I've obviously been busy!

I know it's been entirely too long! I told myself I'd write all the time, but I've honestly been so busy that it's impossible to keep up. Sit back and prepare yourself...this is going to be a LONG post! haha!

So about three weeks ago I was getting ready for my trip to Wales! Tonight I'm getting ready for my trip to Italy! We'll start from the beginning though...

Monday, February 9th, my Tale of Two Cities class had a field trip to Greenwich. We took a ferry down the River Thames and got to see most of Greenwich. I stood over the Prime Meridian line at the Royal Observatory and got to be in 2 hemispheres at once (cool!) and we toured some of the other buildings in the area. I went to The Queen's House which isn't actually a house at all, but once was. Today it's more of an art gallery. Needless to say, I walked through that pretty quickly. We walked down to a chapel. All of the churches/cathedrals/abbeys here are amazing. They're all decorated so ornately and have so much detail and history. This chapel was of course gorgeous and I took entirely too many pictures of it like always! I was starting to run out of time and my professor had told us we should see the Painted Room; she was right. The Painted Room is so spectacular, I can't even describe how amazing it was when I walked in the room. They say it's comparable to the Sistine Chapel. It seems like every inch of the room is painted (it's not) and the detail is amazing. I can't imagine how someone starts a project of that magnitude. It's truly a special gift to be able to paint. I had to get back to London though because I had night class. Two of the girls in my International Business class had birthdays that week so our professor let us out of night class early! How exciting!

Tuesday, February 10th was April's birthday. We went to Ice Bar here in London. The entire bar is made of ice. When you walk in they give you this shiny blue cape that has gloves and a hood. One drink is included in the cover and I got an Emerald Fizz. It was Absolut raspberry, kiwi syrup, lime juice, and lemonade in an ice mug. It was pretty good, but drinking out of the ice mug was incredibly difficult!

Wednesday was our field trip to the British Museum. I'm not too keen on artifacts and historical things, but I found the museum interesting. With our program, we have guided tours of the museums and other field trips by the most amazing tour guides. They know absolutely everything in the world I think! The British Museum has a lot of Egyptian, Greek and English artifacts. I got to see the Rosetta Stone! The museum is also home to Cleopatra's mummy. I was kind of freaked out when we were in the mummy room though; they're just very creepy to me. After our field trip, me and some of my friends walked over to a tourist/gift shop. I was so excited. They had postcards for 10p (like 10 cents) and other fun stuff. I find it odd that I saw the Rosetta Stone (one of the most influential artifacts in uncovering Egyptian history) but I remember the gift shop we went to after. That's me!

Thursday, we went to see "The Taming of the Shrew" for my Shakespeare class. We hadn't finished reading the play though and the end of the performance shocked me. I had expected it to end like the movie "10 Things I Hate About You" which is a modern production. The live performance did not end like the movie. The end made Kate completely submissive to Pertrucio and he was abusive. I didn't like it, but it's how Shakespeare wrote it. There was one upside to the performance. They had a man act as though he was Jamaican because he was from the "islands" of Italy, where the play is set. It was absolutely hilarious.

For Valentine's Day, some of my roommates and I went to see "He's Just Not That Into You." It was such a great movie! If you haven't seen it (and you're a girl) I'd totally recommend it. Definitely a chick flick though. The movies here are pretty much like back home. They don't have previews really, but commercials before the film. You can choose sweet or salty popcorn. The soda doesn't have a ton of ice which is nice because I don't really like a lot of ice. Movies do premiere a little later here than in the states, but they're still the same. It costs about the same to go too so that's nice.

Fast forward a few days to Wednesday the 18th. For our field trip we went to Dover and Canterbury. It was my first castle experience! Dover was crucial to World War II and has always been a strong military point. There are tunnels on the grounds that were built during WWII, but we didn't have time to tour them. The "keep" was closed for remodeling so we didn't get to see what the prison had been like, but the grounds were nice. It was a pretty foggy/rainy day so it was hard to enjoy being outside. Our tour guide mentioned that if it had been a clear day, we would have been able to see France. That's so crazy to be able to see another country! I know that we see Illinois all the time, but another country?! I thought that was cool...even though we didn't see it. haha. In Canterbury, we toured the cathedral and I was amazed yet again by the beauty of the churches here in England. We were given free time in the town so me and some of my friends walked around a street market. I saw a British copy of Harry Potter and I almost bought it. I think it would be really great to have a set of the British versions, even though they aren't that different, the covers are and I'm such a fanatic that it makes sense to me! haha.

Thursday Mom came to visit! Best idea ever! It was so great! I picked her up from the airport around 6:45or 7...I don't remember. We came back to my place and immediately came up with a plan of attack. We decided to go see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. The palace is so close to Westminster Abbey and Big Ben and Parliament, that we went to see those too, but just from a distance...we had to get pictures! So we watched the Changing of the Guard. There were bands, people on horses, and parades. They do this every other day in the winter and everyday in the summer. It took at least 45 minutes. Seems a little crazy to me, but it was enjoyable. There were 2 bands and it was almost a battle of the bands because one would play a song then the other would. The bands played Mamma Mia! I couldn't believe it...Dancing Queen, really? The funniest part was that the entire crowd started singing along. After that, mom and I went to High Street Kensington so she could see some of the stores and I needed to go to the library! We walked through Kensington Gardens for a bit and then I had class so mom came back to my flat while I learned all about Shakespeare. Thursday night we went to Covent Garden with my roommates and had Mexican! It was delicious...but we were 8 minutes late for Happy Hour. Bummer. The food more than made up for it though. I have a feeling that La Perla will become one of my favorite places because it was pretty cheap!

Friday morning mom and I had a VERY early flight. We left my flat around 4 (I think) and caught a cab (because the tubes weren't even running) to the bus station. There we caught a bus to Luton airport and checked in for our flight. The airport was great, but I know I slept the entire flight to Paris. We arrived and started sightseeing almost immediately. I thought it was really neat that the first thing I saw when I walked out of the metro was the Eiffel Tower. Our hotel was within a 25 minute walk to the tower so we decided to walk there. From the tower we went to a cafe and had the best cup of coffee ever! On to the Arc de Triumph, down the Champs de Elysee all the way to the Louvre. Absolute, without a doubt, longest walk of my life. Once we got to the Louvre, we waited until 6 to go in (so I could get in for free) and walked around for an hour and a half. We saw the Mona Lisa and the Crown Jewels and a ton of other stuff that I'm sure is very interesting.

Saturday we were so exhausted! We decided to go exploring regardless. Usually a great idea, but it wasn't working out for us. We walked along this street that had tons of shops and cafes and food. That was amazing. We tried to find this flea market. We honestly walked around for 2 hours trying to find it and we couldn't. Basically, we failed. We decided to go see Notre Dame. As we walk out of the Metro, I see a church spire so I walk that way. Wrong again. I made us walk around the entire island before we found Notre Dame. Oops. Mom would probably admit that it was better this way because we got to see more?! haha. We made it to Notre Dame and walked through. Again with these European churches. Absolutely gorgeous. We didn't make it up the tower though. We saw the Eiffel Tower lit up at night which was really pretty!

Sunday off to Versailles. We had to catch a train out of the city to get to Versailles, but it was completely worth it. We paid for a guided tour of Versailles and got to see some of the private rooms. There were only 2 other people on our tour because it was English so it was a very private tour which was nice. The palace is amazing. Everything is so elaborate and majestic. We also had a private viewing of the chapel where Marie Antoinette was married. After the guided tour, we got headsets and went on an audio tour of the staterooms. Just as we were getting to the Hall of Mirrors, my camera pretty much died. I was so upset. Hall of Mirrors? Dad would say that's perfect for me! The grounds at Versailles were really nice too even though it's winter and all of the fountains were covered and the grass wasn't very green. It was so cold outside so we decided to head back into Paris. We had a little time before our train came so we stopped in McDonald's across the street. It was 100% the nicest McDonald's I've ever seen. It was super modern and had a little cafe with cakes and cookies and coffees. We didn't get anything, but it was nice to see. When we got back to Paris, we went out to eat at the restaurant next to our hotel. I ordered Gambon?? Risotto. No one knew how to translate gambon to english so I was seriously nervous. It's shrimp, don't worry. It was amazing. Mom had french onion soup and chocolate mousse. I also had chocolate cake with custard. Best meal I've had in Europe, without a doubt. We walked to the Eiffel Tower to see it at night again. It's really pretty the way it "sparkles."

Monday was spent climbing the Eiffel Tower (with no line!) and a river cruise. By climbing the tower I really mean riding the lift. The views from the top were incredible, even though it was really cloudy and kind of rainy. I got to see so much of the city and since I had been to so many places, I could find them and see how far I had walked! The river cruise was neat. The boat was enclosed so that was incredibly appreciated! There were handheld audio guides to help explain the things we were seeing. In my Tale of Two Cities class, we constantly discuss Paris' history. It was nice to see all of the places we've talked about in class about the Revolution and other historical events. That's the great thing about being here. Seeing where the events we've learned about took place is amazing. It really helps me put things into context and get a visual of what's going on in history. Mom and I arrived back in London late Monday night and I immediately started in on all of the homework I had due for Tuesday.

Tuesday I was still catching up on homework so I sent mom off with a list of places, her oyster card (tube pass), and a map. I was in class from 2:30 until basically 8:30 (with a 45 minute break for dinner) and mom had explored so much while I was working hard! She went to Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and Harrods! She walked around a lot too and found this cute pub not more than 3 blocks from our flat that we had never been to. After night class mom, me, and 2 of my roommates went out for a drink in a classic English pub.

Wednesday mom and I went to Piccadilly Circus (comparable to Times Square) and did a little souvenir shopping. We found some scarves (for me!) and hoodies for Emma and Dad. Around 12:30 mom and I headed back out to Heathrow and off she went. She's somewhere in the air right now, or maybe in customs in Chicago.

This afternoon when I got back, I researched a little for Italy. I walked to the library and met Lynnsey and we got some travel books on Venice, Florence, and Rome. Then we went shopping! I bought some new clothes for the trip to Italy. Our flight is at 7pm tomorrow (Thursday). We're planning on being in Venice Friday and Saturday, taking the train to Florence Saturday night and staying Sunday and Monday, Tuesday we plan on going to Pisa. Then off to Rome Wednesday through Friday. We arrive in London at 11:45 pm on Friday.

I promise to take tons of pictures and not wait so long to post next time! Miss you all!

Love from London,
Ellie

Weekend in Wales

There is no way I will be able to explain how incredible this past weekend was. Wales is cold, windy, muddy, rainy, smelly, and it's the most amazing place I have ever been.

We started the weekend by catching the train from London. Lynnsey and I arrived at the train station over an hour early so we went to get some coffee and almost missed our train because we were just sitting and talking! We did make the train though, but our seats weren't next to each other. I went to my seat and met a very nice man. He informed me that you don't actually have to sit in your seat and that the chances of someone checking your ticket were pretty low. So I went to find Lynnsey so we could sit with each other.

The train ride was gorgeous. We experienced all types of weather...snow, rain, wind, and sun. We arrived in Haverfordwest, Wales around 4:30 pm and had a couple hours to kill so we explored the town a bit. It was so quaint and picturesque. We took tons of pictures of this little church in the middle of town. Once we got cold, we found a pub and ordered some food and drinks. We moved on to another pub after that one. The rest of the group showed up around 6:30 so we met with them and got a ride to Preselli Venture.

Once we arrived, we were given our rooms and Lynnsey, Alicia, and I all shared the hats and barrels room. Lynnsey and I had a double bed lofted in the room and Alicia had a twin bed. They fed us almost immediately and it was fantastic! We had vegetable lasagna and some bread. We all hung out and talked and drank for most of the evening and soon headed to bed.

Saturday morning my group was assigned to hike. Anyone who's reading this knows how "outdoorsy" I am. We were given the option of a 7 mile hike or a 3.5 mile hike...I chose the 7! We walked all along the coast of Wales. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. The cliffs are so high and you're so close to the edge walking along this tiny trail. The entire trail was muddy and had sheep poop all over, but the views more than made up for it. The pictures I took don't even do it justice. We completed the hike (we took longer than we should have and were about 30 minutes away from them calling the coast guard) and headed back to the lodge for lunch.

Saturday afternoon we went coasteering. This is the part that I was most nervous about. We were literally climbing along the cliffs and rocks along the Atlantic Ocean. The initial shock of going into the water knocks the breath right out of you. The guides said the water was 6 degrees celcius...probably around 50 degrees. We were in swimsuits and full winter wetsuits with booties and tennis shoes, gloves, and helmets. I did one jump from the cliffs and that was a big step for me. I don't know how high it was, but the rocks were enough to scare me. The tide was coming in so my group wasn't able to make it to the big jumps that most groups do, but we did get to climb around a ton. The cold doesn't really hit you until you're out of the water, changing alongside the road and you take your wetsuit off so you're only in your swimsuit. Then it's freezing. I honestly don't think I have ever been that cold. Saturday night we were all so exhausted from our activities that we pretty much showered, ate, and slept.

Sunday morning was our turn to sea kayak. The surfing group came along because the waves weren't big enough to surf. We actually got to go out on the Irish Sea (the group on Saturday had to go in a lake because the winds were too strong) and it was beautiful. The guides taught us how to paddle and steer and get out in case we capsized so we were pretty prepared. I was terrified of rolling over and not being able to get out of my kayak. We were strapped in with skirts so we stayed "warm" and dry. Warm seems to be a joke in Wales, especially when you're on the water. We had on swimsuits, fleeces, sleeveless wetsuits, shoes, windproof jackets, life jackets, gloves, and helmets. I absolutely loved kayaking. I think I caught on fairly easily and got the steering down. We actually saw some seals playing nearby and they stayed close the entire time we were out on the sea. Coming back we ran into some strong winds. It was nearly impossible to paddle into the harbor because the winds were coming off the cliffs. About half of us paddled ourselves in (I did!) and the other half had to walk in. I thought that Saturday had reached my cold tolerance, but today definitely topped it. The guides were so nice and once we all carried our gear back up to the trailers, they helped us strip off our wet clothes and put us in the vans so we could attempt to warm up. They have an amazing tolerance for cold weather.

We got back to the lodge and put on whatever warm/dry clothes we had left and packed up so we could get ready to head home. Our train left from Haverfordwest around 3:45. Lynnsey and I had purchased train tickets in advance and weren't going to get home until 2 am so we asked the conductor on the first train if we could just stay with the rest of the group and he worked it out all the way until Swansea. We had to ask the conductor at Swansea if we could ride with the rest of the group and thank goodness he let us. He was pretty hesitant, but he let us ride without paying the difference (that saved us about 50 pounds). We arrived in London around 9:45 and got back to our flat and couldn't have been happier! It's warm and dry here and it almost feels like home.

I wish my pictures did Wales justice. It's honestly the most spectacular place I have ever seen. Even when I was covered in mud or kayaking in the snow, it was one of the best times I have ever had. If I lived in Wales, I would spend everyday I could either in the ocean or on the coast (which is definitely not normal). When I told Mom about this trip, she thought I was crazy...who would have thought that I would be swimming in the Atlantic Ocean and climbing rocks; or sea kayaking in the Irish Sea; or doing a 7 mile hike covered in mud. This weekend was definitely a character building experience and I couldn't have been more blessed to see this beautiful place and experience the things I have. I cannot wait to go back to Wales!

Love from London,
Ellie

Sightseeing In London

There's so much to do here! We're never bored in this place! That's probably why I don't write as often as I should!

Friday my roommates Alicia and Lynnsey and I went to see Cirque du Soleil. I have a huge appreciation for the time and effort those people put into their performances. Everyone is so close to perfection; it's incredible! My favorite part of the show is the diabolo act.




You can see it on you tube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LU0XI3qZIw


Saturday we went to Portobello Market in Notting Hill. I love outdoor markets because you never know what you may come across. I didn't buy anything today, but I have plans to go back soon! I did eat some churros though and they were delicious!
We also saw the home of George Orwell in Notting Hill which was nice. All over London are blue circle signs that indicate where some famous person lived or where some important event occurred.




Sunday was devoted to homework and getting as much done for the week as we could. (I think that's typical whether I'm home in the states or over here!) The campus pub had a super bowl party and it was so much fun. I missed all of the amazing food that we would usually have during the super bowl, but I survived. The part that bothered me the most is that they don't get the American commercials here. On the walk home from the pub we discovered quite a few inches of snow had accumulated and it was absolutely gorgeous!


Monday we woke up to 6 inches of snow, the worst snow London has seen in nearly 20 years. The city basically shut down because none of the public transportation was running. People couldn't get to work, students couldn't get to school, but everyone made it to the park like we did. I had been jealous of everyone back home getting a few snow days, but our snow day was fantastic! It was perfect snow for snowmen! I've never seen so many snowmen and snowball fights. It was great to see people out in Hyde Park enjoying the weather. The dogs were especially cute to watch. It was cold, but so beautiful! We came back and warmed up with some hot chocolate back in the flat!


Tuesday we had classes even though Imperial (the college we have class at) didn't. Many of the schools were still shut down because people come from all over the city. What I found odd was that school isn't really closed, but students are encouraged to make an attempt to come in during bad weather...that wouldn't work back home! After our afternoon classes we celebrated one of our roommate's 21st birthday with Chinese take out! After night class we went to a local pub and played battleship while we drank strawberry beer!


Today we went to Oxford! The area is absolutely gorgeous! There wasn't much structure in our field trip so we got to wander around. There were lots of shops and I got an Oxford sweatshirt for only 10 pounds! Harvey's was there too!

We walked to Christ Church where some of the scenes from Harry Potter (i.e. the great hall) have been filmed, but it didn't open until 2:30 and we had to be back at the bus by 3 so we didn't get to go in, but the outside was beautiful! I'm done with class for the week since my class tomorrow is cancelled. We're going to see a production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream Thursday evening. It's off to Wales this weekend for sea kayaking and coasteering in the Irish Sea. Pray it's not too cold! There's a possibility for more snow tonight so pray for good weather too! Hopefully I'll get some great pictures of Wales.


Love from London,
Ellie