A Day By The Sea

Today was spent in Brighton

And it was amazing. The most beautiful day that Brighton has ever seen. Your welcome for the awesome weather England. We definitely brought it from Cali. :)

But in all seriousness it was awesome. There were so many people our age and the markets were amazing. We walked to the pier and along the very rocky beach and just enjoyed everything. The night life was pretty awesome too. We got some Pimms from one of the places by the beach and got I sit on the shore drinking, listening to the funk and soul Dj play some music, and watch as Chinese lanterns it sent up ino the air. It was seriously so awesome. I have also decided that my bachelorette party (hen party) will def be in Brighton. It is one of the best place to have them. There we reel about 673820847 million hen and stag parties going on. 

One day I swear I'm gonna move there. The atmosphere was awesome, the scenery beautiful, and the people were amazing. One of Cassie's friends, Theo, actually lives in Brighton and he showed us around. He was so sweet and we had an awesome time. We took a train there from London at like 7 and were supposed to get a train back at about 5.. But that didn't really happen haha. We ended up catching the very last train rude (11:37PM) and barely got back before I started writing this post. All of us loved it there. We even ran into a really cool artist that was shooting a music video in a park that I randomly stumbled upon. His act was called Passenger and he is gonna start a two month tour in the States pretty sonn. He was really good so you guys should go and see him or me since I will still be here. 

I am completely drained of all energy and have a long day at Stonehenge and Bath tomorrow. I am ecstatic to finally have the chance to see both and am gonna take a crap ton of pictures!  :D

The Tempest and the Night Owls

Just a short post today cause I am super tired. Apologies for the sporadic posting but I'm just so busy. School is super hectic and keeps us all pretty busy. We already pulled all nighters and we barely finished week 1. Today was my first day off and I enjoyed it by trying to be as lazy as possible. Didn't really work like that but oh well. Today was actually awesome. Went to Covent garden market and also saw a free shakespeare play from the royal academy. It was awesome and so surreal. Also, last night I went out to Soho with the girls after I got back from the Tempest at the Globe. Words can't describe how awesome it is. I will try to tell you more about it as soon as I get some sleep. Good night and I miss you all

P. S. pictures to come soon. :)

One Man, Two Guvnors, and 21 College Kids

So we've finally started classes....and it kinda blows

Just kidding!!!! well...sorta. The topics and discussions are super interesting but having class from 9-5 and having to do 3 days worth of school work each night sucks. Mainly because I forgot that I was here to study. WOOPS!! Almost everyone had to pull an all nighter already to finish up multiple essays that were due. The work is crazy intense and hopefully it gets a little easier.

But the area we are in is AWESOME! A quaint little part of town near Russell Square, we are pretty close to the West End. We just got back from a play called "One Man, Two Guvnors" which was playing at the Theatre Royal in Haymark. It was SOOO FUNNY!!! I was cracking up the whole time. The main actor, Rufus Hound, was just perfect. He improv'd a lot and interacted with the audience a whole bunch. It takes place in the 60's and was just so hilarious. There was also a supporting actor who played a beatnick guy who wanted to be an actor (the characters name was Alan) but he had me cackling like a witch....so not cute. I just couldn't help it. The band was also awesome and played during the set changes. I am completely in love with them. They were so cute and precious. And the singer was..you guessed it...GINGER! <3

Inside the Theatre

We haven't even been here a week but have already had an incident or two with people getting lost and what not. Definitely almost had to call the police because they were gone so long. So now I sit here blogging instead of writing my paper because we are just so stressed from the wait to see if she would make it home. Luckily, she is here and nothing bad happened. But it was super stressful. 

Tomorrow we take a trip to Canary Wharf which means we get to see the business part of the city. Time to find me a good husband  :D

I'm Alive!!!!

And the sun shines for me today...kinda

Platform 9 & 3/4 at Kings Cross

Token Red Telephone Booth

only kinda cause London has only about 10 minutes of actual sun a day. But regardless, I'M ALIVE AND IN LONDON!!!!

It is Day 4 and I have moved into my apartments so I actually have internet access now allowing me to finally post something.

Buckingham Palace at Twilight

 

The first two days I spent at a hostel right near King's Cross. First time at a hostel and it wasn't that bad. A few other girls from my program (Gloria, Christy, Brittany, and Cassandra) also stayed at the same place so I wasn't by myself. I also went some really cool people (specifically a Kiwi rugby player who happened to be ginger. YES, that is right. Day one and I already met a ginger man. Fave  :)   But that day Christy and I went on a night bus tour. While waiting for the bus to come we wandered around a park near the Ritz Carlton and all of a sudden BOOM!! Buckingham Palace was in front of us. It was weird. The palace is just sort of there. I fangirled over the palace, like a total American tourist but I couldn't help it; I saw the balcony that Will & Kate stepped out onto after their wedding. The night tour was awesome and slightly overwhelming. Once we saw Big Ben and the London Eye, it hit me that I was actually in London. The city is just so historical. I don't feel like I have enough time to see it all which worries me. But I will do my damned best to see it all. Next day included a walking tour which ended up with us buying Pub Crawls and agreeing to do the Grim Reaper tour (which is gonna happen this upcoming Saturday I think).

                                          

Big Ben at Night

London Eye

On Saturday, I hailed my first ever taxi (after about 90438540938543 million failed attempts) and we left our home of two days to move into our apartments. We are in a pretty wealthy part of the city, Bloomsbury. My flat is at Bedford Place and only a minute walk from the British Museum (btw almost all museums here are free! ). After checking in we took the tube to Trafalgar Square to see the West End Live event. It was a free event where they had casts from all the musicals at the West End do performances of songs from their musicals. I saw Les Mis, Phantom of the Opera, The Bodyguard, Mama Mia, Jersey Boys, Matilda, Wicked, Top Hat, We Will Rock You, and a whole bunch of others. I almost cried during Les Mis (shocker) and Cassie and I are definitely gonna get tickets to a showing one night.

Big Ben Again

WestEnd Live in Trafalgar Square

God Save the Queen

Jersey Boys Performance

Yes that is Dudley from Harry Potter. 

We have all been getting used to the time change and living in the apartments. Our apartments are super nice and have an awesome view. It is surrounded by parks and really close to the Russell Square tube station. Despite the fact that London is super expensive to live in, I have been having so much fun. We bought groceries, finally, to save money and walked over to the Camden Markets today. I got some amazing cute stuff and even got some great souvenirs. The market is huge and has stuff for literally everyone! I got lost a few times and didn't even see a fourth of it. I really hope to go back on Friday to check more of it out.

Outside our flat

School starts tomorrow and it is the last thing everyone is trying to think about. The orientation we had today, brought us back to reality a bit. The professor seem amazing though. We had some great conversations over our free Indian meal, which was the best ever even if it was a bit spicy. Our classes are from Monday-Thursday and take up most of the day. With the 3 day weekends, everyone is trying to book trips to other countries. I definitely want to find a way to get to Paris the week of their Bastille Day cause that would just be amazing. So far, only Ireland is book though. The conversion rate is just killing us though.  

The amazingly large markets in Camden

World's End Pub! 

Garden in Russell Square near the flat

Besides all that, it is AMAZING!!! Exploring the city has been amazing and we have so many more plans for things. More to come later on after I finish being scholarly tomorrow  :)   Love you all and miss you.

Cheers!!!!

Wesminster Abbey

Wellington Arch

Parliament

Changing of the guard

Jitters and restlessness

T-..........still quite a few hours until I leave. 

About 12.  Can't sleep for the life of me and so I blog instead.

I'm seriously nervous and excited for tomorrow but all I can think about is how messy my room is. I'm about to start a fantastic journey and finally ride a plane all by myself (I know. I'm 21 but it's still a big deal OK) yet I can't stop looking at my floor and thinking "wow. I really need to vacuum". Probably not the best thing to do at 3:30AM. Besides, I won't even be here to enjoy my clean room. At least Tabbi (my lovely cat and Khaleesi of the household) will.

And now for something completely different!......but only kinda.

The first two nights of my stay are going to be at a hostel called Clink 261. Two other girls and myself are all meeting up there on Thursday and staying until we can move into our apartments at Bedford Place. I haven't even gotten there and I already approve of our choice in hostel. Mainly because it has this awesome Union Jack wall divider in the lounge. Hopefully it is awesome.

The main thing about staying at this hostel, is that it is a 5 minute from KING'S CROSS. That is right folks. The first thing I am doing in London is getting my happy ass onto the tube from Heathrow and riding that sucker down to King's Cross. 

"Why is that a big thing?" you ask.

"Well" I say.......................................HARRY POTTER THAT'S WHY. Yes muggles. King's Cross station actually houses the platform to get on the Hogwarts express. If I don't make it back home, it is probably because I went to Hogwarts. Gotta go visit my Hufflepuff peeps. Fear not my friends, picture evidence will arrive shortly after I get onto the platform.

Won't post again until I am in the Global City...aka London (I'm pretty sure no one calls it the Global city except for my professor but we're just gonna roll with it). Until later my dudes. Sleep and the beginning of my journey await me.

Clothes, Shoes,....and all that other stuff a person needs for traveling

Struggling with what to pack. I am leaving in 5 days and have no idea what to bring. I currently have my whole closet in my suitcase. That's all that anyone needs right?

Summer of Shakespeare

Just found out all the amazing plays we get to see as part of my London program. It's gonna be a summer filled with Shakespeare!

Not only do I get to see the sold out Othello at the National Theatre, but I also get to see a Midsummer Nights Dream and The Tempest at the famous Globe Theatre. Plus, we get to take an acting class at The Globe. Say WHAT?!!!!!

I am beyond excited. Time for me to reread some shakespeare before I get there  :D