Italia

My family left Saturday morning, and by Sunday at 11:00 am I was in Verona, Italy.  What a turn around!  Two friends from college, Rachel and Katie, Rachel's boyfriend, Matt, and I planned an eight day trip all around Italy to end our Easter break.  

Sunday the 20th: Verona 

- Katie and I were able to walk all around the town while waiting for Matt and Rachel to arrive that night.  Thinking we had the correct directions from what our b&b gave us, we turned right too hard from the train station and ended up in the more poor part of town.  Only after ten minutes of walking and four boarded up gas stations passed did we think that maybe we were not going the correct way.  Turning around, we realized we needed to cross the street instead of continuing to the right.  We finally found where we were going and felt much safer and enthusiastic about our stay there.  

- Verona is the town in which I would picture when thinking about Italy: cute, charming, and with history.  The cobblestone and colorful buildings were enchanting.  

- We had amazing pasta, gelato, and cannolis to start our Italian adventure off.  The b&b we stayed at was adorable and had a great location, as well.  I loved Verona!

Monday the 21st: Verona to Venice 

- After a delicious breakfast at our b&b, we checked out and walked around Verona a little more.  We had a 1:00pm train to Venice, but wanted to get there sooner, so we asked to exchange them for an earlier train.  Unable to leave earlier without a fee, we planted ourselves at the train station with a deck of cards and coffees.  It was pouring outside, so our motivation to go explore more was very low.  We finally got on our train and headed to the city on the water. 

- Arriving in Venice, we immediately got on a water bus which was so cool to me.  I would've loved to always ride on the water to my work or school.  It was a very slow way to travel though especially compared to the London tube.  Our hostel in Venice was very, very nice and contemporary.  A huge bar, sitting room, and cafe greeted us as we checked in and dropped our bags off.  

- After, we took the water bus back to where the Canal Grande flows and walked around.  We had dinner on the water which was perfect.  Finished with our pizzas and wine, we jumped in a gondola for a tranquil ride around Venice.  Our gondolier was a six generation gondolier and grandson to "a very famous gondolier."  Shout out to Nicholas for singing and touring us around Venice through the water streets!

- Getting off the water, we got gelato as the rain started to pour down again.  We walked around, got some more wine, then headed back to the hostel to play more cards and call it a night.  

Gondola Ride

Tuesday the 22nd: Venice to Florence 

- Checked out of the hostel and ready to explore a little more of Venice, we planned a 12:45pm train ride to Florence.  We bought the tickets the day before, but just as we were figuring out timing to head to the station, Rachel realized the ticket for us all had been thrown out.  Whoops!  As you can imagine, the ongoing joke of not letting Rachel hold on to any sort of ticket for the rest of the trip continued on and on.

- So we headed to the station, bought another ticket, and waited for the train.  After a couple transfers of trains, we arrived in Florence around 4:30.  We journeyed to Matt and Rachel's b&b while Katie met her friend where they were staying.  My friend from high school, Alyssa, is studying in Florence this semester, so she met us and walked us back to her apartment where I was staying.  I was so happy to be able to see her, meet all her roommates, and have a free place to crash.  

- We all met back up for dinner and found another friend, Sonya, who journeyed from London to Florence for the couple days.  We had yet another meal of pasta, wine, and gelato, then headed to bed.  Traveling is exhausting! 

Duomo 

Wednesday the 23rd: Cinque Terre

- We woke up early to catch our planned day trip to Cinque Terre that morning.  The trip consisted of hiking, training, and boating to each of the five towns, lunch of seafood and pesto pasta, and exploring the towns and ocean.  

- The day was beautiful, but the sights were breathtaking.  The ocean was the prettiest blue I have ever seen, the vineyards were green and flourishing, and the sun was shining.  It was surreal.  

- At one of the towns, we were able to try 5 different wines from each of the regions.  We all had our favorites, but everyone finished all five of the 1/2 glasses.  We washed the wine down with pon frito (fried bread with cheese) which may be my new favorite thing.  

- Sunburnt and exhausted, we got back to Florence at sundown, got dinner, and (you guessed it) went to sleep!

Rachel, me, and Sonya

Thursday the 24th: Florence

- This was the first day since leaving London that we did not travel at all!  We had Florence to discover instead. 

- Starting at Galleria dell'Accademia, we saw the famous David statue and some other impressive works.  We planned on climbing the Duomo next, but the line was approximately a four hour wait.  

- We went inside the cathedral instead, then journeyed to the number one place to eat in Florence according to trip advisor.  It was this little sandwich shop on a side street.  The old looking sign read All'Antico Vinaio.  My salami, tomato, cheese, and artichoke cream sandwich might have been the best sandwich I have had.  

- While eating, we crossed the river and walked around the other side of the city.  This was my favorite part of Florence.  It was dramatically less busy with tourists, but it was much more charming.  

- We came across a gelato place that turned out to be on many people's lists to go to.  Again, they don't lie when people suggest these places.  It was hands down the best gelato I have ever had.  So good, after dinner that night, we walked the 15 minutes back over the river to get it again.  When in Florence, right?  

- Full on gelato, we figured the Duomo line would be shorter, which it was.  After only an hour and a half wait, we climbed to the tip top to view Florence and Tuscany as the sun was setting.  Another beautiful sight from a tall dome in a historical city.  The climb down the Duomo was a lot less organized and a lot more crazy than I would have thought.  Usually in tall buildings like this, there is a way for visitors to get up and a different way to get down.  But, unknown to us, the Duomo only had one way to get around.  So, while we were climbing up, we complained and laughed as people inched passed us on the narrow staircase thinking they went the wrong way or just all got too scared.  Yet, as we came down, we realized our mistake and became those people inching and apologizing.  We ended up having to wait on a small platform as the entire group walked to the top.  Hello claustrophobia.  

- Finally on solid ground, we found another restaurant with the same Italian menu for dinner.  We thought about going out with Alyssa's roommates, but figured more gelato was more appealing. 

Rachel, Katie, Emma, and me on top of the Duomo

Friday the 25th: Tuscany to Rome 

- Rachel, Matt, and I had always been planning on doing another day trip on our Friday in Florence, while Katie and her friend Emma ventured to Rome early that day.  Us three still behind, we signed up for a Vespa Tuscany Tour which included a wine tasting, lunch, and a journey through the hills of Tuscany on a Vespa.  

- It. Was. Awesome.  After admiring the scooters for so long everywhere that I have been in Europe, I have always wanted to drive around on one.  After a quick lesson, we were on our way to the streets with views that made my jaw drop.  

- We did not get nearly enough time on the Vespas for my liking, and soon enough we were dropped back off in Florence.  We grabbed our bags, headed to the train station, and bought tickets for the next train to Rome. 

- Arriving in Rome around 8:00, we met up with Katie and Emma at a restaurant across from the apartment we were staying in.  We used airbnb to find a place and it worked out perfectly!  The location was central, safe, and the owners were so welcoming and helpful. 

- We walked around for a little which was great with the lights of Rome lit up.  The Trevi Fountain was packed with tourists and coins flying everywhere.  It really was beautiful though!  After an obligated toss of a coin and pictures, we explored more and headed for home.  

Fontana di Trevi

Saturday the 26th: Rome

- Deciding that earlier was better, we headed out at 7:30am to the Vatican.  We did not realize when we were booking this trip that the Canonization of Pope John XXIII and John Paul II would be that weekend.  We really wanted to see St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museum which houses the Sistine Chapel, and we knew the estimated 5-7 million pilgrims visiting Rome would also.  Even with leaving early, we waited in line for an hour and a half to get into the Basilica and another hour and a half to get into the museum.  Definitely not as horrible as we were imagining, but still not the best. 

- Though I am Catholic, I really did not know much about the current Pope, previous Popes, or Vatican City in general.  Oops?  I learned a lot and googled a lot of the questions we had about the Canonization that was occurring.  

- St. Peter's Basilica was gorgeous, of course.  Impressive ceilings and stain glass windows caught my attention.  I had seen videos and pictures of the Vatican on TV and online, but it truly was amazing to see it all in person.  With the two popes to become saints proudly displayed on the tapestries hanging on the basilica, it was dreamlike. 

- Inside the Vatican Museum, we saw a ton of really, really impressive paintings on the walls and ceilings of the many rooms.  I anxiously awaited my opportunity to look up at the Sistine Chapel, but when I did I was extremely underwhelmed.  I do not know what exactly I was expecting, but it was much smaller and a lot less blue in color.  I think I enjoyed the rooms leading up to the chapel better.  Still great to experience and take an against the rules selfie though!  

- By mid-afternoon, we were finished with both places.  Because of the early wake up, we walked home for a nap.  A quick cat nap of course turned into a long slumber.  It was definitely needed though! 

- Katie and Emma met some of Emma's friends for dinner, so Matt, Rachel, and I grabbed some cheese, crackers, salami, cookies, and wine and ate in the room.  It was a relaxing night after all the traveling and walking around. 

Sistine Chapel

Vatican City

Sunday the 27th: Rome 

- Canonization Day!  We knew that the crowds would be insane and that our chances of getting anywhere near the Vatican were slim, so we left around 8:00 am for the 10 am ceremony.  

- Before leaving though, our host, Paolo, made us an amazing breakfast.  Eggs, bacon, yogurt, granola, fruit, toast, jam, Nutella, and cappuccinos provided a wonderful start to our day! 

-  We crammed into the metro and got off at the stop where every other person in Rome was going.  We just continued to follow the crowd, being blocked by many barricades, police, and volunteers, we really did not get close to the Vatican at all, but the sights of all the people was a once in a lifetime experience.  There were people selling t-shirts, magnets, flags, and bandanas with the popes' faces on it (of course we had to get a flag).  Volunteers were also handing out free bottles of water for all the viewers.  We made it to a square that had one huge screen showing the Canonization.  I really have never seen so many priests and nuns in one place.  The amount of people just there for those couple hours was crazy.  From where we were at, you really could not see anything, so after some pictures, we decided to find a cafe to watch it on TV.  

- We found some lunch at a pizzeria, then headed to Ancient Rome.  Of course, right when we arrived, it started pouring rain, but that didn't stop us.  We saw the Colosseum and all the old ruins in the area.  Again, I was so shocked at how old everything was.  Really, could not wrap my head around it.  

- After another nap, Paolo wanted to make us an Italian style dinner.  We provided a bunch of different cheeses, salami, wine, and bread for us to eat.  It was amazing, delicious, and convenient since it was still raining and we were exhausted.  I could not believe the luck we got with our apartment.  Everything was perfect!  

Colosseum

Monday the 28th: Rome to London

- Our flight Monday night wasn't until 9:50 pm, so we had a whole additional day to journey through Rome.  We walked around to places we had not been yet, like the Pantheon and some Piazzas.  We saw the Trevi Fountain during the day and took more pictures of course.  It was great to not be rushed to get out of town. 

- Katie and I got to the airport by train in the perfect amount of time while Rachel and Matt got on a train to Naples for the third part of their travels.  We got home to London around 1:00am and back in my dorm by 1:30am.  I did not even unpack, but headed straight for the comfort of my own bed. 

Pantheon

Italy was similar to what I would've imagined and also very different.  My favorite was Cinque Terre because of how beautiful, yet quaint the towns were.  Everyone warned me about Rome, some even saying not to go because it was so touristy, busy, dirty, and crime ridden.  We did not see that side of it at all!  I don't know if it was masked because of all the people there for the canonization, but we had a wonderful experience in Rome.  Venice was probably my second favorite just because it is such a unique city.  I am thankful that I got the opportunity to visit all of these amazing cities!  Now off to study all of May for finals!   

And here is a picstitch of all the pasta, pizza, and gelato I ate: 

Martiny's Come to England

Friday, April 11th, I packed up a small suitcase filled with clothes for 8 days (thoroughly impressed with myself for that) and hopped on the tube to meet my parents at the flat they rented in South Kensington!  The next 8 days were filled with many exciting activities.  

Saturday the 12th was my 21st birthday!  It was a treat to be able to celebrate with my family.  My parents and I went out to brunch at the Troubadour consisting of eggs benedict and a jug of buck fizzes (aka mimosas).  Then, we waited for my brother Keith and his fiance Gina to arrive at the flat.  After resting on a couch, in a living room with a TV for the first time since I've been abroad, we walked around Harrod's and then out to dinner at a very nice restaurant with my friend Rachel.  Some of my favorite people, all together, in London for my birthday.  It was wonderful!  After being so stuffed we could hardly make it home, it was bed time.  Not the usual 21st birthday activities, but I would much prefer the way I celebrated to any other way.

Birthday dinner

Sunday, we had London tourist sights to see!  Because of the London marathon, the crowds were insane, and it took us awhile to walk from place to place.  Even so, we saw Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, went up the London Eye, Churchill War Rooms, and Trafalgar Square.  We went to High Tea at the Corinthia Hotel which was fantastic.  I have really grown to love tea since being here.  And who doesn't like delicious finger sandwiches?  That night, I convinced everyone to see Divergent with me which we went to in Leicester Square.  It was pretty neat to see the movie in the same place in which it had premiered only a week or two before.  

Family at Buckingham Palace

Champagne with High Tea

Monday, we took a train out to Oxford to see the town and the universities.  We stopped in Christ Church and toured around.  A couple scenes from Harry Potter were filmed in the staircase and the dining hall inspired the Great Hall.  Pretty cool to see since I'm a big HP fan myself.  We hopped on the big, double decker, hop on/hop off tour bus to get a better idea of the rest of the town.  I did not realize that Oxford University was really just made up of 44 smaller colleges that are spread out around the town.  Who knew?  After lunch, we went to the Natural History Museum where there were some dinosaur bones, lots of taxidermy, and a whole collection of random items.  Being caught up in the museum, we missed our train back to London just by a couple seconds, so unfortunately we had to purchase new tickets.  Finally back in London, we went out to dinner at an amazing sushi restaurant. 

Harry Potter staircase!

Dinner

Tuesday, I was able to show my parents my dorm and the rest of UCL.  It was great to show them all the places I had told them so much about.  We then headed to Tower of London.  The lines were insane, but it was a beautiful day, so we didn't mind.  We got to see the Crown Jewels, and all the old ruins that make up the tower.  After a pub for lunch, we hopped on the Thames River Cruise from Tower Bridge to Westminster and back again.  After another amazing dinner, we headed back home exhausted. 

Tower Bridge

Wednesday, my parents set up for a driver to drive us to Stonehenge, but also to some other cities along the way.  We stopped in Castle Combe and Lacocke which were both very, very small towns with the cutest charm.  We drove through the countryside which was great for everyone to be able to experience the busy city and the countryside of England.  Next, we went to the Wadworth Brewery in Wiltshire for a brewery tour.  Everyone really enjoyed it, though it was hard for me to compare it to the Guinness tour.  We headed to Stonehenge as the sun was beginning to descend and learned all about the different theories for why these rocks were placed the way they were.  I really did not know a ton about Stonehenge, which made it a really cool experience.  We then headed home and went to a French restaurant for dinner.  We really hit all the different kinds of food you can get in London! 

Everyone in Castle Combe

Stonehenge

Thursday, we toured Westminster which was an absolute highlight for me.  Being able to finally get inside this historic building was breathtaking.  I loved every bit of it.  We headed to Borough Market for lunch and sampled all the food we could.  I finally got the toasted cheese on potatoes served with little pickles that I had been eyeing for weeks.  After a walk across Millenium Bridge, we went inside and up St. Paul's Cathedral.  The view from the top was amazing (as any view from above London is), but the iron spiral staircase to the top was less than exciting.  After seeing both Westminster and St. Paul's on the same day, it is hard not to ask yourself if you would have preferred to get married in St. Paul's like Diana or Westminster like Kate.  I think I would've preferred St. Paul's purely because of the mosaic ceiling and the grandness that overcomes you as you walk down the naive.  But, realistically, can you really be picky?  Once we were changed and cleaned up a bit, the family went over to SOHO to see Les Miserables.  Wow is really all that I can say to how amazing that show was.  I wish I could see it again and again, but its talent comes with a heavy price tag.  

Millenium Bridge with St. Paul's in the background

Dinner before Les Miserables

Friday, on the train we went to Bath.  We toured the Roman Baths and learned a ton about the Roman people that were living in that area.  I could not believe how old everything was.  One thing I have come to realize while abroad is how young the US is.  We think 300 years old is extremely old, yet the people over here are finding artifacts that are thousands of years old.  The baths were really cool because all of the different rooms were explained and easily laid out.  It really seemed like how a spa would be even today.  We got lunch then hopped on another double decker tour bus to see more of Bath until our train home.  We grabbed dinner by our flat and started packing for everyone to return to their respective homes the next day.  I was able to do laundry there which was HUGE since 1) I didn't have to scrounge for 3, 1 pound coins 2) it wasn't a gross laundry room 3) I didn't have to wait until Saturday to do it when I was leaving for Italy on Sunday!  

Roman Baths

I absolutely loved having my family in London.  It was such a treat to experience new and old things with them.  Though it was hard to go west on the Piccadilly line while my parents went east towards Heathrow, I look forward to the time I still have in London and for a summer at home with them.  

Friends and Travels

Three weeks have passed since my last blog, and per usual there is lots to mention!  I'll try to note the more memorial moments. 

-- The weekdays have been filled with school and work.  The end of term was last Friday the 28th, so I am now officially done with class!  Wahoo! Though, now comes the more difficult part of the semester: finals.  I finally got my dates for my three (three hour, three essay question, 100% of my grade) finals.  May 8th, 20th, and 23rd.  Lots of studying to do, but after the 23rd I am free until my departure date from the UK on June 14th.  

-- Sunday the 16th, there was a huge St. Patrick's Day celebration in Trafalgar Square.  With the sun shining, Irish dancing, food stands, and Irish music, it was a perfect Sunday before finishing up my final essay for the term.  March 17th was St. Patty's Day and also the day that I decided to just chop most of my hair off.  It was on a whim, impulsive, and needed!  A change was due and I'm a fan so far.  We celebrated that night at our union pub with Guinness and a free Guinness t-shirt!

--  That weekend, my friend Chris who is studying in Grenada came to London.  It was great to see him and show him around the town with Rachel.  Saturday morning Rachel's friend Tara also came to town all the way from Champaign.  We spent the sunny day walking around Big Ben, Westminster, etc, while waiting for my best friends from school, Jess and Mel, to show up!  Their flights were delayed and changed so many times, they ended up arriving in London about 8 hours passed their original arrival time.  But, they finally got in to King's Cross, bags flew, girls ran and screamed, and we were all reunited at last.  Mel was staying with her friend from home along with another one of my friends from school, Elsa.  It was going to be a crazy week. 

Chris and I!

-- Sunday, we went to Camden Market and just looked at all the shops and food stands.  Monday, I had class while Jess walked around with her friend from home, Alisha, who was also visiting London that week.  We met up with Rachel and Tara, and all five of us took the tube and shuttle to Warner Bros Studios to see the sets and costumes from the Harry Potter movies.  All being huge fans, we were in awe of what was actually in front of us.  It was fantastic!  Definitely worth the price of the ticket.  Monday night, we went to a club in London called Mahiki.  It was a nice club, so having the opportunity to dress up was fun for all of us.  It was a night full of memories that none of us will forget!  Tuesday, I had more class and Jess and Alisha did more touristy stops.  We met Rachel and Tara for dinner, then headed to bed after a long day and night. 

The Great Hall

Gryffindor Dormitory

 

Hogwarts

Rachel, Jess, and I before Mahiki.  Room 4 reunited!

-- Wednesday, Jess and I had the opportunity to take the train two hours north to Huddersfield, England where her Granddad lives!  Jess' mom also grew up there.  I was really excited to see a regular English town and Jess loved being able to see the house again since she visited a lot as a child.  Her Granddad took us out to lunch, made us tea, showed us around his town, had a light dinner, and took us back to the train station.  It was really nice to get out of the busy Londontown and see a quieter way of living.  He has lived in that house for 50 years and grew up not too far away.  It is so different from my own lifestyle, but it seems like a wonderful one!  Wednesday night, I took Jess and Alisha to Loop, a club that students here frequent on Wednesday nights.  It was packed because it was the last week of classes, but so much fun. 

Jess and I in Heddersfield

-- Thursday, I walked around with Jess and Alisha in the morning then headed to class while they continued to venture around London.  Class was very much in the way for me that week, but I was happy Jess and Alisha could walk around together.  We bought tickets to see Jersey Boys in Piccadilly Circus that night, but before went to MEATliquor for dinner, a fabulous burger and drink place off of Oxford Street.  Our tummies happy, we all walked towards the theater, took our seats and listened to the wonderful voices of the performers.  The music was wonderful, and I did not know anything about the musical beforehand, so it was really enjoyable.  That night, we met up with Mel, Elsa, and their friend Thea at an Irish pub called O'Neills in Chinatown.  I have been there a couple times and each night they have a live band on the top floor.  We had a blast dancing to the classic rock songs that the band plays each night.  

-- Friday, I had class in the morning, then met the crew at Borough Market for lunch.  I got some delicious mulled wine and goat cheese ice cream (I've been eating really healthy since being here...)  We walked across Millennium Bridge towards St. Paul's Cathedral which we walked in.  It really is a beautiful cathedral.  We headed back home, to get ready for a delicious Indian dinner.  I have really grown to be a fan of Indian food while being in London.  I hadn't really had it before, but now I crave it frequently.  After dinner, we headed to Marlborough Arms, a pub that Jess' dad went to when he went to London School of Economics.  Turns out, I walk passed that pub everyday on my way to class.  We then headed back to my dorm for a "Ramsay Hall Party" in our common room.  I guess UCL paid for alcohol for the party to celebrate the end of the term.  (how different from the US?!)  It was cool to introduce Jess and Alisha to friends that I have met in my dorm.  Another fun night down in the books! 

-- Saturday was departure day for Jess :(  We met Rachel for breakfast and walked her to the tube which she would take to Heathrow.  I slept for most of the day after that, did laundry, then packed up to leave for Dublin, Ireland the next morning.  It was a rush of non-stop activity!

-- 6:15 AM Sunday morning, I was at the tube stop to take it to Rachel and Katie to then take an hour bus to the airport for our 9:55 AM flight.  Only to find out the tube wasn't open yet on a Sunday that early, I had to rush to a cab.  It was an expensive and stressful morning for me.  Not to mention, I was very overtired from 1) Jess just leaving and 2) losing an hour of sleep because of daylight savings.  But, we made our flight just fine, and after some coffee and naps, were ready to take on Dublin.  We walked around the town and found St. Patrick's Cathedral where we went to their 3:15 mass for the fourth Sunday of Lent.  After mass, we walked through St. Stephen's Gardens and found some great entertainment in three ducks that really did not mind how close we got.  Seriously, we probably looked like we had never seen a duck before.  Dublin reminded me a lot of London, just on a much smaller scale.  We went out to dinner that night, then returned to our friend Erica and Bridget's house where they live with four other abroad students.  It was great to be in an actual house set up rather than a dorm.  What a delicacy to sit on a couch and watch TV!  They took us to a pub that night that was in the movie P.S. I Love You, which I have not seen, but will in the near future.  Being reunited with some more Chi Omegas across the pond was great as well.  I love having friends in so many different areas of the world! 

St. Patrick's Cathedral 

-- Monday, Rachel, Katie, and I took a bus to the Wicklow mountains.  There were trails that you could walk around and a huge lake.  It was a nice day, and I was in the mood for some physical activity.  We got to actually climb up the large hills, straying away from the walking path, because who wants to take the easy route?  I was having the best time.  The lake was gorgeous with the mountains in the background.  A perfect spot for some great pictures, of course.  We returned to the city, made some pasta in their kitchen, then headed out to three different pubs around the town.  The last one had a live Irish band, which I really enjoyed.  I hadn't heard much Irish music before, but I am now a fan.  Galway Girl was played I think at least twice when we were there and each time the audience went wild.  I can understand why students love studying in Dublin so much because their culture is very strong in the night life, while England can seem very much American a lot of the time.   

Erica and I -- Friends reunited again!

-- Tuesday, we took a day trip with a company called Paddywagon towards the Cliffs of Moher.  Because it was such a nice, sunny, not windy day, our driver took us to the mini cliffs as well which at first we thought were huge, but then seeing the actual cliffs, they were very small.  I had seen a million pictures of the Cliffs of Moher from other people studying abroad, but they were even more breathtaking than I had thought.  Because of the sun, the ocean was a dark turquoise color in which I had never seen before.  After the obligatory pictures of sitting on the edge of the cliff, we just sat back and enjoyed the views.  We got back to Dublin around 7:00 that night, made more pasta, and headed to a pub just for another Guinness before bed.  The weeks were catching up to us, and we needed some sleep!

Cliffs of Moher

-- Wednesday, we walked to the Guinness Storehouse for the tour (it was about a 40 minute walk in the pouring rain, but we were too lazy to figure out the bus schedule...because that makes sense)  I absolutely loved the Guinness tour.  It was well worth the money (and journey)!  They showed the ingredients and how it was made with lots of interactive components.  There was a taste test room where you got a little glass of it.  Our instructor said you must stand in a confident stance, lift your elbow, then take a sip of the beer to fully appreciate it.  Then, you got the chance to properly pour your own.  Who knew there was such an art?  119.5 seconds later, the Guinness was settled enough and we got to each enjoy our pint.  We had lunch at the storehouse which consisted of pulled pork and another Guinness of course!  Walking back, we wanted to visit Trinity College, but we ran out of time, so we got our bags and headed towards the bus stop that would take us to the airport.  But, we didn't know exactly where the stop was, so we ended up running around the city after any AirCoach bus that we thought might be our bus.  We got on a 4:30 rather than 4:00 bus, but still had plenty of time to get to our 6:50 PM flight.  I got back to my dorm around 11:00pm, unpacked, and passed out.  What a couple weeks it has been!

Katie, me, and Rachel 

Poured the Perfect Pint

-- The plan now is to hang out, rejuvenate  and study before my FAMILY comes on April 11th!!  I would love to run more, eat healthier, and enjoy the spring weather that London is giving me.  I can't believe it is already April, but I am happy that I will still be here until June 14th.  Most of the people in my program are going home early, but I figure, why not stay?  When will I ever be living in London again?  

That's all for now.  Thought I should get everything down while it is still semi-fresh in my head!  If you read this all the way to the end, three cheers for you :) 

Around England We Go

After having the week off, it was somewhat of a struggle getting back into the groove of school and schedule.  The routine was welcomed, but the homework was not.  The week of February 24th was like any other.  Class, eat, read, sleep, some nights out here and there.  

Saturday, March 1st, Athena and I hopped on a 7 AM train to York for the day.  It was a trip planned by our provider program, Arcadia.  We got a historical walking tour around the city, had some free time, went to a Viking exhibit, walked around more, and headed back to King's Cross that night.  The walking tour was very informative, and it was a beautiful day out so it was really nice to be out in the sun.  We saw ancient Roman ruins and Medieval buildings.  The Yorkminster was beautiful from the outside, but we decided not to go inside of it.  My favorite part of the day was walking down The Shambles.  It is a very narrow street where all the butcher shops used to be many, many years ago.  The whole street would reek of meat, the ground would be a mess, and flies everywhere.  A really pretty image, I know.  So, people began using the word "shamble" as a synonym to messy.  I found this particularly interesting since my friends and I always use the word "shambles" or "shambly" to describe messy or disheveled things or even events not ever knowing the true meaning.  Now, The Shambles has cute shops, cafes, stores, and pubs.  Athena and I spent some time in one cafe and got coffee and nachos which really hit the spot.  The Viking Exhibit was interesting, but not the most intriguing place I have been to.  It mostly consisted of this sort of ride that you would sit and then be brought to different mechanical people while a woman narrated what was happening in the scene.  Let me tell ya, Vikings were not as blood thirsty as they are led on to be.  After a long day of walking, we were exhausted and headed straight to bed once returning back to London. 

Yorkminster Cathedral

River Ouse

This past week consisted of more reading and class.  I am starting to get more anxious about finals here and really have to be getting my act together because before I know it, it will be finals.  I only have three more weeks of class left (WHAT?!), then four week break, then finals.  I have some really exciting trips planned for the month of April, and hoping to travel more in May if my finals schedule (which I won't get for another week or so) allows me to.  Last Thursday, March 6th, Athena's friend Megan came to visit for the weekend.  We had a great time showing her around and being tourists.  And the weather was to die for.  Sunny and high 50s and 60s.  It was finally spring!  
On Friday, it was University of Illinois' Unofficial St. Patrick's Day celebration.  A tradition at U of I, Rachel and I decided we had to celebrate even though we were across the pond.  So with the sun shining above, we got some snacks and beer, plopped a blanket down, and enjoyed the day in Hyde Park.  It was fantastic.  I could not have pictured a more perfect day with one of my best friends!  That night, we met up with the group and headed to University of London Union, a Friday night favorite for us. 

Shameless Selfies :)

The most beautiful day!!

Early morning on Saturday the 8th, we took a bus to Stratford-upon-Avon to visit good ol' William Shakespeare's hometown.  It was another beautiful day as we strolled around the now very touristy, but adorable town.  We saw his birthplace, house, Anne Hathaway's cottage, and William and Anne's graves.  Everything is in bloom here, and it was great to see more of the English countryside.  After ice cream next to the river, we headed back home, again, exhausted and ready for sleep.  

Shakespeare's Birthplace

Ice Cream Boat! 

Sunday, my plan was to go for a run and do work all day.  But, that was physically impossible with the kind of day it was.  I did go for a run through Regent's Park, along with practically everyone else in London, but after a shower and lunch, there is no way I could've stayed inside with my laptop and textbook.  My friend Haley and I met up with Athena and Megan in SOHO and walked all around the area in our sunglasses and short sleeves.  The temperature got up to 68!  It really feels like spring here now.  I apologize to everyone who still has parkas and snow boots on...  After window shopping, gelato, and the sun going down, we had dinner at our usual Sunday night spot, a pub down the street from my dorm, The Court.  

Me, Megan, Haley, and Athena enjoying gelato in the sun

This week, I will actually be cracking down on school work in anticipation of another essay due next week and tons of studying to do.  No plans for this weekend besides a possibly more official St. Patrick's Day celebration.  But next week will be an extremely exciting week :)

Edinburgh, Scotland

Back home once again after an incredible adventure!

Athena had class Thursday afternoon and by 7:00pm we were on the train headed north to Edinburgh.  Running a little later than planned though, we ended up having to run through King's Cross station, and jump onto the train.  In my head, I was running towards the Hogwarts Express to bring me back to school though ;)  We didn't have assigned seats on our tickets like we thought we did, so we ended up having to sit on the floor inbetween cars for an hour and a half until people got off and seats opened up.  Next time: choose your seats in advance.  We got to Edinburgh around 11:30pm, found our hostel, and hit the hay.  We stayed at Castle Rock Hostel which was very nice!  Though we selected "female only dormitory" online, we of course walk into our four person room and find a friendly Brazilian man named Pedro ready for bed in the bunk next to ours.  He was very nice and was quiet in the mornings, so no complaints!  

Friday the 21st, we slept in a little then caught a free walking tour we had heard about from friends and from our hostel.  The tour was a lot of Scottish history and about certain major landmarks in the city.  Our guide was very entertaining and it was free, so of course it was good!  We learned about Greyfriar Bobby who was a dog to a local policeman years ago.  When his owner died, the dog sat on top of his grave for 6+ years until his own death.  It was a very touching story, and now the statue of the dog is one of the most photographed attractions in Edinburgh.  Touching his nose is good luck!  We had lunch at The Elephant House which is a now famous cafe where J.K. Rowling wrote part of the first Harry Potter book in.  It was really cool to see all the newspaper articles and pictures about the book and how it started at The Elephant House.  That evening, both being hockey fans, Athena and I hit up a pub to watch the USA vs. Canada Olympic Hockey game.  We made them change the channel from speed skating in which Great Britain was competing to watch the game...they were hesitant at first, but decided to change it.  After the disappointing conclusion to the game, we met some locals that were out celebrating a friend's birthday.  Since we had no plans, they said they'd be happy for us to tag along, so that is exactly what we did.  We went on a our own mini pub crawl, and it was a blast!  They were very intrigued by American culture and one guy practically knew more about America than we did.  

The Elephant House

Good luck rub!

Saturday, we decided to not pay 23 Pounds to go inside the Edinburgh Castle, but to explore outside instead!  We climbed to the top of Calton Hill which had the Scottish National Monument and other amazing landmarks.  The view from the top was gorgeous as well!  But not nearly as breathtaking as the top of Arthur's Seat.  That was a strenuous climb, but 100% worth it.  I have never experienced something so beautiful and of course no picture could truly capture it.  On one side of you is the coast and green hills, then on the other is all of Edinburgh to look down on.  The wind at the top was impressive, and there were multiple times that I thought we would blow right off the mountain.  That was enough climbing and walking for one day, so we decided to find another pub to eat dinner at.  Our tour guide on Friday told us about haggis and how it was a traditional Scottish meal.  For those who don't know what haggis is (like I did not), it is a mixture of sheep heart, lungs, and liver, all cut up and mixed with herbs and spices, then cooked inside the sheep stomach and served with potatoes and turnips.  Sounds appealing right?  But how could we be in Scotland and not get it?!  So, I braved it for dinner and while I don't think I would ever order it again, it was worth it to try!  After dinner we went to a different pub where again we met some Scottish guys that showed us their favorite places which turned into yet another pub crawl.  Scottish people were way more interested in Americans than anyone we had met since coming over here.  Instead of making fun of our accents, they seemed to actually enjoy them.  It was semi refreshing and made us even more proud to be an American ;)

On the top of Arthur's Seat

Today, Sunday, thinking we had experienced all we could from Edinburgh, Athena and I hid from the rain and hung out in a coffee shop laughing about our random adventures we had been on since being in Scotland.  We walked around, took a couple more pictures, then got on a 4:00 train back to London.  Currently, dirty clothes are in the wash, and we are slowly getting our lives back together after 10 days of straight traveling.  Our reading week break is over, and it is back to reality and class tomorrow!  I am looking forward to being back into a routine, having my own bed, and having just Athena as my roommate. 

Here's my Facebook album of pictures!

https://www.facebook.com/kaitlin.martiny/media_set?set=a.10203190581346820.1073741832.1276632147&type=3