Zac Efron, The Pope, and Everything In-between

Once again I am on the brink of failing at blogging. However, I am leaving for Parrrreeeee tomorrow morning and won't be blogging until next Saturday. So, here we go!

Wednesday, September 15
We had our second "field outing" aka: field trip for college kids. We went to East Sussex and Kent (yes, while we were there, Pride and Prejudice references may have spilled out on occasion). This was our days outline:
Bodiam Castle
Batemans (Rudeyard Kiplings home)
Battle Abby
Monk's House (Virginia Woolfs "country" home- because there is a difference)


We had a later start and we all slept on our way to the first destination. I got off the coach and just wanted to weep, (metaphorically speaking, of course) because the country side was so beautiful! I felt like all of my wildest dreams were coming true. Bodiam Castle was set up like a fairy-tale castle. It was just cute and quaint. I kept waiting for a knight in shining armor to ride up and rescue a damsel in distress from the high tower, which sadly enough didn't actually exist.
After Bodiam we had another sleepy journey over to Batemans, where I truly fell in love. These pictures just don't give it the justice needed. (Mom, Dad, I may have picked up a brochure about Holiday Cottages in this area. Next Christmas- problem solved.) This was the home of the poet Rudeyard Kipling. First, I just love that everyone actually does name their home in the countryside. And second, it was the perfect English country side home you would picture in Elizabeth Gaskell's North & South. It was a dream.
We headed over to Battle Abby (Battle is the city name) where the Battle of England was fought. I could intrigue you with my plethora of knowledge about the battle of 1066 between the Normands and English, but I will spare you. I may just dedicate a post to that battle for all of you lovers of war and English history. But until then, I will just continue on. Our last stop before heading home to London was Monk's House. No- it wasn't literally a monk's house. That would be a monastery. This however is the home of Virgina Woolf. No, I won't be offended if you didn't know who she was. I didn't either, and in fact probably never would have unless I wasn't required to read two of her novels this semester. It was a charming, cozy little home. A little too much sea-green paint for my taste, but if it suited her fancy, good for Virginia. I do have to give her credit to her garden. It was a rather large garden with a tree that was just the perfect climbing tree. Who could resist? Of course not me. To cap it off, there was even a rope swing. Good choice Mrs. Woolf, good choice.
Thursday September 16


Like every other Thursday, we had class in the morning. It was a lovely class period. I am sure I learned sometime worthwhile, but may be having a hard time recalling said lessons. After classes we ventured off to the NG (the Londoners lingo for National Gallery) to do Humanities Homework. After we wrapped things up with our wonderful homework Meegan and I wondered over to indulge ourselves in Hagen Daaz. Did I mention they have special European flavors and it is just ice cream on crack? Well, it is, and it's AMAZING. So upon arrival to said Ice Cream shop in Leicester Square we saw a overly large " CHARLIE ST. CLOUD UK PREMIER". Yep, Zac Efron was going to be in London, three hours from then. We rushed home to spread the good cheer. In the end, Meegan and I stayed home to do homework while the others were able to partake in the blue carpet, Zac Efron aura. Shame. We were so close. I don't really know what I was thinking, homework/ famous people, and I chose hw? That Haagen Daaz did have crack in it.
Friday September 17


Yes, I think you may start seeing our routine here. Friday's are our London Studies. Our "in town" field trips. It was rather a short and simple trip over to the Tower of London. Our first stop, naturally being a group of 36 girls, was the crown jewels. It was brilliant. Jani and I may or may not have rode the moving conveyer belt to see the crown jewels six times. If I ever said I didn't care what size my diamond was when I was little, I lied. Seeing all of those made me definitely want a big rock. :) But seriously. On a less selfish note. There is so much to be learned at the Tower of London. It had been around for some time. They had an exhibition on armory of all the different houses. (Tudors, Lancaster, etc). Let's just say, after viewing king Henry VIII's armor with a little British girl next to me, I won't be able to write anything appropriate. She sure didn't know any shame. Phew.
After the Tower of London we headed over to Borough Market which is my favorite place to eat, thus far. Words can't explain the splendor of such a market. It is just the atmosphere that is amazing to be part of. I had a baguette with pork, apple sauce and stuffing. My life is now complete. We will most surely be  weekly regulars to Borough Market, for there is just too much to be explored there.

Saturday I don't have too much to write about. My day consisted of me going on a run and running into the pope. So, it may have just been me running through Hyde Park while they were setting up for the pope coming two hours later. But, I ran where he would have stood, so in a round about way, he practically blessed me. But other than that, I sat on my bed for nine hours and wrote papers.

It was quite the wonderful week. London never ceases to amaze.

I am off to Paris and will update my trip on Saturday. Brace yourselves for a long post.
Just like I have to brace myself for the dreaded tomorrow---- Jani found a scale.