I Have Been There, And Back. I Get It.

 Just as an introduction, this may have been one of the best weeks of my life.
First off. Wednesday: Best. Day Trip. Ever. We went to Glastonbury, Stourhead, and Bath. In Glastonbury we went to two different ruins. The first was an old cathedral, and the second we had to hike 500 something stairs (big shocker, I know. Stairs- unheard of.) up the side of Tor hill to see more ruins. Ruins are about as common in the UK as cacti in Nevada. No joke. However, I do rather enjoy them. They make very good  photo props.
As for Stourhead- I will let the pictures do the talking.

Remember that one time Lizzie read Darcy's letter? 

Look Familiar?

Oh yes, and then that other time Mr. Darcy Proposed?

After all the girls finished taking pictures and fantasizing, we headed over to Bath. Bath is such a cute town. It had the big city feel but a small town charm. It is one of my favorite cities in England so far, but then again, I am pretty sure I say that about every new place I go.

I think they said the water was toxic or something

So, in all reality, don't take my word on that. In Bath we went to the Pump Room and the Assembly Hall (Northanger Abby/Persuasion anyone?). Naturally, all of us Jane Austen fanatics (aka- all 36 girls) were in heaven. It was an Austen replay every place we went.

I meant it literally when I said renactment

 Thursday we had another big study party for our Great War test that was the following morning. For all of those who weren't in Great War, they had a movie night. Unfair? I think yes. They were watching Bright Star to prepare for our visit to Keats house the next day. Later that night a few of us were in the servery having our customary midnight snack (usually consisting of corner yogurt) when the two guys walked in after watching Bright Star. Hilarious. Let's just say. Ben has been there, and back, and in short, guys don't like girl heroines. Apparently they are too whiney, controlling, or something. Psssh. I don't know what they are referring to. Girls, whiney or controlling? Unreal.

Friday we had the best London study. Ever. But this time I am completely serious. The weather was incredible: the sun was out for THE WHOLE DAY. I thought I had died a happy woman and gone to heaven. Granted, I had only had 5 hours of sleep, so for the morning tour of Keats home I kept thinking, "I see now why Fanny Brawne slit her wrists and wanted to kill herself".  I look back and see how I may have been being a little dramatic, but just a little. We continued our way to a cute candy shoppe, and then over to Kenwood and then Hampstead Heath. We may or may not have taken an our long nap while sun bathing in Kenwood backyard, but it felt nice to soak up that much needed Vitamin D. I will never take a sunny day for granted, ever again. 

Notting Hill filimg outside Kenwood

It really is the same house, it just looks prettier in the sunlight. :)

While wondering around Hampstead Heath I also found this tree. Look familiar?

It's a secret, but I actually don't know if that is the same tree. I just like to pretend that it is. We also climbed to the top of the Parliament Hill, which I highly reccomend. I don't have a lot of the pictures we took on Friday, so I do apologize you can't quite grasp everything that I saw and did!

Shakespeare Overload, With A Little Poetry

Caroline's Birthday

It has been quite the week! I have definitely been on overload, considering I have finally gotten into school mode- 5 weeks after the semester has started.
Today has been the first day in 5 weeks I feel completely relaxed and not rushed. Sundays are usually really busy and fast paced, but since today in conference, and we don't get the first session until 5 pm-- I have been playing catch up on life. Mostly gathering pictures from everyone, so I finally have all my pictures! It has just been a happy day, thus far. I LOVE conference.

Anne Hathaway's Home

On Monday was Caroline's 20th birthday, so a few of us watched She's The Man and had a girls night. Her cousin, Briana went to a bakery and got her two fancy cakes and we all sang her happy birthday. It was a fun day!

Mary Arden's Farm.

Tuesday night we had a play night as a group and we went to the Globe to see The Merry Wives on Windsor. HILARIOUS. We were the "groundings"(the poor people who can't afford seats and stand up for the three hour duration of the play). The teachers say it was for the experience, but it was most definitely because the tickets were only 5 pounds. However, I do have to give them some credit, it was fun being a poor person for an evening. Being so close to the front made the actors engage you into the play, and it was just an overall cool experience, even if I did kill my ankle.

The Birth Home of Shakespeare

Butter Beer!

Wednesday was our "Shakespeare" on crack day. We woke up and drove to Stratford-Upon-Avon to see all the Shakespeare homes. (In other words, any home who was somewhat related to Shakespeare). The Anne Hathaway Cottage (his wife's family's home), Mary Arden Farm (his mothers home she grew up in), William Shakespeare's Birth Home, New Place (which was actually a big hole in the ground), and John Hall's Home (His daughters husbands home). After the last home, Jani and I sprinted to the main road where we had seen a magic shop with a big "BUTTERBEER" sign on the front. It was the coolest thing I have ever seen. It was called the "Creeky Cauldron", so much of it was a twist off Harry Potter, but it wasn't a Harry Potter shop.

John Hall's Home

Thursday was strictly dedicated to Humanities 202 studying. It was fun though, of course. If you live in a house of 36 girls who are all studying for the same test, it will most definitely be an exciting study session. I do say I am sure we all did really well on our test the next day. I hope. Did I mention I love that living with our professors? It was like 10:30 and Dr. Tate came down to get something from the servery, where we were all being studious (in our PJ's and no make-up), and just talked to us for a while and told us about the test and helped us study.
Friday rolled around and we had our London Study to Kew Gardens after our test. It was pouring that day, so that put a small damper on things. But Kew Gardens has got to be one of my favorite places in London. It was just all too much to take in, and definitely a rival to Huntington Library and Gardens. (Sorry mom and Dad, but it's true). We stayed for over an hour, and then went to Whole Foods to eat. Oh how I have missed Whole Foods! Meegan and I did a little shopping at H&M on our way home which proved to be successful.
Saturday was our homework overload day. We had a big paper due for Great War at midnight about a poem. They are all rather depressing poems, so I was in a rather melancholy mood, that was until our spiritual feast! Starting at 3 we listened to The Relief Society Broadcast, at 5 The Saturday morning general session, and then at 9 we listened to the Saturday afternoon session. It was so nice to listen to conference even though I was in a different country. I will admit to my mother it did make me a little homesick. I was expecting to have to garden in between sessions and have breakfast with the Roskelly's this morning.
I am excited for another conference marathon today! In short, all is well in London. :)

Holy Flying Buttresses, I'm Mad as Hell!

Yes, Yes, I know you are all shocked, but before you all assume I have picked up a potty mouth just read, read along and you will laugh too. I hope.
So, life. What have I been up to? Oh yes, France. Yep, I was there last week. It was fun. (Secretly this page has been up on my computer screen for a few hours. okay, maybe 3 days-  I am at a loss of words as to how to begin my experience there.) I guess the easiest way for me will just be taking it day by day.


Monday
Drove in a coach for 12 hours, but got a stamp in my passport. Totally worth the coach ride, and getting sick on the ferry crossing the English Channel.
Vimy Memorial (Go Canada!) 

Armistice Clearing (where the WW1 armistice was signed, thence the name)
Walked around Paris for a few hours, and of course got my first Crepe. Mmmmm. 

Tuesday

Chartres Cathedral- My favorite town in France, because I have been to so many. 

Versailles Palace: Just a whole different story. Anime. Your minds can fill in the rest, with the help of my picture. 

Arc de Triomphe 

Avenue des Champs Elysees

River Cruise

Wednesday- Museum o' Marathon

Notre Dame

La Madeleine

Notre Dame

Sainte Chapelle

Musee d'Orsay

Musee de l'Orangerie

The Louvre

The Biggest Haagen Daaz of my life

Thursday

Sacre'-Couer Basilica

Paris Opera Gernier

The Pompidou

The Jewish & Gay district (best ice cream & Pita, OF MY LIFE)

Drive to Amiens, Amiens Cathedral statue tour

Buy one get one free pizza, and handicapped room

Friday

Amiens Cathedral

Shopping

WW1 sites

HOME!

Overall, France was incredible! I was a little bit surprised when I got to Paris. It was much different than I would have expected. The overwhelming stench of urine and dirt may have overshadowed the whole fairy tale romantic scene for me. But I also blame that partially to running off 3 hours of sleep. I can't really say my favorite thing about france overall, but I most definitely have favorite daily memories.

On Monday I loved talking a 12 mile walk along the river. Partially because we may have been lost, and we couldn't use our Metro card more than twice that night. (To get there and back). We had an awesome roommate picture competition between Meegan and Laruen and Jani and I in front of the Eiffel Tower.  It was a sad day when I was walking around Paris and I looked up at the Eiffel Tower for the first time and immediately thought I was back in vegas looking at the Paris Casino. Sad, such a sad day. 

Tuesday I loved going to Chartes.   We had a Cathedral Window Club where a group of us each took a stained glass window and told the story. I have taken quite a liking to stained glass. I had the stained glass window about the correlation between The Fall and The Good Samaritan. I feel like I have become the BIGGEST nerd, ever. I have come here and all the sudden love going to cathedrals and listening to Gregorian Chants. Dad would be proud. We can have cathedral exploring parties dad, it's fun. 

. 

Oh! I love the French countryside. I would move there in a heart beat. It blows Paris out of the water. The town Chartes was just too good to be true. We saw a pair of Elders there and just got so thrilled to see them! It was fun. 

On Wednesday we had our absolutely ridiculous museum marathon. We woke up in the morning a ran to Notre Dame to see it, and then went back later in the day so we could hike to the top. When we were on the top you could see the view of the whole city. It was incredible. I just loved it. When I was at the top I looked over and saw three cathedrals and just kinda spilled out "HOLY FLYING BUTTRESSES". They were everywhere! It kinda turned into a joke the rest of the trip. But really, they were everywhere. 

Thursday rolled around, and I just wanted to weep because we got to sit on a bus! After Wednesday my feet were just begging me to stop killing them. We got to Amiens and we all had the happiest day of our lives. We practically stayed in a five star hotel, for college students standards at least. The bathroom was bigger than 4 * 4. And, to make it even cooler, it was a handicapped bathroom. Anyway, that night we were supposed to watch the Lights and Sounds show where they light up the Amiens Cathedral and it is just supposed to be totally gnarly. So Jani and I go out to talk to Brother Seely about said light show and it was cancelled! I said something like oh, I'm sad, I was kinda excited to see this one. And he got this look on his face and he said "No! Don't be sad! I am mad, mad as hell!". Yes Brother Seely, Yes. I am mad as hell. 

Friday! This was actually a really good day. We covered a few of the world war one memorial sites on our way back to London.  It was just incredible. I love learning about the war and it is just so real to see it all in person. A lot of France is still rugged from the shelling and bombing which I wasn't expecting at all. We stopped at one grave site and we all got a poppy seed cross to stick in the grave of our choice. We spent about an hour looking through the tomb stones and just reading and just soaking it all in. I stunk mine in a 16 year old boys. He died a few days before the war ended. It was just heart wrenching. I also found a Gresham in the war memorial we went to. It has sent a little desire to start doing family history. But I can't confess that to my dear mothers face yet. 

Over all, it was a wonderful trip. My favorite food is a curry chicken pita, and favorite dessert was this flower shaped gelato. Golly Gee, and the chocolate croissants. I will never be the same. That is a happy ending. 

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.