Well I'm feeling pretty lame about how infrequently I've blogged lately. Sorry! The routine of the semester, along with being pretty busy in the last couple of weeks between my parents being here, planning for this past weekend, and doing a bit of homework has definitely cut down on my free time for blogging... also, I admit, I just don't carry my camera around like I used to!
Anyway! Back to this weekend... I just returned this morning from a weekend trip with some other girls in the BCA program to London and Paris. It was a lot to pack into one weekend... and I definitely can't imagine trying to pack it all into one blog post! So, I'll tackle London first.
I just need to say... I fell in LOVE with London. I felt so sad when it came time to leave because I felt like I hadn't even scratched the surface of that city (and of course, in 24 hours, I didn't!) I think part of why I loved it so much was simply because the language barrier was gone. I could easily communicate with (even talk with!) everyone around, not just the other students, and Christmas Decorations were up! I could read every sign posted anywhere. I also loved having things like peanut butter on the breakfast bar and McDonalds coffee. We even saw a Subway!
To put it simply... London was so much more familiar and comfortable that it sort of felt like a preview of going home.... Something I admit I'm getting excited to do! (11 days 10 hours!)
Anyway... the rundown of what we did! Friday afternoon we arrived at 4 o'clock... in the dark! (We were totally surprised the sun had set!) We checked into our hostel, Astor Quest, and had dinner at a pub just bordering Hyde Park.
What fun! The pub had a great atmosphere and I was happy to see soup on a menu! Mushroom soup's not my favorite but I ordered it and didn't care because I was just so happy to see SOUP! I also had a side of "chips" (friend fries.) Yum!
Anyway! Back to this weekend... I just returned this morning from a weekend trip with some other girls in the BCA program to London and Paris. It was a lot to pack into one weekend... and I definitely can't imagine trying to pack it all into one blog post! So, I'll tackle London first.
I just need to say... I fell in LOVE with London. I felt so sad when it came time to leave because I felt like I hadn't even scratched the surface of that city (and of course, in 24 hours, I didn't!) I think part of why I loved it so much was simply because the language barrier was gone. I could easily communicate with (even talk with!) everyone around, not just the other students, and Christmas Decorations were up! I could read every sign posted anywhere. I also loved having things like peanut butter on the breakfast bar and McDonalds coffee. We even saw a Subway!
To put it simply... London was so much more familiar and comfortable that it sort of felt like a preview of going home.... Something I admit I'm getting excited to do! (11 days 10 hours!)
Anyway... the rundown of what we did! Friday afternoon we arrived at 4 o'clock... in the dark! (We were totally surprised the sun had set!) We checked into our hostel, Astor Quest, and had dinner at a pub just bordering Hyde Park.
What fun! The pub had a great atmosphere and I was happy to see soup on a menu! Mushroom soup's not my favorite but I ordered it and didn't care because I was just so happy to see SOUP! I also had a side of "chips" (friend fries.) Yum!
Here's a picture of my friend, Jacquieta's fish and chips! With smashed peas and tartar sauce!
The pub the next morning... My camera wouldn't take a good picture at night... especially because we ran home in rain!
My soup, baguette and ketchup (Heinz was a treat!) and my chips!
The next morning we woke up, had breakfast at the hostel, then walked through Hyde Park to the famous Harrod's department store. It is huge, beautiful, and contains some of the most expensive, bags, gowns, and pastries I have ever seen. It was BEAUTIFULLY decorated for Christmas though!
A red telephone booth with a Subway behind it! Loved the 3£ meal!
Me, a telephone booth and a McDonalds coffee! Whaaawhoo!
The outside of Harrod's.
Chanel No. 5 sitting out for use in the bathroom.
Finally we met up with a free walking tour! Our cute little guide Rachel did a great job, and kept us entertained for the whole 2.5 hours! She told great stories, and gave awesome historical background but didn't chatter on and on... which was great, given almost everyone on our tour was a young backpacker, like us.
The tour was the perfect way for us to do Saturday morning, we saw everything quickly without having to figure out a map or decide where to go on our own.... AND we had someone to ask at the end of the day how to get to the station to catch our Eurostar train to Paris!
Buckingham Palace (all the people because it was in the middle of the Changing of the Guards!
TAXI!
Trafalgar Square (I took this picture from the very center of London!)
House Guards Parade... also incidentally where beach volleyball events will be held in the 2012 Olympics!
Me and Big Ben.
Westminster Abbey
What a great day! Now I just have to figure out how to go back!
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