Well, today was uneventful.
Kristen, Anna Lauren and Laura left for Paris, Sam and I went out to lunch at the Food Maker (very yummy) with Chris and Scott before they left, and then we read finance out loud for four hours so we could get through it. And that's pretty much it.
It's weird for it to be just Sam and me, but also kindof cool. It's relaxing not to have so many people here. Full week ahead: law class, brewery tour, finance test, EU tour, finance class. And somewhere in there going to register and going to the mall. I'm going to Paris this weekend with Marion, which should be interesting.
Goodnight, world.
The musings of a twenty-something currently studying in Missouri.
Always loving the escape as much as the anchors.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Fun Days and Freezing Cold
So I've done a lot since my last post.
I ate lunch and went out with Sam, Kristen, Kristin, Anna Lauren, Laura, Scott and Chris. We stopped at a kebap shop for everyone else to eat and then made our way to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Anna Lauren's a pro photographer, so we took a lot of pictures and had fun along the way. We finally made it there two minutes before it closed. We went inside for a very tiny bit and then hopped back on the metro.
Our next stop was De Brockere, which is where the awesome parking garage is. You get an awesome 360 view for free. It was so cold, though.
We next headed to Grand Place to meet Ali and Caroline, where we took more pictures and Scott was addressed by a costumed woman and her bachlorette party members. He got cookies in return for helping her suit up a banana, and many pictures were taken.
We walked over to St. Michiel church and couldn't get inside, so we went back for dinner at the place where we ate the very first night. I had delicious broccoli soup and then we all went to Hagen-Daaz for ice cream. I got a yummy lemon sorbet.
Next was coming back to the apartment, where the plan was to pre-game. Instead, we all kindof relaxed and then, about 11, everyone except for Sam, Kristen and I went out. We did homework for a bit and then devolved into googling ourselves. It's been an interesting two hours...
Anyways, tomorrow I'm going to focus and finish homework, maybe getting a bit ahead.
Goodnight, world.
I ate lunch and went out with Sam, Kristen, Kristin, Anna Lauren, Laura, Scott and Chris. We stopped at a kebap shop for everyone else to eat and then made our way to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Anna Lauren's a pro photographer, so we took a lot of pictures and had fun along the way. We finally made it there two minutes before it closed. We went inside for a very tiny bit and then hopped back on the metro.
Our next stop was De Brockere, which is where the awesome parking garage is. You get an awesome 360 view for free. It was so cold, though.
We next headed to Grand Place to meet Ali and Caroline, where we took more pictures and Scott was addressed by a costumed woman and her bachlorette party members. He got cookies in return for helping her suit up a banana, and many pictures were taken.
We walked over to St. Michiel church and couldn't get inside, so we went back for dinner at the place where we ate the very first night. I had delicious broccoli soup and then we all went to Hagen-Daaz for ice cream. I got a yummy lemon sorbet.
Next was coming back to the apartment, where the plan was to pre-game. Instead, we all kindof relaxed and then, about 11, everyone except for Sam, Kristen and I went out. We did homework for a bit and then devolved into googling ourselves. It's been an interesting two hours...
Anyways, tomorrow I'm going to focus and finish homework, maybe getting a bit ahead.
Goodnight, world.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
It's incredible
How fast time flies. I only have a month and a half left before I come home for the summer, and I need to figure out what I'm doing this summer. I've applied to research laboratories, but I'm also looking at internships with several police departments. Hopefully something will come through.
Sorry for not updating last night - I kindof fell asleep watching NCIS rather early.
Yesterday was fun. I went running - it's finally sort-of warm and I really need to lose weight - and went on an adventure. My plans were to go to the bookstore that I just found out about (all English) and then go to the Colruyt (where we normally shop because it's the cheapest). I did find the bookshop, where they all spoke English and had English foods like Marmite and Cadbury eggs. I got a copy of Alias Grace, which is by Margaret Atwood and what I started reading when we were in Spain. Also, I picked up a copy of Deathly Hallows because I've wanted to read it for the past two months.
I then went back to the tram stop, which was actually the bottom floor of a four story mall, and wandered around a bit. I ended up going to the GB grocery store there, where I found some cool filled chocolates (like those I found in Chile) that were banana, cranberry/grapefruit/orange, blueberry and rum raisin. They should be interesting, whenever I open them. I also got some normal food and stuff and then took the tram back.
The tram ride there and back was cool because it was mostly above ground and I got to see things I didn't know existed.
The other thing that started yesterday was our apartment being filled with visitors. Sam and Kristen each have two visitors this weekend since it's spring break at Clemson. Two of them are guys studying in Alicante, who Sam saw when we went to Spain. The two girls happen to be in Sam's sorority, but are here to see Kristen. It's a full house.
Today I'm reading textbooks and doing homework. Should be tons of fun. It's gray and rainy outside, so I don't know if I'm going to go out.
Will update later. Chao for now.
Sorry for not updating last night - I kindof fell asleep watching NCIS rather early.
Yesterday was fun. I went running - it's finally sort-of warm and I really need to lose weight - and went on an adventure. My plans were to go to the bookstore that I just found out about (all English) and then go to the Colruyt (where we normally shop because it's the cheapest). I did find the bookshop, where they all spoke English and had English foods like Marmite and Cadbury eggs. I got a copy of Alias Grace, which is by Margaret Atwood and what I started reading when we were in Spain. Also, I picked up a copy of Deathly Hallows because I've wanted to read it for the past two months.
I then went back to the tram stop, which was actually the bottom floor of a four story mall, and wandered around a bit. I ended up going to the GB grocery store there, where I found some cool filled chocolates (like those I found in Chile) that were banana, cranberry/grapefruit/orange, blueberry and rum raisin. They should be interesting, whenever I open them. I also got some normal food and stuff and then took the tram back.
The tram ride there and back was cool because it was mostly above ground and I got to see things I didn't know existed.
The other thing that started yesterday was our apartment being filled with visitors. Sam and Kristen each have two visitors this weekend since it's spring break at Clemson. Two of them are guys studying in Alicante, who Sam saw when we went to Spain. The two girls happen to be in Sam's sorority, but are here to see Kristen. It's a full house.
Today I'm reading textbooks and doing homework. Should be tons of fun. It's gray and rainy outside, so I don't know if I'm going to go out.
Will update later. Chao for now.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Catching Up
Yesterday I did a lot, as I mentioned in last night's post.
It started off with a 9 o'clock communications class. We heard the first group presentation and did impromptu speeches. Given five minutes, we had to outline and prepare a two minute speech. They were not bad. As in surprisingly good. I enjoyed mine. It was about my favorite place in Belgium. I said my apartment because of my awesome roomies, the comfort and familiarity and because everyone always hangs out here. Which leads to what I did after law class.
Sam and I went to the grocery store and got a whole bunch of food (personally 65 euros worth) and I made breakfast for dinner for everyone. French toast, pancakes, scrambled eggs and "bacon." Bacon's in quotes because I said, "Bacon," the guy said, "Breakfast?" and I said, "Yes," and he gave me something surprisingly similar to prosciutto. Not actually knowing what it was, I fried it up and it was still very good. We had something like twenty people come over and it was all good fun. I also made a giant fruit salad and peeled my first pineapple, which was interesting. We had nutella and whipped cream and weird, disgusting sirop (syrup that was more like jelly and tasted like weird molasses), along with some other toppings. I think everyone had fun. I burned three fingers and caught a pan on fire but also had fun and really got a pattern going by the end of the night.
I skipped over law, but it was normal. Mowry is pretty cool and I think I'm going to enjoy class, which is more than I can say about my finance class, the second of which I had today. We got a homework assignment at 10:30 due for class at 12:15, but seeing as I was in communications, that didn't happen.
Instead, I paid attention in communications class, gave our group project and did an impromptu speech on which Europeans were my favorite (Irish because of friendliness, accent, helpfulness, and drinks) and learned some interesting things about my classmates.
Then finance, which is going to be awful. There's the aforementioned homework (first all semester!) and we have a test (after two classes) and there are two teachers - one of which who has the most difficult accent to understand and the other who detests America (judging by several different comments). Multiple times we had to ask more than five times for him to repeat something because we couldn't understand him, and many times he ended up writing words on the board. It was bad. But we'll all suffer together and get through it.
Then we came back, watched some NCIS, the fantastically insane new White Collar episode and I looked for some flights to Israel and wrote some emails and did some research. I'm glad it's the weekend. It's weird because this is the first time all semester I've thought, "Yay! It's finally the weekend!"
I'm going to go make dinner and probably read some law or finance or something.
Goodnight, world.
It started off with a 9 o'clock communications class. We heard the first group presentation and did impromptu speeches. Given five minutes, we had to outline and prepare a two minute speech. They were not bad. As in surprisingly good. I enjoyed mine. It was about my favorite place in Belgium. I said my apartment because of my awesome roomies, the comfort and familiarity and because everyone always hangs out here. Which leads to what I did after law class.
Sam and I went to the grocery store and got a whole bunch of food (personally 65 euros worth) and I made breakfast for dinner for everyone. French toast, pancakes, scrambled eggs and "bacon." Bacon's in quotes because I said, "Bacon," the guy said, "Breakfast?" and I said, "Yes," and he gave me something surprisingly similar to prosciutto. Not actually knowing what it was, I fried it up and it was still very good. We had something like twenty people come over and it was all good fun. I also made a giant fruit salad and peeled my first pineapple, which was interesting. We had nutella and whipped cream and weird, disgusting sirop (syrup that was more like jelly and tasted like weird molasses), along with some other toppings. I think everyone had fun. I burned three fingers and caught a pan on fire but also had fun and really got a pattern going by the end of the night.
I skipped over law, but it was normal. Mowry is pretty cool and I think I'm going to enjoy class, which is more than I can say about my finance class, the second of which I had today. We got a homework assignment at 10:30 due for class at 12:15, but seeing as I was in communications, that didn't happen.
Instead, I paid attention in communications class, gave our group project and did an impromptu speech on which Europeans were my favorite (Irish because of friendliness, accent, helpfulness, and drinks) and learned some interesting things about my classmates.
Then finance, which is going to be awful. There's the aforementioned homework (first all semester!) and we have a test (after two classes) and there are two teachers - one of which who has the most difficult accent to understand and the other who detests America (judging by several different comments). Multiple times we had to ask more than five times for him to repeat something because we couldn't understand him, and many times he ended up writing words on the board. It was bad. But we'll all suffer together and get through it.
Then we came back, watched some NCIS, the fantastically insane new White Collar episode and I looked for some flights to Israel and wrote some emails and did some research. I'm glad it's the weekend. It's weird because this is the first time all semester I've thought, "Yay! It's finally the weekend!"
I'm going to go make dinner and probably read some law or finance or something.
Goodnight, world.
Wednesday Night Fun
A lot happened today. I had comm class with an improptu speech, law class, breakfast for dinner and group project.
I'll write more tomorrow. It's nearly midnight.
Goodnight, world.
I'll write more tomorrow. It's nearly midnight.
Goodnight, world.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Oops.
Well, our internet went out again last night, so I didn't get a chance to post.
Monday morning I woke up plenty early (two hours - I did the time difference the wrong way) and went to the train station. I was going to get a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts to bring back with me, but they were closed. I got a delicious latte instead. I hopped on the train and went through the chunnel and was back in Brussels with plenty of time.
New classes start this week and yesterday I had my first law class. Prof Mowry is tons of fun and I'm looking forward to being in her class. She uses a lot of examples and really engages the class. Then I went to the grocery store and worked on some projects.
Our lovely communications teacher is here this week, and we have a group project due Thursday. Merely one of the projects I'm working on. We met him after our finance class today, and he's not bad. We did some fun exercises and kindof got to know each other (the whole class) and learned a good bit.
Which is more than I can say for finance... Our teachers are from ICHEC (our sister college) and there are two of them for finance. They switch off and one has a strong accent and the other hates Americans, judging by her comments. I attended class and I feel like I missed a week's material. And it was our very first class. I'm not looking forward to it.
Then I came back and we had our group over for the speech project - we're talking about nationalism and cultural competence and it should be interesting. Nils, Josh, Sam and I are working really well together and I think we're going to have a good speech. At least, I hope so.
Anyways, it's late and we have class at 9 tomorrow, so it's time for bed.
Goodnight, world.
Monday morning I woke up plenty early (two hours - I did the time difference the wrong way) and went to the train station. I was going to get a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts to bring back with me, but they were closed. I got a delicious latte instead. I hopped on the train and went through the chunnel and was back in Brussels with plenty of time.
New classes start this week and yesterday I had my first law class. Prof Mowry is tons of fun and I'm looking forward to being in her class. She uses a lot of examples and really engages the class. Then I went to the grocery store and worked on some projects.
Our lovely communications teacher is here this week, and we have a group project due Thursday. Merely one of the projects I'm working on. We met him after our finance class today, and he's not bad. We did some fun exercises and kindof got to know each other (the whole class) and learned a good bit.
Which is more than I can say for finance... Our teachers are from ICHEC (our sister college) and there are two of them for finance. They switch off and one has a strong accent and the other hates Americans, judging by her comments. I attended class and I feel like I missed a week's material. And it was our very first class. I'm not looking forward to it.
Then I came back and we had our group over for the speech project - we're talking about nationalism and cultural competence and it should be interesting. Nils, Josh, Sam and I are working really well together and I think we're going to have a good speech. At least, I hope so.
Anyways, it's late and we have class at 9 tomorrow, so it's time for bed.
Goodnight, world.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
London, Day 2
Well, today was kindof boring but also kindof relaxing.
I got up early and grabbed the tube to Abbey Road, where I snapped a few pics and got a yummy latte. It was the most anticlimactic moment of my life when I saw it. It looks nothing like the album cover and there's nothing of note anywhere except for a fence in front of one house that's covered in Beatles graffiti.
Then I wandered back to the tube and went to the Tower of London. I'm not sure if it was worth the 14.50 to get in (with a student discount) but it was cool to see the jewels. The towers were also cool and the museums (if you really want to call them that) were not bad.
They had a cafe in the Tower, so I grabbed lunch there. Delicious onion soup (I forget what they called it - but definitely not French) with spicy croutons (not hot) and a huge slice of bread. Along with a bottle of water and a slice of treacle tart, it was my least expensive meal out in two months. I was super excited about treacle tart, as I had only ever heard of it, mostly in Harry Potter, but in other British books, too. It was really good. It reminded me of a really thick and dense rice krispy treat in a pie shell.
Then I did a little shopping, went back to Marks and Spenser's and then wandered around near my hostel for a good while. I was looking for a clock because I left mine on my bed (with one other person in the room having left and checked out before I left for the day) and the cleaning crew disposed of it. Normally they don't clean and make the beds until you check out, but they've done mine every day. I'm not sure why, and neither is the girl I talked to in reception, but now I don't have a clock. I really liked my clock. It was small and had the temperature and the date and an alarm and a snooze and it was digital, which was nice for the changing time zones. And it's not on RadioShack's website for me to order a new one.... I got a lot of funny looks today when I asked for a digital travel clock and they're just so much more convenient.
I also got lemon sherberts (HP1, anyone? Dumbledore's favorite candy), peppermint humbugs and a selection of tea. And some other stuff, but I can't ruin all the surprise. =P
After wandering, I came back to the hostel, talked with the receptionist for a bit about Harry Potter and Douglas Adams and the Beatles, discovered the British like anything and everything American more than their own. I find it interesting, because I much prefer European literature to American and like the Beatles more than Lynyrd Skynyrd, who's surprisingly popular here. Then I logged on, posted photos to facebook and watched Psych, Criminal Minds, White Collar and NCIS. Now I won't have anything to do to kill time all week, but I'm sure I'll manage.
Tomorrow is an early morning - finish packing, grab a Krispy Kreme donut (or a dozen?) and catch my train back to Brussels. Class at 12:15, I think, which should be fun.
Oh, and here's an updated list in order of favorite places (yeah, I know they're all different, even the old standing, but this is it with reflection strictly on places I like to visit):
Ok, let me rephrase this. Here's a list in order of where I'd like to live (based on where I've been):
Goodnight, world.
I got up early and grabbed the tube to Abbey Road, where I snapped a few pics and got a yummy latte. It was the most anticlimactic moment of my life when I saw it. It looks nothing like the album cover and there's nothing of note anywhere except for a fence in front of one house that's covered in Beatles graffiti.
Then I wandered back to the tube and went to the Tower of London. I'm not sure if it was worth the 14.50 to get in (with a student discount) but it was cool to see the jewels. The towers were also cool and the museums (if you really want to call them that) were not bad.
They had a cafe in the Tower, so I grabbed lunch there. Delicious onion soup (I forget what they called it - but definitely not French) with spicy croutons (not hot) and a huge slice of bread. Along with a bottle of water and a slice of treacle tart, it was my least expensive meal out in two months. I was super excited about treacle tart, as I had only ever heard of it, mostly in Harry Potter, but in other British books, too. It was really good. It reminded me of a really thick and dense rice krispy treat in a pie shell.
Then I did a little shopping, went back to Marks and Spenser's and then wandered around near my hostel for a good while. I was looking for a clock because I left mine on my bed (with one other person in the room having left and checked out before I left for the day) and the cleaning crew disposed of it. Normally they don't clean and make the beds until you check out, but they've done mine every day. I'm not sure why, and neither is the girl I talked to in reception, but now I don't have a clock. I really liked my clock. It was small and had the temperature and the date and an alarm and a snooze and it was digital, which was nice for the changing time zones. And it's not on RadioShack's website for me to order a new one.... I got a lot of funny looks today when I asked for a digital travel clock and they're just so much more convenient.
I also got lemon sherberts (HP1, anyone? Dumbledore's favorite candy), peppermint humbugs and a selection of tea. And some other stuff, but I can't ruin all the surprise. =P
After wandering, I came back to the hostel, talked with the receptionist for a bit about Harry Potter and Douglas Adams and the Beatles, discovered the British like anything and everything American more than their own. I find it interesting, because I much prefer European literature to American and like the Beatles more than Lynyrd Skynyrd, who's surprisingly popular here. Then I logged on, posted photos to facebook and watched Psych, Criminal Minds, White Collar and NCIS. Now I won't have anything to do to kill time all week, but I'm sure I'll manage.
Tomorrow is an early morning - finish packing, grab a Krispy Kreme donut (or a dozen?) and catch my train back to Brussels. Class at 12:15, I think, which should be fun.
Oh, and here's an updated list in order of favorite places (yeah, I know they're all different, even the old standing, but this is it with reflection strictly on places I like to visit):
Howth > Dublin > Venice > Charleston > Barcelona > London > Madrid > Zurich > Rockland > New York City > New Orleans/Baton Rouge > Cologne > Bruge > Toledo >Dusseldorf > Brussels
Howth > Dublin > Charleston > Madrid > Rockland > Venice > Barcelona > Zurich > Toledo > New Orleans/Baton Rouge > Bruge > Dusseldorf > Cologne > London > New York City > Brussels
Goodnight, world.
London
So you know how I wrote this in my blog a few days back?:
This morning I slept in for a good long while (8:30 or so) before eating. The hostel website lied and I didn't get free breakfast, but I knew so I bought stuff last night. I also grabbed a croissant or two on the way to Hyde Park. On the way, I also stopped at Harrod's (Mom's suggestion) which was awesome. I have never been so amazed by a department store. It was huge and so expensive. There were brands I'd only ever heard of being sold. I did get a little teddy bear key chain that has a bow that says Harrod's on it, but I don't think I could afford anything else.
I got to Hyde Park and walked around for a bit before walking over to Wellington Monument to start a free tour. It was run by the same people as the one I went on in Dublin and our guide was pretty cool but also kindof odd. We saw Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Green Park, St. Mark's Palace, the war square, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, 10 Downing Street, Horseguards (where beach volleyball will take place for the Olympics 2012), the House of Parliament, Churchill's War Rooms, Nelson's Column, The National Gallery, Whitehall, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and some other stuff I'm sure I'm forgetting. Then we had lunch at an awesome restaurant called Verve which was inexpensive and had fantastic fish and chips.
The best part about this tour was that there were six girls from Brasil there. They were all speaking Portuguese and, though I teared up and missing home, I recognized some of it and was able to speak a little bit. Three of them just spent twenty days touring Europe, staying in seven countries or something, and are going home tomorrow. It was a lot of fun and it made me happy that I could talk with them, but also sad because I don't get to hear it every day anymore.
After lunch, I went on another three hour walking tour, also by the same company but this one costing a bit, that toured "The City" or the old part of London. It was also a lot of fun and we saw all the various bridges, The Monument, the Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, Covent Garden, Globe Theatre, Church of the Knights Templar, Mansion House, the Bank of England, the Royal Exchange, HMS Belfast, RAF Church and some other things. It was a lot of fun and there were a couple of other Americans I talked to - one of which was from Alabama who is working in Dublin for her final semester in primary education. We talked the whole trip, shared a love of Tolkien, Harry Potter and Douglas Adams and had fun annoying our tour guide, who didn't know or didn't like any of the three.
I really like the walking tours because it tells me where I need to go back to and give a lot of history... not to mention they're really inexpensive compared to actually going in all these places. We don't actually get to go in all these places, but here in London, that wasn't as much of an issue. Entrance fees into all the places would total well over 100 pounds, but you get a history and how to get your money's worth (like the fact that they tell you when and how to get into services so you don't have to pay to get into the churches and stuff). I enjoy them.
Afterwards, Emily (the girl I met) and I headed to King's Cross together. We took pictures at Platform 9 and 3/4, which, due to renovations, was actually between platforms 8 and 9... if you considered platform 9 to actually be there (it's shut down for the next several months). We thought it was funny, but we still got our pics.
We split up and I went over to Marks and Spencer's (Marks and Sparks, according to the locals) and got myself a couple towels (sold in sets of six...) and dinner. For some reason I thought it was a hotel, but it's actually a department store with a grocery store. It's interesting. Totally psyched about my towel. (If you don't know why it makes me so happy, I suggest you read the best book in the whole world, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Ford Prefect, the roving reporter for The Guide carries a "largish bath towel from Marks and Spencer's" and discusses the importance of the towel, which you can learn about here. Enjoy.)
I got microwavable dinner from the frozen foods section, and hopped back on the tube to my hostel. I made a few phone calls from the station and then came back and made dinner, logged on, checked email and wrote this blog.
Now, going back to my list...
I'm not sure why, but I've been having a lot of trouble missing home while I've been here. Maybe it's because everyone speaks English or because there's a Starbucks, McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, Pizza Hut or KFC on every block, sometimes all right next to each other. I'm not sure. They do have Krispy Kreme and Ritz and Oreos and a ton of American brands in the grocery stores and corner shops here, which is awesome (I haven't decided whether or not I'm going to take stuff back to Brussels with me...) but it just makes me miss home so much. I love everyone back home and I miss you all lots.
Goodnight, world.
In London, I'm going to Westminister Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Science museum (if time), Greenwich, Big Ben, London Eye, My Little Eye, Kings Cross, Tower Bridge, and Abbey Road. My train leaves at 7:30 AM on Monday.Well, it's at least 12 Pounds to get into any of these. Tomorrow I am going to Tower of London (I want to see the Crown Jewels) but I'm not sure about the rest. But first, my day.
This morning I slept in for a good long while (8:30 or so) before eating. The hostel website lied and I didn't get free breakfast, but I knew so I bought stuff last night. I also grabbed a croissant or two on the way to Hyde Park. On the way, I also stopped at Harrod's (Mom's suggestion) which was awesome. I have never been so amazed by a department store. It was huge and so expensive. There were brands I'd only ever heard of being sold. I did get a little teddy bear key chain that has a bow that says Harrod's on it, but I don't think I could afford anything else.
I got to Hyde Park and walked around for a bit before walking over to Wellington Monument to start a free tour. It was run by the same people as the one I went on in Dublin and our guide was pretty cool but also kindof odd. We saw Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Green Park, St. Mark's Palace, the war square, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, 10 Downing Street, Horseguards (where beach volleyball will take place for the Olympics 2012), the House of Parliament, Churchill's War Rooms, Nelson's Column, The National Gallery, Whitehall, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and some other stuff I'm sure I'm forgetting. Then we had lunch at an awesome restaurant called Verve which was inexpensive and had fantastic fish and chips.
The best part about this tour was that there were six girls from Brasil there. They were all speaking Portuguese and, though I teared up and missing home, I recognized some of it and was able to speak a little bit. Three of them just spent twenty days touring Europe, staying in seven countries or something, and are going home tomorrow. It was a lot of fun and it made me happy that I could talk with them, but also sad because I don't get to hear it every day anymore.
After lunch, I went on another three hour walking tour, also by the same company but this one costing a bit, that toured "The City" or the old part of London. It was also a lot of fun and we saw all the various bridges, The Monument, the Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, Covent Garden, Globe Theatre, Church of the Knights Templar, Mansion House, the Bank of England, the Royal Exchange, HMS Belfast, RAF Church and some other things. It was a lot of fun and there were a couple of other Americans I talked to - one of which was from Alabama who is working in Dublin for her final semester in primary education. We talked the whole trip, shared a love of Tolkien, Harry Potter and Douglas Adams and had fun annoying our tour guide, who didn't know or didn't like any of the three.
I really like the walking tours because it tells me where I need to go back to and give a lot of history... not to mention they're really inexpensive compared to actually going in all these places. We don't actually get to go in all these places, but here in London, that wasn't as much of an issue. Entrance fees into all the places would total well over 100 pounds, but you get a history and how to get your money's worth (like the fact that they tell you when and how to get into services so you don't have to pay to get into the churches and stuff). I enjoy them.
Afterwards, Emily (the girl I met) and I headed to King's Cross together. We took pictures at Platform 9 and 3/4, which, due to renovations, was actually between platforms 8 and 9... if you considered platform 9 to actually be there (it's shut down for the next several months). We thought it was funny, but we still got our pics.
We split up and I went over to Marks and Spencer's (Marks and Sparks, according to the locals) and got myself a couple towels (sold in sets of six...) and dinner. For some reason I thought it was a hotel, but it's actually a department store with a grocery store. It's interesting. Totally psyched about my towel. (If you don't know why it makes me so happy, I suggest you read the best book in the whole world, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. Ford Prefect, the roving reporter for The Guide carries a "largish bath towel from Marks and Spencer's" and discusses the importance of the towel, which you can learn about here. Enjoy.)
I got microwavable dinner from the frozen foods section, and hopped back on the tube to my hostel. I made a few phone calls from the station and then came back and made dinner, logged on, checked email and wrote this blog.
Now, going back to my list...
Westminster Abbey - too expensive, but saw outsideSo, tomorrow, Tower of London, which takes a good half-day or so, and then Abbey Road and then whatever suits my fancy. I have some requests for London items (tea and glasses, mostly) but let me know if you want something. Here's your one and only chance to ask me for something specific. =P
Buckingham Palace - 22 Pounds for 17 rooms out of more than 700? No, thanks
Tower of London - will go tomorrow - must see Crown Jewels
Science museum (if time) - haha "if time" - will have to go next time
Greenwich - don't know how or why this got on my list - unimpressive and not worth the time
Big Ben - saw - pretty cool
London Eye - way too expensive but saw from across the river and other places
My Little Eye - unfindable and closed on Sunday - next time?
Kings Cross - saw, unimpressive because of construction and got platform pic
Tower Bridge - too expensive and really boring museum, apparently
Abbey Road - tomorrow - but apparently not worth it
I'm not sure why, but I've been having a lot of trouble missing home while I've been here. Maybe it's because everyone speaks English or because there's a Starbucks, McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, Pizza Hut or KFC on every block, sometimes all right next to each other. I'm not sure. They do have Krispy Kreme and Ritz and Oreos and a ton of American brands in the grocery stores and corner shops here, which is awesome (I haven't decided whether or not I'm going to take stuff back to Brussels with me...) but it just makes me miss home so much. I love everyone back home and I miss you all lots.
Goodnight, world.
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