Spain

Spain

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

A Week Without Class

Hey,

So, classes are over for this term! WOOHOO! I am off to Spain and Portugal tomorrow to visit with my family, who flew from Chicago to hangout with me (and of course see the country). I am very excited to relax with them and tour through Spain and Portugal (we have a very tight itinerary:)

This week was very relaxing and fun. I walked around London (when I wasn't trying to get rid of this cold!) and hung out with friends and attempted to make gingerbread houses (which there are none in London, so they were sugar cookie houses, but they worked just as well).

Well off to finish packing, cause I'm rubbish at it, and minimal sleep before I catch the train and plane!

Happy Holidays!

Laura

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Tis the Season

Hey everyone!

It is week 10 of my fall term! Which means that today is my last official day of class this term before break!  I have one last stat class and lab today and than it is break (well I will start my summative essay...but other than that I'm done:) This term has just flown by and I am excited for a break and exploring Spain and Portugal with my family! I leave for Madrid next Thursday and I am crossing my fingers that it doesn't snow! We are spending almost 2 weeks in Madrid, Sevila, Grenada, Porta and Lison. I am very excited to see my parents, my sister and her husband and just chill. Once I get back it is my birthday and new years in Edinburgh! WOOO HOOO!

My formatives went relatively well but now I have to start thinking more about my dissertation and my summative essay. So many things to think about but hopefully I will develop a really interesting idea that I can form into a interesting and fulfilling dissertation.

I went to Stonehenge and Bath this past weekend and it was great! Unfortunately it was very icey near stonehenge so we couldn't get very close but, we got close enough and it was interesting to see.


We than went to Bath! It was pretty crowded there because it is the Christmas season and everyone is out, shopping christmas markets and enjoying the atmosphere. But we saw the Roman Baths, did a bit of shopping, drank mulled wine and spiced cider and got to see Bath. I want to travel back in the Spring for a spa day and go to the Jane Austen Museum!

We had the best tour guy, well the best because he was funny but not very good. He just let his stream of consciousness do the talking and repeated himself a million times but he was entertaining and we learned more about alien abductions and crop circles at Stonehenge than anyone should:)

It has been so cold here! And the British do not believe in putting down salt for environmental reasons. And I am all for the environment but not if it comes at the cost of my safety! I mean they have to learn how to deal with snow (minimal snow) and salt is the perfect solution. Hopefully they will work that out. Oh and they need to invest in snow plows.


We also went to the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, which was basically a summer amusement park but in winter...it was cool but for the younger kids and a bit pricey but we had a great time.

Well that is all for now. I am planning for trips for next term because my schedule is more flexible and hopefully a job?:)

Love

Laura

ps I bought a plant for the Columbia flower Market and I named him Harry. Hopefully he will survive with the small amount of sun that London produces?