The Backal-Balik's Wild Tour of England

My family came to visit me in London for ten days! In those ten days we managed to pack in quite a bit of sightseeing, not only of London, but Oxford, Windsor Castle, Bath, Stonehenge, Leeds, Dover, and Canterbury! Whew, it's exhausting just typing it all. 


DAY ONE:
We explored the Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, since the weather was so lovely. 


DAY TWO:
I forgot my camera today, so no pictures, unfortunately. 
After class, I met up with the family after their tour of the Tower of London. We crossed Tower Bridge and got a tour of Shakespeare's Globe. After the tour, we headed back across Millennium bridge to catch the Evensong service at St. Paul's Cathedral. Finally, we ended the day dinner at Pain Quotideinne, in Convent Garden. 


DAY THREE:
Today we took a day trip to Oxford. It ended up being much more of an adventure than we had anticipated. We rented a car to drive there, and as it turns out, driving on the left side of the rode is a lot harder than it looks! Poor dad suffered through a two hour drive both ways and very impressively managed not to kill us. It was rough going for awhile there, though.
When we finally arrived at Oxford with higher blood pressure and a few more dents and scratches on the car than we started with, we first went for a tour of Oxford's libraries, including the Radcliffe Camera. This time I remembered my camera.

We also saw a couple of the official courtrooms

When the sunlight comes through the yellow rectangle, the judge knows it's time to break for tea. 

The Hospital Wing in the Harry Potter movies! (Actually an exam room).  Minus Madame Pomfrey 

The Bridge of Sighs (Named after the one in Italy)

We took a lunch break in a sandwich shop with a lovely ivy-covered courtyard. 

After lunch we headed over to Chirst's Church College, we wanted to go there mostly too see more Harry Potter related things, but as it turned out the campus and the buildings were quite lovely on their own.

Christ Church College

The steps where Professor McGonagall greeted the first years!

The cafeteria that the Great was modeled after. Identical except without the enchanted ceiling.  Apparently, it's still in use as a dining hall for Oxford students to this day.

DAY FOUR:
We started off the day with some markets. First, I took the family to see Spitalfield Market, an outdoor market filled with antiques, and vintage jewelery and clothes. Then on to Borough Market for lunch.

Liv got grilled cheese.

Then we headed over to Trafalger Square and I showed the family some of my favorite works of art in the National Gallery, which I've gotten to know quite well after having class there about once a week. Then Indian and Punjab for dinner. 
After dinner we literally sprinted to the Adelphi Theater, which was further away from the restaurant than we had anticipated, and although we were a bit sweaty and out of breath, we made it literally just in time to see Sweeney Todd! 
It was incredibly good, starring Michael Ball as Sweeney Todd and Imelda Staunton (Dolores Umbridge) as Mrs. Lovitt. It was especially cool seeing the show in London, where it's set.  

Afterwards, we went to the stage door and Michael Ball came out and signed our programs. Imelda never came out though, we waited for an hour and it turned out she left through the front door right after the show ended! 

 

Although I felt slightly snubbed by Dolores, seeing the show will be one of my favorite memories from my semester abroad. Sweeney Todd is one my favorite musicals, and I was so glad I could share it with my family.

DAY FIVE:

I had class all day, so Mom, Dad, and Liv went on tours of Westminster Abbey and Parliament, which I had already done. In the evening, I met up with them and took them to the London Eye. I didn't go on, because I hate heights, but they said it was an amazing view. I got some great shots from the safety of ground-level though.

DAY SIX:

We wanted to do more day trips, but decided we valued our lives too much to try to deal with a rental car again. (Also, I think the rental agency values their cars too much to let us drive them again). Instead, we went on a bus tour I found online, a tour run by a company called Evans Evans. If you ever want to go on day trips, go with these people, I cannot recommend them enough. They pick you up at your hotel, and drive you to a series of sights, all with a personalized guided tour of each sight. 

Today we went to Windsor Castle, Bath, and Stonehenge. First Windsor.  

Windsor was absolutely gorgeous, the castle as well as the grounds. The tour was very interesting, we got to see everything except the state apartments, which we couldn't see because the Queen was there entertaining. In fact, we found out that Stephen Spielberg was actually there giving the Queen a private screening of War Horse! Our tour guide was quite indignant, and wondered why the Queen couldn't go to the pictures like the rest of us. 

When the flag is raised, it means the Queen is staying in Windsor. 

The State Apartments aside, Windsor was lovely. 

Although we didn't get to see the apartments, we did get to see one of the Queen's dogs! Our tour-guide said that in all the years they had been coming to Windsor, she'd never seen that before, so apparently we were quite lucky.

The dog is that tiny brown bit of fuzz walking away towards the door.  Can you  make it out?

We also caught the Changing of the Guard of Windsor Castle. 

They were playing an ABBA medley for some inexplicable reason, not complaining though, ABBA  is awesome. Dad suggested that maybe they played it in honor of Spielberg who perhaps was an ABBA fan.

Then back on the bus to head to Bath. This is pretty much how Mom and Dad passed the time:

Sleeping on the bus ride from Windsor to Bath.

This is pretty much how Liv passed the time. 

Our first sight of Bath. Our tour guide said you know you're in Bath if you see a lot of acorns. There's a myth about Bath where a pig-herder with leprosy was drawn to Bath because his pigs were attracted to all the acorns there. While he was there, he was cured by bathing in the waters. The acorns all over the city are a reference to the miraculous waters and that story.

Bath Catherdral. The coolest thing about this Cathedral are the angels on the facade. They are literally climbing ladders. The meaning of this was that the Cathedral allowed them to climb up the ladder to heaven.  

Jane Austen's House. 

The squares in the city were frequented by street performers, this guy was particularly impressive. 

The Roman Baths. 

The water itself was pretty dirty (they warn you not to touch it, actually, because it's so filled with bacteria) and a little smelly, but it was just beautiful. In the sun, it was lovely just to sit at the water's edge and pretend you're in a Jane Austen novel.

After Bath, we made our way to Stonehenge. 

It was particularly impressive as the sun started to set. 

As impressive as the sight was, I think my favorite part was that they were entirely surrounded by fields of grazing sheep.

DAY SEVEN:

We started our day with an open-top bus tour of London.

My favorite part was this great view of Parliament we got going over a bridge

After the bus tour we met up with a family friend who lives in London, David, for tea. We spent hours catching up. After I took the family to see Harrods--London's most famous department store. 


They had a whole floor especially set up selling chocolates for Easter. Dad and I discovered it trying to find the bathroom. 

DAY EIGHT:
We started off this day with an unfortunately unsuccessful attempt to see a trial at the Old Bailey. Unfortunately, we got there on time, but they had decided to break for lunch 15 minutes early, so we missed our chance! 

After we headed over to the British Museum. Dad and I had a bit of fun in the Egyptian Wing. 

Then we had Afternoon Tea at the British Museum, it doesn't get any more British than that!

Dad felt really manly. 

Then we sprinted to get to the Charles Dickens Museum. (We seemed to do a lot of sprinting on this visit). Luckily, thanks to a kindly cab driver who saw us running and offered us a free cab ride, we made it just in time before they closed. 

We ended the day with a traditional Fish and Chips dinner at the pub just around the corner from my dorm. 

DAY NINE:
On the family's last full day in England, we decided to do another Evans Evans tour, because we liked it so much. This time, we did a tour of Leeds Castle, The Cliffs of Dover, and Canterbury. 


Leeds Castle might have been the most beautiful place I ever been. The castle itself was lovely, but it was the grounds that really blew you away.

Along with the breathtaking scenery, the castle grounds had some incredible wildlife. 

The White Cliffs of Dover are home to Dover Castle. We didn't get to see them, because  they aren't open this time of year. Our tour guide explained that we weren't missing much, however, because they're now mostly ruins. The cliffs were very impressive; they're white because they're actually chalk cliffs. 

The beach was a stone-beach, not a sand beach. Although not as comfortable to walk on, it was actually quite pretty. 

The tour ended in Canterbury. The town itself was mostly shopping, but the most impressive part was its magnificent Cathedral. 

DAY TEN:
And so ended our visit! Today, Mom, Dad, and Liv all headed to Heathrow Airport, back home to the states, and I headed over to the St. Pancras Station to start my spring break travels in Amsterdam and Bruges!
It was wonderful seeing them and I can't wait to see them again soon! Thanks for visiting you guys!

Visit to Paris (...Yes, I realize the most of this is about food)

Day I 
On Thursday morning Rachel and I took the Chunnel to Paris (Amy had to come on a later train because she forgot her passport!). 


The ride went by very quickly, we slept through most of it. 

Sleepin' on the Chunnel

Libby met us at the metro, and we dropped off our things at her apartment, which she generously shared with us on our four day stay.


We had baguettes, cheese, and fruit for lunch-delicieux! 

I love bread!!!

Then we walked to the Eiffel Tower...

...and walked along the Seine....

...until we got crepes for dinner and ate them at the steps of Notre Dame. 

When we got back to Libby's room we watched The Hunchback of Notre Dame, since we were in the spirit of things. 


Day II
We started off the day with chocolate croissants at the local Boulangerie. 

Then we spent over 3 hours in the Louvre!! (i.e. me and Amy's dream come true and Rachel's worst nightmare) 

Finally, Amy and Rachel were able to drag me away so we could go get lunch.
We had Croque-Monsieur's for lunch at Cafe Palais Royal, right across the street from the Louvre.

After lunch we walked to the Tuileries and took a nap on the park benches. 

Amy went off to a Vassar College Choir dinner with important people, and Rachel, Libby, and I went back to Libby's and made pasta with mushrooms and green-beans.

Then we went out to the Latin Quarter and got more crepes for dessert!  

Day III
Today we got more chocolate croissants and then headed over the Musee D'Orsay for another art-filled day (much to my joy and Rachel's chagrin).


Then we went for lunch at a sandwich place called Cosi (not the American chain) and took our sandwiches to the park. 

The sandwiches were amazing, but the highlight of lunch was by far the weird Frenchman who came up to Amy and said, "Wow, the woman of my future, you." 


After lunch we went to Sacre-Ceour, a beautiful church on top of a giant hill. 

The walk was tiring, but absolutely worth the beautiful view.   

Then we went to the Moulin Rouge and had a bit of fun taking pictures. 

Day IV
We started our last day in Paris back at Notre Dame--this time for Mass. Rachel didn't like that it was in French and Latin so we couldn't understand it, but I realized it didn't bother me very much because I'm used to having religious services in a language I can't really understand.


After experiencing some Catholic culture, we headed over the Jewish Quarter in Paris and I got delicious Bagel and Lox!

I also finally got my belated Hamentashen! It was so good, I finally found a place as good as Famous Deli in Philly for Hamentashen, too bad its a little out of the way...

Then we headed over to Charlotte's, a hot chocolate place recommended by our good family friend, Ruth. The hot chocolate was amazing, it was like drinking melted chocolate from a mug! 

Then it was time to pack up and say Au Revoir to Libby, back to the Chunnel and back to London!  

Libby's in London!

This past week, Libby came over from France to visit us here in London. Her visit was fun-filled and very busy. I'll give you the highlights from each day.


Wednesday:
We got dinner at Yo! A sushi restaurant where all the food is on conveyor belts. 

Then we went to see Les Miserables, starring Ramin Karimloo as Jean Valjean! We didn't have the best seats, we were way up in the balcony, but the production was breathtaking. 

In front of the theater before the show

Ramin as Jean Valjean

Thursday:
I played hookie and went to see the Wallace Collection with Amy and Libby. The museum used to be a mansion, and even without the amazing art, the rooms themselves are gorgeous.

Amy and I presented on this Canaletto view of Venice for our art history class

Me with Frans Hals' Laughing Cavalier

Then we got some sandwiches and ate them outside in Hyde Park. We wandered the park for awhile before stopping for Tea and Scones at the Orangery---a tea house in Kensington Gardens.

At Round Pond in the Kensington Gardens

The Orangery 

Tea and scones

 Then we had another Taco Night in Jason's kitchen--another triumph in group cooking!

Mmmm....tacos.

Friday:
We went back to Borough Market for some more free samples and delicious treats. Then we crossed Tower Bridge on our way over to the Spittlefield Market, where they have tons of stand that sell clothes and accessories, as well as great old records, CD's, and movies. 


Saturday:
For Libby's last day in London, we went to Westminster Abbey and got a two-hour tour of the 900 year old church. 

We also took Lib to the National Gallery


We finished off the day with delicious Indian food at Punjab restaurant and cookies at Ben's in Convent Garden. 

Dark chocolate chunk!

Finally, we went Karaoke Night at the UCL bar.


Libby left this morning, but we'll be seeing her in less than a week, Amy, Rachel, and I have already bought our tickets to visit her in Paris on Wednesday!