Home from London

I revisited my before departure post and realized I did not see ANYTHING I planned to from that post. But that is okay with me. I saw and did a lot of awesome things and not having done everything gives me an excuse to go back.

I really miss London. Driving is weird. I loved how in London public transportation could take up anywhere. I miss the tube. One of my favorite things about London was all the wonderful plays that had. In London I saw one play a week. In London I was constantly doing things, I always had plans. I feel like I have nothing to do now that I’m home. I’m going to have to start playing tourist in Oregon I guess.

Some memories of the trip:

Me in front of Shakespeare home. Hopefully I gained some knowledge to use during my Shakespeare class this term!

Me in front of Shakespeare home. Hopefully I gained some knowledge to use during my Shakespeare class this term!

Butterbeer break at the Harry Potter Studio Tour

Butterbeer break at the Harry Potter Studio Tour

We started at the bottom...

We started at the bottom… (of Arthur’s seat in Edinburgh)

Now we're here!

…Now we’re here! (The very top of Arthur’s seat!)

The sphinx at the Louvre in Paris, France. One of my favorite things we managed to see there.
The sphinx at the Louvre in Paris, France. One of my favorite things we managed to see there.

Château de Chantilly in France. This place was so beautiful inside and out.

Château de Chantilly in France. This place was so beautiful inside and out.

 

Last Week in London

This month has gone so fast but I did so much! There is still a lot more I could do! I used my last week to catch up on things I still wanted to do in London.

I entered a lottery to win 20 pound book of Mormon tickets and I won! Luckily Molly was nice enough to let me ditch her so I got a front row seat to the play.

I entered a lottery to win 20 pound book of Mormon tickets and I won! Luckily Molly was nice enough to let me ditch her so I got a front row seat to the play.

Waited in the long Saturday lines to check out the natural history museum. It was well worth it!

Waited in the long Saturday lines to check out the natural history museum. It was well worth it!

Got my last crepe of the month from the best crepe stand in the world. I hope they will not have to close because I plan to come back to Hampstead!

Got my last crepe of the month from the best crepe stand in the world. I hope they will not have to close because I plan to come back to Hampstead!

The trip to the airport was a sad one. I was not ready to leave. Seeing the TARDIS at Heathrow airport was the one upside.

The trip to the airport was a sad one. I was not ready to leave. Seeing the TARDIS at Heathrow airport was the one upside.

London was everything I thought it was going to be and more. Going home will not be easy but I will be back to visit and revist places like Scotland and Paris for longer periods of time. This trip a once in a lifetime experience and I am so happy I got the chance to take it. I met amazing people and lived in an amazing city. I will not soon forget it! Love you London!!

Week #3 London/ Paris

My highlight for this week was our weekend trip to Paris! Though my week in London was full of adventure too. I went to Alnwick Castle where outside shots of the first Harry Potter film was filmed. I also got to visit Oxford for the first time.

Paris was fantastic! We really only had about a day and a half to do Paris so we fit a lot in. It was unnerving not knowing the language. Many people at least spoke a little English and we did not run into any problems but I felt bad not being able to communicate better. If I go back I will study more French beforehand.

Group shot with the Eiffel Tower

Group shot with the Eiffel Tower

 

Eiffel Tower at night

Eiffel Tower at night

View from the top of the tower

View from the top of the tower

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

The lock bridge #3

The lock bridge #3. People lock their love on the bridge and then throw the key in the river. There are so many locks they are on to the third bridge now. I put a lock on with some friends.

Week 2 in London

Another busy week here in London! I have classes for most of the day on Mondays and Wednesdays but I still manage to do something in the evening. One thing I love about London is the theatres. The shows here are the best casts you will see and there are so many shows to see! This week I saw “The Cripple of Inishmann” with Daniel Radcliffe in it. After the show we rushed to the stage door to try and meet Daniel but there were too many people there that night. Other girls went back another night and managed to get pictures and autographs. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I have field trips for my classes. I enjoy my field trips because we go to places that I probably wouldn’t find on my own.

We went to Glastonbury Abbey and Tor. The Tor is a large hill completely surrounded by flat land so you have a gorgeous view at the top.

When I first got here, I met this amazing person named Paige! She has been so cool on this trip! We've climbed two mountains together.  If that's not bonding then I don't know what is! We started at the top now we're here.

When I first got here, I met this amazing person named Paige! She has been so cool on this trip! We’ve climbed two mountains together. If that’s not bonding then I don’t know what is! We started at the top now we’re here.

My second field trip was to a pretty little abbey called Lacock Abbey about 15 minutes away from bath.

My Harry Potter class in Snape's cauldron and classroom at Lacock Abbey.

My Harry Potter class in Snape’s cauldron and classroom at Lacock Abbey.

 

I also got to go to the Dr. Who experience in Cardiff this week.

I flew the tardis!

I flew the tardis!

 

One week in London

My first week in London was as amazing as expected! The city is huge, a lot bigger than I would have thought. But they use public transportation here so it is easy to get around the city quickly by bus, underground, or train. I feel by the end of this trip I will be an expert at public transport. It is hot here, much hotter than a London summer normally is. I love it because it lets us all explore the city without worrying about rain.

This is a city street in London near where I am staying. I love how the flats are built over stores on ground level.

This is a city street in London near where I am staying. I love how the flats are built over stores on ground level.

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One of my first meals out I had to get London’s famous fish, chips, and mashed peas. It was fantastic!

On my first field trip with my Myth, Horror, and Legend class we stopped by Stratford upon Avon to visit Shakespeare's old home.

On my first field trip with my Myth, Horror, and Legend class we stopped by Stratford upon Avon to visit Shakespeare’s old home.

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My first week ended with a trip to Stonehenge. It was really amazing! It is all roped off so you can not go up and touch the stones. On the 2 solstices of the year they let people go up to them for a pagan holiday so I must try and come back then.

One week down and four to go. So much to see and do left, I’m excited!!

Before London

I leave for London the day after tomorrow and I am so excited! I’ve been busy working on assignments and getting ready that it just hit me a few days ago that I’m really going to London for an entire month! I do not really have any preconceived notions about what the culture will be like, I’m just ready to go and explore and learn about live in London. I have many things already planned out from class field trips and weekend explorations but I am also ready to go on spontaneous adventures.

A small sampling of the things I’m hoping to see….

The Globe Theatre

The Globe Theatre

The Colin Firth, Mr.Darcy statue in London's Serpentine lake

The Colin Firth, Mr.Darcy statue in London’s Serpentine lake

Highland cattle in Scotland

Highland cattle in Scotland

I cannot wait to leave, see you in a few days London!