I'm going back to England for a two-week visit in just less than two weeks.

It's May, and where I am, it's been in the 50s (degrees Fahrenheit, or 10-15 for anyone preferring degrees Celsius). While that was acceptable weather last month, I should by all rights be wearing short sleeves right now. But no, I've had to drag out sweaters again, and wear a sweatshirt to the barn.

I've also been reading some really good forensic ( Read more... )

(Adapted from my personal journal, 30 March 2010.)

30 March 2010~
Rome~

Today was AMAZING. I slept in a bit from yesterday -- that, however, was not what was amazing (it was nice, though). I hopped on the metro (it was during rush hour, so there was some good people-watching) to the Ottaviano stop near the Vatican City. Following the steady stream of ( Read more... )

(Adapted from my personal journal, 29 March 2010.)

29 March 2010~
Rome~

First full day in Rome! And oh my goodness was it amazing. I woke up early and walked to the Trevi Fountain at about 7am. Sure enough, there was only one other woman there with her big camera, putting my little one to shame. It's amazing that more people don't catch on to the ( Read more... )

(Adapted from my personal journal. 26 March through 28 March 2010.)

26 March 2010~
I am currently sitting in the international terminal at the airport, waiting for the flight to Copenhagen on Scandinavian Airlines to board. It departs at 11.05pm and I get to Copenhagen at about 1.30 tomorrow afternoon. Then, after an hour or so layover, it's on to ( Read more... )

Thing No. 1: I was accepted to my top-choice university, George Washington University in Washington, D.C.!

Thing No. 2: I am leaving in  7 1/2 hours for Italy!

That is all.

Not an absurd number, but still a lot. I'm flying to Copenhagen and have an hour layover there before the flight to Milan. I then spend a night in Milan (but unfortunately arrive at 4:30pm, so there will be no time to see any of the city, really) before taking a train to Rome on Sunday. So, with lots of hours on planes and generally in transit, ( Read more... )

In less than two short weeks, I'll be in Italy, visiting Rome, Florence, and Venice. I figure that there will be plenty of time for the picturesque villages on my next visit -- for now, it'll be the holy trinity. And they are so well-visited for a reason! London is touristy, yes, but there is a reason -- and the long queues outside of things like ( Read more... )

Interestingly, although my liverjournal username is hoppingthepond , to date I can only count one pond-hop to my name. That is, I spent 10 months in the UK. Granted, it was a longer and more significant pond-hop than most Americans will ever make. I got asked many times why I did it and was told repeatedly that I was being "so brave" -- how would I cope for 10 ( Read more... )

Yes. Three weeks, and I will be back Stateside.

I've got very mixed feelings about it. Now that it's so close, I am looking forward to catching up with old friends and having my sweet kitties taking over my bed. I am looking forward to having a big hug from my mum and visiting my favourite ponies out at the barn. I am looking forward to the freedom ( Read more... )