Life Abroad

Originally from the States, studying in London, walking about.

[thestrongseed]

Keep on writing!

Perhaps, whenever my next true adventure begins I will recommence this blog, but as it stands, there has been nothing of real note to write about. Except maybe that I find living in a technical warzone to be exhilarating. 

[thestrongseed]

A Sorrowful Cheerio

It is with mounting sorrow that I type out this post, as it marks the end of my thrilling stay in London. I'm not yet returning to my esteemed country of origin, but I daresay this departure from England may denote the sad ending of the blog. I'm not decided upon the matter yet, but it seems to me that my leaving the United Kingdom is the beginning of a new and distinct period separate from the rest of my time abroad, and as such is not naturally contiguous with the rest of the narrative of my time abroad. We shall see, as things progress. I would however, like to express in short some of my thoughts upon leaving this magnificent country which over the past several months I have been honored to call my home. Upon arriving in England I had many preconceived notions about what life here would be like, and what the residents of this country were like. I was quickly disabused about these convictions, and also rapidly formed fresh impressions. Even some of these new impressions were changed over time. I'd like to believe that my adventures have been manifold, and yet they were also not precisely what I had expected upon first arriving. In some ways I must admit that I am disappointed, in other ways, I am extremely pleased with myself. My adventures were of a more practical and less storybook type than I was expecting. I traveled widely, sometimes on my own for days and yet managed to conduct myself in such a way that I remained safe. I'd like to think that this independence shows a strength of character (perhaps that's pompous of me). Is it everyone who has the motivation to pick out destinations and then go to them even when no one else is willing to go along? Does just anyone have the zeal and wanderlust to always be searching over the next hill, trying to go beyond the further horizon? I must confess, I do not believe so. I hope that I have proven a capable traveler. Even now, my adventure is not at an end, and I still retain the urge to see someplace new. My audacity only increases with each new place I visit. That isn't to say that I haven't enjoyed the places I have been immensely, but rather that each of the places further impressed upon my mind that idea that there are more things to see than can ever been seen, and that even so I must try to see as many as I can before my feet can carry me no longer. That said, I must confess, that during my tenure abroad, none of the places I have visited have impressed and dazzled me as much as London and it's environs. Indeed, none of the places has even held a candle to the great metropolis in which I have been fortunate enough to find myself. Every walk in London has revealed a new delight, a new face to her multifaceted beauty. I sincerely hope that fate will steer me back to her at some later date in my life. That once again I'll get to walk the lovely banks of her river Thames, that once more I'll get to see her elegant and austere buildings. I await that day. For now I must bid her good bye, and I hope that the city could talk she would wish me godspeed. 

[thestrongseed]

Pictures of the Day

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Pictures of the Day

[thestrongseed]

Windsor and Eton

Yesterday, Mashie left in the morning. I escorted her to the airport, and then came home. It was a sad separation, but I think we both handled it well. After I got back I did some errands and then in the evening my market friends had a small going away party for me. I went early and helped cook dinner. It was a pleasant evening. This morning, I went to the market briefly to say hello before catching a train to Windsor. I walked about the castle for a few hours, as well as the town of windsor itself, and also the town of Eton across the river.. All of it was rather picturesque, and interesting. It was a nice time. After I got back I hung out at the market for a little while. Once the market began to close, I said my farewells and then went and had my hair cut. Afterwards, I came back to my room and cleaned up, did laundry, and generally prepared for my upcoming departure. In the evening I hung out with Al a bit since she's leaving tomorrow. Now, it's definitively time for bed. 

[thestrongseed]

Last Full Day With Mash

This morning Mashie and I had a delectable breakfast at the hotels restaurant before going out for a bit more of her shopping. While we walked I found a new shopping arcade that I'd never seen before, and although I didn't purchase anything I still really liked just looking at the stuff in the windows. There were all types of fancy waistcoats, jackets, cravats, and hats that all seemed very old fashioned and elegant. If I'm ever prosperous enough to dress like that, then maybe someday I'll go back. Afterwards, we went to the Churchill War Rooms. Mashie had already been so she sat in the park and read while I went through them. They were interesting. Pretty much what I expected. The museum within dedicated to Churchill reinvigorated my already strong admiration for him though. After the museum, we walked and had lunch at a place called Cafe Rouge off the strand, and from there took the tube back to the hotel where we rested until the evening. In the evening we went to the area around Covent Garden for dinner, and had fish n chips at a famous restaurant for fish n chips. I can't remember the name however, I'm sure you can look it up. After dinner we meandered for a bit, until it was time for us to go to the theatre where we saw a performance of the Pajama Game. I went in with low expectations, and came out having enjoyed it a great deal. That's no so surprising though since I usually have low expectations when it comes to musicals. Afterwards we caught the tube back again, but the line we were on had some trouble so we had to switch twice. I daresay Mashie was quite exhausted by the time we arrived back at the hotel. I believe I pushed her to her limits today. Anyways, after I dropped her off I caught the tube back to my place for the night. Tomorrow, I'll meet her at the hotel in the morning. 

[thestrongseed]

I hope the photographs I've taken have been acceptable to everyone in lieu of a blog entry about my adventures. Suffice it to say that we saw many very beautiful things, and had a ball of a time. Feel free to send any additional questions you might have, and I'll do my best to answer them. 

[thestrongseed]

Santiago De Compostela & A Coruña

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Porto

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Cherbourg

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Guernsey and the Isle of Sark

[thestrongseed]

My Trip With Mashie

So I'm not sure there's any way for me to concisely write about a weeks worth of events, and it's also come to my attention that people are generally more appreciative of my photographs than of the actual summations of events. I'll therefore just say that after leaving the hotel called the Laniston House which was is near Winchester, Mashie and I boarded a cruise ship at Southampton port and have been cruising for the past weeks. I'll post photographs from each stop of the trip. Today we disembarked and came to London. We arrived at our hotel here and went to Harrods shortly thereafter. It was a trying time for me since I hate that store vehemently. It's an overcrowded shopping mall/tourist trap. The music is too loud, and there's too many people. After a while there we had lunch at a nearby pizzeria and then went back in in search of more presents. After that, we caught the train back to our hotel. I took my suitcase from the room and brought it back to my flat while Mashie stayed in the room. Afterwards I came back and we hung out for a bit before having dinner at the lovely hotel restaurant. After that we watched some television as the conclusion of the day. Photographs to follow this post.  

[thestrongseed]

I know it's been a while. My internet access is limited. I'll shall make a hopefully extensive update when Internet availability permits.

[thestrongseed]

Pictures of the Day

[thestrongseed]

Mashie Arrives

So my grandmother, who will henceforth be referred to as Mashie, arrived this morning. I woke up early and met her at Heathrow. From Heathrow we drove to our lovely hotel in the south of England. We went to a falconry and got to 'hold' and see several birds of prey including a golden eagle, a kestrel, and two owls. It was really exciting since I've always wanted to have a falcon perch on my arm. The area we were in was incredible as well. Later when we went back to the hotel we rested for a bit and in the evening went to a protracted dinner, at the hotels fancy restaurant. It doesn't sound like all that much, but it was a lovely day. Especially talking with Mashie, and walking around by the hotel. Tomorrow will bring new adventures. 

[thestrongseed]

Catch Up

Sorry for not writing last night, I forgot. I'll just do a quick recap here since I'm waiting at the moment anyways. Yesterday's plan was originally to go to Windsor castle for the day and check that out, but I ended up waking later than I planned since I was up packing the night before and so instead I went to the market and hung out there with my market friends for a most of the day. Even though I didn't do anything incredibly exciting I still think it was a good day since I got to spend it with my friends who I won't be seeing again for a while after I leave England. It's a funny crowd I've fallen in with at the market, but I am happy that I befriended then. Looking back on it it was an odd way to begin a friendship, but I suppose many of the best friendships begin in odd ways. Anyways, in the evening I mostly just hung out in my room. I made a pretty good dinner for myself as well. 

[thestrongseed]

Pictures of the Day