Spring Break '08

Spring Break 2008 officially began yesterday! Too bad I still have homework. I got finished today with my thing that was due... today. The rest of the homework is just like normal homework, you know trying to get ahead so you don't get back the day before classes restart realizing you've got a paper to write. So I'm workin' on reading the book my paper is on.

Blogger is going too slow for me to do pictures, plus I don't really have any more to show. Sorry... we don't do a lot of tourist stuff here... mom I'll tag myself in my roommates picture of our room that is on facebook so you can see it. I leave Monday for Marbella Spain so I'm sure there will be pictures of that, no worries. I also know there will be Ireland pictures b/c we're doing a lot of touring to see the murals and stuff.

I'm sorry I don't have a lot of news, the big thing going on here has been that Paris/London comparison paper and most of have spent the week getting that done. Some of us did go out last night and that was fun. I also have given fish and chips a second chance, and minus the fact that they are very persistent in putting peas on the plate, fish and chips are actually good. Yes, I've been eating fish (gasp!).

Homework in London

I've been continuing to be a bump here in London. Wednesday we hit Cambridge for the day at that was very cool. It was very much a college town, except with some seriously old buildings and a lot of history. Saw some cool Darwin stuff (the prof teared at the Darwin notebooks).

I'm in on a homework day today, plus a show tonight. A large majority of the group went on a day trip to Stonehenge, Bath and Windsor. I wasn't feeling it and new I needed to just be. Depending on how they liked it though I may do the same trip later. I've still got plenty of time here in London, I have to keep reminding myself of that.

As for the homework I'm reading a book on London so I can write a paper that compares Paris and London. I'd like to finish that paper in the next few days (meaning I need to finish this book and start that paper in the next few days) so I can read my book on Northern Ireland and write a paper about that one as well before I leave for Spain.

Awake in London

Had a very chill weekend. We really just do a lot of walking around here. Not quite randomly but sometimes it seems like it. We're off to Cambridge on Wednesday. A few girls are going on day trip friday to Stonehenge and Bath and Windsor. At this moment I think I'm going to wait and go later. It will depend on how I feel about it tomorrow. I'm really just rambling while my picture loads. Met an english backpacker the other day and some of us have been spending some time playing cards with him. He is off tomorrow though so there will go some of the groups entertainment. Probably a good thing b/c I've got some books to be reading. I grabbed one for a paper I'm writing and now I've got some extra reading going on. Plus I want all my work to be done before I head off for spring break. This internet connection is really killin' me. I need to hit the hay it's 3:15am and I've got my alarm set for 8! I'll be hittin' the snooze thats for sure. Then again my aching back might just be enough to get me out of bed- more like my springs with a sheet covering. That picture took like 10 minutes to load! That's me and Pete. Good evening, I'd say good night but it's not really for me...

London week one

Ok, I haven't been posting. I know. We've switched classes and so aren't as pressured to go exploring. Plus I'm a bit touristed out after Paris and have take quite a bit of time to just be. Plus I don't know all of the sites that I'm supposed to go see.
Yesterday I saw Big Ben, and the outside of Westminster Abbey and Buckingham palace. In addition I walked through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. I really should just go invest in a book about the city.
Yes mom, I ate dinner at a pub last night. However it wasn't the first time. Our first night here we hit a pub for some fish and chips- I thought somehow I would magically love fish and chips, they're all right I guess, I really just wanted a huge plate of fried food and that wasn't how it worked. And then a few of us hit the pub across the street the other night. I didn't eat I had eaten already but went with them. And then last night I was going to get a starter, but saw the spinach and ricotta cannelloni and had to try it! Not exactly the pub fair you had in mind huh? One of the girls got her purse stolen from under her chair while we there so that led to an interesting evening. Somehow I can't feel bad that she lost her passport, we've had a bazillion people tell us not to carry it, and it seems like common sense to me.

Not up to much today. Being a lazy bum and staying it. At least for a good part of the day.

London day 3

Spent a third day in London and did.... get ready for it... nothing. Yup nothing. Ok, that's a lie. I had class and then some of us hit the grocery for lunch. Hit some shopping for a new pair of sunglasses because mine bit the dust. Then I did some homework, took a nap, and did some more homework. Six of us hit up a Thia buffet for dinner it was... interesting. Not bad, but not amazing. Tomorrow I really need to get out and see something cool, or famous. Or at least the park that is only like 4 blocks away. I go places I swear! Plus I need to because I have to write 10 to 12 pages comparing London to Paris, good thing I could get at least 2 pages on just the differences in the subway systems.

Did I mention how hott english boys are? (and that is without their accents) Good thing they have a lot of the same features as Conor (ok minus the accent).

London day 2

WICKED. enough said.

addition

I forgot about the anti-Scientology demonstration we passed on the way to the awards- the demonstrators were wearing the masks from V for Vendetta. We also realized we saw Jeff Goldbloom, we weren't sure but turns out we did. Should head to bed, I actually have class tomorrow. Oh and Anthony Hopkins got the Fellowship award, which is like the big thank you special award.

Good first full day in London!!!

So good day! We went off in search of the Chinese New Year Parade and wandered around. I walked down the parade route but it was too crowed to see much. Then a friend and I wandered around we went to the Thames and walked across the Millennium Bridge and saw the Globe Theater. We came back and THEN we headed off to the British Academy Film Awards that we saw on the way home. So we stood outside that for a while and saw Kevin Spacey, Anthony Hopkins (who waved and said hi from his car window), Jamie Oliver, and Orlando Bloom!!!

Dad I know you wanted a map but I don't know how to put one on. I'm just off the south east corner of Regent Park on the corner Park Cresent. Just across the street is the Great Portland Street Tube stop. Did that give you an idea of were I am????

London!!

Made it to London just fine. The Chunnel was a so exciting, not really. The train was like riding... a train I guess it wasn't that exciting. We've been here less than an hour and we're already stealing internet! Love apartment buildings next door...

funny

Guy 1: bonsoir
Julie: bonsoir
Guy 2: (in American) How's it goin'??
Maybe you had to be there, but it was funny. (And no I wasn't along a group was just behind me talking loudly)

We head to London tomorrow morning. Part of me it totally ready to be out of Paris though its started to grow on me. Just ready to understand what is going on when people speak.

Spring Break

Ok, so I've been a downer lately and now I have to share some more. I waited to make spring break plans to see if anyone wanted to come with me... Well turns out most people are staying in London, and having people come visit them. I'm still looking into something else, I was thinking about Split Croatia but I wish I had known all this earlier b/c around Christmas the plane tickets were $200 cheaper. I guess some girls are going to Greece but they said it was expensive, though I didn't ask how expensive expensive was, and past that I think everyone already has plans and isn't looking for a travel buddy.

Food....

I just want some fucking french food. It's not that hard, it's not even scary, I promise. Too bad I'm the only moron who understands meals aren't good alone. End of rant, all the people who told me they would eat out the last week are eating the fiap shit again, or are shelling out for pizza. I'm upset, thanks for listening.

5.2.2008

Things have been winding down here in Paris. Mainly because our class on the city is over, it was a fun way to get to know the city and learn about it, but we're all a bit burnt out on tourist stuff right now. We're also ready for people to speak english, it would really help if I just knew numbers!!

The picture isn't new... but I thought the post should include a picture. I've really cut back on the number I take, mostly because we're not seeing stuff that is really cool, though I should have busted it out at the Natural History Museum to get some shots with the animals. I still regret no one was there at the Louvre to get me picking the giant stone heads nose, it would have been great.

We didn't have class today so we slept in. My roommates actually slept in today too. We really confused the housekeeper b/c the hostel is used for students and conferences so usually people are out by 10:15 when she came it, not still in their beds. A few of us are off for some shopping (no worries mom... I've done my shopping, minus the gifts for you and dad, and maybe something for Conor if I see something). Then a girl and I are off to play boules with the old men near the Napoleon hospital!!!

The Eiffel Tower!

Saw the Eiffel Tower....
Stayed on the bridge to see it twinkle
And then went to the top... this is on the first level. I got some pics at the top, but I'll save those for another day.

Oh! notice the boots. Those are my cheap 11 euro boots. They made it all day, so they made my walk through the latin quarter and up the seine and they made it up the Eiffel Tower. My feet are feeling it but only because we were bookin' on our way back. Oh speaking of shoes, no I did not spend 300 dollars on shoes. They're nice but not that nice...

2.2.2008

Tried to hit some flea markets today, that didn't work. They guy didn't actually know were we were going. I heard they were lame anyways. I went off shopping on my own. Got some scarves, mom you'll love the one I got you. I hit the quilt shop mom found but the fabric didn't really seem like anything special, plus I couldn't read how the pricing worked. I got a silver ring, it wasn't the one I went back for, they didn't have my size. I also bought two pairs of shoes. One nice pair of turquoise pumps which are AMAZING, it's about time. And then I got a cheap- cheap and then 50% off- pair of ankle boots. Good shopping day all n all.

Near the quilt shop (same street actually but a few blocks over) is the bookstore Shakespeare and Co. Ok so I hadn't even heard of it until a few days ago but apparently that is were the expatriates hung out. Anyways I was wandering by and noticed a book outside in the used book that I wanted to read. Moral of the story, I bought a book at a famous book store.

SNAILS!!!

So they were the shit. They were soaked in butter and herbs and eaten on bread... So good. Mom the prof says there is a french restaurant in South Bend that would have snails (will you take me pleease??)