Treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one. Happiness is a journey not a destination -Souza (a birthday card from Elise Delmerico)

Gnocchi and lots of it

Venice canals

From Thursday-Sunday I joined Elise in Venice! It was beyond my expectations. It was on a whim to even go, but Elise needed some company for her trip to Italy and I just had to oblige. We could not have lucked out more with BEAUTIFUL sun and warm weather in addition to all of the wonderful scenery, food and genuinely nice people (a nice change from the usual Don't You Dare Make Eye Contact with Me and I'll Shoot Laser Rays in Your Eyes if You Smile Londoners). The weather had to be in the 60's each day and Elise and I were more than thrilled to finally shed our winter jackets.

Favorite Things about Venice:
-Gnocchi with bolognese  -- I ate it at least twice a day
-Gelato/Sorbet (particularly strawberry) -- (See Above)
-The green, Caribbean-like water
-The canal-style streets
-Colors of the buildings
-NO CARS

The kick-off to Carnevale with red wine from the fountain
for Everyone!!! 

-A pleasantly clean hostel with very nice hosts
-Every time we were lost someone offered to help, even if no one in Venice has any idea where their train station is
-The glass jewelry
-The water taxi ride to Murano Island
-Sitting by the water, in the sun, with a cone of gelato and good company
-Unexpectedly seeing the kick-off of Carnevale with gorgeous, elaborate costumes and a fountain spewing wine
-Dancing through a Russian parade
-The sunset on our last day was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen
-Excellent, excellent conversation, laughs, food and small bouts of extreme lostness with Elise Delmerico

Sunset over Venice from the water taxi

A best friend sitting by the water on Murano Island

"But I learned a lesson long ago, old friends can't be replaced" -The Lost Trailers

Tower Bridge with SUN!

Ann with the London Eye 

I had my very first visitor in London and it was an excellent one!ANNIE LEE came to London with her 3 roommates from Florence. It was so so so good to see her. Besides spending elementary, middle and high school together, we also spent every summer together since 6th grade until last summer and many jokes with Mrs. Lee. It was the perfect dose of home. I haven't gotten homesick (or Elonsick) at all but I always miss DS and the people that come with it.

Cleo!

I met up with them outside of Buckingham and then visited a bunch of sites I had yet to do. We started with adouble-decker bus tour all around the city of Westminster and London followed by a 3 pound lunch of fish n chips at the Sherlock Holmes pub. The fish n chips weren't as good as my first go-round, but the company was terrific. My favorite part of the day was when we crossed the Tower Bridge just as the sun came out!

Following the late lunch we went to the British Museum to look through theAmericas and Ancient Egypt exhibit. I finally found Cleopatra and the Rosetta Stone! I've unknowingly passed Cleo a couple times now (I always end up in the mummies) but never stopped to read her caption because her glass case is always surrounded byChinese tourists. Actually most things in London are surrounded byChinese tourists. 

Annie and me at Harrods

We got back on the tube to go toHyde Park and wander around for a bit in the dark. We looked for Peter Pan and the Diana Memorial, but it was so dark for all we know we walked right by it. Or they were surrounded by Chinese tourists.

The next stop was Harrods. I'm still overwhelmed. I thought it was a glorified Walmart minus the usual crowd (refer to People of Walmart) I do my Saturday grocery shopping with in Burlington, NC.  I had no idea that I was going to see an Egyptian themed escalator, decorated with glitter and gold. And the BAGS. And the PERFUME. And the CHOCOLATE. When I go back with my little fashionista (aka roommate who triple checks my outfit before leaving the flat to make sure the people of London won't hang, draw and quarter me for fashion crimes)*** we'll be going to visit the wedding dresses. Too many hours ofSay Yes to the Dress have procrastinated my homework not to. A hidden gem is the Diana and Dodi Memorial on the ground floor. It is a glass of wine, smudged by Diana and an engagement ring reportedly bought by Dodi. The memorial was erected by Dodi's father, Mohammed Fayed, who once owned Harrods.

On a whim I decided to join the girls at Dirty Dancing and found an "obstructed view" ticket for 15 pounds. Wasn't obstructed and with a 1-pound purchase of binoculars (to see some acting) I saw the whole show flawlessly. Unfortunately I would need a microscope to find the acting in the show (remind me when the father of Baby became John Wayne and Baby's heart must have been relying on the same beat she used the entire time) but the dancing was incredible and worth it. Overall the show was a fun time and if you love the movie, you'll love the show. Interestingly neither Johnny nor Baby sing the entire show, but the two actors who sang all the familiars song stole the show (actually Johnny's abs stole the show, but I'll leave myself some artistic credibility).


***Coming from Elon I should be used to pearls at the gym, sundresses at the football game and 7:30 a.m. wake up calls to look flawless for 10:30 a.m. class HOWEVER the people of London have taken it the next level...they're not walking the platform of the Tube, they're walking the runway. And of course in Tyra-fashion there is no smiling. More on this to follow.  I've discovered their secret.

I love every thing that is old; old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines. - Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to Conquer

Wednesday was my first art class. Zana and I spent the morning in Regent’s Park, visiting with the camels and hundreds of dogs.

Dogs in Regent’s Park are just like their human counterparts. Well-groomed, well-behaved and running around like they have to pee really badly. Except Londoners have to pay for toilets, which must be why I’ve never seen a relieved-looking one.

Then off to our four-hour Art class. Excuse me what? More on this later, but the professor (or rather tutor) is from Ohio, spent the first ten minutes of class on a beer lesson and the middle ten minutes of class on a cigarette break. She seems delightful and the class will be worth sticking out, if for nothing else than to recommend the best London beers and to sound ridiculously New England School Prep when I say “in this Art History class I took once…”

Then off to the Warwick Castle pub for a quick glass of wine, a chat with the bartender and some infidelity in the corner. I love Europe.

Thursday was wet. Very wet. So wet in fact that of course it was the one day we spent splashing in puddles and standing perfectly still in a downpour listening to our tour guide. No overcrowded, toasty, nap-worthy dim classroom today. But we did learn that St Paul’s has a pineapple on one of its steeples, which Christopher Wren tried to replace the cross with. And that during WWII had it not been for volunteers literally pushing Nazi bombs off the dome, it would have been destroyed. Or that the Millennium Bridge (see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince movie) was so wobbly the first time it opened people were holding onto the sides for dear life. It was a gift from the Queen.

Millennium Bridge, with plenty of umbrellas

The pineapple on top of St Pauls! 

But out of rain, comes rainbows and we found our leprechaun at the end of the rainbow with his pot of gold. The leprechaun was a 65ish year-old Irishman from Cork and the gold was his freshly baked bread. I got two loaves and Jenna, Alice and I found a new friend. He was so pleased to find we were friendly and within 10 minutes we were his American granddaughters. The best part about him, besides his declaration that we are soul mates (or more likely descended from the same family tree) for our shared love of wine, for a hobby he traces Irish family heritage!!!

I can’t remember all of the facts (please remember by feet were drenched), but the Walls were into horses and sports and the Clancys were THESPIANS! Yes we were a traveling group of actors who even performed Shakespeare. It was honestly one of the best moments of my life and I can’t wait to go visit with our friend many, many more times to hear more stories. 

"Get your ass to class" - Sean Pigott, History Teacher Extraordinaire

“Oh my days that’s a wicked crown. I’m buying that on e-Bay bruv.” - a dashing young fella in a sweater vest with collared white shirt and pressed blue pants referring to the Ancient Egyptian gold-plated leaf crown

Who said I wasn’t dealing with a foreign language? This charmer was one of about 200 school-age children spending their Tuesday afternoon in the British Museum with yours truly. 

FIRST DAY OF CLASSES! After an introduction to my “Along the Thames” class and theatre class, I ate my sandwich and then ventured to the British Museum just two blocks from the school. Rough Life.

The GST class will be interesting. The theatre class will be perfect. I'll do a post on each class: art, theatre, history and general studies.

It was then back to class from 3:00-5:00 for what will be one of the more entertaining two hours of history. Ever.

Some memorable quotes:

“Rambo is delivering my milk”

“Old men start wars, young men fight them”

“Our ancestors were nasty, brutal and brief. I think I’d rather be soft, lovable and cuddly”

All courtesy of my cockney History teacher. I’ve got plenty more quotes including: “He was a fucking facist and I don’t use that word often.” 

Put it this way: there were the fucking Germans and the fucking Russians. I’ll let you decide which word he chooses selectively.

His stories from his grandfather, family and his own experiences are too wonderful and his insight is so fascinating that many, many more will be shared here for me to remember!

“Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.” -Marilyn Monroe

Ladies and Gentlemen (Mom and Dad): This a.m. I saw a camel, turkey vulture, sheep and a kangaroo! And I’m still in London…the London Zoo of course! Hardly worth the 19 pounds to get in, but definitely worth getting lost in Regents Park for 2 hours to the worry of my suitemates (I spend at least half of my life a little bit lost) who very sweetly called my mobile, which I also spend at least half of my life not answering.

TODAY WAS MY FIRST RUN IN THREE MONTHS! On November 12^th (two days before Elise’s 21^st) I took a nice 7:30 a.m. spill onto the pavement and knocked myself up with a HAPPY FRIDAY concussion and two boo-boos. Just one week later I was back in the health center with pneumonia. And three weeks later I was home on the couch missing the last half of the semester.

Needless to say running (never mind stairs, walking or long phone conversations) was out of the question. At first I was horrified…

The first thing Mom told me on the phone when I broke the pneumonia news was NO RUNNING. I don’t think she realized I needed Stephanie’s help to open the Gatorade bottle without reaching for the cough meds.

I thought I’d be bitter and depressed and manic. I thought I’d lace up my sneakers two weeks too early. I thought I’d lay in bed strategizing how to sneak out the door without Mom noticing. Or just how to open the door without losing my breath.

But I needed the recovery and fully embraced it. My muscle (this should be in quotations) got softer. My Irish cheeks got fuller and redder. My stories got a little shorter. But I recovered. 

I ran for fifteen minutes through the park. Just fifteen. But after not being able to get out of bed for more than 3 hours a day, fifteen felt like a marathon. It felt like an accomplishment.  

Where’s Scholastic at…I’m getting this story published. 

"Those that suspect treason in others, should first look into their own hearts for loyalty" -Queen at the Tower of London

We were ambitious and got up early to go see the Tower of London. Woof if you think you’re having a bad day, go listen to the “beefeaters” tell their “favorite stories.” The theme of the day was murder, torture and execution. Including Lady Jane Grey...nothing like a history lesson when you’re standing where she watched her headless husband wheeled off while watching the scaffold for her own beheading being built outside her window. Her crime? Being born.

We opted to do all of the gory towers first so the royal jewels and chapel would be a welcome reprieve. The chapel was my favorite part of the day. Despite the horribleness of the executions (many of the 46 victims were buried under the chapel until recently and the three Queens beheaded there are still under the altar), the chapel was peaceful and teeming with history.

 So far many of my favorite places to visit have been the chapels. It’s a welcome surprise – in the last few years I’ve struggled to find where religion fits into my life. Of course hearing stories of Catholics harboring away and risking their lives to celebrate their beliefs reminds me my ancestors were badasses. Everyone has their moment in history, but for a lot of British history while everyone else was in class, the Catholic kids were smoking in the bathroom.

 St Paul’s, by suggestion of Miss Kellye Coleman, is on the agenda soon! 

Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!" - Dumbledore in the Great Hall, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

For our group trip we went to Warwick Castle and Oxford. Warwick had a long history, but had been commercialized so not as authentic as I would’ve liked. The resident peacocks kept us entertained for hours.

Oxford had the hustle and bustle of a college community (packed with tourists…Elon doesn’t seem to have the same tourism industry…). Zana and I split a fish dish in the White Horse pub and then walked around the covered market. A sweater may have been bought. On sale.

We did see the entrance to the Great Hall where Harry Potter was shot, but the “queue” and “price” kept us from going in. Buggah.

Spotted 1 of 3 “gingers”…where are these people? I thought the UK was littered with them…