kelsie got in on Wednesday night. She rode a bus from the airport to Baker Street and I had a bit of trouble getting to that station… I got lost. But I soon found my way, her bus arrived right on time and we were on our way back to the flat. And of course, it was raining. Welcome to London.
We woke up at the crack of dawn on Thursday… Not really, it just felt like that. We had a lot to do and wanted to get going early. After showing her a bit of Kensington, we hopped on the Tube bound for Westminster. And this is where our grand walk began. We saw Westminster Abbey, Westminster Bridge, the London Eye, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament. Next we headed toward St. James’s Park and saw Buckingham Palace, Carlton House, the Wellington Arch (from a distance). Then, we headed down Admiralty Road toward Trafalgar Square and saw the National Gallery, Big Ben (from a distance), and a bunch of foreign embassies. After that, we walked to Leicester Square and Covent Garden where we stopped for a bit of a break before heading down toward the River Thames. We walked along the embankment for a while, seeing St. Paul’s, Millennium Bridge, Southwark, Temple, and King’s College. And lastly, before going to meet my history class, we took some pictures in front of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, and stopped into the gift shop. And all that in four hours! We walked everywhere and it was great. It only rained like four times, but only a few drops each time, and it wasn’t too crowded anywhere we visited.
After all that, we met up with my history class for a bit of a field trip. A field trip on this program usually equals a short museum trip, walking around the town, or a meal. This time, we headed for the east side of London and, more specifically, a curry restaurant on Brick Lane… yum. I won’t start on my love of curry again, but my affections might have grown since I last raved about the Indian dish. I am in love with curry. And I think Kelsie is now too. It wasn’t the best Indian food I’ve had, but all four courses were still delicious! After our meal, our history professor led us on a bit of a tour through the East End and Kelsie tagged along. We learned a lot about the multicultural population around Brick Lane, the history of the area, and some major events that took place there. It has changed quite a bit over the years. The Jack the Ripper murders took place when the area was a hotbed for drinking, gambling, and prostitution. Just after WWII, immigrants flocked to the area because of its cheap housing and proximity to the city, where they worked. Today, it still has that very multicultural feel, it’s a bit poorer than most of the London boroughs, and is very popular with younger people who want to get out of the city. I loved it. But after an entire day of walking, I was dead tired after our little tour. We got on the Tube and headed home.
Kelsie, Hal, and I headed to the Gloucester Arms for Kelsie’s first pub experience on Thursday night. We ate chips and drank Strongbow. Perfect end to a great day.
On Friday we headed to tourist-favorite, always sunny town of Bath. This marked our last tour with our favorite guide Brit. I’m so sad. She may be a headache sometimes, especially after four hours of walking around in the rain or the longest bus ride of your life, with her cheerful voice constantly in your ear, but I love her. She made every trip we took so great with her little stories and suggestions. What is that movie where the girl says she is creating a memory?? Whatever it is, I’m creating a memory of all my favorite Brit quotes, funny stories, and great moments on the tours. What am I going to do in the future when I don’t have a personal tour guide in my ear, telling me all about the stuff I’m supposed to be looking at?? Bah! I’ll miss her.
Anyway, Bath was great. We toured the Roman Baths first, the town’s biggest tourist draw and possibly, the oldest bathtubs in all of the world. No, I don’t know about that last part, but these things were really old. They are supplied by a natural hot spring in the ground and have been a favorite of inhabitants of England for centuries, millennia! They are built of this sandy yellow stone, just like everything else in the town, and the water is this murky green. Just what I’d want to take a swim in, pea soup. Ha. It looked amazing though. Took a lot of pictures, drank a glass of bath water (yum), and bought a compass at the souvenir shop. Yes, I bought a compass. It was only 2 pounds, it hooks onto my backpack, and I really wanted one. I’m always backwards here. When the streets go every which way and you pop out of the ground in the form of a tube station not knowing which direction you are facing or which way is up… it was about time.
Next, we headed for a quick bite to eat at a little restaurant. I can’t remember the name, but it was decent. After that, Kelsie and I popped into Sally Lunn’s. Sally Lunn’s is this famous restaurant in the oldest building in Bath, apparently (I don’t know, they all looked pretty old), and they sell the “world famous” Sally Lunn Buns. Not only did they taste good, but Sally Lunn Bun is just fun to say. We were happy while we ate our buns walking the streets of Bath.
We headed up the hill toward the Jane Austen Centre after our food. The entire town of Bath sits in this little valley and buildings line both sides it. Anywhere you go, you’ll need to hike up or down some steep street. But it was fun. Reminded me of our adventures in Dublin… The Jane Austen Centre, because Jane Austen lived in Bath for a bit, was okay. They bookstore was well-stocked and they had a bunch of creepy mannequins dressed up as Elizabeth Bennett and Emma Woodhouse. We headed for the shopping streets after enough of that. They had a bunch of street performers and vendors along the road. It was fun. We even found this bridge that was lined with shops. You wouldn’t even know you where on a bridge if you couldn’t see out the shops windows to the river below.
And then we got on the bus for the ride home. Three hours later, we got to our flat. Three whole hours it took us to get home… longest bus ride of my life. I just wanted to get home and lay in my bed. But no There was traffic and rain and anything else that could slow us down. The ride wasn’t without its highlights. We saw more English countryside, but this time, it was the rolling hills around Bath. So beautiful. And we saw Wales from a distance. I made a new workout playlist on my iPod and organized our weekend in my head. Pretty productive!
When we finally did get home, we rallied. I drank a bunch of coffee, Hal put on some music, and we all got ready for a night out on Londontown. We got on the Piccadilly line and got off at Piccadilly Circus, of course. We headed for a pub first, (I think Kelsie is hooked), ordered a few drinks, and just sat around to talk. Mid-pub drinking, we got a call from a few of our roommates who wanted to join us and we said we would meet them in Piccadilly Circus. So, we got out of the pub and stood on the street waiting. We people watched, drank (because you can do that on the streets here) and stared at the bright fluorescent signs of “the ‘Dilly”, as Hal calls it. While we waited, a girl walked by with a giant string of helium balloons. Don’t know why she had them, but she did. And Hal stole three of four off the chain. And then proceeded to suck all the helium out of them and talk like a five-year-old girl for the next half hour. It was hilarious at the time. This group of Asian kids on the corner thought so, too. They were just laughing and finally asked Hal if they could take a picture with her. I think that is the beginning of Hal’s fan base… When she makes SNL and tells helium balloon jokes that picture will be worth thousands… God, we were laughing.
And the night kind of fizzled from there. We ran into major congestion getting back on the Piccadilly line. There were literally hundreds of people trying to get through five ticket takers. It was frustrating and hilarious. I think I even yelled at a guy who tried to shove his way past me. When we finally did get on the Tube, we got off at Holborn and tried to get into this karaoke club. Yes, karaoke. I was so excited for a little Mamma Mia or some Amy Winehouse. But no. They wouldn’t let us all in because Kels forgot her ID and Hanna got her purse stolen on spring break. Bust. It was lame anyway. After that, we found a bar that was pretty empty before catching a taxi headed for home. It was a good night. I think Kelsie got a feel for nightlife in London. We always have more fun walking around on the streets than we do standing in a crowded bar and you never know what to expect. I just love London.
And today. Kelsie and I were a bit slow getting going today. Might have been those Strongbows last night. Anyway, eventually we got ourselves together and walked across the street to Hyde Park en route to Portobello Market. The day started off great. The park always puts a smile on my face. But then the sky opened up and it rained. Boo. It couldn’t stop us. We still had a wonderful day walking around looking at all the antiques, clothes, souvenirs, and other crafts on Portobello Road. I bought a couple scarves, a dress, and a shirt. All for 20 pounds! Kelsie bought a dress and a scarf too. We knew that tomorrow would also be a big shopping day so we tried to conserve.
Kelsie, Hal and I took a quick look at a few museums this afternoon. We toured the fashion department at the Victoria and Albert Museum and then saw Dippy the Dinosaur skeleton at the Natural History Museum. Dippy is awesome. Best part of that whole museum.
Hal just went to buy some groceries and we are making a big meal for the three of us. Yay! I think we might go to a movie tonight, but not sure. We’ll see.
Be back soon!
Love,
Kelly
Kelsie is here! And after two and a half days of wandering around London, we are dead tired. I think Kelsie is taking a nap on the floor and I’m up here in my bunk, trying to remember all of the great things we’ve done. We’ve had a bit of trouble picking out exactly what we wanted to do for Kelsie’s weekend in London. There is so much to see and eat and experience! But I think we’ve done a good job with picking the best stuff!
Kelsie got in on Wednesday night. She rode a bus from the airport to Baker Street and I had a bit of trouble getting to that station… I got lost. But I soon found my way, her bus arrived right on time and we were on our way back to the flat. And of course, it was raining. Welcome to London.
We woke up at the crack of dawn on Thursday… Not really, it just felt like that. We had a lot to do and wanted to get going early. After showing her a bit of Kensington, we hopped on the Tube bound for Westminster. And this is where our grand walk began. We saw Westminster Abbey, Westminster Bridge, the London Eye, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament. Next we headed toward St. James’s Park and saw Buckingham Palace, Carlton House, the Wellington Arch (from a distance). Then, we headed down Admiralty Road toward Trafalgar Square and saw the National Gallery, Big Ben (from a distance), and a bunch of foreign embassies. After that, we walked to Leicester Square and Covent Garden where we stopped for a bit of a break before heading down toward the River Thames. We walked along the embankment for a while, seeing St. Paul’s, Millennium Bridge, Southwark, Temple, and King’s College. And lastly, before going to meet my history class, we took some pictures in front of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, and stopped into the gift shop. And all that in four hours! We walked everywhere and it was great. It only rained like four times, but only a few drops each time, and it wasn’t too crowded anywhere we visited.
After all that, we met up with my history class for a bit of a field trip. A field trip on this program usually equals a short museum trip, walking around the town, or a meal. This time, we headed for the east side of London and, more specifically, a curry restaurant on Brick Lane… yum. I won’t start on my love of curry again, but my affections might have grown since I last raved about the Indian dish. I am in love with curry. And I think Kelsie is now too. It wasn’t the best Indian food I’ve had, but all four courses were still delicious! After our meal, our history professor led us on a bit of a tour through the East End and Kelsie tagged along. We learned a lot about the multicultural population around Brick Lane, the history of the area, and some major events that took place there. It has changed quite a bit over the years. The Jack the Ripper murders took place when the area was a hotbed for drinking, gambling, and prostitution. Just after WWII, immigrants flocked to the area because of its cheap housing and proximity to the city, where they worked. Today, it still has that very multicultural feel, it’s a bit poorer than most of the London boroughs, and is very popular with younger people who want to get out of the city. I loved it. But after an entire day of walking, I was dead tired after our little tour. We got on the Tube and headed home.
Kelsie, Hal, and I headed to the Gloucester Arms for Kelsie’s first pub experience on Thursday night. We ate chips and drank Strongbow. Perfect end to a great day.
On Friday we headed to tourist-favorite, always sunny town of Bath. This marked our last tour with our favorite guide Brit. I’m so sad. She may be a headache sometimes, especially after four hours of walking around in the rain or the longest bus ride of your life, with her cheerful voice constantly in your ear, but I love her. She made every trip we took so great with her little stories and suggestions. What is that movie where the girl says she is creating a memory?? Whatever it is, I’m creating a memory of all my favorite Brit quotes, funny stories, and great moments on the tours. What am I going to do in the future when I don’t have a personal tour guide in my ear, telling me all about the stuff I’m supposed to be looking at?? Bah! I’ll miss her.
Anyway, Bath was great. We toured the Roman Baths first, the town’s biggest tourist draw and possibly, the oldest bathtubs in all of the world. No, I don’t know about that last part, but these things were really old. They are supplied by a natural hot spring in the ground and have been a favorite of inhabitants of England for centuries, millennia! They are built of this sandy yellow stone, just like everything else in the town, and the water is this murky green. Just what I’d want to take a swim in, pea soup. Ha. It looked amazing though. Took a lot of pictures, drank a glass of bath water (yum), and bought a compass at the souvenir shop. Yes, I bought a compass. It was only 2 pounds, it hooks onto my backpack, and I really wanted one. I’m always backwards here. When the streets go every which way and you pop out of the ground in the form of a tube station not knowing which direction you are facing or which way is up… it was about time.
Next, we headed for a quick bite to eat at a little restaurant. I can’t remember the name, but it was decent. After that, Kelsie and I popped into Sally Lunn’s. Sally Lunn’s is this famous restaurant in the oldest building in Bath, apparently (I don’t know, they all looked pretty old), and they sell the “world famous” Sally Lunn Buns. Not only did they taste good, but Sally Lunn Bun is just fun to say. We were happy while we ate our buns walking the streets of Bath.
We headed up the hill toward the Jane Austen Centre after our food. The entire town of Bath sits in this little valley and buildings line both sides it. Anywhere you go, you’ll need to hike up or down some steep street. But it was fun. Reminded me of our adventures in Dublin… The Jane Austen Centre, because Jane Austen lived in Bath for a bit, was okay. They bookstore was well-stocked and they had a bunch of creepy mannequins dressed up as Elizabeth Bennett and Emma Woodhouse. We headed for the shopping streets after enough of that. They had a bunch of street performers and vendors along the road. It was fun. We even found this bridge that was lined with shops. You wouldn’t even know you where on a bridge if you couldn’t see out the shops windows to the river below.
And then we got on the bus for the ride home. Three hours later, we got to our flat. Three whole hours it took us to get home… longest bus ride of my life. I just wanted to get home and lay in my bed. But no There was traffic and rain and anything else that could slow us down. The ride wasn’t without its highlights. We saw more English countryside, but this time, it was the rolling hills around Bath. So beautiful. And we saw Wales from a distance. I made a new workout playlist on my iPod and organized our weekend in my head. Pretty productive!
When we finally did get home, we rallied. I drank a bunch of coffee, Hal put on some music, and we all got ready for a night out on Londontown. We got on the Piccadilly line and got off at Piccadilly Circus, of course. We headed for a pub first, (I think Kelsie is hooked), ordered a few drinks, and just sat around to talk. Mid-pub drinking, we got a call from a few of our roommates who wanted to join us and we said we would meet them in Piccadilly Circus. So, we got out of the pub and stood on the street waiting. We people watched, drank (because you can do that on the streets here) and stared at the bright fluorescent signs of “the ‘Dilly”, as Hal calls it. While we waited, a girl walked by with a giant string of helium balloons. Don’t know why she had them, but she did. And Hal stole three of four off the chain. And then proceeded to suck all the helium out of them and talk like a five-year-old girl for the next half hour. It was hilarious at the time. This group of Asian kids on the corner thought so, too. They were just laughing and finally asked Hal if they could take a picture with her. I think that is the beginning of Hal’s fan base… When she makes SNL and tells helium balloon jokes that picture will be worth thousands… God, we were laughing.
And the night kind of fizzled from there. We ran into major congestion getting back on the Piccadilly line. There were literally hundreds of people trying to get through five ticket takers. It was frustrating and hilarious. I think I even yelled at a guy who tried to shove his way past me. When we finally did get on the Tube, we got off at Holborn and tried to get into this karaoke club. Yes, karaoke. I was so excited for a little Mamma Mia or some Amy Winehouse. But no. They wouldn’t let us all in because Kels forgot her ID and Hanna got her purse stolen on spring break. Bust. It was lame anyway. After that, we found a bar that was pretty empty before catching a taxi headed for home. It was a good night. I think Kelsie got a feel for nightlife in London. We always have more fun walking around on the streets than we do standing in a crowded bar and you never know what to expect. I just love London.
And today. Kelsie and I were a bit slow getting going today. Might have been those Strongbows last night. Anyway, eventually we got ourselves together and walked across the street to Hyde Park en route to Portobello Market. The day started off great. The park always puts a smile on my face. But then the sky opened up and it rained. Boo. It couldn’t stop us. We still had a wonderful day walking around looking at all the antiques, clothes, souvenirs, and other crafts on Portobello Road. I bought a couple scarves, a dress, and a shirt. All for 20 pounds! Kelsie bought a dress and a scarf too. We knew that tomorrow would also be a big shopping day so we tried to conserve.
Kelsie, Hal and I took a quick look at a few museums this afternoon. We toured the fashion department at the Victoria and Albert Museum and then saw Dippy the Dinosaur skeleton at the Natural History Museum. Dippy is awesome. Best part of that whole museum.
Hal just went to buy some groceries and we are making a big meal for the three of us. Yay! I think we might go to a movie tonight, but not sure. We’ll see.
Be back soon!
Love,
Kelly
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Globes and Ghosts
March 24, 2010
I’m still stuck in my room. And I have been for the entire week!!! Not really, I did get out and get some fresh air, but mostly for class or a walk around the neighborhood. Stupid midterms, presentations, and papers… As of yesterday, we have to have all of our stuff packed up and moving out in a exactly a month… I only have a month left?!?! And I’m still trying to figure out everything I’m doing after the program ends. My roommate from Madison, Kelsie, is studying in Italy this semester and she’s coming to London today. We are going to talk about my few days in Europe after I leave London. Hopefully, everything will work out and I’ll get to see a lot of Italy and maybe France in that time.
Right now... it’s raining. But apart from the today and yesterday, it has been so nice weather-wise here. On Sunday, it was perfect. And we took advantage of it. Hal, Viv, and I packed up our homework and headed up to Hampstead Heath for a day of studying in the sun. Didn’t get much studying done, but my nose got sunburned! Mission accomplished. Before we left, I put on a sundress and put my sunglasses in my bag for the first time. I even debated not bring my coat along, but in the end, practicality won out and I brought it along. Never wore it, but laid it on the grass and sit on it in the park. We almost even packed a picnic, but decided we all just wanted to get there as soon as possible, so we left around 10 after a big breakfast.
Hampstead is about an hour combo walk and Tube ride from London. It is just a few miles north, but seems like a completely different world even though it is still considered London. Hampstead is known for being very eclectic and small town. It attracts a lot of artists and retirees. The place hasn’t changed since a bunch of poets and artist invaded during the Victorian ear. All right in the middle of this huge city. It reminded me of Greenwich or Brighton. London is so diverse!
We walked around the town for a bit before heading to the Heath, Hampstead’s main attraction. As we entered the Heath, which is really London’s idea of a park, I realized how different English parks are from American ones. In the States, you have the swing set and sandbox, maybe a baseball field, and a lot of open areas and trees. In England, a park is basically a big forest with miles and miles of trails, a bunch of old, hidden homes, and a few grassy hills. I felt like I was walking out the back door of my house, into the woods I used to build tee pees in. It was fun to meander through all the trails and see everyone with their dogs. Have I mentioned how much British people love their pets. Everyone owns a dog, I swear! Anyway, the trails were great, but super muddy. My new flats from Hastings didn’t stand a chance. Luckily they were black so I just washed them when we got home. Good as new!
So our little pack of five – Hal, Viv, Laurel, Julie, and I – have been obsessed with the English poet John Keats ever since we bawled our eyes out during the movie Bright Star. Seriously, I love the man. So, part of the huge pull of Hampstead is John Keats’s house. He lived there when he wrote his best works and his fiancé, Fanny, was his neighbor. Of course, we went to the house. It wasn’t anything special, but it still meant so much. He actually lived and wrote there. So cool.
After visiting the house and getting lost in the Heath, we finally found Kenwood House, which is this mansion at the north end of the park that holds banquets and weddings. I don’t think anyone actually lives there. We sat on the huge lawn out front, I ate my apple and bathed in the sun. Hence, the sunburn. It was amazing. As I was sitting there I decided that I’m getting married in Kenwood house and living in Hampstead, at least for a while.
Funnily, while we were eating at the café in Kenwood House, Laurel, Viv and Hal started freaking out. They whispered, “It’s Andy Circus, it’s Andy Circus.” And sadly, I had no idea who this was. They explained, even spelling out his name. Turns out Andy Serkis, who I found out plays Gollum on the Lord of the Rings, was having a day out with his family in Hampstead. Just like us! I kind of recognized him, but not really. He played the boss that dances to Thriller in 13 Going on 30. Hal and Laurel were freaking out. Laurel is a huge Lord of the Rings fan. Her obsession might even rival Amy and Grant’s LOTR Thanksgiving marathon.
After sneaking glances at Andy Serkis eating a sandwich for about a half hour, the birds attacked. Literally, a flock of pigeons descended on our table and I was out of there, leaving the end of my sandwich for them. I don’t think I’ve ever moved that fast in my life. The birds here just love to scare the crap out of all the tourists. Bah!
We walked back across the park after that and found Parliament Hill. This hill is known for its awesome view of London. And you can see everything from Hyde Park all the way over to Canary Wharf. It was amazing. There aren’t very many tall buildings in London, besides the Eye, that you can get this great view.
After that, I think we got lost again and then decided to go home once it started to get dark. I did laundry, made supper and did more homework. Yay.
Monday Monday.. I had class all day. But in the afternoon, for my theatre class, we got to tour Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Well, a replica of the original anyway. But they built it exactly as it was when it was constructed for the first time in 1599. It burned down several times, was commonly shut down for plague infestation, and eventually dismantled when Cromwell overthrew the monarchy and banned theatre in Britain. But, about 20 years ago, they brought it back. And funnily, the guy that made its revival so successful is from Milwaukee. His name is Mark Rylance and they love him over here. We had the pleasure of seeing him perform the lead in Jerusalem. They call him the new Laurence Olivier.
Anyway, the Globe was very interesting. It is so different from any theatre I’ve ever been to before. It is an open air theatre with a big stage on one side and room for 700 standing “seats” on the floor. It is perfectly round and four levels of seating surround the stage. It is hard to describe, but just look it up. I really wish we could see a production there, but the Globe is only open in the summer. It opens the day we leave… bummer. The gift shop was good.
Viv and I headed over to the Tate Modern, which is right next-door after our tour ended. We saw see an exhibition we’ve been planning to see by an artist named Van Doesburg. He basically invented graphic design. It wasn’t that great, but I’m glad I went. My graphic design teacher will be happy!
That night, we had the unfortunate opportunity of going to see a play called Ghost Stories for theatre class. I hate scary movies. I just don’t watch them or I won’t sleep for a week. I’m still terrified from watching Jaws when I was little. Luckily, Amy reassured her ten-year-old sister that if I didn’t sleep within a foot of the edge of the bed, I wouldn’t get bitten by the sharks under my bed. I’ve been sleeping in a ball in the middle of my bed ever since. Just kidding. But Ghost Stories was no joke. I was terrified the whole time. Everything was really loud and dark and spooky. And then for some reason, Hal, Viv, and I stayed up telling ghost stories to each other for like three hours. I got no sleep…
Yesterday, I finished one paper and went to class. Absolutely nothing exciting.
Today, Kelsie is coming! I have to get my presentation done and print off some stuff, but I’m so excited for her to be in London!
I’ll be back soon to fill you in on our antics. It is sure to be an exciting weekend.
Cheerio,
Kelly
I’m still stuck in my room. And I have been for the entire week!!! Not really, I did get out and get some fresh air, but mostly for class or a walk around the neighborhood. Stupid midterms, presentations, and papers… As of yesterday, we have to have all of our stuff packed up and moving out in a exactly a month… I only have a month left?!?! And I’m still trying to figure out everything I’m doing after the program ends. My roommate from Madison, Kelsie, is studying in Italy this semester and she’s coming to London today. We are going to talk about my few days in Europe after I leave London. Hopefully, everything will work out and I’ll get to see a lot of Italy and maybe France in that time.
Right now... it’s raining. But apart from the today and yesterday, it has been so nice weather-wise here. On Sunday, it was perfect. And we took advantage of it. Hal, Viv, and I packed up our homework and headed up to Hampstead Heath for a day of studying in the sun. Didn’t get much studying done, but my nose got sunburned! Mission accomplished. Before we left, I put on a sundress and put my sunglasses in my bag for the first time. I even debated not bring my coat along, but in the end, practicality won out and I brought it along. Never wore it, but laid it on the grass and sit on it in the park. We almost even packed a picnic, but decided we all just wanted to get there as soon as possible, so we left around 10 after a big breakfast.
Hampstead is about an hour combo walk and Tube ride from London. It is just a few miles north, but seems like a completely different world even though it is still considered London. Hampstead is known for being very eclectic and small town. It attracts a lot of artists and retirees. The place hasn’t changed since a bunch of poets and artist invaded during the Victorian ear. All right in the middle of this huge city. It reminded me of Greenwich or Brighton. London is so diverse!
We walked around the town for a bit before heading to the Heath, Hampstead’s main attraction. As we entered the Heath, which is really London’s idea of a park, I realized how different English parks are from American ones. In the States, you have the swing set and sandbox, maybe a baseball field, and a lot of open areas and trees. In England, a park is basically a big forest with miles and miles of trails, a bunch of old, hidden homes, and a few grassy hills. I felt like I was walking out the back door of my house, into the woods I used to build tee pees in. It was fun to meander through all the trails and see everyone with their dogs. Have I mentioned how much British people love their pets. Everyone owns a dog, I swear! Anyway, the trails were great, but super muddy. My new flats from Hastings didn’t stand a chance. Luckily they were black so I just washed them when we got home. Good as new!
So our little pack of five – Hal, Viv, Laurel, Julie, and I – have been obsessed with the English poet John Keats ever since we bawled our eyes out during the movie Bright Star. Seriously, I love the man. So, part of the huge pull of Hampstead is John Keats’s house. He lived there when he wrote his best works and his fiancé, Fanny, was his neighbor. Of course, we went to the house. It wasn’t anything special, but it still meant so much. He actually lived and wrote there. So cool.
After visiting the house and getting lost in the Heath, we finally found Kenwood House, which is this mansion at the north end of the park that holds banquets and weddings. I don’t think anyone actually lives there. We sat on the huge lawn out front, I ate my apple and bathed in the sun. Hence, the sunburn. It was amazing. As I was sitting there I decided that I’m getting married in Kenwood house and living in Hampstead, at least for a while.
Funnily, while we were eating at the café in Kenwood House, Laurel, Viv and Hal started freaking out. They whispered, “It’s Andy Circus, it’s Andy Circus.” And sadly, I had no idea who this was. They explained, even spelling out his name. Turns out Andy Serkis, who I found out plays Gollum on the Lord of the Rings, was having a day out with his family in Hampstead. Just like us! I kind of recognized him, but not really. He played the boss that dances to Thriller in 13 Going on 30. Hal and Laurel were freaking out. Laurel is a huge Lord of the Rings fan. Her obsession might even rival Amy and Grant’s LOTR Thanksgiving marathon.
After sneaking glances at Andy Serkis eating a sandwich for about a half hour, the birds attacked. Literally, a flock of pigeons descended on our table and I was out of there, leaving the end of my sandwich for them. I don’t think I’ve ever moved that fast in my life. The birds here just love to scare the crap out of all the tourists. Bah!
We walked back across the park after that and found Parliament Hill. This hill is known for its awesome view of London. And you can see everything from Hyde Park all the way over to Canary Wharf. It was amazing. There aren’t very many tall buildings in London, besides the Eye, that you can get this great view.
After that, I think we got lost again and then decided to go home once it started to get dark. I did laundry, made supper and did more homework. Yay.
Monday Monday.. I had class all day. But in the afternoon, for my theatre class, we got to tour Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. Well, a replica of the original anyway. But they built it exactly as it was when it was constructed for the first time in 1599. It burned down several times, was commonly shut down for plague infestation, and eventually dismantled when Cromwell overthrew the monarchy and banned theatre in Britain. But, about 20 years ago, they brought it back. And funnily, the guy that made its revival so successful is from Milwaukee. His name is Mark Rylance and they love him over here. We had the pleasure of seeing him perform the lead in Jerusalem. They call him the new Laurence Olivier.
Anyway, the Globe was very interesting. It is so different from any theatre I’ve ever been to before. It is an open air theatre with a big stage on one side and room for 700 standing “seats” on the floor. It is perfectly round and four levels of seating surround the stage. It is hard to describe, but just look it up. I really wish we could see a production there, but the Globe is only open in the summer. It opens the day we leave… bummer. The gift shop was good.
Viv and I headed over to the Tate Modern, which is right next-door after our tour ended. We saw see an exhibition we’ve been planning to see by an artist named Van Doesburg. He basically invented graphic design. It wasn’t that great, but I’m glad I went. My graphic design teacher will be happy!
That night, we had the unfortunate opportunity of going to see a play called Ghost Stories for theatre class. I hate scary movies. I just don’t watch them or I won’t sleep for a week. I’m still terrified from watching Jaws when I was little. Luckily, Amy reassured her ten-year-old sister that if I didn’t sleep within a foot of the edge of the bed, I wouldn’t get bitten by the sharks under my bed. I’ve been sleeping in a ball in the middle of my bed ever since. Just kidding. But Ghost Stories was no joke. I was terrified the whole time. Everything was really loud and dark and spooky. And then for some reason, Hal, Viv, and I stayed up telling ghost stories to each other for like three hours. I got no sleep…
Yesterday, I finished one paper and went to class. Absolutely nothing exciting.
Today, Kelsie is coming! I have to get my presentation done and print off some stuff, but I’m so excited for her to be in London!
I’ll be back soon to fill you in on our antics. It is sure to be an exciting weekend.
Cheerio,
Kelly
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Caves and Waves
Saturday, March 20, 2010
This isn’t going to be a very happy post. I’m stuck in my room, writing a paper for history class, and the sun is shining through my window… ugh. Of all the days. This was one of our last free weekends in London. After this, we only have a month left (my heart just broke) and it feels like every day we have something going on. Literally, the iCal on my computer is packed, all colorful and busy with events and people visiting. I’m so excited! And this isn’t helping my current situation at all. The weatherman said today was supposed to rain and be really crappy… liar. And this is where I’ll be for the next 10 hours. Finishing papers, presentations, and studying a bit. Trying to get everything done before I run out of time.
So, aside from the gloomy study party that is going on in our room right now, the last few days have been great! On Thursday, I woke up and went for a run. It started raining just as I finished, thank God. History class soon followed and during a bunch of presentation from classmates, I realized how much I enjoy that class. Our professor is amazing. I think he knows absolutely everything there is to know about London, Britain, and possibly the whole of Europe. Man is a genius. In the UK, you have to go to college to get a degree in tour guiding (for real) and John, our professor, taught guides for quite a while. He knows all these little fun facts and stories that always make his class interesting.
After class, we all headed up Old Brompton Road to Knightsbridge where we were meeting for dinner with advisers. Quite a few students are out of town this weekend, so it was a much smaller group. We sat right by Mary, the lead adviser, who is quickly becoming my favorite person. She is hilarious. And never stops talking! She has a million stories to tell and always has good advise. She owns a cave in Turkey. Seriously, among all of her crazy real estate investments, she has a cave. We just laughed for a bit, until she showed us the pictures. Let me tell you, that is not what I think of when I picture cave in my head. The inside of it looks like a freaking cathedral! Big arches on the ceiling and huge wooden doors. Prettiest cave I’ve ever seen.
Anyway, after we made a bit of fun Mary for a bit, our food came. And then kept coming. It was a four-course meal and I was full by the second. But, oh my God, it was the best food I’ve had here and possibly in my whole life. It was Iraqi cuisine and I was a bit hesitant at first. They made us these kebabs of steak, lamb, and chicken. It tasted just like Dad grilled it on the grill out on the front porch. Yum! I’m learning how to make kebabs soon.
After that glorious meal, I was way too full to go to Harrods. I could barely walk myself home. When we did get back to the flat, I looked at my phone and realized it was 9:30! That meal took us four hours to eat! Ahh, but have a mentioned how good it was?
Early Friday morning, we met our lovely guide Brit for a tour of the site of the London Olympics in 2012. How cool it that? I was really excited for this trip and I wasn’t let down at all. We took the Tube east for about 45 minutes and got off at Bromley-by-Bow. I just love some of the Tube stop names! So bizarre. They are actually renovating and reorganizing the entire underground for the Olympics. It took us almost an hour to get out to the site, which is only a few miles east of central London. But my 2012, you will be able to get there in seven minutes!
Brit took us on a bit of a walk around the area surrounding the site. Newham, I’m not sure on the spelling, was a pretty poor, rundown area before all this excitement. It was home to a lot of industry and factories. It took them almost two years just to clean up the place to prepare it for renovations. There is this series of canals running through the center and they are going to be just great for the games. Houseboats, new business and apartments, and miles of boardwalks are popping up all along the waterway.
After a bit of a walk, we made our way onto the Olympic site, which, at this point, is basically a huge construction zone. And the whole thing has to be finished by January 2011… They have some major work to do! The Olympic stadium looked pretty close to finished, but Brit said it is only half done and that is only half of the finished stadium. It is going to be huge! The coolest part was the aquatic center… It has this roof in the shape of a giant blue stingray. It is beautiful. They built the roof first and are constructing the actual building and pools while that giant stingray sits on temporary supports. They are calling it “The Wave”. The biking area looks similar, but not as cool. That one is called “The Pringle”.
We had a bit of a look around from the view tube, the place where visitors can see the site. This small building with a tall lookout tower was built completely out of recycled dock containers. And they painted it bright lime green! In fact, the 2012 games are being called the Green Games because most everything constructed or used for the games is recycled. Some of the stuff they are using is so bizarre. I don’t’ know how you would think of it. They are also making major plans for post-Olympics. They obviously want to keep the site nice and in use, so there is a lot of thought going into that. I kind of zoned out when Brit was telling us about this. I was fascinated by the Wave.
After our Olympics tour was over, we headed to the docklands area of London, also known as Canary Wharf. It used to be, well, a giant dock, but now it is the new financial district of London. Huge, Manhattan-like skyscrapers right on the edge of the Thames River. It was all built within the last ten years, so everything is brand new, which is pretty rare in London. We also visited the Docklands Museum and the underground shopping mall… oh no. Below all the skyscrapers, there is this huge mall that connects all the buildings and the Tube Station. You don’t even have to walk outside if you don’t want. But, you have to walk by all of these shops with tempting window displays and sale signs. Let’s just say, the day ended on a happy note as we talked around for a few hours.
Well, there’s the past few days and I’ve gone an excellent job procrastinating for a few minutes. Back to my paper… I’ll be back soon! Whenever I get out of this dreaded flat…
Cheerio,
Kelly
This isn’t going to be a very happy post. I’m stuck in my room, writing a paper for history class, and the sun is shining through my window… ugh. Of all the days. This was one of our last free weekends in London. After this, we only have a month left (my heart just broke) and it feels like every day we have something going on. Literally, the iCal on my computer is packed, all colorful and busy with events and people visiting. I’m so excited! And this isn’t helping my current situation at all. The weatherman said today was supposed to rain and be really crappy… liar. And this is where I’ll be for the next 10 hours. Finishing papers, presentations, and studying a bit. Trying to get everything done before I run out of time.
So, aside from the gloomy study party that is going on in our room right now, the last few days have been great! On Thursday, I woke up and went for a run. It started raining just as I finished, thank God. History class soon followed and during a bunch of presentation from classmates, I realized how much I enjoy that class. Our professor is amazing. I think he knows absolutely everything there is to know about London, Britain, and possibly the whole of Europe. Man is a genius. In the UK, you have to go to college to get a degree in tour guiding (for real) and John, our professor, taught guides for quite a while. He knows all these little fun facts and stories that always make his class interesting.
After class, we all headed up Old Brompton Road to Knightsbridge where we were meeting for dinner with advisers. Quite a few students are out of town this weekend, so it was a much smaller group. We sat right by Mary, the lead adviser, who is quickly becoming my favorite person. She is hilarious. And never stops talking! She has a million stories to tell and always has good advise. She owns a cave in Turkey. Seriously, among all of her crazy real estate investments, she has a cave. We just laughed for a bit, until she showed us the pictures. Let me tell you, that is not what I think of when I picture cave in my head. The inside of it looks like a freaking cathedral! Big arches on the ceiling and huge wooden doors. Prettiest cave I’ve ever seen.
Anyway, after we made a bit of fun Mary for a bit, our food came. And then kept coming. It was a four-course meal and I was full by the second. But, oh my God, it was the best food I’ve had here and possibly in my whole life. It was Iraqi cuisine and I was a bit hesitant at first. They made us these kebabs of steak, lamb, and chicken. It tasted just like Dad grilled it on the grill out on the front porch. Yum! I’m learning how to make kebabs soon.
After that glorious meal, I was way too full to go to Harrods. I could barely walk myself home. When we did get back to the flat, I looked at my phone and realized it was 9:30! That meal took us four hours to eat! Ahh, but have a mentioned how good it was?
Early Friday morning, we met our lovely guide Brit for a tour of the site of the London Olympics in 2012. How cool it that? I was really excited for this trip and I wasn’t let down at all. We took the Tube east for about 45 minutes and got off at Bromley-by-Bow. I just love some of the Tube stop names! So bizarre. They are actually renovating and reorganizing the entire underground for the Olympics. It took us almost an hour to get out to the site, which is only a few miles east of central London. But my 2012, you will be able to get there in seven minutes!
Brit took us on a bit of a walk around the area surrounding the site. Newham, I’m not sure on the spelling, was a pretty poor, rundown area before all this excitement. It was home to a lot of industry and factories. It took them almost two years just to clean up the place to prepare it for renovations. There is this series of canals running through the center and they are going to be just great for the games. Houseboats, new business and apartments, and miles of boardwalks are popping up all along the waterway.
After a bit of a walk, we made our way onto the Olympic site, which, at this point, is basically a huge construction zone. And the whole thing has to be finished by January 2011… They have some major work to do! The Olympic stadium looked pretty close to finished, but Brit said it is only half done and that is only half of the finished stadium. It is going to be huge! The coolest part was the aquatic center… It has this roof in the shape of a giant blue stingray. It is beautiful. They built the roof first and are constructing the actual building and pools while that giant stingray sits on temporary supports. They are calling it “The Wave”. The biking area looks similar, but not as cool. That one is called “The Pringle”.
We had a bit of a look around from the view tube, the place where visitors can see the site. This small building with a tall lookout tower was built completely out of recycled dock containers. And they painted it bright lime green! In fact, the 2012 games are being called the Green Games because most everything constructed or used for the games is recycled. Some of the stuff they are using is so bizarre. I don’t’ know how you would think of it. They are also making major plans for post-Olympics. They obviously want to keep the site nice and in use, so there is a lot of thought going into that. I kind of zoned out when Brit was telling us about this. I was fascinated by the Wave.
After our Olympics tour was over, we headed to the docklands area of London, also known as Canary Wharf. It used to be, well, a giant dock, but now it is the new financial district of London. Huge, Manhattan-like skyscrapers right on the edge of the Thames River. It was all built within the last ten years, so everything is brand new, which is pretty rare in London. We also visited the Docklands Museum and the underground shopping mall… oh no. Below all the skyscrapers, there is this huge mall that connects all the buildings and the Tube Station. You don’t even have to walk outside if you don’t want. But, you have to walk by all of these shops with tempting window displays and sale signs. Let’s just say, the day ended on a happy note as we talked around for a few hours.
Well, there’s the past few days and I’ve gone an excellent job procrastinating for a few minutes. Back to my paper… I’ll be back soon! Whenever I get out of this dreaded flat…
Cheerio,
Kelly
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Sunshine and Screaming
March 18, 2010
I SAW ROBERT PATTINSON LAST NIGHT AND I TOUCHED HIS HAIR!!!
I just couldn’t hold that in. I’m still dying. Ahhhhh.. Can I have a moment to breathe? That man is gorgeous. What a dreamboat…
Okay, my rant is over. For now. I’ll get to more on that adventure soon. My week started out relatively slow here in London. The weather has been perfect – like no coat, sunglasses and possibly sandals weather. I’ve been walking everywhere just be outside, even if it takes me twice as long to get where I’m going. I think I’ll wear shorts today… maybe.
On Tuesday morning we just sat around, did homework, and cleaned up our room a bit, which was getting quite dirty. Then, I had class in the basement of the building all our classes are in. While the sun was shining outside, I was stuck watching a movie about Henry Moore. Not cool. But before I knew it, class was over and I raced outside to take some pictures around the neighborhood and run to the grocery store. Here I thought Europe was going to have daylight savings time end like the US, but apparently not. What the heck? I was so excited for my extra hour of daylight everyday… no sunset until 7pm! But no, we don’t do that for three weeks! Bummer.
Anyway, the sun set too soon and then we left for our second play of the week. Just off Piccadilly Circus, we saw ‘Jerusalem’ and I absolutely loved it. Set in the present day, it’s about this band of hilarious gypsies that are getting kicked off their land. The entire show was very tailored for a British audience. If I hadn’t have been living here for the past three months, I don’t think I would have understood a single joke. Oh, all the quirky British things I’ve learned! And so much more to learn. I was very confused at some parts, but laughed anyway. Mostly at the guy with the funny laugh behind me. Our professor, who ended up sitting right beside me, said it was the best production he’d seen all season. He tried to help out when we were confused, but couldn’t stop laughing most of the time. It was great. But the absolute highlight of the night had to be when I dropped Hal’s binoculars that she rented for the show. The entire theatre was silent after a really sad, serious monologue on stage ended and then everyone heard this loud clanking as the binoculars fell down the stairs of the upper balcony… awesome. I think everyone heard me swear, too. My face was so red… good thing it was pitch dark. Vivian could not stop laughing,
When I got home, I uploaded a bunch of pictures to Facebook and Hal decided to change the song lyrics of every song that had the word ‘girl’ to ‘squirrel’… ‘One Less Lonely Squirrel’, ‘Good Squirrels Go Bad’, and ‘I Kissed A Squirrel’. Oh the stupid things we find to entertain us… what am I going to do without Hal and Viv when I get back?!? They aren’t staying in Madison for the summer! I’m going to miss them so much.
Wednesday, started off rather dull. I didn’t have any class, but Hal did. We headed out for the “Remember Me” premiere in Leicester Square at around 3pm. We planned on just feeling it out, because if there were too many people we didn’t want to stand around for hours and not see a thing. A bunch of girls from our flat were already there, with awesome spots, but the security guards wouldn’t let us into the area they were standing in. So, Hal and I decided we wanted to go to the Aquarium. On our way out of Leicester Square, we got the call that they were letting more people into the good standing area. We booked it, nearly running across the square. From that moment on, I became the crazy fan girl that screams and faints and possibly cries. Yep, that was me.
After about three hours of standing, which went my remarkably fast, the premiere started. And it was crazy. So many people and lights and screaming. When Robert Pattinson got out of his car, the place came alive. Literally, these girls turned into animals. But he was awesome about the whole thing. He signed autographs, took pictures, and gave interviews for almost two hours. All this while crazed teen girls chanted and screamed his name. And I was one of them! It was great. The girl beside me couldn’t stop crying.
After the premiere, Hal and I scanned through all the pictures we took and then we went online to look for more pictures. There is this great one of Rob and his costar on the carpet. You can see Hal and I in the background. It’s on my Facebook and it’s hilarious. We also watched the videos Hal took while we waited around the three hours. We made one every hour, on the hour. Slowly the crowd grows and everyone gets a bit more excited as we get closer to the start.
Also, there was a group of girls in front of us that had been standing in line for 32 hours… Geez, I thought my three was a bit fanatical. They are diehard. But, conveniently for us, they made a sign saying “We Waited 32 Hours for Robert Pattinson” and everyone wanted to interview them. It was insane. I think we were even on the BBC at one point. Now, that I look back on it, it all sounds so ridiculous. But it really was so much fun. Just to experience a movie premiere. And see Mr. Pattinson, of course. Did I mention that he is gorgeous.
Overall, a successful St. Patrick’s Day. I’ve been sitting around all morning studying for my history exam. No fun. But we are going to an Iraqi restaurant for dinner tonight with our program. I think we are heading to Harrods after to check out their 3D television. So excited.
I’ll be back soon!! We have entire weekend free here and we have so much planned!
Love,
Kelly
I SAW ROBERT PATTINSON LAST NIGHT AND I TOUCHED HIS HAIR!!!
I just couldn’t hold that in. I’m still dying. Ahhhhh.. Can I have a moment to breathe? That man is gorgeous. What a dreamboat…
Okay, my rant is over. For now. I’ll get to more on that adventure soon. My week started out relatively slow here in London. The weather has been perfect – like no coat, sunglasses and possibly sandals weather. I’ve been walking everywhere just be outside, even if it takes me twice as long to get where I’m going. I think I’ll wear shorts today… maybe.
On Tuesday morning we just sat around, did homework, and cleaned up our room a bit, which was getting quite dirty. Then, I had class in the basement of the building all our classes are in. While the sun was shining outside, I was stuck watching a movie about Henry Moore. Not cool. But before I knew it, class was over and I raced outside to take some pictures around the neighborhood and run to the grocery store. Here I thought Europe was going to have daylight savings time end like the US, but apparently not. What the heck? I was so excited for my extra hour of daylight everyday… no sunset until 7pm! But no, we don’t do that for three weeks! Bummer.
Anyway, the sun set too soon and then we left for our second play of the week. Just off Piccadilly Circus, we saw ‘Jerusalem’ and I absolutely loved it. Set in the present day, it’s about this band of hilarious gypsies that are getting kicked off their land. The entire show was very tailored for a British audience. If I hadn’t have been living here for the past three months, I don’t think I would have understood a single joke. Oh, all the quirky British things I’ve learned! And so much more to learn. I was very confused at some parts, but laughed anyway. Mostly at the guy with the funny laugh behind me. Our professor, who ended up sitting right beside me, said it was the best production he’d seen all season. He tried to help out when we were confused, but couldn’t stop laughing most of the time. It was great. But the absolute highlight of the night had to be when I dropped Hal’s binoculars that she rented for the show. The entire theatre was silent after a really sad, serious monologue on stage ended and then everyone heard this loud clanking as the binoculars fell down the stairs of the upper balcony… awesome. I think everyone heard me swear, too. My face was so red… good thing it was pitch dark. Vivian could not stop laughing,
When I got home, I uploaded a bunch of pictures to Facebook and Hal decided to change the song lyrics of every song that had the word ‘girl’ to ‘squirrel’… ‘One Less Lonely Squirrel’, ‘Good Squirrels Go Bad’, and ‘I Kissed A Squirrel’. Oh the stupid things we find to entertain us… what am I going to do without Hal and Viv when I get back?!? They aren’t staying in Madison for the summer! I’m going to miss them so much.
Wednesday, started off rather dull. I didn’t have any class, but Hal did. We headed out for the “Remember Me” premiere in Leicester Square at around 3pm. We planned on just feeling it out, because if there were too many people we didn’t want to stand around for hours and not see a thing. A bunch of girls from our flat were already there, with awesome spots, but the security guards wouldn’t let us into the area they were standing in. So, Hal and I decided we wanted to go to the Aquarium. On our way out of Leicester Square, we got the call that they were letting more people into the good standing area. We booked it, nearly running across the square. From that moment on, I became the crazy fan girl that screams and faints and possibly cries. Yep, that was me.
After about three hours of standing, which went my remarkably fast, the premiere started. And it was crazy. So many people and lights and screaming. When Robert Pattinson got out of his car, the place came alive. Literally, these girls turned into animals. But he was awesome about the whole thing. He signed autographs, took pictures, and gave interviews for almost two hours. All this while crazed teen girls chanted and screamed his name. And I was one of them! It was great. The girl beside me couldn’t stop crying.
After the premiere, Hal and I scanned through all the pictures we took and then we went online to look for more pictures. There is this great one of Rob and his costar on the carpet. You can see Hal and I in the background. It’s on my Facebook and it’s hilarious. We also watched the videos Hal took while we waited around the three hours. We made one every hour, on the hour. Slowly the crowd grows and everyone gets a bit more excited as we get closer to the start.
Also, there was a group of girls in front of us that had been standing in line for 32 hours… Geez, I thought my three was a bit fanatical. They are diehard. But, conveniently for us, they made a sign saying “We Waited 32 Hours for Robert Pattinson” and everyone wanted to interview them. It was insane. I think we were even on the BBC at one point. Now, that I look back on it, it all sounds so ridiculous. But it really was so much fun. Just to experience a movie premiere. And see Mr. Pattinson, of course. Did I mention that he is gorgeous.
Overall, a successful St. Patrick’s Day. I’ve been sitting around all morning studying for my history exam. No fun. But we are going to an Iraqi restaurant for dinner tonight with our program. I think we are heading to Harrods after to check out their 3D television. So excited.
I’ll be back soon!! We have entire weekend free here and we have so much planned!
Love,
Kelly
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Rocks and Research
March 16, 2010
And a week later…
I sure haven’t done very well with this blog this week. And the really sad thing is, I had the hardest time remembering what I did all week! It was only a few days ago! Anyway, this isn’t going to happen anymore. I’ll be here every few days like usual, no putting it off. It is midterm time here. But instead of midterms, I have like a million papers due! And a presentation and two exams… ugh. Especially not fun when the awesomeness that is London sits right outside my window… Well, my window actually faces the west side of the Dutch embassy, so I see people working at their cubicles all day, but still. It’s all out there, waiting for me and I’m stuck inside writing about the Great Fire and British politics… boo!
Somewhere in my foggy memory, I was able to remember that earlier this week was quite exciting. We went to Covent Garden on Wednesday! I left the flat around 11 and did some errands before meeting up with a few friends later. I stopped at the London Underground offices in St. James’s Park to do a bit of research for my history presentation, only to be callously escorted off the premises when I didn’t have a staff pass. They treated me like a terrorist threat! Seriously, freaked out when I got to the reception desk. I wanted to have a look around because the architect that designed that building also designed a lot of the tube stations. Two big guys in suits appeared on both sides of me and shepherded me out the door. I felt like an idiot. I bought a Cadbury Crème Egg and everything was better.
Oh, and before this researching disaster, I saw someone get hit by a car! I knew seeing a car accident of some kind was inevitable. London roads are a recipe for disaster… terrible drivers from all over the world, none of which ever learned how to drive on the left side or in a backwards car… zero crosswalks so pedestrians have to run for their lives when crossing the streets… the narrowest streets, seriously, two compact cars can barely fit… huge red double-decker buses that think they own the roads…and lastly, brave people riding their peddle bikes in the car lines. I haven’t decided yet if the bikers are courageous or just mad. End of story, I saw a man trying to cross the street and get hit by a little BMW. Scary! He was okay, but it looked like it seriously hurt. Broke the front window and everything. He rolled up over the car and fell off the roof. If it wasn’t so scary I might have laughed. He was fine! Up and walking in no time. These Londoners are tough.
After all this misadventure, I walked across town to Covent Garden and had a bit of a look around. I walked down Bond Street wide-eyed, of course. Great shopping, people watching, and something that is uniquely British. Or maybe, London-ish. I can’t describe it. This funny feeling that this place has so much history but has so much more to give. It never rests and everyone loves it. I found a theatre that was showing a play with Kim Catrall and Matthew MacFayden. I think I’m going to have to see that sometime. I love Pride and Prejudice. Seriously.
And then I found Covent Garden and fell in love. So many little shops and cafes. It is crammed into this old brick open-air arcade/building riddled with alleys and courtyards and huge windows in the ceiling. There is free entertainment in the center all the time and the street performers all over London are amazing. Seriously, better than what is on the radio here. In Covent Garden, there was this funny trio of balding, pudgy old guys singing “Sound of Music” songs. It was great! I listened for a bit, until I met up with Hal and Viv.
Next, we descended on the London Transport Museum for a bit more research for my presentation. But this assignment quickly turned into one the best trips to a museum we’ve had. And we’ve seen a lot of museums. First, the gift shop, which is the true indicator of a museum’s worth, was great. So many great books and funny souvenirs with tube maps on them. A book about the history of lawn gnomes? An alarm clock with the lady’s voice that announces the tube stops and disruptions asking you, very politely, to wake up? It was great. I’m definitely heading back to that shop before I leave. And the museum was phenomenal, too! They had all the old subway cars, steam engines, and double-decker buses for us to sit in and take pictures. It doesn’t sound like much, but Hal, Viv, and I spent the entire afternoon pretending to be the crabby bus driver behind the wheel or a petty society lady in her own coach on the old steam train. We even found a car that resembled the Hogwarts Express! So fun.
Thursday… I went for a run in Hyde Park, had history class, and did homework. Really boring day. And sadly, this pretty much sums up most of my weekend, except Saturday. Have I mentioned that homework it really hard to do here? It takes me twice as long and somehow the royal family, my love of the tube, and British swear words sneak into all of my papers… I’ve been brainwashed. I love London and I can’t help it!
Friday was only marginally more exciting. We went out with our program for Indian food. Oh yes, curry always finds its way into my essays too. I’m always craving it. Seriously, go to an Indian restaurant! But make sure it is good before you go because bad curry is just really sad. We ate at this place down the street called Bombay Brasserie. The food wasn’t the best, but the design and décor of the restaurant was impressive. It is located on the ground floor of this really expensive restaurant, so they are used to a pretty affluent clientele. I think our horde from Wisconsin left them a bit stunned. We all had a great time. I realized how many friends I’ve made here and how I’m going to miss them so much. But, then I realized that they all go to Madison! I have 50 new friends and it is going to be great. If I don’t make very many British friends, I’ll have all these awesome people. And when we get back to the states, we can go out for curry!
Saturday was Stonehenge, Serum, and Salisbury. YAY! We woke up at the ungodly hour of 6AM and got on the coach bus for our two-hour side to the southwest of England. I slept most of the way. Our regular tour guide, Brit, has this voice that just lulls you to sleep. That, a moving vehicle, a little warmth and sun in my face always puts me right to sleep. And I listened to my new iPod! A few hours later we crested one of England’s famous rolling hills and there was Stonehenge. It was beautiful. Brit made sure we didn’t expect too much. She said people are often disappointed because they expect it to be massive. She also said, we shouldn’t be upset if we don’t walk away feeling healed or spiritually cleansed. Apparently, the stones are supposed to have some spiritual power and people have sued the British government when they weren’t healed or properly moved... We had a good laugh before getting off the bus. And I was taken back when I finally stood right in front of it. It’s huge! And it gave me chills. Spiritually healed for sure! No, but I was amazed. It’s just a pile of rocks, but around it is this huge ditch dug thousands of years ago and bunch of burial mounds. The stones are something like 5000 years ago and they are originally from Wales. How the heck did they get them all the way over here? 200 miles away? Amazing! We took a lot of pictures and checked out the gift shop… not that great. After about an hour of marveling at rocks, we boarded the bus and got on our way. Brit told us that Stonehenge isn’t unique. There are hundred of stone circles like this all over Britain. Crazy! But Stonehenge will always have a little place in my heart. I loved it.
We drove around the countryside for a few miles before beginning to climb this pretty steep hill. Brit told us the whole thing was manmade... Geez these old Brits were determined. And strong! At the top, we found the remains of an old castle, and it looked right out of a movie. I think the guide said they’d filmed a few things here. We had a laugh when Hal started running around like a Teletubbie, convinced this was the place they filmed the scenes where they run around on the grassy hills. So funny. Aside from the Teletubbie hills, we found the old remains of a cathedral that had been dismantled to build a wall… what the heck? Brit said this place is the originally Salisbury, now called Old Serum, but everything was moved to new Salisbury a long time ago. Regardless, the remains of the giant fortress on the hill were amazing to run and climb on. Seriously, we are all five-year olds craving a jungle gym and some fresh air at heart. Brit knows how to please!
After that great time, we headed down the hill to Salisbury. Being Saturday, there was a great market going on and the town was alive! Like all English towns, all the inhabitants perk up a bit on the weekends. The coach driver dropped us off at the huge brick wall, which Brit informed us was called a close. So this is the wall that stole from that cathedral on the hill. Didn’t look too spectacular to me. But then I discovered what it held inside… Salisbury Cathedral! Tallest steeple in England. And completely covered in this beautiful stuff called scaffolding. Seriously, couldn’t see half the church! They are fixing everything for the Olympics, I swear. Anyway, I still managed to take about 100 too many pictures and walked away pleased. Never have I been deterred by a bit of construction! After a long look at the outside of the church, we headed for the market for lunch. It was the perfect day to sit outside, so we all ordered food from different places and ended up sitting outside this old pub. I shared stuffed mushrooms with Viv. Yum! And then, I found Oatmeal Road! Seriously, a road named after oatmeal? My Quaker Oats?!? My love oatmeal! We all laughed. But I forgot to take a picture! Bah.
A bit of looking around at the market soon turned into some seriously shopping. Like all good things do! But after a while, it was time to meet Brit for our tour of the inside of Salisbury Cathedral, so we headed back that way. Brit is expert on everything British. I don’t know how she remembers all these random facts and funny stories. She is a genius. And always so happy! I just know that if I were a tour guide, I’d probably snap at some stupid American asking too many questions or taking too many pictures. Brit is a godsend and she was in fine form at the Cathedral. She told us funny stories about almost all of the martyrs and saints that had statues on the façade of the church. Whether all these stories are fact or completely fake, no one can tell, but they are great fun to hear. Inside the cathedral we walked around for about an hour. Now, the inside of Westminster Abbey didn’t really amaze me and Westminster Cathedral has been my absolute avorite so far. Salisbury Cathedral fit somewhere in the middle. Probably my second favorite. It was so tall with so many arches and vaults and stained glass windows and monuments and tombs. There are pictures on facebook. I can’t describe it. I still can’t even believe I’m here!
My awe was broken when Hal cracked a joke, like always. Brit was telling a story about a man that was buried there. Apparently, the man went off the war and everyone thought he died. His best friend pressured the man’s widowed wife into marrying him, but she refused, insisting her husband was still alive. So, when the guy turned out to be alive, he was a bit pissed at his friend and wanted revenge. The story ended sadly, but in the middle of telling, I thought of that song, “My boyfriend’s back and your going to be in trouble…” I sang it quietly to myself and Hal heard. She then proceeded to change all the word to fit the story. It was hilarious. I couldn’t stop laughing in this quiet, solemn church. So embarrassing.
After that humiliation, we saw England’s oldest clock, a bunch of old deteriorating flags that I thought were really cool, and the Magna Carta…! Holy crap, I saw the Magna Carta. Well it was one original copy of it. There are four in total and they are all written in Latin. Didn’t stand a chance of reading it, but seeing it was great! On our way to Windsor a while ago we passed through the fields of Runnymede were King John signed the Magna Carta nearly 1000 years ago. So much history everywhere. When a building or a document or a piece of art is from the 19th century, Brits just scoff. Only the 1800s!? That isn’t old! Heck, Grandma’s house is 100 years old and I thought that was miraculous.
After meditating over the Magna Carta, we all got back on the coach a bit reluctantly. What a great day it was. After another thorough nap on the bus, we got back to London around seven. And then we hit the town! We went to this blues bar called Ain’t Nothing But… (Blues Bar). Catchy right? We saw this guy called Jeremiah Marx and everyone went crazy. I guess he is a bit of a local celebrity here in London. I couldn’t understand a thing he said and it was so loud! But a lot of fun. We stayed for a while before headed out exhausted. I crashed in my bed around midnight and didn’t resurface until about 9 the next morning.
And on Sunday…. I did absolutely nothing. Except homework. And we went to see Alice in Wonderland in 3D just off Piccadilly Circus. I thought the movie was okay. It was just nice to get out of the house after sitting around all morning on my computer.
And yesterday… was interesting. We talked about a lot of disturbing things in Contemporary Britain. Mostly the IRA bombing London for the past 40 years and the terrorist attacks on the tube in 2005. Oddly, all the Brits are terrified of guns, but they are accustomed to bombs. “I just went to work,” our professor said when we asked him what he did when the tube was bombed in 2005. He just found a tube line that was still operation and went to work! But he doesn’t like to watch movies with a lot of guns, especially if they are just owned by civilians. He thinks it is crazy that we should have a gun cabinet at home. So different! He said he was teaching a bunch of Wisconsin students in the 90s when a few IRA bombs went off outside the building… and that wasn’t the first time he’d nearly been hit! AH! It was eerie.
Anyway, after that downer, we went to a play in the West End for theatre class. We saw “Really Old, Like Forty-Five”. It was a comedy about age and dementia. It was hilarious, but also really sad at times. I almost died laughing when the play ended with this crazy lady holding a baby and saying, “I love turtles.” Look up “I Like Turtles” on YouTube. I almost peed my pants. And then proceeded to watch that and about a hundred other YouTube videos that night. Good night.
Aw, but I almost forgot. All that YouTube goodness came after I skyped my drunken family on vacation in Texas. Classic. That was great. Hal and I laughed about it the whole night. Apparently, I was just yelling into my computer and the whole flat could hear me. Our power went out, after someone blew a fuse (it happens all the time), and our first attempt at skype didn’t work so well with me being in the dark. But, we eventually got it running. I laughed the whole time. Mom and Linette cried. Derek bought a satchel. Dad, Gayl, and Scott were drunk in the background I think. I wrote on Amy’s Facebook wall after, that we can’t let them vacation without us. We miss them all too much and they were a complete mess. I love you guys!
Well, I have class now… ugh. And then another play tonight!
Cheerio!
Kelly
And a week later…
I sure haven’t done very well with this blog this week. And the really sad thing is, I had the hardest time remembering what I did all week! It was only a few days ago! Anyway, this isn’t going to happen anymore. I’ll be here every few days like usual, no putting it off. It is midterm time here. But instead of midterms, I have like a million papers due! And a presentation and two exams… ugh. Especially not fun when the awesomeness that is London sits right outside my window… Well, my window actually faces the west side of the Dutch embassy, so I see people working at their cubicles all day, but still. It’s all out there, waiting for me and I’m stuck inside writing about the Great Fire and British politics… boo!
Somewhere in my foggy memory, I was able to remember that earlier this week was quite exciting. We went to Covent Garden on Wednesday! I left the flat around 11 and did some errands before meeting up with a few friends later. I stopped at the London Underground offices in St. James’s Park to do a bit of research for my history presentation, only to be callously escorted off the premises when I didn’t have a staff pass. They treated me like a terrorist threat! Seriously, freaked out when I got to the reception desk. I wanted to have a look around because the architect that designed that building also designed a lot of the tube stations. Two big guys in suits appeared on both sides of me and shepherded me out the door. I felt like an idiot. I bought a Cadbury Crème Egg and everything was better.
Oh, and before this researching disaster, I saw someone get hit by a car! I knew seeing a car accident of some kind was inevitable. London roads are a recipe for disaster… terrible drivers from all over the world, none of which ever learned how to drive on the left side or in a backwards car… zero crosswalks so pedestrians have to run for their lives when crossing the streets… the narrowest streets, seriously, two compact cars can barely fit… huge red double-decker buses that think they own the roads…and lastly, brave people riding their peddle bikes in the car lines. I haven’t decided yet if the bikers are courageous or just mad. End of story, I saw a man trying to cross the street and get hit by a little BMW. Scary! He was okay, but it looked like it seriously hurt. Broke the front window and everything. He rolled up over the car and fell off the roof. If it wasn’t so scary I might have laughed. He was fine! Up and walking in no time. These Londoners are tough.
After all this misadventure, I walked across town to Covent Garden and had a bit of a look around. I walked down Bond Street wide-eyed, of course. Great shopping, people watching, and something that is uniquely British. Or maybe, London-ish. I can’t describe it. This funny feeling that this place has so much history but has so much more to give. It never rests and everyone loves it. I found a theatre that was showing a play with Kim Catrall and Matthew MacFayden. I think I’m going to have to see that sometime. I love Pride and Prejudice. Seriously.
And then I found Covent Garden and fell in love. So many little shops and cafes. It is crammed into this old brick open-air arcade/building riddled with alleys and courtyards and huge windows in the ceiling. There is free entertainment in the center all the time and the street performers all over London are amazing. Seriously, better than what is on the radio here. In Covent Garden, there was this funny trio of balding, pudgy old guys singing “Sound of Music” songs. It was great! I listened for a bit, until I met up with Hal and Viv.
Next, we descended on the London Transport Museum for a bit more research for my presentation. But this assignment quickly turned into one the best trips to a museum we’ve had. And we’ve seen a lot of museums. First, the gift shop, which is the true indicator of a museum’s worth, was great. So many great books and funny souvenirs with tube maps on them. A book about the history of lawn gnomes? An alarm clock with the lady’s voice that announces the tube stops and disruptions asking you, very politely, to wake up? It was great. I’m definitely heading back to that shop before I leave. And the museum was phenomenal, too! They had all the old subway cars, steam engines, and double-decker buses for us to sit in and take pictures. It doesn’t sound like much, but Hal, Viv, and I spent the entire afternoon pretending to be the crabby bus driver behind the wheel or a petty society lady in her own coach on the old steam train. We even found a car that resembled the Hogwarts Express! So fun.
Thursday… I went for a run in Hyde Park, had history class, and did homework. Really boring day. And sadly, this pretty much sums up most of my weekend, except Saturday. Have I mentioned that homework it really hard to do here? It takes me twice as long and somehow the royal family, my love of the tube, and British swear words sneak into all of my papers… I’ve been brainwashed. I love London and I can’t help it!
Friday was only marginally more exciting. We went out with our program for Indian food. Oh yes, curry always finds its way into my essays too. I’m always craving it. Seriously, go to an Indian restaurant! But make sure it is good before you go because bad curry is just really sad. We ate at this place down the street called Bombay Brasserie. The food wasn’t the best, but the design and décor of the restaurant was impressive. It is located on the ground floor of this really expensive restaurant, so they are used to a pretty affluent clientele. I think our horde from Wisconsin left them a bit stunned. We all had a great time. I realized how many friends I’ve made here and how I’m going to miss them so much. But, then I realized that they all go to Madison! I have 50 new friends and it is going to be great. If I don’t make very many British friends, I’ll have all these awesome people. And when we get back to the states, we can go out for curry!
Saturday was Stonehenge, Serum, and Salisbury. YAY! We woke up at the ungodly hour of 6AM and got on the coach bus for our two-hour side to the southwest of England. I slept most of the way. Our regular tour guide, Brit, has this voice that just lulls you to sleep. That, a moving vehicle, a little warmth and sun in my face always puts me right to sleep. And I listened to my new iPod! A few hours later we crested one of England’s famous rolling hills and there was Stonehenge. It was beautiful. Brit made sure we didn’t expect too much. She said people are often disappointed because they expect it to be massive. She also said, we shouldn’t be upset if we don’t walk away feeling healed or spiritually cleansed. Apparently, the stones are supposed to have some spiritual power and people have sued the British government when they weren’t healed or properly moved... We had a good laugh before getting off the bus. And I was taken back when I finally stood right in front of it. It’s huge! And it gave me chills. Spiritually healed for sure! No, but I was amazed. It’s just a pile of rocks, but around it is this huge ditch dug thousands of years ago and bunch of burial mounds. The stones are something like 5000 years ago and they are originally from Wales. How the heck did they get them all the way over here? 200 miles away? Amazing! We took a lot of pictures and checked out the gift shop… not that great. After about an hour of marveling at rocks, we boarded the bus and got on our way. Brit told us that Stonehenge isn’t unique. There are hundred of stone circles like this all over Britain. Crazy! But Stonehenge will always have a little place in my heart. I loved it.
We drove around the countryside for a few miles before beginning to climb this pretty steep hill. Brit told us the whole thing was manmade... Geez these old Brits were determined. And strong! At the top, we found the remains of an old castle, and it looked right out of a movie. I think the guide said they’d filmed a few things here. We had a laugh when Hal started running around like a Teletubbie, convinced this was the place they filmed the scenes where they run around on the grassy hills. So funny. Aside from the Teletubbie hills, we found the old remains of a cathedral that had been dismantled to build a wall… what the heck? Brit said this place is the originally Salisbury, now called Old Serum, but everything was moved to new Salisbury a long time ago. Regardless, the remains of the giant fortress on the hill were amazing to run and climb on. Seriously, we are all five-year olds craving a jungle gym and some fresh air at heart. Brit knows how to please!
After that great time, we headed down the hill to Salisbury. Being Saturday, there was a great market going on and the town was alive! Like all English towns, all the inhabitants perk up a bit on the weekends. The coach driver dropped us off at the huge brick wall, which Brit informed us was called a close. So this is the wall that stole from that cathedral on the hill. Didn’t look too spectacular to me. But then I discovered what it held inside… Salisbury Cathedral! Tallest steeple in England. And completely covered in this beautiful stuff called scaffolding. Seriously, couldn’t see half the church! They are fixing everything for the Olympics, I swear. Anyway, I still managed to take about 100 too many pictures and walked away pleased. Never have I been deterred by a bit of construction! After a long look at the outside of the church, we headed for the market for lunch. It was the perfect day to sit outside, so we all ordered food from different places and ended up sitting outside this old pub. I shared stuffed mushrooms with Viv. Yum! And then, I found Oatmeal Road! Seriously, a road named after oatmeal? My Quaker Oats?!? My love oatmeal! We all laughed. But I forgot to take a picture! Bah.
A bit of looking around at the market soon turned into some seriously shopping. Like all good things do! But after a while, it was time to meet Brit for our tour of the inside of Salisbury Cathedral, so we headed back that way. Brit is expert on everything British. I don’t know how she remembers all these random facts and funny stories. She is a genius. And always so happy! I just know that if I were a tour guide, I’d probably snap at some stupid American asking too many questions or taking too many pictures. Brit is a godsend and she was in fine form at the Cathedral. She told us funny stories about almost all of the martyrs and saints that had statues on the façade of the church. Whether all these stories are fact or completely fake, no one can tell, but they are great fun to hear. Inside the cathedral we walked around for about an hour. Now, the inside of Westminster Abbey didn’t really amaze me and Westminster Cathedral has been my absolute avorite so far. Salisbury Cathedral fit somewhere in the middle. Probably my second favorite. It was so tall with so many arches and vaults and stained glass windows and monuments and tombs. There are pictures on facebook. I can’t describe it. I still can’t even believe I’m here!
My awe was broken when Hal cracked a joke, like always. Brit was telling a story about a man that was buried there. Apparently, the man went off the war and everyone thought he died. His best friend pressured the man’s widowed wife into marrying him, but she refused, insisting her husband was still alive. So, when the guy turned out to be alive, he was a bit pissed at his friend and wanted revenge. The story ended sadly, but in the middle of telling, I thought of that song, “My boyfriend’s back and your going to be in trouble…” I sang it quietly to myself and Hal heard. She then proceeded to change all the word to fit the story. It was hilarious. I couldn’t stop laughing in this quiet, solemn church. So embarrassing.
After that humiliation, we saw England’s oldest clock, a bunch of old deteriorating flags that I thought were really cool, and the Magna Carta…! Holy crap, I saw the Magna Carta. Well it was one original copy of it. There are four in total and they are all written in Latin. Didn’t stand a chance of reading it, but seeing it was great! On our way to Windsor a while ago we passed through the fields of Runnymede were King John signed the Magna Carta nearly 1000 years ago. So much history everywhere. When a building or a document or a piece of art is from the 19th century, Brits just scoff. Only the 1800s!? That isn’t old! Heck, Grandma’s house is 100 years old and I thought that was miraculous.
After meditating over the Magna Carta, we all got back on the coach a bit reluctantly. What a great day it was. After another thorough nap on the bus, we got back to London around seven. And then we hit the town! We went to this blues bar called Ain’t Nothing But… (Blues Bar). Catchy right? We saw this guy called Jeremiah Marx and everyone went crazy. I guess he is a bit of a local celebrity here in London. I couldn’t understand a thing he said and it was so loud! But a lot of fun. We stayed for a while before headed out exhausted. I crashed in my bed around midnight and didn’t resurface until about 9 the next morning.
And on Sunday…. I did absolutely nothing. Except homework. And we went to see Alice in Wonderland in 3D just off Piccadilly Circus. I thought the movie was okay. It was just nice to get out of the house after sitting around all morning on my computer.
And yesterday… was interesting. We talked about a lot of disturbing things in Contemporary Britain. Mostly the IRA bombing London for the past 40 years and the terrorist attacks on the tube in 2005. Oddly, all the Brits are terrified of guns, but they are accustomed to bombs. “I just went to work,” our professor said when we asked him what he did when the tube was bombed in 2005. He just found a tube line that was still operation and went to work! But he doesn’t like to watch movies with a lot of guns, especially if they are just owned by civilians. He thinks it is crazy that we should have a gun cabinet at home. So different! He said he was teaching a bunch of Wisconsin students in the 90s when a few IRA bombs went off outside the building… and that wasn’t the first time he’d nearly been hit! AH! It was eerie.
Anyway, after that downer, we went to a play in the West End for theatre class. We saw “Really Old, Like Forty-Five”. It was a comedy about age and dementia. It was hilarious, but also really sad at times. I almost died laughing when the play ended with this crazy lady holding a baby and saying, “I love turtles.” Look up “I Like Turtles” on YouTube. I almost peed my pants. And then proceeded to watch that and about a hundred other YouTube videos that night. Good night.
Aw, but I almost forgot. All that YouTube goodness came after I skyped my drunken family on vacation in Texas. Classic. That was great. Hal and I laughed about it the whole night. Apparently, I was just yelling into my computer and the whole flat could hear me. Our power went out, after someone blew a fuse (it happens all the time), and our first attempt at skype didn’t work so well with me being in the dark. But, we eventually got it running. I laughed the whole time. Mom and Linette cried. Derek bought a satchel. Dad, Gayl, and Scott were drunk in the background I think. I wrote on Amy’s Facebook wall after, that we can’t let them vacation without us. We miss them all too much and they were a complete mess. I love you guys!
Well, I have class now… ugh. And then another play tonight!
Cheerio!
Kelly
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Dangers and Directions
March 9, 2010
And a few more days sail by. And I only have six weeks left! Agh. That makes me so sad. The weather is starting to get so nice here and we are out walking everywhere. No leaves or flowers yet, but more people outside, more green grass! Crap, now that I’ve said that it will get really crappy and rainy for the rest of the week. But I really wouldn’t care. It couldn’t stop me. Viv, Hal, and I have planned out our whole week and we won’t let anything deter us from all of our adventures. We only have six weeks! And we have so much to do!
On Sunday, Hal and I got home from Hastings and just sat around. I contemplated going grocery shopping, but decided against it. I was too lazy and survived off some spaghetti noodles and a can of tuna. Yum. I was just whipped out from our misadventures getting home. We did do a bit of research on Scotland and train rides to the Highlands. I think we are going to make that trip next weekend. But we’ll see. I really want to see Edinburgh and Loch Ness (monster!), but I don’t want to leave London. I don’t want to miss a thing! (Thank you Aerosmith)
On Monday I had this crappy thing called class. It especially sucks after an entire week of hanging around the beach and traveling to Paris. Ugh. And we didn’t even talk about anything very interesting. Usually, our Contemporary Britain class is pretty fun. We talk about the UK, make fun of their odd behavior and accents. And in return, Justin, our professor, tries to explain this crazy place called England. He pokes fun at the US all the time, too. We all laugh, but I feel like half the time I don’t get his jokes… its that British sense of humor. He’s always joking, but I think its over my head. He could be saying something terrible about us and we’d all just laugh. It always sounds funny with that accent! But Monday’s class was dead boring. Even after three cups of coffee I couldn’t focus. Maybe I’ll do better next week.
Oh, and before class I went for a long run in Hyde Park. It was great! The park was almost empty except for about a thousand other runners. Everyone is training for the London Marathon. I’ve been building up, every morning I run for about three hours, and I think I’ll come in at around first in my age group this year… yeah right. I can barely run for two miles much less 26. I look like an idiot next to the guys in tiny shorts and tanks. I’m freezing in my sweatshirt. They are crazy! And determined. Olivia and I have committed ourselves to running a 5K this summer. I gotta get on that.
After class I skyped with Mom. It was great. I love skype. Just thought I’d mention that. After chatting with Mom I forced myself to go grocery shopping. Not very exciting.
That night we met with our theatre professor for another of his always interesting night walks. He loves these things, seriously. And he is always so enthusiastic. We got on the tube and rode across town to East London. And let me tell you, it is a completely different city over there. But I love it, of course. What don’t I love about London? The east side is everything Kensington isn’t. There is trash on the ground, streets without lights, cheap food(!), and noise after 11PM (there is a curfew in Kensington). I feel that that part of the city is alive and exciting no matter what time of day or night. There was diversity! And tons of Asian food! East London also has tons of history buried beneath it. Literally. There is this huge shopping center called Spitalfields that is built over a Roman burial ground that is about 1500 years old…
We also walked by the pub were Jack the Ripper picked up his last victim, Mary Jane Kelly. The building is exactly the same as it was that night, their claim to fame. The windows, furniture, bar, and everything else has been preserved. And it was kind of a foggy, cold night so it was pretty spooky. Brian, our professor, just loves Jack the Ripper. We learned a lot about London’s most notorious serial killer, as this was the area where all of his victims were found. It used to be a pretty poor, dangerous part of town, but now a flat above a pub goes for about 1.5 million pounds. Oh, how times and real estate prices have changed!
After riding the Tube home (about a 45 minutes ride, this place is huge), Viv and I planned out our week. So much to do!
Okay, here comes a really long story. So during spring break I had trouble with my headphones. On the way to Hastings, they quit working in one ear… so annoying. So when we got to the coast, I bought a pair at HMV, this music and electronic store. Those worked for about two hours and then they cut out. I was pissed. So then the day we left, I went back to HMV and exchanged them. On the bus ride home, I busted out my third pair only to find that those didn’t work at all! What the heck? I was not very happy at all. So then I got home, looked on the Internet to find an HMV in London to exchange them yet again. But when I plugged them into my computer they worked fine… hmmm. So then I tried Hal’s headphones in my iPod. And they only worked in on ear! It was my iPod!
So, on Tuesday, Hal, Viv, and I trekked across town to the Apple Store on Regent Street to either replace my old iPod or get a brand new one. Sure enough, my warranty ran out on February 1st… So I bought a new one! And I love it. I’m happy. But 183 pounds poorer.
Our walk across Mayfair to the Apple Store was probably the most entertaining part of my day. Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever seen more Bentleys, Rolls Royces, or Porshes in a five-block radius. It was ridiculous. I didn’t even really notice until Hal pointed them out. And then I couldn’t not notice them. And they were all so shiny.
The shopping along there wasn’t too bad either. We passed a shop that sold only men’s bow ties. There was a sale going on. Only 125 pounds for the simple black one! And then there was the swarovski crystal shop and the Louis Vuitton factory store and a Starbucks with 6 pound coffee. Yum. And the Ferrari clothing store. Oh, and I can’t forget the yacht sale and management store. They had about a million little yacht models and could even hire staff for your new boat. Jeez. I’m so out of place in my Primark dress and Uggs.
After the Apple store, we headed down to the Tate Britain for Art History class. We didn’t even realize it, but our walk there was rather spectacular. We passed Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and a big park by the Thames. Not bad scenery! I can’t believe I live here.
On that fifteen minute walk, three different people asked me for directions. And it happens all the time! I don’t know what it is, maybe the red hair. They think I’m friendly. But I usually have a big map out, looking really confused, and pointing in different directions… not exactly the first person you’d ask for directions. Hal and Viv never get it. Sadly, I usually can’t help and probably send them in the wrong direction.
And as for today, I’m going to the London Transport Museum to do some “research” for my history project. It is going to be great. Learning all about the Tube!
Cheerio,
Kelly
And a few more days sail by. And I only have six weeks left! Agh. That makes me so sad. The weather is starting to get so nice here and we are out walking everywhere. No leaves or flowers yet, but more people outside, more green grass! Crap, now that I’ve said that it will get really crappy and rainy for the rest of the week. But I really wouldn’t care. It couldn’t stop me. Viv, Hal, and I have planned out our whole week and we won’t let anything deter us from all of our adventures. We only have six weeks! And we have so much to do!
On Sunday, Hal and I got home from Hastings and just sat around. I contemplated going grocery shopping, but decided against it. I was too lazy and survived off some spaghetti noodles and a can of tuna. Yum. I was just whipped out from our misadventures getting home. We did do a bit of research on Scotland and train rides to the Highlands. I think we are going to make that trip next weekend. But we’ll see. I really want to see Edinburgh and Loch Ness (monster!), but I don’t want to leave London. I don’t want to miss a thing! (Thank you Aerosmith)
On Monday I had this crappy thing called class. It especially sucks after an entire week of hanging around the beach and traveling to Paris. Ugh. And we didn’t even talk about anything very interesting. Usually, our Contemporary Britain class is pretty fun. We talk about the UK, make fun of their odd behavior and accents. And in return, Justin, our professor, tries to explain this crazy place called England. He pokes fun at the US all the time, too. We all laugh, but I feel like half the time I don’t get his jokes… its that British sense of humor. He’s always joking, but I think its over my head. He could be saying something terrible about us and we’d all just laugh. It always sounds funny with that accent! But Monday’s class was dead boring. Even after three cups of coffee I couldn’t focus. Maybe I’ll do better next week.
Oh, and before class I went for a long run in Hyde Park. It was great! The park was almost empty except for about a thousand other runners. Everyone is training for the London Marathon. I’ve been building up, every morning I run for about three hours, and I think I’ll come in at around first in my age group this year… yeah right. I can barely run for two miles much less 26. I look like an idiot next to the guys in tiny shorts and tanks. I’m freezing in my sweatshirt. They are crazy! And determined. Olivia and I have committed ourselves to running a 5K this summer. I gotta get on that.
After class I skyped with Mom. It was great. I love skype. Just thought I’d mention that. After chatting with Mom I forced myself to go grocery shopping. Not very exciting.
That night we met with our theatre professor for another of his always interesting night walks. He loves these things, seriously. And he is always so enthusiastic. We got on the tube and rode across town to East London. And let me tell you, it is a completely different city over there. But I love it, of course. What don’t I love about London? The east side is everything Kensington isn’t. There is trash on the ground, streets without lights, cheap food(!), and noise after 11PM (there is a curfew in Kensington). I feel that that part of the city is alive and exciting no matter what time of day or night. There was diversity! And tons of Asian food! East London also has tons of history buried beneath it. Literally. There is this huge shopping center called Spitalfields that is built over a Roman burial ground that is about 1500 years old…
We also walked by the pub were Jack the Ripper picked up his last victim, Mary Jane Kelly. The building is exactly the same as it was that night, their claim to fame. The windows, furniture, bar, and everything else has been preserved. And it was kind of a foggy, cold night so it was pretty spooky. Brian, our professor, just loves Jack the Ripper. We learned a lot about London’s most notorious serial killer, as this was the area where all of his victims were found. It used to be a pretty poor, dangerous part of town, but now a flat above a pub goes for about 1.5 million pounds. Oh, how times and real estate prices have changed!
After riding the Tube home (about a 45 minutes ride, this place is huge), Viv and I planned out our week. So much to do!
Okay, here comes a really long story. So during spring break I had trouble with my headphones. On the way to Hastings, they quit working in one ear… so annoying. So when we got to the coast, I bought a pair at HMV, this music and electronic store. Those worked for about two hours and then they cut out. I was pissed. So then the day we left, I went back to HMV and exchanged them. On the bus ride home, I busted out my third pair only to find that those didn’t work at all! What the heck? I was not very happy at all. So then I got home, looked on the Internet to find an HMV in London to exchange them yet again. But when I plugged them into my computer they worked fine… hmmm. So then I tried Hal’s headphones in my iPod. And they only worked in on ear! It was my iPod!
So, on Tuesday, Hal, Viv, and I trekked across town to the Apple Store on Regent Street to either replace my old iPod or get a brand new one. Sure enough, my warranty ran out on February 1st… So I bought a new one! And I love it. I’m happy. But 183 pounds poorer.
Our walk across Mayfair to the Apple Store was probably the most entertaining part of my day. Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever seen more Bentleys, Rolls Royces, or Porshes in a five-block radius. It was ridiculous. I didn’t even really notice until Hal pointed them out. And then I couldn’t not notice them. And they were all so shiny.
The shopping along there wasn’t too bad either. We passed a shop that sold only men’s bow ties. There was a sale going on. Only 125 pounds for the simple black one! And then there was the swarovski crystal shop and the Louis Vuitton factory store and a Starbucks with 6 pound coffee. Yum. And the Ferrari clothing store. Oh, and I can’t forget the yacht sale and management store. They had about a million little yacht models and could even hire staff for your new boat. Jeez. I’m so out of place in my Primark dress and Uggs.
After the Apple store, we headed down to the Tate Britain for Art History class. We didn’t even realize it, but our walk there was rather spectacular. We passed Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and a big park by the Thames. Not bad scenery! I can’t believe I live here.
On that fifteen minute walk, three different people asked me for directions. And it happens all the time! I don’t know what it is, maybe the red hair. They think I’m friendly. But I usually have a big map out, looking really confused, and pointing in different directions… not exactly the first person you’d ask for directions. Hal and Viv never get it. Sadly, I usually can’t help and probably send them in the wrong direction.
And as for today, I’m going to the London Transport Museum to do some “research” for my history project. It is going to be great. Learning all about the Tube!
Cheerio,
Kelly
Monday, March 8, 2010
Pounds and Perfection
March 7, 2010
And our break is over… I’m anxious to get back to London and my own bed and all my crazy roommates. We all traveled to pretty different places (Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Spain, Morocco), so it will be interesting to hear others’ crazy spring break stories. I’m actually looking forward to getting back to class. So much more to discuss now that we have traveled a bit outside of London.
I loved Hastings. All those south coast English towns are so charming and peculiar and Hastings had a bit of everything we were looking for in a relaxing weekend. We walked and sat around the beach quite a bit, shopped way too much, ate at cafes and pubs, met some locals, and traveled around by train to a few other seaside towns. I feel very relaxed and ready for my hectic, busy schedule in London once again.
Favorite part of this little trip? The prices! Everything was so cheap outside of London. Seriously, I didn’t expect Top Shop to ever be so cheap! And an entire English breakfast, tea included, for only 4 pounds? Ah, what a relief to not worry about every penny. I guess the pound is down after some debacle in Parliament, so the exchange rate wasn’t too bad either. What a great weekend for Kelly’s wallet and closet!!
Hal and I are currently sitting on the train back to Charing Cross Station in London after a bit of a hitch in our travel plans. Apparently, they were working on the train station in Hastings, so we had to catch a bus to a nearby station. We sat on top of the double-decker bus in the very front, saw some great English countryside (it looks just like Wisconsin…), and wondered where the hell we were. Tiny English town after town, winding tree-lined narrow roads, and too many sudden stops encompassed that journey. Every time I’d get settled to sleep for a few minutes, the driver would break to let another car pass – the roads are so narrow in the country two cars barely fit alongside at once, let alone a big bus – or a huge branch would scrap again the top or side of the bus. And it was so loud! Scared the crap out of me every time. Napping was a bust, but before I knew it we were at the train station! I just love trains!
Hal and I are planning what to do when we get back in London. Laundry is first on the list. Ugh. And then possibly a run. We’ll see. This week we hope to go to the London Transport Museum sometime because I have to give a presentation on the Tube next week!
I’m also mentally planning for Mom and Grandma to come in less than a month! I keep thinking of things we need to do and I write them all down in a post-it note on my computer. So much to do, so little time! It is going to be great. And absolutely crazy!
Also, I realized before spring break that I’m going to be Europe for three weeks at the end of my program rather than two like I previously thought. How did I mess that up? I’m debating whether to spend the time here (when I’m going to get an extra week to just bum around Europe?) or change my flight and come home early. I just don’t know how I’ll feel at the end of this, so it is really hard to plan now. Knowing me, I’ll probably leave everything for the last week just when all of my finals are and papers are due…
Well, that’s it for now. Be back after a busy Sunday evening and Monday!
Love,
Kelly
And our break is over… I’m anxious to get back to London and my own bed and all my crazy roommates. We all traveled to pretty different places (Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Spain, Morocco), so it will be interesting to hear others’ crazy spring break stories. I’m actually looking forward to getting back to class. So much more to discuss now that we have traveled a bit outside of London.
I loved Hastings. All those south coast English towns are so charming and peculiar and Hastings had a bit of everything we were looking for in a relaxing weekend. We walked and sat around the beach quite a bit, shopped way too much, ate at cafes and pubs, met some locals, and traveled around by train to a few other seaside towns. I feel very relaxed and ready for my hectic, busy schedule in London once again.
Favorite part of this little trip? The prices! Everything was so cheap outside of London. Seriously, I didn’t expect Top Shop to ever be so cheap! And an entire English breakfast, tea included, for only 4 pounds? Ah, what a relief to not worry about every penny. I guess the pound is down after some debacle in Parliament, so the exchange rate wasn’t too bad either. What a great weekend for Kelly’s wallet and closet!!
Hal and I are currently sitting on the train back to Charing Cross Station in London after a bit of a hitch in our travel plans. Apparently, they were working on the train station in Hastings, so we had to catch a bus to a nearby station. We sat on top of the double-decker bus in the very front, saw some great English countryside (it looks just like Wisconsin…), and wondered where the hell we were. Tiny English town after town, winding tree-lined narrow roads, and too many sudden stops encompassed that journey. Every time I’d get settled to sleep for a few minutes, the driver would break to let another car pass – the roads are so narrow in the country two cars barely fit alongside at once, let alone a big bus – or a huge branch would scrap again the top or side of the bus. And it was so loud! Scared the crap out of me every time. Napping was a bust, but before I knew it we were at the train station! I just love trains!
Hal and I are planning what to do when we get back in London. Laundry is first on the list. Ugh. And then possibly a run. We’ll see. This week we hope to go to the London Transport Museum sometime because I have to give a presentation on the Tube next week!
I’m also mentally planning for Mom and Grandma to come in less than a month! I keep thinking of things we need to do and I write them all down in a post-it note on my computer. So much to do, so little time! It is going to be great. And absolutely crazy!
Also, I realized before spring break that I’m going to be Europe for three weeks at the end of my program rather than two like I previously thought. How did I mess that up? I’m debating whether to spend the time here (when I’m going to get an extra week to just bum around Europe?) or change my flight and come home early. I just don’t know how I’ll feel at the end of this, so it is really hard to plan now. Knowing me, I’ll probably leave everything for the last week just when all of my finals are and papers are due…
Well, that’s it for now. Be back after a busy Sunday evening and Monday!
Love,
Kelly
Friday, March 5, 2010
Relax and Rejuvenate
March 5, 2010
Presently, I’m sitting in a café called ‘Bullet’ in Hastings, England guzzling the free wi-fi and a huge latte in a cup that looks more like a bowl than a mug. And it is so beautiful outside that I didn’t put on a coat today! The sun is shining on the beach and I’ve just decided that this is a pretty perfect spring break. We had a great breakfast this morning, in bed(!), and just sat around enjoying the weather and not having to do anything. Hastings is charming and lively, just like so many beach towns in the south of the UK. I’m loving it. We are relaxing today, but tomorrow I think we are renting bikes and riding along the cliffs to another small town called Rye. This whole week has been pretty chill. And I needed it after the craziness of the last few weeks and Paris. I skyped with mom a few days ago and it was great to finally see her and Aaron. Now I just gotta find a time to see Dad! And Amy! And everyone else! Skype is awesome.
Not much to write about this week. When we got back from Paris on Monday, I just sat around and did absolutely nothing. I was so worn out. Hal and I sat around watching YouTube videos, people watching out our front windows, and unpacking. Our roommate Andy was home early from his spring break… He had the worst time! He said something rude to a couple of bouncers at a club in Portugal and they beat him up! He came back to get surgery to fix his broken nose! He has five stitches on his lip and a black eye, too! I felt so bad for him. Hal made supper for him that night and he was feeling better. And I thought getting sick in Paris was bad…
On Tuesday, Hal and I went for a long walk around Battersea Park and Chelsea. We saw an old hospital building that looked more like a palace. There were a bunch of elementary school girls playing field hockey on the front lawn in skirts and polo shirts. They were so cute. We crossed the Thames to Battersea Park and walked around there for a bit before heading back home. Julie and Laurel came up to the flat later and we discussed plans for Hastings. Like I said, pretty exciting day.
Wednesday, I got up early and went to the Serpentine Gallery in Hyde Park to see a show by an artist I studied in art history last year. It was free and pretty interesting. After that, I thought it would be fun to head over to Oxford Street because the weather was nice… what a bad idea that was. Oxford Street is the shopping heart of London. For me and other cheap college students, anyway. Three H&Ms in a fifteen block stretch = death to my bank account. My favorite British stores are all there in multiples, too. Luckily, my feet hurt after the trek across Hyde Park so I had to quit before I did too much damage. God, I love Oxford Street.
That night, the four of us girls went to see a movie at the BFI in Southwark. It is this cool film centre that has workshops, film festivals, and tons of movie showings. We watched Brightstar in this tiny theatre with a max capacity of like 25 people. It was great. But the movie was so, so sad. Halfway through I was already bawling and the tears didn’t stop until we got on the tube afterward. Seriously, I was crushed. It was so sad and I felt like such a sap. But I loved it. I needed a good cry. After, Hal made crepes – because we didn’t get enough in Paris, apparently – and then I packed for Hastings.
On Thursday morning we got on the train for Hastings around noon. I love riding in trains, have I mentioned that? Just love it. You have so much room, and there are really big windows and a bathroom! We got to Hastings around two and walked toward the beach to find our bed and breakfast, the Lindum. At around eight, we all decided that we wanted to go to a pub for a Strongbow. And conveniently, there was a pub almost right below our B&B! That is one thing you can depend on in the Uk – at least one pub every block. We met a group of college students from here and they asked us to join them on this bar crawl. We said heck yes, even though we were all pretty tired. But it was really fun anyway. We went to five bars, but all were within ten feet of each other. Hastings is huge.
And now I’m finished with my coffee and might go take a nap. Oh, the difficult life of a college student studying abroad. I’ll be back soon now that I found free wi-fi! Have a good weekend!
Love,
Kelly
Presently, I’m sitting in a café called ‘Bullet’ in Hastings, England guzzling the free wi-fi and a huge latte in a cup that looks more like a bowl than a mug. And it is so beautiful outside that I didn’t put on a coat today! The sun is shining on the beach and I’ve just decided that this is a pretty perfect spring break. We had a great breakfast this morning, in bed(!), and just sat around enjoying the weather and not having to do anything. Hastings is charming and lively, just like so many beach towns in the south of the UK. I’m loving it. We are relaxing today, but tomorrow I think we are renting bikes and riding along the cliffs to another small town called Rye. This whole week has been pretty chill. And I needed it after the craziness of the last few weeks and Paris. I skyped with mom a few days ago and it was great to finally see her and Aaron. Now I just gotta find a time to see Dad! And Amy! And everyone else! Skype is awesome.
Not much to write about this week. When we got back from Paris on Monday, I just sat around and did absolutely nothing. I was so worn out. Hal and I sat around watching YouTube videos, people watching out our front windows, and unpacking. Our roommate Andy was home early from his spring break… He had the worst time! He said something rude to a couple of bouncers at a club in Portugal and they beat him up! He came back to get surgery to fix his broken nose! He has five stitches on his lip and a black eye, too! I felt so bad for him. Hal made supper for him that night and he was feeling better. And I thought getting sick in Paris was bad…
On Tuesday, Hal and I went for a long walk around Battersea Park and Chelsea. We saw an old hospital building that looked more like a palace. There were a bunch of elementary school girls playing field hockey on the front lawn in skirts and polo shirts. They were so cute. We crossed the Thames to Battersea Park and walked around there for a bit before heading back home. Julie and Laurel came up to the flat later and we discussed plans for Hastings. Like I said, pretty exciting day.
Wednesday, I got up early and went to the Serpentine Gallery in Hyde Park to see a show by an artist I studied in art history last year. It was free and pretty interesting. After that, I thought it would be fun to head over to Oxford Street because the weather was nice… what a bad idea that was. Oxford Street is the shopping heart of London. For me and other cheap college students, anyway. Three H&Ms in a fifteen block stretch = death to my bank account. My favorite British stores are all there in multiples, too. Luckily, my feet hurt after the trek across Hyde Park so I had to quit before I did too much damage. God, I love Oxford Street.
That night, the four of us girls went to see a movie at the BFI in Southwark. It is this cool film centre that has workshops, film festivals, and tons of movie showings. We watched Brightstar in this tiny theatre with a max capacity of like 25 people. It was great. But the movie was so, so sad. Halfway through I was already bawling and the tears didn’t stop until we got on the tube afterward. Seriously, I was crushed. It was so sad and I felt like such a sap. But I loved it. I needed a good cry. After, Hal made crepes – because we didn’t get enough in Paris, apparently – and then I packed for Hastings.
On Thursday morning we got on the train for Hastings around noon. I love riding in trains, have I mentioned that? Just love it. You have so much room, and there are really big windows and a bathroom! We got to Hastings around two and walked toward the beach to find our bed and breakfast, the Lindum. At around eight, we all decided that we wanted to go to a pub for a Strongbow. And conveniently, there was a pub almost right below our B&B! That is one thing you can depend on in the Uk – at least one pub every block. We met a group of college students from here and they asked us to join them on this bar crawl. We said heck yes, even though we were all pretty tired. But it was really fun anyway. We went to five bars, but all were within ten feet of each other. Hastings is huge.
And now I’m finished with my coffee and might go take a nap. Oh, the difficult life of a college student studying abroad. I’ll be back soon now that I found free wi-fi! Have a good weekend!
Love,
Kelly
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Birds, Busts, and Beauty: Paris Days 3,4,5
March 3, 2010
We slept in a bit on Saturday. None of us could find the strength to get back on our arching feet until about 10… but we eventually got going, had some breakfast, and headed out for more adventures in Paris. The day started off with nice weather, a smelly metro ride, and a trip to Crepe Alley. We nicknamed it that after finding at least a dozen stands that make the delicious desserts right in front of your eyes along the two-block walk. We separated for a bit, so we could each find exactly what we wanted to eat, and decided to meet up in front of the Notre Dame. I wasn’t very hungry so I stopped in a huge souvenir shop and bought a bunch of postcards. If I ever get around to mailing all them it will be a miracle. After picking the best postcards, I headed for the Notre Dame to wait for the girls.
And I just sat there, enjoying the view and relishing in the fact that I was, in fact, in Paris. So surreal. I didn’t get much time to daydream before Hal joined on the bench in front of the huge, molding Viking statue. That thing is huge. And teal from decaying or something. Really menacing Viking king in florescent blue… Anyway, Hal soon joined me in my disbelief. You think of going to these great places all your life, you’ve seen it a million times on TV, and read about its greatness, but once you’re actually here, you’re not sure what to think. It never really sinks in.
Anyway, we were soon attacked by a flock of pigeons. Seriously, they were out to get us and there were about two-hundred storming the Viking statue. They were crazy! They swarm so close to your head and all fly in unison like a big brigade of fighter planes. I was terrified! I got up and out of there before I got attacked. Or pooped on. I was not having any of that! I nearly ran off the square and across the river. Seriously, the pigeons here are fearless.
After a near death by bird attack, Hal laughed at my pathetic attempt to run away for about half-hour. Not funny. We waited for Laurel and Julie for a bit longer, but then decided that they got caught up somewhere (the bookstore), and headed across town to the museum without them. We’d decided to go to the museum at three, so we figured they would just meet us there.
Oh Musee d’Orsay, I still can’t pronounce your name, but I love you regardless. Seriously, best part of the trip after the arc du triomphe (coming later tonight) was our trip to the Musee d’Orsay. I saw so much art that I’d studied for hours in class. My favorite? The Rodin and Claudel terrace… two of my favorite sculptors! Ah, I almost cried. Not really, but I was happy. We ended our assault on the musee at six and were once again, dog tired. Laurel wasn’t feeling very well, so headed back north to Monmarte to regroup. Hal, Julie, and I headed back to the restaurant with the awesome French Onion soup. This time I got a huge salad that was sooooo good. Seriously, French food…don’t underestimate it. These people know how to cook!
After buying a pack of gummy bears at the grocery store that I was craving, we got back on the Metro and headed out to the Arc du Triomphe at around eight. It was pouring rain and super windy, but we didn’t care. We were getting to the top of that arc no matter what. We paid our five euros and began the climb. 284 steps… I just laughed when the guy warned us about the climb. Pshh, I can do that easily! God, I was so freaking tired at the top. Those stairs never ended! Where’s my inhaler?!??! But the climb was so worth the exertion. My God, the views were amazing. The best part of Paris… the Arc du Triomphe at night. Just beautiful. Despite being soaked to the bone and shivering from the wind. It was awesome! We got up there just in time to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle again. So special… this is one of the moments I will remember forever. The Arc is surrounded by a twelve-lane roundabout… Yes, 12 lanes. It is crazy. There is one car crash every hour, on average. There are no lanes or signs. It is just a free-for-all. We stayed and enjoyed the views of lit up, sparkling Paris for as long as we could.
After a busy Saturday, we headed home for a good sleep. There was a bar crawl sponsored by the hostel we were staying at, but we weren’t interested in the least. I think I would have died of exhaustion at the first stop. I was so tired again!
And here comes the part where I got chewed up and spit out… not really, but the second half of my Parisian journey was rather unfortunate compared to the beginning. On Sunday, we woke up to gale-force winds whipping through the narrow alleys of Monmarte. Seriously, I was a bit scared when trash bins started flying through the air and awnings thrashed violently in the air. Tornado! Not really, but we headed down for breakfast, nonetheless. I ate a baguette and an apple.
We metro-ed to the area around the Louvre for the day. We stopped at a café until the weather calmed down. The weatherman promised it was going to get better so we waited it out in some charming café. Julie and Laurel ordered coffee and more food, but I just wasn’t feeling right. And after about a half-hour I knew something just wasn’t right. I decided to go back to the hostel for a bit, while Laurel, Hal, and Julie went to see if they could eat lunch in the Eiffel Tower. And there, in my bunk bed, I spent the rest of that miserable day. I think I got sick from the apple, but I’m not sure. So crappy. I wasted a whole day in Paris! But I’ve been pretty lucky. This is the first time I’ve gotten sick from any foreign food or anything. What a long day and night. I slept for 17 hours and felt much better in the morning.
Oh, I forgot. Just before I got sick, Hal and I toured the Notre Dame. Ah-maz-ing. Took my breath away. They were waving that crazy ball that emits fumes and really bad smells at the beginning of mass and I coughed for a bit. They let us walk around the outer part of the church as mass was going on! I found that a bit odd. But the cathedral was great.
And as I lay on my stiff mattress, I realized that I really missed London. I missed home! Maybe it is just because all of stuff is there and I have my own little space atop my bunk in our little room, but it really felt like home. I don’t know how I’m going to leave. I wished everyone I loved lived here so I could have the best of both places!
Before I knew it, our time in Paris was over. We packed up on Monday morning and headed for the train station around 10:30. Hal and I had a bit of difficulty finding our terminal, but before long, we were on our train home. One last battle of confusion and misunderstanding with the French language to send us off. Why not?
We just laughed on our way home. We had such a great time. We have so many new stories and learned so much. Big thing, I’ve found a new appreciation for family vacations. I just get to sit back and relax, letting the adults and Amy figure everything out for me. I don’t have to worry about a thing! I get to joke around and make fun of Judy! Sorry, Mom.
Bonus! I experienced what it was like traveling under the Channel! It was black outside the window and we were still in our seats. No crazy tricks, no zero-gravity, or windows out to the ocean floor. Pretty dull, but pretty cool. I enjoyed it!
So that was Paris… South coast of England is coming soon! We leave on Thursday for a relaxing weekend of beach, bike-riding, and bed and breakfasts! I’m so excited. Be back soon!
Love,
Kelly
PS – there are a ton of new pictures on Facebook!
We slept in a bit on Saturday. None of us could find the strength to get back on our arching feet until about 10… but we eventually got going, had some breakfast, and headed out for more adventures in Paris. The day started off with nice weather, a smelly metro ride, and a trip to Crepe Alley. We nicknamed it that after finding at least a dozen stands that make the delicious desserts right in front of your eyes along the two-block walk. We separated for a bit, so we could each find exactly what we wanted to eat, and decided to meet up in front of the Notre Dame. I wasn’t very hungry so I stopped in a huge souvenir shop and bought a bunch of postcards. If I ever get around to mailing all them it will be a miracle. After picking the best postcards, I headed for the Notre Dame to wait for the girls.
And I just sat there, enjoying the view and relishing in the fact that I was, in fact, in Paris. So surreal. I didn’t get much time to daydream before Hal joined on the bench in front of the huge, molding Viking statue. That thing is huge. And teal from decaying or something. Really menacing Viking king in florescent blue… Anyway, Hal soon joined me in my disbelief. You think of going to these great places all your life, you’ve seen it a million times on TV, and read about its greatness, but once you’re actually here, you’re not sure what to think. It never really sinks in.
Anyway, we were soon attacked by a flock of pigeons. Seriously, they were out to get us and there were about two-hundred storming the Viking statue. They were crazy! They swarm so close to your head and all fly in unison like a big brigade of fighter planes. I was terrified! I got up and out of there before I got attacked. Or pooped on. I was not having any of that! I nearly ran off the square and across the river. Seriously, the pigeons here are fearless.
After a near death by bird attack, Hal laughed at my pathetic attempt to run away for about half-hour. Not funny. We waited for Laurel and Julie for a bit longer, but then decided that they got caught up somewhere (the bookstore), and headed across town to the museum without them. We’d decided to go to the museum at three, so we figured they would just meet us there.
Oh Musee d’Orsay, I still can’t pronounce your name, but I love you regardless. Seriously, best part of the trip after the arc du triomphe (coming later tonight) was our trip to the Musee d’Orsay. I saw so much art that I’d studied for hours in class. My favorite? The Rodin and Claudel terrace… two of my favorite sculptors! Ah, I almost cried. Not really, but I was happy. We ended our assault on the musee at six and were once again, dog tired. Laurel wasn’t feeling very well, so headed back north to Monmarte to regroup. Hal, Julie, and I headed back to the restaurant with the awesome French Onion soup. This time I got a huge salad that was sooooo good. Seriously, French food…don’t underestimate it. These people know how to cook!
After buying a pack of gummy bears at the grocery store that I was craving, we got back on the Metro and headed out to the Arc du Triomphe at around eight. It was pouring rain and super windy, but we didn’t care. We were getting to the top of that arc no matter what. We paid our five euros and began the climb. 284 steps… I just laughed when the guy warned us about the climb. Pshh, I can do that easily! God, I was so freaking tired at the top. Those stairs never ended! Where’s my inhaler?!??! But the climb was so worth the exertion. My God, the views were amazing. The best part of Paris… the Arc du Triomphe at night. Just beautiful. Despite being soaked to the bone and shivering from the wind. It was awesome! We got up there just in time to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle again. So special… this is one of the moments I will remember forever. The Arc is surrounded by a twelve-lane roundabout… Yes, 12 lanes. It is crazy. There is one car crash every hour, on average. There are no lanes or signs. It is just a free-for-all. We stayed and enjoyed the views of lit up, sparkling Paris for as long as we could.
After a busy Saturday, we headed home for a good sleep. There was a bar crawl sponsored by the hostel we were staying at, but we weren’t interested in the least. I think I would have died of exhaustion at the first stop. I was so tired again!
And here comes the part where I got chewed up and spit out… not really, but the second half of my Parisian journey was rather unfortunate compared to the beginning. On Sunday, we woke up to gale-force winds whipping through the narrow alleys of Monmarte. Seriously, I was a bit scared when trash bins started flying through the air and awnings thrashed violently in the air. Tornado! Not really, but we headed down for breakfast, nonetheless. I ate a baguette and an apple.
We metro-ed to the area around the Louvre for the day. We stopped at a café until the weather calmed down. The weatherman promised it was going to get better so we waited it out in some charming café. Julie and Laurel ordered coffee and more food, but I just wasn’t feeling right. And after about a half-hour I knew something just wasn’t right. I decided to go back to the hostel for a bit, while Laurel, Hal, and Julie went to see if they could eat lunch in the Eiffel Tower. And there, in my bunk bed, I spent the rest of that miserable day. I think I got sick from the apple, but I’m not sure. So crappy. I wasted a whole day in Paris! But I’ve been pretty lucky. This is the first time I’ve gotten sick from any foreign food or anything. What a long day and night. I slept for 17 hours and felt much better in the morning.
Oh, I forgot. Just before I got sick, Hal and I toured the Notre Dame. Ah-maz-ing. Took my breath away. They were waving that crazy ball that emits fumes and really bad smells at the beginning of mass and I coughed for a bit. They let us walk around the outer part of the church as mass was going on! I found that a bit odd. But the cathedral was great.
And as I lay on my stiff mattress, I realized that I really missed London. I missed home! Maybe it is just because all of stuff is there and I have my own little space atop my bunk in our little room, but it really felt like home. I don’t know how I’m going to leave. I wished everyone I loved lived here so I could have the best of both places!
Before I knew it, our time in Paris was over. We packed up on Monday morning and headed for the train station around 10:30. Hal and I had a bit of difficulty finding our terminal, but before long, we were on our train home. One last battle of confusion and misunderstanding with the French language to send us off. Why not?
We just laughed on our way home. We had such a great time. We have so many new stories and learned so much. Big thing, I’ve found a new appreciation for family vacations. I just get to sit back and relax, letting the adults and Amy figure everything out for me. I don’t have to worry about a thing! I get to joke around and make fun of Judy! Sorry, Mom.
Bonus! I experienced what it was like traveling under the Channel! It was black outside the window and we were still in our seats. No crazy tricks, no zero-gravity, or windows out to the ocean floor. Pretty dull, but pretty cool. I enjoyed it!
So that was Paris… South coast of England is coming soon! We leave on Thursday for a relaxing weekend of beach, bike-riding, and bed and breakfasts! I’m so excited. Be back soon!
Love,
Kelly
PS – there are a ton of new pictures on Facebook!
Quasimodo, Cafes and Crying: Paris Day Two
March 2, 2010
On Friday, we woke early to sunny and smelly Paris. Unfortunately, the city of love has to put out its garbage sometimes and Monmarte does not always smell good. But, we endured the stench, dressed and went down to the hostel common room for continental breakfast, which consists of croissants, juice, and coffee. Enough to keep me happy in the morning.
At around 10, we headed for the nearest underground station to buy a metro pass for that week. And we weren’t exactly prepared for what the Paris metro had to offer. Turns out, we were a bit spoiled by the simplicity, dependability, and cleanliness of the Tube. The Metro was disgusting, but exhilarating. The cars had these huge windows and funky seats. It went really fast and you could see everything going on around you. On the tube, it feels like you are in this giant, well, tube and there isn’t much to see but disgruntled Britons and the latest fashion trends on some of the subway’s more eclectic riders. After a good hand washing in the bathroom and a few squirts of hand sanitizer, I emerged from the metro in St. Michael’s Place with a smile.
We met our tour guide at St. Michael’s Place, right off the Seine. This tour company doesn’t charge for their tours, they work off commission. Pretty sweet if you ask me! We each paid 5 euros at the end and had a great time! But before we even got started we had to take a stupid picture for the companies website and introduce ourselves to everyone. To start off, we headed toward Notre Dame, but first passed by Shakespeare and Company. The actual building founded by Shakespeare still stands today, as a bookstore with an inn above. Hemingway even stayed there during his time in Paris and wrote about it in a book, I think. Next, was the Notre Dame! We learned quite a bit about its history, Quasimodo (the hunchback), and a huge statue of a Viking out front. France has so much history, I couldn’t even remember it all. It was quite interesting when our tour guide, Kayla, made it into a play on the steps of the Notre Dame. She was great.
Next, our tour guide took us along the Seine River, Paris’s main waterway. We found the place where Hitler took up camp while occupying France. The building still had holes and dents from bullets during the fighting. Just as we walked toward this building the weather took a turn for the worse. It started pouring rain when it had been sunny and clear skies just minutes before. Seriously chilling. But the weather proved to be a steady enemy on this entire tour. One minute I might get a burn from the intense sunshine (my lips got burned) and the next I was soaked from the tsunami rain! What the heck France?
Anyway, right across from Hitler we found the space invader… some guy walked all around France, and other large cities, painting or tiling these space invaders onto the side of buildings. He is anonymous. But he has a website. Space-Invaders.com. Check it out. If you mark all the space invader locations on a map, they make one big space invader! AHH!
After the space invaders, we found the exact place where Carrie found Big in the last episode of Sex and the City. Then, we walked toward the Louvre. Once again, the weather turned nice and our trip across the Seine was just beautiful. Inside the Louvre courtyard they were setting up for Paris Fashion Week. What is with all these Fashion Weeks!?! We walked through a grand arch and found ourselves standing before this giant glass pyramid. This is the Louvre I know! Or the one I’ve seen in pictures and on TV, anyway. The pyramid was so grand and impressive in person. Blew me away.
By this time, I was tired, a bit crabby, and hungry. We all broke for a bit of a lunch break. Once again, we struggled against the French-language while ordering our food. My double-espresso and ham sandwich perked me right up though. I was ready for another go with Paris. Back on the streets, we ran into a film set. They were actually filming a movie right on the street! We all freaked out for a bit, thinking it was The Tourist with Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp, but I don’t think it was. We went back for a bit more of this later…
Next, we walked out in front of the Louvre in the Tuileries Gardens. These beautiful gardens filled with statues, ponds, and sculpted trees, connect the Lourve to the axis of Paris. The axis runs all the way from the Arc du Triomphe to the Louvre, a few kilometers. This huge walkway and street houses loads of shopping, classical buildings with columns, gardens, and tourist attractions.
After a bit of a walk up the axis, we found the 3000-year-old Egyptian Obelisk, given to the French government as a gift, and our first view of the Eiffel Tower. In the middle of February Paris seems kind of bleak and brown. I can just imagine the beauty of this city in the spring and summer. The bare trees around the Eiffel Tower made me kind of sad. It just didn’t seem right. Paris is supposed to be magical, but we got melancholy. Well, I’m simply going to have to come back again before I leave. What a shame!
A full day of walking and it was just barely the afternoon. We sat down for a bit to catch our breath after the tour. We planted ourselves on benches before the Eiffel Tower and just stared in amazement before deciding that we had to go to the top. But unfortunately, the top was closed due to strong winds. It was windy, but not that windy! We were a bit disappointed. Fortunately, a nearby café cheered us up quite nicely. We sat around, warmed up, and planned our attack on the Louvre for that night.
Just before heading into the Louvre, we hit up the movie set again. We watched them film a few scenes before going on our way. I might be an extra in a movie… to bad I don’t know what they were even filming! But that activity didn’t hold our attention for long because the Louvre waited. Thousands upon thousands of paintings, sculptures, and other art for my greedy eyes… Heaven! Not so much… after eight hours walking over the cobblestone of Paris I was a bit worn out, but I couldn’t be deterred. This was the most famous museum in the world and it was youth night. We got in for free! It turned out to be four hours of pure awesomeness. I saw so much, don’t remember most of it, but I enjoyed it while I was there. Soar feet and all.
At times, the building itself was enough to amaze me, let alone the wonderful art it held. One of my favorite parts was Napoleon III”s apartments located in the north wing of the building. So many chandeliers and gilded furnishings, and extravagant wall hangings. So gaudy and ridiculous. But awesome. My eyes hurt from all the lighting and shining gold.
So, before we knew it, 10 o’clock rolled around the Louvre shut down the night. Hal, Julie, Laurel, and I found ourselves at the head of the Tuileries Gardens watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle, which it does for two minutes every hour, on the hour after dusk. We were all so tired. Hal took a video of the sparkling and we all sound a bit crazy in the background. Julie is crying for a can of coke. Laurel is crying because she stepped in a puddle. And I’m crying for no reason. Fortunately, we found the metro and our hostel shortly after that. A hard, hostel mattress never felt to good.
Even more Paris awaits!
Love,
Kelly
On Friday, we woke early to sunny and smelly Paris. Unfortunately, the city of love has to put out its garbage sometimes and Monmarte does not always smell good. But, we endured the stench, dressed and went down to the hostel common room for continental breakfast, which consists of croissants, juice, and coffee. Enough to keep me happy in the morning.
At around 10, we headed for the nearest underground station to buy a metro pass for that week. And we weren’t exactly prepared for what the Paris metro had to offer. Turns out, we were a bit spoiled by the simplicity, dependability, and cleanliness of the Tube. The Metro was disgusting, but exhilarating. The cars had these huge windows and funky seats. It went really fast and you could see everything going on around you. On the tube, it feels like you are in this giant, well, tube and there isn’t much to see but disgruntled Britons and the latest fashion trends on some of the subway’s more eclectic riders. After a good hand washing in the bathroom and a few squirts of hand sanitizer, I emerged from the metro in St. Michael’s Place with a smile.
We met our tour guide at St. Michael’s Place, right off the Seine. This tour company doesn’t charge for their tours, they work off commission. Pretty sweet if you ask me! We each paid 5 euros at the end and had a great time! But before we even got started we had to take a stupid picture for the companies website and introduce ourselves to everyone. To start off, we headed toward Notre Dame, but first passed by Shakespeare and Company. The actual building founded by Shakespeare still stands today, as a bookstore with an inn above. Hemingway even stayed there during his time in Paris and wrote about it in a book, I think. Next, was the Notre Dame! We learned quite a bit about its history, Quasimodo (the hunchback), and a huge statue of a Viking out front. France has so much history, I couldn’t even remember it all. It was quite interesting when our tour guide, Kayla, made it into a play on the steps of the Notre Dame. She was great.
Next, our tour guide took us along the Seine River, Paris’s main waterway. We found the place where Hitler took up camp while occupying France. The building still had holes and dents from bullets during the fighting. Just as we walked toward this building the weather took a turn for the worse. It started pouring rain when it had been sunny and clear skies just minutes before. Seriously chilling. But the weather proved to be a steady enemy on this entire tour. One minute I might get a burn from the intense sunshine (my lips got burned) and the next I was soaked from the tsunami rain! What the heck France?
Anyway, right across from Hitler we found the space invader… some guy walked all around France, and other large cities, painting or tiling these space invaders onto the side of buildings. He is anonymous. But he has a website. Space-Invaders.com. Check it out. If you mark all the space invader locations on a map, they make one big space invader! AHH!
After the space invaders, we found the exact place where Carrie found Big in the last episode of Sex and the City. Then, we walked toward the Louvre. Once again, the weather turned nice and our trip across the Seine was just beautiful. Inside the Louvre courtyard they were setting up for Paris Fashion Week. What is with all these Fashion Weeks!?! We walked through a grand arch and found ourselves standing before this giant glass pyramid. This is the Louvre I know! Or the one I’ve seen in pictures and on TV, anyway. The pyramid was so grand and impressive in person. Blew me away.
By this time, I was tired, a bit crabby, and hungry. We all broke for a bit of a lunch break. Once again, we struggled against the French-language while ordering our food. My double-espresso and ham sandwich perked me right up though. I was ready for another go with Paris. Back on the streets, we ran into a film set. They were actually filming a movie right on the street! We all freaked out for a bit, thinking it was The Tourist with Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp, but I don’t think it was. We went back for a bit more of this later…
Next, we walked out in front of the Louvre in the Tuileries Gardens. These beautiful gardens filled with statues, ponds, and sculpted trees, connect the Lourve to the axis of Paris. The axis runs all the way from the Arc du Triomphe to the Louvre, a few kilometers. This huge walkway and street houses loads of shopping, classical buildings with columns, gardens, and tourist attractions.
After a bit of a walk up the axis, we found the 3000-year-old Egyptian Obelisk, given to the French government as a gift, and our first view of the Eiffel Tower. In the middle of February Paris seems kind of bleak and brown. I can just imagine the beauty of this city in the spring and summer. The bare trees around the Eiffel Tower made me kind of sad. It just didn’t seem right. Paris is supposed to be magical, but we got melancholy. Well, I’m simply going to have to come back again before I leave. What a shame!
A full day of walking and it was just barely the afternoon. We sat down for a bit to catch our breath after the tour. We planted ourselves on benches before the Eiffel Tower and just stared in amazement before deciding that we had to go to the top. But unfortunately, the top was closed due to strong winds. It was windy, but not that windy! We were a bit disappointed. Fortunately, a nearby café cheered us up quite nicely. We sat around, warmed up, and planned our attack on the Louvre for that night.
Just before heading into the Louvre, we hit up the movie set again. We watched them film a few scenes before going on our way. I might be an extra in a movie… to bad I don’t know what they were even filming! But that activity didn’t hold our attention for long because the Louvre waited. Thousands upon thousands of paintings, sculptures, and other art for my greedy eyes… Heaven! Not so much… after eight hours walking over the cobblestone of Paris I was a bit worn out, but I couldn’t be deterred. This was the most famous museum in the world and it was youth night. We got in for free! It turned out to be four hours of pure awesomeness. I saw so much, don’t remember most of it, but I enjoyed it while I was there. Soar feet and all.
At times, the building itself was enough to amaze me, let alone the wonderful art it held. One of my favorite parts was Napoleon III”s apartments located in the north wing of the building. So many chandeliers and gilded furnishings, and extravagant wall hangings. So gaudy and ridiculous. But awesome. My eyes hurt from all the lighting and shining gold.
So, before we knew it, 10 o’clock rolled around the Louvre shut down the night. Hal, Julie, Laurel, and I found ourselves at the head of the Tuileries Gardens watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle, which it does for two minutes every hour, on the hour after dusk. We were all so tired. Hal took a video of the sparkling and we all sound a bit crazy in the background. Julie is crying for a can of coke. Laurel is crying because she stepped in a puddle. And I’m crying for no reason. Fortunately, we found the metro and our hostel shortly after that. A hard, hostel mattress never felt to good.
Even more Paris awaits!
Love,
Kelly
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Beheadings and Heading South: Paris Day One
March 2, 2010
Paris, Paris, Paris… chewed me up and spit me out. But I had a great time! Like my last excursion out of the UK, I learned a lot, took way to many pictures, and had so much fun. Not everything went right, but those were probably the most memorable times. I’ll start from the beginning because there is no way I could completely summarize this crazy weekend in a sentence or two. Highs and lows, laughs and near tears, surprises and disappointments. We experienced it all in the city of lights (and bad smells, and rude French people, and crepes, yummy yummy crepes).
So Thursday… It seems so long ago now, but we visited the Tower of London for history class before we left for Paris. And the Tower of London was awesome. I loved it! We got up way too early (7:00AM, gasp!) to meet John, our professor, at the tower at nine. What a beautiful day it was. Sunny days in London are so rare, I’ll never devalue blue sky and sun again. John led our group of about 25 around the grounds before going into the tower. We found the place where beheadings were popular during the Tudor period. But only if you were popular enough to draw a large crowd (think dukes, bishops, and big time criminals) could you be executed out here. All those other petty thieves were given a less ceremonious execution at the corner of Hyde Park. Apparently, you had to tip the executioner or else he might not give it his best swing the first time – maybe miss by an inch or not go all the way through – and he’d have to swing a few times before the job was done properly. Sorry, that is really disturbing, but I thought it was quite entertaining when John told us some stories of beheadings gone wrong.
Moving on…we entered the Tower through traitor’s gate! If you passed through this gate, which connects the tower directly to the Thames, it meant you were on your way to a swift execution. After your parade down the Thames, they went straight to business and then put your head on a spike on Tower Bridge. Today, the gate is separated from the Thames by an embankment you can walk down, along the river. What used to be a great place of punishment, death, and torture is now a tourist attraction and a place for leisurely walks by the river!
Tower of London has 21 towers in all... we toured about seven I think. First, we hit up a tower that housed serious prisoners (they believed in the wrong religion or something). There was all kinds of graffiti on the wall a.k.a. engravings denouncing the government or something radical. These people must have been locked up for a long, long time because these engravings were intensely detailed. Works of art! After that tour, we wondered into the courtyard and met at another popular spot for beheadings. This one for famous people that might draw too large of a crowd and entice a riot (!). Think Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. Henry VIII loved beheadings.
Next, we found the crown jewels. They were impressive, shiny, and nice. Glittering crowns, a scepter with a huge diamond, and robes lined in gold. You know, the stuff I wear everyday. Outside the tower that held the crown jewels there were kids marching along beside a guard dressed in red. They were so cute! Every time the guard would halt and turn, the kids would scramble to keep up with him. I couldn’t have kept a straight face if I was that guy.
And that pretty much sums up my favorite parts of the Tower of London. After class ended, we scrambled onto the Tube to get all of our last minute stuff done at home before we left for France. I rushed to finish my theatre paper because I left it for the last minute, of course. Then, I ran to exchange my pounds for euros before jumping back on the tube headed for the train station.
St. Pancreas train station (yes, like the body organ) was so different from any airport... I had a minor freak out when we went through security because I didn’t have all of liquids in a plastic bag. They didn’t care at all. They barely checked by bag as it went through the x-ray machine. That both relieved me and scared me a bit. Anyone could pass anything through that lax test! I’m going to be in a tunnel under a huge body of water! That is almost as bad as 30,000 feet in the air! No, I didn’t really freak out that much. I was just happy to pass through customs once again with no hassle. Another stamp in my passport! That thing is filling up… three whole pages!
The train ride to France was so relaxing and fun. We actually had some leg room and could lean our seat back… ahh the luxuries of rail travel. I got so comfortable that I fell asleep and totally missed the part where we went underneath the tunnel! What the heck?!?! Anyway, before I knew it, we were in France, sailing through the countryside. And two hours after we left London, we arrived in Paris at Gare du Nord station. Which, conveniently, was located only a few blocks from our hostel.
I had I minor freak out when we got off the train. Everyone spoke French! Of course, I knew about this, but it hadn’t really hit me until I couldn’t understand anything that was going on around me. I was lost and overwhelmed for a minutes, until Hallie saved me. She took a few semesters of French and knew the basics. She taught me “Help, I’m lost”, “Thank you”, “Do you speak English?” and “I love you”. That’s all I need to know, right? The shock of not being able to understand the most basic signs and sayings never really wore off, but I got used to being in a constant state of “Huh?”.
As we made our way to our hostel, Julie, Laurel, Hal, and I took in the city for the first time. We were staying in the part of Paris called Monmarte. I didn’t know much about it until our tour the next day, but apparently it is quite the trendy, young area. Lots of Parisian charm and cafes! And our hostel was right in the heart of Monmarte. We found our little room in the second floor and settled in. After about five minutes, we realized we were starving and headed out into to the great, French-speaking unknown to find some supper. The receptionist at the hostel recommended a good restaurant and we went straight there. I had the best French Onion soup I’ve ever had in my life. In fact, I think it was the first bowl French Onion I’ve ever had. And I didn’t even know that I ordered it because the entire menu was in French. So. Over. My head. But so goooood. French food quickly found a place in my heart.
After our delicious dinner, we headed back to Le Village Hostel to plan our weekend. And we were pretty tired so we slept a bit too! More of Paris tomorrow!
Love,
Kelly
Paris, Paris, Paris… chewed me up and spit me out. But I had a great time! Like my last excursion out of the UK, I learned a lot, took way to many pictures, and had so much fun. Not everything went right, but those were probably the most memorable times. I’ll start from the beginning because there is no way I could completely summarize this crazy weekend in a sentence or two. Highs and lows, laughs and near tears, surprises and disappointments. We experienced it all in the city of lights (and bad smells, and rude French people, and crepes, yummy yummy crepes).
So Thursday… It seems so long ago now, but we visited the Tower of London for history class before we left for Paris. And the Tower of London was awesome. I loved it! We got up way too early (7:00AM, gasp!) to meet John, our professor, at the tower at nine. What a beautiful day it was. Sunny days in London are so rare, I’ll never devalue blue sky and sun again. John led our group of about 25 around the grounds before going into the tower. We found the place where beheadings were popular during the Tudor period. But only if you were popular enough to draw a large crowd (think dukes, bishops, and big time criminals) could you be executed out here. All those other petty thieves were given a less ceremonious execution at the corner of Hyde Park. Apparently, you had to tip the executioner or else he might not give it his best swing the first time – maybe miss by an inch or not go all the way through – and he’d have to swing a few times before the job was done properly. Sorry, that is really disturbing, but I thought it was quite entertaining when John told us some stories of beheadings gone wrong.
Moving on…we entered the Tower through traitor’s gate! If you passed through this gate, which connects the tower directly to the Thames, it meant you were on your way to a swift execution. After your parade down the Thames, they went straight to business and then put your head on a spike on Tower Bridge. Today, the gate is separated from the Thames by an embankment you can walk down, along the river. What used to be a great place of punishment, death, and torture is now a tourist attraction and a place for leisurely walks by the river!
Tower of London has 21 towers in all... we toured about seven I think. First, we hit up a tower that housed serious prisoners (they believed in the wrong religion or something). There was all kinds of graffiti on the wall a.k.a. engravings denouncing the government or something radical. These people must have been locked up for a long, long time because these engravings were intensely detailed. Works of art! After that tour, we wondered into the courtyard and met at another popular spot for beheadings. This one for famous people that might draw too large of a crowd and entice a riot (!). Think Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. Henry VIII loved beheadings.
Next, we found the crown jewels. They were impressive, shiny, and nice. Glittering crowns, a scepter with a huge diamond, and robes lined in gold. You know, the stuff I wear everyday. Outside the tower that held the crown jewels there were kids marching along beside a guard dressed in red. They were so cute! Every time the guard would halt and turn, the kids would scramble to keep up with him. I couldn’t have kept a straight face if I was that guy.
And that pretty much sums up my favorite parts of the Tower of London. After class ended, we scrambled onto the Tube to get all of our last minute stuff done at home before we left for France. I rushed to finish my theatre paper because I left it for the last minute, of course. Then, I ran to exchange my pounds for euros before jumping back on the tube headed for the train station.
St. Pancreas train station (yes, like the body organ) was so different from any airport... I had a minor freak out when we went through security because I didn’t have all of liquids in a plastic bag. They didn’t care at all. They barely checked by bag as it went through the x-ray machine. That both relieved me and scared me a bit. Anyone could pass anything through that lax test! I’m going to be in a tunnel under a huge body of water! That is almost as bad as 30,000 feet in the air! No, I didn’t really freak out that much. I was just happy to pass through customs once again with no hassle. Another stamp in my passport! That thing is filling up… three whole pages!
The train ride to France was so relaxing and fun. We actually had some leg room and could lean our seat back… ahh the luxuries of rail travel. I got so comfortable that I fell asleep and totally missed the part where we went underneath the tunnel! What the heck?!?! Anyway, before I knew it, we were in France, sailing through the countryside. And two hours after we left London, we arrived in Paris at Gare du Nord station. Which, conveniently, was located only a few blocks from our hostel.
I had I minor freak out when we got off the train. Everyone spoke French! Of course, I knew about this, but it hadn’t really hit me until I couldn’t understand anything that was going on around me. I was lost and overwhelmed for a minutes, until Hallie saved me. She took a few semesters of French and knew the basics. She taught me “Help, I’m lost”, “Thank you”, “Do you speak English?” and “I love you”. That’s all I need to know, right? The shock of not being able to understand the most basic signs and sayings never really wore off, but I got used to being in a constant state of “Huh?”.
As we made our way to our hostel, Julie, Laurel, Hal, and I took in the city for the first time. We were staying in the part of Paris called Monmarte. I didn’t know much about it until our tour the next day, but apparently it is quite the trendy, young area. Lots of Parisian charm and cafes! And our hostel was right in the heart of Monmarte. We found our little room in the second floor and settled in. After about five minutes, we realized we were starving and headed out into to the great, French-speaking unknown to find some supper. The receptionist at the hostel recommended a good restaurant and we went straight there. I had the best French Onion soup I’ve ever had in my life. In fact, I think it was the first bowl French Onion I’ve ever had. And I didn’t even know that I ordered it because the entire menu was in French. So. Over. My head. But so goooood. French food quickly found a place in my heart.
After our delicious dinner, we headed back to Le Village Hostel to plan our weekend. And we were pretty tired so we slept a bit too! More of Paris tomorrow!
Love,
Kelly
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