"choooob"
Yesterday I finally found the Paul Frank Store in Covent! Since all I had to do for EU class was turn in a paper (no final), I had all morning to do stuff I hadn't been able to. IT was pretty cool- they had a huge sale and I got a rain jacket that was 75% off. w00t!
I got back and took my MB exam, which was thankfully easy! Then I headed off to the Tate Modern! Though it took forever and a day to get there, it was well worth it. I wandered around the galleries and laughed at some of the modern art that really was just dumb (like "The Oak Tree" which was really a glass of water on a shelf) but they had really cool pieces like Andy Warhol stuff and crazy punch and judy films. Then I paid £10 to go into the Frida Kahlo exhibit. WELL WORTH THE PRICE. If anybody gets a chance to see it, I highly recommend you do, because it's amazing. Wow. I really would like to see the film now. And I thought of Mrs Clinton the entire time because I think she likes Frida....
When I came back- after have some more indian food- me and a bunch of people headed to a dance party for CCSA people at the 3One7, a club on Finchley that had their basement reserved for us. It was really fun, just kind of dancing all silly like and such. I had I had brought my camera with me, but some other people got some photos. Anyway, I was there until about 11.45, but I came back a little early because I needed to shower and get up early.
I checked my voicemail to find a message from Bonnie saying she got to hang out on the set of Walker Texas Ranger. I am soooo jealous. hahahah.
Anyway, this morning Liz and I got up early and headed off the Charring Cross to catch a train to Canterbury West. First she got up late. Then we realized she didn't have her brit rail pass. then we get to the station, and I didn't see it on the board, so I get the bright idea to walk to Waterloo Station to see if ones there. Except it took a total of thirty minutes, and when I got back, Liz informed me we just missed the train. Then we looked it up and another one was scheduled to leave in 20 minutes, so we got that one.
Got into that town around noooooon aaaand met up with Liam and his sister, Karen! We first got some food at the grocery store and sat around eating it at his house. That was really fun, but Liz wanted to come back to go to the London Beer Fest (alchie!) so she left, and the three of us wandered around town. Saw the cathedral where Thomas a Beckett kicked the bucket. (even though SOMEONE had to lie to get in). Ate some British ice cream that was amazing, even though I didn't order it in a british accent. Ran around a "play park". tried some british fudge that didn't take like tootsie rolls, unlike the stuff I had in York. Watched Karen and Liam and his housemate play drums and rap the "Fresh Prince of BelAir" song (I got a clip on my camera!). Played football in a park. Got smashed in the nose by the football. Okay, not smashed because it didn't really hurt, and I laughed quite a bit. Came back and had a sandwich with ingrediants I tried not to know about as I tend to be a picky eater and really didn't want to be dumb. (trying new foods is alot easier if you don't know whats in it!). Karen then started watching "Nwe York Minute" and hahah what rubbish, as they say. Then their mum came and she was quite lovely aaaand sadly I had to leave then. Sad. Stupid CCSA not letting me stay overnight anywhere the last weekend.
If you didn't read any of that mass of words, know this. It's not Tube as in "toob", but Tube as in "choob".
tomorrow is the last full say I'm here. siiiiiiigh. I'll try and put photos up then!
Yo yo yo
Welll I had a field trip to York today. That was pretty cool. There's this place called "The Shambles" that looks like Diagon Alley from the Harry Potter books.
Anyway, we visited old tower ruins and the cathedral and the crypts underneath it. very cool town, I would like to return someday.
Yesterday after EU class, myself and some other visited the London Central Mosque. I was kind of nervous about that, as I was afraid I would do something inadvertantly to offend, but the people there were very nice, and the architecture was quite beautiful. I'm glad I went.
Afterwards we ate at a Persian restaurant called Patogh. Mmmmm they had AMAZING bread. Really good, I'm telling you.
Sorry this is so brief. Tomorrow I have a final in the afternoon, and Saturday I'm going to Canterbury to hang out with Liam again. That'll be pretty sweet. I'd better stop hanging out in the cafe and get to studying! Later!
Mmmm Starbucks
Well, I've gotta say, the past 48 hours have ben pretttty good!
Yes, I really am boring and didn't go out dancing for my birthday. Nope, instead I ate a kangaroo burger at Walkabout (before I get lynched, please know that they aren't endangered species in Australia...that said, it tasted like beef jerky, which I'm not a huge fan of...so yeah. But anyway, I ended up getting a "cake" composed of a bunch of chips (read: fries for you Americans)
with birthday candles stuck in them. Oh yeah! Unfortunately, due to my terrible fear of being sung "happy birthday" to, the song was gracefully whispered.
Afterwards, I went and saw "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". And....well, I liked it ALOT. Hahaha. Really, it was good. I didn't think it'd be, but oh how good it was. Also bought "Pride and Prejudice" and "The Great Divorce" at the bookshop underneath the cinema, sooo now I have reading material for the rest of the trip.
Today we had a sort of free day, so me and a bunch of others visited Oxford! Quite a nifty town, I can't really put my finger on what it reminds me of though. We got bus passes for one of those open-roofed tour buses, which came in handy as I didn't feel like navigating their bus system- I just now figured London's public transportation out, I don't need to try and tackle
another one's just yet...
Anyway, so we ate at the Eagle and Child, which is where C S Lewis and J R R Tolkien used to meet up with their friends to discuss books and such. It was so cool, and they had great fish and chips as well! A few of us split off afterwards and bought some Oxford
stuff (c'mon, you HAVE to), then visited the Alice Shop, which was originally a candy store that the girl who inspired Lewis Caroll (child molestor?) went to. I didn't get anything from that though, but they had some cool Alice and Wonderful products! haha.
Didn't really do much else. Got back on the bus and took a little more time seeing the sights from that, but then we all left around 4.30 as we had TONS of music business homework. It took me awhile, but I finally finishd up. Whew!
So now I'm here. Aaaand I finally have some photos to post!
French river
This was before we were aware of our clothes being stolen.
Th view from the second floor of the eiffel.
No, I didn't put that there...but obviously a Methinks Trio has been there previously.
I went there last Thursday. Mmm.
These next ones are from Oxford yesterday:
Paul is excited to be in the pub that CS Lewis was once in.
the mentioned letter from tolkien and lewis.
"Wow, if that's the happiness hotel, I'd hate to see what the sad one looks like...."
Well, thank you for all the happy birthdays thus far! As for phoning people, I will TRY to tonight. How about this, Millards, call that number I gave you around midnight my time (6PM CST). I think Liz will let me borrow her cell phone. It's not an international call, it's like making a call to Houston.
Anyway, so the rest of my Paris trip was pretty good. Saturday we visited Notre Dame, and I tried to go shopping in the Latin Quarter but was unsucessful for about 2 hours before FINALLY finding clothes that cost less than 4€00, surprisingly. I navigated the Metro system all by myself, which was a miracle since my French comprehending ability really sucks, but I was able to pass of being french at a bookstore. Go figure.
So then I went to bed because I was exhausted! Got up early Sunday and we went to the top of the Eiffel Tower, which was kind of cold but neat! Then we took a cab to the Louvre (sp?) and spent a looooooooooooooooooooong time there. I spent most of it in the Egyptian sections, but also saw paintings like the Mona Lisa and stuff like that, and bought a guidebook with photos of the museum's main attractions. It was a pretty neat place, but my legs were KILLING me afterwards.
I'm glad to be back in London, though. I had to take a test this afternoon, but it was pretty easy so I got out early, and now am taking way too much time on the internet at this net cafe in west hampstead. I hope all is well with everyone! I think I'm going out to eat with some friends tonight, and I might go see a movie. Nothing too fancy.
