tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87482026328185016952024-03-13T12:45:19.778-07:00Cheerio Americakatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-29525667948432540282010-05-12T21:31:00.000-07:002010-05-12T21:31:30.912-07:00so much for graduating college...<div style="text-align: center;">Iceland is home to Satan's volcano. I am not a fan of anything Icelandic at present, that includes you Bjork.</div><div style="text-align: center;">So I was all scheduled to fly out Saturday the 17th from London. I did everything one last time. I went to the National Gallery and said good bye to van Gogh, went to Borough for one last ostrich burger and took one last trip to Primark to stock up on summer wardrobe essentials. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Then Thursday night the forsaken news spread rampant through the BYU London Center. </div><div style="text-align: center;">The volcano started to erupt.</div><div style="text-align: center;">That night the airports closed. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Friday morning I was still confident that I could get out that weekend.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ten minutes later my flight was cancelled. </div><div style="text-align: center;">See, news like this would have been welcomed with open arms if it were any other week. </div><div style="text-align: center;">This week, however, is my college graduation. I have been looking forward to this for basically the last year. Call me cheesy but I was excited to have my name called and walk across that stage, in front of my peers and family to get my degree....case. I'm proud of myself and I really wanted to feel that surge of pride and self accomplishment this week. Two of my closest friends, Alyssa and Camille, are graduating with me, we are all in the same college (Fine Arts and Communications). I was really stoked to be there with them. </div><div style="text-align: center;">When my flight on Saturday got cancelled I almost immediately skyped my mom and listened as she called Delta to get it rescheduled. At this point the airports in all of Northern Europe basically were closed indefinitely. I waited with anxiety rushing through my veins. Mom got me, and another girl here Christina, a flight back to SLC on Tuesday. I felt good about Tuesday, it was days away and this whole ash cloud will blow right on through to Russia by then. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Tuesday was yesterday. I'm still in England. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Monday rolled around and airports were still closed. At this point there was a glimmer of hope. There were some serious rumors that the airports would open up Tuesday morning. I was really happy to hear this news. So Monday was my second last day. I did everything, again, one last time. I even checked into my flight that day. I was set. And then I was crushed.</div><div style="text-align: center;">That afternoon I got back from the Grace Kelly exhibit at the V&A and my Tuesday flight was cancelled. Once again I immediately skyped mom. She had already rebooked a flight for me. She got the very next possible flight. I was thinking as long as I get in before 8am Friday for my convocation ( I don't need to be at commencement, thats the boring one anyway) I would be just peachy.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday. Sunday was the first flight out.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I cried. I was so bummed. I honestly thought even though everything was going wrong that I would somehow make it back just in the knick of time. I cried to mom through skype, which I must say was slightly embarrassing. There was nothing else that could be done. Delta wasn't even booking flights before Sunday. <br />
...<br />
...<br />
...<br />
Just as I was about to finish this post, Wednesday night, I decided to check the Delta website one last time. I had heard that there had been some new flights were being added due to the reopening of the airport.<br />
And there it was.<br />
Thursday morning, there was a flight at ten.<br />
I booked it.<br />
Then I ran upstairs to my room screaming,<br />
I'm going to graduate college!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUIEPpYtOdTCU7AicZlNV7Ho4-T5p6fB4SvM4IS2xM7yYfnrRsqSpyubDZEyXj8D3z0UPUx6POBhTJR1Tjds1jFdQbIhkXxT4zPTqXrL7QCckpQWmxZxZ4pzSF13tLLzOiGm1pJImibKC/s1600/college.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUIEPpYtOdTCU7AicZlNV7Ho4-T5p6fB4SvM4IS2xM7yYfnrRsqSpyubDZEyXj8D3z0UPUx6POBhTJR1Tjds1jFdQbIhkXxT4zPTqXrL7QCckpQWmxZxZ4pzSF13tLLzOiGm1pJImibKC/s400/college.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I did. </div><br />
</div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-82302424810124568922010-04-14T08:11:00.000-07:002010-04-14T08:11:04.650-07:00it would only happen to me.<div style="text-align: center;">So today was the start of finals here in London, yes finals, what a ridiculous idea right? Anyway, I had two this morning, and after the first my gal pal Caitlin and I decided to go grab some food for lunch. We each got a slice of pizza and on the way back we stopped at the starbucks around the corner from our flat for some hot chocolate. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We looked pretty haggard, it's been a rough morning. I walked up to place my order and who was waiting there to get his coffee but Hugh Dancy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dijAE737t1pFKY-BHrZCiWFySCxZNKNp-4aP7tXvxF6cyaozcGQZna0jFAQlEbo6eY6xZEwFj-rK2ZxCKMBPKFSXuEDJFDcHaiLqXIyLHuPDmXHbzmd7mACfb0y2jG3zOh2N41wDofQx/s1600/hugh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dijAE737t1pFKY-BHrZCiWFySCxZNKNp-4aP7tXvxF6cyaozcGQZna0jFAQlEbo6eY6xZEwFj-rK2ZxCKMBPKFSXuEDJFDcHaiLqXIyLHuPDmXHbzmd7mACfb0y2jG3zOh2N41wDofQx/s320/hugh.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I glanced up and at him and then did a very conspicuous double take and he looked back at me. I turned to Caitlin to tell who we were standing next to. As I turned back he was walking past with coffee cup in hand, I looked up at him, made eye contact and smiled. He smiled back as he walked out. As I shut my mouth after smiling I could feel a giant chunk of oregano in my teeth. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I smiled at Hugh Dancy with Oregano in my teeth. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6rhluXQn9BXrjnfkkC4zCMvOjP4jqgBtakninRxCrojSLv1PcA7WvrgumQxskkrrCPYnExda7CkspGf-P73dDfLpGlt6Co6YvoM-Pz0lEU8oZP1ik-BxQnQ-GbRtejxJbUyOJWibtwKY/s1600/P1010651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6rhluXQn9BXrjnfkkC4zCMvOjP4jqgBtakninRxCrojSLv1PcA7WvrgumQxskkrrCPYnExda7CkspGf-P73dDfLpGlt6Co6YvoM-Pz0lEU8oZP1ik-BxQnQ-GbRtejxJbUyOJWibtwKY/s320/P1010651.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">we took a picture afterwards so we could document how we looked when we saw him, yes that is the face Caitlin made.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Since it was a neighborhood Starbucks, like not on a big street, I'm pretty sure he must live around me. Cool.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-15870841355031689722010-04-14T07:58:00.000-07:002010-04-14T07:58:24.277-07:00a weekend getaway to scotland, cause I can.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Two weeks ago the group went on a trip to Northern England. You can see photos with captions <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2323646&id=17827200&l=471d6e17dc">here.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We ended the five day trip in Liverpool. We, me, Calvin, Alyssa and Cameron, got special permission to leave from Liverpool and head up to Scotland for Easter weekend. So we hopped on a train that after noon and showed up in Edinburgh around seven that night. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjT5g9x8DgM1QML3gFauZ9Rdjbb1G2YJ6AmXYtYrav-EZqV1h6tmKGFqx26Cqte-LTNX9eWl8IGxH6c4XBNwQyM2-a-OBWbWyxoIFxAwT1Vdtd3RtAT6p5W4QONF6Iv5F0i_4I38AKpfVq/s1600/london+and+scotland+223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjT5g9x8DgM1QML3gFauZ9Rdjbb1G2YJ6AmXYtYrav-EZqV1h6tmKGFqx26Cqte-LTNX9eWl8IGxH6c4XBNwQyM2-a-OBWbWyxoIFxAwT1Vdtd3RtAT6p5W4QONF6Iv5F0i_4I38AKpfVq/s320/london+and+scotland+223.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[Calvin, Alyssa, me and Cameron]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> That night we wandered around downtown Edinburgh. We walked down the Royal Mile, which is a stretch of road, yes it's a mile good job, that starts at the entrance of the Edinburgh Castle and ends at the Holywod House and along it is all these fancy important buildings. We ate dinner at a pub, where Calvin got hagis for everyone to taste. I'd already tried it before (Marta, the scottish woman in my ward made some for a munch and mingle) everyone seemed to like it mucho. I got cullen skink. Its a creamy soup with some sort of fish in it. It was actually super tasty. I had no idea what it was when I ordered it, I just felt like being super scottish. That night we made it back to our hostel around ten. The place was really nice and the guy who ran it was really nice. I would definitely recommend it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDummSPFWKBPs7kY2IY9mkmjcba2iIWdFNaHVuCsA-TRejJaxz4yo7RI6oGs-ipFywZ54IT4ORG4ebg_BbAR_mWyEIJRfvBax4tcE0eMGqwAzcK6IabWkX9OhUQ7dwRI6YAruM_iRNjwj/s1600/london+and+scotland+241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDummSPFWKBPs7kY2IY9mkmjcba2iIWdFNaHVuCsA-TRejJaxz4yo7RI6oGs-ipFywZ54IT4ORG4ebg_BbAR_mWyEIJRfvBax4tcE0eMGqwAzcK6IabWkX9OhUQ7dwRI6YAruM_iRNjwj/s320/london+and+scotland+241.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[really cool bridge]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next day we made our way up to castle hill where we were to meet our bus for our day tour to the highlands. We booked our tours separately not knowing there was more than one bus. Everyone was on the same bus but me. Luckily Calvin and all his heroics convinced a lady to switch buses so that I could be on the same bus as the other three. I almost spent twelve hours by myself in Scotland. But I didn't and we set out on our journey. We drove a ways out into the highlands with Alistar, or Ali as our tour guide. He was hilarious and would use the word guys at least twice in every sentence. Hey Guys you know out here in the highlands you gotta work hard guys. We had a sneaking suspicion he was mormon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvse5I3I1JZOtcuc8cnWbtTtDSs2rFMFQg_WSMXEBrYNszwtz0zzZBjoHpwG5h2oJtHsR59c9DGHREE53ijyZcXhu5AkGoVvkkndCQqV9UFddwRyM2dh29sVVjJzvERqMhMsXwL4VdwW-2/s1600/london+and+scotland+291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvse5I3I1JZOtcuc8cnWbtTtDSs2rFMFQg_WSMXEBrYNszwtz0zzZBjoHpwG5h2oJtHsR59c9DGHREE53ijyZcXhu5AkGoVvkkndCQqV9UFddwRyM2dh29sVVjJzvERqMhMsXwL4VdwW-2/s320/london+and+scotland+291.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[me and nessie]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our first big stop was Loch Ness. We rode a boat out onto the Loch and to a castle just on the other side. It was gorgeous. It was a cool crisp day. The water was still but pitch black. I saw some water ripple like it would have been Nessie.... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8X45uRvDFYFdijRMpo0zyAXchJgh8rOjunkXqH5m6rtliiUtWLoAfw704_wDNmNxAhj7PYfU7Ww6fayVutpneeEbHoEMXRuxLrNX6wxCm1nm__hEFTz6u_eVjCwlS7Tgy2_XPzg3MhLDn/s1600/london+and+scotland+292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8X45uRvDFYFdijRMpo0zyAXchJgh8rOjunkXqH5m6rtliiUtWLoAfw704_wDNmNxAhj7PYfU7Ww6fayVutpneeEbHoEMXRuxLrNX6wxCm1nm__hEFTz6u_eVjCwlS7Tgy2_XPzg3MhLDn/s320/london+and+scotland+292.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[Loch Ness]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The boat director even played some Scottish mood music for us so we could have an enjoyable nessie watching journey. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On the other side was Urquhart Castle. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oLCyuJOoRA1SJ7hkO09OCy1mhiSgC7V5EqumgN0CM0HinynuAxjvvBVZOqcuFqT_9yXBLcOS8qWjiiNqTW6O6NPOdWit6vbHQeCoCPUQfGf8U4JrOUgaF4jS4ZYkUIeuRFSaeNHLdA61/s1600/london+and+scotland+342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oLCyuJOoRA1SJ7hkO09OCy1mhiSgC7V5EqumgN0CM0HinynuAxjvvBVZOqcuFqT_9yXBLcOS8qWjiiNqTW6O6NPOdWit6vbHQeCoCPUQfGf8U4JrOUgaF4jS4ZYkUIeuRFSaeNHLdA61/s320/london+and+scotland+342.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[the gang on top of the castle, yes I wore that hat all day like a tourist]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Castle ruins were really cool to climb up and look out over the loch. The loch is SO much bigger than I thought it would be. I was thinking it was more like a really big pond. No wonder no can find Nessie in there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU34FvAZXrDmoowvIlgkHx8Q5e1WCv16nQpVdnCNR_N6HAhwMDzfVcd4rbMuR-gh4F0GrRWqWgYCeax0PRB2NBwvrn8WXQ7JzE_xjwI9x7LJdLMHfQXjp9mcaLuZWN6pskTpDQxuuNtjrC/s1600/london+and+scotland+328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU34FvAZXrDmoowvIlgkHx8Q5e1WCv16nQpVdnCNR_N6HAhwMDzfVcd4rbMuR-gh4F0GrRWqWgYCeax0PRB2NBwvrn8WXQ7JzE_xjwI9x7LJdLMHfQXjp9mcaLuZWN6pskTpDQxuuNtjrC/s320/london+and+scotland+328.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> [ me basking in the glory of the loch, sorry its sideways] </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The rest of the trip was driving through the highlands, stopping at different little points to take pictures of the scenery and to buy whiskey. It was a really fun day, but I was pretty sick of riding a bus buy the end of the day. That night we went to this really great Italian place for dinner. I love some authentic carbonara.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jCqjk6JQx_zdJOMrwVi3NzzDlswyby-hGj_050uYLB0uyDZQZFQmGOT777SscXIjuVVdyqxwhTI7AM-7k-Vy4NaEngoxtGfMJ2rQ-K4qL6MgpQqlw-kkQ7sgFlYkoRJT8AZS6xQlWA0e/s1600/london+and+scotland+377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jCqjk6JQx_zdJOMrwVi3NzzDlswyby-hGj_050uYLB0uyDZQZFQmGOT777SscXIjuVVdyqxwhTI7AM-7k-Vy4NaEngoxtGfMJ2rQ-K4qL6MgpQqlw-kkQ7sgFlYkoRJT8AZS6xQlWA0e/s320/london+and+scotland+377.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[Edinburgh Castle]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The next morning, Easter Sunday, we hiked up to the castle and went all over inside. It was a really pretty castle. The complex is so much bigger than it appears to be. Inside we went through the war displays, the state apartments, the cathedral, the dungeons and the crown jewel displays. Which compared to the tower of London is nothing spectacular, I mean they only have one crown in there. But they do have the stone, man I can't think of the name of it, any way its the stone that every monarch in British History has sat on to be crowned. Even Elizabeth, well there was a little spot for it under the coronation chair. That was pretty sweet. But the sweetest thing about this place was all the Bruce stuff. Yeah that's right, I'm related to Robert the Bruce (go watch Braveheart) and he was the king of Scotland once. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0rmlZX2VMuFsBcM6MLH9sa8e6lUbd9HeGFzmS2CCXDrwt1TAyIsPt6zh3OiJu0dfYLyHiwKcL_611re3ELibb79n_D2bX_xurbZFPNv0vN-hCJyBGFLdkwOyUS_ljMycAXqSowzZwnwr/s1600/london+and+scotland+404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0rmlZX2VMuFsBcM6MLH9sa8e6lUbd9HeGFzmS2CCXDrwt1TAyIsPt6zh3OiJu0dfYLyHiwKcL_611re3ELibb79n_D2bX_xurbZFPNv0vN-hCJyBGFLdkwOyUS_ljMycAXqSowzZwnwr/s320/london+and+scotland+404.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[me being crowned, take that Rob]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They had this little statue thing of Robert being crowned but I totally abdicated the throne, atleast it stayed in the family. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the castle we walked down the Scotland's National Gallery. They have some really good stuff in there, being a fan of 19th century art that was my favorite. There is a portrait by John Singer Sargent that I really like. Her gaze is captivating. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBWmj7DA7WQxSB7DkUc2CcAg3LGP5YitmO_Z5f939bCkhMjmGifAki89VHHe67If_vapq63u-xFD8m9x_d_0T2FIZmA2qMIKd4pGUbI8BW_qYUYVjPYPt7kcXFgCAza7WF-0WDscDNiOz/s1600/john+singer+sargent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBWmj7DA7WQxSB7DkUc2CcAg3LGP5YitmO_Z5f939bCkhMjmGifAki89VHHe67If_vapq63u-xFD8m9x_d_0T2FIZmA2qMIKd4pGUbI8BW_qYUYVjPYPt7kcXFgCAza7WF-0WDscDNiOz/s320/john+singer+sargent.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ the colors are so much more vibrant in person]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then we hopped back on the train and rode it for five hours all the way back to London.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I really love Scotland and I'm proud to be from there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-26707904671398699692010-04-08T01:23:00.000-07:002010-04-08T01:23:37.682-07:00And everything in between...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So here are just some snapshots of some things I've done inbetween all the big trips I've gone on:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdpjIyUUr7xRBnUoti3PT8AZWzLXArkPrNgCWxGzEm6cOQhza0cdHZgIYlFJa9-NtxH_WuUZzPiquF2z-4uRKTuIF6bP8aMtu1975phpzsxAD21pk-YMTiFbWo0xxw1MlDAYtyXpD1W_A/s1600/milenial+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdpjIyUUr7xRBnUoti3PT8AZWzLXArkPrNgCWxGzEm6cOQhza0cdHZgIYlFJa9-NtxH_WuUZzPiquF2z-4uRKTuIF6bP8aMtu1975phpzsxAD21pk-YMTiFbWo0xxw1MlDAYtyXpD1W_A/s320/milenial+bridge.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Me, Brit, Mary on the Millennial Bridge ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So one of my classes is a Culture in Community class and one of our assignments is to do these mapped out walks around London so we can soak up the city sights. This walk was the South of the Thames walk. The Thames kind of separates the city of London. Some of the major things south of the Thames is the Globe, the Tate Modern Museum, and Borough Market (best market ever). This bridge goes from the Tate Modern over to St. Pauls. If you are a Harry Potter fan, this bridge is the bridge that gets blown up in the high speed broom chase in number six. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Dorm 4 ladies]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So Valentines was on a Sunday this year so our house had a party to celebrate on the following Monday. As a part of the social committee I planned a little game for everyone to play. In order to get into the party you had to be wearing valentines colors. The game was everyone was assigned one half of a famous couple, it was taped to their back so they didn't know who it was. Everyone had to mingle and ask questions to figure out who they were and then to find their match. (ex. Shakespeare and Anne Hathoway) People got mad at me because apparently the couples I chose aren't well-known enough. I actually got yelled at by someone. It is because the first place prize was a gift card to the Hummingbird Bakery. After the game we decorated sugar cookies and watched a mushy mushy movie. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Kitchen Crew ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So we are divided into groups of about six people and each group takes a week to help with kitchen duties. My kitchen crew is called the Marblearchers. We set up breakfast and help cook dinner and wash the dishes. That big shiny thing is called Hobart. He cleans the dishes for us and then we dry them and put them away. Most nights we jam and dance around to the radio while we clean up so it's actually really fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KHGJidShWMYWREv0kzLxigccrsJUkJU9jZGB60ll9V008owOuqwRBpNYZEndP0Qb6K1eYaI0BCNGNHEIcLpWQ_Yvc8bnQAD5wyCWDrcQ5oIvsm54pfUJLmXikiMSY2_i_Vox_s69sTPU/s1600/stake+dance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KHGJidShWMYWREv0kzLxigccrsJUkJU9jZGB60ll9V008owOuqwRBpNYZEndP0Qb6K1eYaI0BCNGNHEIcLpWQ_Yvc8bnQAD5wyCWDrcQ5oIvsm54pfUJLmXikiMSY2_i_Vox_s69sTPU/s320/stake+dance.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ the crew at the YSA dance]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So we were forewarned that the Young Single Adult stake dances are the place to be. Nearly the entire group, that's about thirty five of us, got all dressed the impress (that's the theme) are marched into the cultural hall of the Hyde Park building. We made up more than half the crowd. The room was all decked out for valentines. We all boogied all night long. </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzg7ZugT4FIIUKMAMgPTsvlIHto2zG7QXWXn6vL81tyV_KUmCjfg1C90_arBgwgmP_7EMESMWmUHHJ22x4KTr48tCb4x-O5RifVt2c_rqX_Xe3j-7s0g1q3JrOILFnldumRCQ83lrHQz53/s1600/party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzg7ZugT4FIIUKMAMgPTsvlIHto2zG7QXWXn6vL81tyV_KUmCjfg1C90_arBgwgmP_7EMESMWmUHHJ22x4KTr48tCb4x-O5RifVt2c_rqX_Xe3j-7s0g1q3JrOILFnldumRCQ83lrHQz53/s320/party.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ me getting down ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I got this dress for the dance in Camdentown. It is the punk rock part of town. They have a great market on the weekends. So much good food, especially the salt and pepper chicken from the chinese man. I got it in a little boutique. I was trying it on and picking out the color I wanted to get when the little asian lady that ran the place asked where I was from and I said the States and she dropped the price down ten pounds just cause I'm American. I made the sleeves out of tights.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6Fbs6yv-L7bWQP2DrMjYattOBC2ZglGBJ_3dYml6BiKWffLClAWLU9r9PinGQRxnBCyFW1LptWfsWkwzccbnLRZdMkFlM4KF7K97S170PDFTfP8pSdZEiyA5IzOB2Ku4cVwenIdMhF2p/s1600/st.+augustines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6Fbs6yv-L7bWQP2DrMjYattOBC2ZglGBJ_3dYml6BiKWffLClAWLU9r9PinGQRxnBCyFW1LptWfsWkwzccbnLRZdMkFlM4KF7K97S170PDFTfP8pSdZEiyA5IzOB2Ku4cVwenIdMhF2p/s320/st.+augustines.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ St. Ausgustines ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On one of our day trips we went out to St. Augustines which is an old abbey ruin. We also went out that way to Dover. The cliffs really are white. During WWII this huge tunnel system was built underneath Dover castle. It was used as a military headquarters. We took a tour of them. They are called the Secret War Tunnels. Ironic name huh. They have it all set up like it was still the 40s. Not going to lie it was a little bit creepy but still pretty cool to see. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xWGbQ_mkGAYwvLYi5V2J1UufS3TmSfuArY_cekbvgj7iHAZUna_FKH4rzPfWQlH0xu-9He5DfOik1mSrno3ISlj8AO4RvJUhiryaSlxA8UtgTCnRYZlPki2JywrXWDqC32tLA1Q_2ac4/s1600/mcdonalds+in+windsor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xWGbQ_mkGAYwvLYi5V2J1UufS3TmSfuArY_cekbvgj7iHAZUna_FKH4rzPfWQlH0xu-9He5DfOik1mSrno3ISlj8AO4RvJUhiryaSlxA8UtgTCnRYZlPki2JywrXWDqC32tLA1Q_2ac4/s320/mcdonalds+in+windsor.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ me caitlin and two stiff dudes ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was on our day trip to the gorgeous Windsor Castle. We had a grand ole time walking around the grounds and looking in all the state apartments. They are all so fancy. Its a shame the queen is only there on the weekends.My favorite part was the giant dollhouse that is a perfect replica of the palace, with little mini minute details. I want one. That afternoon we got a quick bit to eat at the gourmet restaurant McDonalds. It's true, its so fancy in Europe. There are fresh tulips on every table. And that is where we found these handsome fellows. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2viOyCLsMYp4tv6QbWcEH92aizRLPFcWJ-x6ESviBjVGtJJ_e6Foa6Y4HC7VFI4ip6_bFYJr8jCaW_7z1XqQfuM2XhSc1W8elCJq4uJw6PU3cW1unrYWRkeasG-DKgakxr_q2q7u6zQn2/s1600/stratford+upon+avon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2viOyCLsMYp4tv6QbWcEH92aizRLPFcWJ-x6ESviBjVGtJJ_e6Foa6Y4HC7VFI4ip6_bFYJr8jCaW_7z1XqQfuM2XhSc1W8elCJq4uJw6PU3cW1unrYWRkeasG-DKgakxr_q2q7u6zQn2/s320/stratford+upon+avon.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Stratford-upon-Avon ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On yet another daytrip we made our way out to Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace and deathplace of good old Billy Shakespeare. We visited Anne Hathoway's house and Shakey's birthplace. The church pictured above is where he is buried. I give it one thumbs up. That night we went and saw the Royal Shakespeare Company perform King Lear at the Courtyard Theatre. I forgot to include that in my list of shows that I saw. It was really really good. We sat in this stool like seats way up high, but it was great cause then we could see down onto the stage and see how all the actors were choreographed. The story is about King Lear and how his poor actions eventually lead to his demise. The director did a really good job of portraying the destruction of the character of King Lear by having the set literally fall apart as things get worse and worse (walls fell apart and lights flickered and crashed). It was really cool, if you want to know more just ask, I wrote a paper on it. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZMInoLZs8Tix8ytLbakdLRIDbZ0JgdeXgTfwCCVuKFUqt4N__vB3QFQ0-JeglyeqKr7kUzSVF8C3DshbFVr6bfnwbnll86eqNTLrV0S6Kxqe9SppRoG98V7S9m51KNDsYsXqCfRvBvVd/s1600/london+fashion+week.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZMInoLZs8Tix8ytLbakdLRIDbZ0JgdeXgTfwCCVuKFUqt4N__vB3QFQ0-JeglyeqKr7kUzSVF8C3DshbFVr6bfnwbnll86eqNTLrV0S6Kxqe9SppRoG98V7S9m51KNDsYsXqCfRvBvVd/s320/london+fashion+week.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ me at London Fashion Week]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There is this private collection of art at the Sommerset House ( i think someone fancy lived there once) and Brit and I wanted to go see it) So one afternoon we walked out to it and it just so happened to be hosting London Fashion Week. We knew it was in town then but not where. We were walking up to the sommerset house and upon entering we were given a free tote bag full of goodies. There is a giant courtyard just as you walk in the gates and right in there a structure was built to house the runway. It was the middle of the day so there were no shows going on plus we didn't have passes to get into them anyway. We walked around and saw all the racks of clothes lined up and trendy fashion interns whizzing past us. It made me feel all fancy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After desperately trying to look like we belonged, we went inside to see the collection. It was really quaint place with a big variety of work. The highlight of course was seeing the Folie Bergeres by Manet. I love that painting. I learned that day, through Brit, that it is more well known as the Woman at the Bar, but I had never heard that. But it was gorgeous. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBAauYOkx_rAy4C29haYiFjinVLtebMtnv0zpodm9fzHJ-sn86ODAzFdE4MG04ewqAW6XPdCTf6CZJg1tSSEogDyrZlHTjmGASTrfXXYL7pjSXULR6uyXo8BZhV6ECdfiqzX2DYd1QF-R/s1600/heath+walking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBAauYOkx_rAy4C29haYiFjinVLtebMtnv0zpodm9fzHJ-sn86ODAzFdE4MG04ewqAW6XPdCTf6CZJg1tSSEogDyrZlHTjmGASTrfXXYL7pjSXULR6uyXo8BZhV6ECdfiqzX2DYd1QF-R/s320/heath+walking.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ heath walking]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brit and I like to go on adventures. While most the girls go out shopping, Brit and I go adventuring, which usually results in a little shopping anyway. On one particular day we headed out to Hampstead (borough of London) and explored that part of town. It is a little commuter part of town just outside the central city. It was so cute and posh and I would move there in a heartbeat when I have a family. Right in the middle of town there's the heath. In the middle of this huge heath is the Kenwood house which was our main destination for the day. This fancy manor house out in the middle of a meadow came to fame for being used in a lot of films, for example its the house in Notting Hill when Anna is filming the Henry James movie. Everything on this trip seems to always relate back to Notting Hill, I wouldn't suggest watching that with me any time soon unless you want to hear Hey I've been there, or I totally know where that is, the whole time. Anyway we started hiking through the heath. We turned out to be very unprepared footwear wise; it was much muddier than expected. So we decided to just take our shoes off and have a therapeutic walk through the mud. Then we got lost and cold and didn't find the Kenwood house. A few weeks later we went there as a group and I wore boots that day. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttisfpLvjfJahHkpbFHZMXfnjh_Y9P3gwAF2CNg51HLWN190HG9CNOn9D3ONTKgOc0_dS-ufm6J6MyzRQWpjQ45VrMb_FHX_li5aTcHnJ78OgI9zHcbiRfu0_aI8OwRQCtovCaai5Z4KR/s1600/tea+in+the+great+hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttisfpLvjfJahHkpbFHZMXfnjh_Y9P3gwAF2CNg51HLWN190HG9CNOn9D3ONTKgOc0_dS-ufm6J6MyzRQWpjQ45VrMb_FHX_li5aTcHnJ78OgI9zHcbiRfu0_aI8OwRQCtovCaai5Z4KR/s320/tea+in+the+great+hall.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ The great hall ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We got the mormon hook up. As a group we ventured out to Oxford and Roger just happens to know the the PR director for King's College is mormon. Well they all arranged this before hand, but the director gave us a private tour of the univerisity, including some behind the scenes things, including going into the library where I took a book (don't worry the sign on the shelf said i could). Then after that we went into the Great Hall where we were giving a "tea" service. PR man actually had it arranged so that we had tea pots of hot chocolate. Now you harry potter fans, this is the Great Hall. All those scenes are filmed here at Oxford, and just outside those doors is the main staircase, where in the first film they all waited to be sorted. Pretty sweet. After "tea" we had a BYU alum who's getting her masters at Oxford do a little Q & A for us. She made the whole British university system sound rather unappealing to me, it was really complicated. So I just daydreamed about Harry Potter. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5je83kkfjT4pqeDPqliJHpeN-iukCZG0ufzqjhiAHKlmAF-bYGQxRjb6SbEZlyJpDeO_yvkyd6lw0YhGrGVa4P1MNMJEhtvi0HUzSqkIpUfLEF5Z8t9JDOjD6cViovPKDyoKLkixFFs3/s1600/london+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI5je83kkfjT4pqeDPqliJHpeN-iukCZG0ufzqjhiAHKlmAF-bYGQxRjb6SbEZlyJpDeO_yvkyd6lw0YhGrGVa4P1MNMJEhtvi0HUzSqkIpUfLEF5Z8t9JDOjD6cViovPKDyoKLkixFFs3/s320/london+026.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ aMAZEing]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On this particular day we went out to Blenheim palace. That is where the duke of Malborough. Winston Churchill was the grandson of the duke. The palace is huge and immensely decorated. There is a section otf the house dedicated to the Churchills, particularly Winston. We saw his bedroom which had a lock of his strawberry blonde hair framed on the wall. The best part of the palace was the grounds. They have so much land. After a walk through this huge meadow we found the hedge maze. We ended up getting there with about a half hour till we needed to get back onto the bus, so we figured that we could do a quick run through of the maze. We were running and then we made it to this puddle. Don't worry guys, I didn't get even a little bit wet. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUE0HAzoo57H3qu1IjELrxHu4tXBcwXuSrcjUWciWqbRquPE0MbnWwKWcmS76aVQhcIzxPEXT7sU0e5lr5KdaGWIhHLaBZ7HxeaqRke9QtiT79ZHPr8oSp5tR0efHTvUrIfbYCD2_MeE1x/s1600/iwm.aspx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUE0HAzoo57H3qu1IjELrxHu4tXBcwXuSrcjUWciWqbRquPE0MbnWwKWcmS76aVQhcIzxPEXT7sU0e5lr5KdaGWIhHLaBZ7HxeaqRke9QtiT79ZHPr8oSp5tR0efHTvUrIfbYCD2_MeE1x/s320/iwm.aspx.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Cameron, Brit, Calvin, Me, and Caitlin ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of my goals while here in England was to go see a football match. That goal was not realized, but I came close. So the biggest match while I've been here was Manchester United vs. AC Milan. The are a few things of significance about this game. First the Man U team has about half the England National team, including the great Wayne Rooney. Next, Beckham is on loan to AC Milan for the season, and Beckham started out playing for Man U back in the day so it was his return to the stadium. And lastly, not only is Beckham on loan to AC Milan, but Ronaldino is also. Anyway it was the game to see And since it was turns out the game was completely sold out. Bummed, I searched the internet for some way to see it. I found on the AC Milan website that if I sign up for their fanclub than I would get VIP tickets to their London party for the game. So i thought, close enough, and signed us all up to get tickets. The party was at this huge two story sports bar in the West End. We got to the building just as the game was starting and it was packed. We didn't think we would get in, but when we flashed our VIP tickets at the door they rushed us in and up the stairs to the real party. It was really fun. It was decorated and packed full of fans. There were games and prizes and free stuff. I got a burger from the bar and watched the game. It was a blast, minus the fact that the commentary was in Italian.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTnBYGzne07k5ZeB66C_lTLZs6nQ5btdxeAXNfcfL_5Jagdrd9EkX-Wjj9qpOmF8wbbvIg92wLkcUesOvqYV1j-3lu4-T8ViZsdRUvTsFkTZnn93XW7x0xkRByBMzThBlo-aa6Q1zKewD/s1600/london+190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnTnBYGzne07k5ZeB66C_lTLZs6nQ5btdxeAXNfcfL_5Jagdrd9EkX-Wjj9qpOmF8wbbvIg92wLkcUesOvqYV1j-3lu4-T8ViZsdRUvTsFkTZnn93XW7x0xkRByBMzThBlo-aa6Q1zKewD/s320/london+190.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ tea]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On this saturday Brit and I went on another adventure full of daintiness. We attempted to go to an antique market, but it was closed, then we went to finish going through the Wallace Collection. The Collection is in one of King Henry's ( I think VIII) houses in London. It has a a lot of Dutch artwork, including Fragonard's The Swing, which is a very dainty painting. Then we went back and walked through Kensington Gardens and on to palace grounds. Kensington Palace was the home of Princess Diana. On the grounds there is the Orangerie, which is the green house like tea room. We went in for brunch time tea. We ate croissants and tea and scones and a slice of Orangerie Cake. All very delicious and dainty. </div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpF-8ROwuTVTpE9nv2KHmtSMXSnarY1yeY5Fp_vMsRSlz7zJVfqFRWUNb-Bypa52ZrWRKnSs41CnkKz9gNcAJ8Z7Mdybx63BxjkzMHPxnkDhiFcqzdE3fYLKfgMqhzv8es-iHKqirhuX5d/s1600/london+414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpF-8ROwuTVTpE9nv2KHmtSMXSnarY1yeY5Fp_vMsRSlz7zJVfqFRWUNb-Bypa52ZrWRKnSs41CnkKz9gNcAJ8Z7Mdybx63BxjkzMHPxnkDhiFcqzdE3fYLKfgMqhzv8es-iHKqirhuX5d/s320/london+414.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ waiting for camille ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our last big day trip was out to the town of Cambridge. Of course we started the day with Christ's Church College tour. I was particularly excited for this day because my BFF Camille is moving out to Cambridge for the summer. We went through the cathedral in the college and then we were released to explore the town. While still on college grounds I had to find Bodley Court, where Camille is going to be living. Above is me posing in front of Bodley Court and in two months Camille will take a similar picture and we'll photoshop them together and we'll be at Cambridge together. </div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-14496564163920596222010-03-20T15:15:00.000-07:002010-03-20T15:15:51.592-07:00I went to Paris and left my camera in London<div style="text-align: center;">The past four days I went to Paris with the group here. We left at the crack of dawn, ok not really, and made our way to St. Pancras Station and hopped on the EuroStar to Paris, that's the train that goes through the chunnel. The train ride was about two hours. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Chartres</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Once we got to Paris we jumped on a coach and headed out to Chartres. Chartres has one of the world's most famous cathedrals. It has the longest nave of all medieval churches. And it was huge. A nice british man was there to talk to us about the cathedral, he had been doing so for the last 52 years. He spoke into a little microphone and we wore headsets and listened. The earphones hurt my little ears and the church was freezing. But it was pretty to look at and the stain glass windows are huge and intricate. There's a relic in the back, it is supposedly a piece robe that Mary wore when she gave birth to Jesus. Its tiny and in a huge glass box behind a velvet rope so I couldn't really see it.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Dinner and Eiffel Tower</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Once we got back to Paris we checked into our Hotel. I was hotel buddies with Allyson, and we only had one bed- I think that was a mistake. But we had a good time. Nearly immediately after checking in we headed out for dinner. A whole bunch of girls ended up at an Italian place with delicious food. The Italian men loved us pretty american girls. After food we eventually found our way to the Eiffel tower ( London Underground far superior to French Metro). It was dark and the tower was all lite up. We wandered underneath and out to the park in front of it to take pictures.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Om_X62QVDOgWG5FlmeBk7jnWUY6ipmvugyug0x_WELUiDlTCqpTOdJzxVbtBOtEh-2zfYGgoRZyv7G85NCdTFob_ihhOldIXA3u7crBOcuq7aD5YL1FE6PnnqUJ6tyfLI5yJmFVHco8l/s1600-h/can+can.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Om_X62QVDOgWG5FlmeBk7jnWUY6ipmvugyug0x_WELUiDlTCqpTOdJzxVbtBOtEh-2zfYGgoRZyv7G85NCdTFob_ihhOldIXA3u7crBOcuq7aD5YL1FE6PnnqUJ6tyfLI5yJmFVHco8l/s320/can+can.jpg" /></a></div>[ can can ]</div><div style="text-align: center;">Once we were leaving these two Spanish/Portuguese boys came up to us saying they could tell we were American and tried to chat us up hardcore. This is the first instance of being hit on in France.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZjO6keD8rM0Z-bL9uUu_qsT_zjwib6CeroZhnk9Ihp9-QiOKMTTntaFFGa0WUzbSOUFpIcc1GwKGo16AaX5f3FHj__fhRb1si430_KhfvYWyDXJzXXwtltwb_tAwfKy3GAOvcg_R7WUK/s1600-h/french+guy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZjO6keD8rM0Z-bL9uUu_qsT_zjwib6CeroZhnk9Ihp9-QiOKMTTntaFFGa0WUzbSOUFpIcc1GwKGo16AaX5f3FHj__fhRb1si430_KhfvYWyDXJzXXwtltwb_tAwfKy3GAOvcg_R7WUK/s320/french+guy.jpg" /></a></div>[ french guy ]<br />
After that encounter we went across the street along the Seine and ate a crepe while riding on a carousel. It was pretty much amazing. Then we went home and slept in big beds.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTdfVXq0_ASEjUNhhqh20bbpYJJWcEYCjMPSBuW3DTudK-fAGtNi8CoF4rq82zBEF82iQjDgwlGsFrDxLQ-8TmHwpjYW6gzX0ibcLouxLCzQ0MXwK2hbsF4JTmtl9YhrCjXmJDtbpMn5i/s1600-h/carosel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTdfVXq0_ASEjUNhhqh20bbpYJJWcEYCjMPSBuW3DTudK-fAGtNi8CoF4rq82zBEF82iQjDgwlGsFrDxLQ-8TmHwpjYW6gzX0ibcLouxLCzQ0MXwK2hbsF4JTmtl9YhrCjXmJDtbpMn5i/s320/carosel.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ carousal ]</div><br />
<b>Versailles</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">The next morning the whole group, after waiting around a lot on train platforms, made it out to Versailles. I've been to Versailles before but the gardens were closed (it was December) so this experience was especially nice. ( It was sixty and sunny in France the whole time we were there) I went through the house with the same girls I hung out with the night previous.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmi3v9UdI4jsAbhcKb2r4i8szvmiAjgHIeHKiHzfihFu6009SgTT_PBhyDCHRlXa5G_GnFCc_IiCZztTAPeTgSYI2B8YcWts1NbJ9NFPCwnobIAmwQnq-aOfkADK5GmDk3tamoAM5oUI6u/s1600-h/versailles+steps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmi3v9UdI4jsAbhcKb2r4i8szvmiAjgHIeHKiHzfihFu6009SgTT_PBhyDCHRlXa5G_GnFCc_IiCZztTAPeTgSYI2B8YcWts1NbJ9NFPCwnobIAmwQnq-aOfkADK5GmDk3tamoAM5oUI6u/s320/versailles+steps.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ versailles steps ]</div><br />
Caitlin and I have the new habit of talking in accents and at Versailles we named our characters. First there is Iris and Joan, they're from Minnetonka, Minnesota. Then there is Lyla and Barbera Sue, one from Dallis the other from San Antonio but they get together for lunch all the time. We spent most the time being from Texas. It was really fun to play loud obnoxious Americans vacationing in France. I hope no real Texans heard us. </div><div style="text-align: center;">After going through the fancy palace we headed out to the gardens and got paninis and sat and marveled at the landscape, soaked in the sun and fed our ever unsatisfied stomachs.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5pv9L_KjJa2yTOBPI-Asz0Xx74jMMKKppGxd_J677mcglS8MwIaUM5TCrUjuKbBPLPFH9nW_CUqySGhEyJ5nafC9u2G7cced4Vepk_uJORullUVzP55rDJw10UxzV1C_-JKejlv30tJu/s1600-h/versailles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5pv9L_KjJa2yTOBPI-Asz0Xx74jMMKKppGxd_J677mcglS8MwIaUM5TCrUjuKbBPLPFH9nW_CUqySGhEyJ5nafC9u2G7cced4Vepk_uJORullUVzP55rDJw10UxzV1C_-JKejlv30tJu/s320/versailles.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ versailles gates ]</div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Moufftard and Champs Ellyses </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">After that pleasantness we headed back into Paris and went to Moufftard which is like the Portobello Road of Paris. We wandered through some market stalls and little shops. We stopped at Nicholson's Chocolate and I got a bag of little chocolates, which I have-with great self control- have not eaten all of it yet. At the end of the street was our main event. There is a little Italian ice cream shop with the tastiest ice cream ever, but that's not it, they scoop it to look like a flower on your cone. Pretty and delicious.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxmus6J9jpr8RApVftCvQFPc9HbkhzC38IlGnaPmh1cp9Tmtfp-yeErzqXYqHkpy_1PFE4zeOeQ8z7kSIKq0ttHl-jYQhoqd6Url_3I3ptysl6Yb2pkY3WTVyS4PxLm3Jry-385StS6hF/s1600-h/flower+ice+cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxmus6J9jpr8RApVftCvQFPc9HbkhzC38IlGnaPmh1cp9Tmtfp-yeErzqXYqHkpy_1PFE4zeOeQ8z7kSIKq0ttHl-jYQhoqd6Url_3I3ptysl6Yb2pkY3WTVyS4PxLm3Jry-385StS6hF/s320/flower+ice+cream.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ flower ice cream ]</div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then we went from that quaint little market street to Champs Elyses- the high end fashion shopping street. There we perused shops full of things I will never be able to afford or even really want to for that matter. Then at the end of the street was the Arc de Triompf.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguo2ziesYRtWS9h1pq7Ecae-3kbTfzOb6ESNBEjZ9O7HtQMV0eUtLv2N6aC_aIlyO5h9PbwurD-fjFl-htngKKFEqEmx0Gii7PNhE-XoT6AYe9Ri0JrdI5NojsRq8Bq1xvDZH6R7hpPNUr/s1600-h/arc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguo2ziesYRtWS9h1pq7Ecae-3kbTfzOb6ESNBEjZ9O7HtQMV0eUtLv2N6aC_aIlyO5h9PbwurD-fjFl-htngKKFEqEmx0Gii7PNhE-XoT6AYe9Ri0JrdI5NojsRq8Bq1xvDZH6R7hpPNUr/s320/arc.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ arc]</div>We hiked up the three hundred some stairs to the top and looked all across Paris's skyline. We sat up there for quite a while to make the hike all the more worthwhile.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCoOb-9pjy9_cW_Or9A6z0VW6Vs3pcbEEpGr6x5hpVX8re1zIO873vXlqXzyXQX6xIwYqGTEY4CYreqINNBijuScWMhdxOVml3qMCD7nw9jXCIF0XU6q4dt6Ofx8gefPM_qlbcWBPI1HGy/s1600-h/top+o+arc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCoOb-9pjy9_cW_Or9A6z0VW6Vs3pcbEEpGr6x5hpVX8re1zIO873vXlqXzyXQX6xIwYqGTEY4CYreqINNBijuScWMhdxOVml3qMCD7nw9jXCIF0XU6q4dt6Ofx8gefPM_qlbcWBPI1HGy/s320/top+o+arc.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ top of the arc ]</div><br />
After the arc we went and got dinner at this little French place and I got a hotdog. It was the fanciest hot dog ever. It was on a baggette and it had fancy cheese melted on top of it and it was delicious. Dinner ended and after some more shop perusing we headed back to the hotel kinda making it a short night. But once back I took a bubble bath while listening to French music. Then Allyson got home and we went to the bar in the hotel for some cocktails. Alcohol free mom. The French barman gave us lots of free snacks too. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Notre Dame and Saint Chapelle </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">The next morning the group gathered and ventured over to the island, yes there is an island in the middle of the Seine I've been to Paris and didn't know this, where Notre Dame rests (please do not call it Norter Dame like the people from Indiana do).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB96_4ToqjAkrCRzkBbtcdpNanahxm88L-8BWA-jz6Nu_5KCem5A-vgSwA_oAVK0XqBOf82k7x-sucJ-l2SWROXhKTO9hgGeCe_IqfXQMGLo5svIn6wxWKfm73Mo63tAylK66mo8IRl4lb/s1600-h/crouch+grab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB96_4ToqjAkrCRzkBbtcdpNanahxm88L-8BWA-jz6Nu_5KCem5A-vgSwA_oAVK0XqBOf82k7x-sucJ-l2SWROXhKTO9hgGeCe_IqfXQMGLo5svIn6wxWKfm73Mo63tAylK66mo8IRl4lb/s320/crouch+grab.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ calvin and i like to ruin caitlin's pictures ]</div><br />
The inside of the church is rather similar to all the other gothic churches around but what is cool is getting to stand on the tops of the towers. It was quite the climb up there though, 300 something steps. We got to walk all the way around, we were fenced in on all sides including above us as to not jump off and kill our selves. The gargoyles are just like in the Hunchback movie, except these ones didn't come to life, although they looked like they could.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMd9uXlM_ELO7jnBfMYReQorxTA318vlJToi2DcY_A5IEv513Ea4bybfQdGMOWNloBHi6QR0zUSSOLh3ihOtpygWNCBGo_v4KPrd6CL95nd5vTlmrxsOXcHC-VCr7M7hB8ELCnb3PFMc3/s1600-h/gargoyle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKMd9uXlM_ELO7jnBfMYReQorxTA318vlJToi2DcY_A5IEv513Ea4bybfQdGMOWNloBHi6QR0zUSSOLh3ihOtpygWNCBGo_v4KPrd6CL95nd5vTlmrxsOXcHC-VCr7M7hB8ELCnb3PFMc3/s320/gargoyle.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ top of notre dame ]</div> Once we got around to the middle of the tower we got to go up to where one of the bells is housed and touch it. Its a pretty big bell. I'm glad it didn't ring while I was in there. The view from up top was gorgeous because the church sits right on the river. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Once we finished we walked over to Saint Chapelle, another really famous church. On the way to the church I stopped and bought a beret, my French souvenir. Its grey, I didn't actually wear it in Paris so I wouldn't look too touristy. Now of course Saint Chapelle was under construction when we got there. Only a little portion of the nave was open to the public. At the church you enter the lobby and then off in the corner you go up a little spiral staircase and it opens up into the nave. The walls consist nearly entirely of stained glass. Its an architectual feat. What holds up the walls? Flying buttresses that's what does. That art history degree isn't going to waste.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6wWU1aNhhWZyvTwTw3WD_Ym3E1Rsd_7JZKdoxY4Fm9inJYJLcis7NZ_CyrHF69i8qSNnKWLbOSb5vW7N_N9oA9FEd3olFgvcg5nz6iaMOrslBPTafccpLx4MGD8bSQ8H9DoocAToREsW/s1600-h/saint+chapelle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6wWU1aNhhWZyvTwTw3WD_Ym3E1Rsd_7JZKdoxY4Fm9inJYJLcis7NZ_CyrHF69i8qSNnKWLbOSb5vW7N_N9oA9FEd3olFgvcg5nz6iaMOrslBPTafccpLx4MGD8bSQ8H9DoocAToREsW/s320/saint+chapelle.jpg" /></a></div>[ windows in saint chapelle]<br />
It was a sunny day so the light through the glass lite the entire space with all sorts of colors. Another neat thing is that the walls and ceilings are painted, just like they would have been back in the day. Most churches these days just keep the bare stone where the paint has worn off so seeing this was pretty awesome. The ceiling was bright blue with little stars. I'm just so accustomed to seeing white limestone or marble. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Monmarted and Sacre Couer</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">That afternoon we hiked, literally up a bajillion stairs, to the top of the hill in Monmarted (a part of Paris) where the church called Sacre Couer sits. It is the coolest looking church. It looks like the mix of some middle eastern temple and a French gothic church. And being up on top of a hill makes it that much more awe inspiring.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0g0nVc8-PbRDrMSDZ32FkEgdUBp2sfeOkHiPMY9Z2bBpAbjNEKvPa_hU995Kc1kwrE1ebQ0uhpJUoCcCpAKYY8Vp3y_MnCBWcwgtoykZVWwuRzLJGOCSTIR7WeoNrFL-nU_sD-15kF6o-/s1600-h/sacre+couer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0g0nVc8-PbRDrMSDZ32FkEgdUBp2sfeOkHiPMY9Z2bBpAbjNEKvPa_hU995Kc1kwrE1ebQ0uhpJUoCcCpAKYY8Vp3y_MnCBWcwgtoykZVWwuRzLJGOCSTIR7WeoNrFL-nU_sD-15kF6o-/s320/sacre+couer.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ sacre couer]</div>The inside was just as gorgeous. There is a huge apse painting of Christ. Easily a restoration from the twentieth century but still a great piece. It was so spacious inside. It rivals with St. Paul's. But St. Paul's has a much better dome. After leaving the church we wandered down the other side of the hill and through a market shop. I ate a crepe. I had I think two crepes a day. From that point we made a quick pit stop at the Pompidou.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpxqTS01cvqNSTr0EOWsomeM-VZRFIDGoezay6gXUQyewULCQuYXmyFLRjBU4Q-H2P6gBkmH6OVzkrkE6p8UJIEpLI9jdzteeid2xCg5VInbb4nL6SJW2FHw6iEm-6v2xZHWShnyaglsf/s1600-h/pompidou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpxqTS01cvqNSTr0EOWsomeM-VZRFIDGoezay6gXUQyewULCQuYXmyFLRjBU4Q-H2P6gBkmH6OVzkrkE6p8UJIEpLI9jdzteeid2xCg5VInbb4nL6SJW2FHw6iEm-6v2xZHWShnyaglsf/s320/pompidou.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ me pushing cameron out of my picture ]</div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's a modern art museum but we didn't go inside, mostly because the building itself is the coolest part. The building is inside out. All the pipes, air ducts and mechanics are on the outside. Plus I learned about it in my architecture class so it was a must.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9gSku9Y7qJI7_3YyTjnEvI-W4bQN-V-fo5e29muChPq0hqTyO2p0iJivQO_UVU82zInvFEeU0RWRIk0GnR2-QGD1g3D10bVJIA5GsS9utrgAbNdvjA3b2B_V_9W2vQG4w2yzINKBLM0v/s1600-h/outside+in.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9gSku9Y7qJI7_3YyTjnEvI-W4bQN-V-fo5e29muChPq0hqTyO2p0iJivQO_UVU82zInvFEeU0RWRIk0GnR2-QGD1g3D10bVJIA5GsS9utrgAbNdvjA3b2B_V_9W2vQG4w2yzINKBLM0v/s320/outside+in.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ the pompidou ]</div><br />
When we were there this asian dude came up to Calvin and said you have a funny face can I draw it? It was a charicature man. So he drew Calvin like king kong climbing the Eiffel Tower. The dude was hilarious plus he gave Calvin a mullet. Calvin did not buy the picture. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>the Louvre</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ows2yoLvWVLXkgi1ovfxkR7doMIRjAfjuCdJwOKogZcRRGmWdI2-7u77QAmIvH-0LlQcgKLZFhj7BMQRhvPcj-NlBdiko0IKAxub45q9-fUbQj44Lfj6hKlNLHVg1LfN0Tk20XU7J3L7/s1600-h/louvre+pyramid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Ows2yoLvWVLXkgi1ovfxkR7doMIRjAfjuCdJwOKogZcRRGmWdI2-7u77QAmIvH-0LlQcgKLZFhj7BMQRhvPcj-NlBdiko0IKAxub45q9-fUbQj44Lfj6hKlNLHVg1LfN0Tk20XU7J3L7/s320/louvre+pyramid.jpg" /></a></div><b>[ louvre with caitlin ]</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">So going through the Louvre was pretty fun. All the people that were with me, Brit, Cameron, Calvin and Caitlin immediately made me their tour guide and said show us what's good. Luckily I could still actually remember some things from the last time I was there. I grabbed a map and only got us lost once. It is THE most complicated museum floorplan I've ever been in. Not going to lie I loved the attention from the crew. It was really fun to lead them to each piece and teach them a thing or two about it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLkxHyOTQeup3e5MQOMS4nTiVK2qS6GJOb6ZjFA1D2g9v_3Si3K62gFmKwFNZSgmPRicGDYXvTS_wK9bnO1lcQf1PwZHMZmtP0Yr-rkK3mF81IvrQUfTCA4er0Zk6x9NWAtaVowm6PZjj/s1600-h/caryitids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLkxHyOTQeup3e5MQOMS4nTiVK2qS6GJOb6ZjFA1D2g9v_3Si3K62gFmKwFNZSgmPRicGDYXvTS_wK9bnO1lcQf1PwZHMZmtP0Yr-rkK3mF81IvrQUfTCA4er0Zk6x9NWAtaVowm6PZjj/s320/caryitids.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ me waving the crew over to teach them about caryatids ]</div><br />
At each stop Cameron and Calvin would ask, Why is this famous? And being an art history major I could either tell them why or make it up and like I know why. It was great. We saw Michelangelo's Dying Slaves, Venis de Milo, Winged Victory, the Code of Hammorabi, Estrucan Couple Sarcophagus, Reclining Hermaphrodite (hilarious), of course Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Madonna on the Rocks,<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFnbD3Me8Vp2MBsOn0OI3heUxtcmuDYQtfUuqOUDgpTgrtidQM94aaa8Zw6ktD9PlRJIQW1RhbaTMc66_81xRRjvUFr9rsQib9wivrY2Wn69CbMO7C0uGr6tAnlYnPfedkwZS2ctEMvGu/s1600-h/mona+lisa+smile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFnbD3Me8Vp2MBsOn0OI3heUxtcmuDYQtfUuqOUDgpTgrtidQM94aaa8Zw6ktD9PlRJIQW1RhbaTMc66_81xRRjvUFr9rsQib9wivrY2Wn69CbMO7C0uGr6tAnlYnPfedkwZS2ctEMvGu/s320/mona+lisa+smile.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ my mona lisa smile]</div>Delacroix's Liberty Leading her People and the Death of Sardanapolis, and countless Raphael's. So I basically gave them a highlights tour of the Louvre and of pieces I could really talk about. I loved it. It was a testament that I want to work for a museum.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Dinner and a Boat Cruise</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">As we were rounding off the Renaissance Hall in the Louvre we ran into a few of the other girls and we all went to dinner together. I ordered something in French that I didn't know what it was. Luckily it turned out to be quite tasty. It was some sort of cooked meat, most likely pork but maybe veal? Marinated in something lemony. Then there were noodles in a creamy sauce. It was delightful. It's a good thing I know what snails is in French so I knew not to order that. After dinner we split off, boys and girls. The girls headed back to the Eiffel Tower and hopped on a boat for a cruise down the Seine. It was pleasant and pretty and all lite up. Unfortunately there were some obnoxious kids from Canada behind us. Stupid tourists. We got off the cruise and got another crepe and then went home and had a good sleep. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Musee d'Orsay</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Best museum ever. We got there right as it opened so the first hour there wasn't really anyone there. The museum was put inside an old train station so the building has huge arc shaped windows and a really high barrel vault ceiling. This lets in a ton of light and with a mostly white interior the place glows. There is still the giant clock on the wall that all train stations have. The museum houses 19th and 20th century art which is my favorite. I have a map from the place covered in notes of artwork I loved and new artwork I found. There were some new names and same really famous. There is an entire room of Degas's ballerinas, one of Monet's lilies, and one of Renoir's portraits. Some really key works were there too. <i>Luncheon of the Grass</i> by Manet, we spent two weeks on this one piece in my thesis class. Manet's <i>Olympia</i> is there too, which was much more painterly looking that I had assumed. There was a self portrait of Van Gogh, the uninjured one. There was an entire exhibit of Hector Guimard's furniture, that's right Mr. Paul Anderson. But by this point there were tons of people inside and I got really frustrated and I can't look at art all angry like. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Orangerie, Cafe and Musee Rodin</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">After getting completely turned around Brit and I made our way to the Orangerie. A tiny little museum on the same plot of land as the Louvre. We really only went there to see one thing. There's a white oval room that has its entire wall plastered with Monet's lilies. It was pretty and then we left. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We walked across the street and went into the first cafe we found cause we were starving. It was an open front cafe, meaning no front wall so we could people watch. I had an omelette du fromage avec jambon. No kidding that's what I got and it was tres bon. Upon exiting the cafe I ran into someone I knew. In Paris. Weird I know. It was Ann Frances. She's an art history major. She and her husband just made their own spring break and came to Paris. We chatted a bit. I felt really cool. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Next was the Musee Rodin. And if you know anything in French than you know that means the Rodin Museum. It was what I expected. It was better. It was a garden with his statues placed all around it. It was very scenic and pretty. As we were pondering with the thinker, Brit struck up a conversation with professors from BYU I. Mormons are like magnets, they are always drawn together. Its funny how easy it is to pick out Americans, especially Idahoans. </div><div style="text-align: center;">There Brit and I did become confounded. Inside the Hotel (which means big house) Rodin's the Kiss was in there, but the Tate Modern here in London has Rodin's the Kiss. We saw both of them with our own eyes and now someone has got some e'splaining to do. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Paris Opera House and the Pantheon</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our final afternoon in Paris consisted of architecture. The Pantheon was a really cool building that was really freezing inside. Nothing too spectacular to report back. But the Paris Opera House was amazing. Now if you have heard of a little story called the Phantom of the Opera then you know this place. This is the Phantom's playground. And if you have seen the most recent movie, this is where the entire thing was filmed. So I walked down the grand staircase singing Mascaraed, I found the Phantom's box-number 5, I danced down one of the ballrooms and searched for a secret door but didn't actually find one. And there is actually a river underneath the Opera house just like in the story, we asked (flirted) to go down there but the guide man said only firemen are allowed down there cause its so dangerous. Yeah right, the phantom probably paid him off to say that. The building was gorgeous of course. Gold filigry and mirrors everywhere. I kept expecting it to be the phantom and not my reflection. The opera house was probably my favorite building in France. </div><div style="text-align: center;">After that brit and I headed back to the train station where we met up with the whole group and rode the train back to London. It was good to come home. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">[Second half of the blog related pictures are on brit's camera still, check back in a little while and see them when I post them]</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-17037989598414974832010-03-19T04:05:00.000-07:002010-03-19T04:05:54.010-07:00Remember how I like to see live theater?<div style="text-align: center;">So I've actually done a lot between last England post and Spain and Spain and Wales but blogging is so time consuming and I give up easily. I have dedicated this post to all the shows I have seen during the two specified time period previously stated. So I think that the last show I discussed with you was The Woman in Black, really it was that long ago? That's sad. Let me look real quick. Whoa it is. That is sad. Live theater is seriously my favorite thing to do. Previous to this it was watching movies and it will be back to seeing movies once I leave London, cause unless you're in New York, theater is hardly ever worth it. Ok I'm going to give you the rundown of what shows I have seen. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;">Les Miserables</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0Ffd2bFEW5zAMF8VmXq1YFS8rZ_t9_B82kwexgtNWnFo43OnK-Ft0VGtjZtHJaM1ZbC2IendlJdGsMrzanb-jNz5TnPDQixJG63fwwtWqV9ZLue3NSzvOu1P2AK1K56kHBmQRZSC1Ak4/s1600-h/17467_275392809636_813924636_3090130_7764688_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0Ffd2bFEW5zAMF8VmXq1YFS8rZ_t9_B82kwexgtNWnFo43OnK-Ft0VGtjZtHJaM1ZbC2IendlJdGsMrzanb-jNz5TnPDQixJG63fwwtWqV9ZLue3NSzvOu1P2AK1K56kHBmQRZSC1Ak4/s320/17467_275392809636_813924636_3090130_7764688_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Mary, Cameron, Me and Brit at Les Mis ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So I've never read Les Mis ( that book is like 1500 pages, geez Leo) and I did see the Heidelberg Community Theater perform a shortened version when I was twelve there for I was asleep the whole time. Because of this Les Mis was awesome. I think coming into it mostly blind really added to whole experience. First of all we got sweet seats. I love my international student card. Only students in London can get standby about an hour before the show. Four of us, out of the eight or so who came, got tickets in row G in the stalls, that's on the ground floor for those of you who are theater illiterate, for 27 pounds (roughly fifty bucks). Those tickets actually cost over a hundred pounds. They were really really good seats. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Second, the set was pretty spectacular. The entire middle was a giant lazy susan making scene changes seamless. You just gotta see it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Third, the actors were awesome. Not only did they have great voices but they can actually act. And it is a feat to pull that off in live theater. Les Mis is a pretty depressing play, you know people dying, war and revolution, you know, it was quite moving. So much so that big ole Calvin shed a tear. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoV7jD7KV3FvTnD7HdOb2FC096F4_9j1m56e0CDPS2kuD109UzDqsvUTVa92p0KVRCaYY31wPUHfz0bmV67pNCayfH1nGUBsSaErW6Tnn7QpPaTVK7QcwUvtdwFnF0bHKAHITi9P81KT58/s1600-h/LesMiserables_273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoV7jD7KV3FvTnD7HdOb2FC096F4_9j1m56e0CDPS2kuD109UzDqsvUTVa92p0KVRCaYY31wPUHfz0bmV67pNCayfH1nGUBsSaErW6Tnn7QpPaTVK7QcwUvtdwFnF0bHKAHITi9P81KT58/s320/LesMiserables_273.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ These guys, awesome ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d;">39 Steps</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6NaTltkmrbO4IqFvxue1TCQaCuh1Zt_xmR3Z_wafLTwwZJceT6ESxdpSJKMC7_rp-iS5sBOha1X8kuREhUfv8u-xrBe-T3rYKn-MyKh0eF0k6g6bVmWwVKcSf55NexGCnxojbeHUOibP/s1600-h/home-noflash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6NaTltkmrbO4IqFvxue1TCQaCuh1Zt_xmR3Z_wafLTwwZJceT6ESxdpSJKMC7_rp-iS5sBOha1X8kuREhUfv8u-xrBe-T3rYKn-MyKh0eF0k6g6bVmWwVKcSf55NexGCnxojbeHUOibP/s400/home-noflash.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ This is from their website, it shows some of the actors ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The 39 steps is a spoof of Hitchcock movies. Now I haven't seen very many of those but the play is still hilarious without it. The show only has four actors, three guys and one girl. All but the main guy (dude with the pipe up there) play tons of roles, like in Monty Python. There was a lot of slapstick humor and things of the like. We got kinda crappy seats, on the extreme right of the stage in the second row. The actors were great, I wouldn't have been able to keep a straight face. The story is about this man who meets a mysterious woman who turns out to be a secret agent with a big top secret, she ends up getting killed and the main guy has to go stop the bad guy, getting framed for the woman's murder in the process. The set was very simplistic, just different furniture brought in for each new scene by the actors. All in all the play was hilarious, I give it two thumbs up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Oliver!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3mOqnMWtEC0ltSs88AqX2CZPhlowKjZjNbDD82O68wYfSBLs5T7HjsCl8nZX1FQj6qYW0Ud_HjQtuAAxdnY4d5Ych_yrcnF3JZ28zFo_HSA2Alu8Hw7V9X-m8o8NBqNTai2kRI3sBaqm/s1600-h/group-shot_1238918i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3mOqnMWtEC0ltSs88AqX2CZPhlowKjZjNbDD82O68wYfSBLs5T7HjsCl8nZX1FQj6qYW0Ud_HjQtuAAxdnY4d5Ych_yrcnF3JZ28zFo_HSA2Alu8Hw7V9X-m8o8NBqNTai2kRI3sBaqm/s320/group-shot_1238918i.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Best character, kid in front, the Artful Dodger ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ok we went to go see this show as a group because the brit lit class read Oliver. With so many people, we got horrible seats; we were in the very very back of the stalls where the balcony overhead blocked the view of the stage. Now I was comparing this performance to the movie I used to watch and it was not so good. The best character was Dodger, he got really into and had a great cockney accent. But Oliver's voice was lacking and even though the character of Nancy is a prostitute that doesn't mean that others of the same profession need to be motioning and displaying their "trade" on stage while Nancy sings Oom Pah Pah with a big smile on her face. It was too much. All in all, I'm glad it was free. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">The World's Wife</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvBz2hew0Q7-5nwXL-CRcS4A2yjxrAgQS4z98GSfsyXqJRNrdyF2gT7m5GMIo3K5EeRWwfL47Ziao2-T0Z8Vevu4RMP8iVNHA7OwNiOXusbEAW48-hQPgQy7lKMlTE5ZCgyVi7faIo9JK/s1600-h/book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvBz2hew0Q7-5nwXL-CRcS4A2yjxrAgQS4z98GSfsyXqJRNrdyF2gT7m5GMIo3K5EeRWwfL47Ziao2-T0Z8Vevu4RMP8iVNHA7OwNiOXusbEAW48-hQPgQy7lKMlTE5ZCgyVi7faIo9JK/s320/book.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ the book cover ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Carol Ann Duffy is a pretty famous poet here in the UK, she's the equivalent of the US poet laureate. Calvin, the poetry grad student, had to read this collection of poems for class and as I try to feel intelligent and cultured I too read the collection. I really liked the premise of the collection. Each poem is writing from the point of view of world famous people, for example, Pygmalion, Shakespeare and Faust. Some of the poems are really witty and funny while some are deep and thought provoking. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Calvin found out that there was a one woman show that was closing soon that dramatized this collection. So Calvin, Cameron, Laura, Susan Howe and I all got tickets and went to see it. The show, as I said was a one woman act and it was in a tiny U shaped theater that seated 100. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDjtsmkMYr4iXYULd6jDWjyDELOey12-LpSJLzuBj1GHz1ZMJcYBEbpkQhFzx3OIeP0x7yvlSQezfMfG72Hd0EiVCBF4mQkWe-sNuBuB2WnpOHdk_PZ3HkMWrVwyM9owyvNiCMEl4nFrq/s1600-h/worlds+wife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDjtsmkMYr4iXYULd6jDWjyDELOey12-LpSJLzuBj1GHz1ZMJcYBEbpkQhFzx3OIeP0x7yvlSQezfMfG72Hd0EiVCBF4mQkWe-sNuBuB2WnpOHdk_PZ3HkMWrVwyM9owyvNiCMEl4nFrq/s320/worlds+wife.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Linda Marlowe, said one woman ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The show was very simple, minor costume changes and props were used at the change of each poem. In the picture is <i>Mrs. King Kong</i>. This poem was a little different from the rest because the author switched it so that the character of King Kong was a woman, and that's her tiny little man husband in her hands. One of my favorites was<i> Mrs. Freud</i>. Linda put on a fur stole and cat eye glasses and spoke in a great German accent and you can imagine what she spoke about....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another good one was this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Mrs. Darwin</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Went to the Zoo.<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />I said to Him—<br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" />Something about that Chimpanzee over there reminds me of you.</span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That one was the shortest, nice and simple. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">Phantom of the Opera</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55nBT0ogKVodRQJouvT7Wc4nSTd_7M_PwwnbSFUHfEiC5W2EEpV2mqM-kd0C4kFgLuXFuKq_HUPS5WZtfE-P95aA8dbvgNfk9Iw1l2y4TrdE6mQWlDm2PPNGO763cDN5Ztc9ou7Pl75F0/s1600-h/phantom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55nBT0ogKVodRQJouvT7Wc4nSTd_7M_PwwnbSFUHfEiC5W2EEpV2mqM-kd0C4kFgLuXFuKq_HUPS5WZtfE-P95aA8dbvgNfk9Iw1l2y4TrdE6mQWlDm2PPNGO763cDN5Ztc9ou7Pl75F0/s320/phantom.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Alyssa, Rachel, Reesa, Me, Brit and Calvin and creepy mustache ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now I saw this very show at this very theater when I was twelve. Frankly, all I really remember was the Phantom's Lair set, the ice cream I got at intermission and that it was good. So coming back was definitely a must. They don't have student tickets so we actually had to pre plan going to see this show. We got great seats:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPIhXg2WgUc58ftAzUe3N9Y9lgYpAhxKPYyAroM7VzhbcUQoc1E8pc6t5iyKNUjvPCRq04fqvGtFdHhTvh2TPYlkSpLplwNvcEwXFGOxwDzuPNaQj8GkBs4Y_lN36L_gKFz8bPdh_sRhY/s1600-h/her+majesty%27s+theater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPIhXg2WgUc58ftAzUe3N9Y9lgYpAhxKPYyAroM7VzhbcUQoc1E8pc6t5iyKNUjvPCRq04fqvGtFdHhTvh2TPYlkSpLplwNvcEwXFGOxwDzuPNaQj8GkBs4Y_lN36L_gKFz8bPdh_sRhY/s320/her+majesty%27s+theater.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Her Majesty's Theater ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ok I didn't take this picture but our seats were on the very front row of this balcony, right in the middle. It was perfect because the chandelier fell right in front of our faces and the all the effects are so much cooler from above. Of course I can only sing praises about this production and I'm sure you don't really want to hear it. One critique is the awful coordination of the ballerinas. I mean come on, its not that hard to keep time and its not like the choreography is too hard to stay in sync. I must say though, the best part is the live orchestra, it totally makes the show. And sitting up above I got to see down into the pit, it was really great. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSNHpZvYX622H0mLjONgEU06llSKk6L7mHeZv9nTVaCxZTMRe0zJN7y4dC4Mn-oWgmHSdnxAarHbwsDLk6KQsFHLUEtMlS8Dt3SL2KpDQzJnVc0OlkC2rBzdBm0MEgZnf7gY-qlKJWVnk/s1600-h/phantom-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWSNHpZvYX622H0mLjONgEU06llSKk6L7mHeZv9nTVaCxZTMRe0zJN7y4dC4Mn-oWgmHSdnxAarHbwsDLk6KQsFHLUEtMlS8Dt3SL2KpDQzJnVc0OlkC2rBzdBm0MEgZnf7gY-qlKJWVnk/s320/phantom-2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ I don't think this was the Christine when I went but I'm pretty sure that's the same Phantom, hard to tell though....]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">PS There is a sequel to Phantom that just started, Love Never Dies, I refuse to see it. It's set in Coney Island. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Twelfth Night</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtynQUs6C1cYY1LaV3LbcV3YJvmUDUu1NEH0RKXpDTF4jKj_tnOiDXg4sz6XzaKlxmgvYUq4R5TlOFKNgjVXAqIIqZ3IWxHInHXE9AI8kavDCEXEoPC40ZPuVSo47uhn2wGCR94PakW-2O/s1600-h/twelfth+night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtynQUs6C1cYY1LaV3LbcV3YJvmUDUu1NEH0RKXpDTF4jKj_tnOiDXg4sz6XzaKlxmgvYUq4R5TlOFKNgjVXAqIIqZ3IWxHInHXE9AI8kavDCEXEoPC40ZPuVSo47uhn2wGCR94PakW-2O/s320/twelfth+night.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We went to go see Twelfth Night as a group because the Shakespeare class read it. I like the story of Twelfth Night, thus my love for <a href="http://www.shesthesite.com/">She's the Man</a>. The production seemed a little lacking, some of the characters were old and dry and I didn't like them very much. The best scene is the one shown on the poster, Malvolio and the box tree. It was hilarious. Another downside was that we again had horrible seats, way up high and way on the side, I could only see the top left corner of the stage. So I listened as best I could with out being distracted by....sleep. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;">War Horse</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Ok a picture for this one won't load but here's the gist of the play: There are these really cool puppets, they kinda look like a wooden frame of a horse, life size, and underneath them are two dudes who make them move and walk and stuff. That was pretty cool to watch, the puppeteers did a great job. The plot line on the other hand was pretty dismal. Its about a boy who gets a horse, Joey, and he has a weird love relationship with the horse. The horse gets sold to the Army for WWII. Some German guys find him. Farm boy joins the Army to go find the horse. And they do and live happily ever after. It was weird. If you want a pretty honest review, check out <a href="http://calvinvsworld.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Calvin's</span></a>, mind you he hated it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Macbeth</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-apW_f-kOMXJWyG6nJAvMqFNpuNDIGWbEl67Acsc02oUkU_saRlepwFmDqkJMxdo5OpbYqPpzlHbalHQQnow8YK9RN_ivs3vjndOISa22PKPpscynbIiytOlqtPBbRjl3KZfcr2lqoYv/s1600-h/2010-graphic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-apW_f-kOMXJWyG6nJAvMqFNpuNDIGWbEl67Acsc02oUkU_saRlepwFmDqkJMxdo5OpbYqPpzlHbalHQQnow8YK9RN_ivs3vjndOISa22PKPpscynbIiytOlqtPBbRjl3KZfcr2lqoYv/s320/2010-graphic.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ poster for Macbeth ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So the Globe Theater puts on a free show for students before the actual theater season starts (its an open air theater so shows usually start the end of april). This year was Macbeth and through a couple lucky circumstances I was able to get a ticket. So on a Saturday afternoon we made our way down to the Globe and we were the first ones in the theater for the first show of the 2010 Globe theater season. That was a great feeling. Our tickets were for the yard. Which means we got to stand in the yard between the stage and the seats, kinda like a mosh pit at a concert. This is called being a grounding. It's really the best place to be minus the fact that you have to stand the whole time. So being the first people in the theater we got the best place. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbu1m7KaxNFc8J8HchqXoncQEdOVdehdNcvvQMf_FvmJYX5gLdCN-yccf-0DwSkpp8382kQGi9ww1P7PPQSKXO-DU23XGk3E4HxdwpzdZyKbWwGTiTfgtllkufgG9_J0oB8PyH0Qjnky7/s1600-h/macbeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbu1m7KaxNFc8J8HchqXoncQEdOVdehdNcvvQMf_FvmJYX5gLdCN-yccf-0DwSkpp8382kQGi9ww1P7PPQSKXO-DU23XGk3E4HxdwpzdZyKbWwGTiTfgtllkufgG9_J0oB8PyH0Qjnky7/s320/macbeth.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ sarah, laura, mary, kalyn, brit, me and calvin ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As you can see we were right up on the stage as close to the middle as you can get. It was fantastic. The actors were right there, I could have tripped them if I wanted too. They looked at us when they spoke, they accidentally spit on us, dripped fake blood on us, etc. It was great. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now if you don't know the plot of Macbeth I'll give you a quick rundown: There is a big battle going on in Scotland, Macbeth ends up getting promoted because of deaths of other people. When coming back from battle he and his buddy Banquo get visited by three witches who tell Macbeth that he is going to be the next king and tell Banquo that the royal line will be from his posterity. They get a little freaked out. macbeth tells his wife about it and she says let's kill the king and blame it on the guards and since you got promoted you'll be king. So they did. And then Macbeth is King and he gets all worried that Banquo's kids are gonna take his place so he kills Banquo. So on and so forth, lots of people die, there's lots of blood and spooky hauntings. In the end everyone dies but Macduff, another high up dude, and he becomes king. That doesn't really do it justice, at all. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This production was set in Scotland, but in modern times, so all the soldiers were wearing camo. What was great about the Globe is that the actors interact with you. They perform all over. A character will pop up in the stands somewhere, or a procession will go through the yard. This play had army men repelling from all sides of the stage. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBs5-dnndq6quRm1m0t_RFFQVqgODZvJCqLyEHeGDDqPGJqFaL99CwSdV9oAojdKQYFVQNxFdGCnUmYVbPpyfVMNWb5ul6j645TS6U-LQk-MMyxVHO_Y5-_uUig_j314GAvrBsyzyiH4n/s1600-h/globe_section.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBs5-dnndq6quRm1m0t_RFFQVqgODZvJCqLyEHeGDDqPGJqFaL99CwSdV9oAojdKQYFVQNxFdGCnUmYVbPpyfVMNWb5ul6j645TS6U-LQk-MMyxVHO_Y5-_uUig_j314GAvrBsyzyiH4n/s320/globe_section.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Thats Banquo, he's awesome ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The actors talk to you and interact with you, they would make little adlibs to make fun of the audience or something. It was really cool. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9tQ48DSyA6WmbnO9qwnNurpEQ068dgkNaDT65iryIYWeR7P-EXZiWOw_p1kP6R9hyphenhyphenjVo6AVMOjsdYcGEKsgCsdWibkkVv0AYPDm48OsV4dFeN0F3Ry2kABfonsHxjgkfppzPcVos_5dZ/s1600-h/globe_main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9tQ48DSyA6WmbnO9qwnNurpEQ068dgkNaDT65iryIYWeR7P-EXZiWOw_p1kP6R9hyphenhyphenjVo6AVMOjsdYcGEKsgCsdWibkkVv0AYPDm48OsV4dFeN0F3Ry2kABfonsHxjgkfppzPcVos_5dZ/s320/globe_main.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ I found this online and since there was only one show i'm one of the little pale faces on the other side of the middle plank] </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The actors did a really good job of being compelling. They were all really passionate about their characters and you could tell by how they acted. There was live music and really cool stunts and "special affects." It all kinda sucked you in to the story. My favorite was the guy who played Macbeth:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4ATdnxuTJtkckpqMeCbkiEs0Bip1NKbxuxhUWxXKNk30y6eVgWJJW34AyQSd8yRd6F8WfUw8-2EpAexLLz4MIOZyomEj5NR44r6INJVwrS9MfppumrNk-THRheL1JChtFIV_spGjs7PZ/s1600-h/macbeth_072.jpg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4ATdnxuTJtkckpqMeCbkiEs0Bip1NKbxuxhUWxXKNk30y6eVgWJJW34AyQSd8yRd6F8WfUw8-2EpAexLLz4MIOZyomEj5NR44r6INJVwrS9MfppumrNk-THRheL1JChtFIV_spGjs7PZ/s320/macbeth_072.jpg.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ this is from a rehearsal ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He was astounding. He did a phenomenal job. He had great facial expressions and a real intensity in all his lines. I had a little crush on him, too bad he dies. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All in all this was the epitome of my London experience. It'll probably be the best play I'll ever see.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">An Inspector Calls</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jwtABVNy0fX4H7TDBQEKGUumeRuEC3dTJV52h6AV2K5peNv1Wa6hJHsfBlhtpCKjX-65Z0c5o37QrZVMKDpvn-OeEudmY6YLlVm_WXIHmgbiHj8KJtZdG1YzqvsenIDTn1GYj5VTJMCb/s1600-h/an-inspector-calls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jwtABVNy0fX4H7TDBQEKGUumeRuEC3dTJV52h6AV2K5peNv1Wa6hJHsfBlhtpCKjX-65Z0c5o37QrZVMKDpvn-OeEudmY6YLlVm_WXIHmgbiHj8KJtZdG1YzqvsenIDTn1GYj5VTJMCb/s320/an-inspector-calls.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's really hard to write a review for this after talking about Macbeth. I even saw this the same day that I saw Macbeth. This is a play about a family that gets ripped apart when an Inspector comes knocking on their door. He tells them of a girl who killed herself in the infimory that night and the family discovers how they are all connected to her and how they all lead her to her suicide. The entire play is one scene. It took a little to get use to because all you do is watch them talk in the same room. But the plot was pretty interesting. Then there's a twist at the end when you find out the inspector doesn't really work for the police and I got really confused. But regardless of my confusion, the actors did, of course, a great job. The mother in the family was pretty back bitting and witty and that was funny. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccHKPBBbilUQ4nD7yTDDHquZDcL-997-GDP-9vAiUkYthz_VsotP9ObMuCdYbnBD6gyJIaDANoCAyh1AEp9pEIGTdIhuuyU0p8EIQFETIUZW6IOtSAQ_f_EIs0QKx6nlRDa5Fbvmk39Bp/s1600-h/inspector_calls_window_500.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccHKPBBbilUQ4nD7yTDDHquZDcL-997-GDP-9vAiUkYthz_VsotP9ObMuCdYbnBD6gyJIaDANoCAyh1AEp9pEIGTdIhuuyU0p8EIQFETIUZW6IOtSAQ_f_EIs0QKx6nlRDa5Fbvmk39Bp/s320/inspector_calls_window_500.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ the set ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The play centered around this little house. Its like a doll house, the door is not full size but still big enough for an adult to crouch down under. The front half of the house opens up like a doll house. It was pretty cool. At the climax of the play the house rises up and tilts forward causing all the dishes and chairs and things to come crashing out onto the stage. That really put the point across that this family's world was shattering, quite literally. I enjoyed the show, but it was no Macbeth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;">The Royal Ballet's <i>Romeo and Juliet</i></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwcFZO4_ars_qM4B6MWuZeWQAuVzni3RRKxdAsKSSQqWhMAMG0xhV7cDCayt4qoQxww3iO2fAy0NsZLRTS0yI5OAZxQvrNMcnsFKUYUcAG4Kel9McV0icqG6s1AAyigWlBgvVaDRo_E2I/s1600-h/Romeo-And-Juliet-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwcFZO4_ars_qM4B6MWuZeWQAuVzni3RRKxdAsKSSQqWhMAMG0xhV7cDCayt4qoQxww3iO2fAy0NsZLRTS0yI5OAZxQvrNMcnsFKUYUcAG4Kel9McV0icqG6s1AAyigWlBgvVaDRo_E2I/s320/Romeo-And-Juliet-001.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ not the same dancers, but same choreography ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On a whim I skipped class and went to the Royal Opera House box office and got the only tickets available for that night's production of Romeo and Juliet. One of the other girls here, Laura, has done ballet her whole life too and we were really excited to see the Royal Ballet do pretty much anything, but Romeo and Juliet was just a happy surprise. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So on a Tuesday night, we got all dolled up:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLtz2ObAYYaWBWPlUudYDhZOQDZeHTeACIY6-uqrAfLBbqnXq6fmw5g5KLf7QUGonzY93WjKR8wNZQpx3lNT3EKl6_ezoi5aAGpoKQmPAvpLDLiqWw6PHsbFy0NAuQ7snRXtkd3W8Tpc6y/s1600-h/dolled+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLtz2ObAYYaWBWPlUudYDhZOQDZeHTeACIY6-uqrAfLBbqnXq6fmw5g5KLf7QUGonzY93WjKR8wNZQpx3lNT3EKl6_ezoi5aAGpoKQmPAvpLDLiqWw6PHsbFy0NAuQ7snRXtkd3W8Tpc6y/s320/dolled+up.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ brit, me and laura ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our tickets were standing tickets back we still got a pretty decent view. I did however had my shoes off the whole time. The production was spotless. All the dancers were pretty much amazing, as they should be to get into the Royal Ballet, but Juliet is my idol. Later we found out that the Juliet we saw was the alternate, but we are so glad it was here. Juliet was flawless, she melted across the stage. Every move was so effortless. Her par de deux with Paris and then again with Romeo were the best dancing I have ever seen. I can not say enough how elegantly she flowed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Being a dancer and knowing how much effort and strength is actually involved in those movements makes all the more impressive. She is my idol. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-78999408102580845302010-02-28T16:16:00.000-08:002010-02-28T16:16:00.219-08:00Loved Wales. Loves whales. But doesn't love wails. {c/o calvin olsen}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">This past weekend we had our first extended trip with the group, it was our West trip. We started out the day by getting onto the coach at six in the morning. After three-four hours of driving, I woke up to Wales. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEuo3NNe8JveQMhaIXTfdkvUpClOKZIC90ySyHdq9vi62nzx-JQgJ6imVtNExn4O5SQebFG6canyPuo3xYAEveHLJtXhyulzaSedX-f9K8TAtjckC9Nsn_kk7AIcoP-wSu7NwfUSOJl1b/s1600-h/london+124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtEuo3NNe8JveQMhaIXTfdkvUpClOKZIC90ySyHdq9vi62nzx-JQgJ6imVtNExn4O5SQebFG6canyPuo3xYAEveHLJtXhyulzaSedX-f9K8TAtjckC9Nsn_kk7AIcoP-wSu7NwfUSOJl1b/s320/london+124.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ the Welsh flag has a dragon on it]</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Our first stop was Tintern Abbey. This has by far been my favorite church, which is hard to say because i have been to a bajillion churches. This particular church is hauntingly beautiful (that's what Karoke means in Japanese--How I Met Your Mother anyone?) Most of the church was destroyed during Henry VII's dissolution of the monasteries, Henry ruined everything. Today the church is merely ruins. Set on a hillside in the middle of the field just the walls still stand. The roof is completely gone which makes it breathtaking. Man I just used a lot of cliches. Take a look for yourself. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlbph6GGFQKysmxiZVJw0Cukg5sZz9qqQxiNjxcoJ_v_dqbf9f6kP1MMs-BH2ab3K8ByYroho91METQ66uCK3xQ22B3SQmfcJMeai7n5Y-FqnjtLjaHhOBWd7lm1RC7LFQJPXSKeVlYfl/s1600-h/london+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlbph6GGFQKysmxiZVJw0Cukg5sZz9qqQxiNjxcoJ_v_dqbf9f6kP1MMs-BH2ab3K8ByYroho91METQ66uCK3xQ22B3SQmfcJMeai7n5Y-FqnjtLjaHhOBWd7lm1RC7LFQJPXSKeVlYfl/s320/london+041.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">[ Nave of Tintern Abbey ]</div><div style="text-align: center;">For my Brit Lit class we read William Wordsworth's poem <a href="http://www.blupete.com/Literature/Poetry/WordsworthTinternAbbey.htm">Tintern Abbey</a> and was given the assignment to reflect while at the abbey and write our own essay or poem after Wordsworth. I scribbled a few thoughts down while I was there, trying despartely to sound poetic and thoughtful and I'm nearly positive that I just sound like a pompous..... person. I'll eventually make it into something worth reading before its due. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii76lg-2qFy2jG_iVjVX1Oy5D97lyZqqurTB4BNG1Rg3TgqVZKxEwfHTdGWDW-d9I4h8ZqbzNr-5GxUmw7wuGBack-CeuNz7cmHiOMoR97t6O-jtnBCZ9i2B_cZFC32M593AFmcmslm-Qn/s1600-h/london+053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii76lg-2qFy2jG_iVjVX1Oy5D97lyZqqurTB4BNG1Rg3TgqVZKxEwfHTdGWDW-d9I4h8ZqbzNr-5GxUmw7wuGBack-CeuNz7cmHiOMoR97t6O-jtnBCZ9i2B_cZFC32M593AFmcmslm-Qn/s320/london+053.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At this point I would like to tell you about Susan Howe, since she's in this picture. Susan is my english teacher. But she's more than that, for serious, not trying to sound all cheesy and cliche. I'm sure that fact that we live in the same house. Susan, and yes she told me to call her that- there is no lack of respect here, is wonderfully hilarious and well words can not describe. She's wicked smart, a well published poet and super cool. She's way friendly and always chats. I went to go see a play with her one time, and the conversation that came after it made me feel like an equal and not her student but still her student at the same time. Which is a very rare quality that college professors have. Point of the ramble- I love Susan. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After Tintern we went to the Big Pit. Its a coal mine. I think we went there because about half our ancestors may have worked there at one point or maybe somewhere like it....maybe. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsS4nALjw2dBmtGEakZyso8AbMLauFVXHnB_vyqsSAsuTzoi1iziZJs5wpGvuiOrc9yCAT4TXQgVz8Pex0-A86fYYCQNp4THaA92Bcpeb-qqMNsUSPHPhymZIbGRSEKixRYUfiG_ckfqx/s1600-h/london+060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsS4nALjw2dBmtGEakZyso8AbMLauFVXHnB_vyqsSAsuTzoi1iziZJs5wpGvuiOrc9yCAT4TXQgVz8Pex0-A86fYYCQNp4THaA92Bcpeb-qqMNsUSPHPhymZIbGRSEKixRYUfiG_ckfqx/s320/london+060.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ The Big Pit ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We got to put on silly hats and head lights and go down into the mines. Our tour guide was super welsh, I had to concentrate to understand him. He had worked in mines since he was 15, so he was about as hardcore as miners come. It was very informational and little bit scary. He told us pretty much all the ways we cold die down there, but its ok, the mine gets checked for safety twice a day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjKX1Q4cYE7wkpXsvMdtGpxX6feYv_93iFZOdc9BR7wiznjGa0CholdUUPR-Zgm4GZppHla_w39ycH4wjC6hDUVO6WGSFRGNlmLqMHR6FaDxjxJoNg3Pxi4jHgnYqfU2Mv50n-YW4R8z6/s1600-h/london+064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhjKX1Q4cYE7wkpXsvMdtGpxX6feYv_93iFZOdc9BR7wiznjGa0CholdUUPR-Zgm4GZppHla_w39ycH4wjC6hDUVO6WGSFRGNlmLqMHR6FaDxjxJoNg3Pxi4jHgnYqfU2Mv50n-YW4R8z6/s320/london+064.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ we're hardcore because we gone down into mines ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the mine we went to the museum of Welsh life. The musuem had a really lame indoor exhibit but all outside was pretty gardens and a little Welsh village and a manor house they falsely called a castle. It was nice to just wander around and look at pretty Wales. Oh and we watched a guy weave a blanket. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjVibgWiNsyWb7CqECfxMu5b8lAXD0kY6szQ0BIwMUJArCXGiephUVNfa3ehKeINk38b5lyKb1l0gstMT2N3FWw9xuhL2nOPZm3K_0v-ma368-BwsGiLN5gKl5APnw-wyjxYAgIJH9n-d/s1600-h/london+087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjVibgWiNsyWb7CqECfxMu5b8lAXD0kY6szQ0BIwMUJArCXGiephUVNfa3ehKeINk38b5lyKb1l0gstMT2N3FWw9xuhL2nOPZm3K_0v-ma368-BwsGiLN5gKl5APnw-wyjxYAgIJH9n-d/s200/london+087.JPG" width="200" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMErGFBOF_8v8cnYxv9ecPwct4WnTMiRZN04Q14L4pzFSXvmzswdXceoAQXxFSI0x4XqbDttdYxeFgpd3eOSjE-UEgIWZsmG8v5vSbdstqa6joFsfTF_33XC2ia46DiIY7BBcp9ECE4VJ/s1600-h/london+069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMErGFBOF_8v8cnYxv9ecPwct4WnTMiRZN04Q14L4pzFSXvmzswdXceoAQXxFSI0x4XqbDttdYxeFgpd3eOSjE-UEgIWZsmG8v5vSbdstqa6joFsfTF_33XC2ia46DiIY7BBcp9ECE4VJ/s200/london+069.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Q0PUk14-3xhUKOVSP-NHAj6__vpLf_1uGCwg7BDxY6L3mh87pFfEhH7gYaqcglD0s212CxTJgI859nYkvJyq9QDss3p6FYBHOAIhFaCOtXLoFyMBbAt5YHkF_4etnBESqoqvfnOYoIRP/s1600-h/london+077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Q0PUk14-3xhUKOVSP-NHAj6__vpLf_1uGCwg7BDxY6L3mh87pFfEhH7gYaqcglD0s212CxTJgI859nYkvJyq9QDss3p6FYBHOAIhFaCOtXLoFyMBbAt5YHkF_4etnBESqoqvfnOYoIRP/s200/london+077.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Q0PUk14-3xhUKOVSP-NHAj6__vpLf_1uGCwg7BDxY6L3mh87pFfEhH7gYaqcglD0s212CxTJgI859nYkvJyq9QDss3p6FYBHOAIhFaCOtXLoFyMBbAt5YHkF_4etnBESqoqvfnOYoIRP/s1600-h/london+077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none;">[ Welsh Life ]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After all these adventures we headed out to our hotel, yes we stayed in an actual hotel and with only two people to each room. It was a pretty swag place. Most people went out on the town to eat, but us select really awesome people just ordered pizza and had a hotel party. We bunkered down in Cameron's hotel room, Me, Cam, Brit, Mary, Laura and Calvin, the six of us with five extra large pizzas. Thats about $100 worth of pizza but in pounds it doesn't sound that bad. I ate eight pieces of El Carnivoro, yes that means it was loaded with all kinds of meat. Not to be outdone by a skinny little girl each boy also ate eight pieces. The rest of the girls did their best to do the same but failed. We then had basically an entire pizza leftover which I ate for breakfast yesterday. We watched weird Welsh MTV called The Scuzz and had delightful conversation, best night ever. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On day two we got up and ate our free breakfast and then headed back out to the coach. The day's first activity was Caerphilly Castle in Cardiff, Wales. We were let loss like bus full of little kids and we just ran around the castle having crazy fun. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW172SNOoBiCTl0VZen7-nyYhZcYzYsv9QVbA_-ME7tBEsrmN_J-zx2EKfFs6IP-SyTv_HPJZm7cTDIyni1qBT-fUZoMY2zPjWoHic6o4Wi5RCA4iv4JEigA7hRyyqzS-YK1KDRTvDF4mF/s1600-h/london+100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW172SNOoBiCTl0VZen7-nyYhZcYzYsv9QVbA_-ME7tBEsrmN_J-zx2EKfFs6IP-SyTv_HPJZm7cTDIyni1qBT-fUZoMY2zPjWoHic6o4Wi5RCA4iv4JEigA7hRyyqzS-YK1KDRTvDF4mF/s320/london+100.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">[Caerphilly Castle, it has a real moat ]</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBaEfSHzZAie59GNeRDUq8egh_3htn4XnqPONhw7NKI4ILkbshPwk79rhGaHfizyBDl1qBMr97MJESddpg6dhlyUBnJGmS6fD5CIoh-GeMWAxwR9d4zR0OpaUkvzmJfQgZbyG05v4nyDcj/s1600-h/london+112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBaEfSHzZAie59GNeRDUq8egh_3htn4XnqPONhw7NKI4ILkbshPwk79rhGaHfizyBDl1qBMr97MJESddpg6dhlyUBnJGmS6fD5CIoh-GeMWAxwR9d4zR0OpaUkvzmJfQgZbyG05v4nyDcj/s200/london+112.JPG" width="200" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTc86BWglMeUdwp9Oa80fJYwe6Ads4EOnYAzzKt2FBAr0UeUTQFowblyi48uzKaM0HvjPIYMZe90YrMcqW6SGdsVfFSjErZslLkoY8QtNIDojHhFWtdA6mMFhTd2zzb4xDIiM44ATDFNWW/s1600-h/london+121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTc86BWglMeUdwp9Oa80fJYwe6Ads4EOnYAzzKt2FBAr0UeUTQFowblyi48uzKaM0HvjPIYMZe90YrMcqW6SGdsVfFSjErZslLkoY8QtNIDojHhFWtdA6mMFhTd2zzb4xDIiM44ATDFNWW/s200/london+121.JPG" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_3RSp342DckRgz7E_UO-_RKU4Xtx7TGwNDHJgF-897vLNfm3yQO4V28LZlXDVFDWn61tdRKnmBUduY_DKwPqxIi5TauLIB07bmysYa4v6KdSeCA5Na-QVZJogMZIxIz-ogd4r_G8oERm/s1600-h/london+133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_3RSp342DckRgz7E_UO-_RKU4Xtx7TGwNDHJgF-897vLNfm3yQO4V28LZlXDVFDWn61tdRKnmBUduY_DKwPqxIi5TauLIB07bmysYa4v6KdSeCA5Na-QVZJogMZIxIz-ogd4r_G8oERm/s320/london+133.JPG" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">[That's me and Cameron, no not my brother.]</div><div style="text-align: center;">[That's me, I'm storming a castle, I was storming so good I made it split in two.]</div><div style="text-align: center;"> [That's not me, it's Brit, but i liked the picture anyway. ]</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">After the castle we went on a church history tour through a tiny bit of Wales and western England. We picked up Peter in Glouscestershire and we hit a few places that all have to do with the second mission to the UK back in the 1840s. I learned more from Peter than I actually did in my class the whole two months previous and it was all on the same subject. To say the least, Peter was a great guide. We went to an old church were the converts attended before they were converts. We went to a LDS chapel were you have to punch the answers to a little questionnaire that only Mormons would know the answer to into the keypad to get into, that was pretty cool. We went to a farm where Wilford Woodruff stayed and baptized hundreds in its pond. And we also went to the top of this huge hill called Herefordshire Beacon, no still Americans you do not pronounce each syllable, its really Hair-fur-sure. It was a strenuous hike up to the top and once up there it was super windy. This hill is significant because the missionaries would hold meetings up there. It was pretty neat to see all these places. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisThN7fli6gvm0ykPwioZZLCg5A9l1dsHk3T8UllU7cHwq6EC6uu3mrAjD7De4pz4iTtVC2vkbDNpIODyeel3_ubTvwXC5hUIkdQUtnqf38aX4UIMqmNuEJkCdTutlFut8j5uaYIYtE7WT/s1600-h/london+142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisThN7fli6gvm0ykPwioZZLCg5A9l1dsHk3T8UllU7cHwq6EC6uu3mrAjD7De4pz4iTtVC2vkbDNpIODyeel3_ubTvwXC5hUIkdQUtnqf38aX4UIMqmNuEJkCdTutlFut8j5uaYIYtE7WT/s320/london+142.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Hill Farm, where Wilford lived ]</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">That night we hopped back on the bus and four hours later we were back in London, oh and of course we stopped for dinner, at KFC. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-38112958452978603902010-02-21T17:02:00.000-08:002010-02-21T17:07:52.742-08:00the final chapter.<div style="text-align: center;">We left off as we started walking up towards part Guell, the outdoor fiesta of a park Antonio Gaudi designed. It was quite the hike up there. Super steep and you know how I love exercise....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbxHsv1kk3HLYKLR_KDDqAT5aUtuza_KALYezQLTOgjWvepWfMTeZx1O5KMVq0WNuegN-1-s0sHnZJWaEYT1N85G7y2j7vayj0KnCYAwA5AlySm2lperY3T2RNvHO5sve6GS9Wz3fXAYG/s1600-h/spain+223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbxHsv1kk3HLYKLR_KDDqAT5aUtuza_KALYezQLTOgjWvepWfMTeZx1O5KMVq0WNuegN-1-s0sHnZJWaEYT1N85G7y2j7vayj0KnCYAwA5AlySm2lperY3T2RNvHO5sve6GS9Wz3fXAYG/s320/spain+223.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ from the ground, not a doctored photo ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I shouldn't really be complaining, half the trek up was escalators, outdoor escalators. Just before we reached the top of the hill we stopped at a cafe and got a pizza to go, we made it to the top and sat on a bench and with the view of the whole of Barcelona in our sights, we ate some park pizza. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsTV63td97ZJKIRf5Z-VRVaew_sycf36vj6tUtYOhr7DSUaNHee0NZkk99_tbQxGrOBf5Kd0CEJ4XZfQRmH0_p1_WTpSg84jvRlke4dQsgjDlE71UgbIL6AzSW-HghvC-e5YZZeIp2fDM/s1600-h/spain+240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsTV63td97ZJKIRf5Z-VRVaew_sycf36vj6tUtYOhr7DSUaNHee0NZkk99_tbQxGrOBf5Kd0CEJ4XZfQRmH0_p1_WTpSg84jvRlke4dQsgjDlE71UgbIL6AzSW-HghvC-e5YZZeIp2fDM/s320/spain+240.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ park pizza ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After our delightful snack, we headed down to the main center of the park, with a brief break for an air dunk contest of course.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2nA73F1oAu5ULA2IYsewzzaQOx_05MrhT3WV__xbdlyiD95uvCD26bL25nKdaTuWsvthRGZcTDWTkho4JfKRdjuy0LqEBCSwUte1msWi60i7zf3tr1htTUbRDDWXtV7RE0d2mZAHiPOs/s1600-h/spain+256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV2nA73F1oAu5ULA2IYsewzzaQOx_05MrhT3WV__xbdlyiD95uvCD26bL25nKdaTuWsvthRGZcTDWTkho4JfKRdjuy0LqEBCSwUte1msWi60i7zf3tr1htTUbRDDWXtV7RE0d2mZAHiPOs/s200/spain+256.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Pn6dR16k_VjtabhJV5gaC2V5tJd9vesdgssO-QhZ5I4qJYzUENF4uXd5GD_ObfdOaIOdXYoqpZYlh73_ctxxEpOJy2oe47I3oxrHgjWka-whKYZ4BpuwVah3rCUaAykmh7PVEANRwMs4/s1600-h/spain+255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Pn6dR16k_VjtabhJV5gaC2V5tJd9vesdgssO-QhZ5I4qJYzUENF4uXd5GD_ObfdOaIOdXYoqpZYlh73_ctxxEpOJy2oe47I3oxrHgjWka-whKYZ4BpuwVah3rCUaAykmh7PVEANRwMs4/s200/spain+255.JPG" width="150" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbaVtZ4UlWamIuSKn3GBifIT8XQabQqspKJ2NbWzxDlAs8WNSUAlF7H27LeduNXrbVupLK1dcemjO-FtF6sshNqiB5XbKhJn_8aKSLzSLp8zO_xPr2q6moCqMDoSlUPkBsvswCz1WcRpL/s1600-h/spain+254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIbaVtZ4UlWamIuSKn3GBifIT8XQabQqspKJ2NbWzxDlAs8WNSUAlF7H27LeduNXrbVupLK1dcemjO-FtF6sshNqiB5XbKhJn_8aKSLzSLp8zO_xPr2q6moCqMDoSlUPkBsvswCz1WcRpL/s200/spain+254.JPG" width="150" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Pn6dR16k_VjtabhJV5gaC2V5tJd9vesdgssO-QhZ5I4qJYzUENF4uXd5GD_ObfdOaIOdXYoqpZYlh73_ctxxEpOJy2oe47I3oxrHgjWka-whKYZ4BpuwVah3rCUaAykmh7PVEANRwMs4/s1600-h/spain+255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Gaudi loves curves and the whimsical. Nearly everything looks start out of a dream, the park kinda looks like a giant gingerbread structure, colorful tiles with white grout looks like candies in frosting. Really only pictures can describe it and I know you don't want to read it anyway. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicz0Ee7lXqhEHS_99_nYQ8mWkrPuE0i4G0QGpzWisd4zD7HK23sGtCXFsSl2xwAJjlZHq6TifxInJsZ70WKEm-RfVaNuYWfiF_znOkFK7y6vIH_VJzX09iCyydPDeKsniTjwM2HgYh-ILI/s1600-h/spain+261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicz0Ee7lXqhEHS_99_nYQ8mWkrPuE0i4G0QGpzWisd4zD7HK23sGtCXFsSl2xwAJjlZHq6TifxInJsZ70WKEm-RfVaNuYWfiF_znOkFK7y6vIH_VJzX09iCyydPDeKsniTjwM2HgYh-ILI/s320/spain+261.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the park, we ventured over to the pier. This is why I loved Barcelona, the beach, the pier, the water. It was a gorgeous day, still in the fifties, but beautifully sunny. We walked down Port Vell, which oddly has a huge shopping mall at the very end of it. But walking out to it we saw all the sailboats docked and the waves crash. We stopped by the aquarium but no time for that, next time guys, next time. Walking back down the pier to head over to the beach we saw all these people riding these rentabikes. We wanted one. We found a rack of them but they are locked into this bike rack thing and we couldn't figure out how to get them out, there wasn't anywhere to put money or any buttons to push. We were baffled and super frustrated. Then Brit happened upon one that wasn't fully locked in and we may or may not have "borrowed it" for a little while. We rode along the sand, taking turns with the one bike. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4y-3jZ9T_qZOmwyLbDkRg3TAtuQSi0pIZGVElZ3sGh3IZE0_6gSSU1-fcFGrj_QcrWkqplPMMGOdwTWZIzXkXH6r6D2syTyQeYe4dHc3fUrSDIKow4CGNWVer6eEdkgWFwATdk4Tb2_8/s1600-h/spain+325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4y-3jZ9T_qZOmwyLbDkRg3TAtuQSi0pIZGVElZ3sGh3IZE0_6gSSU1-fcFGrj_QcrWkqplPMMGOdwTWZIzXkXH6r6D2syTyQeYe4dHc3fUrSDIKow4CGNWVer6eEdkgWFwATdk4Tb2_8/s400/spain+325.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ me on a stolen bike in barcelona ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then we played on the beach. At first we were just lounging and then we decided that hey we are on the beach of the Mediterranean Sea, we need to touch said sea. So we went closer to the waves, that was mistake one, in our shoes and socks, that was mistake two. We went up to the surf and bent down to touch it with our unclothed hands, and you guessed it, the wave was bigger than expected and we pretty much fell into it. The water just went up our legs, so we didn't get completely drenched. But at that point we gave up and just splashed around in the water for a bit. Brit and I were like small children, we ran up and down the beach chasing and be chased by the waves. After all that fun we walked back home, sockless, of course with a brief intermission for crepes, and changed our pants. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheR3FQsghEOgf1uYZxGB2rNkFcPypL_ve_k7ZhNEpr1Q_pRZmKH7Gk5lVRIFVtZXhQI6-CsuXOt5WJOq-0zh6uvl0S-ApyhhUVThvIHQzgknepZXfrU9EaNOkntsKjUkKyuUuNOIdNoMUD/s1600-h/beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheR3FQsghEOgf1uYZxGB2rNkFcPypL_ve_k7ZhNEpr1Q_pRZmKH7Gk5lVRIFVtZXhQI6-CsuXOt5WJOq-0zh6uvl0S-ApyhhUVThvIHQzgknepZXfrU9EaNOkntsKjUkKyuUuNOIdNoMUD/s320/beach.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMR0xQ0fRr0JFEhpWOmIekGwBEyEle9tsmtka5wOYvRmPIGOSFsoQEDyf3naerqJ3lj4yy9QNewxkPeSYKrLSgwdFwy9nlPy7ZkPXO3M9WED10oMp1BbRStxY-DpgdTp3aCrba4tpCmAO/s1600-h/beach+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMR0xQ0fRr0JFEhpWOmIekGwBEyEle9tsmtka5wOYvRmPIGOSFsoQEDyf3naerqJ3lj4yy9QNewxkPeSYKrLSgwdFwy9nlPy7ZkPXO3M9WED10oMp1BbRStxY-DpgdTp3aCrba4tpCmAO/s320/beach+2.jpg" /></a><br />
<3<br />
yes I just did the girly little heart thing. Get over it.<br />
After changing our pants we headed back out to go look at the Barcelona Cathedral. We found it after walking around for a bit, Barcelona is a pretty happening place. We passed a free concert deal with a mini orchestra with a big group doing some kind of folk dance. We stopped to check it out and then hit up the cathedral. We walked in, gorgeous of course. Kellen starts wandering around. He ends up inside the cloister just as mass is starting and gets stuck. I think he planned it cause he was telling us about how much he has wanted to go to a mass. So Brit and I sat in the pews just outside the cloister and listening to mass. The first twenty minutes were really cool, I have never been to mass let alone a Spanish Catholic mass. Then after that it got cold and boring and I can't speak Spanish. About seventy or so minutes go by, by this point Kellen has listening, mumbled the Lord's prayer in Spanish, given money to the collection plate and received the Eucharist. He finally got out and we went across the street to eat some paella, which is saffron rice and meat and veggies all sauteed together in a huge pan and is delectable.<br />
After that I was tired and kinda just wanted to go home but we ended wandering around going to this and seeing that they were closed and Katie was right just to get that extra hour of sleep, mind you this is still the same day after the bus from heck (censored it mom).<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">Saturday February 13<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">We woke up bright and early and headed out for a day full of adventures! ha. We started out by heading to the Las Ramblas street market. Inside the covered food market there are stands and stands of fresh fruit meat, bread, and candy. We got a bag full of mini croissants, chocolate filled ones of course and fresh fruit smoothie things. I saved mine to eat on the train. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeWz3BQaGNB44I5442b7pABSSJpiw4yzNiLSGfDb9wqrB6ho4Y0aaVSa10kT6kYVcqBihwgRhoC-YcpsaXNv8Zpd0NgfiZGtilRr7nKxhpR2ohihdbMN_L6huYAiHUwha3MgNmFSD2ZkP/s1600-h/spain+172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZeWz3BQaGNB44I5442b7pABSSJpiw4yzNiLSGfDb9wqrB6ho4Y0aaVSa10kT6kYVcqBihwgRhoC-YcpsaXNv8Zpd0NgfiZGtilRr7nKxhpR2ohihdbMN_L6huYAiHUwha3MgNmFSD2ZkP/s320/spain+172.JPG" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">[ Inside the Market ]</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><br />
</span> </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">We hopped on over to the train station and headed out to Monserat. Its north and more inland that Barcelona. It takes about an hour and a half to get there. We went there because there is a sweet mountain top monastery there. We rode a little train the winds up the side of the mountain, quite literally. It was really pretty to look down over all the mountains. Its was amazing to go from flat beach to real snow covered mountains in like thirty miles. The cathedral of the monastery reminded me of lord of the rings a little bit, especially being on top of a mountain. </span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-X_win27NLzxClIJv-htXXnZEM1ZoqbvkKSKn7NJMINkJqISFsKBwo_vHgZTc2qwTVY0CxHfLFBIKCVJTL65y2lDyeKfHdaTL-MVjK9HfOOBnprY54pnY5aIHja3rXXq0wZkDqDpasZa0/s1600-h/spain+353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-X_win27NLzxClIJv-htXXnZEM1ZoqbvkKSKn7NJMINkJqISFsKBwo_vHgZTc2qwTVY0CxHfLFBIKCVJTL65y2lDyeKfHdaTL-MVjK9HfOOBnprY54pnY5aIHja3rXXq0wZkDqDpasZa0/s400/spain+353.JPG" width="400" /></span></b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">[ Building on the left is the exterior of the Cathedral ]</span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">They have a really old relic, a Black Virgin Mary icon. She's black because she's made out of really dark wood, not trying to be racist. She's about a thousand or so years old. That was neat. We spent the afternoon wandering around, eating lunch and taking lots of pictures.</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2jkVwZEQDTkt5u1JkvXvMUp15xPKSITpGo4v74EaJDRiQYguXf554-Nu5gxl0ieULG0zszFPXQqM-FrlitD94oSrhD-hmzDla7hDCJSdiLG0EWa_oHGuK-IyTVJtC0jZTrqBO9IN9Jke/s1600-h/spain+331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit2jkVwZEQDTkt5u1JkvXvMUp15xPKSITpGo4v74EaJDRiQYguXf554-Nu5gxl0ieULG0zszFPXQqM-FrlitD94oSrhD-hmzDla7hDCJSdiLG0EWa_oHGuK-IyTVJtC0jZTrqBO9IN9Jke/s320/spain+331.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That afternoon we rode the train back and wandered through a park and along the pier again before we hopped in a cab to the airport. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To make a very very long story short our flight was delayed four hours and then cancelled. The next available flight was Monday morning, remember this is Saturday night. After spending two days being shuffled around to and from the airport and free hotels we finally made it onto our flight, once again delayed on Monday, but only an hour, and made it back to home sweet home London. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't worry, folks, that's the end of the show.</div><br />
</div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-79685942775766568212010-02-19T14:19:00.000-08:002010-02-19T14:19:58.573-08:00part deux<div style="text-align: center;">To continue...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0WdiQgUeApI8S29FzeBKO9xD6qNf-4hrGAwWUsQHJJ_KVLRksfqSbheDCjXbNxXsoLtfSUybP1OTgSECT4PvpsakolKuLGvrtA5rg0kdF1ckNgoVeQ0auCxVygQjWx6VytAEp9SaMp0b/s1600-h/spain+047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0WdiQgUeApI8S29FzeBKO9xD6qNf-4hrGAwWUsQHJJ_KVLRksfqSbheDCjXbNxXsoLtfSUybP1OTgSECT4PvpsakolKuLGvrtA5rg0kdF1ckNgoVeQ0auCxVygQjWx6VytAEp9SaMp0b/s320/spain+047.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Front facade, from diagonally across the street, Madrid Cathedral ]</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thursday afternoon, after basking in the sun for a bit, we went into the Madrid cathedral. Now I have been into a lot of really old churches, really cool ones too, while here in England, but no one does cathedral like Spanish Catholics. The exterior, though pretty awesome, was nothing particularly special. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cDbTWDlzU1A5NdMFhD4rBb27yobCifOo1KnkkmPHe7jOlCWV5cXJkZThiL-Y-uaaQkm03UfO2ii78b4cVj2XTCU94sTosWX2TSQ1shX5tAsTIQ3cJ9wBYa7dClRBsp9R8RVXvx-B87xs/s1600-h/spain+109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5cDbTWDlzU1A5NdMFhD4rBb27yobCifOo1KnkkmPHe7jOlCWV5cXJkZThiL-Y-uaaQkm03UfO2ii78b4cVj2XTCU94sTosWX2TSQ1shX5tAsTIQ3cJ9wBYa7dClRBsp9R8RVXvx-B87xs/s320/spain+109.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ interior ]</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The interior however was remarkable. The space was enormous and there were stained glass windows. Since there is sun in Spain light actually ran through the colored glass filling the cold stone interior with warm colors. Every chapel was filled with gold filigry covered Virgin Mary's and Crucifixes. It was nice to just sit and look.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">After that we decided to walk through town down the main street la Grand Via. Its like Spain's version of London's West End or the US's Time Square, I suppose. It had a lot of shopping, a lot of food and a lot of theaters. I thought it would be pretty funny to go see something in Spanish, of course it would be something I've seen in English or even to a Disney movie. Would have been good, but we didn't have time, nor really the money. All down la Grand Via there was of course beautiful architecture. Big buildings with classical features and Spanish Baroque details lined the street. We passed the National Bank, that was pretty fancy. We of course stopped at a little restaurant to warm up and refresh. Every time we would stop it would involve food. I had some hot chocolate. Now hot chocolate in Spain is not your typical steamed milk and chocolate syrup, it is legit chocolate. If you know what sipping chocolate is, it's like that. It's pretty much a melted candy bar, you add a little sugar to it so its not so bitter. But it is rich and thick and smooth and delicious. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Once we reached the end of the street we found a park and decided to explore.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_Ruw8T-dciksgKTR1B7iVl0jTUSL-fahp4uRCFNnJV4hFMYYO-uYub39xHon8ofSiezrvTsq_rGBSWq62QjFO7OQbdMstKVUzNZGx5GFNEe1VU6Yg_3CJXU09gY0usvyRwTJ81AoqHdx/s1600-h/spain+160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_Ruw8T-dciksgKTR1B7iVl0jTUSL-fahp4uRCFNnJV4hFMYYO-uYub39xHon8ofSiezrvTsq_rGBSWq62QjFO7OQbdMstKVUzNZGx5GFNEe1VU6Yg_3CJXU09gY0usvyRwTJ81AoqHdx/s200/spain+160.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Retiro Park ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBSEDpVAVAMOSLizMv9gLEoYCvZzEJm-GtfmJupZp7oT3nwInlbwll_bzG0HTtiSsc0TjSNuBE3xJxuLTRs0tp43ZTQHvACt-a9lymlcD_E6-m6doOOXF0gqMIDksoqaYrYZA2JZNqKgD/s1600-h/spain+161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBSEDpVAVAMOSLizMv9gLEoYCvZzEJm-GtfmJupZp7oT3nwInlbwll_bzG0HTtiSsc0TjSNuBE3xJxuLTRs0tp43ZTQHvACt-a9lymlcD_E6-m6doOOXF0gqMIDksoqaYrYZA2JZNqKgD/s200/spain+161.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ me falling over in Retiro Park ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrs9FM4alUX5k1FYs9ZdY2gXOQMbInU-CwSS0MFYI9Q7Z5JauEBcuDbvi-UYTyaJjlTbCXVajh1lpej389UBuIi7u61aMyRA1zIyK8_N1QM_60L_rJm_8eLLfK6wLV4-Q1ydWiFZ_gBoO5/s1600-h/spain+162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrs9FM4alUX5k1FYs9ZdY2gXOQMbInU-CwSS0MFYI9Q7Z5JauEBcuDbvi-UYTyaJjlTbCXVajh1lpej389UBuIi7u61aMyRA1zIyK8_N1QM_60L_rJm_8eLLfK6wLV4-Q1ydWiFZ_gBoO5/s200/spain+162.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ me recovering in Retiro Park ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The park was really pretty. I can only imagine what it looks like in the summer time. The best part of the park was the boating pond. We walked passed this big pond right on the edge of a huge monument thingy and it had tons of little boats on it and we all said no matter what it costs we're doing it. We walk over to the booth and it was only four euros to rent a boat for forty five minutes. We hopped on that. We got our boat just before six and the office must close at six cause we were the only ones on the pond our whole time out there. I started out as a rower but soon got demoted to picture taker. It unfortunately was all on Brit's camera so I don't have any pictures actually on the boat. We rowed around, rocked out while listening to Lonely Island's "I'm on a boat" and oh yeah we were on the news. A guy with a camera waved us over to the shore and we rowed a little closer and said we don't speak Spanish, in his broken English he tried to explain what was up and he just had us row to a certain spot and we were just sort of in the background of this little segment on Madrid's channel 6 news. I just googled it and i'm pretty sure there is no way I'm going to find it, so just trust me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5okKLWQwfC6gIUeALVJFwgP7ZG5ZTPxZbY9TiAXw2G8A9uQ50_CD0neUauKTeCkvrZgWdiS4Fz4vpNuO0BgKkoLPPsn5sDeyBm9e8jpTLgjYzrMtz5ygCf388wOfCTH4CkxBQHwjxUkWe/s1600-h/spain+164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5okKLWQwfC6gIUeALVJFwgP7ZG5ZTPxZbY9TiAXw2G8A9uQ50_CD0neUauKTeCkvrZgWdiS4Fz4vpNuO0BgKkoLPPsn5sDeyBm9e8jpTLgjYzrMtz5ygCf388wOfCTH4CkxBQHwjxUkWe/s400/spain+164.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ boating pond ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That night walked back towards our hostel through the park, and ended up at Plaza Mayor we we had a super fancy dinner. We asked for non smoking and we were banished to the basement, and were the only ones down there. My meal was delicious, I got two courses, well three cause I ate half of Kellen's appetizer, croquettes, then I had a steak and fancy mashed potatoes and a chocolate cake to top it off. It was divine. Oh and European Fanta which is far superior to anything in the States. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After food, which was like nine thirty, we rushed over to the bus station and made sure Brit had a ticket, she had misplaced it. The ticket lady got mad at us because in Brit's haste she just started speaking English. She was the only person to get mad at us for not attempting to speak Spanish and she was pissed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once that drama passed, I experienced one horrible night on a seven hour bus ride from hell. Cramped, smelly and just plain awful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">Friday February 12</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We arrived in Barcelona at six something AM. It was dark and miserable. My mood is pretty dependent on how much sleep I get and at this point the ratio was not doing so hot. We struggled a little through the metro system but eventual found our hostel where we were told to wait till nine to check in. We wasted time on the internet and Spanish pastries and then I demanded a nap. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">After a not long enough nap we embarked on Gaudi Day. It was my favorite day, not night- I'll get there- but day was awesome. Our first stop was the Sagrada Familia Cathedral. My bestie <a href="http://asanarthistorymajor.blogspot.com/">Camille</a> wrote a paper on this place in our architecture class so it has been much discussed in the past as well as actually studied in class. It was striking to say the least. It literally looks like a melting church, Gaudi definitely was a little surrealist. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDI95a1FMoR6wPVhudh2lrBV8MPj6vNqzUrAF04Ft1BfYOV5TkLGhFlVmDtpmvuP_BNdPYiRRqNxzlN3wvL7kBaMlDLm5juWm7sP1FM6K7AzImtXXktbvQ3glYNRnYy4HU1cUUrj1AVgrf/s1600-h/spain+187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDI95a1FMoR6wPVhudh2lrBV8MPj6vNqzUrAF04Ft1BfYOV5TkLGhFlVmDtpmvuP_BNdPYiRRqNxzlN3wvL7kBaMlDLm5juWm7sP1FM6K7AzImtXXktbvQ3glYNRnYy4HU1cUUrj1AVgrf/s320/spain+187.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ me and the North facade]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes this building is covered in scaffolding. It has never been finished. Gaudi started on it in 1882, then he died a while after that, then they left it for a while and now they have been building it ever since, I don't get it build if Gaudi wanted a big gaping hole in the ceiling than he got what he wished for. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLs2GBPGcl0XnQS8_CI3KV7Rm9_WqVQDFTaidCrP3bDf_sjNJEmugzxnUzDPr3GvWgrYzbFes4FpOI5da7iHAAS1EezQ4Um_Mh2lWxwUlWKOofL_YOnrP_kKgeqznkLxcwuaJ9tavRCvo/s1600-h/spain+194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLs2GBPGcl0XnQS8_CI3KV7Rm9_WqVQDFTaidCrP3bDf_sjNJEmugzxnUzDPr3GvWgrYzbFes4FpOI5da7iHAAS1EezQ4Um_Mh2lWxwUlWKOofL_YOnrP_kKgeqznkLxcwuaJ9tavRCvo/s320/spain+194.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ South facade, on the melty side]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We didn't actually go inside. It cost too much, fifteen euros my butt. It was massive though, much bigger and yet smaller than I thought. It was big but not as tall as I imagined. But this was just the beginning of Gaudi day, and boy do people in Barcelona love Gaudi. Next we walked through town over to Casa Milla, an apartment building he designed. It was curvy and melty and also cost a ton to get inside. Once we ended our brief visit there we hiked up a treacherous hill, ok parts had escalators but not all, to Guell Park. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">bored again, to be continued.....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-5121052161396174522010-02-16T08:58:00.000-08:002010-02-16T08:58:17.018-08:00espana<div style="text-align: center;">So with the program here there is one extended weekend where we can go anywhere we want. Me, Brit and Kellen went to Spain. We were suppose to be there for four days, I'll get back to that later. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">Wednesday February 10</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">We flew out of the London Gatwick airport with another group of girls going to Spain, they stayed in Madrid the whole time, silly girls. We got into Spain around eightish and then headed out to find out hostal. Suprisingly we got there without much difficulty and after we checked in we headed off to explore. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdr1sjwvQ09PiNNNLtUCDRF5X_yySCoogN4rnIBLxU-C_gs616sJjSgISTj4bj1Bl2-36kmYXLli9HEgGjC-1zj1CTgF1pcyAYQ1yN4padv3dOmIx3ygSgWHUuxwIjJqqiXqgHF1_GRsvH/s1600-h/spain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdr1sjwvQ09PiNNNLtUCDRF5X_yySCoogN4rnIBLxU-C_gs616sJjSgISTj4bj1Bl2-36kmYXLli9HEgGjC-1zj1CTgF1pcyAYQ1yN4padv3dOmIx3ygSgWHUuxwIjJqqiXqgHF1_GRsvH/s320/spain.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ espana ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then after some exploration around some really cool plazas and seeing the Royal Palace and Cathedral all lite up we needed some sustinence. We found a place by our hostel and had pizza at 12:30 am. Best thing about Spain, everything is open till like 2 am. Worst thing about Spain, this is because of siesta which is around 3-5 pm when everything is closed. After pizza we went to bed. Brit and I shared a bed due to sketchy circumstances. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">Thursday February 11</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">we woke up nice and early and went down for our free breakfast at the hostel and then went around the corner to dunkin donuts. Our very first stop of the day was the Prado. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbQgx45m0L48BHnZJEJGTGKZOx0bElPDFkajpqP-ec3FlijrQ8q6zMRs5vs8ZYILN6bnnzb5wXLKMZ-72yBQeDPDFS5OrwzE9YtXU5VzxQykB_m5iDgOxrVF2A1n_M0sS4P7jUWO44EsJ/s1600-h/spain+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbQgx45m0L48BHnZJEJGTGKZOx0bElPDFkajpqP-ec3FlijrQ8q6zMRs5vs8ZYILN6bnnzb5wXLKMZ-72yBQeDPDFS5OrwzE9YtXU5VzxQykB_m5iDgOxrVF2A1n_M0sS4P7jUWO44EsJ/s320/spain+026.JPG" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Unlike England, in Spain you have to pay to get into museums. With our international student cards it was only three euros. I read the fine print on the back of the ticket and learned that if we had said we were from England, we would have got in free. Next time Prado, I'm working the system. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lbg3AMCGGyYdyr1Bftc9chQrrXsrPXcjegqv1XPglGMNKzelXGJ93C36-sgWDUBJDm1xa1vXzSTEYnx4FBs0Z56kk4PMT4_i54NxXpNGCsHkcxh_G7woLqF9OzQY9yXDJjYhk0GcXbfq/s1600-h/spain+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lbg3AMCGGyYdyr1Bftc9chQrrXsrPXcjegqv1XPglGMNKzelXGJ93C36-sgWDUBJDm1xa1vXzSTEYnx4FBs0Z56kk4PMT4_i54NxXpNGCsHkcxh_G7woLqF9OzQY9yXDJjYhk0GcXbfq/s320/spain+017.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ that's me and my friend velazquez ]</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The building itself is very spacious; huge ceilings and wide halls. The majority, and by majority I mean about 95% of the art in the Prado is all Spanish artists, which is to be assumed. Now I am an art history major, but I only really know about ten max Spanish artists. I wandered through all the rooms, gazing at giant canvases with depictions of Spanish history I know nothing about. But then every so often I would come to an artist I know, Goya, Velazquez, El Greco and other famous non Spanish guys like Ruebans or Titian, and it would be a sense of astonishment. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are pieces that you just have to see in person. No textbook can ever do any justice to how the sunlight streaming in a gallery hits the glimmering oil paint or the texture of the impasto as it stands out from the canvas. The shear size of some works in person can completely change an opinion of a piece. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This happened to me with<i> Las Meninas</i>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63_NOfYeRGAzcqzcFw0hT1pDNfVBmRK5Mkfbru3bt5klTbdR5JSQ9nxZIvXiLP7dXNh2AvVevMo5eudwt8i16skRrRCf6wH7Sb9Lq8jKIHXEfS0OzSJ0IDX0z2CQgyqmY1B4RAKgyw-h0/s1600-h/velazquez-las-meninas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63_NOfYeRGAzcqzcFw0hT1pDNfVBmRK5Mkfbru3bt5klTbdR5JSQ9nxZIvXiLP7dXNh2AvVevMo5eudwt8i16skRrRCf6wH7Sb9Lq8jKIHXEfS0OzSJ0IDX0z2CQgyqmY1B4RAKgyw-h0/s320/velazquez-las-meninas.jpg" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Las Meninas, Velazquez ]</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This piece is studied endlessly no matter what art history curriculum you attend. Perspective, who's who, the Gaze, lighting, symbolism, technique; it's all in there. The size of the picture above is roughly the size it is ever shown in a standard textbook. Now I've seen it projected from a slide, making it about the size of a wall, but it looses a lot of quality that way. Walking up to this piece in the main hall and waiting for the Asian tourists to move out of the way, was like walking into my textbook. I was minuscule in comparison. It took up nearly the entire wall, and remember the ceilings are really high. Seeing it this big and being able to walk right up so that my face was mere inches from the canvas the detail and/or the lack thereof became quite apparent. The textures and fabrics of the piece are done with precision, but something that I had never noticed before was that the lower right hand corner, lacked a lot detail. The figures looked unfinished and fuzzy. That really surprised me. I know Velazquez's style generally has a sort of unfinished look to it but I was still taken aback when looking at Las Meninas. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My second favorite at the Prado was Bosch's triptych. Yes I know I picked probably the two most famous pieces in the joint as my favorites, call me unoriginal but I'm going to justify it with that I have slaved over these pieces and discussed them so much that seeing them in person made them all the more real. Anywho, the triptych.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqY30g4417HV8hlOt7Ks3Qr-SK9m6G0BPL9UDff5R7KAQaVPWiatKmSOY7V71UcrVKIAE9pwq3l6Dd6d2XNt5c49j6fKwNNM0Q_bHTc6Q2uA9SebizqER2uYzkDog70kdAx2kmqmBGjZiM/s1600-h/bosch_garden_earthly_delights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqY30g4417HV8hlOt7Ks3Qr-SK9m6G0BPL9UDff5R7KAQaVPWiatKmSOY7V71UcrVKIAE9pwq3l6Dd6d2XNt5c49j6fKwNNM0Q_bHTc6Q2uA9SebizqER2uYzkDog70kdAx2kmqmBGjZiM/s400/bosch_garden_earthly_delights.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Garden of Earthly Delights, Bosch ] </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is generally how this piece is shown, so its easy to forget that it is a working triptych, meaning that the two side panels really to fold in. The rope around it doesn't really let you get super super close to it but when no one's looking you can lean right up into its business to see all the detail of all the figures. The title is Earthly Delights, so you can use your imagination about what the middle panel depicts....</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the Prado we went to the Reina Sophia, the modern art museum. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtzdl2NWMWsQSmiG38-SeZ5VkMnPWMlQbDIKnoCCGz1sLVYQVlYjUqq91QjWJEUXN0szjrDV8h4awH7jw6nNhyphenhyphennDyqE77VNaXIU-glUWqxpwetlpw2gBk-UHIaT9ABRnEMaVnHBgobo4n/s1600-h/spain+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtzdl2NWMWsQSmiG38-SeZ5VkMnPWMlQbDIKnoCCGz1sLVYQVlYjUqq91QjWJEUXN0szjrDV8h4awH7jw6nNhyphenhyphennDyqE77VNaXIU-glUWqxpwetlpw2gBk-UHIaT9ABRnEMaVnHBgobo4n/s320/spain+027.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Reina Sophia ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Like most modern art museums there are usually a few really interesting galleries and the rest just get to weird and obscure. The visiting exhibit was from the Tate Modern and that was a little disappointing. We didn't even go look at it cause been there done that. Highlights of the museum are as follows:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The first gallery we went to there was this room with psychedelic images projected onto the wall so we felt like clubbing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_JmfX-bouV0ulXdzCu3M02ynZzPXiGX8RwDc_VdtzU_S9gBh4rPUFGlc4UMAWVSRY1ZzOa1vzpqKj8fIKsOOSz12VLXZvLCHnQH1BLzWVs59Mxk9OA-8l8zq1Jl0uPfGkU6dBHWVs_it/s1600-h/dancing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_JmfX-bouV0ulXdzCu3M02ynZzPXiGX8RwDc_VdtzU_S9gBh4rPUFGlc4UMAWVSRY1ZzOa1vzpqKj8fIKsOOSz12VLXZvLCHnQH1BLzWVs59Mxk9OA-8l8zq1Jl0uPfGkU6dBHWVs_it/s320/dancing.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Brit and I clubbing ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then we went to the Guernica Gallery. The one monumentous piece in this museum. Pretty much the only reason we came, was for Picasso. I know I have already talked about size but this thing was massive. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSzCuWPzto2gYeFQA0kMZZvXMbaCy9pEjfiOramvBSJGTMLe4MrABhV2XAXnawrbyhjCNLq_9F-lNV74yhz67vTaO4VtFdzcpp40Cv7bOA9m1QVr8fP_uReQnnsHBVoCQMnpZ0VqPlpG7/s1600-h/Guernica.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSzCuWPzto2gYeFQA0kMZZvXMbaCy9pEjfiOramvBSJGTMLe4MrABhV2XAXnawrbyhjCNLq_9F-lNV74yhz67vTaO4VtFdzcpp40Cv7bOA9m1QVr8fP_uReQnnsHBVoCQMnpZ0VqPlpG7/s400/Guernica.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Guernica, Picasso ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There's not really much to say, it was huge, it was amazing and the screaming horse was my favorite part. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The final part of the museum was a pleasant surprise. Heather, one of my professors, told us, when we were talking about the Bauhaus and the goings on of the art school that when she was in grad school her and some other students performed one of Schlimmer's (crazy german guy) Bauhaus Ballets. We walked into a gallery and there were old programs from the Ballets hanging on the walls and I started to recount to Brit and Kellen about how Heather and her classmates made their own costumes and performed a piece and as I was describing them Kellen pointed in the next room and said "like those ones?"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And yup there were the costumes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSy_2NA3EKSSUvN_bN3DNKXujSD5zr1LqbJXDOkHBfwWydIQ7r0X5C9_JVXTaSMhUlWiGjB-p0XwMeShHMJFGoinKJAvBSoMa_b8p8A4adBhPW7VfY4wIHFY87tW-cJ1yIzLVSkJkE47sZ/s1600-h/bauhaus+ballet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSy_2NA3EKSSUvN_bN3DNKXujSD5zr1LqbJXDOkHBfwWydIQ7r0X5C9_JVXTaSMhUlWiGjB-p0XwMeShHMJFGoinKJAvBSoMa_b8p8A4adBhPW7VfY4wIHFY87tW-cJ1yIzLVSkJkE47sZ/s320/bauhaus+ballet.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Bauhaus ballet costumes ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">pretty snazzy huh?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the museums we found some lunch. I had a burger with a fried egg on it, delicious but the messiest burger ever. Then the rest of the afternoon we walked over to the Palace hoping to get a tour inside. Little did we know it was closed for official business that day. So instead we just basked outside the gates in the lovely Spanish sunshine for a little while. It may have only been in the fifties but that sunshine makes all the difference and that is one of the major faults in English weather. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'll continue with my adventures and a later time.... this takes forever. Meanwhile feel free to peruse the photo album: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2318026&id=17827200&l=5f098e12fd</span></div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-77566419696241274832010-02-02T01:44:00.000-08:002010-02-02T01:44:59.874-08:00the Wandsworth Ward<div style="text-align: center;">Here all the students are divided up between ten wards, sort of like spreading the wealth :) Me, and three other girls have been assigned to the Wandsworth Ward in the Wandsworth Common Stake. Let's see if you can find it:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2oUYz012gGLcP-TbkmVDsP4vWdY3-Edev9aXRtBOLUF7MF3z33tNtfEKUPKZjM_dIHPaxstBrCsii3wWjYAtSrW9janqYg7yoEdr_jIl8dJ6B9WyKVaw61mrpjIJUqQ2zXSk7y12Ke22X/s1600-h/map-london.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2oUYz012gGLcP-TbkmVDsP4vWdY3-Edev9aXRtBOLUF7MF3z33tNtfEKUPKZjM_dIHPaxstBrCsii3wWjYAtSrW9janqYg7yoEdr_jIl8dJ6B9WyKVaw61mrpjIJUqQ2zXSk7y12Ke22X/s400/map-london.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ You're looking for Wandsworth ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">London is huge. Every ward is still within the city of London. While the whole yellow section is considered London it is really separated up into sub-towns, like Wandsworth. Wandsworth is a picturesque commuter town, a suburb of the city. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Every Sunday, the girls and I are out the door by nine o'clock. We hop on the tube, we only have to make one transfer, and then we get off at the Victoria Rail Station. From there we catch the next train to Wandsworth common. Its about a ten minute train ride through the outskirts of London. I enjoy riding the train. This past week the other girls wanted to leave early, I was not awake quite yet, so I ended up venturing to church on my own. I sat on the train and read Jane Austen and felt a little bit like a cliche but still awesome at the same time. Once we get off the train it is a two minute walk to the chapel right off Nightingale Lane. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwhnOFaFRX3glXQwjlwZWD-bjn3G0gwcaTSu30IMOoAGzBNP-vpePE6lV7-YDtl-AqG0s9aLNX8AiyTegOM3aGwNiO1NIcG4m2e1rfG0BLV4BRHMo0aBsDXIj8s5D685it0SOGw0DMm_N/s1600-h/Wandsworth_Common_stn_southbound_slow_platform_look_north2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwhnOFaFRX3glXQwjlwZWD-bjn3G0gwcaTSu30IMOoAGzBNP-vpePE6lV7-YDtl-AqG0s9aLNX8AiyTegOM3aGwNiO1NIcG4m2e1rfG0BLV4BRHMo0aBsDXIj8s5D685it0SOGw0DMm_N/s320/Wandsworth_Common_stn_southbound_slow_platform_look_north2.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ The train platform at Wandsworth Common Rail Station ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A lot of the wards in London are really diverse. There are over 100 different nationalities represented in my stake. In my ward, however, it is about 50/50. Fifty percent are English and Americans (mostly those who have married a Uk-er) and fifty percent is African, well mostly African. Now mind you that the normal attendance every Sunday is about 65 people. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our bishopric consists of Bishop Aideou ( I spelled that very wrong), he is from Ghana, then the first counselor is a trendy young American guy with Ray Ban glasses and the second counselor is an older English man. As soon as we entered the building on our first Sunday we were thrust into basically taking over every single musical calling. My unofficial calling is to jump up and then the music whenever I hear a hymn, because no one else will do it. So last week I was conductor for sacrament. That is a tiring job with four hymns with four verses each. I am very proud of myself though, I did four whole verses of a 6/8 song flawlessly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-6PldB0SWOpQ0RvJCBEZCre2sxGfqTi1ys0b-e_TrAXJJV9_HXtzdxDvxLNBqY1n4-aKOp98RSYKpsu84FHdsEZ0FmCJ5d783kRDPY5XFTmBtrMFdGYUlZgf1a4hJYYg0o0hBjQSacvr/s1600-h/Wandsworth_common_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-6PldB0SWOpQ0RvJCBEZCre2sxGfqTi1ys0b-e_TrAXJJV9_HXtzdxDvxLNBqY1n4-aKOp98RSYKpsu84FHdsEZ0FmCJ5d783kRDPY5XFTmBtrMFdGYUlZgf1a4hJYYg0o0hBjQSacvr/s400/Wandsworth_common_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Park kitty corner from the chapel ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After this past Sunday, I decided I am really going to love this ward. There are two sets of American missionary couples who love us BYUs (I am a BYU, no need for names). I am the only one of the BYUs who gets to go to both Relief Society and Sunday School, I'll be called to something in the Relief Society soon. Sunday School has been really good. The teacher is Lindsay, she's a twenty something Brit. Her and her husband are the epitome of the idealized English couple that I have had in my head. Adorable really. But he lessons are pretty amazing. She is very energized and witty and really makes you participate. This Sunday we were divided into groups, I somehow ended up with ALL the Americans, and we discussed different parts of the Fall of Adam and Eve. My favorite point she made was that, now, after the fall we must work, especially for food. In Eden the plants cared for themselves and provided fruit to eat, she claims now we have cursed vegetation we have to work after. I thought it was pretty funny, especially in that accent. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think being in this ward is really going to be good. Its a whole new kind of church experience. Including last weeks munch and mingle where the Scottish Primary President gave me some hagis to eat.... it was actually kinda good. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-55101379961962299412010-01-31T16:52:00.000-08:002010-01-31T16:52:07.718-08:00today I became a Sikh.<div style="text-align: center;">well it was actually yesterday. we went on one of our day trips out to Southall. Its about a twenty minute train ride but still inside London. Southall is an Indian/Pakistanni community. We went as part of our "culture in community" class. Our day started out with walking through the streets of town from the train station to the Southall Gudwara, or Sikh Temple. We went inside as a group and was met by one of the gurus to be out tour guide. We entered, took off our shoes and covered our heads. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28ERgTOHmkXRzMJbpu7iGBCR_iUqGEmTDAENWkOnBkQMfAGLsfScZlbKNNPnIsgs7xLX7Xtf61OBw9Ky9EaxWbyeDRWRDmliMkFbL-FE42UrxgXGzWQbS_sDlbIk9GVB_-elZ0f4bvXHZ/s1600-h/wrapped+heads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28ERgTOHmkXRzMJbpu7iGBCR_iUqGEmTDAENWkOnBkQMfAGLsfScZlbKNNPnIsgs7xLX7Xtf61OBw9Ky9EaxWbyeDRWRDmliMkFbL-FE42UrxgXGzWQbS_sDlbIk9GVB_-elZ0f4bvXHZ/s320/wrapped+heads.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ they informed us to bring scarves ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Once inside the best part was going into the main hall. The hall is a big empty room with one central aisle that lead up to a gold canopy like structure that covers the scriptures. We sat as a group there on the floor, on our knees and our hands to our chest out of respect. And then in small groups we walked up the main aisle and one by one when bowed down, our foreheads to the ground in front of the canopy, with the sound of a guru reading the scriptures amplified through the whole room. The best part of the experience was going back and sitting on the floor and watching the people and their worship. Sikhs go to the temple everyday for whatever time they can and yet it doesn't seem like anyone there feels it is an obligation. Everyone I saw appeared to be completely passionate in their worship and what they believed in. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbppCOQ5g1Q2i_XgsK9hLCJCl9HElvMLn6odLOvEyrIYh7cOf07a3BPBi71Peuvi2_bXVBO-ONpnOt0E7PwjdhQ0lEOfzM5qXOfadPoJYgC6mV_7SimYxa0ETFj8uZjmnMUf6PWG0zJ9n/s1600-h/temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbppCOQ5g1Q2i_XgsK9hLCJCl9HElvMLn6odLOvEyrIYh7cOf07a3BPBi71Peuvi2_bXVBO-ONpnOt0E7PwjdhQ0lEOfzM5qXOfadPoJYgC6mV_7SimYxa0ETFj8uZjmnMUf6PWG0zJ9n/s320/temple.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Southall Gudwara side view ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The rest of the afternoon we were on our own. We were asked to attend one more Sikh temple and a Hindu temple in town. The next Sikh temple we came upon was much smaller. It had a more intimate feel, more like a family of people inside. We were just sitting and observing and the most adorable little Indian boy, probably around 1 or 2 walked up the main aisle and bowed down at the canopy with his forehead to the ground. Even though he was so young, I still think he knew exactly what he was doing and why. The Sikhs are super friendly and accepting people. They believe that all people are Sikhs. Sikhs are learners and students of faith, so I became a Sikh yesterday. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After we went to the temples we explored the rest of town. We went through the markets, I bought some bangles [ childrens size of course because my wrists are tiny, they are kinda painful to put on though ] and me and the girls got some traditional henna. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkff-I80MQCodywHAAFNq8W4jHUWC2mXmisig5WNT-2en5L5Tp1G49jJQsqX0Cl1esrxFX0r3U7vnhnmn50g3BFi71WVhK_DXMYjnRv-hdTuxWSd0dMQ-d5dgTKEd8HkbaoJ3NC8U3GZ2/s1600-h/henna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkff-I80MQCodywHAAFNq8W4jHUWC2mXmisig5WNT-2en5L5Tp1G49jJQsqX0Cl1esrxFX0r3U7vnhnmn50g3BFi71WVhK_DXMYjnRv-hdTuxWSd0dMQ-d5dgTKEd8HkbaoJ3NC8U3GZ2/s320/henna.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ my hand is right in front ]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The whole street smelled delicious and was exciting with flashy colors and sparkling saris. At the end of the night the entire group met up again at a Pakistani restaurant where we were fed a four course meal. It was deliciously spicy. I loved it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Overall Southall was really enjoyable. It makes me both really want to go to India and really scared to ever go to India at the same time. The culture is so different but it is so interesting. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gS2E3bA_DbiYtQkkRa29ErcYh-tGLEJe4kBghf0dg-8kE6B_hKs5xyWbMT1Pl20N0spLklp6jO2kT6NAoqKd9oHKFO9cnJsUiGZ6cfwYRcVd6ruAUURCwEbEHIQ1qDvLLBP4WKBMQSEC/s1600-h/indian+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gS2E3bA_DbiYtQkkRa29ErcYh-tGLEJe4kBghf0dg-8kE6B_hKs5xyWbMT1Pl20N0spLklp6jO2kT6NAoqKd9oHKFO9cnJsUiGZ6cfwYRcVd6ruAUURCwEbEHIQ1qDvLLBP4WKBMQSEC/s320/indian+girls.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ so do think we would fit in? ]</div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-51555354994684149062010-01-31T09:30:00.000-08:002010-01-31T09:30:03.573-08:00i found a map of london.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZHd_JOGHCCD5xSR5FOv0eYiHclFL7NVMxAWrw1zXym3kMoqNqHsCZuck775M0kWBV_0H-9KOhSwF3Rmuc6qa0Gu2VlITI68FrAevQVxtFhFDtR91aekwYuuGn11KwLyeM6l31m4xG66L/s1600-h/london+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZHd_JOGHCCD5xSR5FOv0eYiHclFL7NVMxAWrw1zXym3kMoqNqHsCZuck775M0kWBV_0H-9KOhSwF3Rmuc6qa0Gu2VlITI68FrAevQVxtFhFDtR91aekwYuuGn11KwLyeM6l31m4xG66L/s400/london+map.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I live in the red part. </div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-10875640084671521782010-01-26T07:49:00.000-08:002010-01-26T07:49:00.970-08:00the coolest place thus far.<div style="text-align: center;">So I am taking a Classic Civilization class, super easy, but still really interesting. Today we had an optional field trip to a tiny little museum. It's the house of an architect and professor of architecture from the late eighteen hundreds. John Soane, the prof, started collecting random artifacts, paintings and elements of architecture and displayed them in his home. When he died he left his entire collection and home to the city stating that it was to be a musuem open to the public with one stipulation, nothing was to be moved or changed. Meaning it is not only exactly the same as it was the day he died but also that none of the artifacts can be sold or donated to museums. I'm sure the British Museum would love to get there hands on half the stuff in there, but they can't.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">So the museum is still housed in his flat. Its a three story townhouse and all the rooms are just covered floor to ceiling with old stuff. My professor called it a knick knack shack. There is no real order or organization to it and its super informal unlike any other museum I've been in. You just wander through the house looking at all his stuff. <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYziTC1hoiH-dTXmWmRxFrcWpF5hz1kEIEcdSoFHs1Ebiy1IvDHQ6nvQ5O5MVMmEic_owxHAApnLq60Mz1psRikcOdHjeWOgifFd6rpff4HxgNh7rcYDZVZSiUsRrmefcaP17s7cSF59m/s1600-h/Soane+House2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYziTC1hoiH-dTXmWmRxFrcWpF5hz1kEIEcdSoFHs1Ebiy1IvDHQ6nvQ5O5MVMmEic_owxHAApnLq60Mz1psRikcOdHjeWOgifFd6rpff4HxgNh7rcYDZVZSiUsRrmefcaP17s7cSF59m/s320/Soane+House2.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ Inside Soane's house on the ground floor ]<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">There were two parts that I really enjoyed. First of all, him and his wife lived in this house and his wife a lapdog named Fanny. One room has about half a dozen portraits of him, and every painting of Mrs. Soane, has fanny on her lap. So in one of the little tiny courtyards of the house (which Soane designed himself) is a huge monument, like almost Roman memorial big, that merely states, "Alas, poor Fanny." That dog was clearly family.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The second part of the house that i really enjoyed was in the basement there is a huge white limestone Egyptian sarcophagus. Every inch of it is carved with hieroglyphs, its beautiful. The entire basement was designed to feel like an ancient Roman crypt, which it does.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3JRCt5iXGe1TtLx6G0BoN3UZUJTfwrBlysHtUstlp6IYbeFlvGyfmRgxzqJZI4jpyjFhkAXWxQ0SBnJJAycTBgd_Oo87siJPw3g97wTxKSpjkH0KDTj-K7Rji8zTLhcJTEdQSYR1lgez/s1600-h/SOANE-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3JRCt5iXGe1TtLx6G0BoN3UZUJTfwrBlysHtUstlp6IYbeFlvGyfmRgxzqJZI4jpyjFhkAXWxQ0SBnJJAycTBgd_Oo87siJPw3g97wTxKSpjkH0KDTj-K7Rji8zTLhcJTEdQSYR1lgez/s320/SOANE-02.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ part of the basement that opens up the the ground. The case on the left has the sarcophagus inside it ]<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The basement has tiny rooms with narrow winding halls between them. The only light comes from little skylights or areas that open up to the ground floor, so its quite dark. But every inch is covered with marble Roman statues, columns and capitals, pieces of friezes and all sorts of other architectural details that have been taken from ancient temples. It was really astounding. I would love to live there surrounded by all that all the time. Maybe I'll make a knick knack shack of my own someday.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Check it out <a href="http://www.britishtours.com/360/soane-museum.html">Soane</a> for yourself.<br />
</div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-43668432253162812542010-01-19T12:34:00.000-08:002010-01-19T12:39:35.670-08:00museums museums musuems<div style="text-align: center;">As an art history major {<a href="http://asanarthistorymajor.blogspot.com/">camille</a> I feel dumb using the phrase in real conversation now} you know museums are my thing. This week I have already gone to three major sites: Tate Modern, National Gallery, and the British Museum. I think the National Gallery was my favorite but it's a pretty close three way tie and I have dozens of more museums to go to.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #7f6000;">The National Gallery.</span></span></span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_nW4eYUU-wyW8haLLS06z3JIaHy5vmyWjRylEmLrYTGKb5dlO14xCA1NGGKESJR0NcL-N0AP4qKyCdazuwgFmgB0YFNfowxFkfxXetH94y8ShDQjuTmpxCj0M8fUdzORwGNRaeA4gUPL/s1600-h/london+099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_nW4eYUU-wyW8haLLS06z3JIaHy5vmyWjRylEmLrYTGKb5dlO14xCA1NGGKESJR0NcL-N0AP4qKyCdazuwgFmgB0YFNfowxFkfxXetH94y8ShDQjuTmpxCj0M8fUdzORwGNRaeA4gUPL/s320/london+099.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">[ from the main entrance in Trafalgar square ]</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is housed just a little bit of everything. I went with some friends who were there to work on a assignment so I grabbed a map and went off on my own. Being this my first trip to the National Gallery I wanted to go see all the canonical works of art and then, when I come back a thousand more times, I can go from room to room. I only knew of a famous pieces that I definitely needed to see. Every art history major knows that they have to be at the top of your list. I saw Rembrandt's Self Portrait, Reubens' Samson and Delilah and the ever studied van Eyck's the Arnolfini.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">After seeing those I started to walk through the more contemporary rooms. There I met Monet's lilies, Seurat's bathers, Cezanne's landscapes, and Degas' ballerinas. All more gorgeous in person than the last. And then it happened, the best feeling in the world. I glanced up as I walked into the next room and there was<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWeXrfYfTMOZUd_nTUyhcSE3vWdMGWt71zPC2U3vYML5O167il8frxt16Tr1W7Z6a8tNj3PDAdULR1utitoYE2xGJ1r61MmKG19f_W7-3kXTLw0u4g2YELBbbA-eW3VoyNdcd3ljv8YIr/s1600-h/gogh-sunflowers-NG3863-fm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWeXrfYfTMOZUd_nTUyhcSE3vWdMGWt71zPC2U3vYML5O167il8frxt16Tr1W7Z6a8tNj3PDAdULR1utitoYE2xGJ1r61MmKG19f_W7-3kXTLw0u4g2YELBbbA-eW3VoyNdcd3ljv8YIr/s320/gogh-sunflowers-NG3863-fm.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #7f6000;">[ Van Gogh's Sunflowers 1888 ]</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've always had some sort of connection to this piece, I remember trying to recreate it at a Brownies activity in the second grade. Walking into that room and seeing the Sunflowers unexpectedly made my heart race and chills run up my spine leaving me starring at it with a cheesy smirk on my face. I sat on the bench directly across from the painting for nearly forty five minutes gazing upon it as asian tourists come and go. I wonder how many millions it would cost to have that hang in my house....<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the Tate Modern.</span></span></span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPDfE7S96CcNhVmddlzqmDIojdigywh9D9aD4R7cqoQWTzcECiXpbuYivRWDfD5FG5C4VAm8x6LUK9wSVEqUB_c-g-suFgSiidICJAikQUU-2x7Yy0ExU0hNp3FYAUR6dGcY13C8Gw_qO/s1600-h/london+146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPDfE7S96CcNhVmddlzqmDIojdigywh9D9aD4R7cqoQWTzcECiXpbuYivRWDfD5FG5C4VAm8x6LUK9wSVEqUB_c-g-suFgSiidICJAikQUU-2x7Yy0ExU0hNp3FYAUR6dGcY13C8Gw_qO/s320/london+146.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d;">[ the Tate Modern as I crossed millennial bridge over the Thames ]</span><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am very much a fan of modern art. In fact the time period I love the most {1870s-1930s}is considered modern art. This museum houses two galleries of art that range from the late nineteenth century to about the 1960s. Which I most thoroughly enjoyed. The other galleries however were contemporary installations and film pieces. While some of these were rather interesting, only those select few did I really stop to look at. One entire exhibit was on a man's computer generated anime character, not my cup of tea.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUue0355giLoo6kG-zYdypbAf96rrALvuOp0NqeR8IaM6bTIahp-barze3LGLstMOAmdl5cCH4z63HFxAZCyXgH6t2Z2d7rhsWnZs_q5Q8P22Ag0s5BNpLU4gr044kRo-JOySHu_37O6v/s1600-h/london+120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNXC2mE95Zfjiz3LAulMFhIlPoQHdMorER6PrUGkS8K0qrHags8dNemTk_-OvK43NES28fFH1jAxtbdoyXxO0jPnhAV7eBiDjDKWldBuzUN_HsYtGxUAN3cHPLgyeql0n7ZNh_h02eXA6/s1600-h/london+116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNXC2mE95Zfjiz3LAulMFhIlPoQHdMorER6PrUGkS8K0qrHags8dNemTk_-OvK43NES28fFH1jAxtbdoyXxO0jPnhAV7eBiDjDKWldBuzUN_HsYtGxUAN3cHPLgyeql0n7ZNh_h02eXA6/s200/london+116.JPG" /></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUue0355giLoo6kG-zYdypbAf96rrALvuOp0NqeR8IaM6bTIahp-barze3LGLstMOAmdl5cCH4z63HFxAZCyXgH6t2Z2d7rhsWnZs_q5Q8P22Ag0s5BNpLU4gr044kRo-JOySHu_37O6v/s200/london+120.JPG" /><span style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">We were being installation pieces.There's this really cool timeline on the wall of art periods from 1900-2000. I want to do that in a room myself one day. Luckily we went to the gift shop and of course I bought a miniature copy for myself. </span><br />
</div></span><div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I had a few favorites there of course, there was a lot of cubism by Braque and Picasso. There were also some classics such as Rodin's {ps I want to name one of my kids after him, August that is} such as the Kiss, which was left out of the BYU exibit back in the day. There were some contemporaries I liked, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol and Jeff Koon's pop art is always fun. But there was a whole room dedicated to artist I didn't know. Most of his works are pretty classically themed paintings but than have block letter phrases painted over top. I really liked this one</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKSslgnDWonjUyxijesBN8L2qms6qAndAT8MHhdNn42cEwHdhHsVpfbcMxnWhULxTMfGbOLwAaWzklHnI1jL1w80KNa2-ZggDMsxrs9KVZOnCr8Od0WUa7smoMhgILXmZFD8SCnGJbUdd/s1600-h/hollywood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKSslgnDWonjUyxijesBN8L2qms6qAndAT8MHhdNn42cEwHdhHsVpfbcMxnWhULxTMfGbOLwAaWzklHnI1jL1w80KNa2-ZggDMsxrs9KVZOnCr8Od0WUa7smoMhgILXmZFD8SCnGJbUdd/s320/hollywood.jpg" /></span></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">[ Ed Ruscha's Hollywood ]</span></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I like it no so much for the content, but then again who doesn't like hollywood? Its more because it was a modern pointillism, it was really cool to see up close all the tiny little dots. </span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #274e13;">the British Museum.</span></span></span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFE5gBVht8VcQGGQimJbtqiU4EniGFhiTc3uH4n9A-ESoYpFn6M31h_F5J8d0u30vmUCcxJ6E75dxebtNeY_p6jd3UgmbtpyI0AwkXbQotsGIieZb5VUumYq3m1zLmwKgo7k0acL1Kzaj/s1600-h/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFE5gBVht8VcQGGQimJbtqiU4EniGFhiTc3uH4n9A-ESoYpFn6M31h_F5J8d0u30vmUCcxJ6E75dxebtNeY_p6jd3UgmbtpyI0AwkXbQotsGIieZb5VUumYq3m1zLmwKgo7k0acL1Kzaj/s320/015.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">[ sun shining on this temple of learning ]</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I went to the British Museum today with my classic civ class. We went to see the Bassae Temple frieze, the Elgin marbles and a few other Greek pieces. I must say my professor MJ really prepared me for this. You know you are an art history major when your heart starts pounding when you enter the Parthenon gallery, come on the west pediment sculptures? How could it not?</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqIXLIrZj9e04SDk8UGXudL5YVp_ftg85KR49k82w8MU26HlFNdCSZpPnc0eZfFJT6iYpffzh4JfPe4lU2U7Qz9N9riWHoLJoScTxHAwe1A7nmDKS1aqn5JKarz6BVNzGomUZhvbpoSn9/s1600-h/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqIXLIrZj9e04SDk8UGXudL5YVp_ftg85KR49k82w8MU26HlFNdCSZpPnc0eZfFJT6iYpffzh4JfPe4lU2U7Qz9N9riWHoLJoScTxHAwe1A7nmDKS1aqn5JKarz6BVNzGomUZhvbpoSn9/s320/039.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13;">[ Elgin Marbles from the Parthenon ]</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I didn't get to spend a whole lot of time here today, but I will be back.<br />
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</div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-78684293671818810132010-01-15T08:11:00.000-08:002010-01-15T08:11:45.654-08:00Top 3 experiences in the week ending today.<div style="text-align: center;">I have now been in england for one week precisely. It feels like a thousand times longer, one because everything is pretty new and two because I have been so busy. Every day thus far I have gone out and done something or seen something. I've picked three of my favorites things that I havn't already talked about to tell you. <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">St. Paul's</span> </span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As an art history major, especially within the last year, I have learned a lot about archiecture. One of the most prominent buildings discussed in England is St. Paul's Cathedral. So to see it in person was to realize why it is so important. The sheer size of the building is the first thing to overwhelm you. The giant neo classical columns and pediment takes your eye further and further upward. </span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4RtVSTkxtGqRRdI5_as8xJ5u4qOA2r3pHBYGguF8P96uOF04f-vPIeZqUFweiGJaZocQiZFwKraeHZ7FIel5IkGZd3RnR71gvXA_yT5Zt2jlOTfh_IgTe6sVrqYzW0tj35qHDp_ULIcr/s1600-h/london+036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4RtVSTkxtGqRRdI5_as8xJ5u4qOA2r3pHBYGguF8P96uOF04f-vPIeZqUFweiGJaZocQiZFwKraeHZ7FIel5IkGZd3RnR71gvXA_yT5Zt2jlOTfh_IgTe6sVrqYzW0tj35qHDp_ULIcr/s320/london+036.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">The interior was just as impressive. Pictures weren't allowed so I guess you just have to see it yourself. I sat craning my neck back and stared at the underneath of the dome just to take it all in. </span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZ-iBvlpGXxzlz6IYX7b83KMwpeM9prbK1snY88OQ1zKPKJp85Y49qA593h9dS9mt1h3oNEwpYmvv89z2hg8GQOnE2n6z2GWB29eaH4DPtY_pqqtSAhA3PXtMpftjpP_nynAUXAML6bBl/s1600-h/london+038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZ-iBvlpGXxzlz6IYX7b83KMwpeM9prbK1snY88OQ1zKPKJp85Y49qA593h9dS9mt1h3oNEwpYmvv89z2hg8GQOnE2n6z2GWB29eaH4DPtY_pqqtSAhA3PXtMpftjpP_nynAUXAML6bBl/s200/london+038.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The most fascinating thing about this church is that it is England's National Church. Any major event that affects the entire nation takes place there. Princess Diana and </span><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Charles were married there, Winston Churchill's funeral was there and the night after 9/11 England held a memorial for America there. The whole nation feels as one in this space. </span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> 2.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">going to really old shops</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">shopping is not only a skill I have honed but its a genetic trait, thanks mom. I am really good at it. Take that however you like. But while here, I have decided to get things I can only buy here. I've done good thus far, but it has only been a week :) My favorite is going into really old stores. I already mentioned I went to Harrods, that place is old but its full of things that will break my bank. Yesterday my friend Brit and I found this bookstore:</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwsAbm-Bzf0QfSv13x2v-OYPKAGmqilNPVbqdgvdPCuip7pvt1z-lyz0y3JvaLJxP7kGlqEnY6p0ipxoDvODlYOqzd6nSBuu6LmmLwAFnSSX8XvDC0a8rBYkfgVReEHZrZOJXa8uJaw_o/s1600-h/london+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwsAbm-Bzf0QfSv13x2v-OYPKAGmqilNPVbqdgvdPCuip7pvt1z-lyz0y3JvaLJxP7kGlqEnY6p0ipxoDvODlYOqzd6nSBuu6LmmLwAFnSSX8XvDC0a8rBYkfgVReEHZrZOJXa8uJaw_o/s320/london+041.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hatchards. Its been there since 1797. It's five floors of books. With little tiny staircases and mazes of rooms and bookelves. I loved it. I really like books. I won't disclose how much money I spent there because my mother reads this but I'll tell you of my two favorites that I got. The first was an architecture book. It's kinda like an encylcopedia of architectural elements with hand drawn pictures and diagrams. The other is a book by one of my favorite artists, Mark Rothko. Its of his hidden/lost manuscripts on art. I am excited to actually get a chance to read them after the semester, I have way too much reading to do for my classes. <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">3.</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">adventuring with new friends</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qY18or6tsvFtexT5vQp-IUB-bKpuiuXJ3PGDXjY0iJ2pBkGRwFLq20mWSa1g0-xeaBq-lBpG9wVF81TendkjlTiaATPHXufXEm9C32wK9VZvvEnpa2It4Zk2vG5HFKjlNXkWciHRzmf0/s1600-h/london+049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qY18or6tsvFtexT5vQp-IUB-bKpuiuXJ3PGDXjY0iJ2pBkGRwFLq20mWSa1g0-xeaBq-lBpG9wVF81TendkjlTiaATPHXufXEm9C32wK9VZvvEnpa2It4Zk2vG5HFKjlNXkWciHRzmf0/s320/london+049.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">so I think the best part is just playing around with all my new friends. It doesn't really matter where we end up on our adventures because it always ends up being a fun time, even though most the time we do go to relaly cool places. For exapmle, last night a few of us made plans to go on the Jack the Ripper walking tour and then to this free concert in the back of a restaurant. BUT the tube was delaynd we were ten minutes late for the tour and when we made it over to the venue for the concert it was really some weird british comedian. SO instead we walked around goofing off </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPtobcqae1iQ1KWsg5ubSvoD1o3QKYrfeo9YyeaJLYxuFJ5t-cGFbcH_BKrtaLeibY4DlSj15i9TengOBLGJ7OrBdkDAKM6fdunbSaTx8WZovf9FsGLJV-WtkSKE1AcT7T_MKiLZ6IuGU/s1600-h/london+062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPtobcqae1iQ1KWsg5ubSvoD1o3QKYrfeo9YyeaJLYxuFJ5t-cGFbcH_BKrtaLeibY4DlSj15i9TengOBLGJ7OrBdkDAKM6fdunbSaTx8WZovf9FsGLJV-WtkSKE1AcT7T_MKiLZ6IuGU/s320/london+062.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">[ some big statue ]<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xcIkzUkIJ8ypWQbbpFLVTPnXR2p2GXEzwT5RdgotfXJy-pOVXUjG-XpUsypdyihF4sZlg-fZh2wiGcRbo8837kxAVT-06YjW0cF-aZ6fQ8cv7l6koM47t6tyBMLPvLoqLvZmWLGYD1ht/s1600-h/london+072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xcIkzUkIJ8ypWQbbpFLVTPnXR2p2GXEzwT5RdgotfXJy-pOVXUjG-XpUsypdyihF4sZlg-fZh2wiGcRbo8837kxAVT-06YjW0cF-aZ6fQ8cv7l6koM47t6tyBMLPvLoqLvZmWLGYD1ht/s320/london+072.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">[ tower bridge ]<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwySbnoHxyuAFxKNsMr3Iexq6QF2MObajH7tOtihbtMaj366k-NB2ZcRWmuoUSH4sJHKN9IlZEWVs21WNfQIY3XGDzWnQi8bPSgm9zBv02U7wiIQwgbfD_zvfBS1DNe9E6xZZgWD4nX1v/s1600-h/london+076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwySbnoHxyuAFxKNsMr3Iexq6QF2MObajH7tOtihbtMaj366k-NB2ZcRWmuoUSH4sJHKN9IlZEWVs21WNfQIY3XGDzWnQi8bPSgm9zBv02U7wiIQwgbfD_zvfBS1DNe9E6xZZgWD4nX1v/s320/london+076.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">[ we could have easily fit atleast two more in there. ]<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and then went and ate at the Waffle house by our place.</span><br />
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</div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-43034803995718485092010-01-13T01:51:00.000-08:002010-01-13T01:51:10.689-08:00london mates.<div style="text-align: center;">A lot of the girls here seem to have already known each other before coming which generally winds up splitting up the group. Mini cliques have sort have already been formed, but that was going to happen eventually, we can't have forty girls all walking around together. Just by random happenstance I have done pretty much everything with the same two girls, so I suppose we are our own little clique.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVO2lkU2B5ibq7pJFDye4T759kBvReGzhBVFGp59Yz7gnOvv9Kpx9nN4_yByiSMrjsPHI0e4wan7XsveXHucuIJ5IxtTAI1kNKG6jr3QDcfR2eDHkax6x3NswFVDKpkyDprCpF4A9Q-H7L/s1600-h/london+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVO2lkU2B5ibq7pJFDye4T759kBvReGzhBVFGp59Yz7gnOvv9Kpx9nN4_yByiSMrjsPHI0e4wan7XsveXHucuIJ5IxtTAI1kNKG6jr3QDcfR2eDHkax6x3NswFVDKpkyDprCpF4A9Q-H7L/s320/london+008.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">[ mary, me and brit after our successful navigation of the tube on day one ]<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Brit is in my room, the bunkbed right next to me and Mary is in room one. They are both from Utah and are pretty chill girls. At home all three of us have predominantly guy friends and I think that's why we get along so well. We shy away from girlish drama. We pretty much just keep it real.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJH6ONstJpSKiqIMt24oFl_ZJwNtWiviSkVFTKjlIiIMXhgBxHvk5XUlTEIA3jxaqShDBQT2dyqNQKYWL-lVK3U7-VhGqay1Jl5WWSl_2bxLwZHA2DehY2OhLNWJT6U3ft9QEGQXdBr1XC/s1600-h/london+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJH6ONstJpSKiqIMt24oFl_ZJwNtWiviSkVFTKjlIiIMXhgBxHvk5XUlTEIA3jxaqShDBQT2dyqNQKYWL-lVK3U7-VhGqay1Jl5WWSl_2bxLwZHA2DehY2OhLNWJT6U3ft9QEGQXdBr1XC/s320/london+022.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ very cold england ]<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Plus the three of us like to go on adventures and not just shopping....<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwvMG6Z3a0eLn8eIBj-H3MpnteAXE_o-nHwxIbE7SMhRYhIt2I-Hrm_IngJtT1sMdEUV6ZkjIdrwZbRricRk4sRcimKEpD-VIunbeJ7E4R3ZSh7BUVW1TuDbQHrYVLANWA9Bmv8aYNhjG/s1600-h/london+078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwvMG6Z3a0eLn8eIBj-H3MpnteAXE_o-nHwxIbE7SMhRYhIt2I-Hrm_IngJtT1sMdEUV6ZkjIdrwZbRricRk4sRcimKEpD-VIunbeJ7E4R3ZSh7BUVW1TuDbQHrYVLANWA9Bmv8aYNhjG/s320/london+078.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[ harry potter nerds at kings cross, yes mary brought her wand ]<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-550183442294400852010-01-12T12:08:00.000-08:002010-01-12T12:08:28.069-08:00pictures.<div style="text-align: center;">So instead of posting all my pictures in two places, I figure I'll post the important or most pertinent to the stories I'm telling on here and then just put all the rest on facebook. If some of you don't have facebook, this is the link to the album I've started there,<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2311719&id=17827200&l=ec6df1ab16">http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2311719&id=17827200&l=ec6df1ab16</a></span><br />
</div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-20266071458122068512010-01-12T12:05:00.000-08:002010-01-12T12:05:15.395-08:00my first show.<div style="text-align: center;">I went and saw my first play in london. A friend of mine's older sister came to the london center a couple years ago and she recommended it. so our first real night here, saturday night we hopped at the chance. Its called The Woman in Black. Its said to be the most frightening live stage show in the UK and as far as I can say, it is. It is performed at the Fortune Theater in Covent Garden.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipiOPNeJOQSS1z0GCMnHzJKrjZp412odPHk1A0HoI7gwmqE9yT-iOkXW7GzCVjxKhnK3nxVUmT-fnY_GDnoZm89yLrA-ZElvZFkDwFrfp4DNFukNPddGFzicFcGVLBPKtI0hXpxvSSTVNC/s1600-h/p2969_m1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipiOPNeJOQSS1z0GCMnHzJKrjZp412odPHk1A0HoI7gwmqE9yT-iOkXW7GzCVjxKhnK3nxVUmT-fnY_GDnoZm89yLrA-ZElvZFkDwFrfp4DNFukNPddGFzicFcGVLBPKtI0hXpxvSSTVNC/s320/p2969_m1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The show itself was rather simplistic. It only have two actors, and then the woman in black. It was simple set with very few props. But it was still remarkable. The actors did an amazing job and the whole story was really convincing.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHiVuTPgvILc2-vMnMIR3zEB-NQUaYWcvvqHzIQmzIqw8DD5vohAZuD9ql3mxLmLoYW4F3HANdy_ImtHXgV090B6xhMUfvRwea5svl3M4Ydgdnd2YCud7paRSKIeoz0QHzQISwCuh8w_XH/s1600-h/2007-10_womaninblack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHiVuTPgvILc2-vMnMIR3zEB-NQUaYWcvvqHzIQmzIqw8DD5vohAZuD9ql3mxLmLoYW4F3HANdy_ImtHXgV090B6xhMUfvRwea5svl3M4Ydgdnd2YCud7paRSKIeoz0QHzQISwCuh8w_XH/s320/2007-10_womaninblack.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[its not the same actors or props but its very similar to what i saw.]<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The plotline, in a nut shell, is that it's a play within a play where one man is telling of the experience he had with the woman in black who haunts a house in northern england fifty years previous. the story is quite chilling and I honestly screamed.... the woman in black comes out of nowhere! After the show I got a totebag from the giftshop that has the outline of a woman's screaming face and it says " I came. I saw. I screamed." It was really fun, next time you're in London, hit it up.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwSE-VN8xgpwIi-EW6zLpK7qYI04rKCXXMeV4YOH8VHHr8cMSWeQURK8gsgycgiA1VcGyqR28yZsHbAViyhrCf89cstcjKOstlfczm8n8sRDnrbZiwaHxCAqV_lGlci0zikdygVu828A-/s1600-h/The-Woman-in-Black-at-the-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwSE-VN8xgpwIi-EW6zLpK7qYI04rKCXXMeV4YOH8VHHr8cMSWeQURK8gsgycgiA1VcGyqR28yZsHbAViyhrCf89cstcjKOstlfczm8n8sRDnrbZiwaHxCAqV_lGlci0zikdygVu828A-/s320/The-Woman-in-Black-at-the-001.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">[these were the actors I saw, this guy was amazing]<br />
</div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-28482580947947853952010-01-09T16:22:00.000-08:002010-01-09T16:22:25.377-08:00British people say the darndest things<div style="text-align: center;">I think I'm going to keep this an on-going post. Today's quotes may be hard to top though. <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">To Kellen just after we asked her and her friends where Ben's Cookies was:<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"You got nice teeth."<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">On the tube with a gaggle of clubbing twenty-somethings:<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Not nobody on this damn train can say i'm not sexy."<br />
</div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-49353363831278705552010-01-09T02:17:00.000-08:002010-01-09T02:17:17.575-08:00PSIf you feel so inclined.... send me something,<br />
<br />
27 Palace Court<br />
London W2 4LP<br />
Englandkatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-75408566627117897512010-01-09T02:16:00.000-08:002010-01-09T02:16:08.219-08:00London Calling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">so I made it. <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjyr_J3gi63lTFwkwP2-tWuE2SxC6T4zSN_v_WGFJuvVleoRDqsP00CGKCcrjH8gu6_CC0OCskIjZcVXKpAwv6xD-Gasu5_qc_2FWmeCTslsOfywCEEm8Xev0OoDsU2pzXLSLzY9Ta9-m/s1600-h/london+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjyr_J3gi63lTFwkwP2-tWuE2SxC6T4zSN_v_WGFJuvVleoRDqsP00CGKCcrjH8gu6_CC0OCskIjZcVXKpAwv6xD-Gasu5_qc_2FWmeCTslsOfywCEEm8Xev0OoDsU2pzXLSLzY9Ta9-m/s200/london+001.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> after traveling seventeen hours with my friend reesa here, <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pWFz9_nAH0SZuoQnDb8Hn6DgjsVp1-jW1kfA39yutFpbUXhlwbxzrJWrZ0wcRilB5MW_TpYnp1wFV8jqT43oMojwl6yd0gBAxpPmhIaETLfwRUtTxPb7hIOc1bnpBaWprdyLszUhNXmj/s1600-h/london+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pWFz9_nAH0SZuoQnDb8Hn6DgjsVp1-jW1kfA39yutFpbUXhlwbxzrJWrZ0wcRilB5MW_TpYnp1wFV8jqT43oMojwl6yd0gBAxpPmhIaETLfwRUtTxPb7hIOc1bnpBaWprdyLszUhNXmj/s320/london+002.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and we're exhausted. <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">one ten hour flight<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">one series of line waiting at world's most unorganized airport in amsterdam<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">one 45 minute flight next to screaming baby<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">one wait through customs<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">one train ride to paddington <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">one cab right to 27 Palace Court<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and we're here. <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">on our first day they requried us to go on a neighborhood walk. <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSWpYVJ0xOj1Cv98ndLVVwd4mdeijU0NEBEMUdtg-AbJoMdhHKnVwH9pD8vTtuWZPh0Wc0Vy7eIlMlmtDpH4vuwXw6hy0ZsMzL9vjBBj1ECNxmvH14o1GEVH0Qealvnwc1TBdrfOge17u/s1600-h/london+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSWpYVJ0xOj1Cv98ndLVVwd4mdeijU0NEBEMUdtg-AbJoMdhHKnVwH9pD8vTtuWZPh0Wc0Vy7eIlMlmtDpH4vuwXw6hy0ZsMzL9vjBBj1ECNxmvH14o1GEVH0Qealvnwc1TBdrfOge17u/s320/london+003.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this is my street. I live in one of those townhouses.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQhoGIbY3ji5lheeDZ2qLsS6UOTYyVFfkO2hqIZ-oonfYc8A2UVodxL-AcUjz6TgyfSZHbTPQA6f1_uoLKIYbWCKmwzMJF4jOmBL7HJ9KVQVfau91KyOgMkU2bDd81FLiItuocdLJhA5uJ/s1600-h/london+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQhoGIbY3ji5lheeDZ2qLsS6UOTYyVFfkO2hqIZ-oonfYc8A2UVodxL-AcUjz6TgyfSZHbTPQA6f1_uoLKIYbWCKmwzMJF4jOmBL7HJ9KVQVfau91KyOgMkU2bDd81FLiItuocdLJhA5uJ/s320/london+004.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">that's some of us walking. we live right where notting hill and westminister meet, two pretty ritzy towns. <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">lots of shopping and lots of food all around us. there is literally every cuisine you can think of. lebanese food here i come.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRTJbdda0T3bF0YwxCNmMe4bq67C2EdEMwPuMvoAQm-cQjyLYwCGNlSEMpXqDA1tiFEpiEBxh_boF7KIQ4-riRmwdEcJ13bJjKjMxshnTeIDDHAi46S4NuohdK3WOBs5wBxbmayUAtfy7/s1600-h/london+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRTJbdda0T3bF0YwxCNmMe4bq67C2EdEMwPuMvoAQm-cQjyLYwCGNlSEMpXqDA1tiFEpiEBxh_boF7KIQ4-riRmwdEcJ13bJjKjMxshnTeIDDHAi46S4NuohdK3WOBs5wBxbmayUAtfy7/s200/london+005.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> this is me being a tourist. I was walking around with some of the girls and they kept pointing out all the blantanly british things. Oh my gosh that says mum! or The clock says 23:00 and not 11:00! tadge bit annoying but I figure it won't last forever. <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The rest of the evening was full of trying to say awake but that eventually failed at around 7 pm. I slept great for the first five hours of sleep but after that it was tossing and turning and frustration. Now i'm gonna take a shower and actually do something exciting today. <br />
</div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-5586056099057538622010-01-04T02:01:00.000-08:002010-01-04T02:01:58.040-08:00SAM<div style="text-align: center;">In my previous post I forgot to mention one other valued experience while in america due to a lack of photographic evidence. I went to the Seattle Art Museum and it was amazing. Its right downtown and had a lot more to offer than I expected. Most of the galleries are filled with contemporary pieces mostly from Seattle based artists. one of my favorites was:<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-eag9xc5IhIJLcTiu8SbYg-YH9iUAe6w_OQvD99UY5e5dHmrBRI_y16LCXK0MANpNSq08zrQ1-ccE_M-CCf-jDept2cVp36xH9ym8b5cjY7LP12qlfXtb21iCbke1kilsYLV86LAq4I07/s1600-h/LShome1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-eag9xc5IhIJLcTiu8SbYg-YH9iUAe6w_OQvD99UY5e5dHmrBRI_y16LCXK0MANpNSq08zrQ1-ccE_M-CCf-jDept2cVp36xH9ym8b5cjY7LP12qlfXtb21iCbke1kilsYLV86LAq4I07/s200/LShome1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Man and Mouse<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Katherine Fristch<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I know this is a horrible picture of it but its the only one I could find. In this sculpture the bed is lifesize, if not bigger, so you can imagine how big the mouse is. I liked it for its simplicity. Plus it reminds me of one of my guilty pleasure favorites, <a href="http://manduh.jasonspadaro.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/john-henry-fuseli-the-nightmare.jpg">The Nightmare</a>.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There was another piece, which at first glance didn't seem too significant, that I really liked. It's sculpture of a bust with the head covered in a scarf that appears to be blowing in the wind. After doing a double take I realized it was carved out of a single block of wood. It was so detailed and smooth. All the grain matched so you knew it was one piece. It was remarkable, I wish I could have found a picture of it.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was also astonished to find some pretty well known pieces. I like modern art, I know it is an acquired taste but I have acquired it. I have some favorites of the modern art world and two of them just happened to have a piece or two in Seattle.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have a print by Mark Rothko that has hung in every apartment I have lived in, and nearly all who have seen it claim "I could have painted that." But did you, no.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VrLB7ms9voKDzVhmjhyphenhyphenmKwo_J0tk256avfHbdGDchPgTlEjS1he18pd12zqVrrfLu64KUTydG6ymrYaEPfEvO5zFnLpzRTJh_Qllt7tjzLoufTFfWWwjnZvv1lhgX3c1KGFsojrlYM75/s1600-h/3508097869_c57bc5ebf5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VrLB7ms9voKDzVhmjhyphenhyphenmKwo_J0tk256avfHbdGDchPgTlEjS1he18pd12zqVrrfLu64KUTydG6ymrYaEPfEvO5zFnLpzRTJh_Qllt7tjzLoufTFfWWwjnZvv1lhgX3c1KGFsojrlYM75/s320/3508097869_c57bc5ebf5.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">no. 10<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mark Rothko<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is in Seattle. My first face to face experience with Rothko.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">None of my roommates could have painted it.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have dreamed of seeing a Jackson Pollock in person.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Textbooks just don't do him justice. I found one:<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQfljvNuWag8LYO4vZueHDz5lrl6inrLy9slcw56aH-papdSYoZyMLSjCjB4uJ1hfDjTaqW415K2_njBlgPxGwhmqDNTDV8Vz51qZEdm5Eov3RFr4d_5bPhc74OrglyIQirnKrmpvziaF/s1600-h/58.55_01c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQfljvNuWag8LYO4vZueHDz5lrl6inrLy9slcw56aH-papdSYoZyMLSjCjB4uJ1hfDjTaqW415K2_njBlgPxGwhmqDNTDV8Vz51qZEdm5Eov3RFr4d_5bPhc74OrglyIQirnKrmpvziaF/s200/58.55_01c.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sea Change<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jackson Pollock<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This pretty much made my night.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To cap the night off, in SAM's traveling galleries were two main exhibitions. First was of Alexander Calder's sculptures.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGZOqDMbbGDv7s8eRK8hrFPasTP4GPIscOtEMn93uu1_x-1elEMJdh9D9jQYLz_OY_M6Bi-ZrYgeTAn9nffLpKBHDCAoRCoyNopME6EdOsXq6JVUU9xKozRR83hQeRHxt36et2x5RN2aw/s1600-h/Alexander_Calder_Enseign_de_Lunettes_238_65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGZOqDMbbGDv7s8eRK8hrFPasTP4GPIscOtEMn93uu1_x-1elEMJdh9D9jQYLz_OY_M6Bi-ZrYgeTAn9nffLpKBHDCAoRCoyNopME6EdOsXq6JVUU9xKozRR83hQeRHxt36et2x5RN2aw/s320/Alexander_Calder_Enseign_de_Lunettes_238_65.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, Swiss, SunSans-Regular;">Enseign de Lunettes</span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, Swiss, SunSans-Regular;">Alexander Calder</span><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I enjoy Calder's work but once you've seen one of his mobiles, you've kinda have seen it all so an entire exhibit of mobiles was not my cup of tea. One day it would be awesome to hang one in my house from the ceiling of the great room, that is when I'm rich of course. </span><br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The second exhibit was of Michelangelo's prep drawings for the Sistine Chapel.<br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I thought this was remarkable.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wFsjF_j2g6Vkli01RKSpWqPUlb0u8Iw1DPL9oPIWGcRLXSjzX6ENnIWjqDkFesc9JgTXHghZ_Uvvw1aO7F3GnhaR3eE5Vxlcs8-QDrG89N1Kz8S7lunfVxU_39iszHcM_ZXya-vzZsIK/s1600-h/michelangelo_250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wFsjF_j2g6Vkli01RKSpWqPUlb0u8Iw1DPL9oPIWGcRLXSjzX6ENnIWjqDkFesc9JgTXHghZ_Uvvw1aO7F3GnhaR3eE5Vxlcs8-QDrG89N1Kz8S7lunfVxU_39iszHcM_ZXya-vzZsIK/s320/michelangelo_250.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Study for Libyan Sibyl<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Michelangelo<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was three inches away, yeah I pressed my face right up in there, from lines drawn from a pencil held by Michelangelo, the Master. I guess I am an art history nerd but it was pretty miraculous to see.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">lengthy post, but I heart art.<br />
</div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-47307351281578366922010-01-02T20:21:00.000-08:002010-01-02T20:21:06.614-08:00last two weeks in america.<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">So I actually have five days left, but all my friends and out of town family have left so most of my adventures in america have subsided. Here's what I've done, <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMcVVM6LrVPbTaw7q0YdnrP8vph_36iFlK8y8YnkG7XyWQHep5G53b1AKFgphv5heZqI7BCa5YpRXi42WMRYcM7rz3kbpbYvw4AYsZG4vJLuFzbq1COylBWSef7FSNsDLEdxCXaLVkfAf/s1600-h/P1010842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMMcVVM6LrVPbTaw7q0YdnrP8vph_36iFlK8y8YnkG7XyWQHep5G53b1AKFgphv5heZqI7BCa5YpRXi42WMRYcM7rz3kbpbYvw4AYsZG4vJLuFzbq1COylBWSef7FSNsDLEdxCXaLVkfAf/s200/P1010842.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">family time.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNv3CEDRVSzu3_ekaJ1kDwdaWAIiNeros0K-w9FekXK3WYgGN5jPaUSVg6TAgVqMaCEpACd6lfXibz8AcyfACmdBTThXy1XF-NjMc-sR0fs3e8UwrK8RvTJ_j9CchNiIhwDdE347FQR0L4/s1600-h/P1010887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNv3CEDRVSzu3_ekaJ1kDwdaWAIiNeros0K-w9FekXK3WYgGN5jPaUSVg6TAgVqMaCEpACd6lfXibz8AcyfACmdBTThXy1XF-NjMc-sR0fs3e8UwrK8RvTJ_j9CchNiIhwDdE347FQR0L4/s320/P1010887.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">christmas eve nativity.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVe8yBMtVJvI3ezeF_z0iyTLVITe8_szJtMpBj-7sacMbJCgejPcq04QPbZy12GSUflvMOliKtmwmhP3CfcCY8458R6jkE0D9d19f0M8ZVXQmSrksw_k1B_KLGnU6sXoX4MkxhnPlK1Bx0/s1600-h/P1010907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVe8yBMtVJvI3ezeF_z0iyTLVITe8_szJtMpBj-7sacMbJCgejPcq04QPbZy12GSUflvMOliKtmwmhP3CfcCY8458R6jkE0D9d19f0M8ZVXQmSrksw_k1B_KLGnU6sXoX4MkxhnPlK1Bx0/s200/P1010907.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">christmas morning. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehMqozybCOosUxDJQYrR82cj33tfgRoXGfvwAw7HY_b0ay_Dd3JNRHtCjPVMmIANCb6nIWlFbFJ1WBZ-3cGUfjhZ6UZgZBoCnmCBG7B9CMfiw7iKk5BAcVXyEa9q-BWFVGWRGn38EDjbB/s1600-h/P1010875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehMqozybCOosUxDJQYrR82cj33tfgRoXGfvwAw7HY_b0ay_Dd3JNRHtCjPVMmIANCb6nIWlFbFJ1WBZ-3cGUfjhZ6UZgZBoCnmCBG7B9CMfiw7iKk5BAcVXyEa9q-BWFVGWRGn38EDjbB/s320/P1010875.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">baby watching. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0EakLZL4aBhhywYSzln8WlRBNlNqP09SLA5pa8hZzHriyGHAvYMiEucFxgd-KwxPLddWN9fI0sKNX-JJ3zuJOubg3nbR7i9RPwncsOJKRzBvQHGcvKR3IulvMYrvMFAEiiuiM9GDUTwk/s1600-h/P1010869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0EakLZL4aBhhywYSzln8WlRBNlNqP09SLA5pa8hZzHriyGHAvYMiEucFxgd-KwxPLddWN9fI0sKNX-JJ3zuJOubg3nbR7i9RPwncsOJKRzBvQHGcvKR3IulvMYrvMFAEiiuiM9GDUTwk/s200/P1010869.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">wrangling nephews. <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbp0NwNdKcIsJ6uN0ljakwPosiL_rPaCEH8VjvfazKV9_KvDPJtkwuZ_hj7VqwJbwa44p_V0WfXpKaoSSG6Pf9jfgRYD46EqDib4IgHeKemlowBJ-EG0Rxf0TFPij0wMl9TnYuX1FwJuZg/s1600-h/P1010938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbp0NwNdKcIsJ6uN0ljakwPosiL_rPaCEH8VjvfazKV9_KvDPJtkwuZ_hj7VqwJbwa44p_V0WfXpKaoSSG6Pf9jfgRYD46EqDib4IgHeKemlowBJ-EG0Rxf0TFPij0wMl9TnYuX1FwJuZg/s320/P1010938.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">church ball. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghk5qkNj5L4hLSyfeN4fLeL70KMgN6ZJfFVTghO1gvaiFdyqvlbecwYJwu83ptr0e5de_kYNKedsBD8un5gPXlgL_hM2cQcR-nZy_4v_n36Hso57f8eiurokG3841LrKbcb_W1yVDFx_Yx/s1600-h/christmas+2009+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghk5qkNj5L4hLSyfeN4fLeL70KMgN6ZJfFVTghO1gvaiFdyqvlbecwYJwu83ptr0e5de_kYNKedsBD8un5gPXlgL_hM2cQcR-nZy_4v_n36Hso57f8eiurokG3841LrKbcb_W1yVDFx_Yx/s200/christmas+2009+017.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">ping pong with buddies. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJpiiSdDHRq0tv7j-r35HaTmYysWa_DBn3kt2pvVJ_bKwq1lcX-ClHuAEu9OtJyLqOqvhvOTHCpuyJBIsI8urblNC0eT58GM2TKOoFrIOzRA5xi46W8dDKX5OFfcbEIA9RoHOchc5F13W/s1600-h/christmas+2009+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJpiiSdDHRq0tv7j-r35HaTmYysWa_DBn3kt2pvVJ_bKwq1lcX-ClHuAEu9OtJyLqOqvhvOTHCpuyJBIsI8urblNC0eT58GM2TKOoFrIOzRA5xi46W8dDKX5OFfcbEIA9RoHOchc5F13W/s320/christmas+2009+026.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">hanging with trevor. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazXNb97-iuM9rFtcu4npf3YjYkr1av2f_ubjod1rKehyMzG3zRwxF9nJMFA8q_S6S37L3oUmixmPWa73jEzWSnMQ2Gbkqy6ILc17NKbnyJhKDhDheXOJHDfUiREW0s8u_WPACGHh78BP8/s1600-h/P1010935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgazXNb97-iuM9rFtcu4npf3YjYkr1av2f_ubjod1rKehyMzG3zRwxF9nJMFA8q_S6S37L3oUmixmPWa73jEzWSnMQ2Gbkqy6ILc17NKbnyJhKDhDheXOJHDfUiREW0s8u_WPACGHh78BP8/s320/P1010935.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">pretend family pictures.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmWHcStzLEa_mW5obrSno8dYTLJBjXfbycOKxTJtZ1Xhk6wbgXkwtD-MogVatgCTlJa4WAvBnrrncMdVBTEA-pa8IWbK_7yDokcrupMmE26gA6PmXVeN1QAjjbDRWEIrL8aVPAezvjC_t/s1600-h/christmas+2009+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmWHcStzLEa_mW5obrSno8dYTLJBjXfbycOKxTJtZ1Xhk6wbgXkwtD-MogVatgCTlJa4WAvBnrrncMdVBTEA-pa8IWbK_7yDokcrupMmE26gA6PmXVeN1QAjjbDRWEIrL8aVPAezvjC_t/s200/christmas+2009+025.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">new years. <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">its been a wicked fun time. now all that is left is packing and preparation for jolly ole england. <br />
</div>katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8748202632818501695.post-37849890892302050322009-12-20T12:37:00.000-08:002009-12-20T12:37:48.918-08:00EncountingEightteen more days until I am in London. And in preparation I made this blog to keep record of the excellent adventure. Do keep in touch. Cheerio.katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01524523212304373590noreply@blogger.com1