Ashley and I bought the London Pass when she was here {her fab idea}. This pass will allow you to see most of London's attractions at a discounted price, without waiting in the lines. So one of the hot spots we wanted to see + experience was the Tower Bridge. And let me tell you, the view is worth the entire cost of the London Pass {warning: it is not for those with squeamish stomachs!}.
My love affair with the Tower Bridge continues, as I learn more about the bridge! Unfortunately for Big Ben, my love for him is waning, after learning that only UK residents can tour Big Ben. Seems a little silly since London can make millions off tourists who want to see who Ben is and what he is all about {I digress, like I usually do}. In any case, I love Tower Bridge because you can in fact go to the top and get a bird's eye view of London. Ashley and I bought the London Pass when she was here {her fab idea}. This pass will allow you to see most of London's attractions at a discounted price, without waiting in the lines. So one of the hot spots we wanted to see + experience was the Tower Bridge. And let me tell you, the view is worth the entire cost of the London Pass {warning: it is not for those with squeamish stomachs!}. First time I had the chance to see the bridge in use! Admiring the Thames and our new kicks ;). After the bridge, we walked to Tower Hill to use our London Pass at another attraction. You could spend hours upon hours in this castle where numerous people were executed {yikes!}. I spy the bridge! There he stands! Yeoman live in those apartments in Tower Hill above. What would it be like to live in a castle? I leave you with the Queen's Guard, watching the Crown Jewels {pictured above, the toy solider (isn't he cute?!)}. I couldn't capture clear pics of the Crown Jewels, but believe me when I tell you that you probably have never seen more beautiful, large, and sparkly diamonds as these. It was definitely worth the line to see Her Majesty's jewels!
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On our one month anniversary, I noted how everything is labeled a house, garden, circus, or square. It doesn't seem to mean anything; instead, they are simply labels or names of places {I think they do it to make it sound more royal and proper ;)}. In any case, it seems that most main roads have a square. For instance, since we live on a main street, there is a public square the next block over, named after our street. It provides a gathering, green space for kids to play, residents to be outside to read + relax, and dogs to run around {although ours doesn't allow dogs}. Trafalgar Square is the perfect example of this, only it's a giant square that is a hot tourist attraction. People just come to hang out, eat lunch, wander around, take selfies, and meet friends. It's loud + energetic, and there is always something to look at. Despite the traffic + crowds, I love the local artists that entertain tourists. They're a little quirky and seem to have too much time, but every once in a while, you get thoughtful + colorful pieces of work like the one above. The other great part to Trafalgar Square is that its home to the National Gallery, a free museum with jaw-dropping art {which is on my to-visit list}. This little guy {or big guy, I should say!} reminds me of The Chicago Art Institute. Don't mind the girl posing next to him. The two photos above showcase the National Gallery. Isn't the building just grand? Who can explain to me how he floats? I can stare at these entertainers for hours trying to figure it out... Of course, when Ash was in town, I had to take her to this tourist attraction to admire the entertainment, space, large monuments, AND.... ...to be our paparazzo. DUH. Just kidding, her job wasn't to take pictures of us, but she did capture this sweet + cheesy moment, which I just adore!
Truth be told, we didn't just walk + eat our way through Amsterdam. We did visit some museums to get a little cultured. Since we missed out on a full day due to a cancelled flight, we didn't get to see everything we had wanted to, but we did attend some of the most popular museums. Anne Frank In this house, you can experience the Frank family's hiding spot, see original pages from Anne's diary {I couldn't take pictures of these, sadly}, and view some artifacts from Anne, such as her artwork. I am grateful I had the opportunity to visit this museum, but I was hoping to see how the rooms would've been arranged. However, I learned that Otto Frank, Anne's father had requested the furniture to be removed, which is why they only displayed models and photographs of what the rooms would have looked like. Above are some of Anne's drawings and photo albums. The bookcase above hid the stairs that led to where the family was hiding. Above and below are photos of Anne's room. I cannot believe the size of it.... Below are posters + magazine clippings of what Anne hung up in her room. Museum Tip: If you visit, buy tickets ahead of time, as the line was out the door and around the block. Just see the picture below {and that's just half the line...}. Thank you to my smart friend, Ashley, who purchased tickets ahead of time and we just zipped to the front, bypassing hours of waiting. Van Gogh One of my favorite museums where you can view Van Gogh's original work. I took some snaps of the ones I liked the best; however, don't be surprised to find Starry Night is not shown, as it is not exhibited at this museum. Tip: Either buy tickets in advance because of hour-long wait times or go right when it opens. Also, Ashley encouraged me to do the audio tour and I was not disappointed! The audio tour can be done at your own pace + time. For instance, you can see highlights if pressed for time, or spend hours and hear more background information about Van Gogh {said in a throaty, somewhat phlegmy voice by the audio guide} and the paintings. Ashley and I laughed at how many selfies Van Gogh painted. thinking he was narcissistic; however, we learned through the audio tour that he didn't have money to pay for models, so he painted himself. Van Gogh's famous sunflowers; another version, in slightly different shades of yellow, is hung in the National Gallery in London. The beautiful painting above was done in Paris, which makes me excited for our upcoming trip! In the above painting, can you spot the third couple in love? Look very closely.... The above two paintings are my favorite, and it just so happens that Van Gogh painted these in the asylum. Creative mastermind. Ice bar {ok, not technically a museum, but I DID learn something...} Truth: I'm a sucker for cheesy, touristy attractions like this. Second truth: we should have gone on the Heineken tour, but I pushed for this one {insert embarrassed emoji}. However, I kinda, sorta enjoyed this tourist trap, as I've always seen pictures of ice bars and never knew what to expect. Now I do: it's cold. Very very cold. And what I learned is: I despise being cold and am not sorry about missing Chicago's winter. Although we were forced into these large, poofy coats, we still froze our behinds off. And that's a wrap of our Amsterdam girls' trip, folks! Ross wants to visit, and I definitely want to go back, preferably when the weather is warmer and the winds aren't too extreme. There is still so much to see + learn, despite the town being small. So, this will certainly not be my last trip to the land of cheese, canals, culture, tulips, and waffles ;)!
The Dutch certainly know how to make my taste buds dance {insert twin, dancing girl emojis}. From patatas, waffles, pancakes, delightful cheese and seafood, their dishes are divine. The photos you will see are taken from restaurants we tried and a couple markets we walked through: Albert Cuyp + Waterlooplein markets. Poffertjes: Mini pancakes that are oh-so-cute and buttery. Patatas/Frites: A fancy name for French fries, these are eaten in a paper cone, usually topped with heaps of mayo {I opted out of the mayo, as the fried potato was enough for me...this time}, and eaten while walking {eating this fried favorite of mine while walking made me feel somewhat healthier!}. Waffles: Oh. Em. Gee. Could these be anymore beautiful? They can be topped with anything and everything: chocolate, whipped cream, fruit, Nutella, candy, and so on. This is not just breakfast, but a meal or dessert. Pancakes: Not your typical American pancake. They are super thin and super large {they don't even fit on a plate!}. Like a crepe, they can be made sweet or savory. The one I tried had mushrooms and cheese, so it was similar to a pizza without the sauce, but there was a slight sweetness from the dough. The verdict is still out about this one... Seafood: Wow! The restaurant we went to was delicious, and because of The Seafood Bar, I can now say that I actually like oysters. I can also say that I hate, absolutely makes-me-want-to-vom, hate Dutch shrimp cocktail. Those little baby shrimps give me the hee-bee-gee-bees {picture below}. Woof. Shucking them tasty + fresh oysters. "The best calamari I've ever had." ~Ashley {she is right}. Prepare your eyes + tum for the stomach-churning pic below {those little ones feel like, what I would imagine, a smooshy, chewy brain}. Ashley covered the large prawn's eyes for you. You should seriously thank her. Stroop waffles: A waffle cookie that can be served warm or cold, mini or giant. The ones we saw usually had caramel in the middle. Cheese-us, Mary + Joseph!: There are so many Dutch cheese shops to choose from; I was in absolute heaven! The cheese is melt-in-your-mouth good. And there are so many different kinds of cheese: lavender cheese, pesto cheese, just regular-plain-old cheese {that is wayyyyy better than our American cheese!}. Cheers to traveling + eating {and fitting into a wedding dress at some point...eek!}. xoxo
My kindergarten bestie, Ashley, and I had a girls' Euro-trip planned for months. Our organized plans and excitement were somewhat squashed when Easy Jet cancelled our flight due to high winds. After long lines, a transfer to another airport, almost 2 hours away from London Gatwick Airport, and a night spent in the middle of nowhere, we were ready for our mini-vacay away from London. I'm only showing you this plane, because apparently she got a new paint job. Further, our flight was the first flight into the Amsterdam base, so we were welcomed with a party of people, clapping and handing out keychains decorated with Dutch shoes. After a long journey to get here, Ashley + I were both very confused. Anyway, once we finally made it to Holland, we immediately noticed that Amster {is} dam beautiful. The canals. The quaint streets. The lively squares. The colorful flowers {they are known for their tulips, which happens to be my favorite flower}. The town is enchanting and oh-so-instagrammable. My favorite part of the city was aimlessly walking up and down the streets {partly because we couldn't read and understand the map/street signs}. Although the weather was miz {think: 20 mph bone-chilling winds}, the canals were still a sight to see. My other favorite part of our trip was the canal cruise, which gave us background information about the city as we toured the town by water. Have yourself a look and enjoy its beauty. I loved how their Metro was street level and super easy to use! The best part? You can buy your ticket in the train. Fun fact: Bikes have the right of way in Amsterdam, which makes it much more difficult to walk through the city without being flattened like a pancake, because you have to be careful of not only the cars, motorcycles, and the Metros, but now you also have to be aware of the crazy bikers, who don't slow down. The photo above and the next few pictures below are of Dam Square. Pictured above is one of my favorite photos from our trip! My other favorite I saved for last ;). Ash and I standing on the oldest bridge in Amsterdam above and below. You try to pronounce that street name! A resident told us that if and when we get lost {which happened every 5 minutes}, to follow the canals because they always lead back to Central Station, pictured above. After a few hours of walking, we decided a canal tour would be the best way to take a break and enjoy the city views. So on the Tulip Express we go! I was loving these house boats! Then we walked our way to the Flower Market. And kept walking to Rembrandt Square. Finally our day of walking and boating ended. I snapped this final picture above, which I wanted to share with you, since it's THE best photo from the whole trip. Stay tuned for Part 2 tomorrow! xoxo
...Alexander McQueen, that is. What. A. Beautiful + dark + creative. GENIUS. And what a thoughtful + mind-blowing {and sensory-overloading} exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Savage Beauty is the first and largest McQueen exhibit in Europe. The music, the lights, the fashion show clips, and the organization of it all came together to fit the themes of McQueen's fashion: romantic, autobiographical {in the sense that it reflected his personality + life struggles}, gothic, and avant-garde. It is hands down one of the best exhibits I've been fortunate to attend. Although I wasn't able to snap as many pics as I would have liked, I just had to sneak a handful to give you a peek {really this is just the tip of the iceberg, as there is much much more to see!}. As my girlfriend will tell you, I take pictures of e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g, even when I'm not technically supposed to. And as I would retort back, aren't most insignificant rules meant to be broken? Before I keep babbling, I'll let McQueen's work and quotes do the talking; I hope you enjoy a little glimpse into the life of the queen of fashion. "London's where I was brought up. It's where my heart is and where I get my inspiration." "I think there is beauty in everything. What 'normal' people would perceive as ugly, I can usually see something of beauty in it." "I want to empower women. I want people to be afraid of the women I dress." {Personally, this is my favorite quote!} "I don't think it makes sense to play safe in these times. The world needs fantasy, not reality. We have enough reality today." "I don't like being surrounded by people who always say yes. I think that creativity grows out from conflict." {Maybe this will give me the inspiration + encouragement to say "no" more.} "It was about trying to trap something that wasn't conventionally beautiful to show that beauty comes from within." "I find beauty in the grotesque, like most artists. I have to force people to look at things." "People find my things sometimes aggressive. But I don't see it as aggressive. I see it as romantic, dealing with a dark side of personality."
Happy Friday, friends! I've taken a brief hiatus from blogging to enjoy some traveling with my girlfriend from home {did you miss me?}. Not only was it nice to get away from London and explore a new city, it reminded me, once again, of why Ross and I moved abroad: to travel the world. So I promise to share my Amsterdam experience with gorgeous pictures in the next few posts. However, for now {and since I'm about to head out the door and explore more of London with my biff}, here's what I learned this past week.
1. London is comprised of 32 boroughs. I equate boroughs to the various neighborhoods in Chicago. Much like Chicago has Wrigleyville, Lake View, Lincoln Park, West Loop, South Loop, the Loop, etc, London has boroughs such as Kensington, Chelsea, the City {it refers to an actual name of a borough, not the city of London}, Westminster, Shoreditch, Islington, Notting Hill, etc. And much like Chicago, these boroughs each have its defining characteristics + unique restaurants + shops {shameless plug: for restaurant recs, follow me on insta @learninglondon!}. 2. If you don't finish your food at a restaurant, there are no doggy bags offered to take your leftovers home. Luckily, I'm always hungry, the portions are always small, and our fridge is too tiny to take any food home. 3. I'm pretty sure there is no such thing as personal space in Europe. My personal space has been violated multiple times since moving here. 4. When flying, Easy Jet is a cheap option {like Southwest Airlines}. Everyone who works for Easy Jet is also so incredibly nice and friendly. This is how we flew to Amsterdam. AND I learned that if they cancel the flight {which they did going to Amsterdam}, they will do everything in their power to redirect you on a later flight {which they pay for, along with any other costs associated with the change, including hotels, transportation, and food}. 5. Light switches are usually placed outside the room. 6. There is free wifi in all the major airports I've been to and most coffee shops + cafés, which is great because an iPhone can text, surf the Internet, check email, and FaceTime on airplane mode with wifi {funny side note: apparently the Spanish pronounce this as weefee, so say the English teachers we met who teach abroad in Spain}. 7. After being in Amsterdam for a few days and not understanding the Dutch language, maps, street names, and signs, I am beyond happy + grateful that we moved to an English speaking country. I may not understand everything, but I can at least read and speak the language. 8. London {currency: the pound} is so expensive and Amsterdam {currency: the euro} is so cheap. 9. Residents of Amsterdam are some of the nicest, most helpful people I've ever met. Where I'd be lost in London without anyone offering to help, various locals in Amsterdam would not only guide us in the right direction but then suggest must-see attractions and must-eat restaurants. 10. However, maybe they feel the need to help tourists because there are no maps scattered throughout Amsterdam and each street name looks + sounds the same. So that being said, I am appreciative of the maps that London has on every block. 11. Mayonnaise is served with fries. Always. In London, it comes as a side. In Amsterdam, they smother at least 3 pumps of mayo directly on top your "frites" or "patatas." Sounds disgusting, but don't knock it till you try it {I swear, inside of me, there is a fat kid that forces me to eat unhealthy foods}. 12. My short trip to Amsterdam made me realize how much more I want to travel and how much more I have to see. Watch out, world! Spoken by the great Dave Matthews {as a longer side note than most of my side notes, you know you're old when middle school + high school students look at you with a blank stare, not knowing DMB}. I've always known this to be true, but it's even more apparent when we have visitors in town. I think that's the most important lesson I've learned so far in this journey abroad. So with that said, here is the weekly round-up:
1. It doesn't matter where you are but who you're with; home doesn't mean a location, but rather, home is a person or people {what a cheese ball, right?}. That couldn't be more true as we've had family visiting last week, and friends coming TOMORROW! We could be in the middle of nowhere with all our friends + family and be happy; or, we could be in a great city, like London, without friends + family and feel lost {we're getting there, though!}. That being said, when I go home to family + friends for two weeks at the end of the month, it's not going to feel quite like home sweet home Chicago without Ross. 2. A stone is 14 pounds. This honestly doesn't make any sense to me. Which stone did they weighed to figure out that measurement? 3. Prescriptions are astronomically cheaper here than at home. What would cost $20-40 with insurance or $80-100 without, cost only £0-8 with National Healthcare. However, I am still on the fence about the National Healthcare System. 4. Mail takes 6-8 weeks to get here from the US. And, if the goods are new, you have to pay UK tax, even if you've already paid taxes for the items in the US. 5. Schools {at least the one I sub in} feed students healthy lunches: sushi {can you believe it?!}, pita/Mediterranean bar, make-you-own salad and sandwich bar, unsalted nuts, and rice cake snacks. 6. Cuppa is an abbreviation for cup of tea or coffee. Go on, try to use it in a sentence: Do you want to catch up over a cuppa? {I don't even know if that's correct!}. 7. Smoked salmon is served with many breakfast dishes. 6 months ago, I would have told you that it looked like the grossest thing I ever laid my eyes on. Today, I tell you it's the best, tastiest addition to my eggs + toast, especially when smashed avocado is added! 8. No one knows how to scramble an egg here. They are watery + mushy. However, they do make one heck of a poached egg, so it's a good alternative when ordering eggs for breakfast/brunch. 9. While Nordstrom doesn't exist here {I'm missing them tremendously!}, ASOS {also in the US} is very similar: free + fast shipping, easy returns, name brand items, and yet, inexpensive items. There is honestly something for everyone {I feel like I'm their sales rep, and I promise you I'm not, I just have a slight obsession!}. I've ordered {to Ross's dismay} many dresses + skirts in hopes to find something to wear for our wedding shower. 10. Vietnamese Pho is the new Sushi. Start eating it. It's delicious and healthier than sushi. Although, it's quite salty and you'll most likely wake up in the middle of the night dying for a drink of water. 11. Bartenders are stingy with liquor {and wine for that matter}. In fact, there is an actual UK law on how much "spirits" {British term for liquor} should be dispensed {25ml/ 35ml for spirits or 125ml/ 175ml for wine}. 35 ml is 1.2 fluid ounces. So if you feel like your bartender shorted you, s/he did. They also will charge you an arm + a leg for shorting you. 12. Layer up! My friends asked me what to pack and my only suggestion was to wear layer upon layer {I wore 3 long sleeved shirts the other day!}. You could be cold and need those layers or you could be hot and take off a layer. You could be wet and want to keep on your raincoat, or you could be hot + dry and carry your raincoat. And this can all be done on one day in this crazy, beautiful city. After all the excitement from the Prime Meridian, we ventured back down the hill to see the Queen's House, which was designed by the great, English architect Inigo Jones. The house is filled with portraits and paintings galore, all of which are beautifully created. It's hard to imagine anyone living in this immaculate house. Well, who am I kidding? I could easily adapt to having a mansion like this! The photos above and below are the astounding views from the house. The one above pictures the Royal Observatory, which is where we stood on two hemispheres. The one below are of the Old Royal Naval College, which I just learned through some research, can hold weddings and special events. Think about the grand entrance you can make with the famous Tulip Stairs above and into this stunning room below! Angel will one day have her portrait painted like the pup above. The great Inigo Jones is painted above. Imagine life without selfie sticks and camera phones; instead, you would have to sit for hours while an artist painted your portrait. As grand as this house is and as extravagant as life would be living here, I must say, I would not want these creepy faces, like the one above on the mantel, staring at me and following my every move. I wonder if they come alive, like Night at the Museum. Elizabeth herself sits in the room with this impressive mural painted on the ceiling. After the Queen's House, we wandered a bit more and ended up walking into the Old Royal Naval College. If you thought the ceiling above was spectacular, these pictures below are going to knock your socks off. Literally. My mouth was gaping the entire time I sat in this painted hall, which took 19 {yes, NINETEEN!} years to finish. I can barely do anything for 19 minutes, let alone do something for 19 YEARS. Enjoy the photos below and the rest of our trip in Greenwich. I won't judge if you are drooling just a bit from the beauty of these paintings ;). Yes. She's a stunna, as Birdman and Lil Wayne would say. However, as drop.dead.gorgeous as this would be for a wedding venue, there is no dancing allowed in the hall {"Where are we, Footloose town? Where is Kevin Bacon when you need him?" ~Ross}, cash bar only, and water restrictions per person {they are stingy here with drinking water}. So, the grass is not always greener on the other side.
Who said that being in two places at once was impossible? Ross, his parents, and I toured Greenwich for the day and had the ability to stand on the Prime Meridian, which meant, we were in two different hemispheres at the same time! As gimmicky as it may sound, it was SUPER cool {#nerdalert}. Let me show you how we got there.... Welcome to the town of Greenwich! Out of the overground stop, the Cutty Sark stood proud and tall. My heart skipped a beat to find out Greenwich had a little market, with food stalls and local vendors. After making our way out of the market, we walked through Greenwich Park to get to the Prime Meridian at the Royal Observatory. Up the hill we climbed.... Look.at.that.view. Breathtaking! And we made it! Of course, we had to stand in line for a photo op to prove we were in both the East and the West. Then we ogled at the view a little bit more, before making the trek down the hill and to the Queen's House {pictured above}. Stay tuned for that post in part two of our Greenwich day trip!
....walked across the Tower Bridge. Until Saturday. For all those Tower Bridge pictures I've taken, I never had the chance to walk the bridge. So while showing Ross's parents around town, we walked across the bridge TWO times! Maybe it's the fact that the bridge doesn't look real, maybe because it's so old, maybe it's because of the royal colors, but I absolutely love this bridge {not as much you, though, Big Benny}.
Today is the day! We have visitors coming today! Which is a good thing, because I'm missing home immensely. Having our stuff from Chicago has been wonderfully calming and makes our flat feel homey; however, it makes me miss living in our South Loop loft. But, before I get sucked into going down the road of homesickness, let me reiterate once more: we have visitors coming! That means America is taking over London for the next couple weeks, and I'm so beyond grateful, because we have been needing this for a while. It's going to be a good day {Ross plays this song on a daily basis, if you click on the link}. In fact, it's going to be a fresh breath of air and a fresh start to the spring season. And on that note, here's what I learned this week: 1. Cancelled meetings and being late seem to be the norm here. I've had a couple meetings cancelled either on my way to the meeting or as I'm waiting in the office. I'll let you take a guess on how an impatient and prompt American feels when this happened {hint: she was no longer bright-eyed and bushy tailed as she had been on the way to the meeting}. Being late, I can somewhat understand, because as I mentioned last week, it takes forever + a day to get around town; however, I would just plan accordingly {Karma is going to bite me in the butt now and cause me to be late for my next meeting. Who would be laughing then?} 2. No. Delis. Anywhere {insert a starved American in a desert searching, crawling + clawing, begging for a sammy}. There are claims of being a deli, but it's not what we're imagining with heaps of meats and cheeses and condiments and toppings to choose from. There are only premade-can't-make-any-substitutions sandwiches, sandwiches which have been sitting out for hours and hours, available here. Can a girl get some JP Graziano here?! 2.5. That being said, and I've said this before {I think}, the breads + cheeses here are delish. The "salad" as they call the tomato + lettuce toppings are fresh. So they have all the makings for a tasty, hearty American sandwich, but they just don't know how to put it together. Maybe that's my calling here: a deli owner + manager. We may be on to something... 3. Dogs are always in pubs. And the dogs are always well-behaved in pubs, just hanging out with their owner who is paw-tying the night away. Unfortunately, Angel has yet to display proper British manners so she will not be attending any pubs in her near future. Or ever for that matter. 4. At a nearby "American" club, employees, dressed in cowboy hats + boots + bandanas, greet you with an enthusiastic "Howdy!" in front of boxes of pop-tarts. It's funny, because I don't know the last time I said "Howdy" to someone at home. And I don't know a single place, besides a grocery store, that sells pop-tarts or uses it as decor. So I'm not sure where they got this perception of us, but it is drastically different than how Americans truly act. 5. American food apparently means stacks on stacks on stacks of meat. Look at this photo of a menu at a restaurant claiming to serve "American sandwiches." Seriously, take a very close look at the sandwiches, especially the one named "The Punisher." Really?! Again, I don't know about you fellow Americans, but I don't eat like this. I'm actually quite appalled this is our stereotype. 6. No one does St. Patty's day here.
7. They also don't do March Madness here. I'm not sure what's worse: no St. Patty's celebration or no March Madness betting or discussion {and I don't really enjoy basketball it's more of a school/state pride thing for me and now it's an American pride thing for me}. Go UD! 8. For my teacher peeps: I volunteer as a library assistant at a local school and after reading one of their report cards, I learned that schools here take into account value-added scores. I didn't know that was an international measurement. 9. Another one for my teacher peeps: the school management is so super serious here. Zero-tolerance for anything, including what seems like talking. I came from a district where a loud classroom meant cooperative, student-directed learning + high student engagement + autonomy, and thus, learning was happening. Here, it seems as if learning means direct instruction from the teacher, which means the classroom is eerily quiet and you can only hear the teacher's voice. Now, this could only be my experience from volunteering and subbing, so I need a little more time to really confirm {or reject} my initial observations, but it's extremely different from my own practice and beliefs as an American teacher. 9.5. One final education note for all my teachers out there {happy one week till spring break, by the way!!}: Coding is a required part of UK's national curriculum. 10. This may be an obvious + silly statement, but today is the first day of Spring in America and in London! The dates of the seasons don't change here, unlike Mother's Day and Daylight Savings Time. 11. One final thing, these trees below are all over London. While they look like shriveled-up old ladies, I love them! The streets that are lined with these trees are beautiful. Anyone know the name of these trees? Those who know me know that I love anything and everything ghost, goblins, murders, and creepiness galore. When I can actually sit still for a movie, I enjoy a good horror flick. The only books I truly enjoy and can read within a day are mystery or crime novels. So it's no surprise that I've been on various ghost and mystery tours in Charleston, St. Simon Island, Cincinnati, and now London {sadly, I never made it to a ghost tour in Chicago, although it was on my bucket list of things to do before moving}! This London walking tour was a bit different, as it wasn't a ghost tour, per say; however, it was a Jack the Ripper tour, which was equally as creepy because of the gruesome murders dating back to the 1800's in which the serial killer has yet to be uncovered. I am disappointed that I did not take a lot of pictures, but it was dark {tour started at 7PM} and it was too cold for me to be snapping away {my hands were in my pocket most of the time as I shivered from the horrifying details and the night chill}. While I did enjoy the tour because I learned about the history of London, I have to say, that I'm not proud of myself for paying into the Jack the Ripper phenomena. The tour guide showed us photographs of the victims, which not only revealed the inhumane acts, but also illustrated the reality of the killings; the victims were real women and real families who suffered from one man's madness. No one should be making money off that. Period. Jack the Clipper. Yes, it's funny for a salon name, but after hearing about the murders, I actually think it's kind of sick.
The best part about the location of our flat is the proximity to many of the free museums: Natural History Museum, V+A Museum, Science Museum, Saatchi Gallery, etc. Ross and I tried to hit up two of those the other day. While we were sorely disappointed with one of them, the second one instantly became my favorite museum! Have a lookie here.... The Science Museum Not. a fan. Since I find science to be a bit confusing, I was expecting and hoping this to be hands-on fun. I especially had high hopes because I LOVE The Museum of Science + Industry in Chicago, where you can be part of a "tornado," you can push buttons to rush water out in a tsunami-like pattern, you can understand number patterns by getting lost in a maze, you can view + touch + experience models of war machines, and much, much more. This particular science museum was such a flop. All we did was walk around and read the information. We couldn't touch or play or experience, which is how children learn best. And yes, I've just grouped myself in with children, as I learn best with hands-on activities! Although the bottom picture was cool and engaging {aren't all bubbles?!}, Chicago has you beat, London Town. Sorry. Well, to be honest, I'm not so sorry {Chitown pride :)}. Saatchi Gallery I will admit that I don't understand modern art one bit. The one thing I understand is that it's often times strange work, but I do enjoy using my imagination to create some kind of meaning or background story {I don't know if this is the right thing to do....}. The Saatchi Gallery is no different: modern art + confusion + imagination. However, this has been hands down my favorite museum so far {it even beats the V+A Museum, which I thought was stunning!}. Why? Because they host a competition for schools, in which the winning school has the opportunity to display its art for all museum goers and members. As a teacher, what is not to love about this museum allowing students to create art for an authentic audience?! It doesn't hurt that the gallery is situated in the Duke of York Square, surrounded by many shops and restaurants :). Can you believe the three images above {the shoes, quilt, and weave pattern} are all created by students between the ages of 4-9 years old? I don't even know these little kiddos, and my heart swells with pride for them! Just imagine how they feel as their artwork is on display for the entire world to see! AH-MAY-ZING. This is the beauty of education right here, and why I love being a teacher {*sigh* I miss it}. As a side note, these kids and I must be kindred spirits as I love shoes + anything and everything animal print {can you see the leopard print in the weave above?}. The rest of the artwork you'll see are other displays throughout the gallery. The tree, above, looks like it's attached to the wall. It's not. In fact, it's hanging from the ceiling. This may look like nothing, but it's in fact a giant room filled with oil that reflects the ceiling and anything looking down at it. Can you spot the two Americans in the picture below? #AllRedEverything {Anyone watch WWE Total Divas?!} Ants on ants on ants. So creepy, and yet, I couldn't stop staring. How many plastic bags do you think are in this exhibit? {Scroll down to find out ;)}
97,000!!!!! What do you think they'll do with all those when the exhibit ends? I hope recycle, that's for sure! I guess I'm lucky enough to be a member of this gallery now, so I hope to find out :). This past weekend marked the last weekend in the calm before the storm. The storm, meaning our crazy, yet fun, calendar of visitors and traveling and weddings {oh my!} for the rest of the year:
Needless to say, the last half of this year is going to be a bit hectic for us, but we are so fortunate to have these opportunities. So, we spent this weekend relaxing, exploring, really just spending time in our flat {which we hadn't really done until this past weekend}, and soaking in the little, unplanned time we have left. One of the things we had been wanting to try, but we hadn't been around for it until Sunday, was a local, Vietnamese restaurant that we pass by on a weekly, if not daily, basis. To help us cross the "V" off our meals-around-the-world list, we tried this restaurant, which I will refer to as The Happy Buddha {the English translation of the giggle-inducing and inappropriate-sounding Vietnamese name}. Per usual, I was nervous to try this cuisine, as I have never had it; however, I was happily surprised to find the meal flavorful, healthy, and super fresh. Just take a look at the veggie spring roll, duck pancake, and pho we tried below: Ross was one, happy little Buddha eating the duck pancake above! One thing is PHO sure: we will be back. The appetizers + noodle soups {pho} were delish. Get your mind out of the gutter ;). It's pronounced differently than you may think!
Here's the Friday round-up, folks....
1. Walking and texting/watching tv on your phone/Facebooking/Instagramming/any kind of phone usage that requires you to look down at your phone should be illegal. It's hard enough for me to figure out which side of the sidewalk to walk on, and then to figure out which way to move in order to get out of the phone-using-dimwit's way is just plain difficult and confusing. 2. Anything with a "shire" at the end is pronounced "sure." Hertfordshire sounds like HertfordSURE. Yorkshire sounds like YorkSURE. I don't get it. 3. It takes forever and a day to get anywhere in London. And no one ever seems to be in a hurry to get anywhere. I used to be the slowest human being in America, and now I feel like the fastest in England. 4. It's not considered appropriate to talk on the tube, or at least I've noticed it's weirdly quiet during rush hour. The quietness makes me nervous so I tend to talk. And then I get the evil eye{s}. I know, I'm an amateur. 5. Scooters are popular amongst the children here. Matching scooters between mother + child, father + child, or entire family seems common. You know what else seems common? These scooters running into me {or me running into them!}. 6. UK Mother's Day is Sunday, March 15. 7. UK Daylight Saving Time, appropriately called British Summer Time, is at the end of March {March 29 to be exact}. 8. Grocery delivery like Ocado or Whole Foods is the best thing ever invented. Makes my life so much easier and cooking so much more fun {You know you're lazy, when...}. 9. After first my experience subbing in a wonderful classroom, I realized how much I truly miss teaching. But I miss real, working-with-kids + all-my-attention-is-on-the-kids kind of teaching. Not the bogged-down-by-emails-and-paperwork-and-data-and-meetings, stressful teaching. Sadly, I've come to find teaching isn't about just the kids anymore but subbing allows me to just focus on what I truly enjoy about teaching: the kids. It's a lovely change of pace. Is it possible to be a professional substitute teacher? 9.5. While subbing, I also learned that kids are kids, no matter what country you're in. On the other hand, not all schools are created equal {well, I guess we know that as teachers, but it's definitely different in another country}. I will save that for another post. 10. {I've been saving the best for last} Being a gainfully employed person {albeit part-time + freelancing} makes me feel like a real human again! Yep, you heard it, folks. I. Have. A. Job!!!!!! This past Sunday, Ross and I went to visit a couple we met through my uncle {crazy connections, huh?!} in Guildford. About a half hour train ride from London, we were in the town connected with Lewis Caroll, THE author of Alice in Wonderland. And what a wonderland his hometown is! We went on a 6ish mile hike through this magical countryside. While enjoying time with new friends in the glorious spring weather, I attempted to take some pictures {I tried not to be a crazy, paparazzi American while out in nature}. In all honesty, these don't capture the beauty we saw, but it'll have to do until ya'll come visit {who's in for an adventure?!}. My favorite picture of the day...Angel's new horse! Sadly, the hike came to an end {it really didn't seem like 6 miles!}. The good news: it ended in the town center with great shopping!
Not only did we continue to build a new friendship, we managed to escape the big city stress of London, and that's the best part about being here: traveling and seeing the world. Until next time, Guidlford...! An American girl can only dream of meeting the royal family, especially Kate, William, and little Georgie Porgie. In order to make my dream a reality, I visited Buckingham Palace {along with every other tourist trying to catch a glimpse}. All I can say is, I felt right at home here! Green Park: What.a.stunner. My new bff...he just doesn't know it yet! Home sweet home. After we visited my palace, we made the trek to Harrods {picture below}, where I definitely did NOT feel like a royal. As a tourist, it's worth a short {very short} visit, but I must admit, I don't think I will go back there {despite my shopping obsession}. And while I am so enamored by all things royal {and many other Americans are, too}, the English don't seem to take a liking to them. To me, that just seems like rubbish ;).
Well, folks, I can't believe we've been here for just a little over 2 months! Like I mentioned last week, things are looking up. I subbed for the first time today and I've been interviewing for a job that I am extremely interested in and am just praying I get. For the first time in a while, I feel somewhat normal and human again.
The sun has been out ALL week {sorry Chicago and Ohio peeps for all the snow you've been getting!}. They say it may even hit 60's this weekend! We have visitors coming in a couple weeks, a trip to Amsterdam planned, and a trip to Paris that I have been dreaming about for months in April. So, while I still miss home, things are honestly looking up here {at least I haven't yelled at anyone for wronging us or had a full on two-year-old-temper-tantrum-meltdown lately...}. *** Here are some British English words/phrases that make me chuckle: 1. Jab: Shot, as in "You can get a flu jab at your local Walgreens." 2. Mooching around: Walking around, as in "We're going to go to Hyde park and mooch around." 3. Tartan: Plaid pattern, as in "I like your tartan tie because of the blue and red print." 4. Lie-in: Sleeping in, as in "Instead of a lie-in, I should go to a morning yoga class." 5. Cinema: Movie theater, as in "I'd like to go see American Sniper at the cinema." 6. Crisps: Potato chips, as in, "My favorite crisps are the original Ruffles." 7. Courgette: Zucchini, as in "Because courgette bread has a vegetable in it, I feel healthy eating it." 8. Zed: The letter z, as in, "When alphabetizing books, be sure the authors' last names goes from a to zed." 9. Mithering: To complain, as in, "Quit your mithering!" 10. Biscuits: Cookies, as in "Do you want a chocolate biscuit for dessert?" By now, I don't think it's a secret how much I love market Saturdays and Sundays. There is something about walking on a crowded street with food vendors and unique shops that gets me all excited. The people I see and the aroma of the food I smell {some are not so pleasant} all remind me of the Taste of Chicago- except the markets are e.v.e.r.y.weekend. Because of my obsession with markets, we try to go to a new one on the weekends. Last Saturday was no different as we headed to Camden Market. Upon arrival, this is what we saw: Mr. Depp, is that you? Interesting people in odd, very odd costumes {although if that was Johnny Depp wandering around, I wouldn't judge him...}. Street art. Counter-culture goods. Grunge. I felt as if I was back home in Wicker Park! What we did not see was food, which is what we came for, so we continued to walk through the streets of Camden. That's when we came across this cute part of town, and eventually saw the food stalls. To be honest, if you asked me to take you to this market, I wouldn't be able to find any of these pictures. The market was a maze. At one point, I was in Camden Market looking at London memorobilia and then 5 minutes later, I was in tunnel, walking with my food from the food stalls in the middle of this maze-like market, looking at antiques. Confusing and peculiar, but fun. Ross and I got lost for hours in this part of town. Those creepy-crawlers reminded me of Ursula from Little Mermaid. Would you dare to eat those? Ahhh....Lady Liberty! So good to see you! And yes, I'll try your mac + cheese, why wouldn't I? It would seem so unpatriotic to pass up the cheesy goodness {and it was tasty!}. Likewise, Ross opted to try a meal that reminded him of home, as well. He used to love going to Roti during his lunch breaks in Chicago. So he gave the above vendor a go. The verdict? Delicious. I tried the homemade naan, which you can see baking in the above picture, and it was fantastic. See what I mean? How did we end up HERE? Somehow, we made our way out of the tunnel market and back out to more food in a different section. Thankfully, my self-control kicked in and I passed up the opportunity to try these fried candy bars. While I had a great time with Ross at the Camden Market, I wouldn't call this the most a-MAZE-ing market we've been to. Great people watching. Good food. However, Borough Market still takes the cake.
The other weekend, Ross and I picked out the letter "P" for another adventure into our meals around the world challenge. We instantly knew we would try Fire + Feather, a Portuguese restaurant, because it's located just blocks from us. Since we pass by the resto on our way home frequently, I knew I loved the loft-like decor. Additionally, I knew the menu wasn't entirely veggie-friendly; however, I also knew Ross would enjoy the piri piri-style chicken {piri piri is a hot sauce, and yes, it's fire-breathing hot}. Regardless, we tried it. And we really liked it. For the record, I managed to find a lot of bread and cheese to eat {of course!} and maybe some potatoes {I really need to give up this starch}. Just take a look... Can you guess who ordered which dish? Can you also guess who had most of those fries {oops- chips} below? During the meal, I learned that cheese is often served as dessert. So we gave it a go {when in Rome, right?}. It was delicious {minus the foul-smelling-I-just-ran-20-miles-and-didn't-wash-my-ratty-socks blue cheese}, but it felt wrong having the cheese platter for dessert. I'm a cheese-as-an-app kind of girl! So, would we come back? Surprisingly, for there not being an extensive veg-friendly menu, I would come back with friends. The salad, cheese, and fries {AND chicken, says Ross + Angel, who wishes she could be the third wheel on our dinner dates!} are worth a second try!
...just kidding. Not fancy at all {Iggy Azalea may be, but not me}. Just a fortunate American girl who was able to get last minute tickets for London Fashion Week! I can't even explain to you how excited I was to go to the show. I felt like a child on Christmas morning with all sorts of questions, anxiety, and enthusiasm: What do I wear? Will I see a celebrity? Am I going to look stupid? Will I get to see the models up close? What do I wear? How long are the catwalks? Will I enjoy the show? What kinds of clothes/trends will I see? Did I mention I'm not sure what to wear!? And before you start scrolling through the fuzzy pics, let me answer some of those questions: What did I wear? I ended up wearing this shirt because I loved it on my fave Londoner. Will I see a celebrity? Ugh. Sadly, no. I can't even talk about it. Am I going to look stupid? I felt very childish with a big, silly grin on my face, taking pictures like the paparazzi. However, I've grown accustomed to looking and feeling stupid here, so it's wasn't unlike any other day. Will I get to see the models up close? Despite how it may look in the photos, I was only a few rows back. The models just walk so fast {without a hint of a smile, btw}, and the iPhone can only capture so much motion in a dark room. How long are the catwalks? The first "trend" catwalk we saw was about 20-25 minutes. The second "designer" catwalk was 15 minutes. In between, we shopped around the pop-up boutiques set up inside the Somerset House. Will I enjoy the show? Duh. It was fab! I felt as if I was in an alternate world, since this is not something I typically attend. The only thing that would've made it better is if I met Justin Timberlake. Or Kate Middleton. Or any celeb for that matter. What kind of clothes/ trends will I see? Bright {or hyper, as they described it} floras. Sparkle + shine. Monochrome. 70's inspiration. And I.LOVED.them.all! Now, you can sit back and enjoy the blurry pics... What you can't see in this purple haze is the fun suede + fringe skirt I need from The Outnet. Now. After the "trend" show, we shopped around the Somerset House until the next show. Below are some of the fun little shops set up around the venue. Then it was time for the second and last show of the day for me! This one was a little more fancy, as it was the catwalk for Jean-Pierre Braganza. The paparazzo were in full force during this event. I can't blame them, though, it was a fantastic opportunity for people watching. So after the show, I enjoyed snapping my own pics of people in the courtyard and pics of the Somerset building. Tapping into my creativity above. Hope you enjoyed the show! xoxo
I don't know if it's my excitement for the London Fashion Week that I'm attending this afternoon with some new friends, February ending, spring approaching, one month until we have visitors and a big dose of America + home, volunteering at a local school library, some exciting job prospects, or all of the above, but this week has been a significant improvement from the last few weeks. Nevertheless, there is still much to learn....
1. Pub Sundays are a whole-family affair with kids, babies, grandparents, dogs, and friends. 2. Everyone says "cheers." From what I've gathered, it could be any of the following: hello, goodbye, and thank you. 3. Pop-up stores are a big thing here. There are pop-up clothing or home boutiques, pop-up outlet stores, pop-up coffee shops, pop-up furniture stores, pop-up pubs, etc. They seem to be there in a blink of an eye and then it's gone. 4. They put butter on errr-thang. And it's so good. But oh, so bad. 5. Country music is not the country music that I love at home {I miss Luke Bryan and Hunter Hayes...}. They consider it to be Rock&Roll and sometimes jazz. 6. The blocks are not in squares like Chicago, so I am constantly getting lost and can barely find my way back. 7. Speaking of getting lost, City Mapper and Google Maps are greats apps to use when lost or when figuring out the quickest way to get from A to B {of course that would require you to have a working phone with data...}. 8. The Taylor Walker company is a conglomerate that seems to buy out old pubs. The pubs keep the individual names, which makes tourists think the pub is unique. However, it's not. And the sign that says "Best Fish + Chips in London" is a lie. Find a pub that does not belong to the Taylor Walker group. You'll thank me. 9. While I am starting to loathe the rain, Brits seem to think it's normal {which I guess it is in England}. As someone put it, there is no such thing as poor weather, but rather, it's being poorly prepared. 10. I love America so much more than I ever have. Not that I've never had pride for my country, but being away makes me realize how much I love anything + everything America {which just feeds right into our stereotype, doesn't it?}. Before we left, Ross received valuable advice from a colleague who had lived + worked in Asia for several years: When in doubt, when you're homesick, when times are getting tough, travel to remind yourself of why you moved abroad. So, that's exactly what Ross and I did this past weekend. As you've read, the transition has been less than stellar and we are still waiting for several things to make our lives normal here {a working phone and our Chicago items from the movers}; because of this, we just needed to get out. Even if it meant for the day {we can't travel outside the country yet without Angel's pet passport. Crazy, I know.}. I did some research and found this amazingly helpful article, so we picked a day trip from the list of countrysides. And we ended up at St. Albans on Sunday! About a half hour ride from Kings Cross St. Pancras tube station, we got into town right around lunchtime. I wish I had taken a photo of the breakfast place we ate at, The Breakfast Club. Because it's been hands.down.the.best.breakfast. since we've been here. The best part about the tiny restaurant is that it offered various veggie dishes, including ones with veggie breakfast sausage! We then walked into the city center, which boasted many shops. My favorite was Raindrops on Roses {above}. However, the most interesting part of the town was the magnificent {and I don't even know if that adjective does it justice} cathedral and park. Luckily, while the photos below show gray skies, you can't see the freezing downpour we somehow managed to ignore. This stained glass window was my favorite part of St. Alban's Cathedral. That blue garbage bag littered in this beautiful stream makes me so angry. Why can't people just throw out their trash here? We couldn't let the rain stop us from taking a picture in front of the 2,000+ year-old Roman ruin in Verulamium Park. After, we had to warm up in a nearby pub, which staked claim to the oldest pub in England. They had a fantastic squash soup, which was just what the doctor ordered after walking around in the rain all day. So it seems that this little day trip is another doctor's order, as I felt refreshed coming back to London. This is why we are here, and I'm excited about our future day trips and international trips. Coming up shortly will be a girl vaca with my best friend to Amsterdam and a birthday celebration in Paris. As always, stay tuned. Life is a crazy ride over here ;).
I've read a few recent articles in London's newspapers about the history + future of the infamous Soho. While the articles were right about it's seediness {you can do the research if you're really interested...}, I loved everything about its eclectic character as we ventured on another Hidden Walks jaunt {and funny enough, we saw another couple carrying the same book and attempting the same Soho walk #greatmindsthinkalike}. I have to admit, our walk started with lunch at Chipotle {#homesweethome}. So after a start like that, I just knew this walk was going to be glorious. If you're familiar with Tale of Two Cities {one of my faves to teach!}, the golden arm is a modern replica of the golden arm mentioned in the novel. Above, we stopped to admire Soho Square. How quaint are these streets? Soho is hidden behind Oxford Street, China Town, and Regent Street, so the walkways seems small and condensed, but it adds character + charm to the borough. I. Have. To. Try. This. The above French cafe has been serving supposedly some of THE best cakes since 1871, making it London's oldest patisserie. Since I gave up sweets for Lent, I'll be back to this little temptress after Easter. The best part of Soho is that it housed the Who's Who of London/ World. Mozart lived in the house above. Hazlitt, a great literary critic, lived below. It's now a hotel with the most beautiful chandeliers. The Beatles recorded "Hey Jude" at Trident Studios, the site above where Ross and I are posing. An apple tree in the middle of a city? What?! The walk ended with a stroll through Newburgh Quarter + Carnaby Street with great shops and restaurants. We will definitely be coming back to this part of town to have enjoy some tea, food, and shopping ;).
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Danielle MarieChicago native. Proud teacher. Wannabe yoga instructor. Life-long learner. Royal & celebrity enthusiast. Foodie. Animal lover. London implant trying to understand a new culture and lifestyle. Follow me and my journey abroad, by subscribing below with your email address. xoxo @pdathleisureArchives
May 2017
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