Look Ya'll, It's a Giant Ferris Wheel!
Cheers!!! Yep, it's me, updating my journal from a beautiful bed and breakfast in central London, sitting next to a cup of tea, and looking at the row of terraced homes located across the street. And did I mention that the bed and breakfast was built during the reign of Edward III?
London is amazing. Really really amazing. So far, I've spent most of my time walking around. And I'm not exaggerating. I've easily been averaging about 5 miles a day, at least. I've wandered around South Kensington (home of Madonna and Kylie Minogue), walked up and down Oxford Street, and last night was lucky enough to spend a few hours exploring Piccadilly Circus, Big Ben, the London Eye, and #10 Downing Street. Honestly, I'm floored by the architecture. Every building is beautiful, whether in Primrose Hill or Great Portland Street, but especially around Piccadilly. Statues, columns, marble....it's incredible. I have to admit, standing on a bridge, overlooking the Houses of Parliament, and listening to the chiming of Big Ben was an amazing experience. And I can't wait to do it again.
Plus, the food has been awesome. We've tried everything from Thai to a Fine Burger restaurant to a Mediterranean place that offered crocodile and boar platters.
Friday was my program orientation and made me feel like I absolutely made the right decision. My professor is very smart and impressive (and slightly intimidating) and reminds me of Dr McKay in alot of ways. After our initial meeting at the school, we walked over to the British Museum and spent the next few hours touring different galleries. This means that I walked into one room and came face to face with the Parthenon Statues. Which, in turn, means that I wandered around and babbled for several minutes. Gorgeous and amazing somehow doesn't come close. Plus, very conveniently, the museum just opened a new traveling exhibit on the First Emperor of China and actually has some of the terracotta soldiers on display!
Anyway, this program comes with alot of perks. Somewhat scary perks. For instance, next Wednesday we are visiting a gallery that Christie's recently acquired and meeting with the prominent Chinese artist currently displaying his artwork. Plus, later in the term we will be writing a paper critiquing the Asian exhibition in the British Museum. Since the curator is currently planning on completely revamping the space, she will be reading our papers and possibly using our suggestions. How crazy is that? And, now it looks like we're also going to Paris as a group. I'm having trouble trying to process everything and standing on the bridge last night and listening to Big Ben only seemed to disorient me even more.
Okay, so it's time for me to run. We're spending today walking around London's parks and possibly wandering into Notting Hill. But...I found a place! It's this amazing one bedroom flat, it's huge, completely updated. The space has everything from wood and slate floors to a walk-in closet! It's the bottom level of a brownstone-type building and my landlords are the couple living in the upper two levels. They seem really nice and offered to introduce me to their friends that work at Christie's. By tube, it's about 15 minutes away from center city and is down the street from a beautiful park, the tube station, tons of grocery stores, and a bunch of cute little shops and restaurants. But don't just take my word for it...check out the link! http://www.foxtons.co.uk/LL/chpk0326510
Cheerio!!
London is amazing. Really really amazing. So far, I've spent most of my time walking around. And I'm not exaggerating. I've easily been averaging about 5 miles a day, at least. I've wandered around South Kensington (home of Madonna and Kylie Minogue), walked up and down Oxford Street, and last night was lucky enough to spend a few hours exploring Piccadilly Circus, Big Ben, the London Eye, and #10 Downing Street. Honestly, I'm floored by the architecture. Every building is beautiful, whether in Primrose Hill or Great Portland Street, but especially around Piccadilly. Statues, columns, marble....it's incredible. I have to admit, standing on a bridge, overlooking the Houses of Parliament, and listening to the chiming of Big Ben was an amazing experience. And I can't wait to do it again.
Plus, the food has been awesome. We've tried everything from Thai to a Fine Burger restaurant to a Mediterranean place that offered crocodile and boar platters.
Friday was my program orientation and made me feel like I absolutely made the right decision. My professor is very smart and impressive (and slightly intimidating) and reminds me of Dr McKay in alot of ways. After our initial meeting at the school, we walked over to the British Museum and spent the next few hours touring different galleries. This means that I walked into one room and came face to face with the Parthenon Statues. Which, in turn, means that I wandered around and babbled for several minutes. Gorgeous and amazing somehow doesn't come close. Plus, very conveniently, the museum just opened a new traveling exhibit on the First Emperor of China and actually has some of the terracotta soldiers on display!
Anyway, this program comes with alot of perks. Somewhat scary perks. For instance, next Wednesday we are visiting a gallery that Christie's recently acquired and meeting with the prominent Chinese artist currently displaying his artwork. Plus, later in the term we will be writing a paper critiquing the Asian exhibition in the British Museum. Since the curator is currently planning on completely revamping the space, she will be reading our papers and possibly using our suggestions. How crazy is that? And, now it looks like we're also going to Paris as a group. I'm having trouble trying to process everything and standing on the bridge last night and listening to Big Ben only seemed to disorient me even more.
Okay, so it's time for me to run. We're spending today walking around London's parks and possibly wandering into Notting Hill. But...I found a place! It's this amazing one bedroom flat, it's huge, completely updated. The space has everything from wood and slate floors to a walk-in closet! It's the bottom level of a brownstone-type building and my landlords are the couple living in the upper two levels. They seem really nice and offered to introduce me to their friends that work at Christie's. By tube, it's about 15 minutes away from center city and is down the street from a beautiful park, the tube station, tons of grocery stores, and a bunch of cute little shops and restaurants. But don't just take my word for it...check out the link! http://www.foxtons.co.uk/LL/chpk0326510
Cheerio!!