tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68444980535287812082024-03-13T22:44:48.451-07:00The Adventures of NatNathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12600381968122515599noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6844498053528781208.post-64804188920118557332010-08-11T13:56:00.000-07:002010-08-11T14:28:10.021-07:00Pictures- Florence, Venice, Salzburg<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMUfuodIiI/AAAAAAAAAZo/nBMOy1lxG5c/s1600/029.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMUfuodIiI/AAAAAAAAAZo/nBMOy1lxG5c/s400/029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504265704903090722" border="0" /></a><br />Sound of Music... cow...?<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMUX82SlcI/AAAAAAAAAZg/1z30h7GoPSo/s1600/080.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMUX82SlcI/AAAAAAAAAZg/1z30h7GoPSo/s400/080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504265571280262594" border="0" /></a><br />Church from the wedding scene<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMURAbicuI/AAAAAAAAAZY/SkKyiquwVKc/s1600/076.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMURAbicuI/AAAAAAAAAZY/SkKyiquwVKc/s400/076.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504265451982713570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMUEnsEpcI/AAAAAAAAAZI/hu2aWNr9dE0/s1600/073.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMUEnsEpcI/AAAAAAAAAZI/hu2aWNr9dE0/s400/073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504265239182747074" border="0" /></a><br />You're in our picture...<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMUKUCNvUI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/k-X44FLbnLU/s1600/074.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMUKUCNvUI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/k-X44FLbnLU/s400/074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504265336986123586" border="0" /></a><br />That's better<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMT-6hPRwI/AAAAAAAAAZA/wAwzNwYJhCo/s1600/064.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMT-6hPRwI/AAAAAAAAAZA/wAwzNwYJhCo/s400/064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504265141158364930" border="0" /></a><br />Austria is gorgeous!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMT3AHe2HI/AAAAAAAAAY4/AqPDeU0CQ4M/s1600/050.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMT3AHe2HI/AAAAAAAAAY4/AqPDeU0CQ4M/s400/050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504265005221992562" border="0" /></a><br />Back view of the Von Trapp house<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMTwfNNwVI/AAAAAAAAAYw/EZEcO3zsfjc/s1600/047+%282%29.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMTwfNNwVI/AAAAAAAAAYw/EZEcO3zsfjc/s400/047+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504264893308453202" border="0" /></a><br />Back porch<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMTpSK0GAI/AAAAAAAAAYo/6bg9Cxkt0gQ/s1600/039.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMTpSK0GAI/AAAAAAAAAYo/6bg9Cxkt0gQ/s400/039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504264769549637634" border="0" /></a><br />Yes, I hugged it. We couldn't go inside because some old lady was trying to<br />leap from bench to bench and broke her leg. Thanks a lot.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMTg7tp8nI/AAAAAAAAAYg/tqnAJBmZErE/s1600/022+%283%29.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMTg7tp8nI/AAAAAAAAAYg/tqnAJBmZErE/s400/022+%283%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504264626082804338" border="0" /></a><br />Doe, a deer, a female deer...<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMTXwZ75mI/AAAAAAAAAYY/Gue349vjcqQ/s1600/018+%282%29.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMTXwZ75mI/AAAAAAAAAYY/Gue349vjcqQ/s400/018+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504264468428482146" border="0" /></a><br />Ray, a drop of golden sun...<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMTH5XUS4I/AAAAAAAAAYQ/ENSWXXnH6Hw/s1600/015+%282%29.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMTH5XUS4I/AAAAAAAAAYQ/ENSWXXnH6Hw/s400/015+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504264195955510146" border="0" /></a><br />Tada!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMS9s2JVvI/AAAAAAAAAYI/I299zkvU5Lc/s1600/012+%282%29.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMS9s2JVvI/AAAAAAAAAYI/I299zkvU5Lc/s400/012+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504264020796462834" border="0" /></a><br />Salzburg!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMSrsB6ddI/AAAAAAAAAYA/hn9qXJztDlA/s1600/011.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMSrsB6ddI/AAAAAAAAAYA/hn9qXJztDlA/s400/011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504263711339738578" border="0" /></a><br />Recognize the fountain?<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMSj71SrxI/AAAAAAAAAX4/tlJrSBsPcCA/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMSj71SrxI/AAAAAAAAAX4/tlJrSBsPcCA/s400/007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504263578142813970" border="0" /></a><br />Tea with Jam and bread!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMSdN-LEGI/AAAAAAAAAXw/UfeKJg-MYkg/s1600/005+%282%29.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMSdN-LEGI/AAAAAAAAAXw/UfeKJg-MYkg/s400/005+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504263462752817250" border="0" /></a><br />Loved it<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMSP0ZOBoI/AAAAAAAAAXo/v57wwwk4YAY/s1600/028.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMSP0ZOBoI/AAAAAAAAAXo/v57wwwk4YAY/s400/028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504263232548636290" border="0" /></a><br />Awesome masque in Venice<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMR7HGQrzI/AAAAAAAAAXg/vT1XKrgglUU/s1600/047.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMR7HGQrzI/AAAAAAAAAXg/vT1XKrgglUU/s400/047.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504262876792139570" border="0" /></a><br />Rialto bridge<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMRxVzecPI/AAAAAAAAAXY/qJat__vpktk/s1600/145.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMRxVzecPI/AAAAAAAAAXY/qJat__vpktk/s400/145.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504262708941189362" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMRoFm4o_I/AAAAAAAAAXQ/vxErQQeM5eA/s1600/138.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMRoFm4o_I/AAAAAAAAAXQ/vxErQQeM5eA/s400/138.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504262549974590450" border="0" /></a><br />Glass blowing<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMRgNJOk6I/AAAAAAAAAXI/AvYh6LCbv9Q/s1600/155.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMRgNJOk6I/AAAAAAAAAXI/AvYh6LCbv9Q/s400/155.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504262414558729122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMRY35qToI/AAAAAAAAAXA/5VmqeXGLdiU/s1600/140.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMRY35qToI/AAAAAAAAAXA/5VmqeXGLdiU/s400/140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504262288597208706" border="0" /></a><br />Leaning clock tower<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMRP9yJUWI/AAAAAAAAAW4/IKkoSxY1CP8/s1600/150.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMRP9yJUWI/AAAAAAAAAW4/IKkoSxY1CP8/s400/150.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504262135557476706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMRIuTGV_I/AAAAAAAAAWw/Ml1zGyc5nfQ/s1600/152.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMRIuTGV_I/AAAAAAAAAWw/Ml1zGyc5nfQ/s400/152.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504262011141642226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMQ__MQzbI/AAAAAAAAAWo/CWKqCMD8c2E/s1600/148.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMQ__MQzbI/AAAAAAAAAWo/CWKqCMD8c2E/s400/148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504261861057547698" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMQ11N7dfI/AAAAAAAAAWg/pmmOvqZIZN4/s1600/106.JPG"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMQulKoWiI/AAAAAAAAAWY/M5C0uQJX590/s1600/116.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMQulKoWiI/AAAAAAAAAWY/M5C0uQJX590/s400/116.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504261562013604386" border="0" /></a><br />Rialto at night<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMQkqHorfI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/8jgHvUeT_h8/s1600/101.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMQkqHorfI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/8jgHvUeT_h8/s400/101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504261391544528370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMQbeBf-eI/AAAAAAAAAWI/XYjmklNqqcA/s1600/100.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMQbeBf-eI/AAAAAAAAAWI/XYjmklNqqcA/s400/100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504261233678744034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMQUV1TVaI/AAAAAAAAAWA/PhsIRaHme3A/s1600/088.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMQUV1TVaI/AAAAAAAAAWA/PhsIRaHme3A/s400/088.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504261111221015970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMQLytZiHI/AAAAAAAAAV4/Hf_WmB40eNs/s1600/063.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMQLytZiHI/AAAAAAAAAV4/Hf_WmB40eNs/s400/063.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504260964353673330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMQE03PfZI/AAAAAAAAAVw/4D-wzHzJMgE/s1600/062+%282%29.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMQE03PfZI/AAAAAAAAAVw/4D-wzHzJMgE/s400/062+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504260844672744850" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMP8r5iARI/AAAAAAAAAVo/y9L7jql2x_0/s1600/024.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 239px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMP8r5iARI/AAAAAAAAAVo/y9L7jql2x_0/s400/024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504260704827474194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMP0SXFJAI/AAAAAAAAAVg/yXAhlw5Zkpk/s1600/023.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMP0SXFJAI/AAAAAAAAAVg/yXAhlw5Zkpk/s400/023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504260560533136386" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMPtSBisaI/AAAAAAAAAVY/i861K3xmATE/s1600/022+%282%29.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMPtSBisaI/AAAAAAAAAVY/i861K3xmATE/s400/022+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504260440183714210" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMPjwNDFwI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/pbGqyegXksE/s1600/020.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMPjwNDFwI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/pbGqyegXksE/s400/020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504260276486346498" border="0" /></a><br />Florence<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMPa2Q_c4I/AAAAAAAAAVI/pgZQgtOYaT8/s1600/152.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMPa2Q_c4I/AAAAAAAAAVI/pgZQgtOYaT8/s400/152.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504260123494675330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMO9qkT0kI/AAAAAAAAAVA/C3pYBILmrTI/s1600/012.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMO9qkT0kI/AAAAAAAAAVA/C3pYBILmrTI/s400/012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504259622138270274" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMO01tedlI/AAAAAAAAAU4/tYJGWZlL1JU/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMO01tedlI/AAAAAAAAAU4/tYJGWZlL1JU/s400/006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504259470510683730" border="0" /></a>Nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12600381968122515599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6844498053528781208.post-40470094713055312782010-08-11T13:13:00.001-07:002010-08-11T13:56:25.821-07:00Pictures- Rome, Pompei<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMMLhpwhUI/AAAAAAAAAUo/CmP096eQzag/s1600/119.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMMLhpwhUI/AAAAAAAAAUo/CmP096eQzag/s400/119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504256561728488770" border="0" /></a><br />We like gelato a little...<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMMaqT2XdI/AAAAAAAAAUw/uBCRbeZ_Kxg/s1600/094.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMMaqT2XdI/AAAAAAAAAUw/uBCRbeZ_Kxg/s400/094.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504256821750554066" border="0" /></a>Caesar was killed here<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGML_yNc5SI/AAAAAAAAAUg/XShA56yoCxc/s1600/060.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGML_yNc5SI/AAAAAAAAAUg/XShA56yoCxc/s400/060.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504256360014734626" border="0" /></a><br />Colosseum<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGML1H1teRI/AAAAAAAAAUY/-epXTplM7Gs/s1600/067.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGML1H1teRI/AAAAAAAAAUY/-epXTplM7Gs/s400/067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504256176842176786" border="0" /></a><br />Swiped. Get out of our picture.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMLrW0BRGI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/HvfXO584-MY/s1600/066.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMLrW0BRGI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/HvfXO584-MY/s400/066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504256009062925410" border="0" /></a><br />Arch of Constantine<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMLifttoTI/AAAAAAAAAUI/68fz2QXsyqw/s1600/048.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMLifttoTI/AAAAAAAAAUI/68fz2QXsyqw/s400/048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504255856833569074" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMLaI476II/AAAAAAAAAUA/qdVMIll9BX0/s1600/045.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMLaI476II/AAAAAAAAAUA/qdVMIll9BX0/s400/045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504255713267673218" border="0" /></a><br />Ironic...<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMLR2suRuI/AAAAAAAAAT4/BKUvjGddzNc/s1600/035.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMLR2suRuI/AAAAAAAAAT4/BKUvjGddzNc/s400/035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504255570945656546" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMLHo5EUDI/AAAAAAAAATw/_48cNTgFGtE/s1600/022.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMLHo5EUDI/AAAAAAAAATw/_48cNTgFGtE/s400/022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504255395440644146" border="0" /></a><br />Trevi Fountain... tossing a coin<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMLAW6irhI/AAAAAAAAATo/eABF0bCxk-0/s1600/015.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 384px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMLAW6irhI/AAAAAAAAATo/eABF0bCxk-0/s400/015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504255270355906066" border="0" /></a><br />Trevi!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMK2TwF1CI/AAAAAAAAATg/PpZz1Ls9O0E/s1600/034.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMK2TwF1CI/AAAAAAAAATg/PpZz1Ls9O0E/s400/034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504255097708074018" border="0" /></a><br />Mount Vesuvius<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMKXj1n8OI/AAAAAAAAATY/XmMzvst_iGI/s1600/059.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMKXj1n8OI/AAAAAAAAATY/XmMzvst_iGI/s400/059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504254569450303714" border="0" /></a><br />Preserved dead person at Pompei<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMI-uFS1tI/AAAAAAAAATQ/ODB_I_7tciQ/s1600/062.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMI-uFS1tI/AAAAAAAAATQ/ODB_I_7tciQ/s400/062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504253043192026834" border="0" /></a><br />Don't they look like leggos? 2,000 year old remains...<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMI0QmNUFI/AAAAAAAAATI/aZ2xEB1FsMo/s1600/067+%282%29.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMI0QmNUFI/AAAAAAAAATI/aZ2xEB1FsMo/s400/067+%282%29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504252863478321234" border="0" /></a><br />"Ancient McDonalds"<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMIoyJUj2I/AAAAAAAAATA/bzehBaTP5hw/s1600/072.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMIoyJUj2I/AAAAAAAAATA/bzehBaTP5hw/s400/072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504252666325536610" border="0" /></a><br />Market Place<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMIdt_SFWI/AAAAAAAAAS4/OKb_E6zoUwc/s1600/078.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMIdt_SFWI/AAAAAAAAAS4/OKb_E6zoUwc/s400/078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504252476231128418" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMIR7R5c6I/AAAAAAAAASw/CYdo9wPX8jI/s1600/086.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMIR7R5c6I/AAAAAAAAASw/CYdo9wPX8jI/s400/086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504252273640436642" border="0" /></a><br />2,000 years old! Perfectly preserved.<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMIE8EKclI/AAAAAAAAASo/vtjim8UAaRU/s1600/087.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMIE8EKclI/AAAAAAAAASo/vtjim8UAaRU/s400/087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504252050512966226" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMH7FDPkqI/AAAAAAAAASg/1OapiTJog88/s1600/099.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMH7FDPkqI/AAAAAAAAASg/1OapiTJog88/s400/099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504251881126335138" border="0" /></a><br />See the chariot indentations?<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMHncUuTZI/AAAAAAAAASY/CGcOBQevayw/s1600/110.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMHncUuTZI/AAAAAAAAASY/CGcOBQevayw/s400/110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504251543776284050" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMHc3iVyzI/AAAAAAAAASQ/nBbDXV-bgJc/s1600/125.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMHc3iVyzI/AAAAAAAAASQ/nBbDXV-bgJc/s400/125.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504251362102594354" border="0" /></a><br />It means "welcome"<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMHTtGbyhI/AAAAAAAAASI/AIa8Np4HGZs/s1600/126.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMHTtGbyhI/AAAAAAAAASI/AIa8Np4HGZs/s400/126.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504251204682369554" border="0" /></a><br />Dad educating the tour guide...<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMHLAZzdvI/AAAAAAAAASA/P1B5QC_Rlss/s1600/128.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMHLAZzdvI/AAAAAAAAASA/P1B5QC_Rlss/s400/128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504251055245063922" border="0" /></a><br />Water Pipes<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMHCYpAk1I/AAAAAAAAAR4/8G143aN2P9A/s1600/131.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMHCYpAk1I/AAAAAAAAAR4/8G143aN2P9A/s400/131.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504250907132466002" border="0" /></a><br />No joke, "Beware of dog"<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMG4o4541I/AAAAAAAAARw/rvsKaXL0kj4/s1600/132.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMG4o4541I/AAAAAAAAARw/rvsKaXL0kj4/s400/132.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504250739695412050" border="0" /></a><br />Pizza oven<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMGvK_ldPI/AAAAAAAAARo/N_gyz9ht9Ns/s1600/147.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMGvK_ldPI/AAAAAAAAARo/N_gyz9ht9Ns/s400/147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504250577051546866" border="0" /></a>Lockers<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMGjvEHiKI/AAAAAAAAARg/qEkamZnXhps/s1600/143.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMGjvEHiKI/AAAAAAAAARg/qEkamZnXhps/s400/143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504250380575803554" border="0" /></a><br />Bath house<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMGX98caLI/AAAAAAAAARY/ZrNppCnsU5k/s1600/144.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMGX98caLI/AAAAAAAAARY/ZrNppCnsU5k/s400/144.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504250178411718834" border="0" /></a><br />Roman baths<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMGI33itVI/AAAAAAAAARQ/SYHtqbHBvEI/s1600/157.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMGI33itVI/AAAAAAAAARQ/SYHtqbHBvEI/s400/157.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504249919082509650" border="0" /></a><br />Public toilets<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMF6sPSowI/AAAAAAAAARI/6df8SdWcknY/s1600/162.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMF6sPSowI/AAAAAAAAARI/6df8SdWcknY/s400/162.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504249675442725634" border="0" /></a><br />Sun dial<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMFwsyURYI/AAAAAAAAARA/Qm4ALj6fXBk/s1600/166.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMFwsyURYI/AAAAAAAAARA/Qm4ALj6fXBk/s400/166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504249503790941570" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMFd2Ks82I/AAAAAAAAAQ4/ZWUq_jV1iFs/s1600/170.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMFd2Ks82I/AAAAAAAAAQ4/ZWUq_jV1iFs/s400/170.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504249179891626850" border="0" /></a><br />Modern day Pompei in the background<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMFVHP7OTI/AAAAAAAAAQw/JMVuOJq8_L0/s1600/174.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMFVHP7OTI/AAAAAAAAAQw/JMVuOJq8_L0/s400/174.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504249029858113842" border="0" /></a><br />Abbey Road Roman style. Notice the chariot ruts...<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMFLmmUaeI/AAAAAAAAAQo/_PZHSGiE28c/s1600/179.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMFLmmUaeI/AAAAAAAAAQo/_PZHSGiE28c/s400/179.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504248866474846690" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMFC6UPcAI/AAAAAAAAAQg/EphtFnMi9m4/s1600/184.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMFC6UPcAI/AAAAAAAAAQg/EphtFnMi9m4/s400/184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504248717148909570" border="0" /></a><br />2,000 year old amphitheater!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMEtOrKzjI/AAAAAAAAAQY/_j_wsWNdbEE/s1600/185.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TGMEtOrKzjI/AAAAAAAAAQY/_j_wsWNdbEE/s400/185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504248344656662066" border="0" /></a>I recited Hamlet's "to be or not to be" speech here.<br /></div>Nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12600381968122515599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6844498053528781208.post-31760380747876430542010-08-05T06:32:00.000-07:002010-08-05T07:01:25.848-07:00<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrCytt-cXI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/aY5o1JrY3Qc/s1600/168.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501924071308161394" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrCytt-cXI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/aY5o1JrY3Qc/s400/168.JPG" /></a>Mariner<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrCl2MlqfI/AAAAAAAAAQI/_CQA3dImI7A/s1600/166.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501923850245745138" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrCl2MlqfI/AAAAAAAAAQI/_CQA3dImI7A/s400/166.JPG" /></a> Chateau D'If Tour Poster<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrCb1GtOoI/AAAAAAAAAQA/l-W5yLmi8Cw/s1600/165.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501923678153947778" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrCb1GtOoI/AAAAAAAAAQA/l-W5yLmi8Cw/s400/165.JPG" /></a><br />Marseille Port<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrCRp-nCCI/AAAAAAAAAP4/TGqi8dtBnQM/s1600/159.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501923503368505378" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrCRp-nCCI/AAAAAAAAAP4/TGqi8dtBnQM/s400/159.JPG" /></a><br />Marseille Docks<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrCF7v81mI/AAAAAAAAAPw/jnyFqJIC_jM/s1600/157.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501923301980427874" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrCF7v81mI/AAAAAAAAAPw/jnyFqJIC_jM/s400/157.JPG" /></a><br />The "Edmund Dantes"<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrB75pCdQI/AAAAAAAAAPo/mGsbZf6VosU/s1600/149.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501923129615873282" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrB75pCdQI/AAAAAAAAAPo/mGsbZf6VosU/s400/149.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Cliffside with Chateau D'If in the background<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrBzPAbohI/AAAAAAAAAPg/RdG0H0c7184/s1600/142.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 276px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501922980732314130" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrBzPAbohI/AAAAAAAAAPg/RdG0H0c7184/s400/142.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />Chateau D'If!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrBqi30C_I/AAAAAAAAAPY/SURQ-ClPDMk/s1600/133.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501922831446051826" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrBqi30C_I/AAAAAAAAAPY/SURQ-ClPDMk/s400/133.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Coastline<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrBgDWIc2I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/relxw4Bm_Wk/s1600/128.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501922651184591714" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrBgDWIc2I/AAAAAAAAAPQ/relxw4Bm_Wk/s400/128.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Beach in Marseille<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrBRmdmo_I/AAAAAAAAAPI/kj-Y6nFe3Ms/s1600/114.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501922402913133554" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrBRmdmo_I/AAAAAAAAAPI/kj-Y6nFe3Ms/s400/114.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />German Tunnel up in the Hills of Omaha Beach<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrBHm0m2eI/AAAAAAAAAPA/xPPM287kMiM/s1600/111.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501922231210924514" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrBHm0m2eI/AAAAAAAAAPA/xPPM287kMiM/s400/111.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />WW2 German Bunker<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrA77Bo5nI/AAAAAAAAAO4/dg7VzbKO52Q/s1600/092.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501922030475863666" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrA77Bo5nI/AAAAAAAAAO4/dg7VzbKO52Q/s400/092.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It's weird to think that the Germans were looking out at this and seeing </div><div>thousands of ships on D- Day.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrAjxFJJYI/AAAAAAAAAOw/y_DW9xvB0qI/s1600/078.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 356px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501921615489344898" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrAjxFJJYI/AAAAAAAAAOw/y_DW9xvB0qI/s400/078.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Omaha Beach<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrAbY_r-QI/AAAAAAAAAOo/5d3q42zE4oU/s1600/069.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501921471585057026" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrAbY_r-QI/AAAAAAAAAOo/5d3q42zE4oU/s400/069.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Omaha<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrAINl0pMI/AAAAAAAAAOg/fjArFb7Xtc4/s1600/049.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501921142106268866" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFrAINl0pMI/AAAAAAAAAOg/fjArFb7Xtc4/s400/049.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />American Cemetary, Omaha in the background<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFq_9hHPkEI/AAAAAAAAAOY/YnOUV8bbFjU/s1600/042.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501920958368157762" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFq_9hHPkEI/AAAAAAAAAOY/YnOUV8bbFjU/s400/042.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />There are over 9,000 American soldiers buried here that died </div><div>less than a mile away on the shores of Omaha Beach.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFq_xUBHqHI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/KCkUTqz1o6c/s1600/034.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501920748694382706" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFq_xUBHqHI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/KCkUTqz1o6c/s400/034.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFq_mg11wVI/AAAAAAAAAOI/nKz1_AlXuJA/s1600/022.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501920563158171986" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFq_mg11wVI/AAAAAAAAAOI/nKz1_AlXuJA/s400/022.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Omaha from the top of the cliffs<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFq_bUYrLjI/AAAAAAAAAOA/TQYgpj1B-kI/s1600/018.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501920370836057650" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFq_bUYrLjI/AAAAAAAAAOA/TQYgpj1B-kI/s400/018.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Memorial in the Museum<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFq_J5_rUQI/AAAAAAAAAN4/BRWmB5gL-aI/s1600/098.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501920071694110978" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFq_J5_rUQI/AAAAAAAAAN4/BRWmB5gL-aI/s400/098.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />"Prison photo"<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFq-6K3_7CI/AAAAAAAAANw/bTeJYsECkqI/s1600/081.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501919801347402786" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFq-6K3_7CI/AAAAAAAAANw/bTeJYsECkqI/s400/081.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Registry with Grandpa Roy's name in it at the Duxford Airfield, American War museum section<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFq-s-FV-DI/AAAAAAAAANo/EdgM-1XKlL0/s1600/057.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501919574575413298" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFq-s-FV-DI/AAAAAAAAANo/EdgM-1XKlL0/s400/057.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Guns.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFq-cLxFUGI/AAAAAAAAANg/O-ZretiEhJk/s1600/026.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501919286190755938" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFq-cLxFUGI/AAAAAAAAANg/O-ZretiEhJk/s400/026.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFq-Hs2Ia9I/AAAAAAAAANY/QBtdy4vAE3k/s1600/008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501918934293048274" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFq-Hs2Ia9I/AAAAAAAAANY/QBtdy4vAE3k/s400/008.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Big Ben and Parliament<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFq997vhogI/AAAAAAAAANQ/KuaUpJZHfxE/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5501918766493180418" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFq997vhogI/AAAAAAAAANQ/KuaUpJZHfxE/s400/004.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />London Eye<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12600381968122515599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6844498053528781208.post-6506670851399231032010-08-05T06:13:00.000-07:002010-08-05T11:39:58.528-07:00A Rough Start To a Good Time<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';" ><span style="font-size:130%;">What an adventure Europe has been thus far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I finished up my classes, and came out on pretty well grade- wise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We saw a few more shows, including War Horse for the second time with dad, which was my favorite of the whole trip, and another interesting mixture of Greek plays called Welcome to Thebes.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';" ><span style="font-size:130%;">Dad came out on the 27<sup>th</sup>, and I got to show him all of my favorite places of London, which was really fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The first day we had together we went to the Duxford Airfield just outside of Cambridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We took a train, and then a bus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The train was nice, but when we got on the bus what should have been a 20 minute ride turned out to be 2 hours because of congested one way streets due to construction within the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We finally got there and got in to the museum for free since Dad’s a member (which was a nice surprise).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s been nice having my own personal tour guide around… he knows everything about every plane that they have at the airfield, and didn’t hesitate to call them out before we even had a chance to look at the description.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There were some pretty awesome planes there, and it was fun walking around and looking through the history of aviation in Duxford.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We went to the American museum area, where we found a memorial tribute to Grandpa Roy among the archives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was really neat to see something in honor of his life, and I know it meant a lot to dad, so it was cool to see.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';" ><span style="font-size:130%;">On the bus back we were sitting near a Korean couple that were also on our 2 hour bus trip out to the airfield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We started talking to them, and they were some of the most interesting people we had ever met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The woman did her undergrad at The University of Redlands, so we talked about California for a bit, and she is now studying international studies at Cambridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She turns in her dissertation on making peace between North and South Korea in 2 weeks!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The man works for the South Korean Navy as a strategic studies instructor at the Korean Naval Academy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He is an Oxford grad, and is getting his doctoral in strategic studies from Cambridge as well- talk about an intelligent pair!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We talked about politics and about the tension surrounding the area where they live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was amazing listening to what they had to say about North Korea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The woman wants to be an ambassador some day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We could have talked to them for hours, but unfortunately we had to leave to catch our train.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';" ><span style="font-size:130%;">The next day we went around to all the major landmarks in London; including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Saint Paul’s Cathedral, and my favorite Hyde Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was fun, but we crammed a lot into one day, and we were really tired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I took dad to see War Horse because it was the best show that we saw in London.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I had told him all about it, and it was really fun to see it for the second time and to be able to talk about it with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>By the time we got back at 10:30, I still hadn’t packed, and we were leaving the next morning at 5:30!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';" ><span style="font-size:130%;">Needless to say I was up almost all night getting all my things together so we could leave the next morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We made it without hassle to Paris and found our tiny little hotel room after navigating the French metro.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We took a nap and after that we went and saw the Arc de Triumph and later in the evening the Eiffel Tower, where we had crepes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We met some other interesting people, like an American from Washington State that worked in a souvenir shop near the Eiffel Tower, and a man at our hotel who is a “pre- college” physics and math teacher working the hotel as a second job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But the most interesting person we met was a man named Kazim who worked at the Turkish restaurant next to our hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>His English was nearly perfect and we talked about how he lived in Iraq for a while as a translator, and was imprisoned by his own Curdish people because they thought he was a spy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He spoke English, Arabic, French, German, and Curdish fluently, he has lived all over the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He wants to make a documentary and write a book about his time in Iraq… he has had quite an interesting life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';" ><span style="font-size:130%;">The next day was on the verge of disastrous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We rented a car in Paris so we could drive to Normandy and see some of the beaches of D- Day, and navigating the city was almost impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>While dad was driving I had to figure out the one way streets and complicated system they had in Paris.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Their street sign system is horrible!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I figured it out eventually and we made it to Normandy where we saw some amazing things, including Omaha Beach and the American cemetery there, where over 9,000 Americans are buried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was incredible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Getting home was the single most frustrating experience thus far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The street signs, which are on the sides of buildings, are not lit, and you can’t see them until you drive past them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Then you have to try to turn around and go back to where you were, but there are so many round abouts and one way streets that it’s incredible difficult to do any of that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We got close to getting home several times, but ended up completely off track and in the French ghetto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>After about 2 hours of being helplessly lost in the black hole that is Paris, we made our way back to our hotel frustrated, exhausted, and annerved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is extremely tiring spending all day hunched over a map getting carsick in the car being completely unaware of where you are and trying to figure it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>NEVER AGAIN.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';" ><span style="font-size:130%;">The next day we woke up super early, turned the car in, and made our way to Marseille by train.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We got there and literally booked a hotel via the wireless internet from McDonalds at the station.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was a Holiday Inn directly across the station, which was nice, because we didn’t have to go out looking for anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The hotel was amazing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We got a seaside view, a huge room, and a big shower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was such a nice relief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The people at the desk spoke perfect English and were very accommodating and helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We spent the day at the beach, came home early, and relaxed after the day we had just had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Marseille is beautiful!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Small town feel, but with an amazing port and harbor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It has old rustic looking buildings, and turquoise water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>On the way back from the beach we stumbled across the Chateau D’If, like the one in The Count of Monte Cristo (my all time favorite book).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>There was even a tour boat called “The Edmund Dantes,” that took people out to go and walk around the island, but it was too windy to venture out when we were there, unfortunately.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';" ><span style="font-size:130%;">We took long showers, relaxed to some quality French television, and went to bed early.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Well, early compared to the last few nights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>In the morning there was an incredible complimentary breakfast waiting for us, which we didn’t think was included.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I ate so much food!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We wanted to really load up for the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We also took some baguettes and a baguette sandwich for the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At the desk when we checked out we got some of the famous soap that Marseille is famous for for free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It smells incredible, I want to eat it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We were in love with that hotel, and all the people that worked there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';font-size:130%;" >Train rides are interesting. We’ve had a lot of transfers and have been on trains all day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We went from Marseille to Lyon, Lyon to some other place that starts with a “C” that I can’t remember or pronounce, to Milan, where we stayed the night, and caught a train to Rome in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>While we were on the train to Milan we met another interesting man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He’s Egyptian, but he lives and works in Milan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He helped teach us some Italian words and phrases for the trip and translated some of the announcements that were coming on on the intercom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It’s hard not speaking the language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We heard “problema” and something about “tenchincalle” and it turns out there was a problem with the train to Milan and we had to switch trains a few minutes ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Without him we would have had no idea what was going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Our entire train had to switch on to another train, which was a pain in the butt with all the people and all the luggage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Once we switched trains all of a sudden there were “polizia” walking round asking for passports and studying each of the ones they looked at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They walked right past us without checking ours, but at the next stop they made a group of 4 men get off the train with their luggage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Dad thinks they were smuggling drugs or something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One of them was one row behind us, and the policeman just said, “Get up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Get your luggage.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And they got off. After that we met a really nice French girl who is writing a paper on why the school systems in America are failing... so naturally, dad had a lot to talk about with her. She was really smart and spoke perfect English. After we stayed at a crappy hotel in Milan, we got on our train to Rome, where we were not greeted well. An older Italian couple had the seats right next to us with a shared table, and they made it painfull obvious that they did not like us. I think they even talked about us in Italian. It was really rude.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';font-size:130%;" >Our first day in Rome completely sucked. We got off the train and went to go reserve our tickets for when we go from Venice to Salzbourg, and we waitied in line forver to do that. Then after that was all over we had to find where to get metro passes to get to our hotel, and it took forever because the signs lead you in circles, and no one around us would even attempt to help or communicate with us. No one wanted anything to do with us. Even some of the people working the information kiosks would jsut say that they didn't speak any English even if we tried to communicate with them in Italian. It was really frustrating, and we got agitated early on. Finally we got metro tickets, but we couldn't get a map or train/ bus schedule. We looked everywhere for one, and finally figured out that you have to buy it from one of the shops, which (1) is stupid, and (2) no one told us. THEN we had a really hard time interpreting the stops andstations in trying to get to our hotel, which was off the map. We kind of had to guess the direction it was in, so we hopped on a train and it took us to a bus station that we were supposed to get on, but the train number wasn't on the sign. We freaked out a little, and then all of a sudden this monk looking character came up to us and asked us if we needed help. He was wearing a burlap sack with a rope tied around the middle of his waist, no shoes, huge beard... the whole deal. He was one of those brothers who swore to a life of poverty for God, and he even told us he couldn't touch money. He called our hotel desk and asked them for directions, and then walked us to the bus stop, where he got on with is to make sure we got to where we were going ok. Dad thought he lost his metro pass for a second, and he was quick to give him an extra one that he happened to have. He transferred us to the final leg of our bus trip, and then we were on our way. It was amazing. That man was such a blessing. We were so lost and confused, and didn't have the best impression of Romans thus far. I wish we had had more time to thank him, but our bus was leaving and we just had to hop on. It was crazy how much he helped us. So we were on the bus and we found our next transfer place (yes, waaay too many transfers just to get to the hotel, we know), and we find where we're supposed to get off and wait for the next one. It comes, and we get on, but we miss the stop, because they're not written down anywhere or announced, and it's impossible to know when to right the bell or what the next stop is unless you live here and take the bus everyday. We just stayed on and looped around again, and the bus driver showed us where to get off. Now we're at the hotel. FINALLY. Just to give you an idea of how long that took, our train arrived in Rome at 9:30, we didn't get to the hotel until 2:30. Ridiculous.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';" ><span style="font-size:130%;">It’s really annoying not speaking the language here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Conversing with a person is ok, because if both people are willing to try to understand, there’s really no problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but we have no idea what any of the train announcements are saying and it’s frustrating thinking that we might have to change trains again or something like we did earlier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I hate the nervous feeling of uncertainty that comes with entering a foreign place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know it wears off in a day or so, but it’s kind of scary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It makes me appreciate America a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> I am sick and tired of being lost, dealing with rude, inconsiderate people, and being constantly worried about what comes next. At least we made it today, eventually. I lvoe seeing all the sights and things here, but I hate the traveling in between them part, especially when no one is willing to help us.</span></span></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%;font-family:'Times New Roman', 'serif';font-size:130%;" >Tomorrow we're doing like 3 excursions at the centre of town (if we can get there). I’ll write more after we have time after some adventures in Rome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Hope all is well at home!</span></p>Nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12600381968122515599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6844498053528781208.post-79639824796579440102010-08-01T12:15:00.000-07:002010-08-01T13:23:41.340-07:00The Takeover of Europe!<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXSsiQLtrI/AAAAAAAAANI/TdjCo9ibLy0/s1600/084.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500534182453687986" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXSsiQLtrI/AAAAAAAAANI/TdjCo9ibLy0/s400/084.JPG" /></a> The National Army Museum of Paris<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXSc4J4ZnI/AAAAAAAAANA/nnQJWwgpysY/s1600/079.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500533913454929522" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXSc4J4ZnI/AAAAAAAAANA/nnQJWwgpysY/s400/079.JPG" /></a> Napoleonic Cannon<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXMqdz4l5I/AAAAAAAAAM4/E1xZkY9sZPs/s1600/078.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500527549831747474" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXMqdz4l5I/AAAAAAAAAM4/E1xZkY9sZPs/s400/078.JPG" /></a><br />It was really small...<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXMbGC3r5I/AAAAAAAAAMw/inOpPuEecCw/s1600/059.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500527285754113938" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXMbGC3r5I/AAAAAAAAAMw/inOpPuEecCw/s400/059.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Tomb of Napoleon. Yes THE Napoleon.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXMJzxG5OI/AAAAAAAAAMo/rUqcQako9Qo/s1600/048.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500526988789998818" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXMJzxG5OI/AAAAAAAAAMo/rUqcQako9Qo/s400/048.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Decoration at Napoleon's Tomb<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXLy2s_TLI/AAAAAAAAAMg/xDZyXsZM2vE/s1600/027.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500526594441039026" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXLy2s_TLI/AAAAAAAAAMg/xDZyXsZM2vE/s400/027.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Notre Dame!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXLjwPQiXI/AAAAAAAAAMY/W8r-3ND2Abc/s1600/023.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500526335007689074" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXLjwPQiXI/AAAAAAAAAMY/W8r-3ND2Abc/s400/023.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />Watch out for Kamikaze pigeons!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXLQzcHUcI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/sJYrzpEDN3Y/s1600/020.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500526009449402818" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXLQzcHUcI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/sJYrzpEDN3Y/s400/020.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br />Athena. The original valley- girl.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXLEJMPtCI/AAAAAAAAAMI/1SP-t2kbn4g/s1600/015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500525791950124066" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXLEJMPtCI/AAAAAAAAAMI/1SP-t2kbn4g/s400/015.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Napoleon<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXK5qCWh6I/AAAAAAAAAMA/BejKuiVZbKY/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500525611788437410" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXK5qCWh6I/AAAAAAAAAMA/BejKuiVZbKY/s400/003.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Julius Caesar<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXKlKjFhtI/AAAAAAAAAL4/pI5IsZtdjxI/s1600/121.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500525259738416850" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXKlKjFhtI/AAAAAAAAAL4/pI5IsZtdjxI/s400/121.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Eiffel Tower at night! So pretty!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXKUYNgRZI/AAAAAAAAALw/teSVt9mCM_8/s1600/098.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500524971348215186" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXKUYNgRZI/AAAAAAAAALw/teSVt9mCM_8/s400/098.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Grumpy child face. I know it well.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXKJGoKEiI/AAAAAAAAALo/x1HfMo7SrGs/s1600/094.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500524777649607202" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXKJGoKEiI/AAAAAAAAALo/x1HfMo7SrGs/s400/094.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXJ8J56jsI/AAAAAAAAALg/4OmqgILI75A/s1600/073.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500524555191094978" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXJ8J56jsI/AAAAAAAAALg/4OmqgILI75A/s400/073.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Arc de Triumph<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXJdW21-lI/AAAAAAAAALQ/46RwYBz4pG4/s1600/067.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500524026091928146" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXJdW21-lI/AAAAAAAAALQ/46RwYBz4pG4/s400/067.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXJRlMPliI/AAAAAAAAALI/fuMonYZZrZQ/s1600/040.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500523823781352994" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXJRlMPliI/AAAAAAAAALI/fuMonYZZrZQ/s400/040.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Diana Memorial Fountain<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXJAzgvILI/AAAAAAAAALA/TFgK_9aBGfQ/s1600/028.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500523535567626418" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXJAzgvILI/AAAAAAAAALA/TFgK_9aBGfQ/s400/028.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Buckingham Palace<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXIizTG3bI/AAAAAAAAAKw/LUVy_BLNH_Q/s1600/006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500523020114386354" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TFXIizTG3bI/AAAAAAAAAKw/LUVy_BLNH_Q/s400/006.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Saint Paul's from the Millenium Bridge<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12600381968122515599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6844498053528781208.post-70494372999944221682010-07-26T04:31:00.000-07:002010-07-26T04:36:56.554-07:00Thank You Mom and Dad, I Love You!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TE1zFyLdopI/AAAAAAAAAKo/io79n2LljEk/s1600/thank.edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TE1zFyLdopI/AAAAAAAAAKo/io79n2LljEk/s400/thank.edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498177263295636114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TE1zB5jELeI/AAAAAAAAAKg/BNT10qhtWr8/s1600/you1.edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 353px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TE1zB5jELeI/AAAAAAAAAKg/BNT10qhtWr8/s400/you1.edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498177196554202594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TE1y8NuxFsI/AAAAAAAAAKY/OWVABhCgIhQ/s1600/mom.edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TE1y8NuxFsI/AAAAAAAAAKY/OWVABhCgIhQ/s400/mom.edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498177098892777154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TE1y11cgQoI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/_j0B5d-7MMg/s1600/and.edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 369px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TE1y11cgQoI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/_j0B5d-7MMg/s400/and.edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498176989294510722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TE1yw7Wn_HI/AAAAAAAAAKI/961Emk1RDbM/s1600/dad.edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TE1yw7Wn_HI/AAAAAAAAAKI/961Emk1RDbM/s400/dad.edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498176904981118066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TE1yogtbIwI/AAAAAAAAAKA/Y1qhYxff11Y/s1600/i.edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TE1yogtbIwI/AAAAAAAAAKA/Y1qhYxff11Y/s400/i.edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498176760390034178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TE1yheu7s3I/AAAAAAAAAJ4/9YUHMX7dGIE/s1600/love.edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TE1yheu7s3I/AAAAAAAAAJ4/9YUHMX7dGIE/s400/love.edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498176639600407410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TE1yZohDpiI/AAAAAAAAAJw/9QlGhPRENng/s1600/you.edit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TE1yZohDpiI/AAAAAAAAAJw/9QlGhPRENng/s400/you.edit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498176504787609122" border="0" /></a>Nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12600381968122515599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6844498053528781208.post-23337323653709399102010-07-17T06:57:00.000-07:002010-07-17T09:54:59.034-07:00Pictures From The Week<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEHfNc66FlI/AAAAAAAAAJg/gAEmfB1IIeU/s1600/IMG_2086.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEHfNc66FlI/AAAAAAAAAJg/gAEmfB1IIeU/s320/IMG_2086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494918442563278418" border="0" /></a><br />WW1 garb at the National Army Museum.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEHfICTb6TI/AAAAAAAAAJY/3bDyR7GJZaA/s1600/IMG_2027.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEHfICTb6TI/AAAAAAAAAJY/3bDyR7GJZaA/s320/IMG_2027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494918349519055154" border="0" /></a><br />Favorite Musical Ever!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEHfCwN1tWI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/ZkAMb6N1IpI/s1600/IMG_2025.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEHfCwN1tWI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/ZkAMb6N1IpI/s320/IMG_2025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494918258764395874" border="0" /></a><br />We love West End shows!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG6GGDlD6I/AAAAAAAAAJI/jRhD7ESpOYw/s1600/325.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG6GGDlD6I/AAAAAAAAAJI/jRhD7ESpOYw/s320/325.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494877634236321698" border="0" /></a><br />Whatcha Lookin at, there, Hamlet?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG6A9RF2YI/AAAAAAAAAJA/RC5dTaps-gE/s1600/323.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG6A9RF2YI/AAAAAAAAAJA/RC5dTaps-gE/s320/323.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494877545977731458" border="0" /></a><br />Lady Macbeth statue. The Eyes were extremely creepy. It was probably the "Out damned Spot!" monologue.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG52B2Ds4I/AAAAAAAAAI4/sDaGAoqWL1Q/s1600/322.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 202px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG52B2Ds4I/AAAAAAAAAI4/sDaGAoqWL1Q/s320/322.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494877358227960706" border="0" /></a><br />William Shakespeare statue in the middle of Stratford Upon Avon (his birthplace).<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG5jQa4VZI/AAAAAAAAAIw/xDSeQb6sqbY/s1600/316.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG5jQa4VZI/AAAAAAAAAIw/xDSeQb6sqbY/s320/316.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494877035722986898" border="0" /></a><br />Shalespeare's assumed birth place.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG5dkbZlOI/AAAAAAAAAIo/SFXkXHpcMMw/s1600/314.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 171px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG5dkbZlOI/AAAAAAAAAIo/SFXkXHpcMMw/s320/314.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494876938014659810" border="0" /></a><br />A fool. There's one in almost every Shakespearean play... the fool is always the wisest character.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEHfSmpInII/AAAAAAAAAJo/qNPwFfYn0N0/s1600/IMG_2114.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEHfSmpInII/AAAAAAAAAJo/qNPwFfYn0N0/s320/IMG_2114.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494918531072433282" border="0" /></a><br />Anne Hathaway's house.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG5WxL_vZI/AAAAAAAAAIg/0ZP1zzoGUi4/s1600/308.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG5WxL_vZI/AAAAAAAAAIg/0ZP1zzoGUi4/s320/308.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494876821180628370" border="0" /></a><br />Anne Hathaway's cottage... Shakespeare courted her there.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG5RMIHrJI/AAAAAAAAAIY/mVCK84vUOt4/s1600/304.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG5RMIHrJI/AAAAAAAAAIY/mVCK84vUOt4/s320/304.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494876725332913298" border="0" /></a><br />Stairs at Oxford that were in the Harry Potter movie... off to Hogwarts!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG5Ldn08WI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/Jw5lOw5PyfQ/s1600/303.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG5Ldn08WI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/Jw5lOw5PyfQ/s320/303.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494876626950091106" border="0" /></a><br />Oxford is massive!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG5ET4mL6I/AAAAAAAAAII/tGJM80hgiyM/s1600/300.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG5ET4mL6I/AAAAAAAAAII/tGJM80hgiyM/s320/300.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494876504076988322" border="0" /></a><br />Dining room used in Harry Potter.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG48TQv7lI/AAAAAAAAAIA/em3SdZeyWvE/s1600/292.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG48TQv7lI/AAAAAAAAAIA/em3SdZeyWvE/s320/292.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494876366470901330" border="0" /></a><br />Oh hey, Harry Potter...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG40TP84TI/AAAAAAAAAH4/EgGOeUL0690/s1600/291.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG40TP84TI/AAAAAAAAAH4/EgGOeUL0690/s320/291.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494876229028602162" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG4kuuyUPI/AAAAAAAAAHw/ZYauNPOWY24/s1600/289.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG4kuuyUPI/AAAAAAAAAHw/ZYauNPOWY24/s320/289.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494875961527783666" border="0" /></a><br />Stairs again... recognize them?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG4cuRYQnI/AAAAAAAAAHo/IcoKyNX0DEg/s1600/284.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG4cuRYQnI/AAAAAAAAAHo/IcoKyNX0DEg/s320/284.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494875823965487730" border="0" /></a><br />Charles Dodgson wrote Alice in Wonderland here... the trees in this yard are supposedly where he imagined the Cheshire cat when he wrote it.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG4P9lgVpI/AAAAAAAAAHg/YnxCAENiJe0/s1600/241.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG4P9lgVpI/AAAAAAAAAHg/YnxCAENiJe0/s320/241.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494875604738135698" border="0" /></a><br />Tate Modern museum statue... it looked like a runner so I took a picture of it.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG4F9ZDxHI/AAAAAAAAAHY/WOhd9rUi1V8/s1600/224.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG4F9ZDxHI/AAAAAAAAAHY/WOhd9rUi1V8/s320/224.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494875432887239794" border="0" /></a><br />Doesn't this look like something Josh could do? It totally reminded me of him. Some of the artwork in this museum was awful, Josh's stuff should be framed and displayed...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG3_n_S5HI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/QZlsOF8sk5w/s1600/221.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG3_n_S5HI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/QZlsOF8sk5w/s320/221.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494875324062819442" border="0" /></a><br />I really liked this one.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG355pnUsI/AAAAAAAAAHI/vQWlqJE978o/s1600/220.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG355pnUsI/AAAAAAAAAHI/vQWlqJE978o/s320/220.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494875225724506818" border="0" /></a><br />Salvador Dali painting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG355pnUsI/AAAAAAAAAHI/vQWlqJE978o/s1600/220.JPG"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG3zmzOYkI/AAAAAAAAAHA/FnXy8togE7s/s1600/216.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG3zmzOYkI/AAAAAAAAAHA/FnXy8togE7s/s320/216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494875117585326658" border="0" /></a>Shakespeare tribute in the Southwark Cathedral.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG3lqc8EnI/AAAAAAAAAG4/mB4yM4jBznk/s1600/204.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TEG3lqc8EnI/AAAAAAAAAG4/mB4yM4jBznk/s320/204.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494874878047425138" border="0" /></a><br />Shakespeare hung out here. No big deal.<br /><br />So essentially the week consisted of a visit to Southwark, seeing 3 plays, Oxford, Stratford Upon Avon, the Tate Modern Museum, and the National Army Museum (but we weren't allowed to take pictures in there), and seeing Chicago The Musical. Sorry I don't have time to write about my experiences!Nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12600381968122515599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6844498053528781208.post-61705439344870915622010-07-17T04:33:00.000-07:002010-07-17T04:36:00.880-07:00Thoughts...I would love to post a new blog. Really. But we've barely had a break at all this week, and I have TONS of homework due in the next two weeks. Just to give you and idea, I have four literary journals, the reading of a play, two theatre production responses, an paper, poetry reading, mandatory field trips, a report on "Welcome to Thebes" (a play), a report on a found space for a production we've seen, a poetry recitation AND finals in the next two weeks. So pretty much, I'm a slave to school. Nevermind, all those wonderful things I was hoping to do in London and all the writing I wanted to do to share it with my family and friends...<br /><br />This is just me being bitter and ranting about it. Take it for what you will.<br /><br />Oh. And I really miss you all.<br /><br />P.S. This is from Ashleigh's blog. We're equally annoyed.Nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12600381968122515599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6844498053528781208.post-44865768738271486972010-07-07T09:43:00.000-07:002010-07-07T10:29:14.265-07:00Paris<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TDS3MwWiivI/AAAAAAAAAGA/4wmvFL09Tyk/s1600/DSCN3094picniked.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TDS3MwWiivI/AAAAAAAAAGA/4wmvFL09Tyk/s400/DSCN3094picniked.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491215275437230834" border="0" /></a><br />Since I haven't updated my blog in a while, and it would take forever to backtrack and go over everything that's happened to me, I'll just skip it all and move on to more recent things. We saw a few more plays, took some tests (which I did surprisingly well on given the situation here), and that's about it.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TDS3YQ2zuNI/AAAAAAAAAGI/O8ljI6okdiY/s1600/DSCN2978.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TDS3YQ2zuNI/AAAAAAAAAGI/O8ljI6okdiY/s320/DSCN2978.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491215473141070034" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This last weekend we left for Paris on Friday morning at 5:45 A.M. so it was obviously a struggle for me. We took the tube to the international train station and hopped on the train for Pairs. It was about a 2 hour ride, and we got to see some of the English and French countryside so that was kind of nice. I ended up sitting by my english/ poetry teacher Catherine, which was really nice. We talked about everything from music to her kids, to the show that I'm directing next fall.<br /><br />When we got there we went straight to the hotel, and checked in to our rooms. We were delighted at the softness of the mattresses since we're used to dorm room style furniture. After that we headed for Notre Dame for our first Paris adventure. It was so immense and incredibly beautiful. It's so weird having looked at so many pictures of these famous buildings and then seeing them in person... it's kind of surreal. I will admit I immediately started thinking about the Disney movie, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and I had all the songs from it stuck in my head all day. There were cute little cafes around the area including one called The Esmerelda Cafe (by the way, the picture to the right, is me pretending to be a hunchback). <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TDS3qwWjgMI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/TJfIewve4FI/s1600/DSCN2992.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TDS3qwWjgMI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/TJfIewve4FI/s320/DSCN2992.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491215790833369282" border="0" /></a>We went inside and took a bunch of pictures. The stained glass windows were my favorite. The insane amount of detail on every aspect of the cathedral is insane. After that we went and got some quiche Lorraine, although our family recipe was sooo much better than the slice I ate. If you've ever had it, you know what I'm talking about :)<br /><br />After that we went and ate the most delicious food in the Latin quarter. We had a 3 course French meal for a set price of 17 Euros. I stuffed myself to the brim, and probably paid way too much for all that food, but how often am i going to eat a meal like that?!<br /><br />The next day we went to the Louvre, which was so awesome. I saw the Mona Lisa, the Cupid and Psyche status, Winged Victory (which was my favorite), Venus, and so many other famous works of art. I could have spent all day in there looking around in all the different areas. After that we went to the Arc de Triumph and Champs Elysses for luch. We ate at al little Italian restaurant that served the best pizza I've ever had in my life, and we went shopping and saw the huge Louis Vuitton store, which was crazy.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TDS4B6cfeOI/AAAAAAAAAGY/x44qVr1bGd8/s1600/DSCN3012.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TDS4B6cfeOI/AAAAAAAAAGY/x44qVr1bGd8/s400/DSCN3012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491216188679616738" border="0" /></a><br />After that we went on a river boat tour right near the Eiffel tower, and they pointed out some historic bridges and buildings right along the river bank. Next we went to the Eiffel Tower, which was amazing. Our program paid for us to go to the very top, and the view was so beautiful, you could see all of Paris. We hung out there for a little while and took some pictures, and then we went out to dinner. By the way- French crepes are my new obsession. So good. We stayed in the area and got to see the Eiffel tower sparkle like it does every half hour or so. (This picture is from the top of the tower. It was cold and rainy!)<br /><br />We went back on the metro, and when we got off, the craziest thing happened. We were right by our hotel, and we saw that a homeless man had fallen in the middle of the street into a lane. We weren't sure what to do, but we went over there and helped him up, and grabbed his backpack and sleeping bag. He was kind of disoriented, so we sat him down on a nearby bus bench. He didn't speak english, so we <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TDS4dYDwMuI/AAAAAAAAAGg/Y6ySmaVHg7I/s1600/DSCN3069.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TDS4dYDwMuI/AAAAAAAAAGg/Y6ySmaVHg7I/s320/DSCN3069.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491216660485386978" border="0" /></a>had a hard time communicating. We wanted him to just sit down for a little while, but he kept insisting on standing up and trying to walk. He got up off the bench, and stepped away from it, but his legs must have buckled or been really weak, because he fell again, but this time he fell into the thin metal park bench, and hit his head on the edge of it. Blood started gushing out of his head, and he had a huge gouge. It was running down his face and into his ear, and I don't think he really knew what was going on. The phones we had were dead, so we found some women on the street and asked them to call for some medical help, but they were really hesitant to do so. When he was in the street no one wanted to help him either. They must have just thought he was a homeless drunk, but I think something was medically wring with him, because I didn't smell any alcohol on him at all. Eventually they called, and while we were waiting, I ran to the hotel and got some paper towels from the desk clerk, although he was hesitant to help as well. I went back and we tried to get him to stop the bleeding, but he couldn't move his hands and was having a hard time speaking. Eventually the ambulance came and I had to flag it down and lead them to him, because it was a busy area. After looking him over, they said we could go, so we went back to the hotel. It was so scary! After a few minutes I looked out the window and they were leading him away on a gurney into the ambulance car. I wonder it he had a stroke or something. Either way he definitely got a concussion from hitting his head on that bench... what a crazy Paris story.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TDS5H-dIB3I/AAAAAAAAAGw/Jj1lprm6_9A/s1600/DSCN3126.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TDS5H-dIB3I/AAAAAAAAAGw/Jj1lprm6_9A/s320/DSCN3126.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491217392346859378" border="0" /></a>On Sunday we went to Musee d'Orsay and saw some of the famous Degas paintings and other French artists from that era like Monet. It was really cool. After that we went to Montmarte, and saw the Moulin Rouge and walked around some shops. We ended up eating some crepes at the Chat Noir, which was cool because of how famous that restaurant was. Our waitress was kind of snooty, and I accidentally knocked over a glass and broke it, so I don't think they liked us very much there.<br /><br />Then we headed back to London, and I have to admit, I really missed it. London feels like home now, so it was nice to come back. We have another week of classes and shows, so I'll try to stay more on top of this blog and update things more. I'm just always really busy. Anyways, that's all for now! Cheerio!Nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12600381968122515599noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6844498053528781208.post-90918280897455924722010-06-25T06:19:00.000-07:002010-06-25T10:38:07.680-07:00Macbeth, Ditch, The 39 Steps<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TCStiiY9DEI/AAAAAAAAAE4/CuGMA_Zdm1U/s1600/111.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TCStiiY9DEI/AAAAAAAAAE4/CuGMA_Zdm1U/s400/111.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486701054902733890" border="0" /></a><br />Remember how I said I was going to cry when I saw Macbeth? Well, I came pretty close. The Globe Theatre gave me chills just walking up to it. I had been wanting to see a play here ever since I can remember, and I was about to see one as famous and epic as Macbeth?! I could Hardly contain myself. It was a lot smaller than I expected, but still amazing.<br />Back in Shakespeare's day, your tickets were based on class. Nowadays you can pretty much sit where you want. The lower classes stood for the entire performance in an area right by the front of the stage known as the yard. They were called groundlings, because they were on the ground and not technically "seated." This is where I was, and I wouldn't have had it any other way. I wanted to be right up close and personal and as close to the stage as possible.<br />This production of Macbeth was really interesting, because they had an elastic tarp covering the entire groundling area with small holes to pop your head through. It was supposed to be kind if like Dante's Inferno, and represe<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TCSyVF70IGI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/TvNpQt32gHk/s1600/134.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TCSyVF70IGI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/TvNpQt32gHk/s320/134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486706321484161122" border="0" /></a>nt "hell" in a way. It's hard to explain, but hopefully the pictures will help you understand. We had to stay put there the whole time, which was kind of hard, but it added a whole other element to the play- they had actors walking around underneath the tarp popping out and scaring us, and they used them to showcase some of the gore associated with the play- it was so interesting. It would be awesome to be able to look out into the audience as an actor and see little bobbing heads, and every now and then a character popping out of a hole in the middle of nowhere. The stage was fairly bare, but the background was a black tarp with blood spatters all over it. Walking in t<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TCSyxsUjwBI/AAAAAAAAAFY/sEYMZbP4Jzg/s1600/141.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TCSyxsUjwBI/AAAAAAAAAFY/sEYMZbP4Jzg/s320/141.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486706812824829970" border="0" /></a>o that kind of environment was intense and exciting.<br /><br />The acting was outstanding. The actor that played Macbeth was absolutely incredible. He really made the audience feel like they were a part of the show. He spoke all of his soliloquies directly at audience members. He even looked at me a few times! I was so drawn in that I stopped thinking about how uncomfortable my feet were feeling and just went straight into the world that was being presented in front of me. After the play was over, and after the curtain call, all the actors did a Scottish song and dance onstage with choreographed hand motions. I didn't understand why it was so celebratory at first, but apparently its a tradition in that theater to do a similar dance to the one we saw after every play to kind of shake off all the misery that they just performed and let it all go. It was a nice way to close out the story and jump start real life. I thought it was really interesting to see that, and it was enjoyable to see the actors kind of let loose after the tragedy they just performed.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TCTpL3zONBI/AAAAAAAAAF4/rDjRmG4CK-k/s1600/P1030161.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TCTpL3zONBI/AAAAAAAAAF4/rDjRmG4CK-k/s400/P1030161.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486766636210730002" border="0" /></a>There is so much I could talk about with this play, but most of it would just me praising everything aspect about the play. After it was over we walked out of the theater and I started tearing up. It was the most unbelievable play, and overall experience. I couldn't believe I just saw such an amazing production in the Globe Theatre. It was a total trip. It will go down as one of the most amazing experiences in my entire life.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TCS07JlNuKI/AAAAAAAAAFg/j4Gzoz90Tw4/s1600/007.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TCS07JlNuKI/AAAAAAAAAFg/j4Gzoz90Tw4/s320/007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486709174321395874" border="0" /></a>My reaction to the original play "Ditch" was slightly different. The environment was awesome, but I wasn't a huge fan of the play. It took place underground in the Old Vic tunnels (think V For Vendetta, but grungier). When we walked in we were surrounded by modern surrealistic artwork all around the space. There was a bar, and shadow work and tons of interesting pieces. It was damp, and dark, and really dirty but it set the mood really well for the play we were about to see. I couldn't believe some of the things they did with that space. They were really into shadow work, and everything was really creepy.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TCS1kJIyUPI/AAAAAAAAAFo/8288TGpqROU/s1600/009.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TCS1kJIyUPI/AAAAAAAAAFo/8288TGpqROU/s320/009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486709878576795890" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The stage was literally in a tunnel- they just arranged some seating there, and provided blankets for the cold. It smelled like mildew, or more specifically, it smelled like Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland. Everything was created out of nothing. It was so interesting. Who would have thought that an underground tunnel would have made for such an interesting theatre space.<br /><br />The play itself was new, and had a lot of textual problems, and confusing nuances. A lot of things weren't as developed as they needed to be, and I was confused about a lot of aspects of the play.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TCS2q4DJLrI/AAAAAAAAAFw/UfE9skHxev0/s1600/038.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TCS2q4DJLrI/AAAAAAAAAFw/UfE9skHxev0/s320/038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486711093760437938" border="0" /></a> I also had a few problems with some of the acting choices in the play. There was one character who was written really well, and acted really well, but for the most part i was not a fan.<br /><br />"39 Steps" was hilarious. It was nice to see a more mainstream show in the heart of London's theatre district. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside, and my camera batteries died anyways, so I don't have anything to show for it. The play was made into an Alfred Hitchcock movie, which is apparently much darker than the play version, but I really enjoyed the humor. There were 4 actors and they each played about 10 roles. It was very similar humor to the humor in the play that I'm directing next fall called "The Complete History of America, Abridged." The acting was great, and they all had wonderful timing, but what I really loved about it the most was the pace. The scene transitions were done so fast, and people were running around and there was such a high energy there that was contagious. I really enjoyed the urgency behind the idea that these actors had a story to tell to the audience, and they really got right to it with no delays.<br /><br />Well, those were the plays we saw this week. I can't wait to see what next week has in store!Nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12600381968122515599noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6844498053528781208.post-56756213793124955712010-06-25T05:09:00.000-07:002010-06-25T10:29:37.469-07:00Epic First Week of Class<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TCSrdfZRT9I/AAAAAAAAAEg/TZ9DUdhKxlk/s1600/P1030135a.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TCSrdfZRT9I/AAAAAAAAAEg/TZ9DUdhKxlk/s400/P1030135a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486698769176154066" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Even though I've just barely been here a week, I feel like it's been a month. I'm getting so accustomed to the way things work around here, and am fitting into the daily hustle and bustle of the city really well. It was hard to motivate myself to be energetic and excited about classes this week. After the excitement of the first day wore off I just didn't want to get up at 7:30 every morning and even more than that I didn't want to read anything. I'm really frustrated about the amount of work we have to do and the little time we have to do it. This quarter is about half as long as a regular Cal Poly quarter, and 10 weeks is short enough already. But 6?! This is going to be rough. I realized this week that I was going to be exhausted all the time and have very little time to myself, both of which are going to get old.<br /><br />Tuesday was the longest day ever. We left for class at 8:30 in the morning and didn't get back until about 11:30 at night. Classes were typical and slightly boring, and by the time we got to our last one I was just trying to stay awake. Immediately after humanities was over we hopped on the tube and headed for the Museum of London. Our professor led us around a few historical areas before we got to the actual museum, which was a 30 minute walk by the way, and some of those sights were pretty cool. I don't remember the names for any of the buildings, but we were in an area called Temple, and we got to see the Inns of Court where a lot of lawyers work, and where a lot of famous cases had taken place. There was also another building that was built in the 1500's in which Shakespeare's acting company performed Twelfth Night (my favorite Shakespearean play). The we went to the Temple Church which is a medieval cathedral that the knights used to use in the middle ages. Professor Makey said that the whole area used to be walled off and was used solely for knights during the crusades and the middle ages. It was cool to think about all the history that had taken place right where I was standing.<br /><br />After that we went to the museum and walked around in there for a little over an hour. We're learning a lot about the origins of the city of London right now, specifically about the Celts and the Romans, so we focused a lot on the Roman ruins and areas from thousands of years ago. The museum took us through the history of London, and had tons of artifacts (as any museum should). There were interactive <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TCSpNYnt9rI/AAAAAAAAAEY/CPM2BF1xWgI/s1600/072.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TCSpNYnt9rI/AAAAAAAAAEY/CPM2BF1xWgI/s320/072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486696293456541362" border="0" /></a>displays, and videos and a whole bunch of interesting things to do in there. I was particularly intrigued by the great fire of London in 1666 that started in a bakery and literally tore through the city. It was fascinating hearing about it all. They also had a lot about the plague, which was creepy but interesting. The had everything there. I could have walked around for hours.<br /><br />After that was over we met Josh and walked another 20 minutes to a famous pub called "Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese" for dinner. I didn't end up eating there because it was really crowded, but it reminded me of the pubs that the hobbits used to eat and drink at in Lord of the Rings- with low ceilings and wooden tables... it was funny. I tried fish and chips, by the way. It tasted like fried nothing. I really don't like fish, but I tried it anyways and found out that I could handle it if it was smothered in saturated fats. Who knew.<br /><br />We walked another half an hour or so to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre to see Macbeth. The walk was kind of funny. Jill and I are so alike. I've started getting really annoyed with going everywhere with ever<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TCSr7MBOV7I/AAAAAAAAAEo/IsnOo4CnRZo/s1600/107.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TCSr7MBOV7I/AAAAAAAAAEo/IsnOo4CnRZo/s320/107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486699279371098034" border="0" /></a>yone all the time. We're like a heard of cattle. We have a pretty big group and some of the kids in our class are too stupid to realize that you can't get all 45 of us across the street with no cars coming by- so if the person in front of them walks, they follow them like sheep and almost get run over by taxis. They also stop everywhere along te way to take pictures of everything they see. I'm starting to understand why a lot of people here hate oblivious Americans. A lot of the other students here are afraid to do anything by themselves and cling on to our professors at all times, and Jill and I have started getting really frustrated with it. We walked about 1/4 of a mile ahead of everybody finding our own way taking 1 or 2 pictures along the way and we had a much better and much less frustrating experience.<br /><br />"Macbeth" was unbelievable. (See my other post about the shows we've been seeing if you want a waaaaay too detailed account). The only thing that was annoying was that I was a grounding in the yard- which means I stood for the whole performance of 2 1/2 hours. Talk about exhaustion. So we were out all day, carrying backpacks full of books, walking around for hours, and then standing in one place- without moving for 2 1/2 hours. And to top it all off- remember that amazing run I went on the other day? My calves were so sore I couldn't go down the stairs. The past few days I've been going down stairs backwards to take the pressure off of them. And yes, I look foolish doing it, but I don't care. The worst part was the walk back to the tube station after all of that was over. My feet were KILLING me. We were finally home by 11:30 and I think I fell asleep by 11:31.<br /><br />Wednesday we went to class, watched some world cup games (The U.S. and the U.K. won in the same day), and then headed off to see another play. This one was called "Ditch" and it took place in Old Vic Tunnels underground. At least this time we got to sit down, but in a dark damp, freezing cave. It was a really cool atmosphere, but I had mixed feelings about the show itself (see other post). Afterward we went on a sunset walk and saw the London Eye, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament all lit up. It was gorgeous, and it made us want to take a day and just go around to all of London's most famous locations and take pictures there.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TCSsVGJpOII/AAAAAAAAAEw/zLu9DSVK0VI/s1600/064edited.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TCSsVGJpOII/AAAAAAAAAEw/zLu9DSVK0VI/s400/064edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486699724472400002" border="0" /></a><br />Thursday was really fun. After class, Me, Max, Jill, Tia, and Ashleigh went to China town for dinner. It's funny how every major city has a China Town... anyways it was nice to sit down for a real dinner at a real restaurant and take our time enjoying each other's company. After we went and saw a play called "The 39 Steps" in the West End of London, which is equivalent to Broadway in New York. Our program paid £45 per ticket for us to see this show! It was a good one to see after a long week. It was a fancy theater and a really popular show. It was hilarious and was a really good time (see other post). After a unanimous decision to neglect our homework, we decided to check out the London night life at a local club called "Zoo Bar." We had so much fun dancing around and meeting new people. There were a lot of other students there that we talked with for a while. We met some people from Canada, a group of recent Harvard graduates, and some pretty awesome guys from Belgium. The scene was crazy and slightly frightening at times, but we had a lot of fun there. I think the hilight for me was when I got into a dance off with a guy from New Zealand. It was hilarious- he pulled out the running man and the worm, and then I had to top that- people were cheering us on and everything. Oh, and I won, in case you were wondering :)<br /><br />So now I'm procrastinating on homework again until i finish writing this super long novel of a blog. Tomorrow I'm meeting up with my friend Erik who is from Germany for a river boat tour, and I'm really excited about it. But anyways, I'm having a really great time here, and can't wait to explore more of hat London has to offer!<br /><br />Cheerio, mates!Nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12600381968122515599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6844498053528781208.post-20678441353485017892010-06-21T13:27:00.000-07:002010-06-21T14:31:20.092-07:00I Love This City<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TB_X1hvnjHI/AAAAAAAAAD4/9ZVfMhvjlGM/s1600/IMG_0133.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TB_X1hvnjHI/AAAAAAAAAD4/9ZVfMhvjlGM/s400/IMG_0133.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485340185751686258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Picture: Me in Hyde Park<br /><br />Today was our first day of classes, and I was in a weird mood all day. I've been living off coffee every morning to battle the daily drowsiness and jet lag, but today I think it really upset my stomach. For the majority of the day I felt dizzy and sick to my stomach. I actually hate coffee, but I needed something to wake me up in the morning. Caffeine really effects me and I think today my body was telling me to watch it.<br />Our english class is going to be interesting because we're studying romantic poetry, but we're going to be doing a lot of writing because the class is a GE C4 and a GWR. All the professors today didn't think they were giving us that much work but realistically it's a lot for 6 weeks and 4 days a week of class. Josh's class will, of course, be my favorite, but even that class seems like it will be a lot more work than I expected it too. I guess it's more the combination of workloads than any one thing in particular. At least all of our assignments are creative project type things about experiencing the city... but still. I won't like working on stuff like that. Tonight I have a chapter of history to read and like 8 poems to analyze. Our British professor has the coolest accent ever. That class will be interesting as well, it seems like a lot of time will be spent on the melting pot culture of London, which I find extremely interesting.After class and a quick stop to the grocery store, Jill, Ashleigh and I went out exploring. We went to Notting Hill and Portobello Road, which is where they have a famous street market on the weekends. We had some gelato, which was unbelievable by the way, and we just wandered around. It's so fun getting lost in London and taking pictures of random things. We took way too many pictures of us just being stupid, but it was so much fun.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TB_W1A1DzvI/AAAAAAAAADo/UXvjZg9Wy4U/s1600/043.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TB_W1A1DzvI/AAAAAAAAADo/UXvjZg9Wy4U/s320/043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485339077404511986" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TB_Vt6uRB-I/AAAAAAAAADg/efDDfE43BSU/s1600/010.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TB_Vt6uRB-I/AAAAAAAAADg/efDDfE43BSU/s320/010.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485337855994693602" border="0" /></a>Whenever we find Hyde Park we know how to get home because we're just on the other side. We walked around the park and took some outrageous pictures. I was really excited at how "friendly" the birds are at the lakes around Hyde Park. I hand fed pigeons, swallows, and swans. I thought it was cool, but then again I'm really easily amused. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TB_YNYPtbXI/AAAAAAAAAEA/m4sElbr7YD4/s1600/IMG_0152.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TB_YNYPtbXI/AAAAAAAAAEA/m4sElbr7YD4/s320/IMG_0152.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485340595518795122" border="0" /></a><br />One thing I noticed about the people in Hyde Park is that people are not afraid to be affectionate in public. People were laying on top of each other and making out in the middle of the day! It was shockingly inappropriate according to American standards, so naturally we took pictures and made fun of them. See them there in the background?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TB_XURKdwsI/AAAAAAAAADw/PXu3SrvHQto/s1600/IMG_0132.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TB_XURKdwsI/AAAAAAAAADw/PXu3SrvHQto/s400/IMG_0132.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485339614365205186" border="0" /></a>By the time we got back we realized that we had been out walking around for 2 1/2 hours. It felt like we were out for half an hour. I just love exploring the city.<br />I'm starting to feel like I never have any alone time to reflect or to just surround myself in my thoughts and enjoy the beauty of this place, so when we got back I decided to go for a run by myself through the park. I was nervous about my ankle, since I sprained it in March and it's still kind of giving me problems. I put my brace on it, grabbed my ipod and went for it. I thought my ankle was going to die, I thought I was going to get lost, and I thought I would feel completely out of shape... but as I started my run listening to the buttery voice of Tyrone Wells I realized I was smiling. Nothing mattered anymore, it was one of the most incredible things I have ever experienced. I was amazed at the grandeur of the park. There were lakes and paths off the roads that went through brush and around rivers... I got lost in the park and didn't care. I couldn't stop smiling. I missed running so much, and I was enjoying everything around me. I didn't even notice any pain (if there was any) in my ankle because the beauty of the park was such a pleasant distraction. It was nice to be by myself for a little while and just appreciate the beauty of the scenery around me. Before I knew it I was at the Serpentine and I could see the London Eye, Big Ben, and Parliament. Without even keeping track of anything I had run about 3 miles away from home, and took a shortcut back to make the whole thing around 5, and my ankle felt awesome.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TB_Zb2cwDbI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/gs3RZj5Ii88/s1600/IMG_1409.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TB_Zb2cwDbI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/gs3RZj5Ii88/s320/IMG_1409.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485341943656353202" border="0" /></a><br />I am in love with this city. I could easily live here permanently. It was an awesome day, awesome adventure through the city, and an awesome run. I just wish I didn't have school and could do this kind of thing all day everyday. Tomorrow we're going to Parliament on a field trip and then we're going to see Macbeth in the Globe Theatre. It's going to be unbelievably epic. I've dreamed of being in the Globe for years, and tomorrow I get to go see one of Shakespeare's most famous plays there. I might cry. Maybe. Ok, probably not, but it will be one of the highlights of the experience for sure. That's all for now! Cheerio!Nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12600381968122515599noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6844498053528781208.post-81932105817763960562010-06-19T16:41:00.001-07:002010-06-19T17:21:49.508-07:00A Day of Tours<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TB1evvNVDcI/AAAAAAAAADY/zR5ngWZB9aU/s1600/070.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TB1evvNVDcI/AAAAAAAAADY/zR5ngWZB9aU/s320/070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484644095426366914" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TB1eh7tiRYI/AAAAAAAAADQ/GGcLTgkR7Pk/s1600/037.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TB1eh7tiRYI/AAAAAAAAADQ/GGcLTgkR7Pk/s320/037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484643858264507778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TB1ehGSk8DI/AAAAAAAAADI/a2w0TazK3Ok/s1600/035.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TB1ehGSk8DI/AAAAAAAAADI/a2w0TazK3Ok/s320/035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484643843924357170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TB1eIxRw3NI/AAAAAAAAADA/rePa4eG33W8/s1600/IMG_1319.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TB1eIxRw3NI/AAAAAAAAADA/rePa4eG33W8/s320/IMG_1319.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484643425966939346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TB1eIYUHQ-I/AAAAAAAAAC4/dsW5ptga4jw/s1600/IMG_1318.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TB1eIYUHQ-I/AAAAAAAAAC4/dsW5ptga4jw/s320/IMG_1318.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484643419265909730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Pictures: Kensington Palace, me and Jill at Saint Paul's Cathedral, the roomies at Saint Paul's Cathedral, me and Ashleigh pretending to feed the birds. <br /><br />Today we went on a bus tour of the city, and a walking tour of Kensington. It was a really long day, but I feel a lot more knowledgeable about the city I live in now.<br /><br />The bus tour was really fun because we saw all the famous tourist spots like Parliament, London Bridge, The Tower of London, Big Ben, The London Eye, etc. Although it was interesting it was also a little bit frustrating because we couldn't get out to see anything, we just drove past it all. Taking pictures of buildings from inside a bus was not really all that fun. We did stop in front of St. Paul's Cathedral for a little while and took a bunch of pictures there. We were all a little bit slap happy, especially me and Ashleigh, so it was a good time. The steps of St. Paul's Cathedral were where the famous "Feed the Birds" song was filmed in "Marry Poppins." Unfortunately there were no birds. We pretended there were, though, for the sake of a picture.<br /><br /><br />The walking tour was fun because it was the first time we'd been in to Hyde Park. We went and saw Kensington Palace, and the Albert Monument- some famous locations in Hyde Park. I can't wait to explore the area more because it had some gorgeous gardens and some really nice wooded, green areas. Our tour guide told us about a children's park that you can't get in to unless you have children with you. Apparently it's Peter Pan themed and there's a pirate ship and everything. We're going to steal Josh MacHamer's kids and get in there sometime.<br /><br />After that was over me, Jill, and Ashleigh went shopping in the shopping Kensington district which was quite a unique experience. I didn't end up buying anything there because everything was way out of my price range, but it was cool to see all the shops there and look around. The fashion in London is incredible. People in the stores and walking around the town dress much nicer than we do to go out and run errands in America. I really like the style here, but I feel like everywhere I go I look frumpy in my jeans, sneakers, and t- shirt. The women literally wear dresses with tights and heels, full faces of makeup and perfectly styled hair; and the men wear dress pants, dress shoes, collared shirts, and vests. It's impressive and intimidating. I didn't bring any of my really nice clothes here, most of my stuff is super casual.<br /><br />After we looked around the shops (including an American Apparel, and Urban Outfitters) we found the most awesome place to eat. WHOLE FOODS. It's kind of a pricey grocery store, but they have an upstairs food court with every kind of food you could imagine and all for really really cheap- around 5 pounds a meal. We were really excited that we found it, and we're pretty amped to go back and try all the other food.<br /><br />After that we went and saw the most amazing play I've ever seen in my life. I want to go back and see it again. It was called money, and it took place in this little warehouse that they turned into a theatre. If I tried to explain what it was about I would totally confuse you, because it was a little bit hard to follow and kind of absurd, but believe me when I saw it was incredible. Visually stunning, well acted, and really thought provoking and interpretive.<br /><br />Tomorrow we have a free day, and we're going to go back to Camden to buy some cheap clothes, which for me includes a wind breaker/ rain jacket since I freeze here at night. I brought warm jackets, but the wind goes right through me. I want to look at some London touristy things too to see if I can get some gifts and stuff. Otherwise we'll just be gearing up for school on Monday, which is going to suck a little bit. I have to remind myself that this isn't just a vacation, and that I do actually have things to focus on.<br /><br />That's all for now :) Cheerio!Nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12600381968122515599noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6844498053528781208.post-30193946269891499962010-06-18T10:25:00.000-07:002010-06-18T11:17:24.158-07:00Greetings From Kensington!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TBu25nvTKTI/AAAAAAAAACw/uU8m1AQG3MQ/s1600/044.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TBu25nvTKTI/AAAAAAAAACw/uU8m1AQG3MQ/s320/044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484178072289880370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TBu25KwqpMI/AAAAAAAAACo/mkrTSXSS5og/s1600/050.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TBu25KwqpMI/AAAAAAAAACo/mkrTSXSS5og/s320/050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484178064510985410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TBuzH4cpWpI/AAAAAAAAACA/M_TEND_Cm-s/s1600/035.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TBuzH4cpWpI/AAAAAAAAACA/M_TEND_Cm-s/s320/035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484173919246703250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TBuzHSVS6RI/AAAAAAAAAB4/YT8FLwiGH7Y/s1600/016.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TBuzHSVS6RI/AAAAAAAAAB4/YT8FLwiGH7Y/s320/016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484173909015324946" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TBuzG7aKgjI/AAAAAAAAABw/4jgb_UCONRM/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TBuzG7aKgjI/AAAAAAAAABw/4jgb_UCONRM/s320/005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484173902861730354" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TBuzGEwM6vI/AAAAAAAAABo/qE9eIVYMXhY/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8zgIPys7_2I/TBuzGEwM6vI/AAAAAAAAABo/qE9eIVYMXhY/s320/004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484173888190212850" border="0" /></a><br />Pictures: Elephant artwork in Leicester Square, our lovely room, market in Camden, the beige building is the place where our classes will be, bottom white building is our flat.<br /><br />I'm finally here! After a long and painful 10 hour flight, 40 minute tube ride, and confusing walk me and Ryan made it to our flat.<br /><br />I'm never ever going to take a red eye flight again. We left at 9:20 P.M. out of LAX and didn't sleep a wink of our 10 hour flight. When we got to London it was about 4 in the afternoon, sowe couldn't just crash like we desperately wanted to. It was ridiculously uncomfortable, and we were right in the middle of an obnoxious French family who took the liberty of talking loudly over us in French for a large portion of the flight. The food was disgusting, but the company was nice. Ryan and I had some great conversations, and pretty much kept each other sane the entire time. The tube was surprisingly easy to navigate, but when we got off we were completely disoriented and started walking in completely the wrong direction. It was hot and sunny when we got there, which is surprising for London weather. We realized we were going the wrong way and finally found a street sign.<br /><br />We walked past our house twice, but the 3rd time we walked past it we saw our entire clan of Cal Poly kids out in front who flagged us down and directed us to the right place. Our flat is right next to the Dutch Consulate and across the street from Hyde Park. The other students were about to leave for a tour of the area, so me and Ryan dropped off our bags and joined in. I was so exhausted I thought I was going to fall asleep on the tour. We got our keys and I was relieved to find that I am in a 4 person room with some of my closest friends Ashleigh, Tia, and Jill. Our room is actually quite spacious and really pleasant to live in. We have 2 bunks, 4 closet units, and a bathroom to ourselves. The communal kitchen in our flat is small but fully equipped and really nice. We have great wireless internet here, which is awesome to have, so I can check my emails often.<br /><br />We went to the grocery store "Sainsbury" and bought some groceries, which, by the way, is really confusing when you're delirious. I bought some basic things like fruit, bread, peanut butter, etc. and then we walked back to our flat. We took some time to get situated in our room and then went out to dinner at a restaurant called "Wagamama" which is essentially a noodle joint. I was starving and had been living off nasty plane food, so I inhaled my shrimp noodle bowl. It was delicious! We went back, hit the showers, and called it a night. What a LONG first day!<br /><br />Today was really fun. We started the day with an orientation which was WAY too long, but we got some good information about the area and the culture and our classes, which unfortunately start on Monday. We start at 9 and get done at 2 everyday so our schedule shouldn't be too stressful. After our meetings we got some much needed coffee to try to fight off our jet lag and headed back to the flat to get ready for the day. We decided to take the tube (using our recently acquired Oyster cards) to Camden. Camden is unbelievably cool- there are such unique people there. There was a massive, and I mean MASSIVE outdoor market with tons of food from all over the world and clothing shops everywhere. Camden is where the punk movement in London started, so it was interesting to see this theme reflected in the local shops and the style of the area. We shopped around and ate some pretty delicious food. They had every kind of food you could imagine- Greek, Chinese, Swiss, "American" (which looked like nasty Philly cheese steaks), "Mexican" (which looked questionable)... you name it. The shops were really interesting too. They had vintage stores, and leather shops, and all sorts of little stands with tourist looking gifts and nick knacks. It was a really fun time.<br /><br />After that we went to the Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus areas. Leicester Square is like the Broadway of London. There were tons of advertisements for musicals and plays, and there were move theaters on every corner. There was even a show in the park for free that we might go back and see if we have time. We didn't spend much time there, but I have no doubt that we'll go back.<br /><br />We weren't in Piccadilly long either, but we walked through the streets until it started to rain and then we headed back. There were these really interesting elephant statues lining the streets to raise awareness for an endangered species in Eastern Asia that people turned into works of art. They were really interesting and creative- I took a few pictures of them.<br /><br />Later tonight we're going to watch the UK Algeria game at the pub on the corner, and I'm really excited to be a part of that environment. Tomorrow we're going on sight seeing tours of London, which I'm also excited for because I haven't seen Big Ben or any of the really touristy sights yet.<br /><br />I'm having a lot of fun and live in a very safe part of London, so everything should go smoothly for the rest of my stay here. I'll try to update as much as possible, but that's all for this time!<br /><br />Cheerio!Nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12600381968122515599noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6844498053528781208.post-6928527581857704292010-06-15T20:00:00.000-07:002010-06-15T20:03:03.631-07:00Only 1 More Day!I leave for London tomorrow! I can't believe it! I'm trying to pack light but not forget anything. I'm feeling a little anxious about everything I have to do when I get there. Once we land we have to go through customs, get our bags, get some money exchanged, and pay for/ get on the tube (blue Picadilly line to Gloucester). I hope everything goes well with no major hiccups! I'll post when I get there. My adventures are about to begin!Nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12600381968122515599noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6844498053528781208.post-87112887345941273062010-04-30T17:31:00.000-07:002010-06-14T13:43:46.247-07:00My Very First Blog!<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Wow, my very own blog! I've never done this before, but I figure I might as well since there's so much going on in my life, and this is the easiest way to share it with friends without having to repeat stories over and over. Plus I'm going to Europe this summer, and won't be able to keep in touch much. Ha, that rhymes. Anyways, as to this blog... I've never really kept a diary, and if you know me, you know that I'm not too private a person. I hope I can share in fellowship with others through this experience, and keep in better touch with those who are interested in my life.<br /><br />So what's new? Well, I'm done with my junior year at Cal Poly, and am definitely keeping myself busy. I recently directed and put on a 10 minute one act play for my directing class at Cal Poly, which was awesome. My play was about two soldiers who are walking through a minefield. Throughout the course of the play they challenge and encourage each other to continue walking, even though they know that every step they take could be their last. It's very "Hurt Locker," if you know what I mean, and very powerful.<br /><br />I just got word this last week that my proposal to direct a full length show for an independent study project next fall finally got approved. The play is called "The Complete History of America Abridged" and is a comedy that covers all the major events in American history in the course of 60 minutes. It's very sketch humor- ish and full of slapstick, vaudevillian comedy. It's kind of going to be my last hoorah at Cal Poly, so I'm pretty excited to make it all happen.<br /><br />I was thinking about adding history as a double major recently, but in order to do that, according to the school's policies, I would have to be able to graduate in the same amount of time I would graduate if I were just a theatre major. I tried figuring it all out and balancing schedules, but I would have to take 24 units a quarter, and that would be suicidal with track and theatre and all my other commitments. So, unfortunately it didn't work out, but I'm actually alright with it, because now I can have a fairly unstressful senior year and just have fun with theatre.<br /><br />Track season has been fairly disappointing this year, since at my 3rd meet I rolled my ankle while warming up 15 minutes before my race. Within 10 minutes it had swollen out to the size of a fist. First I was on crutches, then I was in a boot/ cast thing, and now I'm walking around on it with a brace. It's not broken, but it's sprained badly enough to have knocked me out of 6 meets in a row. Right now it's still not ready for sprinting, or hurdling for that matter, so I'm doing physical therapy at the athletic training room everyday, and just trying to get healthy. It's a bummer that my entire season will have consisted of only 3 meets- which is around 45 seconds of total competition time. Sounds pretty bad, huh?<br /><br />I'm getting ready to leave for London, which is stressful but exciting. This weekend me and dad had 2 days to move all the furniture out of the apartment, and into the new house before coming back down to Orange County. Typical Roy family "cram it out" weekend.<br /><br />Well, that's about it for now. I'm leaving for London on Wednesday night out of LA! I'll try to post as much as I can. Follow me on blogspot and you can leave comments. I'd love any advice or opinions on what to do in London or Europe (and advice on what not to do). Thanks for reading!</span><br /></span>Nathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12600381968122515599noreply@blogger.com0