Arthur's Seat

Tip top of Edinburgh (Arthur's Seat summit)

After yesterday's excursions, I felt accomplished with my trip to Edinburgh. I had successfully crossed off everything I had planned. However I still had another day left in the city. Last night I was frustrated because I felt like if I didn't have any sort of agenda, I would be bored during my last full day here. I turned to "tourist-y" websites online and all of them seemed to agree that one's trip to Edinburgh would not be complete without a hike up to Arthur's seat. So I thought, "Meh, sure. Ok, I guess I'll give into these other tourists who think they're travel experts." I decided if I had just one plan, I'd be good. So I became set on climbing Arthur's seat the next morning.

After my breakfast, I set off back to Holyroodhouse which lies next to Holyrood Park (and Arthur's seat). And then...I started walking. Soon everything that surrounded me was hill, and Edinburgh lay below. Yesterday at Calton Hill I was able to get a pretty good view of the city and I felt pretty satisfied with the many aerial type views I've had in the last few days. I was mainly hesitant to climb Arthur's Seat because I thought it was just going to be another view of the same thing. But I was happily surprised to be wrong.

There's a reason this is talked about on "tourist-y" websites: it's amazing. It's such a beautiful, pleasant, and natural place, but yet, in the busy city. I think I also enjoyed myself so much because I've missed the "green" and nature that lacks from living amongst the busy city streets.

The farther I traveled up, the more cold it got (duh) and the ground became more and more covered with ice/snow. I got kinda nervous because my tennis shoes did not have the sort of traction that hiking boots do (and being prone to falling didn't help). But I kept climbing, stopping to take lots of pictures. I'll finish this post with pictures of the journey. Besides describing the cold and the fact that I was wearing two pairs of wool socks, I think the journey is best shown by the pictures I took:

After just beginning the walk

Um, yes this was taken using self timer...

What lay behind me

What lay in front of me

I've reached more snow! (Almost there)

Gorgeous! Just as I was approaching the summit.

After hiking back down and walking around the rest of the park.

Looking at where I was earlier

Hill, Harry, Holyrood

Top of Calton Hill

Unfinished monument at Calton Hill

This morning after my hearty breakfast, I hiked up Calton Hill and got a look of the city from a different direction than yesterday at the castle (plus, I could see the castle in my view). When I arrived, I was probably only one of about five people up there, and the sun had not fully risen. So it was a treat to get to watch the sun rise and I felt like I was in on some kind of secret because hardly anyone else was up there to see it with me. I walked around the whole hill, taking pictures of every direction. I could see clearly Holyrood Palace and Arthur's Seat (which I opted not to climb today).

The Elephant Cafe: "Birthplace of Harry Potter"

I stayed on the hill for about two hours until my stomach started growling. Then I headed back towards the city center and stopped for a bite to eat at The Elephant House. This is the cafe that JK Rowling would come to and write Harry Potter. Outside the windows is a great view of the castle on top of the hill and it's not hard to imagine that it provided a great influence as she wrote about Hogwarts. I kind of "nerded out" because I thought it was so neat to see where the books began.

Next I walked the opposite direction down the Royal Mile and toured the Palace of the Holyroodhouse, which is the Queen's summer residence.

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Aftter walking around Holyrood, I made my way to Prince Street and did some shopping. They have a three story Primark and I had to leave because I was overwhelmed! As I was walking along Prince Street, it started to rain...and then it started to snow. The high today was about 33, and the type of weather that makes your nostrils practically freeze together. I had to stop in a coffee shop for some hot chocolate and a pastry so that I could thaw out. Once I noticed the people outside put away their umbrellas, I went back into the cold and headed straight for the Christmas Market down the street where I got a bratwurst and sauerkraut for dinner. It's only 7 pm right now, but it's been dark for the last three hours. And in that time I've come back to the hotel to warm up again after dinner.

Castles & Christmas Bagpipes

Yesterday morning I did that thing where I turn off my alarm without committing myself to getting out of bed. When I actually woke up it was 9:15 and I was supposed to catch the 9:37 train. I've never shoved things in a suitcase faster. Luckily I had packed the majority of my things the night before. Then I raced with my suitcase behind me for the station and made it at 9:36. The train was delayed ten minutes, so I was allowed some time to get a pastry and a drink and then sit on the bench and catch my breath. Luckily that was my only travel drama of the day, and last night I arrived successfully to Edinburgh!

Bundled for the wind at Edinburgh Castle

This morning I had toast, eggs, sausage, porridge, and tea at my bed and breakfast and then made my way to the Royal Mile. I started by walking towards the castle and was waiting for something to remind me of my time here 10 years ago. Then it hit me, literally, the wind. Walking up in front of the castle I got the image of my brother almost flying backwards because the wind was so strong. And I was then reminded why it was so windy when I got to the top of the castle and looked out over Edinburgh towards the coast. Such a purty sight!

A German Christmas Market

I wandered around the castle, saw the Honours and the "Stone of Destiny," decided I'd need to do more planning if I were to steal them, and then moseyed my way back along the Royal Mile.

From high up, and down below, the city is beautiful. And it's even more beautiful being here during the Christmas season. I found myself later wandering around a Christmas market. I got mulled cider to warm my hands and insides and listened to the variety of music playing: Christmas music, bagpipes, and bagpipes playing Christmas music.

Ice-skaters

After a day of walking I stopped for some dinner and the TV in the restaurant was playing the news. It was just announced that Kate Middleton is pregnant! Meanwhile Harry is still single and...so am I. Tomorrow I'll go to Holyrood Palace and see if any of the royal family is there so we can fix this situation.

Cupcakes and Mulled Cider

I've got the bag packed for Edinburgh! Now I'm just double checking my train times and that I've got my wallet. I leave for the train station tomorrow morning and should get to Scotland in the late afternoon. Then it's five days of searching for a strapping Scottish lad (but probably just eating shortbread and whiskey), and then it's back to Oxford for a night before leaving for the US on Friday.

Henry!

I spent the majority of the day cleaning the apartment. I'm not sure how, but every single dish managed to get dirty this last week. I also cleaned out the fridge. The only thing left is some butter, jelly, and bread. To get rid of food, and avoid buying new food, I ended up feeling like quite the HOBO yesterday...I had a can of beans for lunch, that's how bad it was. And now I'm planning to make several pb&j sandwiches to take with me on the train. I can't help thinking how proud my father would be of my savvy traveling.

Mulled Cider (with an orange)

I also did a lot of vacuuming today. I'm posting a picture of Henry, the vacuum. If I had known this little guy was in the closet, I would have done some more cleaning this semester. And I didn't make up the name "Henry." All the Brits know who he is...To me though, this is hilarious!

I did still manage to get out into town today. I went to the Covered Market (one of my favorite places) and got some lunch. Then as I was walking around I looked, as usual, in the cake shop. When I saw they had a special on cupcakes I couldn't resist passing that up.

Later I had dinner with Cam, Adrie, and our friend Maggie at Byron's Burger. Then we stopped at The Chequers for some drinks. I got a mulled cider to warm me up from walking in the bitter cold. It was so warm and so tasty!

Tomorrow I'll be in Scotland!

When in Europe, GALLIVANT

JUST FINISHED MY LAST TUTORIAL! It is bitter sweet indeed. That makes 13 total papers written and turned in while I've been in Oxford. Roughly 26,000 words.

I can tell that my days in the last few weeks have gotten extremely busy because I haven't had time to sit down and write a blog post about all the gallivanting I've been doing (cause that's what you do in Europe, gallivant). Now I have such a feeling of relief knowing that I can sit here without a paper looming in the back of my mind and can fill in Emily Estes about my daily life.

A day by day catch up is in order:

Moo Moos Milkshakes

Wednesday: I was scheduled to have my Tolkien tutorial with Barry. Since there has been flooding, he was unable to make it into town on time by the train so had to reschedule for Thursday. I didn't get this message until I was at Penelope's. So I spent the next hour just talking in the basement with her.

Tower view

Then I walked with Britney and Adrie to get some lunch. Since we've been here we've walked past a pizza place almost everyday and drooled looking through windows. Finally on Wednesday we decided to actually eat there (and lunch is cheaper, so it worked well). Then afterwards we went to the Covered Market and got Moo Moos (yes, real name) milkshakes. Tasty!
After spending time back at the flat working on my next tutorial, I headed back out with Adrie and other Olivia to evensong at St. Michael's church (Penelope and Francis are members there and we met them both). After the service, Penelope took us up the bell tower and we were able to see a view of Oxford from above. It was nighttime, but the shadows of the spires, and the Christmas lights below were truly amazing to look at.

NARNIA!

Thursday: I met Barry at Penelope's for our final tutorial. I read my essay, Barry said, "Excellent!" and then we left along with Britney for a cab. The three of us got in a taxi and made a loop around Oxford so that Barry could show us some Tolkien and Lewis (Britney is studying CS Lewis) places. We started at Lewis' house. Then Barry showed us the pond behind the house. Guess what this was? NARNIA! (well it's where Lewis wrote and was inspired to write Narnia). We didn't enter through a wardrobe, just an iron gate. Then we stopped by both Tolkien and Lewis' grave sites before heading back.

HARRY POTTER STEPS!

The taxi dropped Britney and me off outside of Christ Church where we then met Adrie. We have been wanting to visit Christ Church ever since week one, but it wasn't until yesterday that we were able to squeeze in time. Finally I was able to walk the same staircase as Harry Potter and see the Great Hall.
Instead of grabbing dinner, we headed over to Penelope and Francis' house for a "Farewell Tea Party" in our honor. Penelope outdid herself making cakes, scones, brownies, sandwiches, and of course tea. The five of us students presented the Warners with a gift: a framed picture of all of us at Blenheim. In return Francis gave us another one of his books. It has seriously been an absolute pleasure having the Warners as guides and hosts this semester, our English mum and dad!

Friday (TODAY): I had my last tutorial on the Anglican Church. I woke up early this morning to finish the essay, then I went to the library to use the printer. I had about an hour to kill, so I went to Primark and made my first purchase after months of just browsing: legwarmers! (The temperature highs have recently been in the 30s.) Next I went to Tesco to get a few things for next week: bread and peanut butter. Finally I had my tutorial, turned in my last paper, and then went out to eat with the rest of the group.

I've now got both suitcases out of my closet and am slowly starting to fill them. One will go with me to Scotland on Sunday. This is so very weird, especially taking down pictures and letters from my walls. My roommate left early this morning for Paris, and the other Olivia leaves tomorrow for Amsterdam. Cam and Adrie leave for the States on Sunday...so last night and tonight have been all about saying goodbyes.

Tomorrow is my last full day in Oxford. WHAAAAT?

Weekend Recap

Christmas festivities

21st birthday!

My life in the last few days via A LIST!

• Last Friday there was a Christmas light celebration. Several streets were closed, including St. Giles where booths with vendors lined the sidewalk and the rest of the road included a ferris wheel, carousel, and music stage. This was all outside the window of my tutorial in the Pusey House. Needless to say it was distracting. When I got done with my tutorial I bought a "mulled hot cider" from one of the vendors to take with me on my walk home. Tasted like the holidays!
• Saturday was rainy all day. The canal path that I normally take into town has flooded. Actually several parts of Oxford have flooded because there has been such an unusual amount of rain.
• Sunday was my 21st birthday. I celebrated to the best of my abilities being away from friends and family back home. I spent the day wandering around Oxford, occasionally stopping in shops and then grabbing a bite to eat for lunch at a cafe across from St. Peter's. Adrie made me a cake. Then she and I met Britney at The King's Arms for some drinks. 
• Today I bought my ticket to Scotland for next week. I leave Sunday and return back to Oxford on Thursday in time to get the rest of my bags and head for the airport and the fly to America. WUT?! SO SOON!
• Now I am writing my last paper for Professor Barry (my tutor for my Tolkien course). The only thing that's keeping me from getting too distracted is that I'm incorporating mentions of dragons into the paper. If Barry is wearing his chevron sweater tomorrow I might cry from cuteness overload.

Gobble-town

Back in September when Adrie and I discovered our mutual love of food, we remarked on how much we would miss Thanksgiving and we then made a pact to bring the deliciousness to Oxford this year. We even invited Francis and Penelope to come celebrate with us.

The bird!

The closer it got to Thanksgiving, the more our mouths watered for the homecookin' that we were missing by being here in England. On Wednesday, Britney, Adrie, and I went shopping at Tesco for the ingredients for our feast. We got everything except pumpkin (for the pie) and a TURKEY. We then went to Sainsbury and Marks and Spencer and neither had pumpkin, nor a turkey. So first thing Thursday morning the three of us set out for the Covered Market and there we talked to three different butchers trying to find the best deal. We ended up getting a Turkey breast instead of a whole bird.

Decorating the apartment

We were so disturbed from spending so much time looking at dead animals hanging from the ceiling in the butcher shops that before heading home we stopped in the flower shop and bought some flowers to decorate the apartment.

The rest of the morning was spent cooking. While the turkey baked in the oven in the downstairs apartment, the three of us used the kitchen upstairs to make everything else. This resulted in the upstairs apartment looking like a culinary war zone. Especially after the massacre of my pumpkin. The pumpkin that I bought on Halloween has been sitting on my desk uncarved for the last month. I spent so much time looking up ideas for how to carve him that eventually Halloween had past and it was mid-Novemeber...and my pumpkin had a name, Pip. There was no longer much point in carving him so he has just been sitting on my desk as company during my paper writing. That is, until yesterday, when we were still without pumpkin for the pie. Anyway, RIP Pip.

 

At 2pm Penelope and Francis arrived and Cameron welcomed them into the (clean) apartment downstairs where we had set the table. Meanwhile the others girls and I brought down the remaining dishes and soon the group was seated and enjoying the Thanksgiving feast: turkey, dressing, sweet taters, regular taters, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and American biscuits. Then for dessert: pumpkin pie, pecan tarts, and Oreo truffles. Penelope and Francis were great company and said that we were the first group to have them over for Thanksgiving. It was an honor. And when they were leaving Penelope gave us all hugs. SCORE!

The rest of the evening was spent back upstairs in the living room. Britney was reading while Adrie and I passed out on the couch. We were seriously exhausted from the work we put into the day. This morning however I had to wake up early in order to finish my paper for today's tutorial...because classes didn't stop this week.

I am so thankful to have this opportunity to be in Oxford. And even though I was unable to be with those back home, I am thankful I had people here to celebrate the holiday with. I'm also thankful to have recently found Downton Abbey on Netflix.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! said no Brit ever.

Canterbury

Canterbury Cathedral

As I'm finishing more and more of my tutorial papers, I'm realizing how few I have left and how soon the end of term is. The urge to do some traveling has gotten to me in the last week and therefore on Friday I bought a last minute ticket to Canterbury.

Yesterday I woke up before daylight (around 6:30am.) and had some tea and toast before leaving my apartment for the train station. This was the earliest I've been out of the apartment and there was something spooky, yet exciting as I walked in the dark with only the sounds of birds waking up. It wasn't until I was on the train half-way to London that the sun had fully risen.

Buttermarket Square

I arrived at London Paddington Station and then had to take the tube to St. Pancras to catch the train to Canterbury. I was all set to take the Circle line eastward, but when I got to London there were notices everywhere saying half the lines were closed for the weekend. So I stood in front of the tube map for the next 5 minutes trying to figure out a different route. And it was no problem. Because I'm awesome at navigating the tube. I'm also cocky when I travel alone, apparently.

St. Augustine's Abbey

Once in Canterbury, I headed straight for the Cathedral. I spent the whole morning making a loop around the inside, exploring each part. I saw where Thomas Becket was murdered, walked through the crypt, saw the tombs of Henry IV and the "Black Knight," and walked through the quoire. As I was walking with my backpack on around the church, I felt like a pilgrim and for the rest of the day I viewed my trip as a pilgrimage to Canterbury.

Walking down St. Peter's

After spending the whole morning at the Cathedral, I was ready for food, and treated myself to lunch at a pub called The Old Buttermarket. There I had a chicken and mushroom pie, while I enjoyed the great company of myself.

After lunch I explored St. Augustine's Abbey (the remains), and St. Martin's Church (which I ducked in when it started to rain). Then I continued walking around the City Centre, looking through shops. By this time it was about 4pm and the sun was starting to set. I figured there wasn't much use in sightseeing when there was no longer light in which to see the sights. So I decided to head for the train station and make my way back to Oxford. Here's the great thing about traveling alone: I can make decisions easily and everyone is happy.

The journey home was long and I was exhausted from walking all day. When I got home I ate leftovers, put on my pjs, uploaded pictures, and then watched Love Actually on my computer before falling asleep.

It was a fantastic Saturday! ...But then disaster struck when I woke up. I woke up to find that the extra bedroom in my apartment is now being occupied by the other Olivia. Apparently she got scared last night and thought she saw a mouse in her apartment downstairs. And apparently this was enough to send her upstairs to our apartment and sleep in our extra bedroom. And apparently this was enough to lead her to email Penelope saying she could no longer sleep downstairs and would be moving into our apartment. THIS IS WHY YOU SHOULD ALWAYS LOCK YOUR DOOR AT NIGHT!!!!!!!! Not from burglars, but from neighbors who have no idea how a proper human acts. I woke up to a Facebook message from Olivia asking if she could move in, then walk out of my room to find she already has. So now what happens? Do I accept this, saying, "no problem, move on in, welcome to the fam, gurrrrl!" or am I allowed to feel protective of my home and my space and confront her about how I am not ok with this new arrangement?

UPDATE: I plucked up the courage to confront Olivia. She now resides back downstairs and my third bedroom is back serving its original purpose: my laundry drying room. I walked to the store to cool off from the drama of the morning and am now back in my cozy home with some new crumpets!

Flying By

I can't believe that it is already Friday (and that my last post was on Sunday). More than that, I can't believe November is almost over, Thanksgiving is next week, I turn 21 in less than nine days, and I only have three papers left to write.

This week was another week in which I had two tutorials and dealt with sleep deprivation. Because of this there really isn't much new to report. Besides the papers, my biggest accomplishment this week was making a beef stew. My roommate went out of town for a night and Cam and Adrie are spending the weekend in Scotland. So we haven't had our usual dinners.

My other accomplishment: I hung up the paper cranes I've been making from my old notes (which has proven to be a great distraction). My room really looks lived in now that I've got books everywhere and letters/postcards hanging on my walls. It will be really weird to take them down when the time comes.

Today I went to the train station after my tutorial and ended up buying a ticket to Canterbury for tomorrow. There's nothing like a little last minute travel...we'll see.

Tonight I've got on the pjs, my roommate just baked a lasagna, and I'm lying on the couch mixing researching Canterbury with watching The Office on Netflix.

Below are some pictures I've taken this week as I've walked to Francis and Penelope's house (this is a walk I make pretty often).

Walking up St. John's Street

Standing across the street from the Warners. Their house is the one in the middle with the blue door. I can do a spot on impression of Penelope answering the door with, "Hi, come on in!"

Wednesday and Thursdays are market days in the open market at Glouchester Green. I always cut through here on my way to and from the apartment. Wednesdays are more for fresh food, and Thursdays are for clothes, books, and antiques.

BATH

The Roman Baths

Yesterday was a successful trip to Bath with Adrie and Britney. We left early in the morning for the train station and arrived in Bath around 10am. Before noon we were able to knock off half of our to do list: see the Roman Baths, explore Bath Abbey, and eat lunch. Because we were all really hungry, we thought a hearty lunch in a pub would fill us up. SHO DID! I ordered fish and chips and the waiter thought I meant to order Shamu. 

Bath Abbey

We spent the next part of the day walking around the town and stopping in the shops that caught our eyes. It was interesting to think that other people were doing their Christmas shopping (because there's no Thanksgiving to plan for).

We kept walking and found our way to the Circus and the Royal Crescent where we stopped to enjoy the sun in the park. It was an absolutely beautiful day and we continued walking through the park towards Pulteney Bridge which crosses the River Avon. From there we noticed the Bath Rugby game was going on and we then snuck to the back road where we could catch a view of the game from above the stadium.

The Royal Crescent

Soon we noticed the sun was setting and thought it time for dinner. But, surprise, it was only 4pm. So we got tea (plus we were still pretty full from lunch). By the time we came out the tea shop, Bath was dark and shops were closing. We decided that due to tired feet, bellies not ready for dinner, and a feeling of success about the day, that it was time to catch the train back to Oxford.

The train back was very crowded and the three of us got split up trying to find a place to sit. I ended up sitting with an old man and across from me were two brothers and their sons. The four of them were playing an alphabet word game to pass the time and I had to put my book away because I got so caught up in following their game. I realized that being abroad has made me miss children (I tried making that last sentence not sound too creepy). But really, it's very strange to go from a summer job that includes constant work with kids to a semester where the only interactions I have are with other college aged students. Today I watched a little girl and her brother playing the yard below my window (again, this isn't supposed to sound creepy). The little boy was wrapped up so tight in a puffy coat that he kept toppling over when he made too sudden of movements. It was adorable!

Playing in the park

Fall colors in Bath

Watching the Bath Rugby team

I MUSTACHE you a question

Another Friday night. Another night to recuperate from the previous day of essay writing and preparing for Friday's tutorial session. Really, I need to learn better time management skills (and actually put them to use, for once).

My tutor is growing a mustache. This is a huge problem, because now it is the only thing I am able to think about as he talks to me. At one point I was so focused on the mustache that I felt the need to scratch my own upper lip. This didn't go unnoticed by my professor, and it was at this point that he told me he was participating in "Movember" (the charity that raises awareness for prostate cancer). Soon we were able to get back on track with the lesson, but my notes didn't escape having little mustaches drawn all over them.

Walking to tutorial (daylight)

Ever since daylight savings, the sun has begun to set earlier and earlier. Today I arrived at the Pusey House for my tutorial about 30 minutes early and as I waited for my tutor, I sat beside the window and watched as the light disappeared from the sky. This was at 4pm and by the time my tutor arrived (4:30), the sun had almost completely set. When I left my tutorial an hour later, the outside looked like it should really be close to bedtime.

Leaving from tutorial (nighttime)

Usually Friday is Cameron's night to cook dinner. For the last three Fridays we have had pasta, chicken, and peas. This is the only thing (other than pb&j or pancakes) that he knows how to cook and I realized tonight as I walked home in the dark after my tutorial that I've come to really enjoy this tradition. However tonight he had plans and instead left Britney and I money to compensate for the lack of FUSILI FRIDAY. We used the money to order in Indian food. Both of us were in our "comfy clothes" and had no desire to go back into town after a long day of writing and tutorials.

Plus, we decided that we needed to rest for our trip tomorrow to BATH. Yesterday I went to the train station and inquired about a day return ticket for Bath. The man told me that if I was traveling alone the ticket was 17 pounds, but if in a group of three or more the ticket would be 11 pounds. So tomorrow Britney, Adrie, and I are traveling together for a "girls day."

Last night was another debate night at the Union and the topic was one I thought would be very interesting to sit in on: "This house believes in God." Like the past Thursdays, our group left the flat in plenty of time to get to the debate and get seats. However last night when we arrived at the Union, there was a line all the way from the debate chamber to the gate. Slowly we inched our way to the front of the line but after a group about four places in front of us were let in, the man at the door told us the chamber was full and no one else would be allowed in for the night. Not only was the chamber completely full, there was now an even bigger line of students behind us. You might have thought that we were getting turned away from a club, but no, here in Oxford they have to have bouncers standing outside of debate chambers. I guess this debate was one of interest to all of the Union members, not just me.

"What should we do now?" someone asked. "LET'S STUDY!" said not me. We went to get a pint at The Grapes down the street.

Election Night

US Election Watch Party

Being abroad on election day: quite an experience. Never have I followed media coverage on an election day closer than I did last night.

Last night the Oxford Union hosted an Election Night Social for its members. I arrived at the Union at 10pm with Adrie, Britney, and other Olivia and there we joined other students to watch the US election results come in on a TV projection. There were beer, burgers, and other "American food," or what the Union thought was American food (like Pringles and Donuts).

I'm really having difficulty describing the feeling of being one of the few Americans in a room of British students watching news coverage over MY country. My best analogy: I felt like I was a football fan at a Superbowl party with people who were there strictly for the snacks. The result was an extreme feeling of patriotism and I then found myself giving lessons to the British students around me on American politics.

I left the Union around 2am when my eyes started drooping heavily and returned to the flat where I crawled in bed with my laptop still streaming the results. It wasn't until 5am that I could break myself away and go to sleep (this was also the time that the winner was called). I slept through the rest of the morning and have been sitting at my computer with coffee ever since I woke up, watching the speeches and more coverage of last night.

I do not like to post political things online and try to avoid making political statements in general (unlike my brother who sent me a text at 5am letting me know that I could sleep easy because Obama had won). But being in another country while America was celebrating a day of democracy, really made me feel more political than ever. I got so wrapped up in political thoughts and the "American spirit," that soon the cheers and boos, or worse, the inattention to the TV from the British Oxford students began to greatly irk me. I might have gotten a little carried away: when a guy took my friend's seat, I tapped him on the shoulder and said it was taken. He shrugged and turned his back on me. "OH HELL NO," I thought. And then I pressed my knee into his chair hoping he would be uncomfortable and move. When he didn't I could physically feel myself getting angry, because here I was trying to celebrate my country while this douche-bag sat in front of me, oblivious to the importance that this night was to me. So I stole his beer... DON'T MESS WITH ME! USA! FREEEEEEEEEEDOM!!!!! I really wanted to pursue a fight with him further...but his ability to come in and claim the seat for his own, Christopher Columbus style, was honestly the most American thing I'd seen all night.

Remember, Remember, Fireworks in November!

Guy Fawkes fireworks show!

BOOM!

Bundled for the cold! (Bonfire in the background)

Guy Fawkes Day is technically Monday, but Oxford celebrated this weekend on Saturday night. I joined Britney, Cam, and Adrie, and what seemed like the rest of Oxford, in South Park. There were food vendors, a music stage, and some fair rides. When it was dark (which now it gets dark around 5:30) there was a firework show. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the show and had to resist the urge to chant "USA!"

BONFIRE!

Once the fireworks were over, there was the lighting of the bonfire. You really could feel the heat, even from far back. My summary of Guy Fawkes: a guy tried to blow up Parliament. Got a holiday instead.

It was pretty strange seeing fireworks in November because I've always associated them with July and the summer. It might have been because of this, that the group started craving ice-cream. So after the hooplah, we walked back towards the City Centre and stopped at a G&D's (George & Danver's Ice-cream) where we got brownie sundaes.

Now back at the flat, I can hear someone doing fireworks outside. I'm also in a sugar coma from the ice-cream and brownie. Not to mention I'm now broke (good thing I get my food money on Monday!!)

My change in energy level today made me realize how exhausted I was earlier this week, and how much yesterday's rest was needed.

Also: wouldn't you love to roast a s'more on that? <-----

Picture This!

Because I spent the majority of yesterday resting and catching up on sleep, this morning I woke up early and decided to go into town for some shopping. I took along my camera to document the journey around town. Therefore, to make up for the lack of pictures in yesterday's post, here is a visual tour of Oxford (the parts I covered this morning). Enjoy!!!

The "scenic route" into town is to go behind the apartments and along the canal. I absolutely love this walk because it takes me away from the busy streets where cars give no notice to pedestrians. Walking along this path in the morning is especially nice, because you can smell wood burning from past night's fires that keep the boaters warm.

Going across this bridge and continuing on will lead you to Botley Rd. Instead, I usually walk past the bridge and under the train tracks to take the path towards the City Centre. 

Walking under the train tracks. I have to physically duck when going under. This is especially scary when a train passes overhead. And at night it is not lit...so I usually try to avoid this route in the evening.

The canal path continues. There are more boats on the left. And on the other side of the canal is a sports field. This morning there was a futbol game going on. 

The path finally lets out onto this small street. This is normally where my duck friends are waiting for me, but I guess they had Saturday morning plans today. 

The small street then meets Hythe Bridge Street. Turning left is how I get to the main part of Oxford. You can see in this pic one of Oxford's spires (it's sometimes called the City of Spires).

When I take the canal path, I get to miss most of the traffic intersections. This is the first one I have to cross. The street straight ahead is George Street. This is where the bus station is located (as well as lots of restaurants, an open market, and the bank).

The Four Candles is a cheap place to get food. They have a deal where you can get a burger, chips, and a pint for 5 pounds. We like to get the "brunch burger" (which has bacon and a fried egg on it) and a pint of Strongbow cider.

Turning up this street is how you get to St. Peter's College. At the corner is Java Co. which has wifi and is a popular place to get coffee and study.

Hello, St. Peter's College! (Where I had lectures during the intro course.)

The previous street then meets Queen Street where the West Gate Shopping Centre is. Straight ahead is the Central Library, and slightly to the left is the shopping centre (with a Primark).

I stopped by the Covered Market to maybe do a little Christmas shopping. There are shops that sell fresh produce, fish, meat, and flowers. They also have clothing shops, sweet shops, pastry shops, and some cafes. The picture above shows some musicians playing in the middle of the market.

Another picture inside the Covered Market

This is the view up Cornmarket Street (a pedestrian street with lots of shops). I took this after buying a new scarf from one of the street venders. You can see that they have already put up Christmas lights. 

I then went down Broad Street to Blackwell's bookstore where I bought some of my school reading. The White Horse is a pub next to Blackwell's. Down a little further is another pub, The King's Arms, which I would've taken a picture of, but the boys track team ran by...and I got distracted. 

Across from Blackwell's is the Bodelian library. (It's mainly a tourist attraction and photo opp.) You have to have special access to books and even then it's nonlending.

I backtracked so that I could stop at Tesco on the way home (which is right by the bus in this picture).  Tesco is the cheapest place to get groceries and I make a trip there at least once a week. 

Finally arrived back at the flat, laden with shopping sacks. You can see on the right of the picture a train heading my way. Every now and then if a big train comes through, the flat will shake a little (at least the third floor does).

Now I'm sitting in my room, enjoying the solar heat from my windows and snacking on leftover pasta for lunch. My pumpkin still sits on my desk uncarved. He's good company.