Mi Viaje

This is somewhat of a shift from the previous blogs but I'm in Spain for the weekend. I arrived on Wednesday night/Thursday morning and I'm leaving on Sunday.

So far I've seen all the Gaudi Architecture (including parc Guell), all of Passeig de Gracia (the equivalent of a huge Newbury Street in Boston), Parc Montjuic, the Castle at Montjuic (which is INCREDIBLE architecturally speaking), the Barcelona Botanic Gardens, Palau Nacional, and the Olympic Stadium. I found an amazing lookout over the city right before sunset too, and sat and listened to a man play flamenco guitar while the sun went down over all the buildings. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I also spent a little while watching some people play soccer on a cement "field." I felt like a real local watching them slip everywhere and yelling at each other in Spanish.

On my trip I've noticed that 1. I'm one of the tallest girls in Spain. 2. Everyone here speaks quickly and many of the words I've learned are different than the words they use in Spain. 3. People are generally really nice here. 4. I love Barcelona and would like to live here for about a year.

I've got a day and a half left in Spain, and then it's back to Oxford until Friday. It's hard to believe that in seven days I'll be back in Amherst. My emotions are mixed. In a lot of ways I am excited to go back home, but this has also one of the best experiences in my life. I've learned a lot and feel so thankful to have had the experience. I'll certainly miss it overseas, but there's no reason why I can't go back.


And now for a music recommendation:

The Maccabees - "Toothpaste Kisses"

This is also a brilliant acoustic performance by the same artist.

More Views of Oxford

In case you haven't seen enough pictures lately, I'm making an effort to get you all caught up so you feel like you're actually here with me. Let the browsing begin.

Here is an exterior view of Christ's Church. Many know this building because of Harry Potter. It's incredible. I won't get into the history here, but if you're interested I've got some of the details.

Since we already brought up Harry Potter, why not mention more entertainment news. It seems like there's always news of some sort of filming going on in Oxford. This is a sign for "Brideshead Revisited," a big time television series. We've also seen filming of The Golden Compass and a German fashion magazine photo shoot.

Here are a couple images of the New College gardens, as well as the old city wall. Long ago gardens were used as a kind of PR for getting donors to donate to a specific college. Trick features were common in gardens.

This is the gate to the Botanical Gardens in Oxford. If my memory serves me right this is one of the first free standing structures in Oxford built in the classical style.

Typical (and remarkable) views of Oxford.


A view of Oxford through the Queens College Arch.

The most recent location of the Oxford University Printing press (pictured above William Brennan Thomas' head).

This is The Eagle and Child, a pub. It's the best and most cost effective place for amazing ravioli and also the former hangout for C.S. Lewis and Tolkien.

Although this isn't the best picture in existence, this is the best replica of The Last Supper in existence. Completed just ten years after the original, it's certainly world famous.

Now we'll venture through the countryside, where everything seems to be completely different.

A view of the Thames.

Sir William Brennan Thomas tending to the sheep.

Below are some views of the ruins of a nunnery.

My new favorite artist is The Blow. If you prefer videos as opposed to the Myspace link given above, the videos below are for you.

The Blow - "True Affection" (warning: This video is not created by The Blow)


The Blow - "Parenthesis"

The Hall

What Lauren Proctor discussion would be complete without the mention of food? So what better than to show you where we eat most of the time? Here is a photo tour of the Trinity College (dining) Hall.

This is the exterior of the hall.

Some stained glass in one of the hall windows.

A detailed painting in The Hall.

Last but not least, every Tuesday we have formal banquet dinners. Set in the style of old lords who had people over, the most important guests sit at the most elevated tables. Here are a few pictures of my friends and I at high table, as well as a few post high table festivities (when some people have changed into more comfortable clothes).

Me in the process of getting ready for one of the High Table Banquet dinners.

Further along in the getting ready process. Quite a bad shot though, I apologize.

While the dress look is certainly nice, nothing beats the power suit my parents got me for my birthday. Hopefully this suit will get me through a nice grad school interview but for now it's my favorite High Table outfit.

After formal dinners we often head down to the Trinity College Beer cellar. Most people get drinks but I have a particular fondness for darts and foos ball.
Another picture at the beer cellar, featuring friends from the program.

Lori was telling me some sort of story at Thirst. She cracks me up.

Dancing at Thirst on a Tuesday night, one of our favorite places in Oxford. I think the song was telling us to put our hands up. Some friends featured here are Emily, Smuffly, Lori, and Liz.

And just before we close, I thought I'd show you an amazing view of Trinity from the back gate entrance. For anyone who has checked out the Trinity web cam, this is an extended view of what the web cam shows. I call the part of left hand side of the U shaped building home.


Currently listening to Scissors for Lefty - "Next to Argyle" It's a great song but gets stuck in your head easily so take precautions accordingly.

A Photo Tour

Oxford is a work of art. I haven't shown you nearly enough of the breathtaking views I've been living in over the past few weeks. So in an effort to document some sort of visual tour, I present to you, The Photo Tour.

To begin I'll show you a few photos of the Oxford skyline. These photos were taken at the top of the Sheldonian Theatre, a building designed by the famous Christopher Wren.






If you were to walk through Trinity College you would probably stumble upon some of the views below.



Here are some newcomers to Trinity College. I have a particular fondness for these guys...very bookish if I may say so myself. Jajaja



I'll leave you with that, but expect more photos soon.

Now that you're all pictured out I'll give you something to watch and listen to. Justice is releasing an album with a cross on the cover. They refuse to give the album a title, hoping that fans will create some sort of album name. And interestingly enough, just like one of the last head bobbing fun packed songs, we have a video that features t-shirts that change with the song lyrics.

Justice - "D.A.N.C.E."

The Flooding

I've received a few emails and instant messages about the flooding in Oxford and I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to make sure I'm not floating down the Thames somewhere. Apparently Oxford was on The Today Show or Good Morning America. Fortunately for us, there hasn't been any flooding in the actual downtown Oxford area. Mostly people outside Oxford, on the countryside, are affected. Our Oxford Architecture professor informed us that it hadn't rained in the area this much since 1740. Unfortunately some of Central London was flooding, many of the bus and train lines were flooded out, and our planned trip to Bath had to be canceled. They also had to make the decision on where to reroute the river. Rather than sending the water towards historic buildings, they sent it towards people's homes, knowing that they would have insurance whereas history doesn't. It's interesting seeing the flood and I hope for the locals' sake that the rain subsides. Ironically, for you literary buffs out there, our Literary Makings of the Modern Self class has just finished George Eliot's Mill on the Floss.

While we haven't been directly affected by the floods, here are a few local views of places that are still fine after all this rainfall, as well as a few places that are struggling.

Oxford is built along the Thames with meadows and wetlands meant to take excess water. Look at that view from between the trees though. Truly amazing.

I suppose we can only hope for little rain so the situation doesn't become worse. For the most part though, we're keeping on with our daily activities and sticking a little closer to home since the flooding has affected some traveling.

Of course, I can't go long without talking about music. I formally declare that the United States is in desperate need of another British music invasion. American pop music tends to have a sad, gloomy, and depressive air. Think of Daniel Powter's "Bad Day" or The Fray's "Lips of an Angel." If you really listen, these songs are enough to send a bright mood into temporary gloomy depression. British pop, on the other hand, has a way of making you break out in a grin and start bouncing to the beat. One of my favorite UK artists right now is Just Jack. If he doesn't make you smile I don't know what will. So therefore, I've got Just Jack on endless repeat. Two of my favorite songs from his album Overtones can be played below:

Just Jack - "Stars in Their Eyes"


Just Jack - "Glory Days"