the British bad habit

Last week I went to the British Museum for the first (of many) time(s). There is so much there, it is incredible. I saw the Rosetta Stone and the Elgin marbles. The Elgin marbles were by far my favorite. They are pediment statues that were taken from the Parthenon by the British. The amazing thing about them is the quality of the carving, The figures are draped in cloth and it is so well done that it legitimately looks like cloth. The Egyptian exhibit was amazing! They have so many artifacts that are just sitting out in the open. no glass case, no ropes, nothing. There's just these statues and sarcophaguses from like 2,000 BC chillin. nbd.

{head from colossal figure of a king}
[about 1380 B.C.]

{giant arm from same statue}

{limestone false door and architrave of Ptahshepses}
[about 2400 B.C.] 

{details of an Assyrian statue}

{Elgin Marbles}

{more Assyrian detail}

There is still so much to see there. I've only scratched the surface :)

Mind the gap

A quick wrap-up on week before last:

Saw Westminster Abbey- I didn't get to go inside yet but will be doing that in December.

Took a walk by parliament.

Went to Westminster Cathedral - It's a Byzantine style structure and is loaded with beautifully ornate mosaics and tile work.

Explored the Banqueting Hall - It's the only building that survived the fire at Whitehall Palace. The ceiling panels were painted by Peter Paul Rubens. Charles I was executed here during the revolution. It's a pretty cool place.

Go big or go home...

...or go home big. That's our motto. haha.

First off, I am in love. London is amazing. It's a little different than what I was expecting. or maybe I just wasn't sure what to expect. but it's marvelous all the same.

{arriving in London at St. Pancras station}

The London center is a beautiful Victorian townhouse. We live on Palace Court right across from Kensington Gardens. There are 5 floors. My room is on the 3rd. We kick it dorm style with bunk beds. There are 14 of us in my room. Our classroom is on the 2nd floor. I just have to drag myself out of bed, go down a flight of stairs and *bam* I'm at school. so...it's basically like being at Hogwarts...or boarding school...

Until today the weather has been so lovely. Blue skies and sunshine for the majority of this past week. London put it's best face on just for us :)

{Round Pond at Kensington Gardens}

This week:

We went to a concert at the Barbican.

Went to Portabello Road market and got a giant rainbow sprinkle donut. The market is amazing. It goes on for blocks and blocks and has just about everything. As they say in Bedknobs and Broomsticks: "Street where the riches of ages are stowed. Anything and everything a chap can unload is sold off the barrow in Portabello road." Not like I was singing that song the whole time or anything...

Saw Richard III at the Globe Theatre. It was fantastic! It was a traditional all male cast that included Mark Rylance as Richard III and Roger Lloyd Pack (Barty Crouch Sr.!) as Duke of Buckingham. The men who played the female roles were wonderful. It was amazing how they could speak in such a high pitch, yet still project their voices and express such deep emotions.

Saw 'Big Ben' and the London Eye. Did you know that Big Ben is actually the name of the bell inside the tower and not the tower itself? The tower is Elizabeth Tower.

Started classes on Monday. I love the classes that I'm taking and our professors are wonderful!

Went to Paddington Station in search for Paddington Bear. We found him!

Saw Swan Lake at the royal opera house!! It was phenomenal!!! The woman who danced the part of Odette was wonderful. The prince and the white swan danced so beautifully together. The story is a sad one and the music just makes it come alive.

Went shopping at Primark. Primark is like the clothing section of Target on steroids. Cute steroids. You walk in and basically want to buy everything. no joke. I managed to restrain myself and only got a few shirts and some socks. crisis averted...for now. I'm sure I will return at least once again in my time here.

That's all for now! London is amazing and I am so blessed to have the opportunity to be here :)

Accelerated Friendship Program

a.k.a. study abroad

I've gotten to know some super cool people already in the short time we've spent together. Take a look:

{Saint-Michel}

{gardens at Versailles}

{Palais Garnier}

{giant fireplace}

{L'Orangerie}

{golden gates of Versailles}

{army museum}

{Arc de Triomphe}

{first Sunday at church}

{le Val-du-Grace}

{gelato}

{Luxembourg Gardens}

{crepes}

{Grand Trianon}

{eiffel tower}

{our favorite place: the metro}

{Ellen!}

{hilarious street performer}

{Shakespeare and Co.}

{oldest living thing in Paris}

As you can see, I've made some great friends and we always have a good time :)