Trip report

AHHH! So school has started and it is rough! We have a 15 page paper due at the end of the semester so I am looking forward to that.

So lets finish the trip report (if you cant tell, now Im on a french keyboard so I get to struggle to type once again)

I found Venice.... underwhelming. I can see how others liked it but I just find it swarming with tourists. Watching everyone feed pigeons in St. Marks just made me think they would all get bird flu. The shopping, however, is great. I got some really cute souveniers, but everything there is nice. I also ate tons of gelato. Kathi and I went to Dorsoduro which was quieter and less stuffed with tourists. The fact that at night all the lights went out and it was less safe to walk home even in a large group was also unfun for me. Thats ok though. Im glad I went, but Im not dying to go back anytime soon.

So a sad parting from the members of my group and a plane to London. London is CHAOTIC!!! I felt that I would get run over on the underground if I went in the wrong side of the escalator. Even on the streets I thought I would get run over if I didnt know exactly where I was going. I usually was headed in the right direction, but I felt bad for the tourists who had no idea where they were going.

The hostel I stayed in was nice, directly behind the British Museum. I love Bloomsbury, I found a bunch of cute parks there and ate dinner there everyday. Im afraid I didnt get a typical view of London because for the four days I was there, it was sunny and beautiful. No rain! Everyone was lounging in all the parks. I think I can safely say that I saw all of the major sights there. The British Musuem, The V and A, Borough Market, Southwark Cathedral, Parliament, the National Portrait Gallery, The National Gallery, the Tate Modern, Kensington Gardens, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Cathedral (the only attraction I paid to go in, I was an expert at saving money), St Pauls, St Dunstan in the East, Spitadfields Market, Notting Hill, St James Park, the British Library and its Museum (my favorite Museum, you know how much I love to read), I probably missed something. You can see how I was exhausted at the end of each day! My favorite thing was finally getting english periodicals! I was so starved for news, I got them everyday and read them all. I also love the magazines there, because they all come with free stuff. I got sunglasses with one, a purse with another and flipflops with another. Another London was kinda stressful (I heard a British guy behind ,e in line describe it as agressive chaotic which I agree with) I dont ever think you could get bored there. There is always so much to do. I feel as if I barely scratched the surface.

My favorite experience there was when I walked into All Hallows by the Tower, a church by the Tower of London. I was there just before it was closing, and the rector saw me and walked up to me and proceded to give me a tour and a history of the church and the City of London (do you know the Queen has to get permission to enter it). He then invited me to go down to the crypt, turn on the lights and have a look around. It was so nice of him. Although I dont know if I want to live there (the exchange rate alone would kill me) I would love to revisit multiple times to see and do more. Just when I have a little more money.

Well thats it for now. Tomorrow we go to the Cinematique Francais. As for the language issue that Court asked about, Im getting on well! I asked for tap water in a restaurant the other day (noone knew how to ask) and I was able to speak to salespeople at H and M today. I am learning more and more everyday. I imagine that if I had a stronger background I would be getting even more out of it.

Later I will write about Montmartre, Montparnasse, our boat ride, and more. Bon soir!