I'm starting to feel like I really do live here. But not because of my living conditions, just because there is a lot of time allotted to us here. I really would like to get to another country this weekend because I feel like by the time the weekend comes around I will have seen everything there is to see in London. The issue is finding a reasonably priced train ticket (don't want to fly bc of the volcano) and a hostel for the wknd. So anyone please FEEL FREE to arrange a wknd getaway for me! :D
Yesterday I had class in the morning and then ate lunch in the middle of a park. Afterward I went to the British Museum. The museum was a lot to handle. It had huge ceilings and was very spacious. All the glasses figures were jammed packed with items and it was hard to find what to focus on. In the late afternoon we had to listen to a guest speaker talk about Old London. It was fairly interesting but this man just had the most mundane voice I have ever heard. Needless to say it was hard to stay awake. We were suppose to do a walking tour of Old London but our professor cancelled it because we had to have time to get ready for Mamma Mia. I was a little upset about that, I was looking forward to the tour.
Mamma Mia was great! I had never seen it.. and felt like I was the only person in the entire world who hadn't. A lot of people said that it wasn't the best they've seen but I personally thought it was good.
Today I had class again. After class I went to the Globe Theater where Shakespeare's plays were performed. We had a mini tour inside of the theater and then an interactive workshop that taught us about Shakespeare's writing style. By this point in the day I was running below empty. Coffee has never saved my life as much as this latte did today. Isa and I sat by the river and drank our coffees while we waited for our friend Daniella and Danny to met us. Danny is a friend who has been studying abroad in Barcelona, as well as travelled to basically every country in Europe. He held off on London until now so he would come when I was here.
We grabbed a quick bit to eat, then went to St. Paul's Cathedral for some more pictures. We had intentions on going inside and climbing to the top but it was 10 pounds so we decided that we didn't want to pay that much. Instead we went to the Museum of London. This has been my favorite museum in London. It was a lot more interactive than the others. It was extremely small and easy to get through. By the time we were done with that it was approaching 5, the time when almost everything closes. So we went to Harrod's- OMG! That is the most amazingly huge, expensive and beautiful store I've ever seen in my life. Obviously, I didn't buy anything but the experience was rather entertaining.
Now, I am absolutely exhausted and getting to bed early so that I do not have to rely on coffee tomorrow. ;)
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Sightseeing
Today we slept in and got a midday afternoon start at sightseeing. Most things in Europe are closed on Sundays, so we did what we could. We took the tube to where the London eye is. We watched the street performers and had lunch in the park. We didn't ride the London eye bc we'll be doing that later as a group. We walked along the river and took pictures of the parliament building and big ben. Then we went to the tate modern museum. Today has been rather a slow day. But just walking around is enough to please me! I think i'm going to watch Harry Potter tonight and see what all the hype is about. I'm late, I know, but all I've been hearing is ppl talk about how places here is all over the series!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Brighton
Today I went on a day trip to a city called Brighton. It was about an hour train ride from London. The city is a beach town... go figure, right? You guys didn't REALLY think I was going to go an entire month without some saltwater did you? ;) As soon as we got off the train we literally walked straight out and down to the beach. This beach has no sand. It is a pebble or rocky beach. Slightly uncomfortable to walk on but nonetheless a beach! It also has a pier with an arcade and carnival rides. I rode a roller coaster on a pier, over water... what was I thinking? I'm not entirely sure! After that we walked the strip and paced in and out of stores. Then we sat by the beach while we listening to live music. We realized our time ran out way too quickly as 8 p.m. approached. I'm exhausted! Tomorrow we have plans to go sight seeing in London! :)
Friday, May 14, 2010
University of London
After arriving in London late last night, we were welcome by our horribly rude RA for our dorms. Isa and I are sharing a room again. The room is smaller than a room on a cruise ship, and our bathroom is about 4x4! We also share a kitchen with 4 other people. Isa and I did some groceries are hope to save some money by cooking dinners and eating sandwiches. After unpacking and straightening my life out a little bit, I didn't feel like cooking so we went out to eat. I had an amazing cheeseburgers and fries!
This morning was an early morning for us. We met downstairs at 9 a.m. and took the tube from one station to another. When we got off we walked for about 15 minutes to the AIFS office and the University of London (where are classes will be held). How I am going to remember how to get to class on Monday morning is way beyond me! After our orientation we went on a coach bus tour of London. Our first stop was at the church was Princess Diana got married. Next we went to the "London Bridge". What people (myself including) think is the London Bridge is actually not. It is called something else that I can't remember right now, haha. The real London bridge is no where near as pretty as the landmark bridge that everything thinks is the bridge. Our last stop of the tour was to the Queens house.
We received our cell phones last night, also. It is an ancient Nokia something or another. I had the phone when I was in 6th grade. I'm pretty pleased with the model bc it has the phone game Snake- which I havnt played since middle school.
Tomorrow and sunday are free days and we are planning a day trip to Brighton, which is apparently a beach town so yay! :)
This morning was an early morning for us. We met downstairs at 9 a.m. and took the tube from one station to another. When we got off we walked for about 15 minutes to the AIFS office and the University of London (where are classes will be held). How I am going to remember how to get to class on Monday morning is way beyond me! After our orientation we went on a coach bus tour of London. Our first stop was at the church was Princess Diana got married. Next we went to the "London Bridge". What people (myself including) think is the London Bridge is actually not. It is called something else that I can't remember right now, haha. The real London bridge is no where near as pretty as the landmark bridge that everything thinks is the bridge. Our last stop of the tour was to the Queens house.
We received our cell phones last night, also. It is an ancient Nokia something or another. I had the phone when I was in 6th grade. I'm pretty pleased with the model bc it has the phone game Snake- which I havnt played since middle school.
Tomorrow and sunday are free days and we are planning a day trip to Brighton, which is apparently a beach town so yay! :)
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Ireland, I miss you
It’s been less than 24 hours since I left the beautiful island. I am now driving somewhere between Wales and London, heading toward London. I can only hope that I fall in love with London just as I have with Ireland. I just finished watching P.S. I love you, which was filmed in Galway. As much as I miss my family and home, I am not looking forward to returning home- I was already missing Galway while I was in Dublin and now I’m missing them both. Europe is truly an amazing place. I’ve decided my next trip here will be to Paris, Greece and Switzerland.
My last day in Dublin was spent at the Guinness factory. The marketing director spoke to us for about 30 minutes. He was a very good speaker and held my attention. A pint of Guinness contains fewer calories than a pint of OJ. So obviously the smartest thing to do for my weight would be to have a Guinness with breakfast ;). The factory produces 3 million barrels of Guinness per day! The building is structured to model the Guinness pint glass. On the fourth floor you have the opportunity to learn how to pour the perfect beer. It takes exactly 119.5 seconds for perfection. You begin by first titled the glass at a 45-degree angle until it is about ¼ filled, and then tilt the glass regular until it covers the harp logo. Let the beer set and the gases rise to the top, while the foam dilutes. After that is finished fill the beer up to the top and enjoy the drink. To enjoy the beer to its full potential you push block all the foam out with your lip and take a big gulp of the dark stuff. Ps- it really works!
Later that evening we headed out for our last night in Ireland. We started out night at the bar we had been at the previous night. After making friends with a local in the girl’s bathroom, she told us of a better local bar that we should go to. It was the perfect place to spend our last night. The floor we walked into, and spent most of our time on, had a live band playing Irish music and songs from kings of leon. Downstairs played house music and the upstairs terrace was a refreshing spot for air. When we headed back to our hotel it was very sad. Crossing the bridge over the river we stopped and took in all that Ireland had given to us.
This morning we headed to the ferry at 6:45 a.m. It took us 4 hours to get from Dublin to Hollyhead. Then we got on our coach bus and drove for 2 hours to Wales, stopped for lunch, got back on the bus for a 4 hours bus ride to England. I’m excited to see what England has to offer us!
My last day in Dublin was spent at the Guinness factory. The marketing director spoke to us for about 30 minutes. He was a very good speaker and held my attention. A pint of Guinness contains fewer calories than a pint of OJ. So obviously the smartest thing to do for my weight would be to have a Guinness with breakfast ;). The factory produces 3 million barrels of Guinness per day! The building is structured to model the Guinness pint glass. On the fourth floor you have the opportunity to learn how to pour the perfect beer. It takes exactly 119.5 seconds for perfection. You begin by first titled the glass at a 45-degree angle until it is about ¼ filled, and then tilt the glass regular until it covers the harp logo. Let the beer set and the gases rise to the top, while the foam dilutes. After that is finished fill the beer up to the top and enjoy the drink. To enjoy the beer to its full potential you push block all the foam out with your lip and take a big gulp of the dark stuff. Ps- it really works!
Later that evening we headed out for our last night in Ireland. We started out night at the bar we had been at the previous night. After making friends with a local in the girl’s bathroom, she told us of a better local bar that we should go to. It was the perfect place to spend our last night. The floor we walked into, and spent most of our time on, had a live band playing Irish music and songs from kings of leon. Downstairs played house music and the upstairs terrace was a refreshing spot for air. When we headed back to our hotel it was very sad. Crossing the bridge over the river we stopped and took in all that Ireland had given to us.
This morning we headed to the ferry at 6:45 a.m. It took us 4 hours to get from Dublin to Hollyhead. Then we got on our coach bus and drove for 2 hours to Wales, stopped for lunch, got back on the bus for a 4 hours bus ride to England. I’m excited to see what England has to offer us!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Gleandalough & Wicklow Park
An early and beautiful blue filled skies was the way I started my Tuesday morning here in Dublin. We had a group tour to Glendalough and Wicklow Park. For those you don't know what it is, it is the biggest park in Europe (maybe even in the states as well?) We started at the bottom of the park and hiked up a car path. To the left we had a peaceful river running downhill while to the right we had houses that I didn't believe existed until I came here. It's incredible to see so much livestock, particularly sheep, grazes outside of peoples home. The freedom that animals have here is great and so precious. Once we reached the top, we were surrounded by greenery, mountains of utter beauty and the scenery of nature. It reminded me of scenes from Lord of the Rings. After spending about an hour at the top, taking pictures and soaking all the beauty in, we headed back down with time to spare. I decided to lay on the grass and just enjoy it all. I was shortly interrupted by a local field trip group of about 50 elementary school children. They were adorable. I snapped a few pictures of them, and they of course thought I was crazy.
On our way back we stopped for lunch. I enjoyed what I think has been my favorite meal so far- a spinach and cheese croissant with 3 salads (tomatoes and spinach, tomatoes and broccoli, and potato salad). Then it was back to the bus. Our tour guide for Dublin has been a pleasant to have. However, her voice is so soothing that once I hit that chair on the bus I immediately am put to sleep. After what felt like a 5 minute nap, our bus dropped us off at our hotel. I realized that I had time to quickly make it to Trinity College for the Book of Wells. Fortunately, I only had to pay 4 euros because I was a student and because it was 4:40 by the time I got there (it closes at 5). The book was beautiful- it dates all the way back to the 8th century. I don't even think my mind can concept how old it really is. The art work is unexplainable. How can there be so much detail??? Beyond me.
Last night I decided I needed to enjoy a night out in Dublin, since I hadn't yet. The area called Temple Bar is the spot to be at. So we made our way there and found our way into the actual bar called Temple Bar. There was a live band playing all irish music. This immediately took me back to being a child and pretending that I could line dance. The pubs here are very different from in the states. Pubs are seen more as a place for socializing. Yes, people do get drunk but there it's a slow process and I believe usually unintentional. Here a man can sit at the bar and become friends with people sitting around him. At home, this man would appear to anyone as a creeper or an alcoholic.
As we made our way home, I found myself looking to the right for cars instead of toward the left. I am getting used to having to look "right, left, right" instead of "left, right, left." I am very fortunate to not having to return to Gainesville for summer classes where I have to walk everywhere! Haha :)
On our way back we stopped for lunch. I enjoyed what I think has been my favorite meal so far- a spinach and cheese croissant with 3 salads (tomatoes and spinach, tomatoes and broccoli, and potato salad). Then it was back to the bus. Our tour guide for Dublin has been a pleasant to have. However, her voice is so soothing that once I hit that chair on the bus I immediately am put to sleep. After what felt like a 5 minute nap, our bus dropped us off at our hotel. I realized that I had time to quickly make it to Trinity College for the Book of Wells. Fortunately, I only had to pay 4 euros because I was a student and because it was 4:40 by the time I got there (it closes at 5). The book was beautiful- it dates all the way back to the 8th century. I don't even think my mind can concept how old it really is. The art work is unexplainable. How can there be so much detail??? Beyond me.
Last night I decided I needed to enjoy a night out in Dublin, since I hadn't yet. The area called Temple Bar is the spot to be at. So we made our way there and found our way into the actual bar called Temple Bar. There was a live band playing all irish music. This immediately took me back to being a child and pretending that I could line dance. The pubs here are very different from in the states. Pubs are seen more as a place for socializing. Yes, people do get drunk but there it's a slow process and I believe usually unintentional. Here a man can sit at the bar and become friends with people sitting around him. At home, this man would appear to anyone as a creeper or an alcoholic.
As we made our way home, I found myself looking to the right for cars instead of toward the left. I am getting used to having to look "right, left, right" instead of "left, right, left." I am very fortunate to not having to return to Gainesville for summer classes where I have to walk everywhere! Haha :)
Monday, May 10, 2010
Dublin take II
I was a little off. Dublin is beautiful, and my views of it have completely changed since yesterday. Today I had class in the morning and then went on a bus tour of the city. Our tour guide was an elderly woman who was absolutely adorable. She even sang us a song (of which I can’t remember right now). Apparently our hotel isn’t exactly in the best location because we began our tour by seeing the area of the newly immigrants homes. This would explain why I had such a misconception of Dublin. We then toured around the museums, Trinity College and St. Patrick’s cathedral. All of a sudden there were tons of things that I felt like I need to go back and see before I left Dublin. Our bus got off at St. Patrick’s and we were able to go inside and view it. We also stopped at a park in Dublin were I enjoyed tea and a muffin of some sort, while the others ate an amazing lunch (I had lunch before I left). The food here is incredible. It’s always cooked with veggies and always has some sort of good sauce. I am having difficulties not being able to eat ranch. Hot sauce I can stumble upon sometimes. If I were to ever move here, I would definitely have to bring a suitcase full of the both. The country of Ireland has no ranch whatsoever! These people are missing out! Haha, anyways I think I might be becoming addicted to tea. I have a cup a day two.
Yesterday we walked by Trinity College twice, not knowing what it was. Had I had known then I would’ve gone inside and toured the college as well as seen The Book of Kells. I tried to do that today after the tour. However, the president of somewhere was receiving a personal tour and no one else was allowed in. Wellll excuseeee meee! :( I’m not sure what I’ll be able to squeeze into the rest of my busy week before departing. I wish had the bus tour BEFORE our free day so that way we would have known what we should go see. Tomorrow we are going on an all day excursion to Wicklow and Glendalough. The park is supposedly the biggest park in Europe! Wednesday we have class again and will be visiting the Guinness factory at 2:15 p.m. I am hoping to go to Trinity between then but that might be cutting it close. Thursday morning we leave at 8:20a.m. for London.
As for the weather today… let’s just say I had to pull out the raincoat. It didn’t rain but it was gloomy, cold and wet- just like we were told. I’m still convinced it’ll stay beautiful forever. If not, I’m glad we were lucky enough to enjoy some sun-filled days. I’ve decided that I am a firm believer in the weather patterns affecting one’s emotions and moods. I need sunshine in my life, everyone does. Sunshine sends positive and warm energy into the body. :)
Yesterday we walked by Trinity College twice, not knowing what it was. Had I had known then I would’ve gone inside and toured the college as well as seen The Book of Kells. I tried to do that today after the tour. However, the president of somewhere was receiving a personal tour and no one else was allowed in. Wellll excuseeee meee! :( I’m not sure what I’ll be able to squeeze into the rest of my busy week before departing. I wish had the bus tour BEFORE our free day so that way we would have known what we should go see. Tomorrow we are going on an all day excursion to Wicklow and Glendalough. The park is supposedly the biggest park in Europe! Wednesday we have class again and will be visiting the Guinness factory at 2:15 p.m. I am hoping to go to Trinity between then but that might be cutting it close. Thursday morning we leave at 8:20a.m. for London.
As for the weather today… let’s just say I had to pull out the raincoat. It didn’t rain but it was gloomy, cold and wet- just like we were told. I’m still convinced it’ll stay beautiful forever. If not, I’m glad we were lucky enough to enjoy some sun-filled days. I’ve decided that I am a firm believer in the weather patterns affecting one’s emotions and moods. I need sunshine in my life, everyone does. Sunshine sends positive and warm energy into the body. :)
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