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Day 13 (Saturday): Let’s celebrate at a Castle!
Another week has passed in London, and we’ve finally gotten into the routine of our classes. I’m enjoying them very much, and really like the two new teachers we met this week. It’s still hard to remember that we only have classes until the end of February. It feels like we have so much longer to complete our assignments. I’m sure I’ll be constantly reminding myself to work ahead so I don’t get bogged down with all my papers at the end of the term!
To celebrate our hard week of work, a group of us decided to do some sight-seeing at Windsor Castle, the castle the Queen truly calls home. We boarded a green line bus to make the hour long trip to the castle, and were astounded at what we saw when we got off. It was enormous, and everything you would expect of a traditional castle.
Being an AP Art History student, I was immediately impressed by the architecture and stone work, especially of the chapel on the grounds dedicated to Saint George.
As with all my trips to Europe, I continue to be amazed by the appreciation for history that countries like England have. It's something that the United States just can't match. In England, kids get to go on field trips to castles and ancient cathedrals, while Americans go on repeated trips to the Franklin Institute or the Constitution Center.
Of course, America does have a rich history and national identity. Even so, the sense of aesthetic preservation of history here is overwhelming.Being at Windsor Castle was an amazing experience. We couldn’t have asked for better weather considering that it had been pouring down rain the night before, and we were able to take some really nice group shots!
When we returned to Manson Place, Krista and I got down to work cleaning the flat, doing our laundry, and finishing up some of our school work. A very productive and enjoyable day indeed!
Day 12 (Friday): Shopping of the Most Epic Proportions
Seeing as today is the only Friday we will ever have classes while we’re here, the group decided on having some “local” fun. Just two tube stops away from our flat is the most incredible mall in the world: Harrods. Considering its prices however, it seems much more like a museum than a mall!
The girls had a fabulous time looking at all the designer clothes, gowns, shoes, and even wedding dresses, while the guys found such steals as a pool table for only a 10,000 pounds. If that was the sale price, I’d hate to see what it had originally cost!
After getting in a good workout walking all over the mall, Krista and I decided it was time to get something to eat. The Harrods “food court” was practically a whole town of restaurants indoors, offering selections from sushi and fresh grilled fish, to various deli’s and gourmet pizzas.
Immediately, we were attracted to the gelato bar in the center of the room. The number of selections was dizzying, but we finally decided on the Baileys creation, a huge dessert made from vanilla and hazelnut gelato, chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and a generous drizzle of Baileys liquor. To say that it was delicious would be a severe understatement. If Harrods gelato is the only thing there that I can afford, so be it. When Krista and I finally felt as if we could walk again, we went to the upstairs ‘pet kingdom’ to look at the adorable puppies before heading back home for the night.
Day 11 (Thursday): Comfort Food
After finally getting our nonworking refrigerator replaced, Krista and I were eager to cook dinner for the group. But what to make? We settled on something “universal”, a favorite that could please all tastes: my mom’s mac and cheese. However, before we risked exposing our entire friendship circle to what could be a disastrous experiment, we decided to take the recipe for a “test-run” with a couple of our guy friends from the flat.
We made a quick trip to Waitrose, our favorite supermarket, to pick up more cheese than I would otherwise know what to do with, bake at home garlic bread, and a chocolate mousse cake for dessert. For a test-run, we certainly did go all out! Two pots of boiling pasta, eight cups of cheese, and a third of a quart of milk later, our mac and cheese was in the oven. It smelled delicious as it baked and attracted the attention of our friends across the hall. Naturally we invited them to dinner too. An hour later, our dish was bubbling and browned to perfection.
The guys came back from doing their laundry and we were ready to serve! It tasted just as good as it looked! Fortunately, everyone was impressed with our skill, and Krista and I were thrilled at our success. We’ve already scheduled our dinner night for next week, and are looking forward to another taste of home!
This morning before class, Krista and I decided to make our first of what I’m sure will be many trips to Paddington, home of (as you all know) my favorite actor Alan Rickman. We weren’t anticipating much, we still have to “re-find” his favorite café, but we figured it would still be fun to scope out the area and grab some lunch before our afternoon class. As Krista and I walked down the street, we realized that the number of restaurants was slowly thinning out the farther we got from the tube station.
Just as we were about to turn around, Krista mentioned the “gorgeous” houses that were on the street we were approaching. As I began to agree with her, a street sign caught my eye: Westbourne Terrace. We were standing at the corner of Alan Rickman’s street. After what can only be described as a mini-heart attack or seizure, we took some pictures before heading back to the station for lunch. Basking in the glow of my Rickmania, we travelled back to Kensington for class and a night of Harry Potter. What a perfect day!
Day 7 (Sunday): A Surprise to Begin the Week This morning we found our local church here in Kensington and attended Mass. A surprisingly large group of us went. Imagine our surprise when we realized that the 11 AM Mass at St. Philip Neri Church is entirely sung and in Latin! I couldn’t have been happier. There’s something fascinating about going to Mass as it traditionally was in the past. 
I couldn’t understand all of it, but I didn’t need to. That’s one of the great things about the Catholic Mass; no matter what language it’s being said in, you always know what’s going on. The choir was incredible. Their tones and harmonies were beautifully haunting. Combined with the awe inspiring architecture and design of the church itself, the Mass was one of the most peaceful I had ever attended, and was a perfect break after our hectic week of touring and settling down in London!
After Mass, we headed back to our flats for a relaxing afternoon of reading and movie watching! Our first full week in London .... all gone!
