First Post...finally!

Hello everyone! Thanks for taking the time to read my blog...I realize that I have been gone from the lovely Pacific Northwest for almost three weeks (it seems like so much longer!), so there is much to cram in. The way I see it, if I haven't had time to blog then it just means that I have been having too many wonderful and exhausting adventures to keep up.

But that all ends now. So I present to you: Pictoral Highlights! Enjoy.

After flying from Phoenix to London Heathrow to Marseille, I found myself in the Marseille train station. The steps behind me have been there since the 1840s, when this station was the main connection to Africa and the Middle East. More importantly, they are ideal for sitting in the sun and eating pain au chocolat.

The nice French couple who took my picture were also kind enough to capture my natural grace and elegance while traveling.

 

After two trains, an autobus mishap and a desperate bus wrangling attempt I made it through the Alps to the lovely town of Embrun.

...where of course I got to see Natalie!

 

 

After picnic-ing, thrift shopping and sightseeing our way though Embrun, we visited the mountaintop fort of Mont-Dauphin. Of course we did not entirely stick to the marmot trail (the marmots are like large, galloping beavers with different tails that like visitors), and instead hiked up the side of the mountain for a while. There is a small village in the fort that people still live in, and it had spectacular views from all sides. However, I was chastised by a waitress for not eating my tomatoes at lunch.

 

 

Though I had a wonderful time in France, I eventually had to make it back to London so that I could start school. I have a great host family! Parents Marie and Brendan are very funny and helpful when we have questions, and the kids (Terrence and Sarah) are fun to have around. We also have a cat named Jack, who LOVES attention. No pictures of them yet, but I have time left.

 

 

And of course I have my roommate Maggie too!

 

 

One of the many amazing things about London is the accessibility of museums-especially since many of them are FREE! This is the British Museum, but I have also had the opportunity to go the the Museum of London, Courtauld Institute Gallery and National Portrait Gallery...I hope to spend more time in all of them, they have so much to offer.

 

 

I also had the opportunity to tag along with the Shakespeare class to see "King Lear" last week. Now if you actually know me then you know that while I respect Shakespeare, I am certainly not a fanatical follower. HOWEVER, the production was absolutely phenomenal-Jonathan Pryce (aka Governor Swan from "Pirates of the Caribbean") played King Lear, and the stage effects were thoroughly gory (as is the case when flinging bloody eyeballs about).

 

 

I'm not sure how many photos I can upload without having blogger implode, so I'll leave it at Platform 9 3/4 for now.

 

Well this has been a broad summary of the past few weeks...I would also like to point out that I am actually going to school while I'm here, and have been in class for a week now:) I hope that everything is going well at home, stay tuned for more updates!