By luck and perseverance (mostly of my quasi-twin) I've finally made it to Ireland just yesterday night. Ohhh yeah, it's an interesting story, but too traumatic and long to get into now. So the blog will be put on hold until I reach London and then look forward to mostly stories and little pictures of Ireland. (Ah, buy a travel book if it bothers you that much!)
;)
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Saturday, December 25, 2004
Merry Christmas!!
I'm in Edinburgh now, got into town yesterday and went out for drinks with my friend John whom I met in Russia. He took me to a lunch place that had gooood fajitas! I was very excited for that fact. Then I wandered around the Christmas market here and bought some more presents. After watching ice skaters for a while, I met back up with John and we did a pub crawl for a while. Today I walked literally the entire east side of town with a Korean girl, Sophie, who is the only other person in my hostel room. It was fun, but walking for five hours straight in the cold and wind.. not so fun. Now I'm warming up in the hostel and I think some Aussies are going to cook Christmas dinner for the orphans here in the hostel. For now though I'm going to work on reading and recoperating.
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Bumming around Town
Hello all! Just a quick note, since it appears all internet access is expenive here, to let you know that my second day in Glasgow is going so far as well as my first. Actually all I've been doing recently is shopping. They have a huge long stretch of pedestrian street that is filled to the brim with shops. And now all the Christmas sales are on, so I've finally been stocking up on winter clothes. I did manage to tour the city via bus this morning and plan to hit a few more tourist traps for photo ops before I go the the Christmas Choir concert at the Glasgow Royal Concert hall tonight at seven. Have to run now, I'll write more soon and expect wonderful blogs once I return to London and have my own internet to putz around on. 'Till then!
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Welcome to Glasgow
Just a quick note to let you all know I arrived in Glasgow this morning and have got to my hostel. Can't check in quite yet as it is still early, so I'm going to hit the town for a while, find a cafe and read over my travel guide and plan the next few days. More to come once I find a cheaper internet cafe (the one at the hostel is £1 per 15 minutes, a ridiculous rate!).
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
And a Happy New Year!
Notice the stocking? I crocheted that myself. And our friend 'Dave the Wireman' has transformed into words for the season.
Merry Christmas!
Our little Christmas tree, which I dragged (carried really) all the way back from the greenhouse down the street.
Saturday, December 18, 2004
UPDATE!!!
NEW AND IMPROVED!!
No, I'm not trying to sell you a car or the newest version of the Swiffer, but for a good time call... 555 --- I mean read the latest, actually correctly detailed, version of the Wales trip. Enjoy!
No, I'm not trying to sell you a car or the newest version of the Swiffer, but for a good time call... 555 --- I mean read the latest, actually correctly detailed, version of the Wales trip. Enjoy!
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Leeds castle and Rochester - Under Construction!
Last, but not least in the recounting of days gone by is the Sunday trip to Leeds castle and Rochester that I went on two weekends ago. There's not much to say in regards to this but that on a lovely Sunday morning I again made my way to ISH and boarded the coach with 90-some other travelers and headed to the south east, first to visit Leeds castle (which is not in Leeds city by the way) and then to the city of Dickens, Rochester. Leeds was beautiful, an amazing example of English countryside. The late eccentric benefactor fixed up the castle and left it to a foundation to take care of. She also left behind an aviary, Victorian hedge maze and a grotto. The slogan of Leeds castle is "The Loveliest Castle in the World", not too much to live up to, eh? Well I will say it is quite a lovely castle, completely restored according to the various periods of architectural style. In one of the wings there was a spiral staircase made entirely of one gigantic tree trunk, carved with an entwining snake ending at the top with the head of the snake and a wizard crowning the exemplary work. That was truly amazing. Also interesting was the size of the castle, it was in fact a bit smaller than one would expect for the loveliest castle in the world. Not that size matters really. This point was picked up by another Bunacer, a girl from Alabama or Georgia or some other quintessential Southern Belle state, who upon entering the grounds and seeing the castle exclaimed in her discernible accent "It's so small!" The gate keepers laughed awkwardly, and said "Sorry" as if they needed to apologize for the let down of British culture and heritage. I walked around the grounds with the extremely chatting Aussie bloke, Scott, who was good company for the most part though I was inclined to run away or stay behind at certain points in order to gain the much needed composure to listen to him ramble on again. Finally we had to go back to the bus so that we could make it to Rochester in time to see the city and lantern parade.
We at last arrive in Rochester and are separated into groups for our tours around the small city. It came to be known later that my tour guide was quite good and told us many an interesting fact and anecdote whereas other tour guides left their groups with little more information than they came with. My group on the other hand learned that though Charles Dickens never actually lived in Rochester he often made the ancient city the setting for many of his novels. Also one of the boasting points of Rochester is that Dickens wished to be buried in the city, however our guide let us in on the fact that good ol' Chuck also asked to be buried in about half a dozen other cities. The matter was easily solved with the Queen said he would be buried in Poet's Corner in
Westminster Abbey. We also learned that Henry the VIII met one of his wives, Anne of Cleaves in the abbey of Rochester, she was lucky in that she was later only divorced rather than killed but was unlucky enough to be known as the ugliest wife he had. Last but not least of the interesting anecdotes was that the castle was only attacked once by the King of England himself (James that is, a most unloved king). But more on that later, if you really care to know the details.
Anyways, fter the quick tour around the city (quick because Rochester is really exceedingly small, at least the old city/interesting part) we were let loose to wander up and down the high street which took all of an hour and then we had to wait a little bit before the lantern parade started. Again I wound up hanging out with the Aussie fellow, he and I had a little cheap lunch at what looked like a soup kitchen but really was a Church trying to get a few pounds by providing hot lunches to the tourists. We were then joined by another girl who I'd seen before on Bunac trips but hadn't really talked with much. We had a good time fighting through the crowd and popping into shops and having some mulled wine. Finally the parade started. We three found ourselves at the end of the parade where there was a stand and microphone. We were treated to carols sung by the choirs of local churches and some comedy routine by the village funny man. All the townsfolk were dressed in typical Dickensian costume as they walked through the main street holding old school lanterns. We then made our way through the crowd and back to the bus where we boarded and headed back for home. Amazingly we didn't hit traffic and made it back to London about 8pm. And so ends another adventure. Stay tuned to hear about Scotland and Ireland!
We at last arrive in Rochester and are separated into groups for our tours around the small city. It came to be known later that my tour guide was quite good and told us many an interesting fact and anecdote whereas other tour guides left their groups with little more information than they came with. My group on the other hand learned that though Charles Dickens never actually lived in Rochester he often made the ancient city the setting for many of his novels. Also one of the boasting points of Rochester is that Dickens wished to be buried in the city, however our guide let us in on the fact that good ol' Chuck also asked to be buried in about half a dozen other cities. The matter was easily solved with the Queen said he would be buried in Poet's Corner in
Westminster Abbey. We also learned that Henry the VIII met one of his wives, Anne of Cleaves in the abbey of Rochester, she was lucky in that she was later only divorced rather than killed but was unlucky enough to be known as the ugliest wife he had. Last but not least of the interesting anecdotes was that the castle was only attacked once by the King of England himself (James that is, a most unloved king). But more on that later, if you really care to know the details.
Anyways, fter the quick tour around the city (quick because Rochester is really exceedingly small, at least the old city/interesting part) we were let loose to wander up and down the high street which took all of an hour and then we had to wait a little bit before the lantern parade started. Again I wound up hanging out with the Aussie fellow, he and I had a little cheap lunch at what looked like a soup kitchen but really was a Church trying to get a few pounds by providing hot lunches to the tourists. We were then joined by another girl who I'd seen before on Bunac trips but hadn't really talked with much. We had a good time fighting through the crowd and popping into shops and having some mulled wine. Finally the parade started. We three found ourselves at the end of the parade where there was a stand and microphone. We were treated to carols sung by the choirs of local churches and some comedy routine by the village funny man. All the townsfolk were dressed in typical Dickensian costume as they walked through the main street holding old school lanterns. We then made our way through the crowd and back to the bus where we boarded and headed back for home. Amazingly we didn't hit traffic and made it back to London about 8pm. And so ends another adventure. Stay tuned to hear about Scotland and Ireland!
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Monday, December 13, 2004
Happy Thanksgiving!! .... belatedly
Yeah, yeah I know... it's the second week of December and I'm just now getting around to writing about my English Thanksgiving. I get it.. I'm a little behind on the times but I'm making every effort (or almost) to catch up. So let's begin -
The Monday after Mary and I had our little shopping trip we went out to have a goodbye dinner thing for her. We found this cool pub that's on a moored ship on the Thames. They have pretty good food at not disastrous prices plus the cool atmosphere of the rocking ship. Mary then left on Wednesday to return home in time for the holidays. I spent the rest of the week working - no time off here for such crazy pilgrim holidays celebrating the successful migration away from the Motherland.
Anyways, the planned celebration of a few American ex-pats (aka my friends) was to take place on Saturday, beginning by playing American football in Regent's park then moving to where Ryan, Richard, Whitney and Autumn live (each pair share a flat in the same building) to have dinner. My only duty was to bring cranberry sauce, wine and possibly a dessert. So I take my time, enjoying a relaxing Saturday morning. Go to the upscale grocery store (which they seem to have a lot of here) and buy the sauce, a nice apple pastry tort/pie and two bottles of wine, a red and a white. I then make my way to the tube station where I board the train with my goods and proceed to meet up with everyone at the park. By this time I'm actually running a little late, having taken my own sweet time picking out my fare and am rushing. I have to transfer twice to get to where I need to be and along the way have the terrible misfortune of breaking the wine on the platform!! While attempting to readjust my grip on the bags I drop the bag that contained both bottles. They smashed together and starting spouting out of the bag! A kind British gentleman behind me felt inclined to inform of the wine pouring from the pores of the plastic sack, as if I hadn't seen, heard or felt the bottles breaking at my feet. After informing a tube attendant of the spillage I hopped on the first train, luckily it was not far off, and escaped the shame and anguish of wasting good wine. When I finally arrived at the park I got a text message that they had given up on football (that's how late I was) and was told to meet up at their place. So I get back on the tube and happen to get on the same carriage as they were on. We all make our way to their flats and beginning the painful process of heating up several dishes with only the aid of two Yorkshire terrier sized microwaves that produced less heat than if we tried rubbing two twigs together to create fire.. of course I exaggerate.. it produced about the same amount of heat as two twigs rubbed together. Finally the meal was cooked/warmed/at least brought to room temperature or thereabouts and we dig in (for more particulars on the feast and fun had see my picture gallery on ofoto.com). I had to leave early to go to an all night Lord of the Rings session at the Imax in the city.
So at about 6pm, after only an hour of dining, I head off to watch all three Lord of the Rings films in a row on a gigantic Imax screen. Call me Ishmael, call me a dork, geek.. FREAK, alls I got to say is it was Good Times!! The Fellowship of the Ring started at 8pm, we had a half hour intermission between films and tea, coffee and concessions throughout the night. The amazing times ended at 7am.. yes, that's right 7am.. the next morning. I then hopped on the tube, the very first one of the morning and headed home where I proceeded to sleep through the day. Woke up about 4pm, made some dinner and putzed around until bedtime again and then went to work the next morning. All in all it was a wonderful weekend, not to be forgotten.
The Monday after Mary and I had our little shopping trip we went out to have a goodbye dinner thing for her. We found this cool pub that's on a moored ship on the Thames. They have pretty good food at not disastrous prices plus the cool atmosphere of the rocking ship. Mary then left on Wednesday to return home in time for the holidays. I spent the rest of the week working - no time off here for such crazy pilgrim holidays celebrating the successful migration away from the Motherland.
Anyways, the planned celebration of a few American ex-pats (aka my friends) was to take place on Saturday, beginning by playing American football in Regent's park then moving to where Ryan, Richard, Whitney and Autumn live (each pair share a flat in the same building) to have dinner. My only duty was to bring cranberry sauce, wine and possibly a dessert. So I take my time, enjoying a relaxing Saturday morning. Go to the upscale grocery store (which they seem to have a lot of here) and buy the sauce, a nice apple pastry tort/pie and two bottles of wine, a red and a white. I then make my way to the tube station where I board the train with my goods and proceed to meet up with everyone at the park. By this time I'm actually running a little late, having taken my own sweet time picking out my fare and am rushing. I have to transfer twice to get to where I need to be and along the way have the terrible misfortune of breaking the wine on the platform!! While attempting to readjust my grip on the bags I drop the bag that contained both bottles. They smashed together and starting spouting out of the bag! A kind British gentleman behind me felt inclined to inform of the wine pouring from the pores of the plastic sack, as if I hadn't seen, heard or felt the bottles breaking at my feet. After informing a tube attendant of the spillage I hopped on the first train, luckily it was not far off, and escaped the shame and anguish of wasting good wine. When I finally arrived at the park I got a text message that they had given up on football (that's how late I was) and was told to meet up at their place. So I get back on the tube and happen to get on the same carriage as they were on. We all make our way to their flats and beginning the painful process of heating up several dishes with only the aid of two Yorkshire terrier sized microwaves that produced less heat than if we tried rubbing two twigs together to create fire.. of course I exaggerate.. it produced about the same amount of heat as two twigs rubbed together. Finally the meal was cooked/warmed/at least brought to room temperature or thereabouts and we dig in (for more particulars on the feast and fun had see my picture gallery on ofoto.com). I had to leave early to go to an all night Lord of the Rings session at the Imax in the city.
So at about 6pm, after only an hour of dining, I head off to watch all three Lord of the Rings films in a row on a gigantic Imax screen. Call me Ishmael, call me a dork, geek.. FREAK, alls I got to say is it was Good Times!! The Fellowship of the Ring started at 8pm, we had a half hour intermission between films and tea, coffee and concessions throughout the night. The amazing times ended at 7am.. yes, that's right 7am.. the next morning. I then hopped on the tube, the very first one of the morning and headed home where I proceeded to sleep through the day. Woke up about 4pm, made some dinner and putzed around until bedtime again and then went to work the next morning. All in all it was a wonderful weekend, not to be forgotten.
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Goodbye to one friend
The weekend after Wales trip was spent with my friend Mary who was leaving the next week to head back to Nebraska for the holidays. Hopefully she'll return after the new year to finish her adventures in England. Friday night we went out to dinner at a pub in Leciester Square (pronounced "lester"). Well, really we went out for dessert but we also had dinner as well. Note: If ever you get to Leciester Square, The Brewmaster pub has the best homemade apple crumble I've ever tasted. Saturday morning we met up early (a little before noon) and went to the Borough Market - the biggest, most amazing market place I've seen so far. It has everything you could ever possibly wish for in terms of food items. From Mexican hot chocolate and salsa to every kind of cheese and chutney (a jam-sauce like item, very popular here) to freshly killed birds, rabbits, and dears.. oh my! (So fresh they were hanging upside down, still a bit bloodied with their heads, or rather where the head would be in plastic bags. All this right across from a wine kiosk, it was all very surreal indeed!)
After going all over the market, we had some amazing pizza in the courtyard of Southwark Cathedral, where Mary worked. Then we went about doing some last minute shopping for items she needed before she went home. She showed me a Lithuanian shop that I was happy to note had quite a few Russian items that I missed. Then we went to Covent Gardens and saw the giant Christmas tree they were putting up there and had some mulled wine and mince pies (the epitome of traditional English Christmas food.) We managed to get all the items Mary was needing, including a second carry-on bag for all the things she had bought and all this in a massive downpour. Let me tell you how not fun it is to try and walk around and shop in a torrential rainstorm. I have yet to buy an umbrella here (since I couldn't take the one given to me by the International Office at DU as it was too big to fit in the suitcase and too weapon-like to take on the plane.) We then went back to my place and watched Hitchcock's Rear Window and had Indian take away. We then went to bed thoroughly satisfied with the day and rearing to start again on the morrow.
Sunday, Mary joined me during my Russian language sessions (I've been taking private lessons with a cool guy named Igor from Kaliningrad.) After that we walked around St. Paul's Cathedral, got a bit lost, found our way back and then met up with my flatmate and saw The Incredibles. It was the first Pixar film I've seen, I think, and I quite enjoyed it. After that we said goodbye to Mary and Alastair and I headed home. Then it was back to the working week for he and I and the end of another blog for now.
P.S. For those of you whom I didn't get a chance to email, you can check out all the pictures I've taken so far by going to ofoto.com, you may have to join up as a member (entirely free) to view and/or purchase pictures. If that doesn't work let me know and I'll send you the ofoto invite to view my albums. Happy viewing!
After going all over the market, we had some amazing pizza in the courtyard of Southwark Cathedral, where Mary worked. Then we went about doing some last minute shopping for items she needed before she went home. She showed me a Lithuanian shop that I was happy to note had quite a few Russian items that I missed. Then we went to Covent Gardens and saw the giant Christmas tree they were putting up there and had some mulled wine and mince pies (the epitome of traditional English Christmas food.) We managed to get all the items Mary was needing, including a second carry-on bag for all the things she had bought and all this in a massive downpour. Let me tell you how not fun it is to try and walk around and shop in a torrential rainstorm. I have yet to buy an umbrella here (since I couldn't take the one given to me by the International Office at DU as it was too big to fit in the suitcase and too weapon-like to take on the plane.) We then went back to my place and watched Hitchcock's Rear Window and had Indian take away. We then went to bed thoroughly satisfied with the day and rearing to start again on the morrow.
Sunday, Mary joined me during my Russian language sessions (I've been taking private lessons with a cool guy named Igor from Kaliningrad.) After that we walked around St. Paul's Cathedral, got a bit lost, found our way back and then met up with my flatmate and saw The Incredibles. It was the first Pixar film I've seen, I think, and I quite enjoyed it. After that we said goodbye to Mary and Alastair and I headed home. Then it was back to the working week for he and I and the end of another blog for now.
P.S. For those of you whom I didn't get a chance to email, you can check out all the pictures I've taken so far by going to ofoto.com, you may have to join up as a member (entirely free) to view and/or purchase pictures. If that doesn't work let me know and I'll send you the ofoto invite to view my albums. Happy viewing!
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Wales at last!
We left off on the night before the trip to Wales. Now imagine if you will yet another early wet English morning heading to the tube at which we will meet our coaches. At least this time I was not heading there alone. Thank goodness for that fact. I actually managed to make it to the meeting place on time, thanks to the added company. In fact we arrived a little early. So we went to find snacks and the ever-needed coffee fix. We did get the snacks, though no sign of caffeine was to be found at 7:45am in this part of town on a Saturday. We boarded the bus, found nice seats near the rear and met up with another fellow Bunacer, an Australian named Scott who is quite a chatty fellow! (No.. seriously he's chatty. He'd drive even the infamous "Chatty Kathy" to beyond the brink.) A very nice guy to be sure, just chatty. Finally, almost on time this week, we revved the engines and set off. Well we didn't rev them, the drive rather calmly pulled out and set us on our way through the north of London, on through to Oxford where we were to pick up a few more people before we headed out Cheapstowe Castle, the oldest stone castle in the UK.
It is an amazing example of architecture that stands the test of time. Mary and I were in awe as we made our way around all over the grounds, starting with the latest buildings and working back to the oldest portion, the great hall (built circe 1067, a year after William the Conqueror was crowned King). We then went and had lunch and boarded the bus to go on to the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean. Coming to the ruins of an abbey claimed to be one of the most incredible ruins in the country, Tintem Abbey. Apparently I was in agreement with this statement as I took several, many, dozens of pictures from every angle conceivable of this abbey (seen now on Ofoto.com ;). We were told that this place served as inspiration for many artists and writers including Turner (famous English landscape painter) and Wordsworth (Romantic poet). I could definitely see why. It was breathtaking the way the light landed on the hills around the Abbey and cast shadow among the ruins. Mary and I walked around talking about how much the place reminded us of Colorado (she's a big fan of Colorado, and has visited there several times). Finally after contented ourselves with the beauty of the valley and discussing possibilities of settling down and raising families in a place like this (obviously first, we'd both need to find husbands but minor detail really), we made our way back to the group to head off to Hay-on-Wye, my new favorite Welsh town.
You may wonder why a small Welsh town called Hey-on-Wye is my favorite place so far in all of Great Britain. Needless to say the name itself is quite a draw, and fun to say. But the real reason for my adoration of such a place is the fact that there are 39 (you heard it 39) second-hand bookstores all in about a two mile strip. Unfortunately due to our late leaving and other delaying events throughout the day, we only reached this great little town at about 5:00pm. Just about the time everyone was closing up shop. Therefore, we weren’t able to explore around as much as we would’ve liked but I hope to get back there another day so I can go in to every store. But for the time being we Mary, Scott the Aussie and I, ran into the few shops that were still open and searched for second hard British versions of Harry Potter. Then we had to leave this quaint town for the hostel. After getting lost in the dark, we managed to find our hostel for the night. A nice big manor house called Baskerville Hall. Apparently it was once the set of a film version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous novel. It was a lovely place though the food service was quite a bit slow. They did have a pool, sauna, club, restaurant and bar (separate). The club services a lot of Welsh towns nearby, so there were some good times to be had hanging out with the locals. (Sidenote: The English are not great fans of the Welsh and I was warned off by my flatmate that they are basically the British version of rednecks known here as, pardon my British, “sheep-shaggers”.) Needless to say I didn’t enjoy the clubbing times as I was exhausted and went to bed early, which amazingly quite a few other people did too. The one seeming draw-back of the hostel was that for a 16-bed dorm filled with girls, they had one shower. Luckily it worked out better than I imagined. Only about half of us decided to even shower at all considering the next day would be spent on horses which would make us stinky again anyways. And those few who did shower used the one available in our room and another that was just outside the dorm room, down the hall a bit. After a night spent in relative warmth and comfort we awoke the next morning, hopped on the bus again for the drive to Breacon Beacons where the little ponies awaited us.
Now, remember from a while back I mentioned buying boots especially for this trip. Remember that the boots weren’t exactly hiking boots, but had a more stiletto like heel to them? Well here’s where they come into play. For those of us who didn’t have the proper footwear and weren’t able to procure it before we left our leader, Karen, was kind enough to purchase multiple sets of Wellington boots so that everyone could ride in safety. Assuming my boots fit the bill I told her I didn’t need any “Wellies”. Arriving at the riding ground, we all started to put on our boots. Karen noticed my boots and was very distraught – of course these couldn’t be used to ride the horses! I had to either find real boots with proper heels now or not ride. My heart sank… and my embarrassment soared! I was the jerk holding everyone else up because of my stupid, fashionable, pointy-toed, high-heeled, suede boots. Luckily another girl who had Wellingtons that were my size was kind enough to switch with me and wear her normal shoes. So finally things were settled, though I still couldn’t look any of my companions in the eyes for much of the journey home. After suiting up, including boots, helmet and breast plate, we had a bit of a training session on how to ride the horses, English style, then took them out for about a 2 hour run of it. Then we went to lunch at a local pub with good atmosphere and good food. The most fun of that was watching everyone attempt to sit down. We then ventured back for another 45 minute ride on another trial.
Having said that let me now say that it was the most gorgeous, awe-inspiring part of my stay here altogether. Unfortunately I have no pictures to back my claim that this was some of the more stunning countryside, as we weren’t allowed to bring anything but ourselves on the ride. But imagine if you will, rolling hills of green with trees just turning to yellow and orange. Sheep were everywhere – hence the not so polite epithet. Over the hills we went, under the trees, crossing a little waterfall – no, not to grandmother’s house we go – through the picturesque Welsh country. It is beyond my sad attempts to describe how beautiful the scene was. It simply filled me with awe and contentment.
After our horse-riding, we all got back on the bus and headed for London. We finished watching the rest of Matrix 2 and 3 (which I rather enjoyed to my surprise) on the way back. Returning once again to ISH (Int’l Student House) everyone scattered to the winds trying to get back to their respective homes. Let’s just say though the beauty and wonder of Wales will stay with me for a long time, it took a good three days before I could move and sit normally again. So there is the tale of Wales.
Next to come: Borough Market shopping spree, Mary leaves, Thanksgiving abroad and LOTR all the way!
It is an amazing example of architecture that stands the test of time. Mary and I were in awe as we made our way around all over the grounds, starting with the latest buildings and working back to the oldest portion, the great hall (built circe 1067, a year after William the Conqueror was crowned King). We then went and had lunch and boarded the bus to go on to the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean. Coming to the ruins of an abbey claimed to be one of the most incredible ruins in the country, Tintem Abbey. Apparently I was in agreement with this statement as I took several, many, dozens of pictures from every angle conceivable of this abbey (seen now on Ofoto.com ;). We were told that this place served as inspiration for many artists and writers including Turner (famous English landscape painter) and Wordsworth (Romantic poet). I could definitely see why. It was breathtaking the way the light landed on the hills around the Abbey and cast shadow among the ruins. Mary and I walked around talking about how much the place reminded us of Colorado (she's a big fan of Colorado, and has visited there several times). Finally after contented ourselves with the beauty of the valley and discussing possibilities of settling down and raising families in a place like this (obviously first, we'd both need to find husbands but minor detail really), we made our way back to the group to head off to Hay-on-Wye, my new favorite Welsh town.
You may wonder why a small Welsh town called Hey-on-Wye is my favorite place so far in all of Great Britain. Needless to say the name itself is quite a draw, and fun to say. But the real reason for my adoration of such a place is the fact that there are 39 (you heard it 39) second-hand bookstores all in about a two mile strip. Unfortunately due to our late leaving and other delaying events throughout the day, we only reached this great little town at about 5:00pm. Just about the time everyone was closing up shop. Therefore, we weren’t able to explore around as much as we would’ve liked but I hope to get back there another day so I can go in to every store. But for the time being we Mary, Scott the Aussie and I, ran into the few shops that were still open and searched for second hard British versions of Harry Potter. Then we had to leave this quaint town for the hostel. After getting lost in the dark, we managed to find our hostel for the night. A nice big manor house called Baskerville Hall. Apparently it was once the set of a film version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous novel. It was a lovely place though the food service was quite a bit slow. They did have a pool, sauna, club, restaurant and bar (separate). The club services a lot of Welsh towns nearby, so there were some good times to be had hanging out with the locals. (Sidenote: The English are not great fans of the Welsh and I was warned off by my flatmate that they are basically the British version of rednecks known here as, pardon my British, “sheep-shaggers”.) Needless to say I didn’t enjoy the clubbing times as I was exhausted and went to bed early, which amazingly quite a few other people did too. The one seeming draw-back of the hostel was that for a 16-bed dorm filled with girls, they had one shower. Luckily it worked out better than I imagined. Only about half of us decided to even shower at all considering the next day would be spent on horses which would make us stinky again anyways. And those few who did shower used the one available in our room and another that was just outside the dorm room, down the hall a bit. After a night spent in relative warmth and comfort we awoke the next morning, hopped on the bus again for the drive to Breacon Beacons where the little ponies awaited us.
Now, remember from a while back I mentioned buying boots especially for this trip. Remember that the boots weren’t exactly hiking boots, but had a more stiletto like heel to them? Well here’s where they come into play. For those of us who didn’t have the proper footwear and weren’t able to procure it before we left our leader, Karen, was kind enough to purchase multiple sets of Wellington boots so that everyone could ride in safety. Assuming my boots fit the bill I told her I didn’t need any “Wellies”. Arriving at the riding ground, we all started to put on our boots. Karen noticed my boots and was very distraught – of course these couldn’t be used to ride the horses! I had to either find real boots with proper heels now or not ride. My heart sank… and my embarrassment soared! I was the jerk holding everyone else up because of my stupid, fashionable, pointy-toed, high-heeled, suede boots. Luckily another girl who had Wellingtons that were my size was kind enough to switch with me and wear her normal shoes. So finally things were settled, though I still couldn’t look any of my companions in the eyes for much of the journey home. After suiting up, including boots, helmet and breast plate, we had a bit of a training session on how to ride the horses, English style, then took them out for about a 2 hour run of it. Then we went to lunch at a local pub with good atmosphere and good food. The most fun of that was watching everyone attempt to sit down. We then ventured back for another 45 minute ride on another trial.
Having said that let me now say that it was the most gorgeous, awe-inspiring part of my stay here altogether. Unfortunately I have no pictures to back my claim that this was some of the more stunning countryside, as we weren’t allowed to bring anything but ourselves on the ride. But imagine if you will, rolling hills of green with trees just turning to yellow and orange. Sheep were everywhere – hence the not so polite epithet. Over the hills we went, under the trees, crossing a little waterfall – no, not to grandmother’s house we go – through the picturesque Welsh country. It is beyond my sad attempts to describe how beautiful the scene was. It simply filled me with awe and contentment.
After our horse-riding, we all got back on the bus and headed for London. We finished watching the rest of Matrix 2 and 3 (which I rather enjoyed to my surprise) on the way back. Returning once again to ISH (Int’l Student House) everyone scattered to the winds trying to get back to their respective homes. Let’s just say though the beauty and wonder of Wales will stay with me for a long time, it took a good three days before I could move and sit normally again. So there is the tale of Wales.
Next to come: Borough Market shopping spree, Mary leaves, Thanksgiving abroad and LOTR all the way!
Friday, November 19, 2004
Bonfire night
Moving right along, the Thursday before we went to Wales I had to go buy a new coat, one that would actually protect me form the Welsh country cold. So I went to one of the little shops down the street from my flat. I walked into one that I'd been in before, just to look around and I ended up getting a coat, a sweater and a pair of boots. I love the new coat and sweater, the boots will be important to the Wales trip story later. The boots are a nice pair of brown suede knee-high stiletto heels. Earlier I received a message from Bunac saying that everyone needed a pair of heeled shoes so that they can ride the horses. So having prepared myself in the shopping department I went on to the last day of the work week and the British version of Halloween, November 5th. Known as Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes night or the Gun Powder Plot night. Basically a celebration of when Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Parliament with gun powder. Obviously he didn't succeed, he was actually rated out by a co-conspirator and later killed for treason. Now however they mark the anniversary of the day by setting off fireworks all over the country and set up bon fires (though I didn't see any of those in my adventures around southern London).
My friend Mary (from York and Stonehenge) and I decided to try and find some fireworks display way down south of the river, close to where she lives. So we met up there, the tube was an absolute mess! By the time we met up, we had missed the fireworks altogether. So we walked all up and down the football pitch and ate chips, candy floss and a toffee apple*. Then we walked all over Clapham Common, the area of London we were in, looking for a tube station for about a half hour before asking some rare 'locals' where we could find said transportation only to discover that the few tube stations around were all in three different directions, each about a 20 minutes walk away. We finally decided to return back to the one we had met at. Basically we had walked for over an hour for no particular reason, but we did have a nice chat, some exercise and visited a part of London neither of us had seen. She came to stay over at my house since we had to get up early to meet everyone at the tube station before heading off to Wales.
That's all I can muster for one night, it's been a long hellish week and I have to met Mary early tomorrow morning for a bit of a shopping spree. So I'll end with an English language session and then sign off for the night.
*English lesson:
British - American
football - soccer
candy floss - cotton candy
toffee apple - caramel apple
chip - fries
crisps - chips
My friend Mary (from York and Stonehenge) and I decided to try and find some fireworks display way down south of the river, close to where she lives. So we met up there, the tube was an absolute mess! By the time we met up, we had missed the fireworks altogether. So we walked all up and down the football pitch and ate chips, candy floss and a toffee apple*. Then we walked all over Clapham Common, the area of London we were in, looking for a tube station for about a half hour before asking some rare 'locals' where we could find said transportation only to discover that the few tube stations around were all in three different directions, each about a 20 minutes walk away. We finally decided to return back to the one we had met at. Basically we had walked for over an hour for no particular reason, but we did have a nice chat, some exercise and visited a part of London neither of us had seen. She came to stay over at my house since we had to get up early to meet everyone at the tube station before heading off to Wales.
That's all I can muster for one night, it's been a long hellish week and I have to met Mary early tomorrow morning for a bit of a shopping spree. So I'll end with an English language session and then sign off for the night.
*English lesson:
British - American
football - soccer
candy floss - cotton candy
toffee apple - caramel apple
chip - fries
crisps - chips
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
The British Museum
I apologize in advance for the blandness of this blog... it's been a long, busy day and I'm barely able to cook my sad little dinner let alone attempt to think of witty things to say about Britain. But let us try anyway... catching up on things, we left off with the trip to Stonehenge and Bath. After that, I worked the whole week, nothing spectacular happened during that time. Then the weekend came and I spent Saturday putzing around and meet up with my friend, Mary (from the Stonehenge picture) on Sunday and went to the British Museum then we went to the London Film Festival and saw a Slovenian film, beneath Her Window. It was quite a treat and a great film. The day after that I went to see a Palestinian film, Thirst, which was also quite cool. That basically catches us up until last weekend during which I went to Wales (which will be another post yet to come).
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Thursday, November 04, 2004
Would you like a little Bath with your showers?
Flash forward a week. . . . . . ok, ok, if you really want to know what's happening here I'll tell you all. I worked. That about sums it up. I worked everyday, got home and had no energy to blog or anything even mildly strenuous. There, Now flash forward a week. . .
Picture it: A lovely English morning, with just a bit of dew left over from the previous night. The sun is shining upon the birds, singing their morning song perched on the tree branches just outside my window. A beautiful day to relax, to take your time and enjoy the unfolding of the day. Is that what I do, you ask? Yes, and No. I do take my time, until I realize that I will be late for the bus going to Stonehenge. So then I kick it into high gear, run to the tube, and just make it to ISH in time to hope the bus and head out of London. We leave fifteen minutes late thanks to people like me. One hundred young people on three coaches… needless to say it took time to get everyone collected and organized. We finally take off, spend three hours on the bus to arrive at Stonehenge in a veritable downpour. It seems as though one cannot see Stonehenge, unless they see it through a sheet of rain. (For verification of this see next picture post.) We then load the buses again and drive bit more before we reach Bath, where the rain seems to have increased in ferocity. I walk around Bath with a new friend made during the previous Bunac trip to York. We have lunch in a pub that Charles Dickens stayed in while he was writing the Pickwick Papers. We then attempt to visit Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths. Being as rainy and cold as it was we managed to get through the Abbey, but we decided to skip the Baths, due to lack of funds, time and warmth and suffice ourselves with pictures of the outside. Having already seen the Baths myself, I was not terribly disappointed. So once again we load up and head out back to London. My bus was unfortunate enough to get stuck in a massive traffic jam, caused by a double decker bus that broke down. I didn't arrive home until well past 10pm, I went to sleep as soon as I could since I had to work early in the morning. It was a fun filled day of rain and sightseeing, more so of the former. However despite the weather I had a wonderful time.
Picture it: A lovely English morning, with just a bit of dew left over from the previous night. The sun is shining upon the birds, singing their morning song perched on the tree branches just outside my window. A beautiful day to relax, to take your time and enjoy the unfolding of the day. Is that what I do, you ask? Yes, and No. I do take my time, until I realize that I will be late for the bus going to Stonehenge. So then I kick it into high gear, run to the tube, and just make it to ISH in time to hope the bus and head out of London. We leave fifteen minutes late thanks to people like me. One hundred young people on three coaches… needless to say it took time to get everyone collected and organized. We finally take off, spend three hours on the bus to arrive at Stonehenge in a veritable downpour. It seems as though one cannot see Stonehenge, unless they see it through a sheet of rain. (For verification of this see next picture post.) We then load the buses again and drive bit more before we reach Bath, where the rain seems to have increased in ferocity. I walk around Bath with a new friend made during the previous Bunac trip to York. We have lunch in a pub that Charles Dickens stayed in while he was writing the Pickwick Papers. We then attempt to visit Bath Abbey and the Roman Baths. Being as rainy and cold as it was we managed to get through the Abbey, but we decided to skip the Baths, due to lack of funds, time and warmth and suffice ourselves with pictures of the outside. Having already seen the Baths myself, I was not terribly disappointed. So once again we load up and head out back to London. My bus was unfortunate enough to get stuck in a massive traffic jam, caused by a double decker bus that broke down. I didn't arrive home until well past 10pm, I went to sleep as soon as I could since I had to work early in the morning. It was a fun filled day of rain and sightseeing, more so of the former. However despite the weather I had a wonderful time.
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Mary Queen of Scots
The tour took us to a well, where a young girl is said to have met her fate and continues to lurk around looking for her mother. Then we went to the requisite dungeon and were told tales of bones left to rot on the shackles attached to walls. Lastly, we were taken to the very bedroom where my friends and I were to sleep for the night and there we learned that not only had Mary Queen of Scots stayed there while she was exiled in England, but that the last servant of the house had in fact killed himself there. Immediately after hearing this, everyone bid us goodnight and the six crazies got into our sleeping bags and tried to go get some peaceful sleep. For the most part we did. Only one of our party actually thought she saw a ghost in the night. I was so tired and cold that even if I had seen one, I probably would’ve yelled at it that I was sleeping and gone back to my dreams. In the morning we had a nice breakfast, courtesy of our Lord and Lady and then we packed our bags, returned the sleeping bags and air mattresses and headed off for Robin Hood’s home, Sherwood Forest.
Another few hours ride later and we arrive in the forest of the famed hero… only, it’s not really a forest nowadays. It is more so a large swath of open space. In fact the word “forest” literally means only “King’s hunting land” and it is only through the eventual evolution of language that we now associate the word with the current day idea of tree-lined areas. There we have an archery contest. Six rounds of three arrows each. I managed somehow to win the first place, having shot 116 out of 180, where the average score was about 70 points. I really enjoy archery, I believe I might find a club here and continue to improve upon whatever skills I might possess in that sport. Finally we leave Sherwood and head back into London, concluding the weekend. Returning back into the city we are dropped off at the International Student House (ISH) and I get onto my tube line and go home. Thus ends the journey to York. And my blog for the night. Stay tuned for next time when our heroine (me, in case you were confused) goes off in search of adventure to the Roman city of Bath and the ancient mysterious site of Stonehenge.
Another few hours ride later and we arrive in the forest of the famed hero… only, it’s not really a forest nowadays. It is more so a large swath of open space. In fact the word “forest” literally means only “King’s hunting land” and it is only through the eventual evolution of language that we now associate the word with the current day idea of tree-lined areas. There we have an archery contest. Six rounds of three arrows each. I managed somehow to win the first place, having shot 116 out of 180, where the average score was about 70 points. I really enjoy archery, I believe I might find a club here and continue to improve upon whatever skills I might possess in that sport. Finally we leave Sherwood and head back into London, concluding the weekend. Returning back into the city we are dropped off at the International Student House (ISH) and I get onto my tube line and go home. Thus ends the journey to York. And my blog for the night. Stay tuned for next time when our heroine (me, in case you were confused) goes off in search of adventure to the Roman city of Bath and the ancient mysterious site of Stonehenge.
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
York, Bath and Beyond
It's been quite a while since my last blog. I apologize profusely for that. I could say that I was busy, but that wouldn't be entirely true. I was in part busy, with work, traveling, etc., but I also had many a time when I could've sat down on my comfortable couch and written about the past few weeks. Now I intend to make up for the recent communication blackout. . .
. . .we begin on a fine fall evening, a little overcast, promising rain, however holding at the moment the right balance between breeze, moisture and cloud. I leave work, heading towards the meeting place - the International Youth Hostel. We meet there and just as we (the 30 or so Bunacers on the tour) are loading up the vans to embark, the rain comes. A nice ride (as far as group van rides go) for four hours finally brings us to our destination - the ancient city of York. We check in to our hostel. A backpacker friendly, clean, and well situated place. My five Bunac friends (Richard, Ryan, Whitney, Autumn and Camille) go downstairs to the in house pub for a drink or two and after wandering the streets of York a little, scavenging for food, we all go to sleep. Bright and early the next morning, well early at least, we get up, dressed and ready to head out to take a walking tour of the city. We walk along the ancient city walls, first built by the Romans as part of their northern outpost, then maintained by the Victorians as a piece of national history. Along the way we see an Abbey, or ruins of it; an ancient Roman tower; the Minster (cathedral); medieval housing; modern shopping centres (Starbucks included) and an early British tower. The afternoon is spent walking around the old city and in book shopping. (I bought James Joyce's Dubliners for only 99 pence!)
Another two hour bus ride later we find ourselves in Wensedale Vale, a valley known for fantastic cheese and superb waterfalls. We go to the creamery and sample a few choice cheeses before heading off to the waterfalls featured in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (where Kevin Costner's character fought Little John and later bathed naked). Two of my friends, Whitney and Autumn, take the tour guide's bait and dive into the little pool at the bottom of the falls (video recording included). We then warm up a bit in the nearby pub/hotel and pile back into the vans. Finally we arrive at Bolton Castle. A half-ruined 13th century castle, turned tourist trap by the current Lord Bolton (not related to Micheal, as far as I know) who spends his weekends cooking up meals and ghost stories for young American tourists. We are escorted into a hall and told to don the "medieval clothing" provided for the banquet. (See previous picture post of us looking silly.) We are then shown into the lesser great hall, the larger hall having been destroyed over the years and various wars, where a feast of sorts awaits the famished travelers. There is wine and beer in jugs and the requisite bottled water. Two kinds of soup, stew and rice-based; a few different kinds of meat including chicken and roast beef; bread; cheese and wonderful apple pie.
After the dinner, we have an medieval scavenger hunt around the ruined castle. My team comes in 3rd and have a wonderful time running around the castle with only one lantern for five people. To top off the games portion of the evening we go out to the garden maze, where one person from each team is placed in the center, then another team member is supposed to work their way to the center and lead them both out of the maze. The best part about the maze game is that the member placed in the center has a pitcher of beer, and once both members make it safely out of the maze, the entire team has to chug the pitcher and the team who manages this feat first (not a terrible challenge among college students) wins the game. After this the six of us (my five friends and I) decide that rather than staying in the lesser hall with the rest of the group, we would go to the upper floor and stay in the one remaining bedroom. After setting up our air mattresses, sleeping bags, etc., we six go back to the main room and head out on a ghost tour of the castle.
. . .we begin on a fine fall evening, a little overcast, promising rain, however holding at the moment the right balance between breeze, moisture and cloud. I leave work, heading towards the meeting place - the International Youth Hostel. We meet there and just as we (the 30 or so Bunacers on the tour) are loading up the vans to embark, the rain comes. A nice ride (as far as group van rides go) for four hours finally brings us to our destination - the ancient city of York. We check in to our hostel. A backpacker friendly, clean, and well situated place. My five Bunac friends (Richard, Ryan, Whitney, Autumn and Camille) go downstairs to the in house pub for a drink or two and after wandering the streets of York a little, scavenging for food, we all go to sleep. Bright and early the next morning, well early at least, we get up, dressed and ready to head out to take a walking tour of the city. We walk along the ancient city walls, first built by the Romans as part of their northern outpost, then maintained by the Victorians as a piece of national history. Along the way we see an Abbey, or ruins of it; an ancient Roman tower; the Minster (cathedral); medieval housing; modern shopping centres (Starbucks included) and an early British tower. The afternoon is spent walking around the old city and in book shopping. (I bought James Joyce's Dubliners for only 99 pence!)
Another two hour bus ride later we find ourselves in Wensedale Vale, a valley known for fantastic cheese and superb waterfalls. We go to the creamery and sample a few choice cheeses before heading off to the waterfalls featured in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (where Kevin Costner's character fought Little John and later bathed naked). Two of my friends, Whitney and Autumn, take the tour guide's bait and dive into the little pool at the bottom of the falls (video recording included). We then warm up a bit in the nearby pub/hotel and pile back into the vans. Finally we arrive at Bolton Castle. A half-ruined 13th century castle, turned tourist trap by the current Lord Bolton (not related to Micheal, as far as I know) who spends his weekends cooking up meals and ghost stories for young American tourists. We are escorted into a hall and told to don the "medieval clothing" provided for the banquet. (See previous picture post of us looking silly.) We are then shown into the lesser great hall, the larger hall having been destroyed over the years and various wars, where a feast of sorts awaits the famished travelers. There is wine and beer in jugs and the requisite bottled water. Two kinds of soup, stew and rice-based; a few different kinds of meat including chicken and roast beef; bread; cheese and wonderful apple pie.
After the dinner, we have an medieval scavenger hunt around the ruined castle. My team comes in 3rd and have a wonderful time running around the castle with only one lantern for five people. To top off the games portion of the evening we go out to the garden maze, where one person from each team is placed in the center, then another team member is supposed to work their way to the center and lead them both out of the maze. The best part about the maze game is that the member placed in the center has a pitcher of beer, and once both members make it safely out of the maze, the entire team has to chug the pitcher and the team who manages this feat first (not a terrible challenge among college students) wins the game. After this the six of us (my five friends and I) decide that rather than staying in the lesser hall with the rest of the group, we would go to the upper floor and stay in the one remaining bedroom. After setting up our air mattresses, sleeping bags, etc., we six go back to the main room and head out on a ghost tour of the castle.
-- As it is now almost midnight in London and the polls are just beginning to be called in the US, I’m afraid I must close for the night. I’m sure more of you will be far more interested in the election than my trip to York, as in truth so am I. So good night, good luck to all parties, though I will be praying that Kerry wins. More on castles and ghosts later. . .
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Coming soon...
So after having spent a good 30 minutes writing an amazing description of my trip to York, I managed to push a button and it all disappeared. Since then I haven't had the heart, or time, to try again. Tomorrow however my flatmate leaves for the weekend and I will have the internet all to myself for the entire time, so expect greatness to come over the next few days... or at least verboseness.
Monday, October 18, 2004
Thursday, October 14, 2004
Ofoto
Just spent about 2 hours going through photos and putting them in an online album. Therefore, my blog will consist of one bit of advice:
Go look at the pictures.
After the weekend, when I'm refreshed from the Yorkshire country air, I'll write an extensive blog to make up for the slackness of tonight.
English lesson for the day - "can't be bothered" basically means "I'm too lazy/not interested", it's one of my flatmate's favorite sayings. I.e. I can't be bothered to write a proper blog tonight.
Go look at the pictures.
After the weekend, when I'm refreshed from the Yorkshire country air, I'll write an extensive blog to make up for the slackness of tonight.
English lesson for the day - "can't be bothered" basically means "I'm too lazy/not interested", it's one of my flatmate's favorite sayings. I.e. I can't be bothered to write a proper blog tonight.
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Internet at home
I finally have internet at home. Ahh... so nice. I really have nothing much new to say. My life is fairly boring since I got a job and flat. I still like my job, it's a bit hectic now and again but in a good way. Alastair spent this weekend painting his room, it's now all white with the frame around his bay window painted red. It's a cool eye-catching effect. Soon he'll be putting up prints and other things on his walls to help spice up the room. It's funny how quickly things can become habit. Alastair and I have a nice routine in the morning where whoever is up first, usually him, will put on the tea kettle and make coffee in the french press. We eat breakfast (he has a strange habit of combining several types of cereal in one go, but then again I guess I'm weird too for not using milk) and listen to public radio (which I think may be part of BBC, seems like all media here is somehow connected with them). Then we leave at our respective times and go to work. I have memorized pretty well the street that I walk down to get to the college and have been buying fruit and even a Boston fern from a little kiosk on the corner. Then we return home. Usually I make it here first and get to watch some tv in Alastair's room before he gets in, I have the "early bird" dinner at about 6:30-7pm and Alastair eats eventually around 9pm. He reads every newspaper he can get a hold of, which in London means a lot of newspapers. I read bits from one or more of the several books I've bought here (all for 3 pounds of less) and then time for bed and get ready to start again tomorrow. There you have it, my life in a nutshell. ("Help, I'm in a nutshell. How did I get in this nutshell?" -Austin Powers)
I will be going on a trip with Bunac this weekend to stay in a medieval castle near York. Apparently we'll also be going to Sherwood Forest, where Robin Hood had his 'hood. (Ha ha... terrible joke) I'll be leaving late Friday night and returning Sunday night, so no worries if you don't hear from me for a while. I'll be dressing in 16th century costume and running around the north of England. Wait.... maybe you should worry about me. Well, now that I have my computer up and running I think I'll find some photos to add to the blog.
I will be going on a trip with Bunac this weekend to stay in a medieval castle near York. Apparently we'll also be going to Sherwood Forest, where Robin Hood had his 'hood. (Ha ha... terrible joke) I'll be leaving late Friday night and returning Sunday night, so no worries if you don't hear from me for a while. I'll be dressing in 16th century costume and running around the north of England. Wait.... maybe you should worry about me. Well, now that I have my computer up and running I think I'll find some photos to add to the blog.
Thursday, October 07, 2004
All the small things
Have you ever noticed that it's the little things in life that make all the difference. I've found that every day living here has taught me something new (and usually exciting - see previous "bus ride" post). Allow me to take a moment and list of few of the little things that make me chuckle, ponder, cringe and all out remember why I came to England in the first place. (Consider it my Top 10 list - 8 at least)
- When people say "goodbye" on the phone, their voice rises interminably higher than the entirety of the phone conversation, possibly being the only polite bit about the whole call.
- How every sink has two taps, for hot and cold, and when it says hot they mean it!
- How when you've just finished scalding your hands with the hot tap, and go to use the hand dryers, you're blown back by the sheer force of the air coming from them.
- Passing by rather shabby looking fellows who will randomly yell at someone beside them that is apparently only visible to themselves.
- Watching my more druken neighbors stumble about trying to get off the tube.
- Noticing my own vocabulary evolving to help myself be understood, i.e. use of "lieu" rather than bathroom (which is literally a room with a bath tub here) or the more vulgar sounding (for Americans) toilets.
- Being asked by my South African colleague if my parents are farmers in Colorado (the most interesting stereotype I've come accross here.
- Being told by an Indian shop owner that I am a pretty girl, but I shouldn't gain any more weight or I'd become ugly.
Now I'll end with the English lesson of the day: a "lie-in" = to sleep in; and a DIY shop = Do It Yourself store (like Home Depot)
Central St. Martin's
I'm finishing up my first week of full time work again and it's been great to be back in the game. I feel quite at home in my new job. The people I work with are fun and interesting. My boss is from France and she has a cute little accent. I work with one guy from South Africa, he's Afrikaans and will occasionally (meaning often) answer his cell phone and speak his native tongue, which is apparently a mix of Dutch, German and French. How much more messed up could you get for a language? (j/k, I love all languages) There is another girl from London working temporarily, she's a free lance photographer and quite nice. I picked up some fun words for the English lesson of the day from her.
The work itself is not terribly difficult, just a lot of it. Basically if you take all the inquiries that DU admissions (on both sides) get and process them, that is what this one office does. My boss also heads the Marketing department, which consists solely of herself... so she's quite busy. It's crazy how antiquated this place is, considering they are still using FileMaker Pro 6.O for their database and one of the computers I've seen still uses Microsoft Office 1997! (Gasp! from the computer geeks, such as myself.) Beyond that it's really fun to watch all the hoity toity art students milling about. The fashion students are the greatest, because they always look like they are walking down a Milan or Parisian runway, crazy encoutrements included.
The other interesting/down right weird thing about this place is the seemingly total lack of "customer service" or even "professionalism". I put those phrases in quotations not to suggest that no such things exist but that perhaps I'm seeing the British version of each and interpreting them with my American eyes as deficiencies. For instance, the South African guy, who is normally quite cheery and polite to me and the other girl, will upon answering the phone become outwardly distraught, like it's a trouble for him to pick up the telephone and answer the questions of the general public (as is his job description I imagine.) He sighs, rolls his eyes, gives out our email address in such a tone that denotes the offensive caller should've already known it and not bothered to call us. Disclaimer: Do not think that I'm demeaning my co-workers or their manners. Again this seems to be a trend across the board that no one is "polite" and "friendly" as in the American sense. At least as far as my observations have taken me. There are of course other little "quirks" such as this, but for now I better get going, I'm running out of time, yet again.
Newsflash ---- (not really, I've already known) ---- Newsflash for you:
I'll be getting DSL internet next Monday, once BT comes over and sets everything up, so the blogging and emailing should becoming a regular (and probably cheaper) habit starting next week. I'm so exited! One more step away from my highly technologicalized life. (I'll be copywriting technologicalized by the way, right after Trump gets "Fired!", so hands off!) Now the last thing is getting cable television, which Alastair and I will be doing - him for the sports channels, me for... sorry... Scifi - so that'll be a very exciting and fulfulling time, but it'll have to wait until we both get paid.
The work itself is not terribly difficult, just a lot of it. Basically if you take all the inquiries that DU admissions (on both sides) get and process them, that is what this one office does. My boss also heads the Marketing department, which consists solely of herself... so she's quite busy. It's crazy how antiquated this place is, considering they are still using FileMaker Pro 6.O for their database and one of the computers I've seen still uses Microsoft Office 1997! (Gasp! from the computer geeks, such as myself.) Beyond that it's really fun to watch all the hoity toity art students milling about. The fashion students are the greatest, because they always look like they are walking down a Milan or Parisian runway, crazy encoutrements included.
The other interesting/down right weird thing about this place is the seemingly total lack of "customer service" or even "professionalism". I put those phrases in quotations not to suggest that no such things exist but that perhaps I'm seeing the British version of each and interpreting them with my American eyes as deficiencies. For instance, the South African guy, who is normally quite cheery and polite to me and the other girl, will upon answering the phone become outwardly distraught, like it's a trouble for him to pick up the telephone and answer the questions of the general public (as is his job description I imagine.) He sighs, rolls his eyes, gives out our email address in such a tone that denotes the offensive caller should've already known it and not bothered to call us. Disclaimer: Do not think that I'm demeaning my co-workers or their manners. Again this seems to be a trend across the board that no one is "polite" and "friendly" as in the American sense. At least as far as my observations have taken me. There are of course other little "quirks" such as this, but for now I better get going, I'm running out of time, yet again.
Newsflash ---- (not really, I've already known) ---- Newsflash for you:
I'll be getting DSL internet next Monday, once BT comes over and sets everything up, so the blogging and emailing should becoming a regular (and probably cheaper) habit starting next week. I'm so exited! One more step away from my highly technologicalized life. (I'll be copywriting technologicalized by the way, right after Trump gets "Fired!", so hands off!) Now the last thing is getting cable television, which Alastair and I will be doing - him for the sports channels, me for... sorry... Scifi - so that'll be a very exciting and fulfulling time, but it'll have to wait until we both get paid.
Friday, October 01, 2004
JOB!! (and the joys of public transportation)
I got a job!!! I had an interview this morning with Isabelle at Central St. Martin's College of Art and Design, a part of the greater University of the Arts London. They specialize in fine art, creative expression of all sorts from theater, graphic design and are most known for their fashion program. Apparently many prestigious designers have gone through their school. (I'll have to brush up my knowledge of the fashion world for sure now.) Anyways, I'll be working in the Information Office, basically the front desk for student inquiries. I'll be doing very much the same thing as I did at DU, so it shouldn't be hard to get into the swing of things fairly quickly. The best part is the money.. which will be enough to pay for rent (always a good thing) and I should have enough to save up and travel a bit. They want me until the end of February, when my visa expires. Another cool bit is that it's just up the street from Alastair's job, so we can maybe commute together, unless we have our fill of each other at home that is.
Now.. on to bigger (well funnier) events. Ahhh, don't you just love public transportation? -- No really, do you love it? -- For me it's more of a love/hate relationship, especially when you are rather unceremoniously dropped off in a very different part of town than what you intended or expected. Let me tell you of my latest fun bus experience. The other day, I was a bit down after traipsing all around the city and still no farther on securing a job, so I decided to go to IKEA and get some things for the flat. (I know, brilliant plan to go spend money when you're unemployed, but give me a break it was supposed to be shop-therapy.) So I walked to the nearest bus stop which is conveniently close to my flat and wait for the number 102 bus towards Brent Cross (where the mall and subsequent bus change is). I must break here to explain a funny thing about the bus system that no one here was kind enough to explain to me. First, it would be a good thing to know that there are two types of bus stops. One is the usual bus stop, where you are assured a bus will pull over to the side to let you on. The second one is a "request stop" where once you spot the bus you're looking for you have to put out your hand, like you're calling a cab, so they know to stop for you. The only way to tell these two stops apart is simple (once you know it). The usual stops will have a white sign with a red London transportation symbol, you know the circle with horizontal line through the middle. And the request stops with be opposite, red sign and white symbol. Well my nearest bus stop is a request stop. Luckily as I was beginning to figure out this elaborate system by sheer observation, someone else had called the bus. So I get on and we start to go the same way that Alastair and I went that one day, until we reach this one interchange and the sign pointing to Brent Cross is pointing to turn right and we go straight. At first I thought maybe I'd gotten on another bus that goes a different route but still ends up at the mall. Alas, no. We go a bit farther until finally only three people are left on the upper deck (I must say I do love the double deckers, they really are fun) and then we come to a stop at a bus depot. Again luckily for me, someone else figures out that things have gone astray and this is the last stop for the bus. She jumps off, the other girl and I run after her and we all disembark to wait for another bus. Unfortunately, I was no where recognizable (and in a bit of a dodgy neighborhood). So I cross the street and decide to wait for the same bus (number 102) going in the opposite direction, heading towards Golders Green. I finally get one, at another request stop. This time I stick my hand out to get the bus, having now gotten the hang of the situation and get on with no problem. It takes me right back to where I started and I had spent an hour going around northern London for no particular reason. Consequently, I went home, made dinner, got a glass of wine and didn't stray out of my flat for the rest of the evening.
Sorry this was so long a story, but it needed to be so.
Now.. on to bigger (well funnier) events. Ahhh, don't you just love public transportation? -- No really, do you love it? -- For me it's more of a love/hate relationship, especially when you are rather unceremoniously dropped off in a very different part of town than what you intended or expected. Let me tell you of my latest fun bus experience. The other day, I was a bit down after traipsing all around the city and still no farther on securing a job, so I decided to go to IKEA and get some things for the flat. (I know, brilliant plan to go spend money when you're unemployed, but give me a break it was supposed to be shop-therapy.) So I walked to the nearest bus stop which is conveniently close to my flat and wait for the number 102 bus towards Brent Cross (where the mall and subsequent bus change is). I must break here to explain a funny thing about the bus system that no one here was kind enough to explain to me. First, it would be a good thing to know that there are two types of bus stops. One is the usual bus stop, where you are assured a bus will pull over to the side to let you on. The second one is a "request stop" where once you spot the bus you're looking for you have to put out your hand, like you're calling a cab, so they know to stop for you. The only way to tell these two stops apart is simple (once you know it). The usual stops will have a white sign with a red London transportation symbol, you know the circle with horizontal line through the middle. And the request stops with be opposite, red sign and white symbol. Well my nearest bus stop is a request stop. Luckily as I was beginning to figure out this elaborate system by sheer observation, someone else had called the bus. So I get on and we start to go the same way that Alastair and I went that one day, until we reach this one interchange and the sign pointing to Brent Cross is pointing to turn right and we go straight. At first I thought maybe I'd gotten on another bus that goes a different route but still ends up at the mall. Alas, no. We go a bit farther until finally only three people are left on the upper deck (I must say I do love the double deckers, they really are fun) and then we come to a stop at a bus depot. Again luckily for me, someone else figures out that things have gone astray and this is the last stop for the bus. She jumps off, the other girl and I run after her and we all disembark to wait for another bus. Unfortunately, I was no where recognizable (and in a bit of a dodgy neighborhood). So I cross the street and decide to wait for the same bus (number 102) going in the opposite direction, heading towards Golders Green. I finally get one, at another request stop. This time I stick my hand out to get the bus, having now gotten the hang of the situation and get on with no problem. It takes me right back to where I started and I had spent an hour going around northern London for no particular reason. Consequently, I went home, made dinner, got a glass of wine and didn't stray out of my flat for the rest of the evening.
Sorry this was so long a story, but it needed to be so.
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
Job Hunt
Now that I'm finally settled into a flat, it now comes time to commence the intensive search for jobs. I've been applying to any and everything I see. From pubs in central London to office positions all over the city. So far nothing has turned up. I finally got word back on the job I interviewed for and they turned me down. Oh well, I didn't want to work for their stinking college anyways (well... maybe I did). Today though I have an interview with a pub called "The Queen's Head" near Leicester Square. Hopefully I can get hired on there and then continue looking for a bit higher paying jobs somewhere else. That's about all the update for now, nothing much else is happening. My flatmate and I are getting along very well. Last night we watched the football game (soccer for you non-Europeans... which is just about everyone) between Manchester United, apparently the best team in England, and a Turkish team whose name I can neither remember nor pronounce. I was charged, by Alastair, the duty of researching football and to chose a team to support. I have yet to do this, I might save that for after my interview today.
P.S. Pictures of my flats (the old and new, so you can see the amazing difference) will be posted as soon as I get internet at home, which should be sometime this or next week.
P.P.S. English lesson for the day - restaurant terminology: "for here or to go" is "eat in or take away". Of course most Brits speak quickly and don't care to annunciate their words so this phrase sounds like a load of gibberish until about the 20th time you've heard it, then it makes sense (but until the 20th time or however many times it takes to become comprehensible, you stand around looking like an idiot, not knowing how to respond to what sounds like "et-in-or-tak-wey".
P.S. Pictures of my flats (the old and new, so you can see the amazing difference) will be posted as soon as I get internet at home, which should be sometime this or next week.
P.P.S. English lesson for the day - restaurant terminology: "for here or to go" is "eat in or take away". Of course most Brits speak quickly and don't care to annunciate their words so this phrase sounds like a load of gibberish until about the 20th time you've heard it, then it makes sense (but until the 20th time or however many times it takes to become comprehensible, you stand around looking like an idiot, not knowing how to respond to what sounds like "et-in-or-tak-wey".
Sunday, September 26, 2004
Flatmates
I can finally say that I have moved to London now. It took a while, but I found a flat and a flatmate that are both wonderful! Yesterday, Alastair meet me at the tube station near my old flat and helped me bring my bags up to Golders Green. I unpacked a bit, then we went out to IKEA and got some stuff for the flat and did some grocery shopping. Let me tell you how not fun it is to bring back groceries and home decor on the multitude of buses (ok... only two luckily) that it takes for us to get to the mall near here. Anyways, after that we cooked a pizza in our gas oven (another major adjustment for me - not the cooking part, the gas stove part) and had a little wine and watched Mulholland Drive. We then went around our little flat thinking of ways to improve upon the drabness of it all. So far we've decided to rearrange our bedroom furniture... and that's about it. But we do have some great ideas for the bathroom once we have money, time and inclination to act upon them. Today his mom and sister came to look at the place and they've gone to the center to do some touring things. I am just settling in a bit more into the place and running some errands. That's about all for now. Soon we'll be subscribing to cable television (we're both tv/movie/music/book freaks) and highspeed internet. So until then I'll keep coming to internet cafes. Which, by the way, I have recently found some actual "internet + cafe". The one I'm in now, for instance, has both computers as well as coffee and pastries. What more in the world could you want? Besides maybe a comforter for my bed (which I foolishly forgot to get yesterday and consequently froze last night between my two new fitted twin sheets, which are actually too big for my twin bed - they don't have flat sheets here, none that I've found at least. You just use a fitted sheet and a comforter... weird people.) So off to complete my shopping by purchasing all the things I forgot to pick up yesterday. Which was actually quite a bit.
P.S. English Lesson for the day - "pot holder" is "oven glove" here; learned that last night when I asked if we had a pot holder and Alastair looked at me like I was mad (crazy).
P.S. English Lesson for the day - "pot holder" is "oven glove" here; learned that last night when I asked if we had a pot holder and Alastair looked at me like I was mad (crazy).
Friday, September 24, 2004
Golders Green
I have now most definitely found a wonderful place to live. It's north of the city but close to a tube line that will take me directly into the center of London. The neighborhood is called... Golders Green. I'll be living with one other person and we've talked enough to know that we have a lot in common. His name is Alastair, he just graduated from college as an English major. He's working at a PR firm here and just moved into this one bedroom flat that he converted into a two bedroom flat. (Basically he turned what would be the living room into his bedroom.) So he advertised a room to let online, where I found his ad, called him, met him and agreed to move in. I'll be moving on Saturday.
The neighborhood itself is a really nice, quiet residential area, that apparently is the Jewish heart of London. Lots of kosher food here! (Ironically, as I sauntered into a discount shoe store, looking to replace my over-walked, sole-stripped trainers - what we call tennis shoes - I was accosted by the owner after I inquired whether he had a pair of shoes in my size. He wanted to know if I was looking for cloth shoes for Yom Kippur... I said yes. I walked away wondering why I answered in the affirmative ,having really no idea what he was talking about, or why you would need cloth - not leather - shoes for Yom Kippur.) Anyways, the area is great.
Again.. out of time, more to come soon!
The neighborhood itself is a really nice, quiet residential area, that apparently is the Jewish heart of London. Lots of kosher food here! (Ironically, as I sauntered into a discount shoe store, looking to replace my over-walked, sole-stripped trainers - what we call tennis shoes - I was accosted by the owner after I inquired whether he had a pair of shoes in my size. He wanted to know if I was looking for cloth shoes for Yom Kippur... I said yes. I walked away wondering why I answered in the affirmative ,having really no idea what he was talking about, or why you would need cloth - not leather - shoes for Yom Kippur.) Anyways, the area is great.
Again.. out of time, more to come soon!
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
The home that wasn't...
The lovely flat I had rented is not quite so lovely as I first thought. The place is actually rather trashy. Which in itself is not terrible, but that the toilet area is basically only one step up from a Turkish toilet (that being a hole in the ground) by the virture that it does actually have the proper facilities (that being a toilet). However the rest of the toilet room, if one can call it a room, is I'm afraid one good 1.5 richter-scale earthquake (or merely the vibrations of a nice and heavy truck rolling down the street) away from falling in upon itself. Add to this dismaying thought and scene, that of the bathroom - which is literally a small pantry sized room with only a bathtub - and it's more permanent residents, spiders galore, cobwebs strewning everything, also in such a state as would give Ghandi the shivers. (Consequently I've abstained from taking a shower in this place for three days, until at last a friend also on the program here, graciously let me use her beautiful, clean, insect-free shower this morning. Needless to say I've been extremely irritable for the past few days, as I've slowly become grimier and grimier.) I have thus decided it would be most prudent to leave said establishment. My mind was made up when I heard the family overhead, and I can hear everything, screaming and yelling the other day for about three hours in the morning, trying to get one of the daughters to school, a place she vehemently abhors apparently. So now the excitment that I held for a brief shinning moment is turned yet again into horror as I face the prospect of looking for another place to live. Which is why I'm at the internet cafe yet again to look online for flatshares. So that's the latest update. More fabulous and horrifying stories to come I'm sure in the future.... stay tuned.
P.S. No job yet.
P.S. No job yet.
Thursday, September 16, 2004
My new home...
Well I did it!! No, I didn't get a job yet. But the next best thing. I have a place to live! It's in the London borough of Camden. A nice little place, north but not far from the center of town. It's near Regent's park and the Bunac office. I will move in on Saturday. It's basically the basement rooms of a family's house. The family consists of a mother, father, four daughters and a cat. I have a bathroom, kitchen, bedroom (with tv) all downstairs with me, and the three floors above are for the family. Apparently there is another renter there with me, a German girl. I didn't see her today, but I'm sure we'll run into each other. So that was the big accomplishment of the day, that and finishing my first book read almost entirely on tube transit - Angels and Demons. I actually finished the book in a cafe down this little town square area near Oxford Street (the big posh shopping district). So now I'll head back down to the far south of town to my friend's place and scrounge up a little dinner.
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
Streatham
Yesterday, Monday, I moved into the attic flat (seriously a crawlspace converted into an apartment) of the DU alumni girl I met here. It is very nice of her to let me use her apartment for a week and when she informed me that I might have to turn the dial on the electricity to keep it running, I thought that was some funny British humor..... until I went to her place on Sunday to see it and she showed me this little switchbox with a slot for coins (and a handy tupperware full of pence on the floor next to said switchbox) and told me how to put in some coins and turn a little dial to ensure the electricity wouldn't go off. But really it's a nice little place in Streatham, yet another of the infinite neighborhoods here. The only other drawback is the fact that it's about an hour south of central London and let me tell you, dragging my gigantic fully extended bulging suitcase with a 3600 cubic inch backpackers bag on my back, also filled to the brim, and my precious laptop ("my preciousss...."), navigating through the London underground, then yet another train station - it's this far out of the center - then down the winding streets, being sure not to get run over by crazy drivers, was not the most enjoyable ways to spend my Monday. But I made it and I love having the space to myself. No more hostel for a while. It's fun enough, but not with your entire life in tow.
As for the weekend, I spent Saturday morning strolling up and down Nottinghill. Didn't find the infamous blue door from the movie but had a fun time looking for it and at all the hundreds of kiosks set up. I had lunch at the Prince Albert Pub, and got bangers and mash (translation - sausage and mashed potatoes). It was a lot better than it sounds really! Then I went to the British Museum and walked around the ancient exhibits, the usual Egyptian, Assyrian and Mesopotamian things, you know.. Then I had dinner at the Museum Tavern and this time tried the other British classic - fish and chips and had some local brews. That was really good actually. Walking back to the tube station, I stopped off at another little cafe, where one of my new found friends works (a Spanish girl I met in the hostel, who'll also be staying 6 months to work and study English). I didn't see her, but I had some pudding (which is really cake) that was also quite delicious. Sunday I walked around Hyde park and then went to meet the girl whose house I'm staying in. She and I walked around the south bank of the Thames (pronounced "tems") then made our way up to Trafalgar Square and Chinatown and got lunch at a Chinese restaurant. Then I went home only to go back out again to meet some Bunac people at a place near Trafalgar for some drinks and ice cream. Now I'm going to call and try to find places to live so there's the update for now.
As for the weekend, I spent Saturday morning strolling up and down Nottinghill. Didn't find the infamous blue door from the movie but had a fun time looking for it and at all the hundreds of kiosks set up. I had lunch at the Prince Albert Pub, and got bangers and mash (translation - sausage and mashed potatoes). It was a lot better than it sounds really! Then I went to the British Museum and walked around the ancient exhibits, the usual Egyptian, Assyrian and Mesopotamian things, you know.. Then I had dinner at the Museum Tavern and this time tried the other British classic - fish and chips and had some local brews. That was really good actually. Walking back to the tube station, I stopped off at another little cafe, where one of my new found friends works (a Spanish girl I met in the hostel, who'll also be staying 6 months to work and study English). I didn't see her, but I had some pudding (which is really cake) that was also quite delicious. Sunday I walked around Hyde park and then went to meet the girl whose house I'm staying in. She and I walked around the south bank of the Thames (pronounced "tems") then made our way up to Trafalgar Square and Chinatown and got lunch at a Chinese restaurant. Then I went home only to go back out again to meet some Bunac people at a place near Trafalgar for some drinks and ice cream. Now I'm going to call and try to find places to live so there's the update for now.
Friday, September 10, 2004
BUNAC and DU
(Note: I tried to blog earlier this week, but it wouldn't let me publish it so I'm going to try to rewrite my witty comments from the other day.)
On Tuesday I went to the BUNAC headquarters and did orientation. It was good to know that I'm not alone in the program (and that it really does exist ;) ) I was a bit disheartened though that many of the participants came with friends or on very planned out school programs. But I met some nice people and one guy, Richard, and I went to get lunch and cell phones. Then we went back to Bunac and starting looking for jobs and places to live. After that we topped off the night by meeting his friend and having dinner at a fun Japanese place and took in a play by the Reduced Shakespeare Company (which is actually made up of three Americans). They did "A Brief History of America" and it was great! Really funny guys. I can't wait to see their Shakespeare: Abridged play (supposedly all of Shakespeare's work in about an hour, or something similarly ridiculous).
The next few days have been spent pounding the pavement, so to speak, and looking for jobs. Thursday I met up with many alumni from DU and talked about London, living and working here, and other various things. The good news is that one of them, a girl from the international studies school, offered to let me stay at her flat next week while she's out of town, so no more hostel! (at least for a while). Also I got an email today offering me an interview at one of the universities I applied to before I came. So there you go. Now I'm off to find food and make some more contacts here.
On Tuesday I went to the BUNAC headquarters and did orientation. It was good to know that I'm not alone in the program (and that it really does exist ;) ) I was a bit disheartened though that many of the participants came with friends or on very planned out school programs. But I met some nice people and one guy, Richard, and I went to get lunch and cell phones. Then we went back to Bunac and starting looking for jobs and places to live. After that we topped off the night by meeting his friend and having dinner at a fun Japanese place and took in a play by the Reduced Shakespeare Company (which is actually made up of three Americans). They did "A Brief History of America" and it was great! Really funny guys. I can't wait to see their Shakespeare: Abridged play (supposedly all of Shakespeare's work in about an hour, or something similarly ridiculous).
The next few days have been spent pounding the pavement, so to speak, and looking for jobs. Thursday I met up with many alumni from DU and talked about London, living and working here, and other various things. The good news is that one of them, a girl from the international studies school, offered to let me stay at her flat next week while she's out of town, so no more hostel! (at least for a while). Also I got an email today offering me an interview at one of the universities I applied to before I came. So there you go. Now I'm off to find food and make some more contacts here.
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
The first days
I've been in London for two days now and I'm finding my way around pretty well. Of course making some minor and enourmously embarassing mistakes, such as totally butting in line - to the very front - to get a tube ticket as I didn't see there was a mass amount of people lined up politely behind me. Then using the Emergency Exit at the BUNAC office, which was clearly and blatantly signed so, because I was so nervous and decided not to read the signs but just go through the first door I saw... bad plan. Loud alarms. OH and cameras to boot, so they caught the whole thing on tape, yeah! But I expected to be making stupid mistakes like that, though I still feel like an idiot.
Anyways, I went to orientation yesterday and that was great, met with other people on the program, went to lunch with this one guy, Richard, then got a cell phone and went back to BUNAC to job hunt. After that I met up with Richard and his friend Ryan and we had dinner, then took in a play by the Reduced Shakespeare Company, "A Brief History of America". It was great! Then came back to the hostel and went to bed before anyone else.. I feel like a little old lady. But my excuse is that I'm still adjusting to the time.. so there. Well better go do more job hunting.
Anyways, I went to orientation yesterday and that was great, met with other people on the program, went to lunch with this one guy, Richard, then got a cell phone and went back to BUNAC to job hunt. After that I met up with Richard and his friend Ryan and we had dinner, then took in a play by the Reduced Shakespeare Company, "A Brief History of America". It was great! Then came back to the hostel and went to bed before anyone else.. I feel like a little old lady. But my excuse is that I'm still adjusting to the time.. so there. Well better go do more job hunting.
Monday, September 06, 2004
From London with Love
Hello all! I'm in London now! 2-6 Inverness Terrace to be exact. At the Hyde Park Hostel, a bit shabby place, but what do you expect for £11.50 per night for a 12-bedded dorm... ah the life of an unemployed ex-student. I got here with no problems, beyond nervousness which prevented much needed sleep on the plane, but other than that all was well. I arrived at Heathrow a little after 7am and after circling the airport a bit, we landed. I then found the Heathrow Express, picked up my pre-purchased e-ticket from the machine, got on, got to Paddington Station and queued up for a taxi. That was the more hairy part of the trip as the driver didn't seem to know where I wanted to go, so after turning onto Inverness Terrace and having a slight discussion of the house/street number of the hostel, I saw a place called "Hyde Park Inn" and in my excitement and desire to be done traveling I told the driver to stop, paid him and was only at 58 Inverness Terr., so I then walked the last leg of trip to house #2 - 6, where my hostel lay. Now that I'm here, I think I'd rather be at the Inn. I arrived an hour before check-in so now I'm biding my time at the internet cafe -- which by the way is misleading as there is no cafe to be had here, though there is internet, however I could really use a cup of joe right now -- anyways, I'm here tying away and waiting for check-in so that I can finally be settled, then I might try to find a bit of lunch and perhaps a shower and then off to explore the city (or at least this neighborhood of it). So keep you posted. The good news for now is that I'm here! Until later...
Sunday, September 05, 2004
Washington, DC
Here I am for a few hours more in the nation's capital. I got here without incident on the 2nd, flying standby, I managed to get put in Business class. Very nice! Mike, Stacy and I spent two days doing the usual touristy things... going to the mall, monuments and Mount Vernon. Highlight of this trip: soaking our tired feet (after walking 16,000 steps) in a fountain in the Sculpture Garden while listening to live Jazz. I am now fully re-packed, having to buy a new back pack since my old one was breaking and I needed to shift some weight from the suitcase to my pack to avoid having to pay fines for excess weight charges. Now we're waiting to go to the airport. I'll be flying Virgin Atlantic at 7pm tonight arriving 7am London time tomorrow. Then I'll be off to find my hostel and possibly do a bus tour of the city to get acclimated to my new surroundings. More to come in the next few days, as both the hostel and the program headquarters have internet access. Until next time....
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Falling into place
Here's the latest - I have booked my plane tickets! I will leave from Denver on September 2nd, arriving in Washington D.C. to visit with Mike and Stacy for a while, then leave D.C. on the evening of September 5th, arriving in London on Monday morning, September 6th at 7am. I'll be traveling first on United and then across the great ocean on Virgin Atlantic Airways. I have also booked a hostel for the first week I am there, you can visit the hostel website at Astor Hyde Park.
If you would like to see the program that I am going with you can visit their site at BUNAC.
If you would like to see the program that I am going with you can visit their site at BUNAC.
Friday, July 23, 2004
The Beginning
In the beginning there was light.... well in this case internet sites where anyone can rant and rave as they please. And this is what I intend to do. Not rant and rave necessarily but keep anyone who wants to know updated on my adventures in Europe, starting with my big move to jolly ol' England. Right now however I'm still in Denver/Arvada area working at my now alma mater and have nothing especially interesting to say, so I'll leave this as the introduction to bigger and better things to come. Stay tuned - same bat time, same bat channel.
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