Koln says “Wilkommen”

Hello everyone – or I guess for this entry the more appropriate would be Guten Tag! I am back from my 4 day holiday to Cologne, Germany. It was very fun but I am certain I was not alone in thinking (as one of the friends who went with me to Germany also traveled to Wales with me) of that line from Lethal Weapon: “I’m getting too old for this sh*t.” Once again, no I’m not calling myself old – I would get so many messages! – but my ability to just keep going for days then turn around go to another country and keep going there too is starting to wane. Thankfully my travel companions were like minded and we turned in early each night. (I know and we are how old now? No clubs, no pubs, nothing – in bed by 10pm thank you very much)

Cologne was gorgeous – the weather was pretty perfect each day – staying around the high 50’s lower 60’s and sunny, I even got a bit of a sun burn on my face from all the walking around. Our hostel was within waling distance of Neumarket and the Cathedral so we stayed around that areas pretty much the whole time.

The zoo and a cable car ride across the Rhine was day two. I absolutely love zoos so I was very excited about this part. That and most European zoos seem to have animal and photographer friendly habitats. The chain linked fences and high every smudged glass is nearly completely gone. Just wide open areas for the animal to roam and well placed ditches and barriers. Koln Zoo had plenty of animals that I had never seen in person better, and most of them were enjoying the wonderful weather. 

 

Lastly we finished up our trip with the Hohenzollern Bridge (the German version of the Parisian Lock Bridge) and the National Socialist Documentation Center. During World War II Cologne was converted into a military compound of sorts, and the building where the museum is located was the Gestapo Headquarters – complete with a prison in the basement. A chilling reminder of a darker part of this beautiful country’s past.

 

No trip can be complete without food and drama. Firstly the more important: food. Had bratwurst in Germany because we had to, but we found an amazing little burger/ fast food area that we a more filling, less “well this will stay in my stomach for about 7 years” feel. AND WE FOUND ITALIAN ICE CREAM!!! These flavors were amazing! Banana, melon, mango and more! and the actually tasted like what they were supposed to.

Then well I’ve discovered Germany germs are slightly more persistent than germs in the UK. Hadn’t gotten sick since I got here and go to Germany – boom have a nice cold. Yes, I can probably chalk it up to different germs combined with a weakened immune system brought on by the stress of planning and traveling by bus (by bus! Key term here). That and our return journey was delayed for a couple of hours because of mechanical issues. There are two ways for coaches, cars, and other wheeled vehicles to cross from the UK to the Continent: by ferry or by Chunnel Train. The coaches coming to pick us up was going by train and the train broke down. Nearly three hours after it was supposed to pick us up and leave it arrived. It was cold and windy and threatening to rain. That and we had no actual idea when it was going to show up, so that was a bit miserable. So instead of arriving back in London at 7:30 am I got back to Roehampton at 11 am.

But each dark cloud must have a silver lining. If the journey had gone on as schedule I would have crossed the channel at night and missed this wonderful view in the morning

(the picture doesn’t do it justice – taken with my phone through a disgusting ferry window but you get he idea)

Welkom en Au Revoir

The past three days have probably been the longest few days I’ve have in a long while. Exhausting and wonderful, but I will never do something like this again if I can help it. Three days, three different countries, three different bus rides. Now I’m not calling myself “old” (I know I would get a lot of flack for that because, well, nineteen really isn’t old… sometimes I feel it when I’m surrounded by children like last night, but its not old), but I’m too old for that ‘stuff.'” 

Friday, I had my last classes of the term (I know its still March – that’s how it’s done here, and really I like it). The first one was at nine so I typically try to wake up at eight on Fridays. So class from nine to eleven, two hour break, then I had my second class. We were meeting at an old pub to discuss the module. Well, had some shenanigans on the tube – involving a random guys spitting on me, have no idea why – so I simply decided to turn around and head back home. Then I had to be at the Coach Station an hour before departure – which means I had to leave Roehampton an hour before that. Fighting Friday night traffic all the way. Bus to Paris: 10 hours, including the ferry ride. 8 hours of available sleep time – no problem, I can sleep on a bus/ plane if there isn’t any big annoying noises… but no, other people are there and one family decided a crowded bus was the perfect way to travel with three small children. One was a infant that did not feel good. So little sleep. Arrived in Paris really early in the more and had until late at night to walk around.

No one day is too much and too little time to see Paris. You can’t do a lot of the big things because they take too much time, but if you cut them out you have a lot of free time. Paris is nice, it’s pretty, but it is not my city. I  would take London over Paris at the drop of a hat, hands down, no question. It’s a nice place to go for a period of time and especially with special someones… but that wasn’t me so. It was an experience, one I’m happy to have had, but I’m not rushing back to the city anytime soon.

Paris to Amsterdam was better – no border check points, not real stops (apart from Brussels – and it was nice to see it), no screaming babies! I could sleep. Which was nice because walking around Paris for about 12 hours (literally not exaggerating I was there from 8 am to 10:30pm) is exhausting. Got to Amsterdam in the morning, and I’ve fallen in love. The city is beautiful, the people are beautiful, they are extremely nice and helpful. 99.9% of the “Amsterdamers” I had interacts with went above and beyond to be helpful. The city is quite but still has a big city feel to it. It’s small like Paris, but has a lot more quick things to do like London. The architecture is amazing, it had the old style feel – like both Paris and London – but also a very modern edge (like the Newer parts of London). Got to take a canal tour and see Rembrant’s house. I wish I had more time in the city, but it was a very fun experience regardless of the short time.

 

Now back in London, thankfully. I could not take another night on the bus. My legs are so sore, and since i didn’t stay anywhere long I had no place to change clothes/ take a shower etc. Yes, I know eww. And my last bit of “yeah I’m back in London” apart from it being my favorite city is that I don’t have to pay to use the public toilets! Waiting in long lines while everyone scrounges for change and euros isn’t the best.

Fleet Street + Beyond

This week marks the end of classes for the term… I know it’s still March! We then have three weeks off for Easter Holiday and then the last week of March is a Consultation Week. This is where we have to opportunity to meet with our tutors (professors) and discuss the final paper/ exam that is due sometime between April 28th and May 16th. Now, I turned in my final paper for one of my classes last Monday – at least think it was my last thing, this would be rather disappointing should I find out suddenly otherwise, but I ‘m pretty darn sure I’ve completed everything for that class. The other two classes have something due April 30th – an essay and a journal. Nothing too big, I just need to format the journal – over achiever me has been working on it steadily all term. The other essay is 2000 words and I’ll start on that next week. But May is free and much of April is as well.

Wednesday for my last media class we took a tour of Fleet Street – England’s print capital (in name only now, it’s part of the financial district). That was very interesting despite the fact it was pouring rain and cold. 

Fleet street is very busy and that coupled with the rain means very few pictures – I apologize. BUT I will make it up next Monday. Lots of pictures because I will be in Paris on Saturday and Amsterdam on Sunday. 

So until then…

In the Home of Kings (Picture Heavy – Sorry)

Took a short (ha, that’s a lie) trip to Hampton Court Palace and Kingston on the boarder of Greater London and Surrey. Absolutely gorgeous day to be outside and walking around such lovely places. And Hampton Court Palace has some of the best gardens around, especially this early in the season. 

 

Haa, i wish I would be a photographer – nature, animals, and architecture I’d be in heaven

The palace itself was massive and I was in love – War of the Roses – Glorious Revolution/ Orange Rule is one of my favorite times to study. 

 

Remember the reason my I shouldn’t work out (haha, that’s at least what I tell myself to console my laziness), pulled my tricep doing Scorpion Pushups – they are wonderful tricep and core workout when you pay attention and don’t do them wrong. Otherwise you can hear this startling bop and fire shoots through your arm.

Here’s Hampton Court, Thursday will by Primrose Hill and the Sherlock Holmes Museum

Work + Chocolate + the Victoria + Albert Museum

Saturday was a happy Valentine’s you single person, go out an buy discounted chocolate! This came in handy as I had to write an academic film review – 1,000 word minimum with footnotes to boot. 8 hours later (counting watching the film itself) completed. Now it’s in the editing phase, then off to my professor to see if I actually did what he wanted. But the chocolate was motivation – when ever i wanted to go on the internet + didn’t I got a chocolate. When i finished I got half a chocolate orange. Good motivator.

Sunday was do laundry + get locked out of the building day. Then go to Camden for something and get lost. Negatives: had to go to security looking like I do when i do laundry – ie not as put together as I would like. Feet hurt really badly/ ended up leaving Camden after the station closes, had to walk an extra 3 miles to the next station on my line. Positives: Laundry done, no longer locked out, found what I was looking for in Camden, got a good leg exercise.

 

Today, I returned to one of my favorite museums: the Victoria + Albert Museum. Plenty of photo opportunities there..

 

And ahhh the weather. No I have not bee effected by the flooding, thankfully. Mostly the flooding has been in Surrey – close to, but west of where I live. The Thames is higher from the rain, but I’m not really close to the river, and it is not threatening to flood. Let’s hope the rains stops long enough for things to recede. Looking at the weather radar, this storm cell is the same one (connected to) the winter storm cell over the US. So even when I’m on a different continent I can’t get away from “Ohio” weather. Great.

and the wind…

“Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes.”

Good day to everyone from rainy Roehampton… this has been my view from my window for the past couple of days

It’s not a lot of rain, but enough that you would rather stay inside and actually do you school work…. gasp!? Yesterday I went with my class to see a play, which was lovely, today is a reading day, and tomorrow is a class trip because we can. We’ll it actually ties in with our studies: this week is the Putney Debates on voting held in, you guessed it Putney. The church is still operating and since Putney is only a couple of minutes bus ride from Roehampton we figured why not see where it happened.

Saturday is hopefully plan some trips day and probably a visit to Kensington Palace because the weather is suppose to just be cloudy. Monday is the Zoo!! Animal pictures hooray! Hopefully because its not suppose to rain they’ll be out.  Book my tickets to Ascot May Meeting Horse races, so excited my first live horse race will be at that track. I have my hat already:

nothing fancy, but it’ll have to do… and sorry I’m horrible at selfies.

School has been stealing my travel motivation – but I guess I should be thankful I actually have motivation to do school work. I am here for school too, right? But trips should be scheduled Saturday and then I can get back to taking pictures and exploring!

** Title from the oh so glorious Oscar Wilde

Welcome to the Year of the Horse

Sunday I ventured into the city to take part in the celebration for the Chinese New Year… me and about a half a million people. It was amazing how many people can cram into a relatively small area such as Trafalgar Square. Now, Trafalgar is not a tiny area, but it’s not meant to hold that many people and the equipment.

 It was very cramped and hard to move around as you can imagine, but it was very interesting to see some many exhibitions of Chinese culture.

This week I’m going…. somewhere, not entirely sure yet, which is nice. I know I have some “field trips” this week and I’ll try to remember by camera.

Stay warm, the US needs to decide on a temperature (preferably above freezing and stay there).

Rainy Days – What Did You Expect?

Have experienced a couple of rainy days here, it likes to flit between misting and pouring down rain. And the wind! At least in the courtyard where I live it sounds like a dragon’s coming to visit. Went for a rainy day excursion yesterday and was not disappointed. After searching for the fabled China Town on now three separate occasions it has been found.

I am sure it will be spectacular for the Chinese New Year Celebration on Friday.

Then on to the British Museum. Sadly enough though, my camera decided to take a nap after about 20 minutes of walking around – silly me forget to check to make sure it had charged before leaving. Oh well, my fault for waking up 30 minutes before heading out the door.

Today was a stay inside and organize things/ play on the computer day. Jack the Ripper Tour tomorrow!

Cheers

East End and Street Art

The week didn’t start off with anything particularly exciting – except me planning trips during break (booked a ticket to Germany). Read, did laundry, was rather lazy and loved it. Wednesday I went with my media class to the East End. We were given a very interesting tour of the “rougher” streets of London by a local street artist, Ben Slow. Check him out on Google – he’s very good. We discussed the issues of the ever expanding city on areas like this that weren’t originally in the city limits. East End was originally founded by French immigrants in the 1600-1700s, and it has seen many waves of foreigners moving in. It is also the site of “hipster London.” Artists love to make use of the “free” wall space to show off their talents.

There are some amazing stuff lining the street. This is not graffiti, this is street art at it’s finest. Well, I have no idea where I’ll be heading to this weekend, but I’ll keep you posted.

Stay warm America, can’t say I envy you guys. Apart from getting rained on this morning, the weather has been very nice.

Cheers

The Moment you Turn Left and Realize your Lost

On Fridays I have 5 hours of class – so needless to say I’m not nearly as excited for Fridays as I once was. The classes are interesting but five hours of lecture! There’s only so much of a subject, interesting or not, that I take.

Saturday was almost less eventful, and not nearly as productive. Spent 1 1/2 trying to get to a public library (only to find out this morning that there is one within walking distance) only to come home empty handed because I don’t carry around viable proof of my address with me. “Yes, ma’am I just happen to carry around a bill and other documents with me… you see my little shoulder bag actually is Hermione’s bag from Harry Potter.”

Sunday was entertaining. Went with a friend to The Museum of London – fascinating by the way – and after that we went exploring. Originally our search was for London’s China Town which has so far eluded our efforts to find it. We ended up in what I am now simply call “Indian – Lebanese – Thai Town.” There was a giant flea market like fair going on – people all over the place, a miniature Portobello Road. Walk around some more, got lost, then finally found our way to the Thames. Proceeded to walk across Tower Bridge, realized we wanted the tube station on the other side, and walked back. An eventful Sunday – many more days like this to come, and I know now without a doubt this trip is going to make my legs look fantastic.