We win the award today! Taylor, Alex, Michal and I woke up earrrrlyyyy at the crack of 10am and went to Camden Market. It was divine. There were pashmina scarves, jumpers (one oversized jumper with an awkward looking penguin caught by eye...), and endless rows of coats. There were also several goth/punk/vintage stores that reminds me of my uncleish's store in Providence!
At the market we were heckled several times by the vendors while we were there. I must have forgotten to take off the "I'm a tourist" sticker off my forehead. At one point, a man said he would give me a dress for free if I took him along with me! I passed on that proposal. After crossing the street we came to a whole other set of shops and booths selling amazing jewlery, dresses, handbags, and knitwear. I found some fabulous necklaces. I need to go back. I should stop eating and spend all my money on clothes. EEK! At the market there was also a place where they were roasting a pit on a spit, chopping it up, and serving it on ciabatta bread with apple chutney, leafey greens, and some sort of hot sauce. It smelled amazing, but by that point I was broke! HOWEVER. They are open every weekend, so I am going back as soon as possible.
After the market we walked through Regent's Park. It was a gorgeous day. We saw the sun! A blue sky! Mild weather! (It's so funny how the weather can so easily affect one's mood.) The park was hhhuuu-age. And the grass was green. Which i thought was interesting! I can't recall if Boston common has such green grass in the middle of January.
Once through Regent's Park we found ourselves near Madame Tusauds. We decided to go to the Sherlock Holmes Museum located on Baker street. It was a pretty cool photo-op, though I don't know much about Holmes. I kept wishing we would run into Robert Downey Jr. or Jude Law.
After the museum we headed home on the 453 bus. I fell asleep on it....
Well, that was my day. I have procrastinated long enough. Time for homework.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Greenwich
Check it-
Yesterday after sleeping till 12 (oh, what a life) a gaggle of us took the 177 bus to Greenwich! Greenwich is only located about a ten minute bus ride outside of New Cross, and totes could be walked to on a nice day. And let me tell you. We went to the area where all the shopping was, and it literally made me want to weep tears of joy. Several stands in the square had the most exquisitely amazing vintage clothing. I have finally figured out why everyone is so stylish! In one booth I found an amazing knit longish hippie-ish sweater, but it was 40 pounds. Alas. I am holding out for something better. And I know my weakness for bulky knit sweaters....Fingers crossed I find an Irish knit wool sweater soon.
After a little light shopping we began the search for the perfect dinner spot. It took some time to decide on where to eat due to the general lack of blood sugar, but we decided on a place called cafe sol. Burritos and enchiladas all around! It was soul satisfying.After dinner we headed back to New Cross, bummed around for a while, and went to the Amersham Arms to dance off the calories!
Yesterday was the first time since I've been here that I woke up feeling homesick. The honeymoon is over. I think its really easy to forget that we are studying in one of the greatest cities in the world. I've had moments where I've felt like I've been back at Norteastern. I know I wasnt the only one feeling a bit sad yesterday. I think thats why we decided to mobilize and go forth into the world. Sometimes it only takes a short trip to a neighboring place to remember how lucky we are to be in England.
Today we are going into central london for some more shopping. I need to start actually doing school work, so I think tonight will be spent with my closest friends, Frank Wedekind and Afred Jerry. Christina Rosetti should be there, too. If I'm lucky.
-LB
Yesterday after sleeping till 12 (oh, what a life) a gaggle of us took the 177 bus to Greenwich! Greenwich is only located about a ten minute bus ride outside of New Cross, and totes could be walked to on a nice day. And let me tell you. We went to the area where all the shopping was, and it literally made me want to weep tears of joy. Several stands in the square had the most exquisitely amazing vintage clothing. I have finally figured out why everyone is so stylish! In one booth I found an amazing knit longish hippie-ish sweater, but it was 40 pounds. Alas. I am holding out for something better. And I know my weakness for bulky knit sweaters....Fingers crossed I find an Irish knit wool sweater soon.
After a little light shopping we began the search for the perfect dinner spot. It took some time to decide on where to eat due to the general lack of blood sugar, but we decided on a place called cafe sol. Burritos and enchiladas all around! It was soul satisfying.After dinner we headed back to New Cross, bummed around for a while, and went to the Amersham Arms to dance off the calories!
Yesterday was the first time since I've been here that I woke up feeling homesick. The honeymoon is over. I think its really easy to forget that we are studying in one of the greatest cities in the world. I've had moments where I've felt like I've been back at Norteastern. I know I wasnt the only one feeling a bit sad yesterday. I think thats why we decided to mobilize and go forth into the world. Sometimes it only takes a short trip to a neighboring place to remember how lucky we are to be in England.
Today we are going into central london for some more shopping. I need to start actually doing school work, so I think tonight will be spent with my closest friends, Frank Wedekind and Afred Jerry. Christina Rosetti should be there, too. If I'm lucky.
-LB
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Lettuce Meat and Ketchup.
Greetings from London!
Sorry I havent started this blog sooner. I have been busy scouring the streets for Ron Weasley. (Alas...) But really, I only just got internerd in my flat a few days ago. Since then I have been continually abusing my liver in a pub called the Hobgoblin, which is located about 45.4 seconds away.
So much has happened in the past week, it is hard to know where to start! I suppose the begginning of my trip did not start with a bang, but a whimper. (Pardon the misused Eliot quote.) Quite literally. I was a blubbering mess when I said goodbye to my parents at the airport!I was realy very scared of flying, as it has been 11 years since I've been on a plane! My dad told me to find an old woman to sit next to who would invariably tell me her entire life story, thereby distracting me from the impending flight. Success! I met a Norwegian woman who did, in fact, tell me her whole life story while we were waiting to board the plane. This woman had been visiting the states to see her ailing mother. She was a recent widow and seemed like she needed me to talk to as much as I needed her.
There are nine Northeastern students on the trip. However none of us knew eachother before boarding our flight, with the exception of Molly and Alex. Since we arrived we have met so many other American students. We all live in Loring Hall, which is actually a grouping of different buildings. Everyone is very friendly. I feel like I've known them for ages, not just a week. In my group I have become known as "G'Ma Boston," because I am one of the oldest and my maternal instinct has kicked in. I suppose it is a compliment?
For the foodies:
Alas, I have yet to be blown away by any of the local cuisine. I went to a pub in central London and had some chicken tikka masala. "Why would you eat an Indian dish while in London, Laura?" you might ask. Well nibbl on this nugget of information! CTM is argued to have orginated IN Britain! Some would say that it is the quintesential British dish. And one of the most popular meals here. So THERE!
I do promise to eat some fish and chips soon. I am holding out for the perfect street vender who will wrap it in fake newspaper and serve it with malt vinegar. (Do these venders exist?)
More on food. (Did you expect any less of me?) The CANDY here is amazing. I got something called a "crunchie" which is made by Cadbury. Its center consists of a "honycombed" suger, which is then covered in delicious and rich chocolate. I tried a few other candy bars, but the Crunchie is the one to write home about.
For the logophiles (ish...or those who want to learn british phrases!):
"Bless his/her cotton socks"
"Take a piss at you" - tease you
"Kip" - a nap
More to come on British slang, hopefully. Well, more to come on everything. I hoped that I would have some profound statements to make about the beginning of my own journey here, but I don't. Perhaps the profundity lies in the simple fact that I have begun. Does that make any sense? Probably not. Blame it on jet lag.
Cheers!
LB
Sorry I havent started this blog sooner. I have been busy scouring the streets for Ron Weasley. (Alas...) But really, I only just got internerd in my flat a few days ago. Since then I have been continually abusing my liver in a pub called the Hobgoblin, which is located about 45.4 seconds away.
So much has happened in the past week, it is hard to know where to start! I suppose the begginning of my trip did not start with a bang, but a whimper. (Pardon the misused Eliot quote.) Quite literally. I was a blubbering mess when I said goodbye to my parents at the airport!I was realy very scared of flying, as it has been 11 years since I've been on a plane! My dad told me to find an old woman to sit next to who would invariably tell me her entire life story, thereby distracting me from the impending flight. Success! I met a Norwegian woman who did, in fact, tell me her whole life story while we were waiting to board the plane. This woman had been visiting the states to see her ailing mother. She was a recent widow and seemed like she needed me to talk to as much as I needed her.
There are nine Northeastern students on the trip. However none of us knew eachother before boarding our flight, with the exception of Molly and Alex. Since we arrived we have met so many other American students. We all live in Loring Hall, which is actually a grouping of different buildings. Everyone is very friendly. I feel like I've known them for ages, not just a week. In my group I have become known as "G'Ma Boston," because I am one of the oldest and my maternal instinct has kicked in. I suppose it is a compliment?
For the foodies:
Alas, I have yet to be blown away by any of the local cuisine. I went to a pub in central London and had some chicken tikka masala. "Why would you eat an Indian dish while in London, Laura?" you might ask. Well nibbl on this nugget of information! CTM is argued to have orginated IN Britain! Some would say that it is the quintesential British dish. And one of the most popular meals here. So THERE!
I do promise to eat some fish and chips soon. I am holding out for the perfect street vender who will wrap it in fake newspaper and serve it with malt vinegar. (Do these venders exist?)
More on food. (Did you expect any less of me?) The CANDY here is amazing. I got something called a "crunchie" which is made by Cadbury. Its center consists of a "honycombed" suger, which is then covered in delicious and rich chocolate. I tried a few other candy bars, but the Crunchie is the one to write home about.
For the logophiles (ish...or those who want to learn british phrases!):
"Bless his/her cotton socks"
"Take a piss at you" - tease you
"Kip" - a nap
More to come on British slang, hopefully. Well, more to come on everything. I hoped that I would have some profound statements to make about the beginning of my own journey here, but I don't. Perhaps the profundity lies in the simple fact that I have begun. Does that make any sense? Probably not. Blame it on jet lag.
Cheers!
LB
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