Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Sunday, August 15, 2004
Back in the U.S.A.
Well, I made it back here, but not without problems.
Friday night I did go out to the King's Head, albeit breifly, and then I returned to my favorite spot down by the river. It was a nice way to go out.
Satuday morning I woke up early and everyone cooked everything they had left so as not to waste food. Then the 5 of us on the group flight boarded a full-size coach (so that's where our money went) for the trip to the airport for a 4:00 flight. We finished check-in at 2:00, when we found out our flight was delayed til 8! We got 10 dollar meal vouchers (which we used to gorge ourselves at Burger King), but that doesn't make up for the 6 hours we spent in the airport doing god knows what to pass the time.
And then, our plane didn't take off for more than an hour. So by the time we landed, it was after midnight and the trains to Philly weren't running. So Deanna's parents were nice enough to drive me to their house and let me crash for the night.
Then, after breakfast, I hopped a train back here to Philly. After I do laundry and rest up, I'll be heading up to New York for the rest of my short break.
So, that's the story of my trip to London. I hope you had as much fun reading about it as I did living it.
Friday night I did go out to the King's Head, albeit breifly, and then I returned to my favorite spot down by the river. It was a nice way to go out.
Satuday morning I woke up early and everyone cooked everything they had left so as not to waste food. Then the 5 of us on the group flight boarded a full-size coach (so that's where our money went) for the trip to the airport for a 4:00 flight. We finished check-in at 2:00, when we found out our flight was delayed til 8! We got 10 dollar meal vouchers (which we used to gorge ourselves at Burger King), but that doesn't make up for the 6 hours we spent in the airport doing god knows what to pass the time.
And then, our plane didn't take off for more than an hour. So by the time we landed, it was after midnight and the trains to Philly weren't running. So Deanna's parents were nice enough to drive me to their house and let me crash for the night.
Then, after breakfast, I hopped a train back here to Philly. After I do laundry and rest up, I'll be heading up to New York for the rest of my short break.
So, that's the story of my trip to London. I hope you had as much fun reading about it as I did living it.
Friday, August 13, 2004
One more day
This really is the end, isn't it?
So thursday night everyone met up in the basement to do some chill drinking and tell stories from the trip. Impressions were done, confessions were made, and everyone had a great time. Then people went out for the night, most everyone going to a bar/club in Leicester Square. I went for a bit, but I wasn't feeling too hot and wasn't really having fun, so I came back home and called it a night.
Today Knaresborough has started to empty out, and everyone remaining did the things they still wanted to do in the city before they left. Deanna and I did some shopping on Marylebone St. and took a rowboat out in Regents Park. Now it's dinnertime, and it's going to be a feast because everyone is making whatever food they have left so as not to waste it.
Tonight, some people may go out, a bunch don't plan on it. Me? Not sure yet. We leave for the airport tomorrow at noon, so the fun's almost over. I'm coming home soon.
Oh, and we got our finals back. Got a 92, which means an A for the course overall. No sweat.
So thursday night everyone met up in the basement to do some chill drinking and tell stories from the trip. Impressions were done, confessions were made, and everyone had a great time. Then people went out for the night, most everyone going to a bar/club in Leicester Square. I went for a bit, but I wasn't feeling too hot and wasn't really having fun, so I came back home and called it a night.
Today Knaresborough has started to empty out, and everyone remaining did the things they still wanted to do in the city before they left. Deanna and I did some shopping on Marylebone St. and took a rowboat out in Regents Park. Now it's dinnertime, and it's going to be a feast because everyone is making whatever food they have left so as not to waste it.
Tonight, some people may go out, a bunch don't plan on it. Me? Not sure yet. We leave for the airport tomorrow at noon, so the fun's almost over. I'm coming home soon.
Oh, and we got our finals back. Got a 92, which means an A for the course overall. No sweat.
Thursday, August 12, 2004
The home stretch
Pictures!!
http://www.ofoto.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=gcg1fla.s9a3bn2&Uy=nvoclm&Upost_signin=BrowsePhotos.jsp%3fshowSlide%3dtrue&Ux=0
Two more days...only more days and then we're home - assuming the hurricanes don't keep us here any more, which wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
So Wednesday morning we had a "review" for our exam, which somehow lasted 3 hours without us actually reviewing anything. And no, I'm not sure what we actually did during that time.
That afternoon, Courtney, Erica and I went to Camden. The girls wanted to do some shopping, and Courtney and I went and got tattoos for relatively cheap? What is it and where is it? You'll have to look at my pictures to see.
This morning was our final exam, and it was certainly harder than the midterm and harder than I expected. But I'm sure I did fine, we didn't learn a hell of a lot these five weeks, so what could have been on it.
This afternoon we all went to a nice hotel in Sloane Square for high tea. The tea was great, but even better was the champagne and the little de-crusted sandwiches. Tonight, we're having a Real World Style confessional, and then all going out on the last night everyone's here.
http://www.ofoto.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=gcg1fla.s9a3bn2&Uy=nvoclm&Upost_signin=BrowsePhotos.jsp%3fshowSlide%3dtrue&Ux=0
Two more days...only more days and then we're home - assuming the hurricanes don't keep us here any more, which wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
So Wednesday morning we had a "review" for our exam, which somehow lasted 3 hours without us actually reviewing anything. And no, I'm not sure what we actually did during that time.
That afternoon, Courtney, Erica and I went to Camden. The girls wanted to do some shopping, and Courtney and I went and got tattoos for relatively cheap? What is it and where is it? You'll have to look at my pictures to see.
This morning was our final exam, and it was certainly harder than the midterm and harder than I expected. But I'm sure I did fine, we didn't learn a hell of a lot these five weeks, so what could have been on it.
This afternoon we all went to a nice hotel in Sloane Square for high tea. The tea was great, but even better was the champagne and the little de-crusted sandwiches. Tonight, we're having a Real World Style confessional, and then all going out on the last night everyone's here.
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
You win some, you lose some
So, monday was a big waste of time, to put it as gently as I can. In the morning we took a "Diana Walk", which really didn't relate to Diana at all, or anything else for that matter. We then took a self-guided tour of Kensington Palace, which was the most boring thing we've done here so far. We all sped through it as quick as we could - if we had actually paid the 10.50 for admission, we would've been majorly pissed.
Then in the afternoon our guest speaker was some PR guy. I really don't know nor care what he said, as I was too busy dying in the hottest classroom ever.
At night, I was still exhausted from the weekend, so I just turned in early.
Today was much better, however. In the morning we met our guide at the Imperial War Museum, which was possibly the most interesting one I've been to since I've been here. We only spent a couple hours, which wasn't nearly enough, and I'd like to go back but I really don't think I have time.
Then we took a Thames Cruise down to Greenwich. Instead of sitting on the top deck and burning in the hot sun, 6 of us went below and decided to make it as much of a booze cruise as we could in the 1 hour we had. We performed admirably, I think.
In Greenwich, we toured the Royal Observatory, which looked interesting but it was unbearably hot and the place smelled like B.O., or as I put it, "Europeans." I did take the requisite tourist shot on the Prime Meridien, so my father will be happy.
Then 5 of us went to a Middle Eastern restaurant for dinner, where we sampled lots of good stuff, and finished it off with tea and a hookah. It was a relaxing end to a busy day - it's kind of frightening to think there's only a few days left. I'll be home soon.
Then in the afternoon our guest speaker was some PR guy. I really don't know nor care what he said, as I was too busy dying in the hottest classroom ever.
At night, I was still exhausted from the weekend, so I just turned in early.
Today was much better, however. In the morning we met our guide at the Imperial War Museum, which was possibly the most interesting one I've been to since I've been here. We only spent a couple hours, which wasn't nearly enough, and I'd like to go back but I really don't think I have time.
Then we took a Thames Cruise down to Greenwich. Instead of sitting on the top deck and burning in the hot sun, 6 of us went below and decided to make it as much of a booze cruise as we could in the 1 hour we had. We performed admirably, I think.
In Greenwich, we toured the Royal Observatory, which looked interesting but it was unbearably hot and the place smelled like B.O., or as I put it, "Europeans." I did take the requisite tourist shot on the Prime Meridien, so my father will be happy.
Then 5 of us went to a Middle Eastern restaurant for dinner, where we sampled lots of good stuff, and finished it off with tea and a hookah. It was a relaxing end to a busy day - it's kind of frightening to think there's only a few days left. I'll be home soon.
Sunday, August 08, 2004
Back Home (London)
Part of me doesn't ever want to leave here, but part of me is so exhausted that I can't wait to sleep for a week straight.
So Thursday night, Deanna took me out to dinner. I'm still not sure why, but I wasn't about to complain. We ended up at a local Filipino buffet, which was great, but not just because it's a buffet. That didn't hurt, however.
Friday morning we were out of here before dawn to catch a 6:30 Eurostar to Paris! The train was nice, nothing special, kind of like a classy Amtrak. It definitely hauled balls - we made it through the Chunnel in 20 minutes. And once we got settled in at our hotel (small, sparse, but cute), we didn't let down. We climbed Montmartre to get to Sacre Coeur, an amazing basilica. There we met up with the other Templers who were in Paris.
After that Deanna and I mastered the Metro and went to Notre Dame. We toured the interior and climbed to the very top of the place to see the gargoyles and get a beautiful view of the city. Then we met up again with the group for dinner, then went to the Eiffel Tower, where we boarded a boat cruise of the Seine. We didn't go up in the Tower because the top level was closed, so we called it a night.
The next morning, Deanna and I went to the Arc du Triomphe, and by that point my legs had turned to jelly from all the stairs. But the worst was yet to come. We walked down the Champs Elysses to meet the rest of the group at the Louvre, a walk of at least a couple miles, on the hottest day of the summer in Paris. After we did the Louvre, we walked back down the Champs, because they hadn't done it yet. When we got back down to the Arc, D and I took a train to our hotel to shower and change. We all met up at the Eiffel Tower for a picnic, which for me consisted of quiche, grapes, a peach, and a bottle of cheap champagne. Then Deanna, Liz and I went up to the Tower just as the sun set and watched the lights come on around the city from the top of the world. Then we had the best crepes ever (ham, egg and cheese) and D and I went to the Latin Quarter where we walked around and watched some street performers. Then we took the bus home and passed the eff out.
We had an early train this morning, so we woke up, ate breakfast and came back to London. We went our separate ways, I went to the London Transport Museum which was a lot of fun. It's the most interactive museum I've ever been to - even got to "drive" a train. Then D and I met up for dinner, but everything was closed so we just went to a supermarket and bought some dinner. What'd we have? Buttered toast, sausages and omelettes. After a couple days of continental breakfast, we were really in the mood for a good English breakfast, even if it was at 8 in the evening.
I'll probably go to sleep early tonight, because I'm beat. But I haven't gone to sleep early yet on this trip, so we'll see.
So Thursday night, Deanna took me out to dinner. I'm still not sure why, but I wasn't about to complain. We ended up at a local Filipino buffet, which was great, but not just because it's a buffet. That didn't hurt, however.
Friday morning we were out of here before dawn to catch a 6:30 Eurostar to Paris! The train was nice, nothing special, kind of like a classy Amtrak. It definitely hauled balls - we made it through the Chunnel in 20 minutes. And once we got settled in at our hotel (small, sparse, but cute), we didn't let down. We climbed Montmartre to get to Sacre Coeur, an amazing basilica. There we met up with the other Templers who were in Paris.
After that Deanna and I mastered the Metro and went to Notre Dame. We toured the interior and climbed to the very top of the place to see the gargoyles and get a beautiful view of the city. Then we met up again with the group for dinner, then went to the Eiffel Tower, where we boarded a boat cruise of the Seine. We didn't go up in the Tower because the top level was closed, so we called it a night.
The next morning, Deanna and I went to the Arc du Triomphe, and by that point my legs had turned to jelly from all the stairs. But the worst was yet to come. We walked down the Champs Elysses to meet the rest of the group at the Louvre, a walk of at least a couple miles, on the hottest day of the summer in Paris. After we did the Louvre, we walked back down the Champs, because they hadn't done it yet. When we got back down to the Arc, D and I took a train to our hotel to shower and change. We all met up at the Eiffel Tower for a picnic, which for me consisted of quiche, grapes, a peach, and a bottle of cheap champagne. Then Deanna, Liz and I went up to the Tower just as the sun set and watched the lights come on around the city from the top of the world. Then we had the best crepes ever (ham, egg and cheese) and D and I went to the Latin Quarter where we walked around and watched some street performers. Then we took the bus home and passed the eff out.
We had an early train this morning, so we woke up, ate breakfast and came back to London. We went our separate ways, I went to the London Transport Museum which was a lot of fun. It's the most interactive museum I've ever been to - even got to "drive" a train. Then D and I met up for dinner, but everything was closed so we just went to a supermarket and bought some dinner. What'd we have? Buttered toast, sausages and omelettes. After a couple days of continental breakfast, we were really in the mood for a good English breakfast, even if it was at 8 in the evening.
I'll probably go to sleep early tonight, because I'm beat. But I haven't gone to sleep early yet on this trip, so we'll see.
Thursday, August 05, 2004
I should've gone to college here
Today we took a coach to Cambridge and got a guided tour of the city. It's what you'd expect - that olde style university look that the Ivy Leagues can only try to emulate. But we learned a good deal about the education system in Britian, and I liked what I heard. First off, when students turn 16, they begin focusing their studies on 3 or 4 subjects of their choosing. Then, in college, they don't mess around with any subjects other than what they are studying. For me, that would mean journalism classes and only journalism classes for four years, which I would relish. I would graduate so much more prepared than I am going to from Temple.
Schooling is cheaper over here, too. The universities are subsudized by the government, which means tuition runs only 1000 pounds a year. Add in fees and housing (everyone lives in dorms, unlike Temple where no one does), and it's only about 6000 pounds per year, and that's for Cambridge or Oxford, the top two schools. That's only for EU citizens though, so I would end up paying through the nose. Pretty much like Temple, I suppose.
Waking up at 4:30 tomorrow morning to catch the early Eurostar to Paris. I'll be out of touch, but rest assured I'll be living it up!
Schooling is cheaper over here, too. The universities are subsudized by the government, which means tuition runs only 1000 pounds a year. Add in fees and housing (everyone lives in dorms, unlike Temple where no one does), and it's only about 6000 pounds per year, and that's for Cambridge or Oxford, the top two schools. That's only for EU citizens though, so I would end up paying through the nose. Pretty much like Temple, I suppose.
Waking up at 4:30 tomorrow morning to catch the early Eurostar to Paris. I'll be out of touch, but rest assured I'll be living it up!
