Hello Cambridge

This morning we visited Platform 9 3/4 and got on the train to Cambridge!

The weather was so welcoming and sunny! We were able to explore all afternoon without an umbrella. We walked around the streets of Cambridge which included lots of little shops, restaurants, and a market. Unfortunately I don’t have many pictures but Zach took some of the beautiful buildings surrounding us.

We will be punting down the river on one of those boats on Monday

The architecture is impressive. The school we are staying at for a few days is Clare College which is gorgeous as well. It’s apart of the University of Cambridge and was founded in 1326. Whoa. 

After venturing around town we settled down at a pub on the river and ate some really great food. Tomorrow we’re going to have an early breakfast and our professor is speaking at a church in town during the afternoon so Zach, myself, and a few others are going to hear him! We have the day off and resume class on Monday.

Updates to come, with love!

Saying Goodbye to London

Last night was wonderful! Good friends and lots of dancing made for a fun evening.

Quinn and I

Zach stole my camera per usual

Erica, Jessica, Megan, Hannah, myself, Kelly, and Devon

This morning we didn’t have class so everyone slept in! For lunch we went to Regents for the very last time and worked on some homework/researched for our final paper. I took some photos of the beautiful Regents Park on our way back to the Tube station.

Pigeon

During the afternoon I packed and cleaned up our flat because we’ll be heading out on a train to Cambridge at 11 am tomorrow. A group of us went out for dinner at a nice restaurant within walking distance of the flat...they had amazing pizza!

Julia and I got gelato...strawberry, mango, and vanilla mix! It was so good.

The group that went to the restaurant met up with some others, including our professor, at a pub for one last hoorah! It was a blast. Following some funny conversations at The Monkey Puzzle, Zach, Julia, Quinn and I went sightseeing after dark. 

Tons of people working hard to create the Olympic lane!

Today was the perfect way to end my stay in London. I’ll never be able to describe everything I’ve learned in this two week period but I am so thankful for the opportunity and can’t wait to see what lies ahead in Cambridge, Edinburgh, and Dublin. Hopefully some cheaper meals are included in my future endeavors. 

Updates to come, with love!

All You Need Is Love

I don’t know how it’s possible, but the days keep getting better and better here in London.

Today was our last day at Regents! We had a guest lecturer and we weren’t really sure what he would be talking to us about, but let me tell you...it turned out to be the greatest lecture ever. His name is David Jones and he talked to us about pop culture in Great Britain in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Turns out his sister was married to both George Harrison of The Beatles and Eric Clapton, and his other sister was married to Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac.

As most of you know, I listen to “dad music” as Zach likes to call it, so you can imagine my jaw dropping as he began telling his life story. He had a personal relationship with the three men I mentioned, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, the band members of Led Zeppelin, John McVie of Fleetwood Mac, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, The Rolling Stones’ producer, Donovan, and probably more. He had pictures to show us and told a lot of hilarious stories about these famous musicians.

Just when I thought my heart couldn’t take any more, this man pulls out Sgt. Pepper himself, and a coat that George Harrison used to wear! I can only imagine how much these items cost today.

Sgt. Pepper! As seen in the ‘All You Need is Love’ video and it’s the name of a Beatles album

George Harrison’s jacket

That little tube is to smoke a cigarette. You can put the cigarette in his mouth and smoke it from his backside

Logan and I

The whole class with David Jones

Fittingly, eight of us went to Abbey Road following lecture.

Abbey Road Studios

It was a busy intersection but so much fun to visit such an iconic street! Afterward the group made it to Harrods but despite my long search for a new tote bag, I came back empty handed.

Harrods (an upscale department store)

A memorial for Princess Diana and Dodi, the man who also passed away in the car accident with her

It is hard to see, but there is a wine glass with Princess Di’s smudged lipstick and a ring that Dodi purchased for her the night before the accident

Tonight is the last night we are able to enjoy London so we will be heading out for some dancing within the next couple of hours.

Updates to come, with love!

The Dark Knight Rises

Today...was...AWESOME. Our class went to the British Museum around 2 in the afternoon! It was a short trip but interesting nonetheless.

This is Cleopatra

Mummified kitties...aw :(

The first mosaic of Christ

2012 gold medals for the Paralympics

I didn’t make it to Harrods, but ya know how I mentioned the European premiere of the Dark Knight Rises? Well, I found out what time it started and a few friends and I got onto the red carpet! No, I’m kidding...but we did push and shove through a wet and smelly crowd to see some stars! We were in the second row.

Tom Hardy who plays Bane 

Marion Cotillard who plays Miranda Tate...she was also in a movie we just watched during class!

Joseph Gordon-Levitt...UH HUH! He plays John Blake

Batman himself...Christian Bale

Anne Hathaway plays Catwoman! In this picture she was signing a tiny little boy’s t-shirt and was so sweet! I could have reached out and grabbed her.

She touched Julia’s hand and left a pen mark

It was a really cool experience to be at a premiere...too bad we couldn’t see the movie yet! We also saw Morgan Freeman in the flesh!!!! We couldn’t snap a photo because he’s just too famous and walked too quickly.

After the premiere some of us went to a pub to grab dinner and now it’s time to play some Euchre! Tomorrow we have class and have the afternoon off. We will be going out to a club that’s open all night to celebrate having Friday off of class as well! Our last night in London is Friday and we’ll be heading to Cambridge Saturday morning.

Updates to come, with love!