So Hadrian's Wall...

...isn't exactly what you would call a tourist attraction or something you could do as a day trip without a car. I think everyone (meaning the native Brits that I encountered) knew that, which is why I received headshakes and doubtful "Okay, I'll sell you these train tickets."

I was expecting something like a national park with pieces of the wall and trails for both the casual walker like myself and the hardcore ones who are walking the entire 80 miles of the wall.

The Web site said that Hadrian's Wall (which back when the Romans ruled Britain, Emperor Hadrian build a wall at the border of England and Scotland to separate the free Celts and the Celts under Roman rule) was accessible by rail, if you got off at the Newcastle stop, which seemed like a pretty happening town. I will get into that later.

That Web site said absolutely nothing about taking an hour and a half bus ride to a small piece of the wall. Nor did it say that the actual part where you can hike around for a little bit is almost three hours away.

Or that Hadrian's Wall really is for the hardcore hikers. Like people with sticks and tents and ponchos on their backs. And willing to spend a week hiking the 80 mile wall. (Which I would love to do. I could do that and swim the English Channel.)

But when it all came down to it, I enjoyed Hadrian's Wall. I saw Chesters, which is pieces of a fort, a bath house by the river, and part of the wall. I think Scotland was on the other side. Grant it, English country side looks like Pennsylvanian country side, except greener with sheep. And giant purple clouds.

But, no roar of the city. I heard the water rustling. I saw Scotland on the other side of the water and structures that have existed since the Roman era.

Lovely.

And of course I left my camera on the bus.

British hot dogs...

...are not very tasty. Nor is British mustard and British ketchup. British hamburgers aren't very good either.

But eating a not very tasty British hot dog in front of Big Ben is pretty darn nifty!



Me after eating said not very delicious British hot dog.



The London Eye. Not sure if it's worth the money, but I'll probably go in it eventually.



This is not the London Bridge that is falling down, my fair ladies. But it sure does look like it. (It's Tower Bridge.)



A raven at the Tower of London.

And in other news, I have finally decided that I like the new Weezer. Really like the new Weezer. It's like "My Name is Jonas" good. And I'm not ashamed to admit it, either.

Found Photo!

Well, sort of. I took it; just rediscovered it on iPhoto. Called "You Got a Long Way to Go."

London Theatre is Cheap! So, See Shows!

SHOWS I'VE SEEN SO FAR ON THE WEST END:

The Lord of the Rings.
Coming into this show, I knew there would be no middle ground: it was either going to be AWESOME! or painful like a nail covered bat to the face horror.
Luckily, it was AWESOOOOOOME!!!!!!
The orcs hopped on pogo shoes! Galadriel (played by Abbie Osmon) and her Elves hung suspended from the ceiling, spinning and flipping. AND they sung. The giant Balrog puppet spewed confetti all over the audience. The hobbits stepped on audience members' heads, trying to catch fireflies.
And Gollum (played by Michael Therriault) climbed down from the ceiling face-first!!
AMAZING!
See this show, if you can. But it is closing soon, so hurry!

Stomp
This was part of the my study-abroad program. No dialogue, no singing. Just people creating music with brooms, their bodies, straws, pipes, plastic bags, etc. It got a little old towards the end. Plus, no intermission makes it hard, too.

Avenue Q
First time seeing the show. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it, and I thought it was funny, but not THAT funny. Though, the puppet sex was much more offensive than Team America's was. Quite delightful, all around. Just not as funny as people are making it out to be.

So, if you're ever in London, go see some plays. It's totally worth it.

Walking Tours

The Tower of London. This part has been in existence longer than the United States has been a country.



Me, standing in front of the Peter Pan statue with my kick ass, obnoxious tourist umbrella.



The Calvary marching towards Buckingham Palace. They're wearing coats because it's pouring.



Westminster Abbey. (Duh.)



Kensington Palace, where Princess Di used to live. And a few hundred meters from where I currently live.



The garden at Kensington Palace.



A mounted guard. I can't remember which regiment he's in; it tells you somewhere on his hat.



These delightful buses are everywhere.



The water fowl are quite large at the Round Pond in Kensington Gardens. Disappointingly, they don't quack in accents.

And one more thing, Lauren Harris is Freaking Awesome

If you haven't discovered her yet, please check out Lauren Harris.

Her sound is a nice blend of Ashlee Simpson and Avril Lavigne, with out the bratty punk rock attitude. And she's British, so that just makes everything better.

Personally, I think this world would be a lot more awesome if Lauren Harris, Ashlee Simpson, and Blog 27 joined up and formed a super-group. But then again, this world just might implode from the awesome-ness. Perhaps they know we can't handle it, and that's why it hasn't happened yet.

And yes, at this point in my life, I'm enjoying Lauren much more than her father Steve's band. There's only so much Samuel Taylor Coleridge I can handle.

London HOOOOOOO!!!!

Greetings from the Greatest City in the Universe, which is also known as London. I'm settled in my apartment, excuse me, flat. It's huge, with about ten bedrooms on it. I'm rooming with two other girls, one of whom I've had about 50 classes with at Temple, but never really talked with until now. Cool on how things work out.

This is my second day here in jolly old England. After I arrived at Heathrow (which was smooth: barely line at Customs and my suitcase was the first one on the conveyor belt), took the Tube to Gloucester Road. Everything here is brightly colored, mostly with primaries. And it was rainy and cloudy, perfect English weather. Then, I just wandered around on the street until I found a hostel.

In this part of London, streets aren't clearly labeled. And they give different streets the same name: Queen's Gate, Queen's Gate Palace, Queen's Gate Terrace, Queens Gate Mews, Queens Gate Gardens, all within blocks of each other. Other than that, getting around is easy.

Breakdown of the rest of DAY 1: Walked through Kensington Gardens, petted a large swan near the Round Pond (swan wasn't too happy), took short nap, called Liz (former friend's ex-girlfriend, if you were dying to know), and we ate dinner at a Mexican place in Piccadilly Circus (Times Square, except London-y), and hung out for awhile.

DAY 2: Not as exciting. Many walks around here trying to find out where I check in, where my apartment was. But everything's okay now.