Farewell London

It’s hard to believe that this semester is nearly over. It’s even harder to believe that when I think about how much work I have left to do, papers and exams and whatnot. But my host mother was extremely generous in taking me out for a fun day at Tower of London! By first impression, I confused it for the Tower Bridge. But the Tower of London was actually a fortress and palace to royalty. It was where Anne Boleyn had her head chopped off! Not that it’s a good thing, but what a great piece of history. The Tower of London is best known for being prison. Tower Hill nearby is where most of the beheading took place. Too many towers, one can definitely get it muddled up. We took a tour from one of the “Yeoman Warders of Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and Members of the Sovereign’s Body Guard of the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary” or commonly known as Beefeaters. Who knows where that name came from, not even the Beefeater himself. The tour was nice but it was freezing outside, the first time I really noticed that London could be so foggy. We learned all about the prisoners, the torture, and saw the armour exhibition in the White Tower. The crown jewels are so shiny and some of the crowns are so intricate. It’s good to be king or queen but I’d hate to be a subject that paid taxes for those extravagant crowns. The crowns were basically inside this large vault. It felt weird to be walking through a gigantic vault. In the exhibit we saw the wooden block and axe. I’m not sure if it is the exact same one, but there’s something interesting and morbid about that. There were torture instruments and tons of armour. Some of the men were really short back in the day. It felt nice to walk through the old palace, through the staircases and pretend that I went back in time. The cobblestone roads and original arches were amazing architecture. We had a nice lunch of soup and bread in the cafe. Potato and leek! It was absolutely delicious food for a tourist cafe. We then took the bus home on one of the old double-decker buses, with no doors, only the pole in the back corner. There was a crowd over at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Could it be Kate Middleton shopping around for wedding venues? Who knows. London is royal wedding crazy right now.

Then it was back home for a well deserved nap and a delicious homecooked meal. Roast chicken, roast potatoes, and fresh vegetable medley. My host mom is too good to me. She woke me up from that wonderful nap so I could have the delicious dinner, then sent me off to enjoy the rest of my evening. Sadly, my evening consisted of procrastinating and contemplating why writing a paper on fashion trends is necessary, because there’s a reason there are no academic papers on why women choose to wear long skirts or many layers.

I shall conclude this final post with a grand farewell. London is a great paradox. It can be clean and dirty on opposite sides of the street. It can be safe compared to other cities, it can be dangerous, so watch where you stand on the tube platforms. It can be warm, and cold. The food can be amazing or disgusting. You can be miserable or make the most of what you are given. I wish the best to future abroaders, you definitely will not regret this experience.

J’adore London!

Paris, the city of love and lights and history. And cold, cold rain. A couple of us went to Paris last weekend. We knew the language barrier would be challenging but we did not factor in the stressful transportation. We spent about 6 hours on transportation, or trying to figure it out the first morning. We stopped for some Indian food because the station we exited was in a primarily Indian neighborhood. I still didn’t get the chance to try macaroons, but there will be time yet. We saw the Louvre but were too impatient to wait on line. But we did walk from the Louvre, down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées towards the Arc de Triomph. And yes, of course the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame. But we were soaking wet from the rain, our feet were bathing in puddles of freezing water. I think at one point my feet split open a bit because it was so wet and cold. Paris is beautiful indeed, but I wish it was sunny on our weekend. I am willing to give it a second chance when I have tons of money, a five-star hotel and sunshine.

In London it has been gloomy as well but Christmas lights are going up. I don’t think any place does Christmas better than New York City, but I may be biased. We’ll see how London holds up in the holiday festivities.

Five of us went to our art teacher’s house in Notting Hill. We saw the famous bookshop and door from the movie. Too bad I haven’t seen the movie yet! It was good fun to walk through the Portobello market again. There is such life in these open air markets, and practically everything is on sale. From delicious food to random bits and bobs like old silver, gas masks and old bicycle horns. I even saw old leather balls that kids used to play with before all this new shiny plastic technology. It is a market worth seeing if you ever visit London, but please don’t bring all your savings because I guarantee you will spend most of it on something.

Is the Royal Mile really a mile long?

Sarah and I managed to enjoy ourselves at the Joshua Radin concert at The Roundhouse in Camden despite issues over purchasing tickets. Apparently you need to know your telephone number and street address before you can buy anything. Silly me for thinking a ticket was a ticket and didn’t need all this information. Regardless, we stood for more than two hours but hardly noticed. We were listening to Rumer, staring at Justin Nozuka, and jamming to Joshua Radin. We’re not the biggest fans of him by far, but it was nice to unwind after a stressing week of classes. And it was nice to have a taste of American tunes in the heart of London.

Then it was back to classes and more work before we were off to Edinburgh via bus. The transportation and the hostel was less than impressive but no complaints because it was all worth it. Edinburgh is not what I expected at all. For such a rural city, meaning it isn’t as cosmopolitan as London or New York, it had great architecture, shops rooted in tradition and amazing, AMAZING views. Most of my pictures are from our two hikes in Edinburgh, the first on top of Arthur’s Seat which was quite the journey, and the second on Calton Hill. We shopped and walked down the streets of Edinburgh, conquering the Royal Mile and seeing the Queen’s Holyrood Palace. The food was not too impressive and neither of us were brave enough to try haggis. We took the buses around Edinburgh and went to Portobello Beach. While randomly hopping on buses we discovered two malls. It seems fate stepped in because the malls were perfect for us to rest, buy dinner, and relish in the atmosphere. You have no idea how much we miss malls! Edinburgh is so family friendly, the bus drivers get out of their post to help women with baby carriages on. One even held a baby while the mother folded up her carriage. Never have I seen this done on public transportation. The views are really just stunning. No, I didn’t run into J.K. Rowling or stalk out the cafe she used to frequent, but there’s always another time. Edinburgh just felt like home, the people are so inviting and friendly. Venice was beautiful, but Edinburgh is just something else.
I am about wrapping up break, finishing up some assignments so the workload isn’t overwhelming because it is Paris time next weekend!

Ciao Means Hello and Goodbye

St. John and Venice

My good friend Talulla took me out one night for a stroll down Brick Lane and Spitalfields Market. We arrived a bit late and the markets were just about closed up for the weekend. There was some confusion on my behalf on where she works and I got lost. My mistake! However, the evening was not ruined because she scored us reservations to this awesome restaurant called St. John. We walk around the area, and she ends up buying a bunch of stuff at a vintage store. I’m all for vintage but they tried to sell fake Chanel for nearly two hundred pounds! I’m not having that at all. I circled around the store a few times, my belly grumbling and waiting for 7:30 to roll around. It was definitely worth the wait. Get ready for the menu. We had Potted Hare; Crab Meat, Toast and Mayonnaise; Ox Tongue; Quail; Madeleines; Celeriac Soup; and Rum and Honey Vanilla Ice Cream. Oh, and a bunch of fresh bread with butter. It was all small portions, but these small portions definitely added up. It does sound a bit odd, but if this is traditional English food, I don’t mind having it every day for the rest of my life. We basically sampled the entire menu for about twenty quid each. We were so excited about the food that I only remembered to take pictures during dessert time! I had the soup for dessert because I’m not terribly fond of sweets.

Over the weekend, some of us went to Venice. I must be spoiled. Delicious food and delicious sights two weekends in a row!

We woke up super early to catch our train to the airport. We used the cheaper airlines and were pushed around like cattle. I dozed off on the plane but managed to catch some glimpses of snowy mountains which remind me greatly of skiing with my best friend back home. We used a taxi boat that pulled us right to the backside of our hotel which was a unique experience. Can you imagine pulling out of your water filled backyard on a sunny afternoon and sailing off with your loved ones? Venice is so different from any other city because bridges are used to cross over the channels of water. Boats are the main ways of transportation. I managed to take the vaporetto or bus boats all around the island. There is a lot of industry going on in Venice as well as tourist attractions. We saw so many churches that I can’t even name them all. All I can say about Venice is that we found the best routes when we were lost. It is jam packed full of people, especially during the weekend we were there because  major cruise ships docked and let their passengers off to explore a bit. We were laughed at a bit for not speaking Italian, especially by this waiter who thought he was so hilarious. We got by on a few key phrases like hello, goodbye, thank you, where is the bathroom? We mostly lived on pizza, spaghetti and salad and spent our money on gifts for friends and family. I am most proud of the colorful pasta I got for my wonderful host family. Venice must be seen in real life or the next best thing, through pictures. And I have included a ton below.

Lights, Camera, Fashion

This semester I will be interning at Erickson Beamon, a luxury jewelry designer. It doesn’t fall with the ranks of Bvlgari or Van Cleef & Arpels. It designs costume jewelry that is wild and fabulous and expensive. I packed up jewelry for Elle Macpherson, Issa London, and stylists at Vogue. This is the real stuff, worth googling. Anyway, my supervisor loaned me her pass for London Fashion Week where designers showcased their wares and wears at Somerset House. Architecture and fashion  in one go. Unfortunately I couldn’t score any tickets for the runway shows but there’s always another time.  Topshop sponsored NewGen, with new and upcoming but talented designers. I was gifted a bag with loose tea leaves and detox pills. Does anyone else think there is some underlying message about weight and fashion? I do. But tall skinny women dressed in all black and eccentric men donned big framed glasses and big wool sweaters over skinny jeans lapped it up. Erickson Beamon has a stand there as well and the pieces for the exhibition were unique. I especially loved the body pieces that seem more suited for Lady Gaga than anyone else. Speaking of which, Lady Gaga wears Erickson Beamon, as does Beyonce and most of the biggest names in Hollywood.

Something I have been fascinated with since coming to England are fascinators. They are worn in the hair, on the side of the head, and either feature feathers or lace or what have you. Look forward to seeing these make an appearance at Spring Cotillion.

For class, I have been visiting museums and the Shakespeare Globe. For any art enthusiasts, the National Gallery has great pieces from Monet but sadly a limited selection of van Gogh, my favorite. The Shakespeare Globe is as authentic as it gets with a hole in the ceiling of the theatre,  a thatched roof and painful wooden seats. I shouldn’t be complaining about the seats because the “groundlings” or people standing on the floor have it worse. Imagine three hours of standing on your feet just to watch a Shakespeare play! Mia, Jaclyn, and I froze the first night, then overdressed for the second night. The weather is always changing, always tricking us. If in London, remember to carry an umbrella everywhere because there really are no guarantees.

Recently most of us girls have gathered for a potluck dinner at my host family’s house. I made sausage with roasted tomatoes and mushrooms and defrosted a cheesecake. We were pressed for time and couldn’t cook everything with love and care but we made the most of it. There were pizzas, steaks, mashed potatoes, pita and hummus, and pop for all! I think we all threw down a fiver for our separate dishes. Not bad, considering we couldn’t finish all of it!

Check out the pictures below!

Orientation Week

Orientation week is over and classes have officially begun. Unlike most orientation weeks where there is much ado about nothing, we have done tons in just seven days.

London is a very flavorful city, full of good eats and fabulous sights. It is not very far off from my native New York City. I get giddy over the fact that things here are so much cheaper, only to realize that with conversion rates, things are actually pricier. But I will not let that deter me because London is filled to the brim with cute boutiques and lovely restaurants. I am a lover of fashion, food, and travels, which will greatly influence my entries. So if you don’t like one or the other, please bear with me. I’m sure I’ll have something that will be your cup of tea.

I arrived two days earlier than scheduled and stayed with a friend who also studied with the Hollins Abroad program and liked it so much that she decided to start a life here! I spent the two days getting over jet lag and sadly did not find the time to explore. But Waitrose, a darling supermarket with very wholesome foods, much like Fresh Market of Roanoke was an adventure in itself.

My host family are wonderful English folk and luckily Jane is a foodie as well. She promises that we will embark on an epic culinary adventure this term since her husband isn’t always appreciative of good eats. Since arriving, we have shared roast lamb, lamb burgers, fish but no chips, and vegetable soup. I have not one single complaint about the menu. I am staying on Patshull Road. Just off the road is Camden Town, a thriving marketplace for young people to gather. Sarah, Morgan and myself have explored Camden Lock, the world famous market featuring jewelry, memorabilia, clothing, and many other crafts. It is a tourist trap but good fun nonetheless.

The Tube strike put a damper on our Monday/ Tuesday schedule but allowed us to have two days break. All worked out fine thanks to Sara our director. I took the break as an opportunity to stroll down to Oxford Circus and check out the shops there. I must have gone to Topshop three times since arriving. UK native brands like Topshop and French Connection are well worth it to buy here, but others like Gap, H&M and Anthropologie are big rip offs! A sweater for twenty dollars does not equal a sweater for twenty pounds. One must always do her research before setting off for the stores.

We did manage to go to Windsor Castle the very next day. As one of the Queen’s many residences, it is of course lavish. Old paintings, ancient Chinese dressers, and the like. The queens of old had dressing rooms the size of my house in New York. Her closet is twice the size of a studio apartment. We aren’t allowed to see the modern day living quarters but one can only imagine how that’s like. We witnessed the changing of the guards and even sneaked a few pictures. It is horrid how tourists will laugh and mock them. Sarah and I sneaked a picture but said thanks afterward. There was no reply of course, but we didn’t expect one.

After that, we had a nice weekend trip to Bath, to see where the Romans bathe. It’s always nice to see how the ancients lived. A couple of others and myself had a sip of the Spa water, which tasted like hot, liquid rotten eggs because of the sulfur content. I absolutely love water and love to try new waters. Although H2O is a basic formula, the taste and the mineral content can tell you so much about where it came from. Water is just so essential to us as human beings, so much that ancient people lived where it was found. Glacier water is amazingly tasteless, but this water was so strong that it was unsettling. I wouldn’t mind bathing in it, but drinking it is another story. It is said to have healing properties so let’s hope it did something good besides give me a stomachache.

The town of Bath is very romantic and quaint. It has a busy, big city vibe, all with an old, charming look. All the stores are tucked into neat little stone buildings. Our hotel, which was actually a Best Western, fit in quite nicely with its stone walls.

Longleat Castle is the greatest example of wealth and class meet marketing and easy cash. But I won’t knock on it because the man has a safari in his backyard and he is charging for people to walk through rooms he doesn’t use. Who doesn’t want to sit back and watch the money come flowing in? And sneak a ride on the train and boat after the park has closed.

Wells Cathedral was also interesting. The vaulted ceilings were filled with great art. It’s a great way to see how people have grown. Literally. Some doors in these cathedrals and castles look like hobbit doors to me but it makes it all the more fun. I’m not a big fan of graveyards but to read the names, the inscriptions and the years is fascinating. From the decoration or placement of the tombs, we can deduce who was who and what place they held in society. It makes me wonder who these people really were, what they loved, what their fears were and if their lives where what they wanted it to be. America is still so young, so it is hard for me to realize that these people were real, and they existed in the earliest centuries, living lives we could never imagine.

But here is to a semester of great food, great sights, and even greater friends.