I'm going to attempt to update my blog more often, but the days fly by so fast! Here's what has been going on so far this week!
Sunday, July 12:
Today my flatmates and I went shopping on Oxford Street, one of London's busiest shopping streets! Selfridges, the world's second oldest department store, was our first stop! It is so massive that I literally got lost in the basement.
This huge building houses the famous store! It has 9 floors!
For all those are curious, this is how I get around to all these fun places... the Tube!
First you ride down what seems like a never-ending escalator (and don't forget to stand on the right, or you risk getting run over by those rushing down the left side)...
Then you walk down a very long hallway while inconspicuously videotaping a musician so you don't have to pay him because you spent all your money at Selfridges...
Then the train comes whooshing in and you pray that you aren't going west when you should be going east... because that happens... more than I would care to admit...
Then you snag a seat (hopefully!) and just avoid eye contact with everyone until you reach your destination....
And finally, don't forget to "mind the gap" when you hop off!
Monday, July 13:
Today, we didn't leave our flat all day! We finished up the final drafts of our essays and reading Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh. One needs to have a pajama day every once in a while... even in London!
Tuesday, July 14:
Our book for this week is about a couple of good 'ol Oxford boys in the 1920s, so naturally in order to fully understand the book it is necessary to visit Oxford University.
'Twas glorious.
Oxford Uni is composed of 38 colleges, and we toured Christ Church College.
Fun fact: If you ever see anyone wearing an "Oxford" t-shirt, they likely did not attend Oxford Uni (for more than a tour, that is), because students are very partial to and tend to only rep their particular college!
The students' dining hall at Christ Church inspired the Great Hall in the Harry Potter movies! Fancy stuff.
The gardens here were BEAUTIFUL. Everywhere I looked there was a hidden doorway or staircase or pathway surrounded by pretty flowers. This picture hardly does the gardens justice.
We also went punting! What is punting you ask? Well, basically one person stands on the back and propels the boat forward by pushing on the riverbed with a long pole. And no, I was not the punter. Princess Eugenia just enjoyed the ride.
...And fed the ducks.
Wednesday, July 15:
Today, we headed out to Eltham Palace for class! In our novel, Brideshead Revisited, Brideshead is an estate similar to the palace, as both of the homes "grew silently with the centuries, catching the best of each generation" (Waugh, Ch. 1). Basically, as time passed, and with each resident, these places grew and changed and became sort of a patchwork of the past. Eltham Palace is a hodge podge of different eras, from the medieval to the art deco era of the 1930s.
Rather grand.
This one's for you, Lynda U: This joint had an underground bomb shelter from the 1940s that reminded me oh so much of the doomsday shelter we toured in Canyon, TX... I'll probably be hunted down for mentioning it in a blog post.
Eltham Palace also had magical gardens.
No magical garden is complete without a magical bridge...
And a magical waterfall! It was just so dang magical!
After frolicking in the gardens all afternoon (which I realized is what I tend to do with a great deal of my time in England), Alyssa and I headed to Harrods, the world's oldest department store! She wanted some perfume, but I had the Food Stalls in mind.
Ah, yes. The old stomping ground.
Mmm. Why yes, I will have a Pistachio Almond Cronut for lunch.
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