Visitors from Afar

Actually these visitors are not from that far, but they are from across the pond, my home country, America. And here is the first visitor...my Aunt Flat Kandy!

And if you are quite confused by this picture...

Here are the real world travelers! My mom and my grandma are currently staying here in London, and this is just a glimpse of our many adventures.  The first day we went to Westminster Abbey and took the guided tour.  It was beyond exciting to get to share a beautiful and treasured sight in London with my family.  What a treat to get to show them around a city that I have fallen in love with and that I have slowly begun to feel a part of.  I'm astounded by how much I feel like this place in my home, as I navigate the tube, point out spots that are special in the city, and introduce them to a bit of my favorite British cuisine, including the famous fish and chips and my personal favorite Hummus Bros.  

Today's adventure was the Old Spitelfield Market, with booths lining the marketplace.  Stalls were piled high with scarves, dresses, and delicious treats.  It was incredible; if only I could completely revise my wardrobe at the market.  And though the markets are some of my favorite things; nothing can compare to having my family here :)

You Know You Are In Madrid When...

1) The Flamenco show you are going to begins at midnight, and that is only the evening’s first stop.

2) Chocolate and Churros at 2a.m. in the morning is a wonderful idea.

3) Lunch is at 4 and dinner is at 11

Paella and Spanish Potato Omelete with Catie and Robin!  Gotta love some tapas at 11

4) The sky is bright blue all the time and you can take a nap in Retiro Park after stopping to smell the roses.

5) You become extremely thankful that you took a few semesters of Spanish in your life- you can   

    successfully barter in Spanish and ask how much all the delicious pastries cost

Just one  of the MANY pastry shops that fill Madrid

6)  Every corner you turn onto has another street market filled with treasures

7) You pass a four-string quartet on the road and about 5 minutes ago you passed two sax players

8) The Palaces are made out of glass

Crystal Palace in Retiro Park

9) Every where you turn there is another character in costume: Barney, SpongeBob, Micky Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Hello Kitty were all spotted

10) Dinner= tapas and there is an entire market devoted to them.
There were people carrying around entire plates of cheeses, bread, small sandwiches, olive, ice cream, pastries.  It was like food heaven for the snazzy class.

Glimpse of the Mecardo de San Miguel

Here comes the sun

I didn´t realize how little I had seen the sun until I stepped off the plane into the wonderful world of Madrid.  Catie and I jetted off to the city of Madrid for the weekend, and I´m fully convinced that I have stepped onto a movie set.  Speaking of a movie moment: I knew that my friend Lara would be here for the weekend and as I´m walking through the terminal after getting off the flight, who do I see moving along the moving walkway towards me but LARA! We both freaked out, and I honestly could make no words come to my mouth.  Then we hugged with me on firm ground and she was still on the moving walkway.  We were those crazy girls in the airport.  Mom, you will understand that we definitely had a moment. :)

Since being here, Catie and I have had a number of adventures.  It began before we arrived as we epically left for the airport at 4am, took two buses, a flight, and three metro changes to get here.  Our first afternoon was filled with some exploring that included Retiro Park with its huge entirely Glass Palace, the rose garden filled with every color rose you can imagine (a small taste of home), time in the sunshine in the park, and a visit to the Prado, which is one of the famous art museums in the Golden Triangle here.

That evening we met up with some other girls from Furman who are traveling abroad, and the evening was filled with spanish flair.  It began with a midnight show of traditional flamenco dancing and music. How beautiful and strong the dancers were.  It was like nothing I could have imagined, Spanish flair mixed almost with tap.  The rooms lights were low, the scent of sangria filled the art, and the music of Spain spilled throughout the room.  It was a picture perfect performance.  And if that wasn´t enough to have an ideal Spanish evening, then we went for chocolate and churros.  Now I´m not a huge churro or chocolate fan, but this was divine!  Hot melted chocolate covering warm churros, I bet your mouth is now watering :)  And then...Bourbon Cafe where we of course danced the night away!  And this was only the first evening.

The next day after some rest, Catie and I got a taste of the city by taking a walking tour throughout Madrid.  It is a fascinating culture with so much built into the architecture of the city.  I loved seeing the styles change throughout the city, reflecting the varios transitions of ruling families and religions.  Some highlights included: visiting the Palace, and seeing the Plazas with the statues of Triton and Cibeles.  If you ever have the chance to come here, take it!  I have been here only about 48 hours and am in love.  I´m thankful for the basic spanish I know and can ask for the bathroom and directions :) More adventures to come I am sure and of course the pictures will be posted soon.

Hasta Luego mis amigos!

Night Three, Show Three

You know that you are on a theatre trip and love theatre when three days in a row you see productions and are still as excited as the first night.  This week we went to the National Theatre of London to see Danton's Death; we are seeing Noel Coward's Deathtrap this evening and the cream between those two cookies was my favorite, LES MIS!

I have been talking about seeing Les Mis pretty much since this trip began, and I can't even express how tense I was last night waiting for concessions tickets to go on sale.  If anyone is curious, concessions tickets are cheaper students tickets for whatever seats are still available for the evening.  About an hour before the production, the tickets go on sale to the first come.  I thought we would just pop over to the theatre and pick them up but we actually formed a line in front of the theatre.  I like couldn't talk to anyone I was so passionate about getting in and getting a ticket.  And after three people, I had in my hand a ticket (and an hour until the show)!

The moment the orchestra struck up the first chord of the show a smile came onto my face, and honestly chills ran through my body.  The curtain lifted, the show began.  It once again revealed to me how passionate I am about this story.  It gives off so much of the gospel.  Here is a brief tidbit for any unfamiliar, plus each of the parts that I find meaningful.  The play follows the story of Jean Valjean, a convict imprisoned for 19 years due to stealing a loaf of bread.  The story begins at the moment he is released from prison, and follows his redemption and Javert's (the policeman) pursuit of him.  I think one of the most beautiful moments is when Valjean wrestles with who he is.  After receiving mercy from a priest who gives him candlesticks after he has stolen them, Valjean disposes of his past identity as 24601 (his prison number) and takes on a new man.  That is the same mercy we are shown when Christ paid our debt and made us a new creation.  It is so exciting to see such truth put to music.  It is powerful.

Another moment, (and if you haven't heard this song please listen to it) The Confrontation between Javert and Valjean.  Javert was especially incredible, confronting Valjean in an epic song.  The music was beautiful.  The set transformed into a barricade before my eyes.  The entire stage revolved, revealing different locations and scenes.  I teared up when Gavroche died.  I laughed, I cried, it was a good night.  It was all that I had hope for...Can I just see Les Mis every night?

And if that wasn't enough to blow your mind let me tell you about the first theatre adventure of this week at the National Theatre we saw Danton's Death, where the play closed with a guillotine execution.  And I don't mean the lights went out; heads actually fell.  After two days of that, I don't know how theatre can just keep getting better...

Life in London

Now I have never been a big city girl, but every person who knows my directional abilities would be impressed with the progress I have made in London.  I can get to Hyde Park; I can navigate the Tube; I can even use the bus system.  And I made one of my favorite purchases yet: a wonderful map, complete with markets listed.  I have not gotten lost (other than once, but that was more like finding my way back creatively), and I really am falling more in love with this city every day.

Every day unfolds here, bringing something unexpected.  Classes have once again begun, but they are primarily just times of discussion the morning after going to see a production.  Don’t worry; I’m not working too hard.  So far we have only seen one play as a group, Krapp’s Last Tape (starring DUMBLEDORE, for all my fellow Harry Potter fans).  The production was an hour documenting one man’s 69^th birthday.  Every year on his birthday he makes a tape recording all the highlights of the past year.  The entire stage was black with one bright down light hanging over Krapp’s head, emphasizing his isolation.  Michael Gambon was one of the most incredible actors I have seen, and each one of his movements was carefully and meaningfully selected to characterize Krapp.  It was masterful to watch such an accomplished actor work.

           

Other theatre has been just as enjoyable.  One night Catie and I treated ourselves to seeing Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap, the longest running production in London. I think it may be in its 59^thish year.  At one point Catie and I were grasping hands, waiting for the murderer to strike!  We came out of the theatre all smiles after enjoying an evening of pure entertainment.  Alas, I cannot reveal the secret to any of you though; the actors made us swear to keep the murderer under wraps.  You will just have to see it for yourself.

           

Tonight marked my first encounter with physical theatre and puppetry (other than seeing Cinderella as a child- not quite the same).  Cortney and I went and saw 9:21 to Shrub Hill, and again I left the theatre with huge smiles.  This production documented the transport of a variety of passengers on the 9:21 train and in some sense it migrated around the presence of a child.  Each character was so real (in fact they had a thoroughly confused American student, who I could easily commiserate with), and the production was beautiful, combining movement, music, and dialogue. What a perfect Saturday evening.

Other week highlights are as follows:

1) Seeing the original portrait of Jane Austen at the Portrait Gallery.  We also were able to see the entire Tudor and Stuart line throughout their portraits.  I may have a fascination with the court life of that time period...maybe it is because my mom and I watched about a million Henry VIII movies. 

2) Hyde Park: After “watching” the changing of the guard (it felt like the Macy’s Day Parade with the amount of people there), Cortney, Katelyn, and I basked in the sun as we walked through Hyde Park.  We were beyond excited at the opportunity to spend a day in the sunshine and were even more surprised when we stumbled across a boating opportunity in the park.  So we spent an hour of our afternoon rowing around the Serpentine in Hyde Park.  A little bit of The Notebook in our lives.  And let me tell you, it is highly romanticized in the movies! I spent a lot of my rowing times taking us in unnecessary circles.  Never the less it was an amazing experience.

3) Need to Breathe Concert: Thursday night, after a day exploring the Cliffs of Dover, Canterbury, and Dover Castle, a group of us went to the Need to Breathe Concert.  Believe it or not for those of you who don’t know, this group is a band from South Carolina!  All the way in London we rocked the night away to some great music from my home state.  It was like a little taste of home and a night of incredible music.  I officially spend about an hour today listening to their music. 

4) Seeing Big Ben...need I say more?

5) Notting Hill Market: this morning we took the tube out to Nottinghill and spent much of the day exploring the famous Portobello Market.  This market lines the entire street; we thought it was never-ending.  Imagine more antiques, clothing, food, and anything else you may want to buy lining the streets.  Then add in millions of people and you have the market.

6) Harrods: This place is unreal.  It has a department for everything, and not only are all of the items sparkling, but the building itself is like a work of art.  Catie and I wandered through the Christmas sections, smelling every single Christmas Yankee candle and listening to Christmas tunes.  We then ventured up the Egyptian escalators, past the millinery, through the appointment only swimwear section in to the floor of toys.  We finally made our way into the food halls.  These rooms sparkle with finery, chocolates are piled high, ice cream looks like the mounds seen in Harry Potter, the fruit looks like it is from the garden of Eden, and the scones are delectable (I should know that was my one and only Harrod’s purchase of my life).  You could spends days in this store and still have missed some nooks and crannies.  It is like going to the fair; you just can’t prepare for it.

And these are only a few of the highlights of my week...I could probably go on for pages.  So hopefully you can see that city is overwhelmingly full, and I’m beyond thankful that I can make my home here for the next few weeks, plenty of time to explore. 

Rowing in Hyde Park

Chilling out in Canterbury after visiting the famous Cathedral where pilgrims have worn down the stairs from crawling up them.  Also connected to the Canterbury Tales

Catie and I outside the British Museum in the South African exhibit.; thought of you Tyler :)

Me and my Mousetrap ticket

Trafalgar Square

Seeing a show at The Globe. Thank goodness I wasn't a groundling standing in the pouring rain.  Unfortunately, I did have to make the 1.5 hour trek home in that same rain.

           

             

London= Heavenly City and hummus

I'm currently writing this from a shop that I have fallen in love with in one afternoon: The Hummus Bros.  This place takes a bunch of hummus, loads it with the topping of your choice, and then gives you a pita hot from the toaster.  It is a restaurant of my dreams, and maybe they have t-shirts that say "Give Peas a Chance."  So, as I write you this I'm feasting on hummus after a morning of exploring the town.  I feel that  I should introduce you to my new roomie for the next two months: Caroline Mcteer.  I know that we will be having many adventures together, so I wanted to introduce you right away (if you look at the previous post she is featured in the Bath Buns picture:).

London by night was an amazing first experience, as we all took a walking tour with Nick Radel last evening.  We passed the sparkling signs advertising the many musicals, of which I plan to see Les Mis very soon.  We passed the British Museum, which I place to visit multiple times during each week, basking in the many exhibits about the whole world and its history.  Our tour ended on Waterloo Bridge with an evening view of Big Ben and the London Eye sparkling with their lights.  The whole city was like a constellation of stars, each a point with its own sparkle.

This morning we awoke to the traditional rain and set out to explore the city.  It is a bustling place with so much going on and today we began the process of exploring up and down streets, attempting to create a mental map of the city... I may only remember about 3 streets, but I love the thought of exploring  continually, always with another corner to turn.  Unfortunately, settling down also requires me to begin the evil process of laundry and grocery shopping, but praise the Lord (seriously) we magically received a fridge while we were out exploring!  The day continues as I begin planning for the many city activities...Les Mis, seeing Big Ben (upclose), British Museum (which exhibits I must see), London Zoo,  The Eye, tours of theatres, scouting out free events, finding a church for Sunday, taking the double decker tour.  It is like going to college all over again, except a thousand times more exciting!