I Left My Heart..in Ireland

Upon arriving in Dublin, Ireland we quickly hopped onto a bus to Galway.  We had a friend to meet there and wanted to get there as soon as possible.  It was a long bus ride, a little over 4 hours, but comfortable and spacious enough that we all were able to lay down and sleep most of the way there.  When we got there we met up with Kate B's friend, Siobhan.  She was very welcoming and too kind to allow 8 people to stay in her small apartment for a weekend.

The night that we got to Galway we went out to a club nearby and had the time of our lives, although the club was very different than the ones we are used to in Kingston it was still a lot of fun.  We instantly regretted the decision to go out so late in the morning when we had to wake up early to get on a bus to go and explore The Burren and the Cliffs of Moher as long as the coast of Ireland.

We got on the bus and we were all feeling the effects of a late night.  Our first stop was a cave tour, which we all chose not to embark on because it cost extra money.  Instead we stayed outside and explored the area surrounding the cave.  We got a birds eye view of the Burren and the area that we were about to explore.  We also got to eat, which made us all feel a lot better.  Then it was back on the bus for the next part of our excursion.

In the next part of our tour we found ourselves winding up a road that was certainly not built for a bus the size we were traveling in.  It was a winding road up a hill that was much like the road in San Francisco.  At the top we all got out to take pictures of the road and the view from the top of the hill we just climbed.  Then it was back on the bus to our stop at the Cliffs of Moher.  Although it was windy and raining, the view was absolutely fantastic!  It was just simply breathtaking and a little nerve-wracking because of how close to the edge the pathway was.  We walked along the path to O'Briens Castle.  After exploring the "castle" that is more like a Tower we kept walking over to another part of the cliffs.  Again we were all speechless.  It is a wonderful sight and something that I could have only dreamed of being able to see.

After an hour or so at the cliff we again got back on the bus along the countryside.  We saw the Aran Islands and passed a couple more castles.  We also passed a lot of rabbits, baby sheep, baby calves and all kinds of other animals, much to the delight of our bus driver who made sure to stop at every opportunity to point out how cute all these animals were.  I must admit, the newborn baby sheep and cows were simply adorable but after a while I got sick of stopping just to stare at them since they were around every corner.

We were off the bus again at a very beautiful coastline.  The water was so rough, however, that it was coming over the sides of the rocks and spraying everyone.  Since it was already so cold and wet out, everyone took their pictures and very quickly got back on the bus.  We stopped at a couple more castles and to see yet some more rabbits and then we were back to where we had started.  It was a long day, but extremely wonderful and I would not have traded it for the world.  We also met some really cool people that were sitting around us on the bus and being able to talk to them was an experience I would not have traded for the world.

After getting back to Galway we went to see the University of Galway with Siobhan.  It is an absolutely beautiful campus.  That night Siobhan had a house party because it was the end of the semester for the kids in Ireland.  We all decided to crash early despite the loud music because we all knew we had to get back on a bus to Dublin in the morning and we did not want a repeat of the bus trip around the Burrens.

We arrived in Dublin early afternoon and went and did all the exploring that all people that would visit Dublin would do.  We saw the spire and the Guinness Factory.  What was most amazing about this was the gravity bar at the top that allowed us to see Dublin from the top of the city, the skyline.  While we were admiring the skyline we saw a rainbow in the distance.  It was a good feeling to see a rainbow in the place where the idea of leprechauns started.  We passed a couple churches and Christ Church as well as a few other famous landmarks before getting stuck in a rain and hail storm that was the hardest rain we have seen since being in Europe.  We were standing under the overhang to the "Castle of Dublin: which was nothing more than a couple arches before deciding to run back to the hostel.  It was there we stayed to dry off and get ready to go out for a pub crawl that night.

The pub crawl was great because Lena and Sarah and I ended up in a pub that was full of live music, like in the movie PS I Love You.  It was a wonderful experience and I really enjoyed the live music a lot more than I thought I would.  We headed back to the hostel as soon as the music was over and went to bed before our flight back to England in the morning.

Stonehenge and Bath

This was the last class trip of the British Life and Culture class I was taking during my studies at Kingston. The girls and I woke up early, and reluctantly made our way to the bus stop.

The bus ride to Stonehenge was long, but we all slept the entire way because of how early our day started. We could see Stonehenge on the road as drove up to the place and I am sad to say that I was disappointed. I saw ropes and guards around the structure and realized that we would not be able to get anywhere near the stones.  That was going to be the best part of the trip.  We walked around and passed the time as best we could, taking pictures and enjoying the view and although it was beautiful and amazing it was not the eerie experience I was expecting.  I thought that Stonehenge was going to be a type of religious or spiritual experience and I did not get what I wanted.  All in all, I was glad I was able to see it, but the rest of the day proved to be a much better experience than a walk around a couple of amazing, gigantic stones stuck in the ground. Just as everyone was getting tired of Stonehenge it was time to get back on the bus and head to Bath.

Bath was amazing! I am so glad that I had the opportunity to see the Roman Baths.  The first thing that we did when we got to Bath was take a walking tour of the town.  We saw how the town changed and the architecture changed according to the time period the buildings were built.  There were Roman buildings, Modern buildings and buildings that were built in an age of functionality over artistic aesthetics.  We saw the Royal Crescent and buildings that were based on the Roman Coliseum.  Bath is a beautiful town a long history of change, however, the people seem to be able to embrace the change and the different periods of history that are embodied in the little town.

After the walking tour we moved on to see the Roman Bath which was uncovered not too long ago but has been around for quite some time.  The Roman Baths were really cool to see and the girls and I enjoyed them for as long as we could before having to get back on the bus.  We were told not to touch the water because of fears of getting meningitis but the girls and I touched it because it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.  We made sure to wash our hands 1000x over when we were done though and went on our way to get ice cream before getting on the bus.

We got some of the best ice cream I have ever had in my life and then we went and looked a souvenirs before getting on the bus.  While walking to the bus we heard a rugby match from the local team, Bath.  It was awesome to hear all of that cheering and I thought for a moment I was back in Clemson during a football game.  I got goosebumps and realized how important Clemson was to me at that moment.

Bath was awesome and I was so happy to have seen it, however disappointed I was by the trip to Stonehenge.

A Day in Hampton Court

Before we went to Ireland Kate and I met up with her cousin Tessa at Hampton Court Palace for a walk through the place where King Henry VIII stayed.

Kate and I were very excited to be able to see this place because of what huge nerds we can be sometimes.

Hampton Court is not like the other extravagent palaces that are found through London and is actually very understated on the outside.  However, the inside and the gardens are something else entirely.

As we walked through Hampton Court Palace we were amazed to see that they were acting out what it was like to be living in the time of King Henry VIII, so Kate, Tessa and I sat down and enjoyed the show.  Little did I know that sitting down and enjoying the show would include being a part of the show.  One of the women asked me if I would like to present a complaint to King Henry VIII asking that he come up with a dowry for my sister.  It was a very strange thing but I went along with it and made a fool of myself.

After the show, we went outside to see the gardens.  They are vast and beautiful and it could take a person all day to explore them.  Unforunately for us, it was quite cold outside and we could not enjoy them as much as we wanted to.  However, we did make sure to run through the huge hedge maze that is found in Hampton Court.  It was a very large and very confusing maze but somehow we made it out before it got too dark outside. It was too early in the year to be able to see the place where tennis started, but to know it is there was enough for me.  The first Wimbledon games started at the tennis courts in Hampton Court Palace and was based on raising funds for the monarchy.

All in all it was an educational and fun day, but it had to end eventually.  Kate and I said goodbye to Tessa and headed back home on a bus ride that literally takes about 10 minutes we are so close to the Palace.

When The Weather is Warm.....

As the weather gets warmer in England it becomes increasingly easy and enjoyable to spend long and lazy days in London.  The girls and I have gotten to see so much and I am truly blessed to be able to have all of these experiences. The one thing that I had not yet seen, but heard so much about was the changing of the guard.  So the girls and I decided to head into London early one day to be able to experience that.

We bullied our way to the front of the rails so that we would be able to see better and just when we thought that nothing was going to happen, we heard the faint sound of music.  A band! And it was approaching quite rapidly.  We all caught ourselves marching in place to the music as we heard the band approaching.  It was great to be able to see the changing of the guard and I was so taken aback by how rigid and rehearsed the ceremony is.

After the changing of the guard we had a little picnic in St. James' Park before continuing our journey around London.  Somehow we ended up in Kensington Park and wandered the park for a couple of hours trying to find the Peter Pan statue.  When we finally did find it, we were swarmed by a couple little French girls in red bonnets and red dresses who were screaming the characters names in Peter Pan.  This was the only thing that we could make out, as they were speaking French and none of the rest of us understand French.

Kensington was beautiful and after Peter Pan we went over to the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain.  The Fountain was glistening in the sunset and we all decided to stick our feet into the water.  It was a beautiful moment and I was proud to be able to say that I was in a place that must have been important to Princess Diana.

Although there are very extravangent and expensive things to be seen in London, sometimes the best things are free.  Like a day in the park with a couple of good friends and a viewing of a moment in history.

The Random Events between Larger Events

My time in London has largely been defined by large events and big travel plans.  But there is plenty that happens when I am not taking pictures and this post is going to try to tell a little bit about the smaller things that have happened while I have been here.

First, I went to see the play Frankenstein in the National Theatre and it was one of the most amazing displays of acting I have ever seen in my life.  Not to mention the ability of the stage itself, which could move and twist, could have trains running through it, could hide people under the floor, could raise and lower itself and had a bell, that to my dissatisfaction was right above my poor little ears and each time it went off my head would ring for a good ten minutes. After the play, the girls and I met up with a couple of friends in Central London for drinks and to catch up on the good times (there is going to be a lot of catching up with drinks in this post)....

Classes were cancelled a couple of times during the year because of random events.  One day we had a chemistry student purposely start a fire in the JG building, where all of the classes are by rolling a roll of toilet paper that was on fire down the hallway.  I was glad classes were cancelled that day because my least favourite class, British Life and Culture was during that time.  We also didn't go to school on another day because the teachers were on strike regarding their pensions.  It has been an interesting semester at Kingston and although classes have officially drawn to a close, I still have a couple more finals and papers to worry about before I can say that I am home-free.

Although I eat a lot of candy here, I cannot say that I have gained any weight.  I think this is because of all the walking and the occasional run I have done since I have been in Engand.  Everyone walks everywhere and that is good for the old tummy in making sure that it doesnt get any larger than it is right now.

The girls and I go out to socialize and drink with friends a lot.  It is great to be able to do that in a culture where drinking is part of the process.  I definitely have my favourites and I will miss being able to do this when I go back to the States.  I will be counting down the days until I am 21 and can go out with friends again and just get a couple drinks and shoot the breeze.

Adventures in France

The girls and I decided to take a weekend trip out to Paris, France to see the Eiffel Tower and the culture that France has to offer.

We took a VERY early train into Paris, which was nice because we were able to catch up on a lot of sleep on the train ride over.  Upon arrival we were shocked by how actually uninviting the French people were to us.  I thought that this was a myth, but it was true what they say, the French do not seem to be very fond of Americans.

We walked into a cafe to eat and were shocked to find a very large, very unfriendly German Shepherd sitting behind the counter with the food.  The women that owned the place seemed to also own the dog and kept it there with her even though the dog did not seem to be too fond of the people that were coming into the cafe.  It was here that we got the first taste of how expensive everything in Paris was going to be.  From the cafe we continued on to our hotel, where we were finally able to put down our heavy bags so that we could explore the town around us.

The first stop that we made was to Notre Dame, which is a beautiful cathedral in Paris.  I was overwhelmed by how ornate the outside of the cathedral was.  The inside is even more overwhelming, with gargolyes and angels everywhere, looking over the people that are walking into the cathedral.  The stained glass windows inside took my breath away.  They are massive and very detailed and and bring attention to the altar that is placed in the center of the cathedral.  All of the stained glass pieces represent stories from the Bible and although I could not get close enough pictures that you are able to tell what the stories are, in real life they will take your breath away.  The time and detail that has gone into the making of these windows is absolutely incredible.  Inside of the cathedral there are also many statues and a large chandelier that is on display.

After Notre Dame we moved on to see other parts of Paris before settling down for the night.  We saw Paris' political hub, another very beautiful building surrounded by fountains.  All of the buildings in Paris  have wonderful statues surrounding them and seem to be famous people in the history of Paris.  Some seem to be angels or gargoyles and others seem to be saints or religious figures.  On a bus trip through Paris to see other sites, we happened to pass the statue that marked the storming of the Bastille.  I was excited to see these monuments to points in history that I thought I would only be able to imagine while talking about them in history class.

The most amazing part of Paris for me in first impressions was the waterways and how they are used to the advantage of the city.  It becomes clear that in previous parts of history water was very important and that is why all of the important places in the cities are built on the water.  I also loved the fountain of St. Michael that was found upon getting out of the metro on our first stop in Paris, the Notre Dame.

After going to Notre Dame we took the bus to the Louvre.  We were all very excited to be able to see the glass pyramids that are so famous in this city.  They were beautiful and did not disappoint.  There was also the beautiful fountains that surround the glass pyramids and add to the beautiful ambience of the museum.  The inside of the Louvre might have been even more impressive than the outside.  A huge, imposing building that seemed to never end.  The amount of history in this art was incredible and there were so many pieces of art that I could never have imagined being able to see.  I was most excited to be able to see in real life the Mona Lisa by Da Vinci and the Captive sculptures by Michelangelo.  There was also Aphrodite, Hammurabi's Code, Winged Victory, Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss and many other statues that I loved to have the opportunity to look at.  Although I am not an art person, this was a wonderful experience and I am so glad I took the time to be able to see all of these things.

It was raining about the we left the Louvre and we were all starving so we stopped at a cafe to eat dinner, it was a delicious meal and we were all quite satisfied at the end.  We collapsed into our beds after a whirlwind of a day and we prepared ourselves for our next long day at Versailles.

We arrived at Versailles on a train and walked to the Golden Gates.  They were everything I wanted them to be and more, beautiful, extravagant and holding in a history that I could not wait to explore.  We spent a good hour or so outside of the building itself just taking pictures and taking it everything that there was to see on the inside.  Finally, we decided to go inside and what we found was more extravangence waiting for our arrival.  The inside of the building was beautiful and although I didn't want to rush the experience, I could not wait to see the Hall of Mirrors.  It is even bigger and more gorgeous when you get to see it in person than when you see it in pictures in history books.  Everything about it was wonderful and I couldn't get enough of the Hall of Mirrors.  I took plenty of pictures in it, and while it was a wonderful place to be I was even more taken aback by the paintings on the ceilings of the rooms and their significance.  All of the rooms had these painted ceilings with images of Mars and other Gods that meant peace or prosperity, thus making it the perfect place to house the signing of the Peace Treaty.

Finally we got to the gardens which were even more immense than the inside of Versailles.  It could take a person all day to explore the entirety of the Gardens, but we tried to get in as much as we can.  After wandering around there for a while we decided that we wanted to be able to see Marie Antionette's house.  Although we got lost and ended up walking around for a good hour and a half before coming across her house, it was well worth the wait.  The cottage and the surrounding area was just stunning and we took our time exploring the area where this very famous lady once stayed.  She was obviously a very private person because of how far out her house was and she also obviously cared for animals because of how much useable farm land she surrounded herself with.  She did not want visitors apparently either, as there is a large mote the surrounds her abode to this day.

After the tour of Marie Antionette's house we were all very tired.  It was getting towards dinner time so we decided to head back towards our hotel.  Our feet hurt and we just wanted to be able to sit down for a bit.  We ate at a small cafe that was by our hotel and the food was even better than the food that we had the day before.  Then, Kate, Kate, Lena and I decided that we wanted to go and see the Eiffel Tower at night and what an experience that turned out to be!!  Upon arriving at the Eiffel Tower, tears filled our eyes as at night the place becomes magical.  It has such a romantic feel to it and the tower lit up is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in my life.  We just stood in the same spot and stared at the Tower for as long as we wanted.  Then, to our shock and amazment a light show began at the Tower and led us all to sit where we were originally standing and just take in the sight.  It was AMAZING.  I can not describe how wonderful it felt to be able to say that I was enjoying a light show at the Eiffel Tower.  The only thing that ruined the experience was a creepy vendor who kept touching me and kept asking me questions about myself.  But I was determined not to let that ruin my experience and put his presence out of my mind.  We decided that the Eiffel Tower was something that we would want to explore the next day and went back to our hotel room happy that we had that experience.  To top it all off, we later learned that the beautiful moon we saw peaking through the Eiffel Tower's legs was a moon that is only seen every couple of decades, making it an even more special experience.

The next morning began early again.  Kate, Kate, Lena, Catalina and I again decided that we wanted to see the Eiffel Tower in the daylight.  We trekked over and got in line to get to the top of the Tower.  We didn't have to wait long before we were on our way up in an elevator.  You have to change elevators 3 times before you get to the top and each seems to get progressively smaller.  There is not a chance for any individuals to get to the top of the tower by climbing, all progress past a certain point has to be in an elevator.  We finally made it to the top and the sight we saw was to die for.  It was amazing and we got to see all of Paris from where we were standing.  We took in the sights from the top of the Eiffel Tower and reveled in our ability to say that we had been to the top of the Eiffel Tower!  We then began our descent with huge smiles on our faces and an idea of where to go next thanks to the fact that we got to see a birds eye view of the entirety of Paris.

We continued our trek on to see the Arc de Triomphe and took in the sights that there were to see in that area.  Although we couldn't stay long I was glad that we were able to enjoy this sight.  We then just explored the town of Paris and got a couple souvenirs for our friends and families. We then made a quick stop over to see the Sacre Coeur and Moulin Rouge! Both of which were amazing sights to be able to see, for very different reasons.  The Sacre Coeur is a beautiful religious place that sits on top of a hill and is very commanding.  It was a wonderful, beautiful day and it was topped off by the view of a beautiful building.  Two minutes away was the redlight district of Paris where Moulin Rouge is situated.  It sits among a very eclectic gathering of sex shops and strip clubs in a very busy part of town.  I was glad we were able to see the other side to Paris before we left. We took in as many sights as we could before we had to go and collect our bags from our hotel. It was time to go back to the train station and catch the train back to London.  Although Paris was a wonderful city, I could not wait to get on that train back to London.  London is a place that feels more like home than anything to me now and I could not wait to be able to sleep in my own bed and speak the native language in the country.  I also couldn't wait to be able to eat something other than pastries, because although they are delicious they are not as filling or as healthy as I would like.

We arrived safely back into London and we all collapsed into our beds because although it was a very successful weekend, it was a weekend that was very trying on the nerves and a killer on the feet.  My feet still hurt thinking about all the walking that I did in Paris on a pair of heels that broke 30 minutes into the trip on the first day.


Cheers!

The Most Famous School in England

So, this is really late, but better late than never!

Finals are finally over for now, and I have time to sit here and update my blog and look back at everything that has happened this semester, as my time in England is rapidly coming to an end.

Oxford, a school trip that we took back in February? maybe March, was a trip to remember.

We started our tour of the town of Oxford in the same exact place that all member of the different schools in Oxford start their journey through Uni.  The ceiling was painted with a beautiful portrayal of wisdom and ignorance and we began the tour that would shed all the ignorance we had.  After the hall that all the individuals going to Oxford are inducted and graduate from, we climbed the staircase to the top of the building that allowed us to see the skyline of Oxford.  It was a beautiful sight and I took pictures of all the old, gothic buildings that hold history I can only imagine.

Skyline

The ceiling of Ignorance and Wisdom

After the tour of the building, we started the tour of the town of Oxford on foot.  Good thing I wore my comfortable shoes!  We saw some of the buildings that house historic classrooms and historic events.  Even a Jacobian style building that was home to the birth of science!

We then passed the Rhodes Building, which houses the Rhodes scholars, people like Bill Clinton and many other famous individuals that are some of the best and brightest in the nation.  I was thrilled to be able to see where the Rhodes scholars are inducted!

To please my literary minded self, we then saw the Eagle and Child, were J.R, Tolkien and and C.S. Lewis came up with their ideas for The Lord of the Rings and The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.  We continued on to see the place that the Protestants were burned at the cross for their beliefs.  The other highlights of the walking tour were the large Oxford library where millions of books sit under the ground in what is supposed to be a car park.

I fell in love with the architecture of Oxford, especially this round building which I have included..... The place was just beautiful and all the buildings were so lovely in their own right.

I loved this building

We continued on to Christ Church, where Harry Potter is filmed.  This is where the Great Hall exists, and Harry Potter walked up the very steps that I walked up and down throughout the day.  This was also the location of the scene from the second movie, The Chamber of Secrets, where Harry has to deal with the snake and Tom Riddle.

After the tour, the girls and I went to get ice cream from McDonalds and feasted on this wonderful treat while waiting for the buses to come and pick us up and take us home.  Catalina and I ended up in a museum that had many different stories to it, and although we wanted to be able to explore more, it was time to get on the bus.  We saw all sorts of Roman and Greek art and saw the hands of Buddha.

Christ Church

That was the trip to Oxford, a place that I would have loved to be able to spend more time at.