So, upon return from Sicily, I had just enough time to print out directions and boarding passes and through my belongings into a suitcase before heading out for the airport. I also managed to briefly greet the three ND professors who were here to check out the Centro and take MaryClaire (and me, but I was heading out) to lunch. It was really great to see Professor Schlegel and Professors Mazurek in Rome!
Anywho, I managed to get my stuff together and get everything printed, and packed, and make my way to the airport with plenty of time for my flight. After grabbing some dinner, I was on my way to LONDON!!
Upon arrival, I had to find my way to my hostel, which was surprisingly easy. I was staying near Oxford Street/Oxford Circus/Great Portland Street, so there were plenty of options for tube stops to head to. I got a bit lost finding the actual building, but I managed and finally checked in. I briefly considered some adventuring that night, but opted instead for facebooking, emailing, and music. The crazy adventures were to start the following morning, bright and early.
My hostel roommates were nice, and the hostel itself was really clean. I really enjoyed it. The showers were nice, and it had a nice little bar/cafe area, which sold breakfast in the mornings, and had plenty of comfy couches to set up on to surf the web and whatnot.
So Sunday morning, I got up bright and early (7:00!!!) and grabbed some breakfast at the hostel, after a quick shower and getting ready. I then headed out to the cathedral I had found online for Mass. It ended up being not even three blocks away, super convenient. The cathedral was gorgeous, and it was really nice to attend Mass in English again :)
After Mass, I decided to take myself on a walking tour of London. This proved more daunting than I thought, and I ended up getting tube passes for the rest of Sunday, and the rest of the week. Anyway, I headed first to Picaddily Circus. I walked along Oxford and Regent Street, and everything was calm and quiet, an amazing Sunday morning. I was loving London already.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Florence, the Pantheon, and Robert Langdon
Discovered that I never finished this blog entry from weeks ago!! It was about my adventures to Florence, and and my art history adventures reminiscent of Robert Langdon :)
Almost two months ago now, Drew, Christine, Sarah and I adventured up to Florence for a weekend.
Well, first we had our wine symposium. AKA, the Centro brought in a wine guy who brought us wine, and they gave us food and we got to taste four wines.
Then early Saturday morning the four of us headed to Termini (well, after I over slept a bit...oops!). We boarded our four-ish hour train up to Florence, and all "worked" on homework on the way....not. On our arrival, we immediately traipsed (with our backpacks...yikes!) to the Uffizi gallery.
Sarah had made us reservations, so we got in fairly easily. We saw so many cool things, but especially the Birth of Venus, and Caravaggio's Medusa. I really enjoyed being able to put my new art history skills to good use :)
After our adventures with Classical art and sculpture at the Uffizi, we adventured around Florence, including a stop on the Ponte Vecchio, where Sarah and Drew both bought some sweet bling. we then had to find our hostel, no easy task. We got lost....and called the hostel, who told us which bus to take.
Not being used to the Florence bus system, we got on the bus, and of course, the ticket taker/fining guy was on the bus. Great. We finally managed to convince him we really had no idea what was going on (the truth) and he let us buy our tickets on the bus and go on our merry way. Finally, finally! we found our hostel!! We checked in, dropped our stuff in our room, and decided to have dinner at the hostel, since we were far too tired to adventure back into downtown Florence.
Dinner was unremarkable, but we did end up sitting with a brother and sister from Seattle. She lives in Paris, and he is visiting her for several months. We had a great three hour conversation with them, including instruction on how to fold artichokes out of napkins...random.
After dinner, Christine got in touch with her friend, Cooper, who is studying in Florence. We trekked back into downtown, and met up with Cooper for drinks. The rest of the night was unremarkable, but we did have a delicious pitcher of "paradise"
The next morning, we woke up way early, checked out, and trekked back into town, bags and all. We were headed to the Duomo! After attending one of the most beautiful Masses ever (in Latin, with Gregorian chant) we tried to sneak around inside, but they ushered us out. Lame. But it was incredible.
We wandered around some more, tried to get to the Academy, couldn't wait that long, and headed back to Rome.
As for Robert Langdon's adventures, Drew is obsessed with finding the things in Rome from Angels and Demons. So far, we've managed St. Maria del Popolo (the Chigi chapel, designed by Raphael), the Castel Sant'Angelo, and the Vatican. And Piazza Navona. Schweet.
Anyway, that's the update in retrospect. now on to fall break ramblings!
<3
Lauren
Almost two months ago now, Drew, Christine, Sarah and I adventured up to Florence for a weekend.
Well, first we had our wine symposium. AKA, the Centro brought in a wine guy who brought us wine, and they gave us food and we got to taste four wines.
Then early Saturday morning the four of us headed to Termini (well, after I over slept a bit...oops!). We boarded our four-ish hour train up to Florence, and all "worked" on homework on the way....not. On our arrival, we immediately traipsed (with our backpacks...yikes!) to the Uffizi gallery.
Sarah had made us reservations, so we got in fairly easily. We saw so many cool things, but especially the Birth of Venus, and Caravaggio's Medusa. I really enjoyed being able to put my new art history skills to good use :)
After our adventures with Classical art and sculpture at the Uffizi, we adventured around Florence, including a stop on the Ponte Vecchio, where Sarah and Drew both bought some sweet bling. we then had to find our hostel, no easy task. We got lost....and called the hostel, who told us which bus to take.
Not being used to the Florence bus system, we got on the bus, and of course, the ticket taker/fining guy was on the bus. Great. We finally managed to convince him we really had no idea what was going on (the truth) and he let us buy our tickets on the bus and go on our merry way. Finally, finally! we found our hostel!! We checked in, dropped our stuff in our room, and decided to have dinner at the hostel, since we were far too tired to adventure back into downtown Florence.
Dinner was unremarkable, but we did end up sitting with a brother and sister from Seattle. She lives in Paris, and he is visiting her for several months. We had a great three hour conversation with them, including instruction on how to fold artichokes out of napkins...random.
After dinner, Christine got in touch with her friend, Cooper, who is studying in Florence. We trekked back into downtown, and met up with Cooper for drinks. The rest of the night was unremarkable, but we did have a delicious pitcher of "paradise"
The next morning, we woke up way early, checked out, and trekked back into town, bags and all. We were headed to the Duomo! After attending one of the most beautiful Masses ever (in Latin, with Gregorian chant) we tried to sneak around inside, but they ushered us out. Lame. But it was incredible.
We wandered around some more, tried to get to the Academy, couldn't wait that long, and headed back to Rome.
As for Robert Langdon's adventures, Drew is obsessed with finding the things in Rome from Angels and Demons. So far, we've managed St. Maria del Popolo (the Chigi chapel, designed by Raphael), the Castel Sant'Angelo, and the Vatican. And Piazza Navona. Schweet.
Anyway, that's the update in retrospect. now on to fall break ramblings!
<3
Lauren
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