the cotswolds & stratford-upon-avon

Early Wednesday we left on our first overnight trip to Stratford-upon-Avon, hometown of Shakespeare.  On the way there, we stopped in an area called the Cotswolds.  They're really picturesque, traditional English villages.  The particular village we stopped in was called Chipping Campden, and it was gorgeous.  Very green, thatched roofs, small shops . . . I was in heaven.  Later we arrived in Stratford and toured Anne Hathaway's Cottage, the Shakespeare Birthplace Museum, and Trinity Church, where Shakespeare is buried.  That night the group split up between three bed and breakfasts.  I stayed in one called Aidan House.  The woman who runs it has three kids and two cats (one of them is named Tillie. How English).  She also did call her four-year-old "sausage" as a pet name once while we were there.  It was somehow cute but I'm personally glad that I never got compared to artery-clogging meat, even with all the affection in the world.  The B&B was so quaint and I got my own room and bathroom.  I had no idea how much I needed that until I got a night to myself.  I've never appreciated having my own room so much.  The quiet was just what I needed.

westminster abbey

Today we visited Westminster Abbey.  If it looks familiar to you it might be because this lovely couple was married there.  I love them.  Seriously.  The abbey was really pretty.  It has a different feel than St. Paul's and I think I liked it a little less but it was still incredible.  We saw memorials to many of the past kings and queens and also to famous people like Shakespeare, Chaucer, Jane Austen, the Bronte Sisters, and even Lawrence Olivier.  We also saw the House of Parliament, Big Ben, and the London Eye.  The statue above is of Richard the Lionheart. Unfortunately I didn't bring my camera today so I just used my phone and a handy app called Instagram. So if the pictures aren't great, you'll just have to forgive me.

day one

This is 27 Palace Court, where I'll be living for the next few months.

I wasn't completely convinced up until today, but it turns out that jet lag is a completely real phenomenon.  I know because right now I feel like a zombie.  But I'm finally in London!  After several delays and a lost passport (luckily not mine, and the owner will be joining us here in London soon) we finally arrived at Heathrow this morning.  Customs wasn't as bad as I was expecting and we only had to wait two and a half hours for the bus that was supposed to pick us up right when we got there (we were instructed to find the “coach marshall” but since none of us knew what that actually meant and apparently neither did the airport officials, it took a while).

It's really nice except that it has a million floors. Actually there's only six, but for some reason there's like two flights of stairs between each floor so by the time you reach floor number four (where my room is), it feels like you probably climbed the equivalent of the Eiffel Tower. At least I'll be in good shape here.  Here are a few pictures of the Centre.

The entry way

The dining room

The sitting room

The classroom

My bedroom

The view from the window. You probably can't tell in this picture, but all those cars are parked, not moving.  I guess people just park in the middle of the road around here.

To keep us awake, my professor took us on a walking tour of our new neighborhood. I took plenty of pictures, but the internet in the Centre isn't great so I'm only posting a few.

This is Embassy Row.  It's across the street from us and it's where lots of ambassadors live.

In The Da Vinci Code, this is the headquarters of the London chapter of Opus Dei.  I hope no weird monks actually live there because it's right around the corner.

The epitome of British-ness.

Portobello Road

And of course our street, Palace Court.

Tonight we're heading off to see a question and answer type session from Ralph Fiennes. Apparently he's a Shakespearian actor, but you might know him better for this role.  I hope he doesn't get offended if forty people in the audience sleep through his entire forum.  

Update: our professor still said we were bobbing like drunk sailors.  Poor Ralph.