Upcoming

...so yes, I've been slacking on this blog, but have no fear I will update! here's a list of things to come:

- victoria and albert museum, british museum

- after the dance (play)

- stonehenge

- grace kelly exhibit

- tosca the opera

- portobello road

"WALES? I thought we were in Scotland!"

Wales, Wales, Wales...my new favorite country. I'm not lying. Me and three of my friends (Kaitlin, Marcus, and Eli) decided to go to Wales for the weekend - just Friday to Saturday. The night before we booked our tickets for the train ride and for the hotel. We decided to take a two hour ride to Cardiff, a quaint, cool city in Wales.

After getting up at 6:45 the next morning, I showered and was ready to go. We all met up with our bags packed, hungry stomachs, and smiles on our faces - we were excited.

We got to Paddington station where our train would depart from and had time to spare so we got bagels from a stand. Hint: Never get a bagel in a foreign country - especially when they mess up your order. After that fiasco, we headed to our train and noticed tickets on the backs of all the seats. Turns out, in Europe (or this particular train line) you have to reserve a seat, and if you don't you have to run to one specific unreserved car and hustle for a seat. Luckily we found seats, but we cut it close.

Once we got to Wales, we were so thrilled. We got a cab and were excited to head to our hotel. Once we gave the (female) driver our address she told us that the hotel was "three hours away." And when we then asked her for ideas for things to do in the city she told us to "figure out what we were doing." Not nicely, may I add.

So basically, because this was the busiest day in Cardiff ever (a rugby game, cricket game, concert) all hotels were booked and the nearest one that was open was three hours away. Yea, maybe we should have confirmed the location of the hotel first...In any event we were in Cardiff and going to make the most of it.

I really wanted to go to the rugby game, but no one else did. So we walked around, got a feel for the city and then went to lunch at an Italian restaurant. Good food, and good drinks. We decided to have a little fun with the waiter and told him that up until four minutes ago we thought we were in Scotland. He got a laugh, but also thought we were serious. That became the running joke of the trip - "wait, we're not in scotland?" "i thought they spoke japanese in japan?!"

After our lunch we headed to the Cardiff Castle which was so much fun. It was so old and just so medieval. I really enjoyed seeing it. There were protests going on in the city that day and so a helicopter flew overhead and was saying something along the lines of "evacuate" and "disperse." Which, to us, we thought there was a bomb in the castle or something of that sort. Needless to say, we were freaked out until we asked one of the workers. They just mentioned the protests.

After the castle we headed around the city, wandered a bit, shopped, and then decided to just head back to London since there was no where to sleep. Overall, it was one of the best trips and some of the most fun I've had since being here in London.

Off to the Market...

Camden Market that is. Camden is this cool market in the northern part of London that is extremely hip and indie. At first I was a bit overwhelmed by the enormity of the entire place, but after a few minutes I took it all in, got used to it, and realized I loved it. Back home we don't really have cool markets like this - giant ones that sell anything from clothes to Mexican relics.

(The Market)

Afterward, we got something to eat in a really cute pub called the Elephant's Head. Then we wandered around the market again, this time near the ones by the river. It was so cool. I think in the movie What a Girl Wants they were at this market. So awesome!

I also purchased a pair of shoes which were shown earlier. I couldn't help myself. We all were getting pretty tired so we decided to leave and on the way I stopped at this homemade orange juice stand and it was the most delicious orange juice I've ever had.

Camden Market was one of the best times I've had in London and I would absolutely love to go back.

(The Orange Juice)

(Some of the shops)

These Shoes Were Made for Walking

So I couldn't help it. As much as I did not want to make an extravagant purchases here I couldn't resist. I saw these shoes in Harrod's on Thursday when me and the girls went and I fell in love.

They're from the brand All Saints which is a new up and coming store/brand that recently opened a store on Newbury (bad news for me and the bank account.) I didn't buy them, but I kept thinking about them.

Then on Friday when we went to Camden Market (don't worry, I'll blog about it.) I found an All Saints store, and well this time I couldn't resist. I wore them out last night and they are magical. These shoes were meant to be worn and seen and I promise to wear them with style, grace, and everything in between. Wow, that's super corny. It's sad that shoes make me so happy, but they do. I. Love. Shoes.

So magnificent. So worth it.

I spent the night, with a lady of the night...

just kidding. But not really. On Tuesday we went to see "Mrs. Warren's Profession" a play written by Bernard Shaw. We happened to have read the play during our class and then went to see it on the west end.

It was really nice seeing a show in an intimate theater. While I don't particularly like the show that much, seeing it on stage was much better than reading it.

That's really it, not too much to this post. But oh, in case you were wondering, Mrs. Warren owns brothels.

Hence my title.

Cheerio!

Day by Day

The days go by so fast here. We're already at the half way mark and I feel like I just got here. It's insane. I've been spending the weekdays in class, then trolling about London taking in as much as I can i.e. shopping, food, culture - what have you. Then after doing work, we'd all go out at night. To pubs, to clubs, anywhere in Londontown that sounds fun/strikes a fancy in one of us. It's so nice.

It's hard though, being in such a huge group. Different people want to do different things and it just gets tough. I've really been learning how to deal with all different types of people in close capacities. It's an interesting experience to say the least.

I've also made some really really great friends. One is already planning to come visit me this summer, and I know that the other friends and I will still be great friends though school. This is such an awesome experience, with some awesome people. I'm really glad I came.

(Me and my friend Hanna who goes to BU but lives in London. We met up! oh and Rich in the b.g.)

(Me and my sorority sister Kaitlin who is also here with me!)

(Me, Miranda, Alyssa, Rachel, Bella)

(Rachel and Me! Love her!)

(Me and Anne! She's coming to visit this summer!)

(Me and Miranda! She's awesome!!)