Hebden Bridge, Haworth, and the Peak District

Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! I have as much soul as you, -- and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you. - from Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre


I had a fantastic weekend! Friday night I left with my friend Natalie to stay at her parent's house. Natalie lives just a few rooms away from me, and I met her parents when they were helping her move in. When I told them that I was here studying British and Irish Literature they were full of great advice on what to visit and see. As an unbelievably generous treat, they opened up their home and time to show me where some of my favorite authors, the Bronte sisters, had lived. The Lewis's are the nicest family you can imagine, and made me feel like I was home for the first time in over two months. They are truly the best, and I had a great time getting to know them - and eating the wonderful home-cooked meals! On Saturday morning we started out with a full English breakfast - which was totally scrumptious - and then we all set out (with adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Teddy) to explore the towns of Hebden Bridge and Haworth.


Our first stop was at Hebden Bridge, where we went into some of the best shops I have seen yet. Just when I think I've seen the cutest stores, Britain surprises me yet again! We walked around town and viewed the canal that winds its way by and through the town. Here is a picture I took while standing on one of the bridges...

Before we left Hebden Bridge we stopped at Walkely Clogs, where I tried on some authentic wooden clogs! It was my first time ever trying any on, and I have to say - they are super comfortable! Here is a picture of me - clearly very excited - at that moment!

We left that beautiful village and set out for the town of Haworth. Haworth is where the Bronte sisters, Charlotte, Anne, and Emily, lived and were buried. Natalie and I toured the Parsonage, where the writers lived, and it was very exciting to set foot in the exact room that Jane Eyre had been written in! Here is a picture of the Parsonage...

Afterwards we went back to the house, where I had yet another wonderful meal cooked by the amazing Wendy Lewis, and then it was back to Manchester for Natalie and I. And yet... the adventure doesn't end there! Natalie, Cheryl, and I were up bright and early on Sunday morning to tour the Peak District. The first stop was to Chatsworth House. This has been the home for the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, passed down each generation, since 1549. Now, for anyone who has seen the Keira Knightley version of Pride and Prejudice, Chatsworth was used in the film for Mr. Darcy's estate called Pemberley. It is one of the largest estates in England, and sits on 100 acres of beautiful countryside. The best part: The entire house was decorated for Christmas, complete with Christmas music playing throughout the house! I was in total heaven. Here is a picture I took in the Oak Room...

Ahhh... I could just curl up in that chair with a good book while Mr. Darcy stares adoringly at me...

Oops, sorry about that. Got a little carried away! :) The rooms were magnificent, as evidenced by this photo...

The paintings on the walls and ceilings were fantastic. For some reason they turned out very dark on my camera, but here is a section of ceiling that isn't too shabby...

Crazy, right? I can't imagine living there. The gardens outside were just as beautiful. Here is a picture of the house itself...

They are in the middle of a huge restoration project (naturally), but here is one of the views they used in the film I talked about earlier...

Outside the house they were also holding a Christmas Market, which we enjoyed walking through. It hosts different vendors selling food, drink, or crafts. We all snagged a pork sandwich (delicious!) and then churros with chocolate dipping sauce (yummy times two!). Our next and last stop of the day would be to the town of Bakewell, famous for their signature Bakewell Pudding. Now, I have tasted a 'Bakewell Tart' before in Manchester, but I was interested to learn that it was not really the famous dessert from this town (instead it's a sorry copycat). So that was our mission in Bakewell: find the real deal and try it for ourselves! Here is a picture of the quaint town of Bakewell...

We did find the original Bakewell Pudding and I waited until I got back to my room in Manchester before I tried it. I want to say, with total seriousness and honesty: This is the best sweet I have had. In. My. Life. It was basically a tart pastry shell, with some kind of yummy filling. It wasn't fruity, but I honestly don't know what it was, and apparently the people of Bakewell aren't giving out the recipe anytime soon. From what I understand, the recipe is - literally - under lock and key in a safe somewhere. My advice: Go to Bakewell, England. Soon! Here is a picture of my (half eaten) Bakewell Pudding...

It was a busy, but memorable weekend. I had a great time with Natalie, her wonderful parents, and Cheryl. The sights are wonderful here in England, but the people are going to be what draws me back.

Flat Hannah's Corner

Flat Hannah loved spending the weekend outside of the city. These cramped streets and loud noise can get tiresome after awhile. Breathing the fresh country air is just what she and I needed! Flat Hannah especially loved Bakewell, because we were able to see all kinds of wildlife! Here is a picture I took in Bakewell when we were watching some gorgeous mallard ducks (and this was just moments after Natalie was accosted by a kamikaze Seagull)...

While I work on finishing my essay for tomorrow Flat Hannah is going to be resting up for our next big trip! On Friday we are going to visit the home of another one of our favorite authors, Elizabeth Gaskell. Then this Sunday is another vintage fair in Manchester, so we couldn't say no to that! Next week we will be sad to miss Thanksgiving dinner at home, but are going to cure our homesickness by traveling to Bath for a few days. :) The adventures never cease here in England, but that's just the way we like it!

Cheers!

Edinburgh, Scotland

I'm back from the land of bagpipes and Nessie!

To sum up my time in Scotland I could just say: Wow! My friend Cheryl and I set out Wednesday morning for Edinburgh; it was our Reading Week and we were going to make the most of it. I have wanted to visit Scotland for so many years now so my expectations were high, and it certainly did not disappoint me. We left from Manchester Piccadilly Station. This is where I arrived when I first came to Manchester, so it was fun to go back and see the building again...

Upon arriving in the fair Scottish city I subsequently got us lost until we were able to figure out just what was north and what was south (trickier than you may think!). When we kept missing the street our hotel was located on we eventually figured out that it was actually below our feet! Edinburgh is basically a city on a giant hill, where streets often go over other streets (but thanks to unhelpful maps - we did not realize this!). We managed to find our way to the hotel, where the staff belatedly informed us of this common problem in navigating the city. Oh well - it's something we'll never forget that's for sure!

We spent the rest of the day shopping on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh's busiest tourist district. I was surrounded by wool, cashmere, kilts, and bagpipes - and I loved every minute of it! I bought way too much, but - then again - it is me. Glad to say that I found lots of unique Christmas gifts for the family! That night we ate at the Hard Rock Cafe that we stumbled upon, where I tried a Haggis Burger - a local delicacy I was told. Let me just briefly inform you of what Haggis is: sheep's heart, liver, and lungs mashed up and cooked in sheep's intestine's. Now, honestly, does this sound like something I would like? Naturally after one big bite I found it utterly revolting, but I can say I tried it now!

Thursday morning we set out early to see my first real castle - the famous Edinburgh Castle! Perched atop a hill at the beginning of the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle is quite a sight to behold. Here is a picture from the parking lot in front...

Not only was the castle itself beautiful, but so were the views surrounding it. Here are a couple of pictures looking out onto the city of Edinburgh...

The water you see there is actually the Firth of Forth, where water eventually reaches the North Sea. We toured the castle and likewise viewed the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny - which was amazing! They do not allow photos to be taken in that area, hence the lack of pictures. However I can say it was an honor to be able to view them, and I am very intrigued by the mystery surrounding the Stone of Destiny, where it came from, and why it is so important. Hmmm.... I smell a book idea perhaps!

After touring the castle we decided to explore Edinburgh's underground network of Close's, and went on a walking tour of the most famous of all - Mary King's Close. They did not allow photography in there either, but it was very interesting. Many peasant-class citizens lived in these Close's, often 13 in one small room, and it was hard to believe that people lived and worked in these tight and cramped spaces.  This is a picture of an existing outdoor Close...

Cheryl and I decided to torture our feet even more by hiking up Calton Hill, on the opposite end of town, to see the many monuments and views. It was well worth it in the end, because we saw some of the most beautiful scenery in Edinburgh. This is the National Monument at the top of Calton Hill...

We had been told that Scottish weather was unpredictable, but we were fortunate and had wonderful weather our entire trip! Here is a look at Edinburgh and surrounding cliffs from Calton Hill...

The other monument at Calton Hill was for Admiral Horatio Nelson. The tower can be seen from pretty much everywhere in the city, making it a distinct landmark...

After some more shopping (and walking) we visited the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen's residence in Scotland. Not as grand as Buckingham Palace, but I am sure Prince Harry and I will feel very comfortable there on holiday's... What? It could happen!

Today we wrapped up our visit by walking around the city once more - and buying those last few precious items that we (and by we I really mean I) couldn't live without.  I'm happy to be back in Manchester, but I loved every minute of Scotland. I definitely have to go back someday and visit the Highlands. After all, I may be the one to see Nessie and prove the existence once and for all!

I have a major essay due next week, so it is back to the books for me. However I am greatly looking forward to my trip to Haworth a week from Saturday, and then my tour of the Peak District a week from Sunday. So many sights to see, and so little time!

Flat Hannah's Corner

Flat Hannah absolutely loved Scotland! Most of all, she loved visiting Edinburgh Castle. Even though it was an early morning for us, we all had a blast learning the history - and mystery - of this place. For instance, did you know that this castle was actually built on a dormant volcano, or that its earliest records indicate it was first settled in the 2nd Century? Neither did we until our audio guide told us. :) Here is Flat Hannah outside Edinburgh Castle...

Flat Hannah and I also enjoyed visiting a monument for one of our favorite Scottish writers: Sir Walter Scott. After he passed away in the mid 1800's the City of Edinburgh and the Historical Society got together to pay tribute to their famous citizen. Here is Flat Hannah with the statue of Sir Walter Scott, which sits in the middle of the monument...

Flat Hannah is having a great time with me in England, but as our time here winds down we are still trying to see as much as we can - and loving every minute of it. :)

Cheers!

The Lake District and York

What are men compared to rocks and mountains? - Pride & Prejudice


Last weekend my busiest yet, and I am happy to report that I had a wonderful time! After a long week of school and deadlines, it was nice to get away for a bit and have some more adventures. On Saturday morning I woke up early (funny how that is never a problem when I go somewhere fun!) and set off to meet the bus headed for the Lake District. I had thoughts of Beatrix Potter, William Wordsworth, and Coleridge floating in my mind all day. This was the place that has inspired many authors over the centuries and I was finally going to walk in their legendary footsteps. When I first began to see the mountains I was in complete awe. It was more beautiful than I could have ever imagined, and my pictures really don't do it justice. I took this picture when we stopped at our first destination: Bowness-on-Windermere...

All the villages that we stopped at were on the outskirts of Lake Windermere, which is the largest natural lake in England. I traveled with two other girls that I met on the bus, Caitlyn (from the U.S.) and Beatrice (from Austria). They were also going on the trip on Sunday to York, so we decided to see the sights together, which made it all the more fun! I have to admit, there was only one thing I cared about seeing in Bowness, other than the beautiful scenery. Beatrix Potter was and still remains to be a big influence on why I like to write and the limitless possibilities of the imagination....

While this wasn't her home and farm, it is the closest I will come to it on this trip, so I couldn't pass up this opportunity! After a short movie about her life and the characters she created, I literally stepped into the magical land that she created in her books like The Tale of Peter Rabbit. I can only describe this place as a fairytale land! Replicas of all her characters were situated in scenes that looked like they jumped from the pages of her books. Here is Squirrel Nutkin and friends...

After we left The World of Beatrix Potter it was time for a traditional English pub meal. And I have to say... I absolutely loved it! Rather than go for the classic Fish and Chips, I decided to go with Chicken and Mushroom Pie, which is another popular dish here that I had yet to try. I was expecting something like a pot pie, and it was - but with a twist! When it came to me piping hot I just had to snap a picture before I tucked into it...

Can you say yummmm? :) It was amazing, and that pretty much ended our short time in Bowness. After loading back onto the bus we headed to Ambleside, which was just a short distance away. There wasn't anything in particular of interest to me there, so our group hiked up a mountain (luckily I was wearing my boots!) to take a picture of a popular local waterfall. It was a difficult walk, but well worth it in the end....

After getting onto the bus - yet again - we headed to Grasmere, home of William Wordsworth. I think this small village was in the most perfect spot. At the base of many mountains, tucked into a tiny area surrounded by farms and sheep, was the final resting place for two of my most favorite authors. William Wordsworth wrote several books of poetry in his time, but I love the writings of his sister, Dorothy, just as much as his. She wrote about the beauty of nature and God in such a delicate way. If you haven't read her journals, I highly recommend them. Here is a picture looking out on the countryside in Grasmere...

This was my last stop in the Lake District, so it was back to Manchester and the big city once more. This area of England is so vast, that I could spend weeks discovering every inch of it. It is definitely a place I will have to come back to some day. There is still so much more to see!

After a very restful night (with not nearly enough sleep!) I was up and at it early again! Sunday morning I climbed onto the bus and set out to explore the amazing city of York. All I can say is... wow! This is the first thing I saw when we rolled into town...

Perched atop this hill is Clifford's Tower. It was originally built in 1068 by order of William the First as his castle in the north. Everywhere I go I am surrounded by so much history. I think I'm learning more here than in any history class I have ever taken! My group decided to tour the York Castle Museum, where we saw some pretty interesting things! This is a dress from the early 1900's, and it reminds me of my favorite program right now, Downton Abbey...

After visiting the museum we made our way to one of England's Seven Wonders, the York Minster. It is one of the largest gothic cathedrals in England, and I was in awe at the sight of it. My pictures really do not do it justice, but I attempted to capture at least a portion of it...

We decided to test our endurance skills and climb the tower, everyone said it had the best views of York - and they weren't kidding! 275 spiraling and claustrophobic steps later, we were exhausted, but looking at an amazing view. You could see for miles and one sign even said that you could see the outskirts of London (very) far off in the distance. This was one scenic view we were lucky to behold...

We decided to spend the rest of the time just looking around town and taking in the city. Here is a picture of the River Ouse that goes straight through the city...

And thus ended my extremely exhausting - but unbelievably fun - weekend. I feel refreshed now that I got to do a bit more traveling, and it was able to sate my appetite until next week when I head to Scotland! I am very much looking forward to visiting Edinburgh Castle (not to mention seeing men in kilts!) so I will be sure to take plenty of pictures while I am there. Until next time! :)

Flat Hannah's Corner

What can I say? Flat Hannah and I had a fantastic weekend exploring England. She loved the Lake District just as much as I did, and wanted to stay there but - alas - I made her come back to Manchester with me. Here is a picture of her on a bridge near St. Oswald's Church in Grasmere, England...

Flat Hannah also loved the castles in York. As we were leaving I just had to take a picture with her and Clifford's Tower....

We are both looking forward to our adventures in Scotland next week, but mustn't get too ahead of ourselves. There is still plenty of homework to be done in the meantime!

Cheers!

Back by Popular Demand

Greetings from the land of eternal studying!

Before I go into what I have been doing lately, I want to say a big thank you to everyone that has sent me parcels, cards, and letters over the last month and a half! I read these cards and letters pretty much every day, and I think it has helped fend off homesickness. I'm very blessed to have such amazing and thoughtful people in my life, thank you all so much!! Here is my card display in my room that many of my flatmates have commented on...

I know I have been silent for quite a long time, but rest assured that it is not because I have been bored. School has been keeping me very busy lately, so much so that I have barely had the time to talk to anyone. I love all of my classes, but really regret taking three literature courses all at once. Reading three novels a week is getting old! I have a presentation on the poetry of Coleridge tomorrow morning, and then another presentation Monday in my Irish Literature class. All this work is making my time go very quickly, and it's hard to believe that my classes are almost half over! Speaking of which...

You know how in the spring semester we have Spring Break? Well here in the fall they have Reading Week. It's when you are supposed to catch up on all your reading, start working on your essay's, focus on your schoolwork...

Forget that! I'm going to Scotland! November 2-4 I will be exploring the great city of Edinburgh with one of my flatmates, Cheryl (Flat Hannah will introduce you in a bit). One of our definite stops will be Edinburgh Castle and by the way - I'm taking kilt orders now. I'm prepared to finish all the Christmas shopping for the men in my family at a neat kilt shop there. :) Who knows? Maybe I'll even come home with a bagpipe. What? I might want to learn someday...

I am looking forward to this weekend, because I will finally get to visit the destination I have long dreamed of exploring: the Lake District. Home to William Wordsworth, Beatrix Potter, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and John Ruskin, to name a few. The day trip stops at several different towns, so hopefully I will have some beautiful pictures to share (weather permitting - as always!).

Sunday I am taking another day trip, and this time to the city of York. I have several items on my agenda there, but I'm really just looking forward to satisfying my inner traveler and explore someplace new. I love Manchester, but I'm ready to go somewhere new for the weekend (besides staying in my study dungeon - I mean my room).

That is all for now, I will hopefully have much more news and exciting pictures this weekend. I am off to the gym and then to study for the rest of the night. I hope you are all doing well! It will be Christmas in Kansas City before I know it!


Flat Hannah's Corner


I have to admit. Flat Hannah has been a little irritated with me lately. As some of you know we were supposed to take a trip to Stratford-Upon-Avon (home of Shakespeare) at the beginning of the month, and due to unforeseen circumstances (and an irritating typo) we missed our bus and were not able to go. Needless to say she was very disappointed.

But nothing gets Flat Hannah down for long, and she has become quite the social butterfly at Saint Gabriel's Hall. While I'm off attending class she is most likely watching Jane Austen movies in the TV room or playing Band Hero and Just Dance on the Nintendo Wii. Here is a picture of Flat Hannah with one of our flatmates, Cheryl, who lives just across the hall from us...

Cheryl is from Singapore and she is in her first year of study for Maths and Physics. She is hilarious and always seems to be awake - no matter what time of day - so Flat Hannah and I are usually socializing with her and the other girls that live around us. There are bound to be many funny adventures when we all pack up and go to Scotland for a few days!

Cheers!

Cheshire Oaks and Chester

Sometime last week I decided enough was enough. I have been in England for over two weeks and had not gone out shopping. At. All. It was a major dry spell (and one that I am not too proud of), but I am happy to report that all that changed yesterday.

The International Society was offering a day trip to Cheshire Oaks Outlet Mall, and of course my inner shopaholic could not let this opportunity pass by unnoticed. So I quickly signed up and arose earlier than I had all week to catch my ride to the land of discounted Burberry and Osprey London. Sigh...

On the bus ride I sat next to a nice girl from Malaysia who was also very excited about the prospect of shopping for an entire day. The bus ride to the mall was about an hour, and it was in a city near the border of North Wales. Here is a picture I snapped of some beautiful English countryside on the way...

When we got to the outlet mall it was filled with many shops they have in the U.S. like Calvin Klein, Gap, and Sketchers. I decided to skip those and focus solely on the stores I couldn't find readily back home in Missouri like Burberry, Radley London, Osprey London, Mulberry, and LK Bennett.

I'm sure any girls reading this are catching my theme. Yes, all of those designers are very well known for the handbags. :) Like I could come to the UK without getting a new bag - ha! I also got some cute cardigans from Marks & Spencer, which is one of my new favorite stores.

After a few hours I once again boarded the bus to go to the next destination of the day, which was the beautiful walled city of Chester. It is also known for its wonderful shopping district (which I thoroughly enjoyed), but the city itself is very rich with history. Here is a picture I took looking onto the High Street...

Chester was founded by the Romans in AD 79, who built the city as a fortress to protect this territory from Welsh tribes and pirates. There were a bunch of people walking around in Roman costumes, but I did find it rather odd that they were all congregated outside pubs and smoking cigarettes. Never quite how I imagined the Roman Empire...

The city is best known for the ancient walls that surround it. Most were built by the Romans, but some were added by the Victorians who loved to take high walks around the town. I think they said if you walked the wall around the city it was around two miles. I did not try this, because I was too fascinated with their boutiques! But here is a small portion of the wall people are walking on...

The streets in Chester were very crowded with shoppers, but I had an excellent time and managed to snag a cute pair of boots and a blazer (amongst many other things). All in all I had a wonderful day shopping! Today I am taking it easy and preparing myself for class tomorrow. Irish Literature... here I come!

Flat Hannah's Corner

Well, I couldn't exactly leave her behind while I went out shopping all day. That would just be cruel! Flat Hannah and I explored the shopping district in Chester, which is actually quite neat! All there shops are connected, and if you walk up the stairs on the side of a building there are many other neat places to see on a different level. Even the buildings are connected on the inside. It's an indoor and outdoor mall at the same time. Nifty! Here is Flat Hannah inside the shopping district in Chester...

Flat Hannah and I were totally weighed down with bags and definitely looking forward to the bus ride home. This is Flat Hannah waving goodbye to the town of Chester...

Flat Hannah and I have a very busy week ahead of us, but are always looking forward to our next adventures. Stay tuned!

Cheers!

Settling In

Hello again!

As many of you know I moved into my dorm last Thursday, and ever since then it has been one new experience after another! As soon as I checked into Saint Gabriel's Hall, my home for the next three months, I was met by many smiling faces. During my tour of the building I couldn't help but think, "This reminds me of a cruise ship!" All the doors look the same and it's like a crazy maze trying to figure out where to go. After getting lost quite a few times I am finally getting my sea legs around here! :) Here's a picture of the hall...

I have to be honest, I have started feeling the pangs of homesickness. I miss my family, friends, and the familiarity of home. It's starting to feel like less of a vacation and more like a reality now, but I'm keeping myself busy and socializing as much as possible! I have made many friends here at Gabs though, and it seems like there is always something to do.

My first full day here I decided to just walk around campus and get familiar with the area. Not many students had moved in yet, so the streets were fairly quiet. This is a church I pass by on my way to university every day...

I can't get over how beautiful the buildings are here. It's sad to say, but I still have not embarked on a proper shopping trip yet. My days have been filled with orientation, hall meetings, paperwork, and social events. But this shopping drought can't last too much longer! I have some free days coming up at the end of the week and I have a feeling I will spend an entire day at the mall. That should cure my homesickness for good!

I joined the International Society, which is really a group for all students, whether they are local or not. It promotes getting to know people in different cultures and experiencing new things together. They offer several day trips throughout the semester, and I have signed up for three of them! On October 22nd I will head off for the South Lake District visiting Bowness-onWindermere, Ambleside, and Grasmere (William Wordsworth country!). The next day, October 23rd, I will set out to explore the beautiful city of York, which I am very excited about. There I will visit the York Minster, do a bit of shopping, and maybe see the Hogwarts Express (calm yourself, Christine!). To top it off (and give a shout out to Pride & Prejudice) on November 13th I will be touring the Peak District and visit Chatsworth House, which is the historic Estate of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. We will also be stopping at Bakewell that day, and I've heard they have some excellent baked delicacies to try there! Yum!

Of course I am also planning on going back to London, which will probably happen in October. Then Bath in November (the city that is, I bathe regularly fyi) :) Of course my biggest adventure yet will be starting school on Monday, which I am nervous and excited about at the same time. I will be sure to keep you posted on how that all goes, and all the other adventures along the way!

Flat Hannah's Corner

Flat Hannah and I have had some adventures over the past week. She was with me while I toured the campus, and we did manage to get turned around quite a few times together. However we did eventually find the building I would be studying at, the Samuel Alexander Building (named after a prominent British philosopher), and Flat Hannah was very excited to see where our learning would be taking place...

Flat Hannah and I also visited the Manchester Museum this week. We saw mummies, snakes, and all kinds of ancient artifacts. Here is Flat Hannah next to a Female Funerary Bust from the 2nd Century...

Apparently people made very elaborate sculptures and tokens to bury with the deceased in ancient times.  Let it be known that Flat Hannah is not at university to have fun and shop only. She is also here to learn!

Well... and shop, too. :)

Cheers!

From the South to the North

Greetings from Manchester, England!

As many of you know I have finally arrived for my semester abroad in England, but I have been fairly absent from the online community for the past few days. After leaving the U.S. I arrived in London for a four day Bridging Cultures Program with my fellow Eurolearn students. It was a time of adjustment and overwhelming change (not to mention irritating wi-fi problems!), but it was such an amazing experience that I will never forget!

After group meetings in the morning we set out to walk the streets of London on a Harry Potter walking tour. I'm not much of a Harry Potter fan, but a walking tour is probably the best way to truly see a city, especially London. I loved Leadenhall Market, but unfortunately it was closed on Sundays. It was terrible to pass by shops and know I couldn't go into them, but some how I survived. Here is a picture I took in one of the walkways...

After the tour we walked over London Bridge and headed to the Mayor's Thames Festival which is held every year. Festivals (or fairs) are very common ways to celebrate overseas and this one offered many kinds of music, dancing, food, and crafts from artists all over the UK. After being completely famished I got a Chicken Satay Kebab (no that is NOT a typo) from a cute dirty-blonde English guy who called me 'love'. But the best part of the night was when my friend Grace and I were walking back to the hotel. On our way to see St. Paul's Cathedral we passed by a building and the name sounded so familiar to me, but I couldn't quite place it. It was a rather large and beautiful building called Thames House. As soon as I got back to the hotel of course I did what any twenty-first century girl does.... I googled it. It's the headquarters for MI-5! I waltzed by the British version of the CIA without a second glance or even a picture! Go figure.

The next day I sampled some exquisite Lebanese food, and then headed off to survey my future home: Buckingham Palace. I have to say, the State Rooms are quite opulent and a bit over done, but I'm sure Harry won't mind changing a few things for me. :) It was as expensive and ornate as I imagined, and the gardens were like a fairytale land complete with Spanish moss and a little pond. Here is a look at the side entrance...

After dinner we went to see Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace Theater. I had heard it was very good, and it definitely did not disappoint. That wrapped up my time in London, because the next morning I was set to leave for the north! I was joined on my very first train ride by two fellow Manchester students, and lived the life of luxury by sitting in first class. :) The train ride brought my jet lag back in a major way, but I forced myself to stay awake and view the beautiful English countryside. It's funny, because in some ways it reminds me of Missouri. Just, you know, take out the cows, add sheep, and - voila! This is a picture I took when we were almost to Stoke-on-Trent...

At last... I finally arrived in Manchester yesterday! It seems as though I have been talking about this forever, and now it's finally here. It has been exceptionally windy here lately (winds equivalent to 75-80 mph) so for fear of my map flying off into the Irish Sea, I opted to stay inside and go to bed early to catch up on some much needed rest. Twelve hours later... I was awake! :)

I spent some time walking around Manchester today and doing a bit of shopping (though, unfortunately, not very exciting purchases). Manchester is an old industrial city that has been through quite a bit in the last century. New buildings are scattered around old red brick buildings that - some time ago - were the factories and mills that were the heart of the city. The hotel I am currently staying in is actually a converted warehouse itself...

This has turned more into a novel than a blog, so I will bid you goodnight (or afternoon - wherever you are!). Tomorrow I head off to University and meet my flat mates, which I am very excited about! I promise I will blog more frequently, and keep you all up-to-date.