On London Time

Moving to America

2010-04-25T07:43:00.000-07:00

Four months ago, I moved to a new country. I left my beloved home in Minnesota and took up the life of a British citizen. It's difficult to sum up in words what I've learned... I've grown so much as an individual from this trip.

Something I haven't mentioned much in this blog is what I'm doing when I'm NOT sightseeing. I've been playing the role of teacher to 29 amazingly brilliant Year 3 children. Year 3 is about 2nd grade. It's been a lot of time consuming work, but seeing their learning take off has been worth it. I've been lesson planning in the evenings and playing the role of tourist during the weekends, which events I've recorded in my blog.

This balancing of work and play AND balancing my life back in the States has been a great time of personal growth. I've learned so much about myself and about life itself.

A Look At the Journey

Moving to Oxted. I lived at a B&B for the first two weeks.

Lots of snow! Unusual for England... Blame fell on the Minnesotan girl.... hehehe

(Sigh) Not being able to cook...

Making new friendships to last a lifetime! Thank God for Jamie!!!

Exploring London! Now it feels like a home away from home. I love this city!

Moving to my flat with the most AMAZING family!!!! They have been such wonderful supporters during my stay here.

Fun at Brighton beach. Such a cool city.

Looking at the school where I teach. It's a Church of England school.

My classroom!

Being festive with the children for Book Day! (I'm a card from Alice in Wonderland. All of the staff put on the show Alice in Wonderland for the children).

My amazing students busy learning!

The teamwork quilt we made as a class. It hangs on our ceiling. I feel like I have learned so much from teaching. :) I will remember this experience for a lifetime!

Stonehenge!

The Roman Baths in Bath, England

A day with the Beatles in Liverpool, England

Dublin, Ireland!

Laughs in Canterbury, England

Massive bling at Windsor Castle

Traditional horse racing at Lingfield Park.

Elaborate gardens and a date with King Henry the VIII at Hampton Court

Paris with Mum!

Edinburgh, Scotland!

Four months brought the changing of the seasons... It is now summer!

Brilliant walks through London parks

Kensington Palace

A reflection trip to the white cliffs of Dover

I went to see the Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre in London. It was beyond AMAZING!!!! Took my breath away!

And people, I can now cook!

I'm really looking forward to seeing my family and all of my wonderful friends back home! My time living in England has been life-changing. I will always hold a place for England in my heart.

Walking the Cliffs

2010-04-17T12:15:00.000-07:00

Away From It All

Friday I took the bustling train to Dover. I wanted to have some time alone to reflect on my experience living in England. I will be coming home in only two weeks! How have I grown since I first got on a plane in Minneapolis taking the step to live in a new country? In what areas do I want to continue to grow? How can I improve myself? Just two days away from it all to reflect on these questions. And why not go to one of the most spectacular coasts in the world? The White Cliffs of Dover.

When I got to Dover, the first thing I did was head to the harbor. I walked along the harbor and eventually ended up at the pebble beach, where I had a peaceful lunch.

HAHA I love this sign. YES! Beware of aggressive seagulls! I've been attacked seagulls many a time.... not on this trip though, thank goodness....

I then decided to head up one of the hills to the Dover Castle.

I came to a little footpath just past this sign. A little steep, but not too bad. Wrong, wrong, WRONG! It was much steeper than I had anticipated. And then, at then end of this steep hill? Stairs!

So many steep stairs....

"Oh, gosh...."

Hey! Don't judge me until you see how high up we are at the top! The views were worth it though.... Reflection and calf workout all in one.

The entrance to the Dover Castle! The Castle is actually within a thick wall. I had to pass over this bridge to enter through the Castle wall.

Looking out over the bridge

Admiralty Look-Out: a look-out (just in case you didn't catch it in the title) within the castle grounds. It overlooks the English Channel (Strait of Dover/Admiralty Harbor). Used by this fancy gent, Admiral Ramsay, had a look-out within the white cliffs below the look-out that was used during the first and second World Wars. Here are some of the remarkable views from Admiralty Look-Out...

Unlike some of the other castles I've seen, Dover Castle has a lot of spacious land within its walls. The Castle itself has been actively used since the age of the Romans until WWII. I'll explain more later...

I had to get a picture of these stairs. Obviously built by men. Each stair was SO high! My girly little legs had a difficult time reaching each one! The guys who built these stairs were obviously quite tall blokes. This pic doesn't even do it justice. The stairs led to the edge of a steep hill that was walled at the top. It was used for blasting cannons and such...

Great view (from the top of those monstrous stairs). The long, brick building you see is the "new" officers' barracks (1850). It was made in an attempt to modernize the garrison accommodations.

Looking out towards Admiralty Look-Out (the little pier).

From here you can see the original castle (towards the right) and the Saxon church of St. Mary-in-Castro. See how much land was actually within the walled fortress?

Now for a little history about Dover Castle (it's actually quite interesting!). Did you know, that Dover Castle was known as the Key to England? Which makes sense because it overlooks the strait the lies between England and the mainland.

When the Romans invaded, they built a lighthouse on this land (which I'll show you in just a bit). The value of this location was evident even then!

After the time the Romans left England, William the Conquerer took hold of this land. He built a Norman castle and stayed here briefly. Although we know little of this castle now, William's stay in Dover played an important role in its history.

But! The action came in the 1250's when King Henry II built a castle here. Known as the "Great Tower", this castle still stands today (pretty neat inside!). I won't go through all of the details (as there are a lot), but the Great Tower went through battles and family wars. Despite, there was usually a residence here, whether it be soldiers, knights, or a place of ceremony. The castle grounds were used throughout Britain's battles. Over time, the fortress became more modernized to fit the changing needs of the military. Tunnels were carved into the white cliffs, below the castle grounds, to serve as military storage and headquarters.

In the World Wars, these tunnels were expanded and held an underground hospital, communication center, naval headquarters, and housing shelter. Winston Churchill even visited these tunnels to plan with Admiral Ramsay during the War. The tunnels are now known as the "Secret Wartime Tunnels." I got the opportunity to walk through the Secret Wartime Tunnels hidden within the white cliffs. Unfortunately, I couldn't take any pictures. It was a fascinating experience though! It's amazing how Dover Castle has transformed itself to fit the changing needs or the military since its start in the Roman era!

From the Great Tower, looking down to St. Mary-in-Castro and the Roman lighthouse.

The Roman lighthouse. Only four levels remain now...

After a day of walking, I headed back to the B&B for a peaceful evening of reflection. It was wonderful. I got to do some writing and relaxing. I woke up early the next morning to get some homemade breakfast. Now, I just have to clue you in to what a traditional breakfast consists of in Enland: baked beans, eggs, sausage, bacon, fried tomato and mushrooms, toast, coffee, juice. Ufda! You wouldn't think that baked beans and eggs go together for breakfast, but it's amazingly delicious.... If I ever make breakfast for you and your plate has the above ingredients, don't be alarmed. Just give it a go! It's tasty!

In the cool of the morning, I headed to the beach. The sun was shining and already it was warming up the earth. Promise of a beautiful day! Perfect day for hiking.

That's a dog playing fetch at the beach already in the morning. He's obviously already had his coffee....mine hadn't entirely kicked in yet.... :P

hehehe I love this picture... being ridiculous and that dog in the background... too funny!

I love English beaches!

I had to walk past some of the cliffs to get to the footpath for hiking on top of them. Look in the middle of the cliff....what do you see? Think back to Dover Castle history... It's a portion of the Secret Wartime Tunnels! Remember, those military tunnels were carved into the soft rock of the white cliffs.

Can you see any more look-outs? :)

Cute little houses nestled beside the cliffs. Literally, their backyards ARE the cliffs.

Finally, some white cliff footpaths!

Ummm...ya, I have no explanation for these.... :P

The dramatic coast line just speaks for itself. It was everything you'd expect it to be and more. The hike was incredibly relaxing and it stretched forever. Seagulls screamed and the waves could be heard crashing below. The air was so fresh and cleansing. The sun warmed up my skin and a slight breeze breathed reviving air upon me.

The cliffs jagged along the coast, but the footpaths gave such a wonderful variety. Down into valleys, through thick brush, past fragrant flowers, but always with the coast in view.

The Harbor with ferries leaving for France. It was extra busy this weekend because it is the only way to travel to the mainland due to the volcanic ash in the air.

Looking back towards Dover and the Harbor. If you look really closely (towards the right, you can see Dover Castle). I hadn't realized I had come so far walking until I really looked at this picture. Total I put in over 8 miles hiking on this day alone.

Horses grazing at the edge of the cliff.

Tablet Map

Breath-taking scenery

South Foreland Lighthouse next to a fertile crop field awaiting to be planted.

Majestic and serene, the White Cliffs of Dover provided the escape I needed to reflect. It was dramatic, stunning landscapes that seem somewhat out of reach in books. To be able to walk the cliffs (inside and out) and stimulate my senses with their spectacular wonder in person was such an incredible blessing. :)

Back In England

2010-04-15T10:45:00.000-07:00

To conclude our trip, Mum, Aunt Sheryl and I took a train down through Scotland and back into England. The scenery was gorgeous! Inlets of water, cities adorned with cathedrals, and fuzzy sheep grazing were seen from the window.

I played tour guide in London. We had such a blast touring about! Together we saw the Tower of London, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Parliament Street, Houses of Parliament, London Eye, Westminister Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, and so much more! Here are some of my favourite pics from London together...

Mom and Aunt Sheryl in their first double-decker bus!

St. Paul's Cathedral

Mum looking pretty at the tippy-top of St. Paul's. Can you see the London Eye in the background?

Mum and Tower Bridge

Awww!!! My new desktop background!

Being goofy in London town!

Mum and our FAVOURITE sight in London: Big Ben! So pretty!!!! And its gorgeous at night. Pictures just don't do it justice...

Here are pics from Westminister Abbey! Now, we couldn't take pictures inside of Westminister, so there aren't too many pictures. I was really surprised how many graves were in Westminister. Kings, queens, knights, royal family members, priests... and even famous poets, authors, and figures! It was really remarkable.

Here are is a picture from the changing of the Guards at the Horse Guard House!

We took a long walk through St. James Park. It was perfect weather. It was so relaxing holding my Mum's hand and walking through the fragrant English park.

Funky Ducks

HAHA Check out this funky bird! Look at his feet; they're blue! He actually swims about and makes horrible noises in the water. Goofy little bird.....

Look at this squirrel! My odd obsession with these cute, fuzzy little creatures is showing through.... So, I called out to this squirrel, ok, and he actually came to me!!!! Granted, once he realized I didn't have any food for him he walked (yes, walked) away (hence the picture of him strutting away). Super cute!

Buckingham Palace!

Now, really look at this picture above. Not only can you see the statue and gate from Buckingham Palace, but you can also see Big Ben AND the London Eye. Awesome!

Mum and Aunt Sheryl left for home on the 10th. I have one more week off and I start teaching again on the 19th. This weekend I am going on a reflection retreat in Dover. I'll walk the white cliffs, have picnics on the beach, and reflect on my time living in England. I'll be sure to post pictures of the lovely scenery!

Hope you all are enjoying every minute of spring!

Fresh Highland Air: A Scrapbook Look

2010-04-10T08:59:00.000-07:00

On Easter Sunday, Mum, Aunt Sheryl and I packed up in Paris and took the train back to London. We then hopped on the next plane from Heathrow Airport to Edinburgh, Scotland. Now, I have been just itching to spend time in Scotland. When I saw the snow-covered highlands, lakes, and greenery through the plane window below us I may have freaked out a little....

We took a taxi to our hotel and settled in. With a little bit of daylight left, I took Mum and Aunt Sheryl to a pub for a bite to eat. It was their very first pub!

After a night's rest, we headed out. It was a cloudy, windy day outside. I like to think of it as Scottish special effects.... :P First stop? The Edinburgh Castle! The city of Edinburgh was originally built around the castle. The castle served, obviously, as a house for the royals. It has seen many battles, heartaches, and joys. And it has seen the transformation historic Edinburgh has taken over the years. Here are some pics of the park below the castle and the beautiful castle itself.

The castle up on the hill.

See the trains at the base of the cliff? :)

There are fresh lilies on the cross from Easter. We climbed up this little footpath to get to the castle at the top.

The view at the top of the hill! Beautiful! I hope you notice the clock tower and the Scott Monument in the background (its the tall, dark pointed structure). I just adore the little rooftops and rich chocolate colours of the city!

See the snow on the mountains in the distance? Edinburgh received 3 inches only a couple of weeks ago. The daffodils were up when we spent time in the city. Although is was cloudy, the weather wasn't frigid (except for evening time). It was INCREDIBLY windy though!!!

Edinburgh Castle: the castle on the cliff! Overlooking the stone city of Edinburgh...

Going inside the castle now! Behind the castle walls, brick buildings create the castle fortress.

Mmmm.... cannons.....

Erhem! Allow me to BLOW YOU AWAY!!! BWAHAHAHAHA ;) Although I look like I'm the one being blown away... hmmmmm

No, we didn't dress alike on purpose. But hey, great symmetry, ey? :P

To the Side: This is a piece of Queen Mary's thorn tree from her castle in Loch Leven. (1849)

To the Side: These performers played at the Hall in the Castle. They played traditional Scottish music. Several female dancers entertained later with an elegant Scottish dance.

The Scottish dancers dressed in their traditional costumes.

*Here is an interesting fact, the Scottish national flower is the thistle. The thistle is also the symbol for the royal Stewart family. So much of the architecture and even the decorations around royal graves will have thistles imprinted on them. I was able to see Mary Queen of Scott's grave and it was decorated with thistles, as she was from the Stewart family.

* One of the most common family symbols is the rose. The rose is the symbol for the Tudor family. I see the rose all over England.

A look inside the dungeon where prisoners were kept. They had special sound effects in this section of the dungeon. Mum wasn't expecting to hear any noises and was scared out of her wits! HAHAHA She jumped up so high!!! :D

This is a close-up look at a door from the dungeon. Prisoners inscribed their names in the wood. This was actually fairly common for prisoners to do. At the Tower of London, one of the towers within the castle held many prisoners awaiting their doomed fate. They would inscribe their name, final thoughts, or wishes into the stone walls.

I like this picture. Because it is so damp in Scotland (and England!), moss grows on everything. Tree limbs, metal bars, wooden fences, brick buildings.... Everything has a green hue to it. The side of this building had moss growing in such a perfect place! On a tree engraving! Cute, ey?

After touring the town a bit, we headed over to

"The Witchery" for a night ghost tour! Spooky, huh? :) Edinburgh is supposedly a haunted city, so we thought we'd hear some of the gory tails that loom 'neath the stone structures and castle walls.

I now feel that I know quite a bit about witch dealings and traditional customs of torture. As terrible as that sounds.... but the English and Scottish had some horrible methods of dealing with such people! Much pleasure was taken in punishment. If you ever want to know about these things, I'll be more than happy to share with you these interesting facts. However, for the sake of those reading this that really don't want to hear that information, I won't elaborate. Here is an interesting fact though, the traditional costume for dealing with witches was lifted in Scotland in the 1950s! Granted, the painful way of punishing witches wasn't used for a while, but the law wasn't actually lifted until the 50's.

Our tour guide was the gentleman in the top hat. His trusty side-kick (the red-head) would dress in characters from the time and elaborate on the tails we were told. Although there are a lot of myths and ghost stories from Edinburgh/Scotland, our tour strictly gave the facts, Jack!

Ok, I will share this one. It's not too gross. Can you guess what this interesting mask was used for?

During the Bubonic Plague, the Scottish people lived VERY close together. The houses were built literally on top of each other in stacks, germs were spread everywhere, and disease spread like wildfire. Me (Little Miss Purell would certainly not survive-- lol :D ).

When the Bubonic Plague hit, people would wave a cloth out their window, letting this man in the attractive mask know that they had a dead body in their house. He would then take away and dispose of the body. The mask he wore acted as a so-called "gas mask." The Scots believed that the Plague was spread by bad smells (unlike the British who thought it was evil spirits).

HAHAHA I look like beyond thrilled to have pictures with our guides. The 2nd pic is the trusty side-kick dressed as Bonnie Prince Charlie. :P

To the Side: Two Edinburgh streets. One at night and the other during the day. Please note how everything is stone and [in the daylight pic] the moss etching the stone in green.

To the Side: The Scott Monument (the tall pointed structure) and a Scottish lad playing the bagpipes for money. Interesting note on his kilt, which not everyone will know: the colours of the kilt represent what clan you come from. Not all kilts look alike because they have family colours that make up how they look.

Above: An old Edinburgh church and the old city centre. The city centre was often the meeting place for the markets, visiting with townspeople, and the place where public punishment occurred.

To the Side: Scottish rooftops and a "close." The buildings in Edinburgh are so close together that the small gaps and alleys in between buildings were given the nickname "closes." The "closes" are still frequently used to get around the town. Many of them open up to little courtyards.

This church is so funky. Check out the top of the church, where the steeple should be. It's the golden head of a stag!

Edinburgh, Scotland is incredible. The Queen visits this remarkable city during the summer months at her home: Palace of Holyroodhouse!

Mum at Palace of Holyrood House! Simply beautiful! :D

Probably my favourite part of my stay in Scotland was being able to climb a bit of the highlands. One of the small mountains has a park at its base, very near Palace of Holyroodhouse. There were steep trails going up the side of the mountain. The dark brown cliffs jagged upwards and tufts of long grass clung to the hillside. The higher up we climbed, the closer the seagulls' flights became level with our heads. Eventually, we were up past the gulls and we had the most incredible view of the city and the landscape. We could see snow trimmed highlands in the distance, little isles resting in the water, and the Edinburgh castle nestled in the middle of its grand city. Here are some pics from the journey up!

Highland moss and flowers!

xoxoxo I love Scotland! xoxoxo

Scotland was a so much more than kilts and cute accents. It was an eccentric mix of British and Irish culture. It had the Celtic pride of Ireland, the lifestyle of Britain, and yet, it had its own unique flair. A deep love and pride in its rich history. Myths, legends, and tales of heros and horrors. A care-free spirit that welcomes visitors with open arms. And of course, yes, they did have kilts and cute accents.

Bonjour Paris!

2010-04-05T13:59:00.000-07:00

Too Excited for Sleep...

I was up before the sun on Friday morning. All night I had dreamed about the upcoming week. All week I had tried by best to focus on teaching, but daydreams of Friday overtook my concentration. I looked at the clock. 3:00am. Too early to get ready for the day. I threw the covers over my head and tried to push past my excitement and fall back asleep. Finally, at 9:00 the alarm went off and I leapt out of bed. I quickly dressed, washed up, grabbed a bite to eat and nipped over to Heathrow Airport, escorted by Luis, who is the “dad” of my host family and was so kind to give me a lift. My Mum and Aunt Sheryl were arriving! Beyond excited to see my Mum! I got to give her a hug for the first time in three months.

This was a great start to a wonderful vacation. The remainder of Friday was spent talking, relaxing, and planning. I gave Mum and Aunt Sheryl a tour of my new town and then whipped up some hot cocoa and snacks to warm us up from the British wind. We planned what sights we wanted to see for the first location of our vacation: Paris!

Under the Sea, Up in France!

Bright and early on Saturday, I took Mum and Aunt Sheryl through Victoria Station and on the underground to St. Pancreas, where we caught the Eurostar for Paris. The Eurostar goes through some English countryside, under the English Channel, through scenic France and eventually ends up in Paris.

Popping up in France, the countryside was lovely. The grass rolled alongside of the train. Little red-roofed French towns splashed themselves randomly in the country. Each town had a tall, pointed church steeple near the centre. French farmhouses held dairy cows and little courtyards, and narrow gravel streets connected petite towns to one another.

It was rainy in Paris when we arrived, but that didn’t dampen our spirits! Well, how could it? We were in Paris! I was a bit nervous, as I wasn’t sure how we would be welcomed or how we would get along with the language difference, but I was pleasantly surprised. We hailed a taxi and went straight to our hotel: Hotel Derby Eiffel. The Eiffel Tower could be seen from our hotel. Beautiful! I didn’t take a picture of it, but the elevator was hilarious at our hotel. It was SO narrow! The three of us could barley fit in it! When we had our luggage, I got stuck in the door….

Our first day there we took a nice long walk then hit up some museums. In London, walking is the thing to do. In Paris, biking is the thing to do. Check out these bikes. You pay to rent them, then just hook them back up when you’re through!

This is where Napoleon was buried.

The building architecture was much different than England and Ireland. Note the rounded structure and chimneys at the top of the buildings. In England, the architecture is very thick, heavy, rich, and elaborate. In Ireland, I found the architecture to be more light-hearted, Celtic, and colourful. In Paris, the colours were light (mint greens, greys, and sandstone) and the metalwork was very swirly. Lovely, lovely!

The first museum we went to was the Rodin Museum. Rodin is probably most well-known for his statues “The Kiss” and “The Thinker.”

Thinking....

Rodin's House and Gardens

Then we walked along the Seine River to the next museum: Orsay Museum! Unfortunately, we couldn’t take pictures; however, it was gorgeous inside! It had a lot of great Impressionistic art. Van Gogh and Monet, baby! Could it get much better?

Next stop to complete the day? The Eiffel Tower. I loved walked along the Seine River. Strolling on the gravel sidewalk, holding my Mum’s hand, seeing the blossoms on the flowers and the trees, watching the boats pass by, and soaking in the beauty of Paris and the Eiffel Tower. It was perfect. My ambition was to climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower, but because of the time and such, I was told I couldn’t climb to the top. I was really disappointed, but no matter! I was at the Eiffel Tower with my Mum! How amazing is that?! The view of Paris at night from the Eiffel Tower was breathtaking. We got to see the Eiffel Tower light up and shimmer in the French night.

The View from Eiffel Tower

From the Eiffel Tower, how far is it to.....Los Angeles?

Distance to London?

Exhausted after a day of walking, we collapsed for a sound night’s sleep. Saturday we freshened up and hit the town again! Having planned our agenda for the day we headed out, but got distracted by a little French market. Away from the tourists and hubbub, this little French market was selling fresh fish, veggies, fruit, clothing, and jewelry. They were preparing themselves for Easter Sunday. They weren’t expecting tourists, but I’m so glad that we made time to enjoy the market. The market was teeming with potent smells (olives, fish, flowers). There was a morning mist on the market tables and everyone was hustling to set up for the French buyers coming. The Eiffel Tower posed as the backdrop for this little market. All of the tourist attractions in Paris were wonderful; yet, this was my favourite sight in Paris. I felt like I got a real taste of the Parisian culture. It was divine.

Moving onward, we got a little squirreled around with directions. Well, sort of. I had a pretty good idea of where to go (which isn’t saying much….) but I was with two very Type A Map Ladies. I swear, every two blocks one of them is pulling out a map. I’m more of a wanderer and get-lost type of person. Probably a good thing they were with… Anyways, we were trying to get to the Pantheon. While they were scanning through the map, I stood aimlessly by, watching Paris bustle along. This lovely little elderly French lady came up and asked if we needed help in French. Perfect! A chance to use my new French! “Oui a Pantheon?” Granted, I probably pronounced it wrong, but my French instructor (aka: Youtube) did its best. “Por que?” she replied. “Oh, um, do you know how to get to the Pantheon?” I resorted to English and dramatic hand motions and facial expressions. She then elaborated in French how to get to the Pantheon. Believe it or not, I got what she said. I didn’t understand a word, but she also resorted to dramatic hand motions and facial expressions to get her point across. See? People aren’t so different. :D

Nearly at the Pantheon, we passed through the lovely Palace of Luxembourg.

The Pantheon!

Pantheon ceiling before entering the building. I love the ceilings here..

See?!?!?! SEE!!!! Out with the map again way at the back of the picture! :D How adorable…

Funny little dog sign we passed along the way. Cute, ey?

An alleyway with a little scooter. Paris is definitely a scooter/motorcycle city. Some of the alleyways and sidewalks are completely parked with them.

St. Michael’s. I got such a kick out of their gargoyles. Unlike the menacing gargoyles in England, the French resorted to nasty weasels to scare away evil spirits. Hahaha So funny…..

Notre-Dame! All of the lights were off in the cathedral, I think because of religious reasons, so the pics are pretty dark. Only candles lit the church.

More of lovely Paris on our walks!

The sidewalks along the Seine River had little vendors and artists selling their works.

The Louvre!

Mmmm... classic...

The ceiling in one of the exhibits

The REAL Mona Lisa!

The Tuileries.

Don’t you just love the children playing with their sailboats?

The Place De La Concorde!

Cool fountain coming up on the Champs-Elysees.

Sights along the Champs-Elysees.

Arc de Triomphe

This was a peace monument near Eiffel...

Ah, Paris! A gorgeous city! Hugs and kisses and hearts in Paris!

Of Rain Showers, Famous Kings, and Gardens

2010-03-28T03:10:00.000-07:00

The Day Beginning

This week was my last week teaching all day everyday! I can't believe how my teaching experience is winding down. I just have three more days this next week, then I'm on Easter holiday, then I have two more three day weeks. Amazing! Jamie is now finished with her teaching as of Friday. Today (Sunday) she is picking up her dad at the airport and they are heading off to tour Italy! To celebrate, we decided to do one more big sightseeing trip.

I woke up early on Saturday, washed up, and hopped on the next train to Clapham Junction to meet Jamie and our train to Hampton Court.

Hampton Court was the home of the famous King Henry the VIII. For those of you that are wondering who he is, here is a quick historical look at the man behind the throne. King Henry the VIII became king in 1502 (the second heir to the throne in the Tudor times). He was married 6 times (many of his wives were beheaded). He was also the man who founded the Church of England, after he demanded a divorce from his wife Catherine of Aragon and was refused by the Catholic church. He is probably the most famous British king.

Before entering Hampton Court, Jamie and I decided it was time to eat. I think we may have trained ourselves to become famished during train trips...we had lunch at an early 10:30. :P

We sat on a little bench overlooking the river and ate our lunch. We had such a blast people watching and talking. It was pretty hilarious though, we felt like little old English ladies sitting on the bench observing the people walking by, "Oh! Did you see that? Look at what they are doing." "Can you believe he is pushing that stroller through the water?" "Oh dear, see that child scootering on that gravel slope? That can't end well." hehehe People watching in England.... its hilarious. :)

After a humorous lunch, we walked across the bridge to Hampton Court. The entrance was breathtaking! The green lawn stretched out for acres, finally reaching the red and brown bricks of the castle. A gravel driveway laid out perfectly straight for vehicles to access the castle gates. I can only imagine the elaborate carriages that carried King Henry VIII and royalty to the castle doors...

Inside of the castle was not as elaborate as Windsor, but it was still very elegant. Royal rooms were painted from floor to ceiling in murals. Winding staircases led to the chapel. The castle was built around a lush green courtyard with a fountain springing up from the middle. Here are some pics of the castle interior.

This was in one of the many kitchens. Here, one of King Henry's many cooks prepares a feast for the King. The castle had many wonderful actors and actresses playing the roles of people past. However, just like a lot of the castles and historical sights, it is still a residence. There are still people, mostly guards, beefeaters, or groundskeepers, and their families living at Hampton Court.

A scorching fire sizzling in the kitchen. The kitchen(s) smelled so good! The smell of smoked meat, breads, and campfire....mmmmmm

Trying to look VERY serious....afterall, I am sitting at King Henry the VIII's table!

The wine cellar. Gee, I would hate to be the one to hear, "Go down and bring up another barrel!" The barrels were HUGE!

The lush courtyard with the fountain in the center (it's behind the lamp).

The stone walkway going around the courtyard.

A painted ceiling in a large foyer.

A dramatic staircase in the same large foyer. These stairs led to the royal bed chambers, meeting rooms, guest rooms, and the upstairs of the royal chapel. Those are castle guards going up the staircase.

Looking out over the staircase. Check out the amazing murals behind me! So pretty.

King Henry the VIII had oodles of tapestries. This one reaches from the floor to the ceiling, keeping in mind that the ceilings are at palace height... HUGE!

One of the royal throne chambers. The furniture in the rooms were originals. Amazing how the beds and chairs have survived this long!

This room was incredible. Murals covered every inch of the room, walls and ceiling. The colours are still vibrant and they depict extravagant images.

Fireplace in the same room.

Unique fireplace in a different room.

Walking down the corridor...oh my! Whose that I see in the fuzzy hat?!?!

Why, if it's not King Henry the VIII himself! What a treat! :)

Jamie needed a picture with the King. She was SOOOoooo excited. Totally geeking-out. :)

This is Kateryn Parr, Henry's sixth wife. Upon entering Hampton Court, Jamie and I were invited to their wedding. Today Hampton Court was putting on a reenactment of the marriage of King Henry VIII and Kateryn Parr. We received a formal invitation and everything. Pretty cool.

A bit of drama for visitors as King Henry and Kateryn greet Kateryn's sister (in red) and the King invites us to his wedding celebration. I was picked on from the crowd. The King wanted me to wash the linens for his wedding.... my face turned very red... hahaha

Stained glass windows and man decor (aka: antlers). :P

I loved the drama that Hampton Court had. It made visiting the castle so much fun!

A Walk In the Garden

King Henry VIII loved his gardens. He had the most magical, English gardens I have seen! I can only imagine how exquisite they will be in the summer! Right now, the daffodils and little colourful flowers were up. But the gardens will be bursting with fragrant flowers in the summer. His gardens are so amazing that some people come just to see the gardens and skip the castle! Budded up right next to the river, his gardens stretch for acres.

Stepping out the back door of the castle, we were greeted by these funky trees! :) They remind me of Alice in Wonderland trees. This garden path I am standing on reaches out to a fountain and eventually to the river.

The back of the castle.

My favourite garden. It was divded into four sections, all symmetrical. Each section had an elegant, white statue in the center. In the middle of the four sections was a large fountain, which you can see in this picture.

I love the grass designs! The trellis in the background will be covered in wisteria in the summer. Right now, little green buds are popping up all over the vines.

The edge of the fountain in the center of the garden. There were huge fish swimming in the fountain. I think they were carp... I'm not sure. Ben and Dad would know... :P They were big, fat, greyish colour, and had funny lips. Any ideas?

Looking back at Hampton Court from the garden.

It started to rain right after this picture. We took a peak at one more garden then dashed for cover. After we dried off and the sun peaked back out again, we headed for some more gardens and the hedge maze!

Jamie being silly in those funky trees!

I got SO excited when I saw this sign, but don't be fooled as I was. It was actually just this little patio where William II was always served hot chocolate. What a shame...no chocolate for me..

This garden was called the forest. It was overflowing with cheerful daffodils! Carpets of yellow as far as the eye could see. It smelt heavenly.

HAHAHA Got to love the inconspicuous camera shadows... hehehe Now unto the hedge maze! The most famous in the world, Jamie and I got out in record time! About 5 minutes! Mad skills.....

TADA!!! We did it! We found the centre!

Thumbs up!

Way to go! Hoora!

Laughing In London

To end the day, we attempted to find Little Venice in London. We sort of found it. No one knew what we were talking about when we asked for directions. But we were in the right neighborhood. We did find a street of Italian restaurants. We went to this truly Italian place. Ya know, tiny place, everyone speaks Italian, Italian designed, very fancy. Pretty flowers on the table and our silverware served to us on a plate and cloth napkin. I had gnocci in a four cheese cream sauce. It was lovely!

Then we headed to the Museum of London for a quick peak around. On the way, we got caught in the rain and absolutely DRENCHED!!!! It was hilarious! Screeching through the streets of London trying to find shelter. Then we couldn't find the entrance to the Museum on London so we just got even more wet. So funny. Here we are: laughing and soaked to the core!

Ha! We just saw that guy! Sweet!

A London sunset splashed on the stone building of the Liverpool Rail Station.

I had such a blast this Saturday. Jamie and I were goofballs all day. It was a fantastic way to send her off for her Italy trip and a great end to my full weeks of teaching.

In just three days, my Mum and my Aunt Sheryl will be here! It is Easter holiday for me, so I have two weeks off. We are going to head to Paris, Edinburgh, and I'm going to play tour-guide in London. Stay tuned for pics! :D

Aaaand They're Off!

2010-03-21T07:22:00.000-07:00

Too Rainy for a Hat or Fancy Feathers

This Saturday I went with Jessica to Lingfield. The train ride was only 9 mintues and it brought us right out into the rolling English countryside. It was a misty day and rain would occasionally drizzle from the grey sky. No fancy hat or feathers for me due to the rain. But I didn't mind, it was just fun to be out at the horse races on a warm Saturday afternoon.

I love the horse races. Back home, my family will occasionally go to the races. We have such a blast betting imaginary money or plotting points to see who will win overall at the track. Such a blast! The races are set up differently here. It is quite fancy. Everyone dresses up; some courses have a strict dress code. Lingfield does not have as strict of a dress code; however, it is still very elite. Unless you own horses, are a member, have your own private viewing room, or have booked reservations at the exquisite restaurant overlooking the track, you are outside for the events. On a sunny day, this would have been perfect. Despite, the mist did make for pretty pictures...

Overlooking part of the track. Before one of the races, this helicopter landed in the middle of the field. Some important guy decided to park his helicopter there for the races... :P Really wish I knew who he was!

Getting positioned and placing bets before the race!

And they're off! (cue the racing music)

The horses and jockeys coming to the winner's ring after the race

I just love the horse races! And the English horse races were so fancy, traditional, and quaint. I absolutely loved it! I'll have to back when the sun is shining. In the meantime, the rain is helping spring pop up through the grass...

I hope the spring showers and sunshine and making their way to you!

Warm wishes!

A Day at the Queen's House

2010-03-13T14:25:00.000-08:00

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

In just a little under an hour from Waterloo Station in London, you can be in the town of Windsor. It was supposed to be a rainy day; however, the clouds withheld their rain and the the sun peaked little rays of sunshine onto the green grass and brick buildings below. I was traveling with two buddies today: Jamie and Jessica, whom I went to college with back in Minnesota. She is doing a bit of sightseeing in England during spring break! A gorgeous day, three energetic ladies, and a historic town..... what could be better?

A street in Windsor

Yes, that is a castle to the left of the picture... :D

A quaint Windsor street

We took the time to feed the swans and ducks by the river. That's Jamie, in the black jacket holding the yellow bag, excitedly feeding the swans. Seriously, she was so excited. Her eyes just twinkled. So funny... hahaha :D

HAHAHA This swam kept looking at the camera! Such a camera hog!!!

BAHAHAHA See?!?! SEE?!?!?! WHAT A HAM!!!! HAHAHAHA

An Afternoon With the Queen

If you haven't made the connection, Windsor is the home to Windsor Castle! On the weekends during the winter, the Queen spends her time here. She was at the castle this weekend. The castle was the most incredible place! Unfortunately, I couldn't take pictures of the breathtaking rooms in the castle. The Queen's royal guests usually stay in the rooms we visited. The Queen does have meetings and receptions in some of the rooms though. They were covered from floor to ceiling in gold and crystal. Vibrant, richly colored materials lavished each room. Exquisite china and art decorate the walls and furniture. I got some great decorating ideas... Here are some pics of the places in which I could snap a few photos.

This was St. George's Chapel. Many of the past royalty (Kings and Queens) are buried here. You weren't allowed to take pics inside...but... ! I got one. :D

Me and a Royal Guard! The guards, as you should know, aren't allowed to move or make eye-contact with anyone. Their job is upheld in a very high position and they are expected to maintain these expectations. I was really excited to get a picture with a real Royal Guard. Plus, he winked at me! :D :D :D

I teach Year 3, which is about 2nd grade. This last week, one of my little girls was arguing with the other boys in class. This particular little girl is in love with the colour pink, dreams in glitter, and would wear a tiara every day to school if she could. Her favorite book in the class is a Disney princess book. "When I grow up, I'm going to be a princess and wear a tiara," she announced flouncing towards the cloak room.

"No, you can't be a princess," shouted the little boys.

Putting her hands firmly on her hips and puckering her lips with sass, she said with a confident voice, "Mmmhm! Oh yes I can and I WILL!"

I couldn't help thinking about her when at the castle. She would have been in her glory!

Here are my amazing traveling buddies!

Jamie and I

Jessica and I

A Note in the Name of Spring

By request of my Mum, I have added a touch of spring into my blog. She wanted me to share some British flowers and hope of spring soon to come to the States! Below are pictures of flowers that are popping up along the sidewalks and in little flowers pots around town.

Little purple and yellow blossoms peaking through the grass

A walled garden at Windsor Castle. In a few weeks, it will be bursting with flowers and the fragrant smell of spring!

Little stone garden stairs on a grassy slope.

My mum was absolutely fascinated by my morning walks to the school. Every morning on my two mile walk, there are little owls that sing in the trees. I can see the scenic backdrop of the Upper Downs (a hillside in England) rise and meet the sky in a sea of fog. I pass mossy roofed Tudor houses and listen to the songs of the owls. It is very lovely!

I hope spring comes quickly to all of you!

Into Kent

2010-03-07T09:37:00.000-08:00

This weekend, my travels took me through Surrey, East Sussex, and into the county of Kent. The quiet train ride led past rolling hills dotted with small villages and towns, muddy water inlets reaching for green grass, and stretching vineyards awaiting spring. It had been two weeks since I'd last had a chance to visit with my travel buddy Jamie. The weekend before I was on my own for traveling, so I visited Tate Britain, Tate Modern (two fantastic art galleries) and the Natural History Museum. We had so much to catch up on! We had a picnic lunch on the train through the sweeping hillside until it was our stop at Canterbury Station in Kent.

My conceptions of what Canterbury looked like did not match what the town actually consisted of. It is very much a small town. It's main attractions consist of a ruined Norman castle, Canterbury Cathedral, and the town universities.

Above: The walled "historic" side of Canterbury

Above: This was a Roman burial mound. It now has a monument at the top and a children's wooden playground at the bottom. Rested in the city park, many congregate in this area.

Looking out over Canterbury. You can see the top of the Cathedral on the horizon.

An old Museum and Library

You can take boat trips down this canal! It was too chilly for this today though...

The entrance to Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury Cathedral

Canterbury had lots of little shops down alleys. It was very quaint.

Tis my traveling buddy and me!

Before we returned home, we took a little detour to see the ruined Canterbury Castle. It was so awesome. Open to the public, we could just walk around and see the castle ruins! The walls had really sharp rocks in them and the ground was covered with these rocks. So they made wooden paths through the ruins to make it safer for visitors. We were even able to go up one of the spiral staircases to peer out of the windows. Very exciting!

Canterbury was a lovely place for a day-trip. I loved the train ride out there and back. The Kent countryside was breath-taking.

Miss you all!

Country Bouncing

2010-02-19T09:50:00.000-08:00

Hip-hop! Part two of vacation included a jump to another country! That sounds so crazy. :) It was a blast. Let me tell you all about it.

After a horribly long 6 hour bus ride at night, I finally got to Liverpool. The area of England where I am living is very classy (in the south). The area's economics is mostly based off of tourism and white collar business. Moving northward, the economics shift and the culture changes. Liverpool is a blue collar city. It's amazing how different the accent is! Most of the British friends I have here say that they have a difficult time understanding a Liverpool accent. Just a hop toward the north and I was shocked at how the English vibe had changed.

A walk downtown to the city centre

The shopping in Liverpool was great!

HAHAHA This sign just cracked me up!

Jamie looking posh

Most gorgeous entrance to China Town! (Happy Chinese New Year by the way!)

A Gothic Cathedral

Who can tell me what Liverpool is best known for? (Brownie point if you know!)

"Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
There beneath the blue suburban skies
I sit, and meanwhile back
Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
There beneath the blue suburban skies...
Penny Lane."

The Beatles! Liverpool is home to the Beatles!

The Beatles frequented the Cavern Club in Liverpool. They played there quite often.

This is the stage where the Beatles often performed! Cool!

That evening, Jamie and I jumped on a plane to Dublin, Ireland! We were to spend two days in Ireland. We arrived late at night, but the city was still very beautiful! Here are some pics of Dublin in the sunshine.

Dublin was very pretty. It was interesting to see the differences between Dublin and London. To start, the architecture. Dublin is dotted with Celtic symbols. London has a lot of royal crests, heavy English symbols, and has some Roman-style architecture. In London, it is usually wall-to-wall stone. Cobble stone streets run right up to brick buildings. Although Dublin has a lot of brick and cobblestone, it also has a lot of metal and is trimmed in whites and lighter hues. Very bright and cheery! Both cities are gorgeous.

Dublin is the home to Guinness.

Below are pics from Dublin Castle. The church inside was INCREDIBLE!!! Very celtic and elaborate. Stunning!

Below: This is actually a bank. Beautiful though!

Below are pictures from Trinity College. It is the oldest college in Ireland.

Below: This is the National Gallery of Ireland. It was fun to look through the Irish art! They had some classics in there too, such as my favorite artist: Monet!

Pretty Irish flowers!

I loved this iron fence. Notice the shamrocks...

The famous Georgian Doors!

After a full-day of walking and site-seeing, Jamie and I went to a traditional pub in Temple Bar. We had a great time listening to live Irish music being played. I had a hard-core coffee to drink. HAHAHA

I wish I had the chance to tour outside of Dublin as well. I would have loved to see more of green Ireland! I really wanted a picture of me with something truly Irish though. Something that really screamed Ireland. Here's a pic of me with a nice, red-headed Irish gentleman. :)

Early the next morning, we took of for good 'ol London. First stop in London was King's Cross. I'm not a Harry Potter fan, so that would probably explain why I couldn't push this cart through the wall. If you are a Harry Potter fan, you'd get a lot more excited about this site ( AKA: Jamie...) :D

Then we looked through the British Museum! Such an awesome place! I posted some pics that really stood out from the experience.

Awww! My beautiful English Ivy! Bling version!

Are you looking for that perfect Christmas gift? Look no further! Feast your eyes on these! :D Can we say, oooo la la!!!!!!

This is the mummy of Cleopatra. I was surprised, I thought it would be a lot more elaborate! Pretty neat though....

HAHAHAHA These cat mummies just CRACKED ME UP!!!

Here it is, folks! The Rosetta Stone! :D

Probably my favorite statue in the Museum. So beautiful!

Parts of the Pantheon!

Then, (you won't believe this) we went to the FREUD MUSEUM!!!!!! Sigmund Freud left Vienna for London to escape the Nazis. He made his home on a quaint little street. For those who may not be aware, Freud is known for his work in psychoanalysis and dream interpretation.

That's it! That's Freud's home!!!!

I was just a little excited....

It was such an amazing, filled-to-the-brim week of site-seeing. It was great having a little break in between teaching. Now it's back to the lesson plans! :)

Hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Lots of love!

What the British Call a Holiday

2010-02-15T00:55:00.000-08:00

Hello, Everyone! I am on holiday! They don't call it a vacation here, it is called a holiday. So if you are on vacation, you are on holiday. I think it makes the whole ordeal sound very fanciful. My school has half term break, so Jamie and I decided to seize the time off to explore other corners of England.

Before I tell you about my travels, I'd like to give a shout-out to my Aunt Liz. I've heard that I am in trouble for not updating my blog recently. So Liz, this post is especially for you. :)

Alrighty, "holiday" began on Friday night. I had two formal observations of me this week at school, so I was pretty stressed out and in desperate need of a great escape. When Friday rolled around, I had everything to do not to throw lesson plans high up in the air and prance down the corridor. Jamie came over Friday evening and we set to packing. We did watch a chick-flick, as it was Valentine's weekend and we needed our dose of romantic comedy. :)

Early Saturday morning we rushed to the train station for our trip to Bath. Bath is well-known for its Roman architecture. It is the home to the Roman Baths. We stayed in Bath for a day and a half. In that time, we covered all of the must-sees in the city as well as Stonehenge!

Above and Below: Massive Bath Cathedral

Above: A Bath side-street. All of the buildings are made of this gold stone. The entire city is very ornate and decorated with lavish trimmings. The city’s economy thrives off of tourism, so Bath is well-kept and preserved for those eager to visit.

Bath is located, quite literally, in the middle of nowhere. It’s like a little paradise.

Above and Below: Pulteney Bridge and the Weir

This place above is called the “Circus.” No, it wasn’t teaming with clowns and circus animals. In fact, it was really really quiet. We were told that is was full of shops, but it was more or less residential. Still very pretty. Below is a picture of the very gorgeous Royal Crescent.

Here we come to my favorite part! The Roman Baths! When the Romans invaded England, they wanted to create a place that reminded them of home. Romans would come here to this “spa” to relax and find healing. They believed that there were healing powers in the naturally warm waters. Although these baths had been covered over years later, they were uncovered by archeologists. Amazing discovery, ey?

There were different baths for different purposes. The pictures of the baths I’ve posted I thought were the most elaborate. However, I have tons of pics of the “frigidariom, the “sacred spa,” and the “healing spas.”

This fountain is a natural spring from the baths. Guests to the Roman Baths are welcomed to taste the spring water…

Not sure how sanitary, but I tried it anyways… It tastes like (drumroll please) …….WATER! Fancy that!

After Bath, we traveled to Oxford. I can’t say much about Oxford because I didn’t get to see it. I injured my eyes and was essentially blinded immediately following our visit to the Roman Baths. I went to the optometrist and was told that I had burned off the top layer of my eyes. Instructed not to wear contacts for a week (and not having any glasses) I’m leaving my travels with Jamie to head back to London, where I will pick up my glasses. I’ll take a bus at London Victoria to Liverpool and meet Jamie there. No worries, it could have been a lot worse. At least today I can see somewhat and I am not is so much pain. Apparently, Oxford is beautiful though. J

Hope you all enjoyed Valentine’s Day weekend!

A Not So Foggy Day

2010-01-31T11:22:00.000-08:00

Why is that every day I travel to London, I have Michael Buble singing in my head? On the train, I find myself humming "A Foggy Day (In London Town)" as we zip along the tracks. Saturday was no exception...minus one little detail... usually, it really is foggy or rainy.

Miracle of miracles! It was bright and sunny!

Jamie and I set off to our first site of the day: The Imperial War Museum. Although it was, of course, very moving, thought-provoking, and humbling, it was also incredible. By far one of the best museums I've been in. They had two rooms that made the World Wars more of a reality. They truly gave me an even deeper appreciation for the amazing men and women who gave their lives and dedication to the USA. One of the rooms was a walk-through depiction of what it was like to be in the trenches. The other was a simulation of what it was like to be in a bomb raid shelter. Both were quite moving experiences.

One of the exhibitions actually contained a chunk of the Berlin Wall.

Our second site of the day was the Monument, which was created to remember the London fire of 1666.

There is still so much of London to see! Today was such a gorgeous day to take in the sites. To top it off, it was beautifully sunny. A great day to mark the one month anniversary of being a temporary British resident. :)

"But the age of miracles, hadn't passed. For suddenly I saw you there. And through foggy London town the sun was shinning everywhere."

~Michael Buble: "Foggy Day (In London Town)

The Beach in... January?

2010-01-26T11:11:00.000-08:00

A Day at Brighton Beach

This last weekend, I traveled with Jamie to Brighton! It is a beach town located along the English Channel. It was a great day for the trip. The temp was about 40 degrees and cloudy. A great January day for walking along the shiny stoned beach.

This is St. Andrews church. It is the oldest building in Brighton (over 900 years old!) Below is a picture of one of the inside church walls. The architecture and design inside was very delicate and extravagant.

Below: Having a ball at Brighton Beach!

Below is the Brighton Pier. The neat thing about Brighton is that it is like a British Coney Island. Parts of Brighton (such as the streets and the downtown) are incredibly steep, hilly and the buildings are tight together...reminds me of San Francisco... Then other parts are truly British. Later, I'll show you some pics that have a distinct Indian feel. The beach? Truly Coney Island! The Pier has a large arcade and at the tip there is a small amusement park, where I rode a MECHANICAL BULL!!!!!! AAAAaaaa!!!! So much fun!!

Aha! Here is what I was telling you about. That distinct Indian feel, thanks to the Royal Pavilion!

Brighton was by far my favorite town so far, besides London. It was a perfect place to spend a Saturday! :) Miss you all and hope you are enjoying the moment!

My New Residence!

2010-01-17T08:54:00.000-08:00

I've Moved!

This last Friday I moved from the B&B to an annex! I am living with a wonderful, sweet family now. My place is quaint and lovely. The family I am living with are incredibly kind and sweet. I love it here! I took some pics to show you.

Here is my front door. You can see me taking pictures in the reflection... hahaha Oh well. I have my own gated entryway. On my sidewalk, attached to my house, I have a room with a washer, dryer, frig, and freezer.

Walking in my door, this is the first room in my house. It's my foyer and my kitchenette. :D My place is small, but it's a lot of room for me!

The other side of my foyer/kitchenette... Now, let's zoom into my favorite part of the house! The windowsill!

Why is this my favorite part? There are three reasons.

1. From the window, there is a lovely view of the backyard and the pond.

2. My host family left me these beautiful tulips as a welcome. (By the way, it was nearly 50 degrees today! There are buds on the trees already...)

3. Those little squares of paper? The ones that say XO? My loving family in Minnesota wrote me little notes and stuck them in my luggage. I folded them and decorated my windowsill. Isn't my family amazing? I love them. :D

I have my own bathroom.

Walking through the open door in the picture (that's my foyer/kitchenette) I come to my bedroom/living room/office! :D I have my own couch (hiding behind my laptop. I have a deck, a built in closet, and tv. It's perfect for me! I feel so blessed to have been offered this place and to feel so welcomed by my host family.

Another Day in London Town

2010-01-16T12:15:00.000-08:00

This Saturday, Jamie and I were going to walk through the National Gallery then go to the Lion King musical. Change of plans, we were unable to go to the Lion King (but we will hopefully be going later on). Instead, our day went something like this....

We did go to the National Gallery. It was incredible! I was able to see some gorgeous pieces by Di Vinci, Rembrandt, and (my all-time favorite) Monet!

Since we couldn't go to the Lion King, guess where we went after lunch?

TOWER BRIDGE!!!!!

We are below the bridge in the above picture. Take another look at the picture and you'll see something incredible: the bridge is being lifted! Tower Bridge is actually a lift bridge. The road lifts up when a boat needs to pass underneath.

We took a tour of the inside. This is a view outside of one of the windows on the way up, up, up the stairs.

Afterwards, we filled up on Italian chocolate at Cafe' Neros. Delicious....

It was a lovely, rainy day in London. (And I didn't get lost this time!!!) :D

London at a Glance

2010-01-15T12:54:00.000-08:00

On my second trip to London, I was able to see a lot of sites. Because it was a Sunday, and because I was, for the majority of the day...um..er..ah...lost, I didn't go inside any of these amazing buildings. However, now that I officially know where they are, I will be traveling back to tour inside instead of tour (AKA: wander in search of a site that is actually on the opposite side of town... darn, poor directional skills...) outside. Here are some pics during the wander!

Ok, so there is actually a pretty neat story behind the above and below picture. Jamie and I were walking, lost, and came across these gorgeous arches that were tucked below this old looking building. Curious, we went through these arches and it opened up to this! It was similar to an old town square, surrounded by buildings. We could hear cheerful music and laughter coming from in between those two little, white buildings. As we got closer, we could see people ice skating. We never would have run across this London gem had we not been lost.

Here is where I'm headed this Saturday! The ever-fabulous Lion King musical! :D

Beautiful Covent Garden!

This sign was in Covent Garden and it reminded me of my brother, for obvious reasons. :) Love you, Ben! :D

This is Victoria Station. I take a train from my quaint town up to Victoria Station in London. It only takes me about 30 minutes.

A pretty gated park not far from Buckingham Palace.

Below are pictures from Buckingham Palace! We weren't able to walk through, as it is only open to the public during the summer.

This random British man decided to join in on the tourist fun. haha

Harrod's at night!

This trip was fun of adventure and beautiful sites along the way. Hopefully next time I won't be quite as lost... :) Either way, there will be great pictures. :D

Miss you all!

London Time!

2010-01-09T11:24:00.000-08:00

Today was my first trip to London! As every day here, it was a day of "firsts." I took my first train, first subway in the underground, and my first double-decker bus! I have been so blessed to see so much! If the weather holds out tomorrow, I'll be heading back to London to see more.

I took a train from my town into London's Victoria Station. From there, I met up with Paula (my GST supervisor), Jamie (a student teacher from WA), and two other student teachers from good 'ol Minnesota! We then took a subway and popped up right along the Thames River and Big Ben!

Above: The River Thames and a great view of the London river edge!

Walking past Big Ben, we took a nice walk in the centre. I saw the changing of the guard, Westminister Abbey, St. James Park, the famous black taxi's, and so much more!

Above: Jamie and I

Above: This is where the changing of the guards takes place

Above: This sign was in St. James Park

Above: Ever-so-happy in the top of a double-decker bus!!

Taking a bus away from the elegant London centre, we went to a bit..more eccentric part of town known as Camden. It was extremely busy and like nothing I've seen before. The best I can explain it is a permanent flea market. There were little hole-in-the-wall shops, ethnic foods, and plenty of music. It will be a lot of fun when it warms up outside! :)

Above: Camden Marketplace!

Today was so fun! I'm exhausted, but feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to tour London. I can't wait to go back tomorrow!