Why hello again, it’s been a good while. I’ve been away adventuring and I do have to admit I was slacking a bit on the blog posts. This has been an amazing experience so far in London, and we now have less than a week left. I’m unsure as to how that happened, but here we are. I’ve been away for quite a time and so I’m going to try and catch you up on some adventures and a couple more stamps in the passport book.
Vogue-ing outside the Louvre.
A few weekends ago, the ICLC did a group trip to Paris. We took the Eurostar under the Chunnel and stated in a lovely hostel (if in a bit of a dicey part of town).
The weekend opened to a grey and rainy weekend in the city of lights. Best friend Bill took us on a walk around the city anyway, and we saw the Bastille, Notre Dame, Louvre, love lock bridge and more. We also got a taste of the French metro system which, while functional, was definitely not as nice as the tube (nor as rickety as Rome’s sad excuse for a metro system). We also got into the Louvre for free that evening (can I get a hoo-rah for student nights?) and got really tired and very lost trying to find our way in that maze of a museum. All I kept thinking was how hard it would be to clear everyone out of the Louvre and therefore how interesting it would be to try and stay overnight… But I didn’t.
LES CATACOMBES
The next day, Andrew and I headed to the catacombs while Madison, Gretchen and others climbed the Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower. Andrew and I popped by for a look at the Tour Eiffel but decided it wasn’t worth it to go up to the top (Andrew because he already went, me because I knew it couldn’t beat skyscrapers of more modern cities… Also I didn’t want to spend money. Pretty much the same reason I haven’t been on the tourist trap that is the London Eye. I digress). We had a lovely French dinner in a nearby restaurant and had an early bedtime.
Notre Dame
Sunday morning, my friend Kelsey and I attended mass at the Notre Dame (since we didn’t get to go at the Vatican). Then Madison, Gretchen and I wandered around a market, ate a delicious crepe and headed back to the train station.
It was lovely to see Paris and a very relaxing weekend. The next time I’m in France I think I’ll definitely aim to see more of the countryside now that Paris is off the bucket list.
Trying to climb down the stairs at Cardiff Castle. They were steep, okay.
Two weekends ago, on Sunday, the Burrow took a day trip to Cardiff, Wales, which was a ton of fun. We saw Cardiff Castle, laughed at the Welsh language, discovered what a lovespoon is, wandered around a Christmas market and checked out the wonderfully interactive National Museum. It’s been a great experience for another few destinations in Europe.
Derpin’ around Cardiff Castle, you know how it goes.
Last weekend, our last excursion was a girl’s trip to Barcelona. One of my good friends, Caleb, is studying there for the semester and Madison was very excited about Spain so we decided to go for a weekend. It was the longest trip we had besides Italy and it was a wonderful way to end the trip.
Montjuic and Caleb!
On the first day, we checked out a lovely cafe that Caleb showed us and wandered around some of the outdoor spaces in Barca – La Rambla, outside the Museu d’Arte, the old town, the cathedral. To end the night we got bottles of cheap champagne and drank them on the shores of the Mediterranean, which I stuck my toes in despite it being windy and freezing just to say I had done so.
Bubbly on the beach.
On Saturday, it was rainy and we slept late then made our way to the Parc Güell and the outside of La Sagrada Familia, which was beautiful despite being kinda drizzly and then checked out the art in the Museu d’Arte (as well as some Gaudì, which is everywhere…), and ended the day with some delicious tapas and a bottle of wine.
Hello Parc Güell
On Saturday, it was rainy and we slept late then made our way to the Parc Güell and the outside of La Sagrada Familia, which was beautiful despite being kinda drizzly and then checked out the art in the Museu d’Arte (as well as some Gaudì, which is everywhere…), and ended the day with some delicious tapas and a bottle of wine.
To finish the trip, we saw the Picasso museum, which was phenomenal, and for free, which made it even better. We had an early flight the next day and headed back to London… unfortunately, in the course of which, Madison accidentally left her phone on the bus from the city centre to the airport. We, as a flat, have apparently had horrendous luck with phones and public transport this semester. Luckily, we only had two weeks left and her family has an upgrade on their plan so it won’t be too expensive.
Outside the Gothic Cathedral in Barca.
And now we’re here. We have 5 days left in this city and so much to do. This weekend, one of my friends from home was visiting so we saw some things for the last time – wandered along the South Bank, saw the British Museum, visited some of our favourite East End markets. Gretchen and I saw Phantom of the Opera last Thursday which was honestly a dream come true.
This week is going to be full of essays, a Harry Potter studio tour, tea with cats tomorrow, souvenir/Christmas gift shopping, packing, cleaning, and crying over the fact that we have to leave.
Until next time, when you shall see a list of things I will miss about London… and will not miss about London. Adieu.
Samantha Guter 