October's End

Hello! I can't believe October's already over; that month flew by. Wasn't I just in Scotland? Anyway, here are my latest escapades in England.

After a long and somewhat stressful day of studying on Monday, this was the best way to unwind. We attended a performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor at the Royal Festival Hall in London. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performed the piece spectacularly. I'm one of those people that jams to classical music just as hard as I do rock or indie, so if you'd have looked over at me during the performance, I would have been at the edge of my seat, bobbing my head with eyes closed. What's more, because I wrote a blog post about this piece for an assignment in my humanities class, I enjoyed it even more. Lovely. Also, the Prince of Wales was there. No big deal. 

The first picture is the interior of a ship (HMS Victory) we toured in Portsmouth on Tuesday--it had been in full use even in World War I! On the bottom are just a few other ships we saw (but didn't tour). 

Later that day, we visited the town of Winchester and its cathedral. We were told Jane Austen was buried there, but I didn't realize they meant right in the cathedral! Guys, I've just met one of my literary heroes! Well, not really, but you know what I mean. Jane Austen will forever be relevant in my life. 

In Greenwich on Thursday, I straddled the Prime Meridian! You can see the European city names on either side. I never imagined I'd get to do something like that. Guess I'll have to go to the Equator to complete the set. 

This is the Octagon Room in the Royal Observatory; it's one of the only remaining interiors designed by Christopher Wren (the architect for St. Paul's Cathedral, among many other things). I loved how open and light it was. The whole building housed a steam-punk exhibit, so that explains the intriguing dress in the middle. 

Hello, grandeur. What you see here is the Painted Hall in the Royal Naval College. My favorite part about visiting this was being able to determine what design period it was from--the Baroque era. See, I'm learning things!

These two pictures are of the Chapel in the Royal Naval College. Quite something, huh? The exterior is definitely by Christopher Wren.

The National Maritime Museum displayed some fascinating exhibits; one of them discussed and showed the progress of determining how to measure longitude. I'd never given much thought to how longitude came about, so I found it really interesting. Also, the quote on the bottom struck me, so naturally I had to save it. 

Hooray for more design nerdiness! This is the Queen's House by architect Inigo Jones in the Neoclassical period (18th century). I loved the spiral Tulip Staircase best of anything in the house. 

Thursday night, I saw the encore of Frankenstein done by the National Theatre. Just like the book, this performance will always stick with me. While I loved that my favorite actor--Benedict Cumberbatch--was in it, what impressed me was the story and how they portrayed it. They took this dear book of mine and made it come to life. Through the creative lighting (using those thousands of light bulbs as pictured above), the beautifully haunting music, the ingenious sets, and the immaculate acting, I experienced Frankenstein on an entirely different level. It has profound applications in life and causes one to examine their relationship with others and with God. Frankenstein might be my favorite performance I've seen here--I'm still pondering about it, and probably will be for a long time.

And now... HALLOWEEN.

For those of you who know me, you understand that Halloween rivals (and in certain aspects surpasses) Christmas as my favorite holiday. This particular Halloween was the best I'd ever had. Hands down. It began with class--humanities and Shakespeare, both wonderful--and then proceeded with cycling through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park with my friends. If only I could take pictures and ride a bike at the same time... Everything about it was perfect: the heavy, golden light; the crunchy leaves strewn in scattered piles; the people--clad in stylish fall clothing and hanging out with friends or family; and the crisp, fresh air. I can still sense all of it. 

After our glorious bike ride, we ventured to Covent Garden Market to explore and get a Halloween treat. Mind you, this picture was taken at 3:45 or so, and the sun's near setting! 

Here's another shot of Covent Garden Market, though I chose to focus on the sky. Oh, and the treat I bought was a crepe with Nutella, strawberries, and ginger biscuits. Excellent. 

For dinner that night, our lovely and extremely talented cook made us a sort of pumpkin and shrimp goulash. The ensemble was fun because she served it in pumpkins with jumbo shrimp dangling from the top. Though I couldn't eat it (dang cheese), I could appreciate the creativity. Afterwards, we all divided into our Hogwarts Houses (GRYFFINDOR PRIDE) and competed for the House Cup with all sorts of fun games. For a while, my house was way behind, but we miraculously pulled ahead--just like in the books! Since Dumbledore wasn't there to give us extra points for our bravery/good deeds, we only came in second place. Ah well! Everyone got pumpkin chocolate chip cookies in the end, so it was fine. 

Later on, we went "trick or treating" to each of the rooms and flats in our building. We were a bunch of giggling 19- and 20-year-olds knocking on our professors' doors and squealing "Trick or treat!" at the top of our lungs. The picture below was my haul for the year. Not bad at all, especially because it's all European candy and chocolate. (I kid you not, American candy bars are better/different here.)

My friends and I later had a dance party in the classroom and then their room (other people wanted to watch a movie). Good music and good people make the best company. The three hours before I went to bed were spent talking with friends about movies. I was asked what my favorite movie was, but since I've seen and loved too many, I had to pick my favorite from each film genre. This evolved into a huge discussion about everyone's favorites, the memories and feelings associated with them, and some cool insight to each person's character. We even discussed books and (inevitably, if I'm around) Sherlock. Overall, this Halloween was an amazing and satisfying end to my week--and month, I realize!

 Here's to hoping November will be just as cool as October. Cheers!

Life Across the Pond, Part II

I'll just jump right in. Last week was much less eventful due to that lovely fact of life called homework. Would you believe I'm actually going to school while I'm here? Sometimes I forget, too.

Last Tuesday, I was walking around the city for an assignment when I had to regain my bearings. Thus, I sat down on a bench to do so when I looked up and saw THIS. For those of you who aren't freaking out, this is St. Bartholomew's Hospital, or as I and my fellow Sherlockians like to refer to it--where the Reichenbach Fall occurred. I was so stunned when I realized where I was that all I could do was feebly utter "nope" while staring in disbelief. For those of you who know me, you understand what a big deal this is for me. I had John's exact viewpoint and everything! 

These are the remains of Coventry Cathedral, which was bombed in World War II. England kept it ruined as a reminder of what happened during the war. You can't see it, but at the base of the middle window, the words "Father Forgive" are inscribed. I felt some serious chills after reading that. 

Anne Hathaway's Cottage in Stratford-upon-Avon. Really cute, and still thatched!

The birthplace of Shakespeare. It's surreal that I've seen this. 

A fun window in the house where Shakespeare was born.

Nightlife in Stratford from a coffee shop window. 

We attended the Royal Shakespeare Theatre to see Much Ado About Nothing. I am in love with that play. They set it in post-WWI England during Christmas. The costumes were stunning, the sets were detailed and mobile (one even moves up from the bottom of the stage!), and the acting blew me away. What a treat it was! If only I'd thought to buy a program...

This is the front of Westminster Abbey in London, where we attended another Evensong. Although the York one is still my favorite, Westminster has an awe-inspiring interior. I kid you not, my jaw dropped when I stepped inside. If they'd let me take pictures, they'd be up here in a heartbeat. 

Here's Dover Castle. It was open for exploration, and every room inside was decorated to recreate how things would have looked in medieval times. This might be my favorite castle that we've been to, simply because it was an ancient castle, completely intact, and fully functioning. None of the castles we've visited previously have had all three of those characteristics. Plus, I really loved all the spiraling staircases that branched into passageways between each floor. Those were cool.

The White Cliffs of Dover. Bucket list item accomplished! 

What a stunning view, no? It's from the top of Dover Castle. 

Huzzah for silliness! Apparently, my shield was a "newer model" according to the guide. 

Two reasons why I like this building (in Canterbury). One, it's an old, leaning bookstore from ye olden days. Two, I might have pinned an image of this on my London/travel Pinterest board. 

The magnificent interior of Canterbury Cathedral--probably the largest cathedral I've been in yet. 

Okay, these are the lovely ladies I befriended at the OneRepublic concert this Wednesday--Natalie and Charlotte Sanders. They were such dears to me, and they made the whole experience better, if that's even possible. 

Ryan Tedder at the OneRepublic concert, which was glorious beyond words. They played all my favorites--even old ones! You know music is good when you feel inspired and energized, right down to your bones. That's how I felt as I listened to the ballads, covers, thumping anthems, and soaring melodies of OneRepublic that night. Every time I listen to those songs now, I feel like they're mine in a way they weren't before. Also, seeing this concert--and hearing the song "I Lived"--made me realize something. I've had (and still have) the freedom to do essentially whatever I want here. Going to the concert of a famous band is something I can do on a whim. And that's completely crazy to me. Infinitely wonderful, but crazy.

This is evidence of how college students can quickly revert to five-year-olds if capes are involved. Apparently, Hannah and I didn't get the memo the picture wasn't a silly one. Dorkiness at its finest, my friends. I love it. 

I felt queenly in this picture!

Hampton Court (where we got the capes and explored).

I took a stroll through Hyde Park on Friday evening. I wish cameras could portray exactly what your eye sees; in real life, this pathway was stunning. The picture pleases me anyway, though. 

Saturday morning, my friends and I grabbed crepes for breakfast at Portobello Road market (they were divine) and headed off to the National Gallery for an assignment. I still shake my head in awe when I think that my homework involves stuff like that--seeing museums, looking at famous pieces of art, going to see operas and plays, and exploring the city. My life is a dream! Anyway, this picture hangs in the National Gallery. For some reason, it struck a deep chord of familiarity and significance, though I couldn't remember why. I knew I'd seen it before, but not where or how. I'm still puzzling over it...

That same day, we went to the Tate Britain for another assignment when we were roped into a cool project. My friends and I helped make a film! We got inspiration from a piece of art in the gallery, created a story from it, storyboarded (mapped out scenes for) it, made props, donned costumes and makeup, and acted it out. Our scene was the first of many in the film; other people would create the rest of it based off our initial one. Cool, right? I played a girl who died in a fire, hence the flames on my face and the veil. I had so much fun. 

I took this shot while walking down The Mall in central London on Saturday. Fall in London is simply lovely. 

Though I didn't get much closer than this, I saw Buckingham Palace yesterday! No royalty to be seen--just a bunch of tourists. I gleefully exempt myself from that status because I actually live here. Ha! 

Life Across the Pond, Part I

There are two instances when time flies by: when you're having fun, and when you're busy. Combine the two, and you might be left in a daze wondering where the past few weeks have disappeared to. Welcome to my life. Let me fill you in on what's been going on. With a few exceptions, each picture will have only a very brief explanation--but that doesn't mean my heart wasn't bursting with joy for each of them!

What? Green phone booths? I found these while on a walk exactly three weeks ago. I show you them to illustrate how out of the ordinary that day was. It was General Conference weekend, but since there's the seven-hour time difference here, the first session didn't start until five PM. So, for the first half of the day, I explored the city by myself--mostly the financial district area. Church bells were ringing as I strolled the pavements, and I loved getting to know my city more. After finishing my walk and with a delicious pistachio macaroon in hand, I hopped over to the Victoria & Albert Museum to check out their wedding dress exhibit. I got to see wedding dresses from the 1700s to the present! Unfortunately, no photos were allowed, so I can't show you how cool it was. I loved it and learned lots, though. Conference and dinner were waiting when I came home. What an enjoyably different Sunday!

This is Burghley House in Stamford and our first stop on a week-long trip to the North. Palatial, isn't it? For my fellow Jane Austen fans, this is Lady Catherine's house in the 2005 version of Pride & Prejudice! Believe me, it's just as lovely inside as it is out. 

It gets better, Jane Austen fans. If you're not hyperventilating yet, I'll tell you why you should be: this is Pemberley (aka Chatsworth, its real name). There are so many incredible pictures, but here are some of my favorites. 

(MR. DARCY, OH MY GOSH)

A view of the grounds from the top of the fountain

Isn't this a cool shot? Fall was just starting to make itself evident...

We spent the next day in the charming city of York. This tiny, eclectic street is called the Shambles. It's incredibly well-preserved and dates back to the 1300s. 

Here's York Minster, where I went to my first Evensong. Evensong is a Catholic practice of reading lessons from the Bible and singing psalms. Oh man, what a neat experience; the choir (made of men and young boys) sang so beautifully, it was like I'd stumbled upon heaven or something. I very easily imagined myself as a young woman in medieval times, listening to the praises sung and admiring the almost intimidating beauty of the minster. Night had fallen by the time we returned to the streets, and the minster's bells rung a happy tune. I find myself thinking of this night often.

Say hello to Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire! Once upon a time, this was a flourishing center for worship; that is, until King Henry VIII decided to create the Anglican church and dissolve the monasteries. This one was sacked and left to ruin. It may be in ruins, but it is one of the most beautiful and thought-provoking places.

Whitby Abbey: the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. More pretty than spooky, in my humble opinion. 

I had the privilege of witnessing such a view while walking up to Holy Island. This is also notable because a friend of mine (the same one who let me borrow his computer--great kid) and I quoted SpongeBob all the way to there. It was the greatest. 

Different shots of Hadrian's Wall. I went on my own for a little while and just followed the wall. For some reason, Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken" lingered in my mind as I ambled through the hills. It was tranquil, the only noise being the rustle of wind on grass and an occasional distant bleat from a sheep. 

Good morning, Scotland. Edinburgh is a breathtaking city.

As some of you already know, I visited the Elephant House--the cafe where J.K. Rowling began writing Harry Potter. This is another cherished experience of mine for three reasons (not in order of importance, mind you). One, the food there was amazing. I had a tuna sandwich on focaccia bread and a slice of cappuccino cake. So good. Two, IT'S THE BIRTHPLACE OF HARRY FLIPPING POTTER. Of course it's important. I was raised on those stories, I think of them always, and they're a part of who I am. It was a pilgrimage for me. Three, this may sound silly, but I connected to Rowling in a way I never had before. As my friends talked about her struggles with depression and poverty, and what the Harry Potter universe meant to her (and all of us), I felt this deep surge of love and respect for her. We're all fighting the good fight, aren't we? I can never thank her enough for battling her demons and giving us this incredible series.

Here's the cemetery where Rowling found a few of the characters' names--Scrimgeour, Riddle, Potter, and Diggory, to name a few. 

Again, I wish I had more time. I've only given you the most important stuff; there are so many amazing things I simply don't have the time to tell you about. If you ever want to know more, or if you wonder whether I've visited a certain place, feel free to ask me! More is to come in Part II!