The weekend before St. Patrick's day nearly the whole crowd headed off to Ireland for the weekend. Unfortunatly, I was not able to follow because I was sick. However, a weekend in London is not small consolation prize!
On Saturday, I managed to go ramble around the British Museum for a bit and I checked out the Lewis chessmen. Sounds lame, but they are really neat! The set was discovered as part of a hoard of treasures found in Scotland. The set is one of the oldest found! They are a pretty big deal and I had to wait for the crowd to move over so that I could have a look. While at the museum, another student in my program rang me and I went to go meet him and his girlfriend for a walk around Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. Starting at Buckingham Palace, I walked over to the park, around the Serpentine, and checked out the Peter Pan statue and the Prince Albert Memorial. After that, it was back to bed for me! The weather was great and it did feel pretty good to get out and walk around. I certainly slept well that night!
Sunday I was feeling a little better and had enought energy to make the journey over to Hampstead Heath, which is at the border of London. I walked around for hours! I kept going in the wrong direction and was pretty lost. It's not hard to get lost in the Heath. The place is unreal! When inside, it felt like I was in the middle of nowhere miles away, not even close to London. My main goal was to find Parliament Hill, also known as Kite Hill. Famour for its view of the city and kite flying, the hill is one of the key features of the park. Ironically, I couldn't find it for the longest time! It is this huge, famous hill and yet I almost had to give up my search. One would think that it should be easy to find! I guess that shows you just how big the Heath is. It was worth the search! I found a bench and just checked out the view for a bit before heading back into central London.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Stonehenge and Bath
On Friday 3 March our program took a group trip to Stonehenge and Bath! Because of a UNC alum, we were able to go inside the ropes. This meant we had to arrive at 8am, leaving our flats at 5:30!! It was worth it...
I have absolutely no idea what those rocks were used for, but it certainly does make you wonder. I goofed off with my classmates and took lots of pictures. It was nic to just walk around and take it all in and funny to hear what people thought the purpose of Stonehenge might be. Our guide was great; very enthusiastic and knowledgeale. His guesses were far less farfetched than some of ours. After about an hour, our time was up. I am very gratefuly for our UNC alum because I think that the experience of walking around the stones really made the experience special.
Back on the bus, we decided to head to Bath to round out our day. It was great that we had our own private bus and had the flexiblility to decide where to ask our guide to take us. It was just the ten of us plus our program leader and his wife. Our guide talked a lot about the history of the area and then set us free just outside the Roman Baths.
Bath is BEAUTIFUL. If you ever find yourself in England, definitely make the trip. I understand why so many people vacationed here back in the day and I kind of wish that I were one of them! We only had a short while to spend in town because of our goal return time to London. Me and a few others decided to tour the Roman Baths which took over an hour because there is so much to see and read about. Actually, I don't think I even read it all. I am excited to be returning with my Mom later on in the month to do some further exploring. After grabbing some seriously good fish and chips, it was back to London. All in all, a day well spent :)
I have absolutely no idea what those rocks were used for, but it certainly does make you wonder. I goofed off with my classmates and took lots of pictures. It was nic to just walk around and take it all in and funny to hear what people thought the purpose of Stonehenge might be. Our guide was great; very enthusiastic and knowledgeale. His guesses were far less farfetched than some of ours. After about an hour, our time was up. I am very gratefuly for our UNC alum because I think that the experience of walking around the stones really made the experience special.
Back on the bus, we decided to head to Bath to round out our day. It was great that we had our own private bus and had the flexiblility to decide where to ask our guide to take us. It was just the ten of us plus our program leader and his wife. Our guide talked a lot about the history of the area and then set us free just outside the Roman Baths.
Bath is BEAUTIFUL. If you ever find yourself in England, definitely make the trip. I understand why so many people vacationed here back in the day and I kind of wish that I were one of them! We only had a short while to spend in town because of our goal return time to London. Me and a few others decided to tour the Roman Baths which took over an hour because there is so much to see and read about. Actually, I don't think I even read it all. I am excited to be returning with my Mom later on in the month to do some further exploring. After grabbing some seriously good fish and chips, it was back to London. All in all, a day well spent :)
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Au Revoir! - Paris Day 4
On Monday, the weather was back to being perfect. It was like Paris wanted to make it as hard as possible for me to leave. I was up earlier than the rest because I wanted to use up as much of the day as I could. Molly felt the same way, so we made an early start.
For breakfeast I ate a croissant and sipped orangina while looking at the Eiffel Tower from a bench on Pont Neuf. Sounds like a fairy tale doesn't it? What a great start to the day!
The rest of the day was spent wandering. After walking along the banks of the Seine, I went back in to Notre Dame to see the windows with sunlight shining through them. Next up was the Marai neighborhood where I saw Sainte Chapelle and then wandered over to La Bastille and Victor Hugo's old house. We found the best patisserie of my LIFE. We got a snack there and then doubled back later for lunch! The lady there chuckled at us for coming back so soon bu I would bet that happens often. I will most certainly make it back there whenever I get back to Paris!
Next up I headed over to Montmarte to see Moulin Rouge and walk around the area. It's the red light districk, so I definitely felt out of place but it was cool to see such a different part of Paris.
Next (did I mention that it was a full day?!) I went and saw Monet's water lillies at L'Orangerie. Absolutely perfect! I think I would have stayed longer if I wasn't trying to get as much in that day as possible. After being wowed by Monet, it was time to shop. Now, shopping in Paris could be a full time job. It is unreal and I found myself wishing Ginna were there to take it all in with me. I went to Rue Honore where every designer you can think of has one (often 2) stores. I wandered through the area and ended up standing outside the president's house. I noticed that a crowd was gathered, there was extra security, and streets had been closed. The next thing I knew, President Sarkozy is waving to the crowd from his car. Not a bad note to leave Paris! I have a picture of him waving on my camera and Molly got a video. I couldn't believe my good timing...
Sadly, this is the end of my Paris adventure. I am already thinking about my next trip there....
For breakfeast I ate a croissant and sipped orangina while looking at the Eiffel Tower from a bench on Pont Neuf. Sounds like a fairy tale doesn't it? What a great start to the day!
The rest of the day was spent wandering. After walking along the banks of the Seine, I went back in to Notre Dame to see the windows with sunlight shining through them. Next up was the Marai neighborhood where I saw Sainte Chapelle and then wandered over to La Bastille and Victor Hugo's old house. We found the best patisserie of my LIFE. We got a snack there and then doubled back later for lunch! The lady there chuckled at us for coming back so soon bu I would bet that happens often. I will most certainly make it back there whenever I get back to Paris!
Next up I headed over to Montmarte to see Moulin Rouge and walk around the area. It's the red light districk, so I definitely felt out of place but it was cool to see such a different part of Paris.
Next (did I mention that it was a full day?!) I went and saw Monet's water lillies at L'Orangerie. Absolutely perfect! I think I would have stayed longer if I wasn't trying to get as much in that day as possible. After being wowed by Monet, it was time to shop. Now, shopping in Paris could be a full time job. It is unreal and I found myself wishing Ginna were there to take it all in with me. I went to Rue Honore where every designer you can think of has one (often 2) stores. I wandered through the area and ended up standing outside the president's house. I noticed that a crowd was gathered, there was extra security, and streets had been closed. The next thing I knew, President Sarkozy is waving to the crowd from his car. Not a bad note to leave Paris! I have a picture of him waving on my camera and Molly got a video. I couldn't believe my good timing...
Sadly, this is the end of my Paris adventure. I am already thinking about my next trip there....
Oh la la! - Paris Day 3
Sunday's weather was less than ideal. However, I made the most of it! Though we got off to a frustratingly late start, I managed to have another adventurous day! First, we went inside la cathedrale Notre Dame. Since it was a Sunday, I had the opportunity to walk around the cathedral while mass was being held. While the priests were praying and the organ was playing I got to walk around one of the most famous and beautiful churches in the world! Have I mentioned lately how lucky I feel? I have seen pictures of the stained glass in books, but seeing it in person took the words right out of my mouth.
After lunch, we got on a train to Versailles. What an overwhelming place! It's impossible to imagine that people actually lived there. The fact that I stood where Marie Antoinette once stood was a really difficult concept to grasp. My favorite part was most certainly the Hall of Mirrors. Glass is everywhere with chandeliers hanging every few feet and mirrors lining the left wall, reflecting the beautiful views of the gardens from the windows that line the right wall. THe hall was used for many important occasions, including royal weddings. Versailles is beautiful and I would love to return in the summer to wander through the gardens when it is warmer and greener.
Upon our return to the city, Molly and I got off the train at the Eiffel Tower to catch a boat tour down the Seine at night! All of the lights were beautiful ad the Seine offers a view of Paris that is hard to beat! I wish I had done that cruise every night. I am glad that the weather cooperated!
After lunch, we got on a train to Versailles. What an overwhelming place! It's impossible to imagine that people actually lived there. The fact that I stood where Marie Antoinette once stood was a really difficult concept to grasp. My favorite part was most certainly the Hall of Mirrors. Glass is everywhere with chandeliers hanging every few feet and mirrors lining the left wall, reflecting the beautiful views of the gardens from the windows that line the right wall. THe hall was used for many important occasions, including royal weddings. Versailles is beautiful and I would love to return in the summer to wander through the gardens when it is warmer and greener.
Upon our return to the city, Molly and I got off the train at the Eiffel Tower to catch a boat tour down the Seine at night! All of the lights were beautiful ad the Seine offers a view of Paris that is hard to beat! I wish I had done that cruise every night. I am glad that the weather cooperated!
J'adore Paris - Day 2
Saturday was an absolutely beautiful day! At 11:00, we went on a three hour walking tour. Sandeman's Tour was great...and free! Our guide, Jacq, was absolutely hilarious. Between her Aussie accent, crazy sense of humor, and the amazing sites we saw, time flew by! I could only tell how long I had been walking around by the soreness of my feet.
We walked from Fontaine St. Michel to Notre Dame, past the Palais Justice, along the Seine, under Pont Neuf, past the Academie Francaise, through the pyramids at le Louvre, down to Place de la Concorde, and through les Jardine Tulieres. Whew! I get tired just writing it all down. I learned a lot! One of my favorite tid bits is about Pont Neuf. Along the lingin of the bridge, there are many plaster heads making crazy faces. Henri IV had these faces made in the likeness of his courtiers after a particularly crazy party. He was so amused by the party that he ran out in the middle of the night to get artists to paint portraits recording the night. After laughing over the portraits, he commissioned sculptors to permanently display the crazy faces of his friends on the bridge. Jacq called it "the first-ever facebook."
After the tour ended, our crowd walked to the Eiffel Tower! We took the obligatory pictures and then walked around the park for a while. Then, as the sun started to set, up the tower we went! We climbed up halfway, stopping at levels 1 and 2 to take in the view. At halfway up, we got onto the lifts and scooted up to the very top! After taking another zillion pictures, I watched as the sun disappeared and the lights turned on. Paris is called the City of Lights and I can gather why! I didn't want to leave, but eventually it was pitch black and time to head down to find some dinner.
Though I had to tear myself away from the Eiffel Tower, dinner more than made up for it! Me and 10 others ventured out using my guide book to a tiny restaurant called Bistrot Le P'tit Trouquet. Because our group was so large, we had our own private room in the back! My friend and I shared each of our courses so I got a substantial taste of the menu. And yes, I ate les escargots and they were great! French cuisine is unreal...I will remember that night's dinner, and food in Paris in general, forever. It makes going back to London food all the more tragic. Though I have become uncommonly fond of fish and chips!
We walked from Fontaine St. Michel to Notre Dame, past the Palais Justice, along the Seine, under Pont Neuf, past the Academie Francaise, through the pyramids at le Louvre, down to Place de la Concorde, and through les Jardine Tulieres. Whew! I get tired just writing it all down. I learned a lot! One of my favorite tid bits is about Pont Neuf. Along the lingin of the bridge, there are many plaster heads making crazy faces. Henri IV had these faces made in the likeness of his courtiers after a particularly crazy party. He was so amused by the party that he ran out in the middle of the night to get artists to paint portraits recording the night. After laughing over the portraits, he commissioned sculptors to permanently display the crazy faces of his friends on the bridge. Jacq called it "the first-ever facebook."
After the tour ended, our crowd walked to the Eiffel Tower! We took the obligatory pictures and then walked around the park for a while. Then, as the sun started to set, up the tower we went! We climbed up halfway, stopping at levels 1 and 2 to take in the view. At halfway up, we got onto the lifts and scooted up to the very top! After taking another zillion pictures, I watched as the sun disappeared and the lights turned on. Paris is called the City of Lights and I can gather why! I didn't want to leave, but eventually it was pitch black and time to head down to find some dinner.
Though I had to tear myself away from the Eiffel Tower, dinner more than made up for it! Me and 10 others ventured out using my guide book to a tiny restaurant called Bistrot Le P'tit Trouquet. Because our group was so large, we had our own private room in the back! My friend and I shared each of our courses so I got a substantial taste of the menu. And yes, I ate les escargots and they were great! French cuisine is unreal...I will remember that night's dinner, and food in Paris in general, forever. It makes going back to London food all the more tragic. Though I have become uncommonly fond of fish and chips!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
La Vie en Rose - Paris day 1
On the morning of Friday the 26th of February, I saw Paris for the first time! After settling into our Hostel and grabbing a sandwich, it was on le metro and off to see some sites!! Our stop was at the Lovre and we walked from there all the way down through L'Arc de Triomphe Carousel, les Jardins Tulieries, La Place de la Concorde, les Champs-Elysees, and L'Arc de Triomphe! Yes, it is as long of a walk as it sounds, but totally worth the sore feet! I remember thinkng over and over again that I wished that I lived in Paris. I TRULY hope to spend much more time here throughout my life. The sooner the better (don't worry Mom and Dad, I will be coming home in April).
Once we reached l'Arc de Triomphe, some of us decidd to climb up to the top and take in the view of the city. Walky up, on, and around a hugely famous monument that was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte in the middle of Paris...I constantly feel that I must be the luckiest girl alive.
Next, it was all the way back up Champs-Elysee to go explore the Louvre. On Fridays after 18:30, it is free for people under 26 years old to enter until the museum closes at 22:00. The Louvre is such an overwhelming place! Before I even walked into the door I was intimidated. The building is bigger than a palace and the entrance is through the famous pyramids in the middle of the square (think Da Vinci code!). Inside, I walked through the Greek, Roman, and Etruscan sculptures and saw Venus de Milo! Next, I headed to the Italian painters and saw da Vinci's Mona Lisa. I've seen so much of what I have studied or read about that I can hardly believe it. So many people told me that I would be underwhelmed by the Mona Lisa, but I was astonished by it. After talking to Momi and trying to draw, I know how hard mouths are and da Vinci blew me away!
At 22:00 I was dead on my feet and headed back to the hostel where I slept like a rock and rested up for another long and adventurous day!
Once we reached l'Arc de Triomphe, some of us decidd to climb up to the top and take in the view of the city. Walky up, on, and around a hugely famous monument that was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte in the middle of Paris...I constantly feel that I must be the luckiest girl alive.
Next, it was all the way back up Champs-Elysee to go explore the Louvre. On Fridays after 18:30, it is free for people under 26 years old to enter until the museum closes at 22:00. The Louvre is such an overwhelming place! Before I even walked into the door I was intimidated. The building is bigger than a palace and the entrance is through the famous pyramids in the middle of the square (think Da Vinci code!). Inside, I walked through the Greek, Roman, and Etruscan sculptures and saw Venus de Milo! Next, I headed to the Italian painters and saw da Vinci's Mona Lisa. I've seen so much of what I have studied or read about that I can hardly believe it. So many people told me that I would be underwhelmed by the Mona Lisa, but I was astonished by it. After talking to Momi and trying to draw, I know how hard mouths are and da Vinci blew me away!
At 22:00 I was dead on my feet and headed back to the hostel where I slept like a rock and rested up for another long and adventurous day!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
From cats to fairies: London theatre experience so far
As part of our London Experience course and Shakespeare class, we get the great opportunity to see a lot of theatre. In addition to War Horse, I have seen Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with James Earl Jones, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night's Dream with Dame Judi Dench, and I have more to come!
The shows have all been absolutely FANTASTIC! James Earl Jones made me cry (not just a tear rolling down my face, but seriously cry) during his performance. I didn't like Car on a Hot Tin Roof the two times that I read it before I saw this play. After seeing the performance, I would say that it is one of my favorites. Also in the show were several other big names, including Phylicia Rashad, aka Mrs. Huckstable from the Cosby Show and directed by Debbie Allen.
The Shakespeare that I have seen has also been great. London theatre is amazing! Last night was A Midsummer Night's Dream out in Kingston. We missed our train on the way out there and ended up running to the theater. We made it just in time! Dame Judi Dench is so powerful on stage! I couldn't believe that we were actually in the same room. I felt the same way about James Earl Jones. She played Tatania and was hilarious when she was in love with Bottom. It was very strange to see her act like a fool...which made it all the more entertaining. The actor that played Bottom was fabulous and he had me crying from laughing so hard. London theatre certainly does make me tear up!
Tomorrow we are going to see 'Measure for Measure.' I will be very well aquainted with Shakespeare by the end of my trip! I also just booked tickets to go and see 'The Misanthrope' (Keira Knightley is in the cast) on Monday with a friend. I can't wait!
Next update should be about Paris...get ready! I absolutely fell in love with the place and have much to say and many stories to tell!
The shows have all been absolutely FANTASTIC! James Earl Jones made me cry (not just a tear rolling down my face, but seriously cry) during his performance. I didn't like Car on a Hot Tin Roof the two times that I read it before I saw this play. After seeing the performance, I would say that it is one of my favorites. Also in the show were several other big names, including Phylicia Rashad, aka Mrs. Huckstable from the Cosby Show and directed by Debbie Allen.
The Shakespeare that I have seen has also been great. London theatre is amazing! Last night was A Midsummer Night's Dream out in Kingston. We missed our train on the way out there and ended up running to the theater. We made it just in time! Dame Judi Dench is so powerful on stage! I couldn't believe that we were actually in the same room. I felt the same way about James Earl Jones. She played Tatania and was hilarious when she was in love with Bottom. It was very strange to see her act like a fool...which made it all the more entertaining. The actor that played Bottom was fabulous and he had me crying from laughing so hard. London theatre certainly does make me tear up!
Tomorrow we are going to see 'Measure for Measure.' I will be very well aquainted with Shakespeare by the end of my trip! I also just booked tickets to go and see 'The Misanthrope' (Keira Knightley is in the cast) on Monday with a friend. I can't wait!
Next update should be about Paris...get ready! I absolutely fell in love with the place and have much to say and many stories to tell!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Venice continued
Day 2 of my Venice trip I was off to Piazzo San Marco. This is the most famous spot in Venice, home to Basilica San Marco (aka THE MOST IMPRESSIVE CHURCH I HAVE TOURED THUS FAR! It nearly moved me to tears). As I was walking in with my friend, I literally stopped short and forgot what we were talking about. I wish I had hours more to give to Basilica San Marco. The architecture is exquisite and the walls shine with color and gleam with gold. The church houses the tomb of St. Mark and claims to have a thorn of Jesus' crown. In a little alcove on the right hand side of the church is an absolute treasure trove! Inside a small series of rooms is a small collection of artifacts dating back to the time of the ancient Egyptians! There are also beautiful jewels and several relics. All in all, one of the best spent 20 minutes of my trip were in those 3 small rooms.
Saturday evening was the official kick off of La Carnivale di Venezia 2010! Erected in the middle of Piazzo San Marco is a huge stage where a short skit was performed that evening. The costumes were great...but I will never be able to tell you what skit was about because I don't speak a lick of Italian.
On Sunday, day 3, the sun made its debut! And what a great day it was! Sunday I rode on a gondolla. It was shocking how quiet Venice is once you get only a few short feet away from the Grand Canal. In between conversation, all that you can hear is the gondolier's oar moving the gondola along. It is incredibly peaceful.
On Sunday I spent some more time in Piazzo San Marco, but due to particularly horrendous sea sickness, I did A LOT of walking. My favorite locale of the day was the Rialto Bridge. The bridge offers a great view of the canal and is a great place to shop and people watch.
Because its Carnivale, there is confetti EVERYWHERE! People throw it at eachother just walking down the streets. At night, once most of the foot traffic has cleared out, it looks like the streets are made up of millions of tiny pieces of paper. One of my classmates, Molly, and I had some good old-fashioned fun by scooping up handfuls and having a confetti war in the middle of the piazzo!
Monday, day 4 and sadly the last day, was possibly my favorite day. Back on the water taxi (not much choice about that in Venice) to the very end of the line. This put us at Lido, a gorgeous island known for its beaches. We had lots of fun doing cartwheels on the beach and running around piggyback racing. I felt like a little kid! Monday was really a wandering day. After Lido, I hopped off wherever looked interesting and walked until I ran out of time. I also spent a lot of time just staring across the water to the rest of the islands of Venice. I remember saying how much I loved my life at least 100 times. I must be the luckiest girl alive!
Saturday evening was the official kick off of La Carnivale di Venezia 2010! Erected in the middle of Piazzo San Marco is a huge stage where a short skit was performed that evening. The costumes were great...but I will never be able to tell you what skit was about because I don't speak a lick of Italian.
On Sunday, day 3, the sun made its debut! And what a great day it was! Sunday I rode on a gondolla. It was shocking how quiet Venice is once you get only a few short feet away from the Grand Canal. In between conversation, all that you can hear is the gondolier's oar moving the gondola along. It is incredibly peaceful.
On Sunday I spent some more time in Piazzo San Marco, but due to particularly horrendous sea sickness, I did A LOT of walking. My favorite locale of the day was the Rialto Bridge. The bridge offers a great view of the canal and is a great place to shop and people watch.
Because its Carnivale, there is confetti EVERYWHERE! People throw it at eachother just walking down the streets. At night, once most of the foot traffic has cleared out, it looks like the streets are made up of millions of tiny pieces of paper. One of my classmates, Molly, and I had some good old-fashioned fun by scooping up handfuls and having a confetti war in the middle of the piazzo!
Monday, day 4 and sadly the last day, was possibly my favorite day. Back on the water taxi (not much choice about that in Venice) to the very end of the line. This put us at Lido, a gorgeous island known for its beaches. We had lots of fun doing cartwheels on the beach and running around piggyback racing. I felt like a little kid! Monday was really a wandering day. After Lido, I hopped off wherever looked interesting and walked until I ran out of time. I also spent a lot of time just staring across the water to the rest of the islands of Venice. I remember saying how much I loved my life at least 100 times. I must be the luckiest girl alive!
Venezia and La Carnivale!
Bonjourno!
The first weekend of February was my first trip outside of England. Me and several of my classmates traveled to meet Sarah in Venice for the start of La Carnivale. Carnivale is the two week period of celebration leading up to Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. Everybody dresses up in period costumes with crazy masks and hats. Everywhere you turn there are mask vendors and me and my group jumped right on that bandwagon! I have some really great pictures from that weekend. What a perfect time to visit Venice!
Venice, Carnivale or no, is a magical place. It felt like I stepped straight off of a movie set. It actually took quite some time for it to sink in that I was in a real place! I was thankful that I was there for a 4 day weekend, otherwise I am not sure if I would have been able to truly appreciate where I was.
We arrived late Thursday night, checked into our hotel, and went to bed to rest up for the long days ahead of us! Friday morning we were on a shuttle at 9am sharp headed towards the islands! On the first day we headed down the 'road less traveled' (and by road I mean canal). This meant heading to a series of smaller islands that are a bit away from the main tourist traps but still shouldn't be missed if you have the time.
First up is Murano. This little island is famous for its glassblowing factory. Murano glass is sold all over the world and I feel priveleged to be able to say that I have been there! We went to a glassblowing demonstration which incredibly impressive! I watched a man make a beautiful little figurine of a horse in just a few minutes...something that looks like it should have taken hours! Be careful...the showroom can take your breath away and if you're not careful, your wallet as well! I caved and purchased two figurines of a man and woman in typical venetian dress. They are wating for me back home in the states and I know that it was worth the price because I can't stop thinking about how excited I am to see them again!
After Murano, we grabbed a bite to eat. Italian food in Italy...enough said. Then it was off to Burano! An island famous for its lace. Honestly, the rain kept me from truly appreciating the island, but there were still some moments when I absolutely had to stop and stare (and then whip out my camera).
Third stop on the ferry line that we were on is Torcello. This island was the smallest yet. Only 16 people live there! The island is home to Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta founded in 639! If age alone isn't enough to impress you, take a look at the mosaics made of gold!
The first weekend of February was my first trip outside of England. Me and several of my classmates traveled to meet Sarah in Venice for the start of La Carnivale. Carnivale is the two week period of celebration leading up to Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. Everybody dresses up in period costumes with crazy masks and hats. Everywhere you turn there are mask vendors and me and my group jumped right on that bandwagon! I have some really great pictures from that weekend. What a perfect time to visit Venice!
Venice, Carnivale or no, is a magical place. It felt like I stepped straight off of a movie set. It actually took quite some time for it to sink in that I was in a real place! I was thankful that I was there for a 4 day weekend, otherwise I am not sure if I would have been able to truly appreciate where I was.
We arrived late Thursday night, checked into our hotel, and went to bed to rest up for the long days ahead of us! Friday morning we were on a shuttle at 9am sharp headed towards the islands! On the first day we headed down the 'road less traveled' (and by road I mean canal). This meant heading to a series of smaller islands that are a bit away from the main tourist traps but still shouldn't be missed if you have the time.
First up is Murano. This little island is famous for its glassblowing factory. Murano glass is sold all over the world and I feel priveleged to be able to say that I have been there! We went to a glassblowing demonstration which incredibly impressive! I watched a man make a beautiful little figurine of a horse in just a few minutes...something that looks like it should have taken hours! Be careful...the showroom can take your breath away and if you're not careful, your wallet as well! I caved and purchased two figurines of a man and woman in typical venetian dress. They are wating for me back home in the states and I know that it was worth the price because I can't stop thinking about how excited I am to see them again!
After Murano, we grabbed a bite to eat. Italian food in Italy...enough said. Then it was off to Burano! An island famous for its lace. Honestly, the rain kept me from truly appreciating the island, but there were still some moments when I absolutely had to stop and stare (and then whip out my camera).
Third stop on the ferry line that we were on is Torcello. This island was the smallest yet. Only 16 people live there! The island is home to Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta founded in 639! If age alone isn't enough to impress you, take a look at the mosaics made of gold!
Ok so here's the deal...
I am the WORST at updating this thing. The problem is, I get so intimidated at the thought of having to write everything down that I put it off. Then more and more time passes and I do so much, that the thought of trying to update my blog actually gives me a stomach ache! Solution: brief synopsis of what has passed since the last update and then getting my roommate, Katherine, to yell at me if I don't update in a timely manner.
List of some more of my adventures, explorations, and experiences:
List of some more of my adventures, explorations, and experiences:
- Baker St. for the Sherlock Holmes Museum
- Saw the Sherlock Holmes movie in London! At the Empire Theater in Leicester Square (where they often have movie premieres!)
- Regent's Park
- Primrose Hill (the BEST view of the city skyline I have seen yet! Go here after the sun sets...its a must!)
- Camden Lock and Markets
- Toured the Inns of Court (and I thought our legal system was complicated! We've got nothing on the Brits)
- Went to the Museum at the Docklands
- Whitechapel Art Gallery
- Cambridge! Toured around Clare's college, some of the town, and went into Fitzwilliam Museum. The Fitzwilliam Museum is full of amazing art work and the building is a work of art itself. When you walk in the front door, look up! You won't be able to stop staring at the beautiful dome ceiling for at least 5 minutes!
- The Tower of London
- Several fish and chips lunches!
- 3 hour long walk throughout London, just wandering around. I have decided that often the unplanned days end up being some of the most memorable. I covered so much ground on the 31st of January and just soaked it all up. I love this place!
It makes me sad that I had to update this way, but that is the period of time between my last post and my Italy trip, which was the first weekend in February. There are countless memories from the above list that I need not write down to remember. I can't wait to share my stories with y'all back home! I miss you all very much.
Cheers! Next updates include my Italy trip and Oxford!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Weekend of Friday 22 January
Friday: First encounter with Harrod's! Incredibly intimidating and overwhelming. I could only do a brief look around, but now I know what to expect when I go back. One thing that Katherine, Doug, and I did get to see was the Egyptian Escalators and also the memorial for Dido and Princess Diana. The owner of the Harrod's building is Dido's father, who spent a considerable amount of money accusing the royal family after his son's death. At the bottom of the Egyptian escalators is a wine glass from the pair's last dinner together and large portraits of each of them. The foodhalls are also impressive...complete with life size chocolate high heels! It made me think of Ginna ;)
Friday evening a group of us hung out at ULU (the University of London's Student Union). There I met tons of people, including some Australians whom I beat at billiards...which was a surprise to everybody (myself included)!
Saturday: I went to Chinatown for dinner with my roommates and Doug. I had some AMAZING sweet and sour chicken. While London does not really have its own cuisine (fish and chips is about as good as it gets), they say that you can get the best food from around the world because it is such an international city. I believe it! After dinner, I went and saw Sherlock Holmes at the Empire Theater in Leicester Square. It was great to watch the movie and know all of the sites! The movie thater was fantastic! Absolutely enormous and grand with red carpets, glittery ceilings, and hundreds of seats per theater. They often use that movie theater for film premieres. Another great experience! I have lost count of how many of those I have had!
Sunday: My legs are stronger and my feet are tougher! Walked around for about 6 hours today and felt great! Today I headed over to Baker St. with Hannah and Doug. We went straight to the Sherlock Holmes Museum created at Sherlock's fictional address at 221b Baker St. The museum was great...because its not historical are allowed to pose with props and goof around. I took full advantage of the great photo opportunity! I was like a giddy school girl because I was so excited to be there!
After Baker St. we decided to wanter around...and what a wandering it was! We went through Regent's Park and walked through it for quite some time. We walked around a pond, through royal gardens, past about a BILLION football players, past the zoo...I mean this park is awesome.; I can tell it is going to be a regular spot of mine and a great place to go to de-stress.
Next stop was Camden Market and Camden Lock. We wandered into a fresh international foods market and I had a crepe with nutella, nuts, and strawberries. Did I mention how much I love my life right now??? Eventually as the sun went down we decided to head back to the flats. Since my navigation skills are still adjusting to this monstrously large city, we took the scenic route home. I ended up walking through Primrose Hill. Honestly, the MOST breathtaking view of the city I've seen yet. From the top of the hill you can see all the way to the London Eye. Past all of the green directly in front of my was the lit up city. I could have stayed there for hours. My random ramblings about turn out to be some of the best days. Its funny where you end up when you aren't trying to go anywhere.
Friday evening a group of us hung out at ULU (the University of London's Student Union). There I met tons of people, including some Australians whom I beat at billiards...which was a surprise to everybody (myself included)!
Saturday: I went to Chinatown for dinner with my roommates and Doug. I had some AMAZING sweet and sour chicken. While London does not really have its own cuisine (fish and chips is about as good as it gets), they say that you can get the best food from around the world because it is such an international city. I believe it! After dinner, I went and saw Sherlock Holmes at the Empire Theater in Leicester Square. It was great to watch the movie and know all of the sites! The movie thater was fantastic! Absolutely enormous and grand with red carpets, glittery ceilings, and hundreds of seats per theater. They often use that movie theater for film premieres. Another great experience! I have lost count of how many of those I have had!
Sunday: My legs are stronger and my feet are tougher! Walked around for about 6 hours today and felt great! Today I headed over to Baker St. with Hannah and Doug. We went straight to the Sherlock Holmes Museum created at Sherlock's fictional address at 221b Baker St. The museum was great...because its not historical are allowed to pose with props and goof around. I took full advantage of the great photo opportunity! I was like a giddy school girl because I was so excited to be there!
After Baker St. we decided to wanter around...and what a wandering it was! We went through Regent's Park and walked through it for quite some time. We walked around a pond, through royal gardens, past about a BILLION football players, past the zoo...I mean this park is awesome.; I can tell it is going to be a regular spot of mine and a great place to go to de-stress.
Next stop was Camden Market and Camden Lock. We wandered into a fresh international foods market and I had a crepe with nutella, nuts, and strawberries. Did I mention how much I love my life right now??? Eventually as the sun went down we decided to head back to the flats. Since my navigation skills are still adjusting to this monstrously large city, we took the scenic route home. I ended up walking through Primrose Hill. Honestly, the MOST breathtaking view of the city I've seen yet. From the top of the hill you can see all the way to the London Eye. Past all of the green directly in front of my was the lit up city. I could have stayed there for hours. My random ramblings about turn out to be some of the best days. Its funny where you end up when you aren't trying to go anywhere.
18 January - 22 January
On Monday morning, we received a tour of BBC's Bush House. This building is home to the internation radio portion of BBC. Quite impressive! It's not open to the public, so it was special to be able to go inside. It was neat to get to see how the radio station works from an insider's perspective. We saw a live studio, a work room, and recorded a but from a cell phone to see how they broadcast. On Monday evening my roommates and I cooked dinner together. We made a delicious chicken and pasta dish. Everything tastes that much better when you know that you cooked it yourself!
On Tuesday I went to a piano concert at Bishop Gates Hall on Liverpool Street for our music class and on Thursday I visited the Tate Modern. I could probably write a book on the Tate it is so large and impressive (actually, several people have already). The first thing that we did was go up to the very top floor and look at the view of the City of London. From the window we looked straight onto St. Paul's just across the Thames. Afterwards, we headed downstairs to the "Poetry and Dream - Surrealism and Beyond" exhibition. Modern art is not my favorite, but it was cool to get to see Picasso's "The Three Dancers" and later we got to see Andy Warhol's "Marilyn Diptych." We also saw a special temporary piece by Miroslaw Balka titled "How It Is." It is a GIANT industrial looking box that is totally black on the inside and when you walk in, it feels like it goes on forever! It is incredibly creepy. I told Prof Adler that it reminded me of the Holocaust Museaum and she said that Balka is Polish and this work was inspired by that bleak period of Poland's history. It was nice to get a question right! Coming from an entirely different education system, me and my classmates don't always have the information that would be common knowledge over here. We are all quickly getting into the swing of things though. Learned so much already!
On Tuesday I went to a piano concert at Bishop Gates Hall on Liverpool Street for our music class and on Thursday I visited the Tate Modern. I could probably write a book on the Tate it is so large and impressive (actually, several people have already). The first thing that we did was go up to the very top floor and look at the view of the City of London. From the window we looked straight onto St. Paul's just across the Thames. Afterwards, we headed downstairs to the "Poetry and Dream - Surrealism and Beyond" exhibition. Modern art is not my favorite, but it was cool to get to see Picasso's "The Three Dancers" and later we got to see Andy Warhol's "Marilyn Diptych." We also saw a special temporary piece by Miroslaw Balka titled "How It Is." It is a GIANT industrial looking box that is totally black on the inside and when you walk in, it feels like it goes on forever! It is incredibly creepy. I told Prof Adler that it reminded me of the Holocaust Museaum and she said that Balka is Polish and this work was inspired by that bleak period of Poland's history. It was nice to get a question right! Coming from an entirely different education system, me and my classmates don't always have the information that would be common knowledge over here. We are all quickly getting into the swing of things though. Learned so much already!
17 January
What a great day! The sun came out for the first time since we arrived and I actually got to wear sunglasses! I took full advantage of it! I hopped back on the bus and rode around different parts of London and got a feel for where things are and what I want to do. (Hyde Park and Harrod's are on that list...) This time all of us stayed inside the bust but we got to sit on the open air deck at the top of the bus. It was absolutely gorgeous!
Our bus fare includes a ticket for a cruise down the River Thames and there couldn't have been a more perfect day to use it! I got to see a different view point of Parliament, Big Ben, London Bridge, London Tower, the London Eye and much more! It's a short cruise but definitely worth it.
Our bus fare includes a ticket for a cruise down the River Thames and there couldn't have been a more perfect day to use it! I got to see a different view point of Parliament, Big Ben, London Bridge, London Tower, the London Eye and much more! It's a short cruise but definitely worth it.
16 January
This weekend I went on a bus tour of London called "The Original London Tour." It is on a double decker bus (like the ones that you see in the movies! Except that every bus is like that here..). It is kind of terrifying from the top!
On Saturday we definitely did a lot more walking than riding. It was a particularly rotten day with tons of rain, but that did not stop me and my friends from exploring as much as possible. The bus stops at pretty uch every major London attraction and you can hop off and on at which ever stop you choose. We first got off at Covent Gardens and saw the market there and some street performers. One man juggled knives while riding on a unicycle and I there were some majorly impressive opera singers. It is definitely worth going back several times.
Our next stop was St. Paul's Cathedral. One thing that I find quite odd is that most museums are free, but the biggest churches charge tourists. Worship is free, but it still seems a little funny. However, St. Paul's is definitely worth going back to and paying the admission price. It is Christopher Wren's masterpiece and even from the entranceway I could tell why. That place is SERIOUSLY impressive. I'm excited to go back! I can't even begin to imagine how long it took to build that Church. Somebody told me how many years it took, but I guess I was so shocked that I couldn't remember the number! Princess Di and Prince Charles were married there, and that is just a small sampling of all of the significant events and people that have been in St. Paul's.
From St. Paul's we crossed the Thames via the Millenium Bridge and walked around the outside of Shakespeare's Globe Theater. On my search for the bus stop, I got a bit lost with my friend because we kept getting distracted by the historical markers. It kind of reminded me of my dad...You can't walk very far here without running into something historically significant. I am still amazed (after being here for 3 weeks) about the amount of history that I consistantly walk on, around, through. I mean, it is EVERYWHERE. On one side of the road will be a sky scraper and on the other will be a 600 year old building. It never ceases to amaze me and I don't think I will ever get used to it.
When I finally made it to the bus, I was completely exhausted but very satisfied with the amount of ground that I covered that day. I got a lot of great pictures that I promise to post soon, including several of the whole group (me, Molly, Samantha, Katherine, Mary Katherine, Doug, Nick, and Michael).
Later that day we went to Sports Cafe to watch the Tar Heel ball game. We lost (which is a common theme this season), but it was fun for all of us to get dressed in our game gear and watch the game together. If you are ever in London, Sports Cafe is a great place to watch American sports (as long as a major British football match isn't on).
On Saturday we definitely did a lot more walking than riding. It was a particularly rotten day with tons of rain, but that did not stop me and my friends from exploring as much as possible. The bus stops at pretty uch every major London attraction and you can hop off and on at which ever stop you choose. We first got off at Covent Gardens and saw the market there and some street performers. One man juggled knives while riding on a unicycle and I there were some majorly impressive opera singers. It is definitely worth going back several times.
Our next stop was St. Paul's Cathedral. One thing that I find quite odd is that most museums are free, but the biggest churches charge tourists. Worship is free, but it still seems a little funny. However, St. Paul's is definitely worth going back to and paying the admission price. It is Christopher Wren's masterpiece and even from the entranceway I could tell why. That place is SERIOUSLY impressive. I'm excited to go back! I can't even begin to imagine how long it took to build that Church. Somebody told me how many years it took, but I guess I was so shocked that I couldn't remember the number! Princess Di and Prince Charles were married there, and that is just a small sampling of all of the significant events and people that have been in St. Paul's.
From St. Paul's we crossed the Thames via the Millenium Bridge and walked around the outside of Shakespeare's Globe Theater. On my search for the bus stop, I got a bit lost with my friend because we kept getting distracted by the historical markers. It kind of reminded me of my dad...You can't walk very far here without running into something historically significant. I am still amazed (after being here for 3 weeks) about the amount of history that I consistantly walk on, around, through. I mean, it is EVERYWHERE. On one side of the road will be a sky scraper and on the other will be a 600 year old building. It never ceases to amaze me and I don't think I will ever get used to it.
When I finally made it to the bus, I was completely exhausted but very satisfied with the amount of ground that I covered that day. I got a lot of great pictures that I promise to post soon, including several of the whole group (me, Molly, Samantha, Katherine, Mary Katherine, Doug, Nick, and Michael).
Later that day we went to Sports Cafe to watch the Tar Heel ball game. We lost (which is a common theme this season), but it was fun for all of us to get dressed in our game gear and watch the game together. If you are ever in London, Sports Cafe is a great place to watch American sports (as long as a major British football match isn't on).
Back in action
My apologies for the lack of information over the last 2 weeks...my computer is now, sadly, dead. BUT I have a netbook that is up and running so I am back in the swing of things! In order to not overload you on information, I will break up my posts by day to avoid a post that is 1239489237 pages long. I have done so much that to write it all in one go would be impossible. So...here goes!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Epic Update
This posting is evidence of two things:
1) I must stop trying to cram all of London into a short period of time...I will be here for months
2) I must update my blog more often so that I do not give my followers a headache. I apologize in advance!
Thursday 14th January 2010
On Thursdays we have two classes. First is Art in London, The Global City with Kathy Adler. the class is fantastic! Every weel we hold class in a different gallery around London. We keep a journal of all that we see and talk aboutwhice we will turn in at the end of the term and get to keep it as a memory of all the beautiful art we saw while in London. Our first trip was to the National Portrait Gallery which is in Trafalgar Square. Before we went into the gallery, we walked around for a bit in the square, which is amazing! We went inside the curch called St. Martin's In the Field. The Church is beautiful with grand ceilings, statues...the architecture is jaw-dropping. The church has a very impressive history. There is one balcony for admiralty and another for royalty. A king was once a warden of this church, but he rarely fulfilled his duties (I guess he was a little busy). The church is named "in the fields" because it literally used to be in the middle of the country side. This is hard to believe because it is such a bustling place now in the center of London.
Outside the church is Trafalgar Square with a large statue of Nelson and many other war heroes. Nelson's statue is so high up that he looks tiny. In actuality, he is seven times the size of a real man! On one side of the square is the National Gallery (different from the National Portrait Gallery). We didn't go inside, but we soon will I am sure. Outside of the National to the right is a small statue of George Washington donated to England by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Because the British did not wish to put our good ole' George on their soil, they had Virgnian soil shipped over and put him on that instead! A truly British thing to do.
Inside the Protrait Gallery we got to see the newest portrait of Prince Harry and Prince Edward in their military uniforms. I love all the references to kings, queens, princes, princesses, lords, ladies...it makes me feel like I am living in a land of fairy tales. For class we looked at an exhibition of a competition of modern portrait photography. It was pretty good, but I look forward to going back and taking a look at some of the other exhibits inside.
After the art class, we have British Imperial Worlds, a history class with Professor Fae Dussart. Her focus of studies is the 19th Ce, which is good for me because it is my favorite time period of British history (largely because of my love for Jane Austen, Doyle, Dickens, Bronte, and other Victorian writers). It should be a great class!
On Thursday evening, we had a private tour of the British Museum as part of our London Experience class (which is a series of field trips for one credit hour). Our tour guide was Sam Moorhead, a UNC alum and top historian at the museum. I felt very privileged to have such a prestigious guide! He loves UNC and says that going there is the best decision that he has ever made...Sam and I have a lot in common ;) He loves to help out and get to know as many Tar Heels as possible. He wants to give us another tour and has arranged for us to be allowed inside the ropes at Stonehenge!
Friday 15 January 2010
Another eventful day! In the morning, we had a walking tour of Wesminister. We started in Bedford Place and walked back down through Trafalgar Square, to the Horse Guard, through Green Park and St. James' Park, to Buckingham Palace, Westminister Abbey, Parliament, and ending at Big Ben. Needless to say, my feet were very sore. However, I hardly noticed because I was constantly walking around with my mouth open in awe. I actually walked into a lamp post because I was so busy looking up that it sneaked up on me. Don't worry, no bruises! The tour was great for getting a taste of some of the amazing sites and figuring out where I would like to return (which is everywhere). I enjoyed a lot of the info that the guide gave us about King Charles. When he was beheaded after the British Civil war, his head was sewn back on so that he could be buried at I think it was St. Paul's Cathedral. Another very British thing to do. In front of Parliament is a statue of Cromwell who lead the revolution and ruled in between Charles I and Charles II. Directly across from this statue is a bust of Charles I mounted on the side of the building. The two of them are literally staring each other down. Very tongue and cheek.
Later that day, I met up with my friend Erin who was visiting London on a few days lay over before she headed to Eastern Europe for her study abroad program. It was nice to see a familiar face over here where everything else is so new! We ended up walking the exact same route that I had earlier that day and I felt like a pro spouting out all of my tour guide information as we walked around. I am starting to get the hang of things down here and can get around pretty well. The more touring that we do the less I feel like I am in a maze. Which is why on Saturday we took a bus tour....
Saturday 16 January
Our bus tour was called "The Original London Tour" and covers all of the major sites. You can hop off the bus whenever you like and hop back on when you are done exploring that area. In the winter they give you a deal and you can use your ticket for 48 hours and get free cruise down the Thames. The bus is double decker, which is fun and terrifying at the same time. We definitely did a lot more walking than riding! Another example of my overly-ambitious site-seeing goals. I have calmed down a bit since this weekend so that I won't burn out before we even get started! Our first hop off was at Covent Gardens. We saw the market there and a street performer who rode a unicycle while juggling and telling jokes. It was a quality show! Very funny. I have many pictures and a video or two that I will be happy to share as soon as I get around to uploading the 250 pictures that I have already taken to my computer.
Our next stop was at St. Paul's Cathedral. One thing I find quite odd is that most museums are free but several churches charge for admission. A bit backwards if you ask me...However, St. Paul's is definitely worth going back to and paying for a tour. It is breathtakingly beautiful. I literally gasped when I walked inside. It has so much history too! I love home, but the United States seems like an infant compared to all I have seen here. From there we walked across the Millenium Bridge and saw Shakespeare's Globe Theater. I got a bit lost on our searc for the bus stop, but when I finally made it there the rest of the group and I were glad to be sitting down. We rode the bus across the Gate Bridge and the London Tower and back up to Trafalgar Square. It was great to get out and around and again I found about a MILLION more things that I want to do. I am glad that I have so much time to spend here!
Sunday was Jessica's birthday, but we decided to celebrate on Saturday. We went to Sports Cafe (which is quickly becoming a favorite!) and watched the Tar Heel basketball game versus Georgia Tech. Talk about absolute nail biter and disappointment. Though those baby heels will grow up soon, I am sure! They probably just miss me being in the stands ;) Erin was with us watching the game, so the loss definitely lost some of its sting. Im hoping things will turn around soon so staying up to strange hours in the evening doesn't exhaust AND depress me. Though I find it hard to be too sad in the lovely city with such great friends. My roommates and I get along so well and I am incredibly grateful to be in such a great living situation. Couldn't have worked out better! Katherine and Mary Katherine are great! We giggle all the time and are constantly having sing alongs...we already have so many inside jokes with each other and the rest of our program that I feel like we have known each other forever!
Sunday 17 January 2010
When I woke up on Sunday I literally jumped out of bed and ran to the window. The sun was shining and the sky was beautiful Carolina blue! Sunday was the first and only time that I have seen the sun and blue sky since we arrived over a week ago. It put me in a good mood all day and I used it to the best of my advantage.
I hopped back on the bus with my friends and rode around different parts of London. I made it over to Hyde Park, Harrod's, Kensington Gardens and Palace, and much more...Today we stayed on the bus (I don't think our feet could have handled it any other way) but it was worth it because we got to sit at the top of the open air bus and take everything in. It felt like a gray lid had been lifted from on top of the city and fresh air and energy could come in and finally get us some vitamin d!
We used up every part of the sunny day that we could. Around sunset, we all got on a boat for a cruise down the Thames. We started at Parliament and ended at Tower Bridge. Its a short cruise, but definitely worth it. You get a new view point of some of the most fantastic sites in London and our guide was hilarious.
Monday18 January 2010
On Monday, I finally slowed down a bit. In the morning, we had a tour of BBC's historical Bush House as part of our London Experience class. It's not open to the public, so it was special to go inside. It was pretty neat to get to see how the radio station works from an insider's view. We saw a live studio, the work room, and recorded our own little bit via a mobile phone and edited it for the radio. BBC is massive, with several buildings in the city. The Bush House holds the World Service, so the range of news is gigantic and very impressive.
The rest of the day was full of rest and relaxation, which is a definite change of pace. It felt good to finally chill out for a bit. Katherine, Mary Katherine, and I cooked dinner for each other and Doug. We made a delicious chicken and pasta dish and it tasted even better because we knew that we had made it! There are several pictures documenting the process which I hope to share soon.
Stay tuned for further adventures!!
1) I must stop trying to cram all of London into a short period of time...I will be here for months
2) I must update my blog more often so that I do not give my followers a headache. I apologize in advance!
Thursday 14th January 2010
On Thursdays we have two classes. First is Art in London, The Global City with Kathy Adler. the class is fantastic! Every weel we hold class in a different gallery around London. We keep a journal of all that we see and talk aboutwhice we will turn in at the end of the term and get to keep it as a memory of all the beautiful art we saw while in London. Our first trip was to the National Portrait Gallery which is in Trafalgar Square. Before we went into the gallery, we walked around for a bit in the square, which is amazing! We went inside the curch called St. Martin's In the Field. The Church is beautiful with grand ceilings, statues...the architecture is jaw-dropping. The church has a very impressive history. There is one balcony for admiralty and another for royalty. A king was once a warden of this church, but he rarely fulfilled his duties (I guess he was a little busy). The church is named "in the fields" because it literally used to be in the middle of the country side. This is hard to believe because it is such a bustling place now in the center of London.
Outside the church is Trafalgar Square with a large statue of Nelson and many other war heroes. Nelson's statue is so high up that he looks tiny. In actuality, he is seven times the size of a real man! On one side of the square is the National Gallery (different from the National Portrait Gallery). We didn't go inside, but we soon will I am sure. Outside of the National to the right is a small statue of George Washington donated to England by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Because the British did not wish to put our good ole' George on their soil, they had Virgnian soil shipped over and put him on that instead! A truly British thing to do.
Inside the Protrait Gallery we got to see the newest portrait of Prince Harry and Prince Edward in their military uniforms. I love all the references to kings, queens, princes, princesses, lords, ladies...it makes me feel like I am living in a land of fairy tales. For class we looked at an exhibition of a competition of modern portrait photography. It was pretty good, but I look forward to going back and taking a look at some of the other exhibits inside.
After the art class, we have British Imperial Worlds, a history class with Professor Fae Dussart. Her focus of studies is the 19th Ce, which is good for me because it is my favorite time period of British history (largely because of my love for Jane Austen, Doyle, Dickens, Bronte, and other Victorian writers). It should be a great class!
On Thursday evening, we had a private tour of the British Museum as part of our London Experience class (which is a series of field trips for one credit hour). Our tour guide was Sam Moorhead, a UNC alum and top historian at the museum. I felt very privileged to have such a prestigious guide! He loves UNC and says that going there is the best decision that he has ever made...Sam and I have a lot in common ;) He loves to help out and get to know as many Tar Heels as possible. He wants to give us another tour and has arranged for us to be allowed inside the ropes at Stonehenge!
Friday 15 January 2010
Another eventful day! In the morning, we had a walking tour of Wesminister. We started in Bedford Place and walked back down through Trafalgar Square, to the Horse Guard, through Green Park and St. James' Park, to Buckingham Palace, Westminister Abbey, Parliament, and ending at Big Ben. Needless to say, my feet were very sore. However, I hardly noticed because I was constantly walking around with my mouth open in awe. I actually walked into a lamp post because I was so busy looking up that it sneaked up on me. Don't worry, no bruises! The tour was great for getting a taste of some of the amazing sites and figuring out where I would like to return (which is everywhere). I enjoyed a lot of the info that the guide gave us about King Charles. When he was beheaded after the British Civil war, his head was sewn back on so that he could be buried at I think it was St. Paul's Cathedral. Another very British thing to do. In front of Parliament is a statue of Cromwell who lead the revolution and ruled in between Charles I and Charles II. Directly across from this statue is a bust of Charles I mounted on the side of the building. The two of them are literally staring each other down. Very tongue and cheek.
Later that day, I met up with my friend Erin who was visiting London on a few days lay over before she headed to Eastern Europe for her study abroad program. It was nice to see a familiar face over here where everything else is so new! We ended up walking the exact same route that I had earlier that day and I felt like a pro spouting out all of my tour guide information as we walked around. I am starting to get the hang of things down here and can get around pretty well. The more touring that we do the less I feel like I am in a maze. Which is why on Saturday we took a bus tour....
Saturday 16 January
Our bus tour was called "The Original London Tour" and covers all of the major sites. You can hop off the bus whenever you like and hop back on when you are done exploring that area. In the winter they give you a deal and you can use your ticket for 48 hours and get free cruise down the Thames. The bus is double decker, which is fun and terrifying at the same time. We definitely did a lot more walking than riding! Another example of my overly-ambitious site-seeing goals. I have calmed down a bit since this weekend so that I won't burn out before we even get started! Our first hop off was at Covent Gardens. We saw the market there and a street performer who rode a unicycle while juggling and telling jokes. It was a quality show! Very funny. I have many pictures and a video or two that I will be happy to share as soon as I get around to uploading the 250 pictures that I have already taken to my computer.
Our next stop was at St. Paul's Cathedral. One thing I find quite odd is that most museums are free but several churches charge for admission. A bit backwards if you ask me...However, St. Paul's is definitely worth going back to and paying for a tour. It is breathtakingly beautiful. I literally gasped when I walked inside. It has so much history too! I love home, but the United States seems like an infant compared to all I have seen here. From there we walked across the Millenium Bridge and saw Shakespeare's Globe Theater. I got a bit lost on our searc for the bus stop, but when I finally made it there the rest of the group and I were glad to be sitting down. We rode the bus across the Gate Bridge and the London Tower and back up to Trafalgar Square. It was great to get out and around and again I found about a MILLION more things that I want to do. I am glad that I have so much time to spend here!
Sunday was Jessica's birthday, but we decided to celebrate on Saturday. We went to Sports Cafe (which is quickly becoming a favorite!) and watched the Tar Heel basketball game versus Georgia Tech. Talk about absolute nail biter and disappointment. Though those baby heels will grow up soon, I am sure! They probably just miss me being in the stands ;) Erin was with us watching the game, so the loss definitely lost some of its sting. Im hoping things will turn around soon so staying up to strange hours in the evening doesn't exhaust AND depress me. Though I find it hard to be too sad in the lovely city with such great friends. My roommates and I get along so well and I am incredibly grateful to be in such a great living situation. Couldn't have worked out better! Katherine and Mary Katherine are great! We giggle all the time and are constantly having sing alongs...we already have so many inside jokes with each other and the rest of our program that I feel like we have known each other forever!
Sunday 17 January 2010
When I woke up on Sunday I literally jumped out of bed and ran to the window. The sun was shining and the sky was beautiful Carolina blue! Sunday was the first and only time that I have seen the sun and blue sky since we arrived over a week ago. It put me in a good mood all day and I used it to the best of my advantage.
I hopped back on the bus with my friends and rode around different parts of London. I made it over to Hyde Park, Harrod's, Kensington Gardens and Palace, and much more...Today we stayed on the bus (I don't think our feet could have handled it any other way) but it was worth it because we got to sit at the top of the open air bus and take everything in. It felt like a gray lid had been lifted from on top of the city and fresh air and energy could come in and finally get us some vitamin d!
We used up every part of the sunny day that we could. Around sunset, we all got on a boat for a cruise down the Thames. We started at Parliament and ended at Tower Bridge. Its a short cruise, but definitely worth it. You get a new view point of some of the most fantastic sites in London and our guide was hilarious.
Monday18 January 2010
On Monday, I finally slowed down a bit. In the morning, we had a tour of BBC's historical Bush House as part of our London Experience class. It's not open to the public, so it was special to go inside. It was pretty neat to get to see how the radio station works from an insider's view. We saw a live studio, the work room, and recorded our own little bit via a mobile phone and edited it for the radio. BBC is massive, with several buildings in the city. The Bush House holds the World Service, so the range of news is gigantic and very impressive.
The rest of the day was full of rest and relaxation, which is a definite change of pace. It felt good to finally chill out for a bit. Katherine, Mary Katherine, and I cooked dinner for each other and Doug. We made a delicious chicken and pasta dish and it tasted even better because we knew that we had made it! There are several pictures documenting the process which I hope to share soon.
Stay tuned for further adventures!!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
So I should just preface this post with the fact that I no longer think that it is possible for me to write down everything that I have done and everywhere I have been! I will do my best...I have done so much already and it hasn't even been a week. I LOVE it here. Just try to get me to come home (just kidding Mom and Dad).
On the 12th, we had our first day of classes. Every Tuesday I have "The Art of Listening to Music: Public Performance in London." We have lecture for a bit and then head out into London to hear a free concert. They have free concerts during the lunch hours at various places around London. Did I mention that I love this place?? We heard a string quartet and then a quintet with a clarinet at St. George the Martyr Church in Holborn. This concert was in a direction that I have not walked down yet, so it was nice to explore some more.
I think that the best thing that I have decided to do is to be about and and about around London as much as possible. I have been cramming my days in with exploring and wandering. I feel that no matter how long I spend walking around I will never see it all. But I am going to try!! I can already feel my leg muscles...my calves hate me right now. At the end of the day I am so sore that I can hardly move but that makes me happy. Every day I can go longer without feeling like I am going to drop. Chapel Hill feels as big as a postage stamp compared to here!
After class on Tuesday, my roommate Katherine and I hopped over to the British Museum to get a feel for it. It is around the corner from our flat so I hope to be able to become well aquainted with it. Its a good thing that I started early, because that is going to be QUITE the task. My tour book recommended to take one exhibit at a time in order to really get everything out of it and more than one person has suggested going in for a bit each day, even if it is only for a few minutes. On Tuesday we chose the smallest section and couldn't even get all the way through that! I looked at the first floor of the Ancient Egypt Exhibit. It was absolutely incredible. You must go to this museum...its unlike anything I have ever been too. I got to see the Rosetta Stone! I felt like my history textbooks had moved off the page and I was walking around in everything that I have learned and seen pictures of.
Today we had a private tour with one of the top people at the museum who is a UNC alum. We hit a few key points around the museum and it was great because he had uncovered and worked with most of the things that he pointed out! An absolutley briliant bloke, Sam Moorhead. I can't wait until he shows us around again soon! So much more to see...
Wednesday's classes weren't quite as intriguing but I am going to blame that on the jet lag. Yesterday was the worst in terms of jet lag (the culmination of many nights with little sleep finally hit me yesterday). Today I feel like my clock is pretty much reset so hopefully those days are behind me. It would certainly help if the sun came up! I haven't seen it since we got here. That's right...6 DAYS WITHOUT SUN. And it looks like it may not come up for a week. Its worth it though, the sights make up for the clouds and rain. I may be Vitamin D deficient though.
After class Mary Katherine, Beatrice, Doug and I discovered an OUTSTANDING Thai restaurant in SoHo that was not far from our flat. London is the most multicultural city in the world and you can get food from all over the world that tastes like it was home-made in their countries of origin. The Thai was the best I ever had and SoHo isn't far from China Town...I think I will try that next. I believe it when they say that there are more people from around the world here than in any other place. I have heard as much French, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, German, Russian, and more than I have heard English!
Also, yesterday I went with Doug and saw a play called War Horse. It was absolutely brilliant and fantastic and amazing. It's based on a book by Michael Morpurgo and was adapted to the stage by Nick Stafford. I did the standby liine and we almost didn't go because of the price. I am SO glad that we turned around and went inside. I teared up several times during the performance and was dying to give a standing ovation. It is about a cavalry horse from England during WWI and how the relationship between man and horse affected men from both sides of the war. Our Shakespeare professor said that she has seen it four times already and I can understand why. I would go and see it again in a heartbeat. I can't wait for more London theater that is coming my way...next up is hopefully The Misanthrope with Keira Knightly. We also get to see several plays as part of our program.
Had many more adventures today and will soon be having more tomorrow...it's getting late here (5hr difference is A LOT), so stay tuned....
On the 12th, we had our first day of classes. Every Tuesday I have "The Art of Listening to Music: Public Performance in London." We have lecture for a bit and then head out into London to hear a free concert. They have free concerts during the lunch hours at various places around London. Did I mention that I love this place?? We heard a string quartet and then a quintet with a clarinet at St. George the Martyr Church in Holborn. This concert was in a direction that I have not walked down yet, so it was nice to explore some more.
I think that the best thing that I have decided to do is to be about and and about around London as much as possible. I have been cramming my days in with exploring and wandering. I feel that no matter how long I spend walking around I will never see it all. But I am going to try!! I can already feel my leg muscles...my calves hate me right now. At the end of the day I am so sore that I can hardly move but that makes me happy. Every day I can go longer without feeling like I am going to drop. Chapel Hill feels as big as a postage stamp compared to here!
After class on Tuesday, my roommate Katherine and I hopped over to the British Museum to get a feel for it. It is around the corner from our flat so I hope to be able to become well aquainted with it. Its a good thing that I started early, because that is going to be QUITE the task. My tour book recommended to take one exhibit at a time in order to really get everything out of it and more than one person has suggested going in for a bit each day, even if it is only for a few minutes. On Tuesday we chose the smallest section and couldn't even get all the way through that! I looked at the first floor of the Ancient Egypt Exhibit. It was absolutely incredible. You must go to this museum...its unlike anything I have ever been too. I got to see the Rosetta Stone! I felt like my history textbooks had moved off the page and I was walking around in everything that I have learned and seen pictures of.
Today we had a private tour with one of the top people at the museum who is a UNC alum. We hit a few key points around the museum and it was great because he had uncovered and worked with most of the things that he pointed out! An absolutley briliant bloke, Sam Moorhead. I can't wait until he shows us around again soon! So much more to see...
Wednesday's classes weren't quite as intriguing but I am going to blame that on the jet lag. Yesterday was the worst in terms of jet lag (the culmination of many nights with little sleep finally hit me yesterday). Today I feel like my clock is pretty much reset so hopefully those days are behind me. It would certainly help if the sun came up! I haven't seen it since we got here. That's right...6 DAYS WITHOUT SUN. And it looks like it may not come up for a week. Its worth it though, the sights make up for the clouds and rain. I may be Vitamin D deficient though.
After class Mary Katherine, Beatrice, Doug and I discovered an OUTSTANDING Thai restaurant in SoHo that was not far from our flat. London is the most multicultural city in the world and you can get food from all over the world that tastes like it was home-made in their countries of origin. The Thai was the best I ever had and SoHo isn't far from China Town...I think I will try that next. I believe it when they say that there are more people from around the world here than in any other place. I have heard as much French, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, German, Russian, and more than I have heard English!
Also, yesterday I went with Doug and saw a play called War Horse. It was absolutely brilliant and fantastic and amazing. It's based on a book by Michael Morpurgo and was adapted to the stage by Nick Stafford. I did the standby liine and we almost didn't go because of the price. I am SO glad that we turned around and went inside. I teared up several times during the performance and was dying to give a standing ovation. It is about a cavalry horse from England during WWI and how the relationship between man and horse affected men from both sides of the war. Our Shakespeare professor said that she has seen it four times already and I can understand why. I would go and see it again in a heartbeat. I can't wait for more London theater that is coming my way...next up is hopefully The Misanthrope with Keira Knightly. We also get to see several plays as part of our program.
Had many more adventures today and will soon be having more tomorrow...it's getting late here (5hr difference is A LOT), so stay tuned....
Monday, January 11, 2010
Orientation, orientation., orientation!
Today was quite a day! We started very early this morning (around 8am GMT), and it felt even earlier because of jet lag. Last night I went to bed at 4am GMT because it felt like 11pm to us Yanks. It also didn't help that we trekked out to Picadilly Circus to the one place that plays all sorts of American sports in the cold. It really woke me up! Unfortunately, the website was not accurate and it was closing after the last NFL game of the night. I had about an inch of slushy ice-snow melted on my hair! But, as the group says after every slip-up, it was a memory! And now I know how to get there for the next ball game...
Last night I had my first experience with British late night television...all I have to say is that they DEFINITELY have seriously different television standards. I was shocked!!! Sometimes, because of all the American stores and products that are here, I don't always realize that I am across the pond. While watching that late night show (before we hastily changed the channel), there was no doubt in my mind about where I was.
Today's theme was orientation! When went over to Winston House, which is the builiding that UNC owns. It is absolutely beautiful and I can't believe that it is actually where I get to take classes. As an English major who is used to Greenlaw, it is definitely a pleasant change of scenery. We also received a tour of the University of London student Union (the ULU). Our lovely tour guide was not too keen of anything American. American football makes him sleep, he thought that UNC was extravagant for having its own building, and said that we don't appreciate real football enough. Pleasant fellow, he was! For the most part, people are really friendly and interested. I am just going to wright Mosh off as bitter for not being a Tar Heel ;)
Afterwards we went over to the British library. Between the sleep deprivation and jet lag, I really didn't appreciate it as much as I could have. We had a guided tour that was over 2 hours long and not quite on point. He was fascintate with the digital library that the library has been compiling in order to save space. I was more interested in the actualy texts, as was the rest of my program. We plan on returning and getting a library card (which is free!!) and going through several more times to really get the feel of it. It is intimidating and a bit overwhelming, but AMAZING! It is the 3rd largest library in the world, but definitely "the greatest" according to the Brits ;) The Magna Carta, the Gutenburg Bible, Shakespeare's handwritten drafts, the Beatles music, and so so much more are all in there! The world's largest book, the world's smallest book, and every book in the English language that exists today is part of the museum. They receive around 8,000 new books every day! I am still having a hard time imagining that...
This evening we went to dinner with our professor, his wife, and the Winston House facilities manager. The manager is only a few years older than us, and afterwards hung out with us for a bit. We ate British pot pies and had bread pudding for dessert at the Newman Arms. Whoever said that British food is terrible never ate there! Afterwards, we went to a pub on the street that Virginia Woolf and many of her contemporaries and other writers lived and wrote. The craziest thing happened there...I met a girl who overheard that I was from Virginia when me and one of my roommates where in the loo. She asked me where in VA I am from. It turns out that we are from the same town, went to the same high school, had the same principal, and she knew and played in the orchestra with my older sister. Imagine that! In the bottom floor restrooms in a random pub in London a fellow Warhawk! What a small world! London is the most international city in the world, and I believe it! I feel like I hear as much French, German, Spanish, Swedish, etc. as I do English. I hope that they think my accent is as cool as I think their's are :)
First day of classes tomorrow! Music class at 11:30 and then the rest of the day free to explore. What a life!
Last night I had my first experience with British late night television...all I have to say is that they DEFINITELY have seriously different television standards. I was shocked!!! Sometimes, because of all the American stores and products that are here, I don't always realize that I am across the pond. While watching that late night show (before we hastily changed the channel), there was no doubt in my mind about where I was.
Today's theme was orientation! When went over to Winston House, which is the builiding that UNC owns. It is absolutely beautiful and I can't believe that it is actually where I get to take classes. As an English major who is used to Greenlaw, it is definitely a pleasant change of scenery. We also received a tour of the University of London student Union (the ULU). Our lovely tour guide was not too keen of anything American. American football makes him sleep, he thought that UNC was extravagant for having its own building, and said that we don't appreciate real football enough. Pleasant fellow, he was! For the most part, people are really friendly and interested. I am just going to wright Mosh off as bitter for not being a Tar Heel ;)
Afterwards we went over to the British library. Between the sleep deprivation and jet lag, I really didn't appreciate it as much as I could have. We had a guided tour that was over 2 hours long and not quite on point. He was fascintate with the digital library that the library has been compiling in order to save space. I was more interested in the actualy texts, as was the rest of my program. We plan on returning and getting a library card (which is free!!) and going through several more times to really get the feel of it. It is intimidating and a bit overwhelming, but AMAZING! It is the 3rd largest library in the world, but definitely "the greatest" according to the Brits ;) The Magna Carta, the Gutenburg Bible, Shakespeare's handwritten drafts, the Beatles music, and so so much more are all in there! The world's largest book, the world's smallest book, and every book in the English language that exists today is part of the museum. They receive around 8,000 new books every day! I am still having a hard time imagining that...
This evening we went to dinner with our professor, his wife, and the Winston House facilities manager. The manager is only a few years older than us, and afterwards hung out with us for a bit. We ate British pot pies and had bread pudding for dessert at the Newman Arms. Whoever said that British food is terrible never ate there! Afterwards, we went to a pub on the street that Virginia Woolf and many of her contemporaries and other writers lived and wrote. The craziest thing happened there...I met a girl who overheard that I was from Virginia when me and one of my roommates where in the loo. She asked me where in VA I am from. It turns out that we are from the same town, went to the same high school, had the same principal, and she knew and played in the orchestra with my older sister. Imagine that! In the bottom floor restrooms in a random pub in London a fellow Warhawk! What a small world! London is the most international city in the world, and I believe it! I feel like I hear as much French, German, Spanish, Swedish, etc. as I do English. I hope that they think my accent is as cool as I think their's are :)
First day of classes tomorrow! Music class at 11:30 and then the rest of the day free to explore. What a life!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Day 1: Jet Lag
The best way to describe today is fuzzy. I arrived this morning at 7am GMT (2am EST). I had hoped to get some sleep on the plane, but the German snorer next to me had other things in mind. However, Virgin Atlantic is an amazing air line and overall I enjoyed the flight. Once I was through customs I grabbed a trolley, stacked my suitcases, met some of my classmates, hopped on a train, got in a cab, picked up the keys to my flat...you get the idea. Needless to say, I was clutching my coca cola wandering if I could somehow consume it intravenously. Instead, I unpacked and broke the rule of jet lag and took a nap. The whole day has been a blur and I cannot wrap my head around the fact that it is only 8:12pm. My roommates and I are hanging on as best we can to make it to 10pm...its a struggle.
Today I have seen glimpses of what I have to look forward to. Over fish and chips, some of my classmates and I talked about all the places to which we hope to travel. Every time somebody says "I want to...." I find myself, without fail, replying "me too." Because my brain is not firing on all cylinders right now, I am not ENTIRELY sure of what I have signed up for. However, I do know that I am excited about all of it. I will figure out exactly what I am doing when my brain no longer feels like it has been stomped on.
Great day. Fuzzy, but great. Tomorrow should be a little more in focus and it will only get better from here!
Cheerio! (somebody actually said that to me today. I felt like I was in a British movie, and then I had to remind myself that I am actually in England).
Today I have seen glimpses of what I have to look forward to. Over fish and chips, some of my classmates and I talked about all the places to which we hope to travel. Every time somebody says "I want to...." I find myself, without fail, replying "me too." Because my brain is not firing on all cylinders right now, I am not ENTIRELY sure of what I have signed up for. However, I do know that I am excited about all of it. I will figure out exactly what I am doing when my brain no longer feels like it has been stomped on.
Great day. Fuzzy, but great. Tomorrow should be a little more in focus and it will only get better from here!
Cheerio! (somebody actually said that to me today. I felt like I was in a British movie, and then I had to remind myself that I am actually in England).
Thursday, January 7, 2010
I'm leaving on a jet plane
Tomorrow is the day! I'm off to London, leaving tomorrow evening and arriving early Saturday morning. I can't wait to start writing about actual adventures (instead of in anticipation of adventures). My guide books are packed and ready to go and so is the rest of my stuff...or at least most of what I am supposed to have already packed. It really wouldn't be me if I didn't procrastinate. Let's hope that I don't forget anything too important because I seem to have a tendency to do that...I once left for a week without my glasses. If you know me, you would know that those are pretty essential (blind as a bat without 'em).
London here I come! Cheers!
London here I come! Cheers!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
