Journals
May 11th
Arriving in London
We have finally arrived at Heathrow Airport around noon London Time. I grabbed my check-in bag from the overhead, walked towards the front of the plane, and waved goodbye to the flight attendants. Estefania, Gaby, and I struggled to find the entrance to the Underground once we had paid for our day passes. At first, we got on a lift for arrivals who were waiting for pick-up by mistake. A worker at the Underground had been the one to teach us that the ticket goes through parallel at the front of the machine, the ticket is released upwards on the top of the machine, and the doors briefly open for that person to pass. We each passed the gates of the Underground, rode the lift up to the platform, and got on a train that was to take us towards Central London. On the train, we tried our best to keep the luggage from blocking the aisle and an older english gentleman offered to take a picture of the three of us together. We got off the train to switch trains which led to our first bit of heavy luggage lifting. The entrance to the Airbnb was hidden behind several buildings and we had been a little nervous to walk down the alleyway. I had trouble finding the key to the apartment, therefore I called the owner who clarified it was in a lock box near the stairs. The locals living in the building were being as helpful as they possibly could. One man began a whole conversation with us and we never got a glimpse of his face through the open window. We carried our bags up four flights of stairs to get to the apartment. Our room was minimalistic with one double bed, one single bed, and a desk. There was a bathroom across from our room and a kitchen next to the bathroom. The only thing was we were forced to be vigilant at all times when it came to sharing with the strangers who rented the other rooms. We all three laid down on our beds, made calls to our parents, and scrolled through our phones. After an hour of that, Estefania decided she wanted to see the London Eye and grab something to eat. We made our way to the closest train station, caught a train towards the London Eye, and sat down to eat at Las Iguanas. The tutti frutti I ordered was definitely the worst of the three alcoholic drinks. Near the London Eye, a man used the wind to blow huge bubbles that made everyone’s eyes go wide. The view of the River Thames was stunning, but not being able to see Big Ben due to construction was disappointing. Laura and Valentina invited Estefania out for drinks through snapchat. We made our way to their Airbnb, chatted a little bit, entered a local bar, and danced to the music playing. Once we were tired, we took two separate taxis to get to our Airbnbs which brought an end to the day.
May 12th
Live While We're Young
I woke up to Gaby blasting and dancing to One Direction. We got ready to leave the Airbnb, order an Uber to the FSU Study Abroad Centre, and settle in over there for the next two weeks. The Uber driver taught us that the zig-zag lines warns the motorists they are approaching a pedestrian crossing and it is an offense to stop a vehicle within these lines. We arrived to the FSU Study Abroad Centre where they gave us goody bags. I placed the lanyard with my ID and flat keys around my neck. Then, Professor Sutton showed me the way to Flat 17 where I saw everyone getting settled. I carried my heavy luggage up the stairs, searched for my name on the doors, and dumped my stuff on the last available bed. There were three beds, three nightstands, and three closets in our room. Diana picked the bed next to the window while Adriana picked the bed farthest away from the door. The bathroom downstairs was to be used by the boys. The bathroom upstairs was to be for all six of us girls. I went down the stairs to see our living room and kitchen. The living room had a television mounted on the wall facing me, two red couches lining the walls on the sides, extra white chairs stacked up under the window, and a mirror hung up on the wall opposite to the television. The kitchen had a sink, a stove, two fridges, cabinets, and a white dining table with five white chairs tucked under. We went to eat lunch at a pub near the British Museum where we talked about possible weekend plans. The Dublin flights were too expensive at that moment, so the others could not hop-on last minute. However, we did start thinking about going to Stonehenge on our 1st free Saturday and the Harry Potter Movie Studio Tour for our 1st free Sunday. Matias left his earbuds here after we had left, but luckily the waitress was keeping it safe for him. Next, we attended the FSU Study Abroad Centre Mandatory Orientation. They told us we must go through the main entrance after hours, no visitors are allowed in the building without notice, noise should be kept at a bare minimum, the cleaning lady comes once a week, and maintenance must be filed using an app. It was the same person who gave the presentation that handed out British socks towards the end for those answering her questions correctly. Then, Professor Sutton gathered us outside of the main entrance to take a brief walk around. We had a mini photoshoot at some run down telephone booths, relaxed at a pretty square filled with greenery, and enjoyed the entertainment at Covent Garden Station. I remember the Charlie Chaplin fellow being extremely funny and the way he made the volunteers look silly was genius. We eventually split up into groups and I ate out at a Fish & Chips restaurant near the flat.
May 13th
A Portal into the Past
I learned yesterday from an Underground worker that putting our travel cards near our phones can deactivate the magnet. This unfortunate mistake is what made traveling by train annoying for Matias and I. Anyways, we all made it to the Museum of London to put our prior knowledge to the test. Towards the right of the building, I saw pieces of the remaining Roman wall that surrounded London long ago. It was built around 200 A.D. to protect their port on the River Thames. The museum, on the other hand, displayed a collection of both old and new stufF. I was able to see Roman coins, a recreated Saxon house, pointy Medieval shoes, the Great Fire of London painting, Oliver Cromwell’s death mask, a debtor’s cell, the Pleasure Gardens, a recreated Victorian Walk, the Selfridge lift, a Votes for Women pin, a WW2 German bomb, Beatles memorabilia, and the 2012 Olympics ceremony cauldron. I got a chef’s special wrap and bag of salt & vinegar chips at a nearby Pret A Manger, so I could eat it during our picnic at Postman’s Park. While we were eating in circle, Khrisanni decided to teach Professor Sutton how to hit the woah. This park was dedicated to ordinary people who died as they were saving the lives of others. I noticed an obvious pattern where many had either drowned or burned. We walked to Blackfriars where I played checkers against Alexandra. She played as the white checkers and I chose the black checkers. Unfortunately, the game was a definite tie towards the end, therefore I just decided to end it by letting her win. We took the train towards the Tower of London. This is where I touched the Roman wall and Professor Sutton mimicked the Julius Caesar statue on Tower Hill. Our yeomen gave us an hour filled with information, insight, and humor as we learned about the people who were imprisoned, tortured, and executed. The oldest complex, the White Tower, housed military personnel, armories, and horses. The coolest thing that was on display had to be the armors of Henry VIII. The crown jewels showed the scepter, orb, swords, and crowns that were used for the coronations of important royal figures. I thought the video clip of Elizabeth II's coronation was a nice touch. The six ravens are known as the guardians of the Tower of London, thus legend states the fortress would fall apart if they were to leave. I remember thinking they were big, intimidating, hungry-looking ravens. The Tower Green was where the execution of Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and Lady Jane Grey took place which brought chills through my entire body. I walked sections of the Tower Walls with Matias, Max, and Diana. This is where I saw the Tower Bridge on the River Thames and a beautiful view of the buildings surrounding the fortress. Once I was outside the walls, I bought my little sister a London souvenir hoodie at their gift shop.
May 14th
Taking in Fresh Air
Today was the day my running shoes came in handy. We rode several trains to get from London to Eynsford. I followed behind Professor Sutton who led the way towards Lullingstone Roman Villa. There was a beautiful, friendly brown horse that was seeking our attention from the other side of the fence. Its long mane moved with the wind while his nose would tickle our hands. As we crossed a bridge on the River Darent, the water was flowing underneath our feet and the sunshine shone through the greenery. Lullingstone Roman Villa gave us a good representation of their luxurious life. I could imagine the festive guests that have walked the mosaics, the extensive line of baths meant for cleansing, the heat circulating through pipes beneath the floor, and the religious practices performed in the cult room. Then, we began our long six-mile hike around Lullingstone Roman Villa. The gatehouse outside of Lullingstone Castle was screaming Tudor with its red bricks and small windows. I fell in love with the local dogs who would jump into the river to fetch their toys for their owners. The cross dugout on the hill in memory of the villagers killed during WW1 made for a spectacular view. We saw fields upon fields of yellow poppies among the electrical towers. Nearing the end, it was rough to keep my mind off my aching feet, but I thought it was a fun adventure nonetheless.
May 15th
Masquerade
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Rodney made a point about the British Museum. He said that many of the items on display were stolen during expeditions. It is unfair for such valuable items to bring in tourism for a country they do not originate from without monetary compensation. The Rosetta Stone blew my mind when I learned it was the comparison of the three languages engraved that allowed for scholars to translate Egyptian hieroglyphics. The Eastern Island Statue was the most iconic piece seeing as everyone has seen them in their history textbooks. The Elgin Marbles, a series of sculptures that come from the Parthenon, were sculpted to perfection with a mixture of harsh and delicate indentations. The Lullingstone Busts and Wall Paintings made us swell with pride considering we identified them right away. The Lewis Chessmen, a large group of medieval chess pieces, were the ones that debuted in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. The next thing we did was have afternoon tea with the Mad Hatter. I enjoyed a pot of Mad Hatter which was green tea, infused with passion fruit, guava, and mango. We were given a rack of savory and sweet goodies to munch on. It included Alice's Drink Me potion, the Pocket Watch Macaroon, the Chocolate Blue Caterpillar, the Mocha Chessboard Gateau, the Wonderland marshmallow mushrooms, ext. Not to mention, the music would play and the toy ballerina twirled every time I would open the music box for a sugar cube. The rest of the day was spent buying groceries at Sainsbury for the flat and washing our dirty laundry before a herd of other people took over the machines. Once my clothes were done drying, I stuffed everything into a plastic bag, took it up to my room for folding, and nicely organized the piles within my closet. Later that night, we watched the Phantom of the Opera at Majesty's Theatre. There are rumors that the opera house is haunted by a phantom who makes himself known by sending letters to the managers and causes disturbances. One night during a performance, the resident prima donna, Carlotta, who plays the female lead loses her voice due to the Phantom and the chandelier falls into the audience. This phantom kidnaps Christine, reveals his affection for her, she unmasks him out of curiosity, and he claims she must remain faithful to him. Raoul finds out Christine was kidnapped, promises to run away with her, but little did they know that the Phantom was listening to their entire conversation. Christine is given an ultimatum to marry the Phantom or the Opera house will pay. She refuses this offer, finds out Raoul is being held prisoner, and finally agrees to marry the Phantom. I thought the play was fantastic, the songs were really impactful, and the costumes were over the top.
May 16th
Old City Canterbury
We passed through the Westgate, England's oldest Medieval gatehouse, to enter old city Canterbury. Built in 1380, it was one of seven structures built to defend the access points into the city. The Canterbury Cathedral is famous for having been the place where martyr Thomas Becket's brains were spilled in 1170. He had crossed paths with King Henry II, whose knights misinterpreted a comment he made wishing the Archbishop gone as an order to kill him. A wicked knight leapt upon Becket, cutting off the top of the crown which had been dedicated to God. He received a second blow on the head, but still he stood firm and immovable. At the third blow Becket fell on his knees and elbows, offering himself as a living sacrifice. Unfortunately, his shrine was totally destroyed during the Reformation in 1540, considering King Henry VIII ordered his bones to be destroyed and all mention of his name obliterated. Besides that, I thought the modern stained glass created to replace the destroyed WW2 windows were magnificently crafted and the tombs of the Black Prince & Henry IV in Trinity Chapel oozed importance. On the narrow streets, we saw a bronze statue of Geoffrey Chaucer who wrote the Canterbury Tales. It revolves around the pilgrimage from Southwark to Canterbury that thirty pilgrims complete to reach the shrine of St Thomas Becket. In addition, we were told there was archaeological evidence that the Romans settled in Canterbury. After our walking tour, we each simply poured ourselves a drink and chatted as we sat on the grass of the Westgate Gardens. The professor wanted to hear the boy choir sing, hence we decided to join him for Evensong at Canterbury Cathedral. I found their voices were heavenly and the mass was spiritual. Our climb onto the The Dane John Burial Mound provided us with a beautiful view of the city. We had followed the winding of the hedges and the sounds of cars running below dwindled.
May 17th
One Picture Speaks Words
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We visited the National Gallery today to see glorious artwork. I saw Botticelli’s scandalous Venus and Mars. It showed Mars, the god of war, being vanquished by Venus, goddess of love and beauty. The shell the satyrs use to blow into Mars' ear alludes to Venus' birth of the sea. Botticelli was celebrated for his gracious female figures, impressive altarpieces, and mythological scenes during his time. I admired Da Vinci's famous Virgin of the Rocks. It showed the Christ Child blessing his cousin, the infant Saint John the Baptist, who can be identified by his cross, scroll, and folded hands in prayer. The Virgin further connects the two by holding out one hand above Christ and touching Saint John's shoulder with another. Da Vinci was praised for his practice of optics and perception which can be seen in the painting. I appreciated Van Eyck's impressive Arnolfini Portrait. It showed Giovanni Arnolfini, a wealthy Italian merchant resident in Bruges, and his wife. The couple is seen in a richly furnished living room. Meanwhile, a mirror on the back wall reflects two figures in the doorway and Arnolfini's hand is raised to greet them perhaps. Van Eyck was known for his emphasis on naturalism and realism. I saw Raphael's beautiful Madonna of the Pinks. The youthful Virgin delights in playing with her child. Christ's attention has been caught by the carnations, symbolic of divine love, that she offers him. Raphael was applauded for his skill with draperies and the subtle transitions of flesh. When we left the National Gallery, I walked around Trafalgar's Square with Adriana, Diana, Dana, and Jackie. We basically had a mini photoshoot by the fountains and Nelson's Column. Then, I ate a plate of pollo milanese for lunch at an Italian restaurant near Covent Garden to satisfy my grumbling stomach. The London Transportation Museum was one of my least favorite assigned activities. However, I still enjoyed seeing the subway, trains, buses, and cars of the past through the present. The Jubilee Market Hall was my holy grail for all things souvenirs. This was where I bought things to take home and I discovered Margarita's unhealthy obsession with keychains. The Noble Collection was a gem that we found when we were window shopping. It had anything a Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, or Lord of the Rings fan could possibly want. Before the Vivaldi by Candlelight started, I slurped on a warm bowl of soup and nibbled on a loaf from the Cafe in the Crypt. The orchestra at St. Martin’s in the Fields played music by the composers Handel, Mozart, and Vivaldi. My favorite piece was definitely Spring due to its upbeat, happy tone.
May 18th
Royal Wedding
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I woke up early to catch our bus tour to Windsor Castle, Roman Baths, and Stonehenge. At Windsor & Eton Central Railway Station, I saw a giant lego art piece of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle alongside a replica of the steam engine that hauled Queen Victoria's Royal Train. This was quite adventurous for the queen, considering train travel was relatively new and dangerous at the time. We could not go inside of Windsor Castle seeing as a Royal Wedding was scheduled for that day. I saw plenty of guests arriving in their fancy hats, dresses, tuxedos, and cars. They would walk up to the entrance that way the workers could check their names off the guest list. Lady Gabriella Windsor, the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael Kent, and a first cousin once removed of the Queen, was the one who was set to marry Mr. Thomas Kingston at St. George's Chapel. Her wedding occurred just one day before Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's first wedding anniversary. Several senior members of the royal family, including the Queen, Prince Philip, Princess Anne, Prince Harry, and Princess Beatrice were in attendance at the nuptials. If it was any other weekend, we probably would have seen St. George's Chapel, the Grand Reception Room, the Waterloo Chamber, the Crimson Drawing Room, and the State Banquet. Not to mention, I would've loved to have taken a quick peek at Queen Mary's Doll House. The saloon, dining room, library, wine cellar, garden, running water, administered electricity, and working lifts make it the largest, most beautiful of its kind. Bath was a pretty relaxed city with everyone on the streets chilling out. The Roman Baths showed how advanced they were for their time. I could imagine the oils being rubbed onto naked bodies, sweat mixing with dirt after exercise, feet sinking into the hot spring water, and conversations between one another echoing off the Roman Bath walls. I learned the Sacred Spring would release fresh hot water into the bath, the overflow carried the surplus hot water to the original Roman drain, and the River Avon four hundred meters away would welcome it. Furthermore, a Great Temple was built next to the Sacred Spring in dedication to the Sulis Minerva, a deity with healing powers. Some of the offerings that would be thrown into the Sacred Spring included many coins and curses. It was even believed that drinking the spa water could serve as a treatment for certain conditions. Jackie, Dana, Margarita, and I were not the biggest fans of the minerals in the spa water. My favorite parts had to be the view the terrace provided looking into the city and the magnificent bronze face that is thought to resemble Sulis Minerva. On our way to Stonehenge, we walked onto the gravel and passed the wild sheep grazing on grass. These stones were absolutely ginormous in person and their mysterious origins made it that much more interesting. I had fun admiring the wild sheep after taking some jumping photos in front of the site. As we were returning to London, I just kept thinking it was a little hard to believe that the rest of the trip could live up to today.
May 19th
No Muggles Beyond This Point
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We stood on our tippy toes in front of Buckingham Palace to watch the Changing of the Guards. The march began at 11:00 AM sharp following the detachment of the old guard from St. James’ Palace and the new guards who were led by a regimental band from Wellington Barracks. At times, I would glance at the windows in hopes of seeing the Queen wave to the crowd. The uniforms were just as I imagined with their bulky bearskin hats and bright red tunics. When the event ended, I was ready to embrace my inner wizard, leave the muggle world behind, and attend the Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft via Platform 9¾. I eventually settled for the Warner Bros. Studio Tour to get my dose of Harry Potter seeing as I have yet to receive an acceptance letter. The Great Hall included costumes of students from each house, two large student tables that were already prepared for dinner, and one teacher table at the front of the room to seat the Hogwart professors. This iconic place was where the Yule Ball and the Battle of Hogwarts were filmed. The forbidden forest, without a doubt, holds many secrets in addition to the creatures it houses. These trees were made to look ancient, rough, and dense from many years of exposure to the elements. One acromantula amatron would secretly pop out of hiding sometimes to frighten people passing by. Furthermore, the locomotive that has transported hundreds of students from platform 9¾ to the Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft blew my mind. Its steam would exit the exhaust pipe, luggage flooded the train station, and carriage doors swung open awaiting departees. Then, I stumbled upon Gringotts Bank, Flourish and Blotts, Ollivanders Wand Shop, and Mr. Mulpepper’s Apothecary while window shopping in Diagon Alley. The original design of the street combined the rich details from the books with a little inspiration from the works of Charles Dickens. Jackie, Dana, Margarita, Diana, Adriana and I just had the most magical time exploring the neverending film set. We licked our foam mustaches off as we would drink our Butterbeer, crammed everyone into the Flying Ford Anglia for a picture, and drooled over the sweets at the Chocolate Frog Cafe. To top it off, I splurged on a Hermione Granger wand, a scarf reppin all the houses, and a pair of Harry Potter glasses at their store.
May 20th
Golazo!
The British Library happens be the largest national library in the world according to the number of items catalogued. It is estimated to contain 150 to 200 million items from many different countries. I was able to see the Magna Carta, a charter that was signed in medieval England between King John and his barons which eventually led to the rule of constitutional law in England and inspired other famous documents. Only four copies of the original version remain – two are here at the British Library. I managed to glance at the musical compositions of Handel which had parts he thoughtfully scratched out, the novels of the Bronte sisters where they purposely wrote tiny to discourage wandering eyes, and the letters handwritten by the Beatles as they were coming up with lyrics to their songs. Then, we headed to our tour at the Emirates Stadium to walk in the shoes of an Arsenal soccer player. I admired the view of the soccer field from the VIP section, visualized the coach watching plays from the couch in his office, touched a soccer shirt that hung within the cabinet in the changing room, envisioned the crowd cheering on the players through the tunnel, and practically heard the imaginary press hollering questions from the interview room. Once the tour was over, I bought a nice cap to bring home to my dad seeing that the shirts were real expensive.
May 21st
Lavish Tudors
Hampton Court Palace lies southwest of London on the north bank of the River Thames. Built in 1514 for Cardinal Wolsey, the palace was later presented to Henry VIII to secure the King's favor. Five of Henry's six wives lived here as queen, and the ghosts of the third and fifth----- Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard----- are said to still haunt the palace. Elizabeth I had been staying here when news broke of the defeat of the Spanish Armada and Charles I lived here as the King of England as well as Oliver Cromwell's prisoner. The palace was opened to the public during Queen Victoria's reign, but only some individuals are granted an apartment by the monarch. The Great Hall in particular is a worthy place to linger----- not only is it England's greatest medieval hall, it became one of the country's most famous theaters, even hosting Shakespeare's company in 1603. In continuous use for more than 450 years, Hampton Court's royal chapel has a breathtaking ceiling----- perhaps the finest example of Tudor interior decoration in the palace----- and historic Royal Pews, where Henry VIII sat as he read the accusations of his young wife Catherine Howard's supposed indiscretions before their marriage. A replica of King Henry's Crown of State, the original of which was melted down by Cromwell, sits in the Royal Pew. The vast medieval kitchens and cellars at Hampton Court provide a fascinating insight into the logistics of having to feed the palace's 600 members of the court twice daily. It became a central part of palace life with its employment of numerous staff and cooks. Sadly, we were unable to eat any traditional meals considering they were cleaning the ovens. The Clock Court is home to the spectacular astronomical clock made for Henry VIII in 1540. Created by French clockmaker Nicholas Oursian, this fascinating timepiece consists of three copper dials that indicate the hour, month, day, zodiac signs, and position of the sun. My favorite parts were the family portraits of the Tudors and the immaculate 60-acre gardens. It almost felt as if I was living the life of Mia Thermopolis from Princess Diaries for a second. At the Open Air Theatre in Regents Park, we saw a cast act out Our Town by Thornton Wilder. It represents the daily lives of people in America from 1901 to 1913. The first act describes their routine, the second act focuses on love and marriage, and the third act discusses death. The play was unconventional in its use of minimal sets and complete lack of props. Performers had to mime many objects throughout the show. The Stage Manager, who is the narrator of the play, breaks several rules of theater. First, she talks directly to the audience and acknowledges that she is in a play. Second, she occasionally leaves her role as narrator to take on the parts of several characters in the play. Third, she knows what will happen in the future and sometimes comments on events that will happen to characters years later. I thought the play was way too vanilla for my taste, but the birds chirping as the sun set was the highlight of the night.
May 22nd
Beatle Mania
We passed the boarded up Big Ben to make our way to Westminster Abbey. In the 1040s King Edward the Confessor established his royal palace by the banks of the river Thames on land known as Thorney Island. The only traces of Edward's monastery to be seen today are in the round arches and massive supporting columns of the undercroft and the Pxy Chamber in the cloisters. Every monarch since William the Conqueror has been crowned in the Abbey, with the exception of Edward V and Edward VIII who were never crowned. It serves as the final resting place of thirty kings and queens starting with King Edward the Confessor himself whose magnificent shrine stands just behind the High Altar. The most visited tombs are those of Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. Notable among the burials is the Unknown Warrior, whose grave has become a place of pilgrimage. I couldn't help fangirling over knowing Sir Issac Newton, Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens, Geoffrey Chaucer, George Handel, and Stephen Hawking were buried underneath the floor plaques. The Coronation Chair in St George’s Chapel is one of the most precious and famous pieces of furniture in the world. It has been the centerpiece of coronations for over 700 years when it is placed in front of the High Altar. It was made by order of King Edward the Confessor to enclose the famous Stone of Scone, which he brought from Scotland to the Abbey in 1296. The initials of young choirboys were carved into the chair as a prank and the corner posts have been acutely damaged by souvenir hunters. A remarkable addition to the Abbey was the glorious Lady chapel built by King Henry VII, first of the Tudor monarchs, which now bears his name. This has a spectacular fan-vaulted roof and the craftsmanship of Italian sculptor Pietro Torrigiano can be seen in Henry's fine tomb. The Order of the Bath was influenced by medieval chivalry and the banners of the current Knights Grand Cross surround the walls. When we finally left, I encountered suffragist Millicent Fawcetts' statue in Parliament Square, spotted the building where King Charles I was publicly executed, and watched a local paint the guards who were protecting Teresa May's residence. The Beatles tour had been pretty dissatisfying seeing that we were not going to see Abbey Road. I liked the rooftop concert location which was their final public performance as a rock band. When the Beatles first started playing, spectators below on the streets were confused, crowds of onlookers began to congregate on local rooftops, and the Metropolitan Police asked them to turn down the volume. Jackie, Dana, Diana, Alexandra, Rebs, and I changed trains underground to get as close as possibly to Abbey Road. It was a hassle to take a picture of us mimicking the Beatles, but a kind stranger stopped the traffic just to snap one. Our timing was pretty good seeing that other tourists visibly struggled to do the same during rush hour.
May 23rd
Cambridge Baptism
The Cantabs had their noses stuck in books as exam season rolled around. We visited Kings College where we saw the chapel and courtyard. The Kings College Chapel was founded in 1446 by Henry VI, however it took over a century to complete. The windows miraculously and mysteriously escaped the ravages of the Civil War, although one royalist observer claimed that the Chapel was used as a parade ground by Cromwell's troops. Individuals associated with Cambridge University have won 89 Nobel Prizes in all six disciplines covering physics, chemistry, peace, literature, physiology, and medicine. Isaac Newton, one of the greatest of all physical scientists, entered Cambridge University as an undergraduate and remained at Trinity until 1696 where his most important work had been completed. A frowned-upon activity of the students involves mounting on the college buildings. Some of the Cantabs have used night climbing to commit several inventive pranks. In 1958, engineering students from Gonville & Caius College were able to get an Austin Seven on the roof of Senate House. It took the university a week to remove it! In 2009, other students placed twenty five Santa hats on various buildings, including the pinnacle of King’s College Chapel and the top of Pembroke’s Porter’s Lodge. Professor Sutton had booked a surprise activity that has existed in Cambridge since Edwardian times. It involved riding a flat boat down the River Cam while someone in the back pushed against the riverbed. Max unfortunately sat near our punter, the pole would sprinkle him with droplets, and his glasses gradually fogged from taking part in the unexpected baptism. The water flowed between the gap in my fingers, the wind blew the hair away from my face, and the punt boat navigated under the bridges. Before departing to London, I found a patch of grass in a park where I happily curled into a ball, snuggled with my sweater as if it were a blanket, and closed my tired eyes to take a snooze.
May 24th
Running off Fumes
St. Pauls' Cathedral happens to be the masterpiece of Britain's most famous architect Sir Christopher Wren. It was built between 1675 and 1710, after its predecessor was destroyed in the Great Fire of London. The most important event that took place here was Princess Diana and Prince Charles' wedding in 1981. Rodney basically forced us to climb the 560 steps that lead to the top of dome. Not only was I gasping for air from being really out of shape, but my palms began sweating uncontrollably due to my fear of heights. I found the narrow concrete passageways bearable until I reached the sketchy spiral metal staircase which made me question why I gave into the whole idea in the first place. The panoramic view of London was jaw dropping. I was able to spot the London Eye, River Thames, Tower Bridge, Globe Theatre, and Tate Modern. Rodney was the one to take a selfie with all of us in the background before we had to go down the same steps. In the crypt, I saw the tombs of Sir Christopher Wren and the Duke of Wellington. Wellesley was a military hero in the war against Napoleon during the Peninsular War and Battle of Waterloo. Afterwards, I hurried to Flat 17 that way I could get a head start on washing dirty laundry. This was when I headed to the Primark across the street to go on a shopping spree for more clothes. I bought a Hogwarts t-shirt, a hipster jean jacket, a burgundy dress, a hiking getup, and a pair of flowy blank pants. When I got back to dump my bags, I realized I was extremely late to the Van Gogh exhibition at Tate Britain. Margarita, Max, and I speed walked after we took the escalator to exit Underground. We passed by a peaceful climate change protest in front of the House of Parliament. Eventually, I showed my online ticket, picked up a catalogue, and entered the exhibition space. My favorite paintings were Starry Night, Sorrowing Old Man, Self-Portrait, and Sunflowers. It was surreal to see artwork that you are taught about from a very young age in person. We decided to go back to Flat 17, pick up the ones who stayed, and make our way to the Globe Theatre. It was a really long journey that I did not account for properly. We were late a couple of minutes due to the construction that forced detours. The original was a open-air amphitheater in which scholars believe housed up to 3,000 spectators. At the base of the stage, the peasants would stand on the earthen floor to watch the performance for a penny. Professor Sutton insisted we go back in time by embracing the pit experience. The actress playing Falstaff took a swig of beer from a guy in the audience, leaning on the stage relieved the pressure from my aching feet, and heavy rain began to pour on us during intermission. I found my lack of preparation for the complex plot and language barrier made me enjoy the Henry IV Part I play less. I simply wished I had time to quickly skim the summary to avoid all the confusion. Anyways, I devoured a Five Guys burger with fries, folded the clothes in the drying machine, printed my airplane boarding pass, showered upstairs from head to toe, and packed a bag for our trip to Dublin. Let's just say I only slept about two hours that night!
May 25th
Luck of the Irish
I woke up to Dana and Jackie telling me the taxi was to be here in five minutes. With the rush of energy circulating my body, I jumped out of bed panicked, quickly changed into clothes, grabbed any necessities I left out, and ran down the stairs to meet the others outside. Once I sat in the backseat, I double checked my bag for a passport, money, and boarding pass. It seemed I had just left my phone charger and a hair brush behind at the flat. When the driver dropped us off at Stansted Airport, we showed our boarding passes, packed our liquids into a small baggie, and entered the security line to reach the terminals. I got lucky that the airport employee only threw away a small hand sanitizer. If I probably had more time to pack my makeup bag than I would have had to dump it in the trash too. Poor Salma and Gabs had necessities taken away seeing as they were not able to fit it all in their baggies. We ate early breakfast while we waited for the gate number to appear on the screen. This was when I booked all nine of us a traditional Irish dinner show at Arlington Hotel for Celtic Night. We boarded the Ryanair airplane, landed in Dublin Airport, exchanged our currency to euros, and bought local bus passes to take us to Central Dublin. The bus dropped us off in front of Trinity College which was near the visitors center. Estefania, Gaby, and I split from the other girls to walk towards our hotel to check in. On the way, we sat down at a cafe that was serving steak pie with mash and greens on the side. The sheets on the bed were calling my name as I entered our hotel room. We chilled out for an hour, caught the Hop-On Hop-Off bus, and I skipped out on the Guinness Storehouse Tour to see Dublin Castle. From 1204 until 1922 it was the seat of English and later British rule in Ireland. During that time, it served principally as a residence for the British monarch’s Irish representative, the Viceroy of Ireland, and as a ceremonial and administrative centre. The Castle was originally developed as a medieval fortress under the orders of King John of England. Constructed on elevated ground once occupied by an earlier Viking settlement, the old Castle stood approximately on the site of the present Upper Castle Yard. It remained largely intact until April 1684, when a major fire caused severe damage to much of the building. Despite the extent of the fire, parts of the medieval and viking structures can be seen today. Successive Irish governments have continued to use Dublin Castle for important national events, such as state dinners and commemorations. Since 1938, each one of Ireland’s presidents has been inaugurated in St Patrick’s Hall, the grandest of the State Apartments. I ran out of phone battery on my way to Arlington Hotel, so I waved a taxi to take me there for the dinner. I led to a huge table by a waitress where I found the others. We were served a appetizer, entree, and dessert of our choice. I ordered the Onion Soup, Mixed Bean Chili, and Arlington Assets of Dessert before the Irish dancers performed to the folk music the band played. Once we were full, we each took taxis to the hotels we had booked for the night.
May 26th
Sláinte!
We decided to walk towards Trinity College to see the Book of Kells, a 9th century manuscript that documents the four Gospels of the life of Jesus Christ. It is Ireland’s greatest cultural treasure and the world’s most famous medieval manuscript. I learned about what was needed for book binding, how pigments were created from their surroundings, and the significance behind the animals found on the pages. Without a doubt, the Book of Kells required an incredibly steady hand to paint all the beautiful small details. Trinity College Library Dublin is one of the world’s great research libraries, holding the largest collection of manuscripts and printed books in Ireland. Their oldest surviving harp made my fingers itch to touch the brass strings that were attached to its oak body. The aged books lined every inch of shelf creating the illusion of a never-ending hall. Estefania, Gaby, and I entered a ginormous gift shop located in the Dublin Center to get souvenirs. I bought a Tree of Life necklace, two Shamrock bracelets, and a Dublin hoodie. We made our way to Temple Bar Pub near the River Liffey. It was packed to the brim with people, the Irish music bounced off the walls, and everyone held their drinks up as they sang the words to the tune. Our seats were right smack in front of the band and right next to a rowdy bachelorette party. When we left the pub, I followed the directions on my phone that led us to St. Patrick's Cathedral, the national cathedral of the Church of Ireland. An elderly Irish man sitting on his porch sparked a conversation with us when we passed by. It turned out St. Patrick's Cathedral was closed to visitors who were not attending their daily mass. Hence, I watched the Irish children running around the fountain, hugged a cute alpaca at their little petting zoo, and munched on a crepe that I bought from a vendor in St. Patrick's Park. It was awesome to see many different families gathered around in one place enjoying the festivities. We headed towards Christ Church Cathedral to see if we could enter that one instead. However, their was a mass going on requiring us to wait about ten minutes outside. This was were I saw the heart of Laurence O'Toole the Patron Saint as well as a mummified cat and rat that got stuck in an organ pipe after their chase. Our weekend trip to Ireland was pretty much over after we took the afternoon bus to Dublin Airport to catch our plane back to London.
May 27th
Moving Out
Last night I stayed up to eat a midnight snack, wash dirty clothes, pack my empty suitcase, and shower in the upstairs bathroom. This morning everyone was busy washing the dishes, cleaning out the fridge, taking out the trash bags, buying an oyster card, and turning in their ID along with the flat key. Let's just say I was operating on adrenaline the entire time! We left the FSU Study Abroad Centre with our luggage in hand and it did not fail to catch the attention of Londoners. Not to mention, the squeaky wheel rolling Valentina's bag made me wince every time I heard it. We rode three hours from London to York, a city known for its Viking, Roman, and Medieval history. I stayed in my hotel room that I shared with Adriana until it was time to meet Professor Sutton downstairs. The tomato soup and hot chocolate I had from a local cafe was delicious. Afterwards, we walked the city walls, let the drizzle fall on us, and walked under the famous gate. Seeing as the sky became really ugly out, I joined Flat 17 to get a bite of pizza near the hotel for dinner and watched a Netflix movie in bed using Adriana's computer.
May 28th
The Brontë Sisters
Half of us hopped onto a tour bus across from York Minster to visit the Bronte house. We stopped by a pastry shop where I pet a labrador retriever who seeked my attention and poured a cup of Earl Grey from the hot kettle. The Bronte House consisted of a dining room, three studies, a kitchen, a servant room, and two bedrooms. Charlotte, Emily, and Anne spent much of their time writing in the Dining Room. This was where Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and Agnes Grey were born. Mr. Bronte would carry out parish business as well as give his children lessons on literature, politics, art, and music in his study. Prior to seeing her work, I truly had no idea that Charlotte was such a skilled painter. Her bedroom showcased her grey satin dress, beaded jewelry, wooden writing desk, portraits portraying wealthy women, and watercolored drawings of flowers. Charlotte, Emily, and Anne would read and write about their imaginary worlds in the children's study. Patrick Branwell Brontë occupied the privileged position of only boy in the family, with all expectations centred on him. His weakness of character and lack of application meant that he failed first in his chosen profession of artist, and eventually proved himself to be unemployable. In later years, Patrick Branwell's addiction to alcohol made him a danger and Mr. Bronte brought him to his bedroom where he died in 1848. Branwell's portrait of his sisters where he excluded himself out happens to be the only known painting that depicts them together. A copy was proudly displayed on the wall rounding the small staircase for all to see. I walked out passed the gravestones in the eerie cemetery towards the Haworth Church where Mr. Bronte spent forty-one years as priest. He was a talented preacher, baptized many babies, held many funerals, and directed the education at the Old School Room. Anne Bronte is the only member of the family not to rest in the family vault beneath the floor at the east end of Church. She died of tuberculosis in Scarborough, North Yorkshire and is buried at St Mary’s Church in the seaside town. I left my prayers for the family when I sat down on the benches near the plaque stating their names. After, I ate the leftovers that Dana, Jackie and Margarita offered when I saw them sitting at a table in the Kings Arms Pub. I gladly took tiny bites of the mashed peas as well as fish & chips. The little street had small shops lined up and down the rolling hill. Max bought a huge costly gummy worm from a candy store and we snapped pictures with the scenic background. At the following bus stops, I spent time fondly cooed at the wild sheep near a serene waterfall and balancing on the stepping stones embedded in a stream near the ruins of the Bolton Abbey.
May 29th
York ChocolateFondue
York Minster, the cathedral of York, praises their holy Saint Peter and displays the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world with its original panels dating back to 1270. I totally skipped Rodney's quest to see the wonderful view of the old city from the central tower after the recurring flashbacks of climbing the steps at St. Paul's Cathedral. Anyways, York Minster was raided by looters during the Reformation years and suffered a huge fire that destroyed much of the south roof around 1984. Flat 17 basically opted to sit down for morning tea at Betty's Cafe once we were dismissed. I drank two cups of China Rose Petal tea, sipped the ones the others ordered to taste them, and guided Adriana on where to meet us when she left the hotel. We walked towards Shambles, an old street with overhanging timber framed buildings from the fourteenth century. I window shopped at many of the Harry Potter shops, bought a Stark House cup inspired by GOT, and asked for a fondue bowl to share with the others. It was the different chocolate chunks as well as the variety in dipping companions that made my mouth water at first glance. Meanwhile, Max and Margarita enjoyed a quick ride on the carousel that was parked out front. When we returned to the hotel, we pick up our luggage at the front desk and left to board the train towards our next destination. Edinburgh was pretty gloomy outside, but I quickly learned it is not quite unusual for the Scots to experience such weather.
May 30th
Je Suis Prest
There was a Scottish man in his traditional kilt playing his bagpipes on Royal Mile. It was in that moment that I first saw the daunting Edinburgh Castle on a hill top in the middle of the city. The royal apartments was the official residence of the late Stuart monarchs, including Mary Queen of Scots. The gold letters at the entrance represents her initials and her husband, Lord Darnley. Laich Hall is the most beautiful of the restored chambers with its lovely fireplace. Its small adjoining room is where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to the future King James who merged the Scottish and English royal line. I felt pretty cool having stood in a spot that shaped the destiny of all Scots! The Great Hall was built shortly before the death of King James IV and had been used as a meeting place for Scottish parliament until 1640. During Cromwell's occupancy, the building was turned into a barrack as well as a military hospital. It now houses a comprehensive collection of arms, armor, and stained glass panels that were added to commemorate Scotland's monarchs. This is where an employee informed the crowd on the purposes of each significant artifact. One item I learned about while it was passed around had been the Quaich, a shallow friendship bowl whose two handles signify trust. For centuries, Edinburgh Castle was the repository for state documents and the Crown Jewels, but they were removed on two occasions---- In 1291, Edward I sent the regalia to London and before Oliver Cromwell captured the castle, each piece was taken to Dunnottar Castle for safekeeping. The Crown Chamber displays the scepter of James VI from Pope Alexander VI, a sword presented to James IV by Pope Julius II, the Stone of Hope which was generously gifted by England, and a gold crown that contains pearls in addition to jewels. When I left Edinburgh Castle, I spent money on a silver Scottish goblet, navy Scotland hoodie, and an Outlander inspired necklace. The soft cashmere scarves among the shops on Royal Mile were tempting, however the expensive price tags made me decide to opt out on in the end. As I entered the Palace of Holyroodhouse, I coincidently ran into Professor Sutton going up the concrete staircase. The Grand Throne Room is used for important receptions and other occasions. I liked the pair of thrones who serve as a centerpiece that King George V commissioned in 1911. Not to mention, the newly installed life-size portrait of Charles II took me by surprise seeing as I had pasted this same exact painting onto my powerpoint presentation just last semester. Mary Queen of Scots lived at the palace during a time kings and queens required protection against their enemies. Near her bedchamber was the tiny Supper Room where Mary was dining when she witnessed the murder of her private secretary, David Rizzio. He had been stabbed fifty-six times by Lord Darnley and a group of powerful Scottish lords. It is claimed that the bloodstains from David Rizzio's body are still visible in the Outer Chamber where he was left for all to see. The largest room in the palace, the Gallery Room, displays the real and legendary Scottish rulers through portraits. These are hung up on the wall beginning with Fergus the legendary founder and ends at a grand total of ninety-five kings to one queen. Nearing the end, I yearned to jump among puddles creating ripples and twirl around in circles with open arms as the rain poured onto the Palace Gardens.
May 31st
Legendary Camelot
Arthur's Seat is often mentioned as one of the possible locations for Camelot, the castle and court of the Romano-British warrior-chief, King Arthur. This threw me back to the kid in me who had devoured the Magic Tree House book, Christmas in Camelot. This extinct volcano took my breath away as it towered over me. We all hiked the path with Laura leading from the front. The radiant yellow flowers bundled together, the charcoal rocks sloped down caving in, the muddy steps roughened up our running shoes, and the sea glistened as the light hit it from a distance. My body wanted to give up on me as we were reaching the top, but it all had been worth it the minute I saw dots for people and the buildings extended among the clouds in the bright blue sky. Anyways, I survived the steep walk down the hill, despite having stumbled a few times which led to the dirt stains on my sleeves. Our celebration consisted of a hefty lunch at a nearby pub where I was able to try Haggis, a Scottish delicacy. Finding the bus station after was rough due to construction, however we all found our way allowing us to continue towards Inverness.
June 1st
Finding Nessie
The Battle of Culloden was the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising of 1745. This is where the Jacobite forces of Charles II were decisively defeated by Hanoverian forces commanded by the Duke of Cumberland, near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. Then, George I of the House of Hanover succeeded seeing as he was a descendant of the Stuarts through his maternal grandmother. I could imagine soldiers dodging weapons, blood dripping onto the ground, and shields weighing down on their arms. It would be nice to be able to borrow the courage they displayed on that battlefield from time to time. Our next stop was to Lochness where we kept an eye out for Nessie. Unfortunately, nobody on the boat spotted a shy monster chilling at the surface of the water. I enjoyed hearing the waves crash, feeling the wind through my hair, and seeing the fog settle on the mysterious hills. Urquhart Castle was one of the great castles taken by the English when Edward I invaded in 1296. The Lords of the Isles then seized the castle repeatedly in the later Middle Ages, in an effort to expand their territory into the north-east. Then, it was garrisoned for the last time in 1689, following the exile of the Catholic King James VII and his replacement by the Protestant monarchs William II and Mary II. It was fun running around the open ruins to experience every inch of Urquhart Castle.
June 2nd
American Lassie
We arrived in Glasgow after being stuck on a train for three hours. Poor Gaby could not find her luggage as we were preparing to exit onto the platform. This meant someone may have stolen it or pushed it to the side to fit their own suitcase. However, she had to get off the train with us being that we could not afford to miss this stop. A lady who worked at the station explained they were taking the lost luggage to Edinburgh for pick up. This made me heave a sigh of relief knowing she would be getting her passport, laptop, and clothes back. This time around I was set to room with Estefania and Gaby. Before jumping onto my comfy bed, the shoes I knocked off my feet landed on our floor with a thud. Gaby were ready to depart for Edinburgh with Rodney so they could bring home her luggage. Estefania had the remote pointed at the T.V. until she settled on a channel that was playing 27 Dresses. Flat 17 and I went out to have drinks at the pubs that were walking distance. We had fun listening to the music, but the atmosphere was pretty dead late afternoon. In other words, it was time to head back and just settle in early for the night.
June 3rd
Highland Bagpipes
I work up early to pack my suitcase when Gaby told me she did not find her luggage yesterday. This was when I offered her my Dublin Hoodie, so she could wear a clean shirt with her jeans. Once I lugged my suitcase up two flights of stairs, I served a fried egg, bacon strips, and a chocolate croissant with nutella onto my breakfast plate. Flat 17 decided to chill at a coffee shop meanwhile I separated from them to wander around the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum on my own. The most fascinating piece had to be 'Christ of St John of the Cross' by Salvador Dali. The artist had studied nuclear physics and felt that the discovery of the atomic nature of the universe proved the existence of God. He saw himself as the first to paint art that would combine science with religious belief. The daring angle of Christ's perfect body, eerie effect of the Cross coming out of extreme darkness, and the dream-like landscape are just some of the picture's striking qualities. Then, I walked passed a food truck parked on the curb selling food, a water fountain collecting the coins being flicked into the air, and overgrown roots that were slowly eroding the sidewalks in Kelvingrove Park. This was when I jumped on the opportunity to see the Hogwarts-like arches found at the University of Glasgow. Let me just say I was not disappointed to say the least!
June 4th
Tale of Peter Rabbit
I roomed in a bed and breakfast with Adriana at Windermere. Last night Professor Sutton had assigned everyone parts to act out the Taming of A Shrew. Sofia was given stubborn-headed Kate and Gaby played flawlessly perfect Bianca. My favorite part was when the girls would talk dirty to Gaby in Spanish as he narrated their flirtatious moment. This gathering had made Shakespeare much more engaging and understandable. Today I hopped on a tour bus to visit Beatrix Potter's 17th century farmhouse and gardens. She was an English writer, illustrator, natural scientist, and conservationist best known for her children's books featuring animals. Beatrix Potter being a prosperous farmer as well as prize-winning breeder of Herdwick sheep had a keen interest in preserving the land within Windermere. I did not buy a ticket to enter her house, but apparently every room includes at least one item she found inspiring enough to draw into her book. I would have probably wanted to see the bronze marching frog that resembles her Jeremy Fisher. However, I did have a peak from over the employee's shoulder of the dresser holding glass china which is featured in The Tales of Samuel Whiskers. The small garden was very peaceful and lovely though. I spent a lot of time searching for flowers and taking pictures of them. Apparently, the rhubarb patch happens to be where Jemima Puddle-Duck tried to hide her eggs and the view up the slate-flagged garden path was captured in The Tale of Tom Kitten. We left afterwards to go visit Hawkshead Village, an ancient township with a lot of charm. The Old Grammar School that was founded in 1585 had been closed I believe. Its ground floor classroom retains many old desks covered in carving done by the boys, including the poet William Wordsworth. I affectionately looked at Peter the Rabbit merchandise, enjoyed my cup of creamy ice-cream, flipped a pound into the wishing well, and sat with the others at Kings Arms Pub. Then, I rode a small ferry across the big lake where we reached a dock filled with hungry swans who gobbled down the fries Laura gave them. My only two regrets was not being able to taste the World's Famous Gingerbread from Grasmere or visit the National Trust to see Beatrix Potter's original artwork. Anyways, our day ended with Professor Sutton taking us out to eat at an Indian Restaurant making it my first time tasting traditional Indian dishes.
June 5th
Friend LikeMe
We arrived at a Sleepy Inn in Manchester where I was paired with Salma and Estella. Professor Sutton was geeking out over the architecture of the city as we passed the buildings on our way to the National Football Museum. He had pointed towards Manchester Arena where twenty-two people died during an Ariana Grande concert by suicide bombing. I remember clearly watching the news on my couch when they covered this story a couple years ago. The Football Museum displayed several soccer shirts, trophies, cleats, and gloves from different players. Our class played foosball against each other and kicked the ball in the interactive penalty box to pass the time. I really enjoyed the short video they projected onto a screen which showed the big impact this sport has on uniting people under one nation. It was fun being on my own seeing that I dodged teens doing crazy tricks on their bikes, bought a Manchester United jersey for a discounted price at the mall, treated myself to chicken fajitas with dulce de leche drizzled churros, watched an artist on the street use oil pastels for their artwork, chilled on a public bench immersing myself among locals, and splurged on a Daenerys Targaryen Funko Pop from Primark. I took full adavtange when I learned the Manchester Art Gallery usually opens until late on the first Wednesday of every month. The Virtues of Unity, an extensive ceramic collection, displayed beautifully crafted abstract sculptures by a modern artist. Halima Cassel's inspiration stemmed from geometry, architecture, natural forms, and foreign travel. She was born in Kashmir yet grew up in England, thus her pieces heavily reflects her dual heritage. Halima Cassel's voyages renewed her appetite for experimentation--- in Japan she threw pots whilst standing on top of a ladder and in Italy she worked in marble for the first time. This may explain why I saw artwork made from a wide variety of material and cracked sculptures that resembled broken pieces who were carefully glued back together. As the sun was beginning to set, I made my way towards the cinema in Printworks where I watched the live action of Aladdin for really cheap. The lovable street rat basically meets Princess Jasmine, the beautiful daughter of the sultan of Agrabah. While visiting her exotic palace, Aladdin stumbles upon a magic oil lamp that unleashes a powerful, wisecracking, larger-than-life genie. It is this pair that embarks on a dangerous mission to stop the evil sorcerer Jafar from overthrowing young Jasmine's kingdom.
June 6th
Manchester Working Bees
I had a hard time waking up this morning, but I forced myself get up in order to have plenty of time to visit other places around Manchester. I left my suitcase with the front desk, ate a full English breakfast, and walked towards the Central Library. There were many people studying and reading inside the Wolfson Reading Room. Feeling a little bit awkward, I decided it would be best to move onto the John Ryland's Library. It is home to one of the world’s richest and most unique collections of books, manuscripts, maps, works of art and objects. Enriqueta Rylands created this library in memory of her husband, John Ryland. The Spencer Room displays a collection that was purchased in 1892 from the fifth Earl of Spencer for £250,000. This family happens to be the ancestors of Lady Diana Spencer, who's better known as the Princess of Wales. The Crawford Room showcases a collection that was purchased in 1901 from Earl of Crawford for £105,000. It contains more than 6,000 hand-written manuscripts in over fifty different languages. The original Victorian toilets can be found down the stairs meaning they have remained unchanged since 1900. I had absolutely no idea the ancient toilet had a wooden seat and the metal cord attached to the wooden box signals flushing. The alcoves were designed for private study, the windows obscure the view to the outside, and light can still pour into the Historic Reading Room. A thick old book was laid out on a wooden table, thus I flipped through it to find drawings of birds flooding the pages. The children on their field trip sat cross-legged on the floor as they listened to someone read a story to them. Once I walked out, I made my way towards the Science and Industry Museum. Rocket was the only locomotive to successfully complete the trials, averaging twelve mph and achieving a top speed of thirty mph. It was built by Robert Stephenson to run on the world's first inter-city passenger railway line. This steam engine was proven better than the stationary winding alternatives. It was the brave aviators John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown who completed the first successful non-stop transatlantic flight in a Vickers Vimy aircraft. A team from the US Navy had successfully crossed via partway stops in the Azores, but it had remained to be seen if it could be done in one go. Computers were physically reprogrammed and rewired every time they needed to do a new task. Baby was the first to have a memory that paved the path for modern computers. The Williams-Kilburn tube developed by Sir Freddie William and Tom Kilburn was a cathode ray tube of the type commonly associated with old-fashioned bulky televisions. The 'screen' was a grid of dots, with each dot being the result of an electron hitting the phosphor screen of the tube. This created a momentary charge that was used to write an operation into a computer memory. It was cool to see the physical objects behind these three monumental accomplishments! In addition, I enjoyed walking in the same footsteps of the passengers boarding in Liverpool's Road Railway Station. I could practically imagine people with their tickets, the train guards holding lists of passengers, luggage being strapped onto carriage roofs, and the bell being rung as an indicator for boarding.
June 7th
All the World's a Stage
We visited the birthplace of William Shakespeare and the home where he grew up under his family's wing. It was his father’s status as mayor that made him privileged enough to attend the local grammar school to begin his education. William Shakespeare was a renowned English poet, playwright, and actor born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. His work includes thirty-eight plays, two narrative poems, one-hundred fifty-four sonnets, and a variety of other poems. No original manuscripts of Shakespeare's plays are known to exist today. It is actually thanks to a group of actors from Shakespeare's company that we have some of his plays written down in the First Folio. The Parlor was the grandest room in the house in order to show off the family's social status and hospitality to their guests. The Glover's Workshop was where his father made gloves to sell for his business. The Birthing Room had an oak cradle used to bring up their children and the names of visitors engraved into the window. The Drinking Parlour would store readily available ale being that it was safer to drink than water. During Tudor England, drunken behavior was punished by making the wasted wear a hollowed out beer barrel around town. I really enjoyed the actors that took up Gaby's request to do a scene from Much Ado About Nothing for us. Beatrice snarkly said, "Is it possible disdain should die while she hath such meet food to feed it as Signor Benedick? Courtesy itself must convert to disdain if you come in her presence." Benedick smuggly replied, "Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted. And I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart, for truly I love none," with his arms around Gaby and I. Before going to Hall's Croft, I bought a cute little stuffed bear dressed in Shakespeare clothes and ate some chicken from Nandos to have a One Direction moment in one of their favorite restaurants. The beautifully furnished Jacobean home was owned by Shakespeare's daughter Susanna and her husband, physician John Hall. He was a compassionate doctor who treated catholic, protestant, rich, and poor patients alike. While some practiced astrology in addition to bloodletting, John Hall’s preference was for treatments made from plants, herbs, animal extracts, gemstones, and rocks. The Child High Chair being showcased was gorgeous and most likely had leather straps to keep the child secure. Meal times in early modern England were an important household activity, so the fact that even the youngest member of the family could have a seat indicates the family must have been wealthy. Not to mention, I learned that the house strategically had wooden beams showing on its exterior to display their riches for others to see as they would pass by. My favorite part was the fascinating pet leeches who are shipped to a vet for special feeding twice a year. William Shakespeare died on his birthday in 1616 and was buried inside Holy Trinity Church rather than the graveyard outside. He managed to do this by buying a title deed for £440 which gave him the right to have a tomb near the altar of the church. I thought it was fantastic It was surreal to see the grave of the most famous British writer in history! Afterwards, Professor Sutton took us to see the Royal Shakespeare Company perform As You Like It. Rosalind is banished and with her best friend, Celia by her side, she journeys to a world of exile. But not before catching the eye of the love-stuck Orlando who is also forced from the Court into the forest. This play mixed a feisty cross-dressing heroine, a tartan-clad fool, melodic songs, and questionable poetry all into one making the audience double over in laughter. The actor playing Touchstone had mooned me and he gradually turned pink as I sarcastically told him I had the best seat in the theatre.
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June 8th
Taming Hostile Kate
We hopped on a tour bus in front of Avoncot this morning to visit Cotswolds. I enjoyed walking on the pebbled path of Arlington Row, a quaint community with stone cottages. Apparently, an older man had a ugly yellow car parked outside his vacation home and one photographer claimed on twitter it ruined the beautiful shot. This made headlines seeing as people started to honk up and down the road to the cottages in their ugly yellow cars. The pretty village, Bourton-on-the-Water, had been the most peaceful place with the River Windrush flowing under its stone bridges. The girls were crazy enough to take off their socks and walk across the freezing water with their bare feet. I simply watched with my blueberry ice-cream cone in hand and my butt sat on the stone edge as my legs unconsciously dangled a bit. Stow-on-the-Wold encompassed pretty much everything a perfect Cotswolds town should have. Its large Market Square once saw up to 20,000 herding sheep being sold at one time. The gorgeous north door of the St Edwards Church flanked two ancient yew trees. It’s hard not to believe the rumor that they inspired the Doors of Durin in the Lord of the Rings. Everyone had fun with the unexpected mini photoshoot just in front of the door. Moreover, I fell in love with the thatched cottages in Chipping Campden. The roofs had dry vegetation such as straw, water reed, sedge, rushes, heather, or palm branches to shed water away from the inner roof. I found it surprising that they can last up to fifty years if maintained well. The little animals added onto the roofs making it look even more rustic although their serve the purpose of scaring the birds away. When we arrived to the Willows early, I decided to take a snooze before the performance of The Taming of the Shrew by the Royal Shakespeare Company. This turned out to be a bad idea because I ended up running with Estefania and Gaby all the way over there to try to get there on time. Despite our effort, we arrived there too late resulting in us being escorted to our seats after the first act was over. Baptista Minola was seeking to sell off her son Katherine to the highest bidder. It cues for an explosive battle of the sexes in an electrically charged love story. This energetic comedy of gender and materialism was turned on its head to offer a fresh perspective on its portrayal of hierarchy and power. Gaby and I had went to the Dirty Duck afterwards to try spotting the actors from the crowd.
June 9th
Oxford Bound
The University of Oxford happens to be the oldest English-speaking university in the world. It grew rapidly from 1167 when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris. After disputes between students and townsfolk in 1209, some academics fled north-east to Cambridge where they established what became the University of Cambridge. The history and influence of the University of Oxford has made it a prestigious collegiate university who have produced many notable alumni including twenty-seven prime ministers. I walked to Christ Church with the class that way we could take a group picture with our FIU shirts. Their Famous Hall was this Renaissance splendor that attracted the makers of the Harry Potter films to build a replica in their London studios. students here eat three daily meals and attend a formal dinner in the evenings where gowns must be worn. Normally a University will offer dorms and dining, but scholars must bike to their lectures which are provided by their department. One window celebrates the fantastic work of Lewis Carroll in addition to the inspiration for his works, Alice, who was the daughter of Dean Liddell. As I sat in the Covered Market, I signed up online to go on a free Oxford walking tour later that day. This plaza opened around 1774 to clear the untidy, messy and unsavory stalls from the main streets of central Oxford. It provides a unique showcase for the very best in local crafts, food, and drinks. I found the sweet scent of the pastries that filled the Covered Market really tempting. By the time I finished strolling, it was time to head towards 5 Broad St to meet my tour group. The most prized possession at the Museum of the History of Science happens to be the chalkboard Albert Einstein used to explain his Theory of Relativity through mathematical equations. Across the street, Blackwell's Bookshop contains more than 160,000 books and up to three miles of shelving can be found in the Norrington Room. The Sheldonian Theatre was Christopher Wren's special project seeing as it was the first building to hold a dome without a central support system. This is where matriculations and graduation ceremonies occur for all students at the University of Oxford. The Divinity School happens to be the oldest surviving building for university use and students come here for their oral exams that could last three days. The Harry Potter franchise filmed the scene where Professor McGonagall teaches Ron how dance for the Yule Ball on these premises and it served as the Hogwarts Infirmary for several movies. Moreover, King Charles I had temporarily set up the Royalist Parliament in this chamber after having run away from London to avoid being overthrown from his throne. It was unfortunate that I could only see the exterior of the Divinity School due to the wedding taking place. The Bridge of Sighs connects Hertford College together and turns out to be the only one in the world to cross over a road instead. The Radcliffe Library uses a converter belt to send books upon request and contains an underground link for students to walk when crossing between buildings. The ornate door opposite the University Church of St. Mary was believed to be the inspiration behind the entrance to Narnia. It made me want to see the snowy world behind it as the two golden fawns look down on me. Not to mention, the lamppost nearby most likely represents the one that Lucy stood under when she first met Mr. Tumnus. Lewis, Tolkien, and other members of the Inklings literary group would meet at the Eagle & Child Pub to have a pint of beer and discuss their works. Nine-year old Alice Liddell was not allowed to enter classrooms, play on the croquet field, or walk around on her own. Christ Church was home to the stories Lewis Carroll manifested to entertain the little girl and he published Alice's Adventures in Wonderland using a pseudonym at an attempt to be solely known as a brilliant mathematician. The execution of Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury, turned out to be a dark time in Oxford history. Once he was approved by the pope, he declared Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine void and four months later married him to Anne Boleyn. After Edward VI's death, Thomas Cranmer supported Lady Jane Grey as successor to the throne. Her nine-day reign was followed by the Roman Catholic Mary I, who forced him to proclaim to the public his error in the support of Protestantism just as he was being tried for treason. Before I made my way to the train station, I bought a gray Oxford souvenir sweater for my sister and drank a mango smoothie to wash down the chicken pesto mozzarella sandwich.
June 10th
Weeping Willows
I woke up early this morning to eat my full English breakfast. The fried eggs, beans, and chocolate croissant with nutella satisfied my growling stomach. Our suitcases were filled to the brim making it somewhat hard to close. Estefania, Gaby, and I said our final goodbyes on the front steps of the Willows. The taxi was patiently waiting for us at Avoncot and we hopped onto the train towards London. I slept bent over my suitcase for three hours while the others slumped into their seats with earphones plugged in. Everyone split up once we got to the city being that Gaby wanted to search for her suitcase at King's Cross one last time. I sat down at a table with our luggage, ate a warm margarita pizza, and waited for any news about the situation. It took a long time to hear back, but her luggage was ready to be shipped for a hefty price. The employee from Edinburgh clearly did her a huge disservice by not doing his job properly considering she had to buy new clothes, pay for a temporary passport, and send her luggage all the way back to the States. We took many trains and buses to arrive at the hotel near Heathrow Airport. This is where we watched Love Island, a cheesy British TV dating show that resembles Bachelor's in Paradise. For my last dinner in England, I ate a slice of lasagna from the restaurant downstairs.