One Week!

I decided I would take a quick break from my Advertising paper I'm currently working on to tell you about our Tuesday.  We woke up to the cold yet again this morning, but were overjoyed when one of the housekeepers knocked on our door, blankets in hand, to come in and turn on our heat!  Finally, no more living in an igloo!  After that relief, we both had our classes for the day.  I had my first of two presentations this week, which was such a relief to get over with - there's nothing better than being able to check something off of my to do list!  After class we had a nice lunch before it was time to get right back into work.  As I started the paper that I am still in the process of figuring out, Lauren was very studious and worked on her International Markets paper.  With a few hours of work under my belt, I ran out to pick up my dry cleaning that I dropped off yesterday.  This was the first time I have gotten anything dry cleaned here, and after paying for it, I'm going to do it as rarely as possible.  But luckily my things came out all nice and clean (not too many, Mom, don't worry)!  A quick run to Waitrose and I was back with Lauren in the kitchen making dinner.  We ate with a few of our flatmates, talking about all we had to get done before the end of the week.  Après dîner (I'm practicing for our Paris trip!), we both had group meetings to attend, and now we're both back at our papers.  We were going to try to be really productive and watch Project Runway tonight, but we'll see how that goes.  We're just trying to keep reminding ourselves that we're almost done - a week from right now we will be basking in Florence!
    xo Carolyn

The Final Stretch

You know those mornings when you wake up and dread doing whatever you have to do that day? Sunday morning was the first time I’ve woken up with that mindset in London. First task: laundry round 2 at Bobo’s. Long story short (I’m sure you all don’t want to hear me complain), 2 hours later I was back in Courtfield with all my DAMP clothes. Either the washers don’t have a strong enough spin cycle or the dryers are worthless; my guess is as good as yours. I should have followed Carolyn and gone to the full-service place on Gloucester, but I of course was too lazy on a Sunday.
Before I had left, Carolyn had made her way down to the basement, MacBook in hand, determined to write her marketing paper. About an hour after I got back, she had finished! I was incredibly impressed, as no work had been started on my end yet. But a few cups of coffee and a chocolate bar later, I found (some) motivation to create my group’s PowerPoint presentation for International Management. By the time dinner came around, I had pretty much finished. Carolyn and I took a much needed break for a leisurely dinner with flat-mates, hearing about their exciting weekend at Oktoberfest! Then, at 6:45 we had a mission: book fall break! Only 10 days away, we didn’t have our flights or hotel planned and time was ticking; but, an hour later and we were officially passengers of Alitalia! We’re leaving the Tuesday afternoon of break for Florence to visit Brittany and Pam, then taking the train Thursday night to Rome to spend the weekend! I can’t wait to get back to Italy (and eat pasta, pizza, and gelato to my heart’s content!). A little more work (and some more chocolate) rounded out our Sunday night before heading to bed. This last week of classes is not going to be fun!
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Monday morning’s alarm was unwelcomed for three reasons: it was early, it was dreary out, and it was COLD. We’ve been having a heat issue, you could say. And by heat issue I mean it’s like an ice box. We’re not sure what the issue is, but Christine and I both sent in maintenance orders so hopefully the issue is sorted out soon.
Classes were more bearable simply because we knew it was the last week; on the other hand, Carolyn and I both have an extra class on Friday, meaning a total of 20 hours of class, multiple presentations, and a couple of papers in a matter of 5 days. Yikes. This whole “school” thing is a lot more than we bargained for! I, however, did manage to escape South Ken for the afternoon by heading on a field trip with my European Capital Markets class to the City, the financial district of London. We started with a walking tour, seeing the Royal Exchange (the center of commerce founded in 1565), the Lloyds of London building (SO COOL), and standing at the base of the Gerkin. We also got a feel of what the City was like in the olden days, meandering through narrow alleys and hidden courtyards. I think the highlight in everyone’s minds, however, was seeing Leadenhall Market, AKA Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter films!

Leadenhall Market/Diagon Alley!

Bank of England

Our tour ended up at the Bank of England, where we had a lecturer explain the structure and history, followed by a short video and a quick look around the museum. I got to touch one of the gold bars England holds in its reserves: it weighs 28 pounds and (today) was valued at over 330,000 GBP! By 3:30 we were able to head back to Courtfield and start back in on our work. Carolyn had been diligent all afternoon preparing for her advertising presentation tomorrow. We both had dinner with Maggie before I headed out to a group meeting at Harrington. When I returned, I managed to work on my International Management term paper for a couple of hours before calling it an early night. Tomorrow I am going to be VERY productive, I promise!
xo LC

A Day at the Spa

Before our parents get concerned, no, we did not actually go the spa on Saturday, despite how much our hands and feet need it.  After our shopping day on Friday, we thought we would choose a more cultural activity and took a train to Bath Spa for the day!  Before coming here, I never thought this small countryside city would be somewhere on my must see list in England, but after Brittany raved about it from her quick trip this summer, we definitely wanted to explore it.  We decided we would make it a full day visit, planning to catch a 9 am train from Paddington.  We thought we were giving ourselves plenty of time when we left our flat at 8:10, but we had no idea what we would have to do to get to that darn station.  The Circle Line, the tube line that takes you directly to Paddington, was completely closed this weekend, so we were left with our trusty folding tube map to find an alternate route.  After getting on a train going in the opposite direction, figuring out the very confusing signs at Earl's Court station, and a 20 minute bus ride, we made our way into Paddington at 8:59...so no 9 am.  Luckily, the trains to Bath run every 30 minutes, so we hopped on the 9:30, but of course not before mistaking first class for coach - we knew the seats looked too nice for us.
After a serene hour and a half train ride, we finally arrived at Bath Spa.  The city is charming the moment you look out the window; lines and lines of stately stone houses are set against the gorgeous green hills of the English countryside.  Despite being a bit blustery, the weather was gorgeous, so we decided to enjoy the five minute walk from the station to our first destination of the day, the Roman Baths.  These ancient ruins, dating back to when the Romans settled in Britain, were buried underneath the city for thousands of years until they were uncovered to reveal ornate architecture and an amazing natural spring.  As we made our way through the site, we were able to see all of the different baths in which the community would come together to socialize.  They were numerous different ones of various sizes and shapes, but our favorite was the Great Bath; it was once covered by a high domed ceiling but is now open air.  We were able to walk around its edge, even dipping our finger in when no one was looking.  Because it is heated by a natural spring, the water felt absolutely amazing; if the bottom hadn't been covered with green muck, I would have been tempted to jump in right then!

After making our way through the rest of the baths, we strolled through the center of town, lined with shops and vendors all eager to mingle with the Saturday tourists.  We continued up the hill to our next stop, the Fashion Museum.  Mrs. Hoag had told us this was a really fun place, and we can totally see why she loved it.  In addition to seeing some amazing pieces of clothing (J. Lo's Grammy dress!), visitors could try on corsets and hoop skirts to get a feel for what women in centuries past had to put up with.  Of course, Lauren and I had to do this, and all that we could say was we were glad we live in the 21st century!  Not comfy to say the least.  The museum was also featuring an exhibition called "The Diana Dresses," which is of course right up our alley.  We got to see some of her favorite outfits, including her famous goat sweater (apparently the company that made it sold thousands the day after she wore it).  We were wishing my mom and Mrs. Csordas were with us, as we knew they would have loved it just as much as we did!
Next up was my request, the Jane Austen Center.  If you know me you know how much I love Pride & Prejudice (especially the movie), and I was excited to learning more about Austen and her time in Bath.  She lived in the town for a number of years, setting two of her novels there.  Ultimately, she came to dislike it as she thought its residents were too caught up in social society, but Bath's inhabitants still think of her fondly and are fascinated by her stories.  We listened to a brief talk about Jane's life, and were then escorted down the stairs of the tiny building to the exhibition.  Here we saw period costumes and features on Jane's everyday life in Bath and how it spilled over into her novels.  I loved it, but the best part was yet to come.  On the second floor of the building is the Regency Tea Room, and of course we were there just in time for an afternoon break.  The menu is beyond adorable, with items such as "Tea with Mr. Darcy" and "Lady Catherine's Cream Tea,"  which we opted for.  We both enjoyed delicious blends (of course I had to try the Jane Austen blend, while Lauren opted for her favorite English Breakfast) and two scones...soooo good!  It was all just too cute, a perfect Saturday afternoon activity.

By the time we were done at the Center, the Sun had made it a little warmer out, so we decided to walk to the Royal Crescent.  Once a grand collection of homes, this large semicircular Georgian building is now home to a hotel, museum and various flats and offices.  The expansive lawn was dotted with people, undoubtedly the most entertaining being those celebrating the final day of the weeklong Jane Austen festival.  They were dressed up head to toe in period costumes, and even had the slow saunter to go along with them.  After taking some necessary pictures, we continued through the Royal Park and through the Botanical Gardens, which reminded us of the Secret Garden.  We then slowly made our way back to the town center, and by the time we had returned to the Roman Baths we were exhausted and decided to call it a day.  We hopped on a late afternoon train back to Paddington, taking one last glance at the adorable town.  Pulling out of the station, we both decided that we really want to explore more of the English countryside; it is just so absolutely beautiful (and reminds us of all of those wonderfully romantic novels we read senior year...).  We both managed a quick cat nap before our arrival back in London, and by the time we got off the train we could barely keep our eyes open (or at least that was my feeling).  Luckily, we were able to catch a much quicker tube ride back to South Ken, where we spent the early evening relaxing and making a delicious dinner.
Later on, we went out to Piccadilly with a few girls from our hall.  Despite the freezing weather, we were able to visit a couple fun clubs before calling it a night.  Sunday was slated to be our work day, so we decided we would get a good night's sleep to make the most of the long day ahead!
    xo Carolyn
  

Westfield Wonderland

Friday morning was a very welcomed event: the latest we had slept-in since we arrived! Almost four weeks to the date (I can’t believe its been that long!) Carolyn and I had the pleasure of sleeping in until 10:30… and we definitely needed it! Unfortunately, we woke up to a chilly London morning complete with rain. It poured at first but led eventually to a drizzle. Our one mission for the morning was laundry. Awful. We schlepped our towels and sheets down to Bobo’s Bubbles (I wish I was kidding) where we essentially watched our laundry spin for almost an hour. With the weather so dreary, it seemed acceptable at the time. After that mission had been accomplished, we decided on the rest of the day’s activity. It wasn’t hard to convince either of us: the Westfield Mall. It’s claim to fame? The largest urban mall in Europe: 1.7 billion pounds, 43 acres, and 265 stores. Need I say more? Oh, there’s also a movie theatre and a library!

Of course, the blustering rain didn’t stop us from making our way to the Tube where it was only about a 15 minute ride to the White City stop, and only about a 3 or 4 minute walk additional to our final destination. The mall is absolutely beautiful; pristine with a modern feel, you could spend HOURS browsing the hundreds of department stores, shops, and boutiques. Not to mention eating something amazing every 10 minutes. Although the stores were great (we of course managed to spend more money at Topshop), Carolyn and I both agreed the different food vendors far exceeded the shops. From hot pretzels to make-your-own-milkshakes, cupcakes to crepes, any treat or snack you could desire can be found here. In addition, there are at least twenty different restaurants. Carolyn and I had been CRAVING Mexican food, so we made our way to the Southern Terrace Restaurants where we found Wahaca. Delicious and just what the doctor ordered. We opted for the “street food” option, where you choose two or three different small plates, which was perfect. We rounded out our evening with an after-dinner sweet: Carolyn got her beloved red-velvet cupcake and I opted for Snog frozen yogurt.
We headed back on the Tube utterly satisfied and within 20 minutes found ourselves back in South Ken. Worn out from all the excitement, we opted for a more laid back evening, just walking to a local pub to have a pint of cider with some flat-mates and a friend that was visiting from Brussels. Carolyn and I chose the pub, named “The Courtfield” after our humble abode, of course.
We called it an early night since we knew we had an early departure time Saturday morning… have to catch that train to Bath!
xo LC

From Summer to Fall

Waking up Wednesday felt like waking up to a perfect summer morning.  The entire day turned out to be absolutely gorgeous, which made going to class all the more difficult.  Despite our wishing to be outside all day, we spent our afternoon being studious and working.  Finals are only two weeks away and this coming week is full of presentations, papers and studying for both of us...joy!  Even with all of our looming due dates, we still had to at least make the most of our night, so while Lauren met up with Katie, I joined our friends Ashley and Maggie and saw Les Mis.  We lucked out with student rush tickets again, and got amazing seats in the front stalls for about a quarter of their regular price!  I don't know if they do this on Broadway and I just don't know about it, but this whole student system is absolutely amazing, we feel like we have the theater world at our fingertips!  Now I'll be honest, I wasn't dying to see Les Mis; I had always heard that it was amazing, but the whole French Revolution thing just didn't do it for me.  After seeing it, I can completely see why people love it so much; it is so moving and the music is spectacular.  I enjoyed how the entire show was sung, I had never seen anything like it before but it made it a lot for interesting.  Although I was wishing the Nick Jonas was still playing one of the male leads (missed him by just a few weeks, shucks), all the performers were amazing and had incredible voices.  All in all, I was so glad I got to see it; it is truly a classic!
Since seeing a couple shows so far, we've noticed a couple differences between West End and Broadway shows.  Best difference: they sell the small cartons of Haagen Dazs ice cream at intermission...genius.  I got a chocolate one and it was probably the best ice cream I've ever had.  And the best part is, pretty much everyone in the theater gets one, so you don't feel bad being the only person with a plastic spoon in their hands.  Worst difference:  no programs!!  We are people who loves to read thoroughly through every cast bio and show synopsis, but here you have to pay 3 pounds to do that!  So needless to say we're missing our playbills.  Despite the differences, whether it's Broadway or West End, we love love love seeing shows!

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The weather outside our window Thursday morning was pretty much the opposite of what we had seen the previous day: dark and soggy.  Welcome to London.  It had to happen at some point, but we were just hoping to put it off as long as possible.  At least it made sitting in Harrington Gardens for four hours a little cozier, until of course you realize that this is the one morning you forget to bring an umbrella to class...love life.  Anyways, we had our last classes of the week before heading back to Courtfield in the pouring rain.  Lauren and I enjoyed lunch together until it somewhat stopped raining.  Later in the afternoon, Lauren went to a BC tea (jealous!) for all the school's students studying abroad at a hotel downtown.  While she was there, I decided to go out and explore a little bit.  Since the rain could start again at any moment, I stayed pretty close, walking over to Knightsbridge and down Sloane Street.  I walked by the Cadogan, and into Sloane Square, checking out Peter Jones, another quintessential London department store.  By the time I had made my way through the store, though, my feet were killing me, so I hopped on the tube back to Gloucester.  After reuniting with Lauren back in our room, we made a light dinner and chatted with one of our friends who had been to Oktoberfest last weekend.  A bunch of our friends are there now, and apparently it's quite the event; we wanted to go but prices were just so ridiculous, and we would rather spend it on other things (aka food and clothing) :)  After dinner, we went to O'Neil's, a pub/club downtown, for a short bit until we came back to Courtfield to call it a night.  Despite the rain, we ended up having a fun, relaxing day.  Unfortunately, it looks like this weather is here to stay for a while, but we'll hope for some sunshine soon!
    xo Carolyn

Good Day Sunshine

Tuesday morning (after a fire alarm free night), we woke up to sunshine pouring through our bay of windows. The forecast said it would get up to 72 degrees, and it was spot on. There's something so euphoric about walking down the streets of South Kensington, ray-bans on, sun shining. Unfortunately, we had to spend four of those hours trapped in class (although mine was pretty entertaining with a three-way heated argument with the Professor about the Fed's bailout of Goldman!). Luckily, after class we were able to enjoy the warm weather while heading to our afternoon appointments. Carolyn had her interview at Crabtree & Evelyn (she can walk to her internship... unbelievably jealous!) and of course, was offered the placement on the spot! It's hard to believe three weeks from today will be our first day of real-world work! My afternoon walk was to the EUSA office to scan all of my documents and security forms needed for JPMorgan's clearance. They even needed a copy of my bank statement (maybe they'll want to pay me after they see how pathetic the balance is!).
Before we knew it, 3 o'clock rolled around and although Carolyn had been diligently researching for her paper, after working for almost 8 hours straight yesterday, there was no way I could have even attempted to open a book.
Around 7, our friend Katie from back home came over to our flat before we headed out to dinner at ASK, an Italian restaurant on Cromwell we'd been wanting to try. It's funny to think how I'm having tea at the Ritz and dining out in London with one of my first friends in Mrs. Maxwell's kindergarten class. The past few days have solidified what I've always thought to be true: family, the friends you cherish, and people you meet are all what make experiences memorable and worthwhile. Walking down London's streets with the sun shining is nice, but having friends and family walk with you is what makes it incredible.
   xo LC

Monday, Monday

With our whirlwind weekend behind us, it was back to the real world and the start of a new week.  Unfortunately, it started out a little earlier than we were expecting; at 12:40 this morning I was just about to fall asleep when the fire alarm went off.  After a "this has to be a joke" moment, I jolted out of bed and threw a sweatshirt on.  Our roommate Christine followed suit, but I can't exactly say the same for Lauren.  I pretty much had to shake her for two minutes before she finally woke up...that girl can sleep!  After quickly putting our shoes on, we ran (more like stumbled) down the stairs and down into the main entryway, our eyes still half closed.  Of course right as we're going out the door everyone who had gone outside came back in and told us it was ok to go back up.  So all in all a great start to the week!
This morning's classes were good; it still seems so weird that we only have two weeks left until finals!  After we were let out, Lauren was her studious self and came back to work on an assignment while I made a quick run to Whole Foods.  By the time I made it there I was starving, so I decided to try eating on the store's third floor, which pretty much has an type of lunch food imaginable.  Afterwards I made a quick trip to Marks and Spencer to buy picture frames that I have been meaning to get since I've arrived here.  So now the little ledge next to my bed is finally filled!
The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent reading, makingdinner and meeting with a project group.  Right now we're relaxing in the room and getting ready to watch "Project Runway!  Mr. Cassel very kindly taped the show for us, along with some of our other favorites that are too embarrassing to mention here, and sent them over with my mom.  We can't wait to watch!
The weather here today was so gorgeous, I was actually really warm running errands!  Hopefully the next few days stay like this so we can get some final wear out of the too many summer clothes we brought over!
    xo Carolyn

Puttin' on the Ritz

After two and a half days of endless fun, we of course had to make Mrs. Toll’s last day equally as enjoyable as the first. Carolyn and her mom spent the morning at the Victoria & Albert Museum taking in the “Fashion through the Ages” exhibit (unfortunately there was a long wait for entrance into the Grace Kelly exhibit because it is closing next weekend), before I met them at the Lido Café in Hyde Park. It took me longer than expected to get there (I’ve yet to master the layout of the expansive greens), but once I did, they had a lovely table right by the river, complete with view of a 3 month old Schnauzer puppy, named Sam, that Mrs. Toll had quickly grown a liking for. Soon after, we headed out to Knightsbridge. First stop: Zara. Carolyn was able to find a fleece blanket (our room is freezing) and a pair of black boots, while I managed to find a skirt. Next, on to Mrs. Toll’s final visit to Harrods (I think this was trip number five of the weekend!). We hit the Food Halls of course (and Mo’s Diner for lunch… YUM), but we did venture into an area Carolyn and I had never previously explored: Pet Kingdom. Any toy, collar, leash, or outfit (yes, outfit) you could imagine for cats and dogs can be found here. From a $130 Juicy Couture puppy jacket, to $8 individual “pup-cakes” (or if "pup-corn" is more your style) it was an animal lovers dream. They even had three month old Dachshund puppies to pet, even though they had already been purchased by their new owners (who had gone through an “extensive interview process,” of course). Afterwards, we explored the fine china section with Mrs. Toll, who was in heaven. I picked up a cute, little (emphasis on the little… probably only 1.5 inches diameter) tea cup sitting on a table, just admiring its pattern when I looked at the price tag: 895 GBP…. or $1400. I almost had a heart attack (at least you would get the VAT tax back....). Even worse, there were five more just like it on the same table. We joked later on that they must leave them on the tables hoping that somebody WILL knock them over and break them, since it’s probably the only way they sell them!
Before we knew it, 3 o’clock rolled around and we headed back to South Ken for an hour or so of downtime and to change for the highlight of our day: high tea at the Ritz! We got dressed up then jumped in the cab down to Fortnum and Mason for some quick last-minute souvenir shopping with Mrs. Toll. Everything in that store is so adorable (and what’s edible looks delicious!). By 5:20 it was time to head to the Ritz for our reservation at 5:30 and meet up with Katie! She had just arrived in London the day before, and what better way to be welcomed to London than an afternoon tea! From cucumber sandwiches to freshly baked scones and pastries, each was more delicious than the first.

The ambiance was also magnificent (except for that obnoxious table of girls taking pictures… who could that have been!?). By the end, we were so full we walked to Piccadilly Circus before taking the tube back to Courtfield to show Katie our humble abode. Almost all the girls on our hall had returned from their weekend escapes, so Mrs. Toll was able to meet everyone before heading back to the hotel for the night. Her flight is early Monday morning so I said my goodbyes, and of course, thanked her immensely for all she had done for me this weekend; it was incredible and one I definitely will never, ever forget.
Back to the real world tomorrow...
xo LC

The Day of Department Stores

Put three avid shoppers together in one of the greatest cities in the world and what do you get?  Well, other than trouble, a day full of strolling, browsing and exploring!  And this is what I and my two favorite shopping companions did on Saturday!  After sleeping in a bit in the morning, my mom and I met Lauren before stopping for a quick breakfast at PAUL pâtisserie.  I have been walking by this charming French café since we've gotten here and have been so tempted to go in; I'm sure you'll be happy to know that my high expectations were met.  We enjoyed (even more) tea and fresh almond croissants; so delicious!  I think my mom got into the whole French café vibe a little too much though; when the woman behind the counter if she wanted anything to drink, she responded "trois thés, s'il vous plaȋt."  After the woman gave her a confused look (clearly wasn't French), I reminded her that she in fact could speak English here, it being an English speaking country and all.  Although I continued to tease her throughout the day, she stood behind her use of French; "come on, everything was written in French in there!" she insisted.  I forgive you, Mummy :)
After breakfast, we made our way down Cromwell, which eventually turns into Brompton Road, one of London's greatest shopping streets.  We made a quick detour and stopped to see the house where they filmed the Parent Trap in; soooo pretty!  We returned to Wilton Place so my mom could see my grandparents' old flat; she was remembering all the fun holidays they had there!  We popped into the Berkley hotel, right across from the flat; I can only imagine how nice it was to live across from it; it was so elegant and cozy.  We continued on and eventually made our way to Selfridge's, one of what seems like hundreds of department stores in the city.  We spent a few hours strolling through all the departments, from kitchenware (my mom's request) to Christmas World to fashion accessories.  We stopped for lunch at the Mozzarella Bar, one of only three in the world.  My mom claims she had one of the best meals she's ever had in her life; the food was amazing, all incorporating some kind of mozzarella.  We've already decided we'll need to return in the very near future.

Parent Trap Flat!

After lunch, we turned onto Oxford Street, another shopping mecca, and stopped in two or three more department stores, each with its own distinct character.  Here we discovered the store that everyone has been telling me about: Office.  They have really cute, unique shoes; although it was tempting, we restrained ourselves...for now at least.  Next up was Regent Street, London's equivalent to New York's 5th Avenue.  Despite the ridiculous Saturday crowds, we enjoyed discovering some quintessential London spots, including  Liberty, Barbour, and a discount China Shop (again, mom's request).  We did stop by one of our favorite American stores, Anthropologie, but after looking at their British prices, we decided we would be waiting to make any purchases until we were back home in December.
By the time we reached Piccadilly Circus, it was 4:30, our feet killed and we were starving.  Luckily, we were right near Fortnum & Mason, one of my mom's favorite department stores.  We decided we would have an early dinner in the form of afternoon tea; no objection to that of course!  The woman at the front door of the store recommended for a "fancy china, pinkies up" tea, we should try the St. James' Restaurant on the top floor of the store.  When the elevator doors opened, despite instantly feeling underdressed, we felt as though we were walking into a different world; soft harp music, waiters in bowties, and trays of treats flying everything...heaven!  The tea was absolutely delicious, complete with sandwiches, scones and pastries.  Our first official afternoon tea turned out to be a resounding success!

Afternoon Tea!

Stuffed, we jumped in a cab back to Courtfield to get ready for the night.  We were meeting the Hoags and Pam at the Dominion Theater in Soho to see the hit West End show, "We Will Rock You."  After a few tube delays (doesn't the Pope know that people have very important musicals to get to on time?!), we made it just in time for the start of the show.  "We Will Rock You" is based around the music of Queen, and everyone I had talked to who had seen it said they absolutely loved it.  After seeing the show for ourselves, we could only come up with one word to describe it: bizarre.  Although the music was amazing (the actors' voices were unbelievable...I was jealous) and the last 15 minutes was pretty much a really fun rock show, the whole storyline was so out there you really had to pay attention, and even that didn't guarantee you anything.  Overall, we were glad we saw it, but honestly, didn't really rock us all that much.
After the show, we all said our goodbyes and returned to South Ken for the night.  Unfortunately, both Mr. and Mrs. Hoag and Britt and Pammy have early flights out Sunday morning.  We were so sad to see them go, but we had soooo much fun; we have some amazing memories from this weekend!  Sunday is my mom's last day in London, so we're going to make the most of it!
    xo Carolyn

Tea for FOUR!

With a meeting time of 9AM, I woke up about 8 on Friday morning to meet Carolyn and Mrs. Toll in the lobby of the Marriott down the street. We had a full day ahead of us, but the first stop was “The Muffin Man,” the adorable bakery/café we had found the first week we arrived (and Carolyn wrote previously about how her mom would love it!). Carolyn had an incredible banana toffee muffin, while Mrs. Toll and I opted for a classic scone that was fabulous. And of course, tea. Mrs. Toll, Carolyn, and I each can’t put our finger on it, but there is something about the tea here that is ten times better than the tea at home. We want to know the secret!
After breakfast, we headed back to the Marriott to meet Brittany, Pam, and Mrs. Hoag! Even after months of not seeing eachother, our reunions are as though we just saw eachother yesterday; it’s the best feeling. Before leaving South Ken for the day, we showed everyone our neighborhood, flat, kitchen, and class building before heading to our first major stop of the day: the London Eye! It was supposed to be a temporary attraction (like the Eiffel Tower), but proved so popular it’s here to stay! It’s also the tallest cantilevered observation wheel in the world. When we got to Westminster, we were able to take some group pictures in front of the Eye, Parliament, and Big Ben, as well.

Once we got our tickets, we only had a 10-15 minute wait (which is really good) until our assigned time slot, so we went and saw “The London Eye 4-D Experience.” It was cute and the scenes of London were beautiful, but Disney could give them a few (major) tips. After that finished, we were able to hop right onto the Eye for our 30-minute aerial view of the city. We were so lucky to have a sunny clear day, so at the top we could pretty much see the entire expanse of the city, including views of St. Pauls, the Gherkin, Buckingham Palace, Canary Wharf, London Bridge, and the list goes on. It’s a quintessential London attraction and was great during the day, but Carolyn and I are already itching to go back at night!

By the time we finished at Westminster, it was about 1 o’clock and we were all starving. So naturally, we headed to Harrods for lunch! This place NEVER gets old; it’s just as pleasantly overwhelming and magical each and every time. Café Harrods was our restaurant of choosing… and it was an excellent choice. With a little time off our feet and a good meal, we were ready to hit the ground (or floors) running. From the food halls to the dresses (and of course the Christian Louboutin display) all of us were like kids in a candy store.
After Harrods, we headed across the street for Brittany and Pam to take in all that is TopShop. However, by 3:30, we were all a little weary and decided to split for a short afternoon break at our respective abodes before the big celebration! The rest of the afternoon flew by, and before I knew it, it was 6:40 (when I was supposed to meet Mrs. Toll and Carolyn at the hotel). We tried to get a cab from the hotel, but no such luck. Available Black Cabs on a weekend night are a rarity. So, we ventured down Cromwell (all in heels) until we finally found a taxi about two blocks down. Our destination? Beach Blanket Babylon in Notting Hill for Brittany’s 21st birthday dinner! The interior was very eclectic, with many different rooms, each with their own vibe; we ended up in a second floor tower of-sorts (we had to climb a draw bridge to get there!). After a champagne toast to the birthday girl, we wined and dined over risotto and bread (nom) before the waiters came to sing “Happy Birthday” to Brittany over chocolate cake.

 

 

Around 9:30 we parted ways with Mr. and Mrs. Hoag and Mrs. Toll, and the four girls jumped in a cab for a quick stop back at Courtfield (for a much-needed change of shoes). After Dumpling took a fall (only three other people will understand this, but it’s a much needed mention), we headed back in a cab to Picadilly Circus to continue the celebration. Literally as our feet touched the pavement, one of those annoying solicitor guys came up to us saying “Are you girls going clubbing!?” Carolyn and I ordinarily just say no thanks and keep walking and that’s the end of it, but Pam goes, “NO! We’re going home to bed!” (apparently the Italian men are much more aggressive and she already has her lines down… they taught me BASTA). I think he was so thrown off it worked like a charm!
After a fun night (including a playing of "Dynamite" dedicated to Brittany) we parted ways. Tomorrow is Brittany & Pam’s last day in London… so much to do, so little time!
xo LC

Crepes Galore...

Thursday morning's class seemed unusually long, not because of our rather boring guest lecturer, but because I was anxiously anticipating the afternoon and days ahead!  This weekend, my mom, the Hoag Family and Pam are here to visit us and celebrate Britt's 21st birthday!!  We are so excited to see them and show them our new home!  After class ended at 1, Lauren and I made our way to the Marriott Kensington to see my mom; she got in early in the morning and had successfully maneuvered two suitcases from Heathrow to the hotel...better than we can say!  I was so happy to see her; after four months of seeing your family every day, you forget how much you miss them when you're away from them!  After our welcome hugs, we were all hungry, so we made our way down to High Street to try this little restaurant we have been wanting to try called giraffe.  Their motto is love, eat, live, so how could it go wrong?  After a yummy lunch we strolled along the road, stopping in our favorite stores and shops.  We walked along Hyde Park, then onto Queensgate and, just in time for an afternoon snack, over to our favorite crepe place. I think my mom thought she had died and gone to heaven; a place that makes pretty much only crepes, waffles and ice cream sundaes is her kind of place.  After we shared a crepe and ice cream, we walked to Courtfield to show her our humble abode, complete with midget sink and cozy alcove (that's the official word we're using, fyi).  She loved it so much that she decided she would lounge on my bed until dinner...some things never change :)

Our evening was spent at the Park Lane Hilton, where we had dinner at Trader Vic's.  This was my dad's all-time favorite restaurant in the world, and I can totally see why.  Polynesian food, kitschy decor, tikis galore; all of the things he loved the best.  We had such a fun time, and the food was delicious; I know he would have approved fully :)  After dinner we decided to continue up Park Lane and check out the Dorchester, one of the nicest hotels in London.  We walked through the bar area, which Lauren and I have already decided is going to be an apres-work hang out, and marveled at the impressive lineup of cars parked outside the entrance (Mercedes, Maserati, pretty much any luxury car you could think of; we saw a valet person driving a small Volkswagon to the back of the lot...didn't meet the standards apparently).  Our next stop was the Hotel Grosvenor, which was voted to have the best afternoon tea in 2009.  After our stops, we still hadn't had dessert, which of course is not OK at all.  So what do we do?  We go back to the crepe place from the afternoon.  I think the waiter thought were were insane/total typical Americans.  Nevertheless, the crepes we had were just as delicious as the afternoon's!  Too bad we won't be able to show our faces in there again for a while....

Pam and Brittany got in late tonight, so we're meeting them up tomorrow for a girls' day!  Can't wait!!
   xo Carolyn

Oh What a Night

Wednesday morning meant another 7AM wake-up call for me; except this time, it wasn’t for class. This morning was the rescheduled date for my interview at JPMorgan. I had stayed up late Tuesday night reading the company's 10-K and researching current events, and although I felt prepared, I was still a nervous wreck. I managed to put together a “suit” look (we were told to wear one to the interview) and although Carolyn approved, I still felt a little out of my element. At around 9, I made my way to the tube where I took the Piccadilly line about eight stops before switching to the Central line. Not only was the station mobbed, but I had to wait for three trains to come through before I was able to squeeze (literally squeeze… people were closer together than at Tiger Tiger!) my way into the masses of men in suits. Fortunately, I was only one stop away from my destination station, St. Paul’s Cathedral. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find my way to the office without Carolyn as my GPS, but within a few minutes I had arrived at the JPMorgan European headquarters: 125 London Wall. Security was pretty intense, but after a phone call or two, I finally got cleared and was ordered an elevator (coolest system ever) to head up to the 12th floor for my interview. The woman who interviewed me, Marisa, was a little intimidating at first, but by the end was very sweet. Relief set in when, after a few seconds of silence, she asked, “So when can you start?” After discussing a few logistics (including the multitude of security forms and information I need to hand over), she showed me where I will be sitting and introduced me to another employee on our project team before I headed back to South Ken. Working 9-6 with a 45-minute commute each way is going to be a real-world wake up call for me, but I’m excited to begin the journey.
Once I got back to South Ken, I had a group meeting at noon for my International Management class, followed by a four hour lecture for the same class from 1:15 to 5:15. Around 1, Carolyn, Maggie, and Ashley came in to hear how the interview had went. After I had told them, Carolyn quickly exclaimed, “We really want to go to a show tonight!” I of course had no problem with the prospect, and continued on with my afternoon of academics before heading back to Courtfield a little after five. The plan was to leave here at 6 in order to get to Leicester Square at 6:30 for “Student Rush” tickets. After a quick dinner, we managed to get to the theatre by 6:45. Our show of choice? Jersey Boys! Carolyn had seen it twice before and had given it rave reviews, and Maggie, Ashley, and I had all been dying to see it. When we got to the box office, we inquired if they had any Student Rush tickets still available, with which the woman replied, “Yes; they’re 25 pounds each for best available; normally 63.” We all looked at each other with the natural “what does the best available mean?” stare, figuring they would be nose-bleed seats. “Third row,” she said. SOLD! In a matter of 5 minutes, we had gone from ticketless to third-row ticket holders for Jersey Boys. I guess this whole “student” thing really does have its perks. After having enough time for a gelato and bakery stop (do we ever pass up the opportunity for food?) it was time to get our seats… which were fantastic. Right then, before the show even started, we all decided this should be a Wednesday night tradition. Honestly, I don’t have the words to describe the show, but I’ll use just one for now: incredible! The songs were obviously the highlight, and the actor who played Frankie Valli had the most amazing voice. From “Sherry” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry” to “Oh What a Night” and “Walk Like a Man” not one note disappointed. Now we all understand why Carolyn has seen it a total of three times! I’m already thinking of when I can see it next.

 On our journey back, I think we were officially labeled “loud Americans” as we all sang Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons songs on repeat (not exactly on key) from the theatre exit to the doors of our flat. Within eight hours we had gone from having no plans, to sitting in the third row of a “Broadway” show for 25 pounds: another reason to add to the list of why we LOVE London.
One more four-hour class tomorrow before Mrs. Toll, Mr. and Mrs. Hoag, Brittany, and Pam arrive; we’re anxiously awaiting their arrival! This weekend is going to be one for the (scrap)books!
   xo LC

London Drizzle, Swiss Chocolate, and Bridget Jones

Even though we pretty much just started classes, we realized Tuesday that finals are only three weeks away...not cool.  This whole cramming a semester-long class into five weeks is not all it's cracked up to be.  With this lovely realization in mind, we returned home from Tuesday morning's classes to more work.  I remembered this afternoon why I can't read on my bed...my eyes were getting heavy probably two minutes after I sat down.  A move to the table and four hours of work later, we were both starving (really, though, when are we not?!).  We both made yummy stir-fry dishes for dinner; our moms would be so proud :)  Although it was fun to make, I'm realizing that the whole living in an apartment senior year and cooking for myself all the time thing might be a little difficult...I think I might actually miss the Pit.  But just for its convenience of course.  Our friend Ashley was sweet enough to get us a chocolate bar from Geneva over the weekend, so that of course satiated the aforementioned nightly chocolate craving.  After eating it, we've decided a trip to Geneva is a must.
After dinner, I headed over to the library at Harrington Gardens to work on one of my many projects.  This one in particular involves introducing a brand or company to the UK - my group is doing Robeks!!  I would call the library more of a book nook than an actual library, and on top of its tiny size it closes at 8 pm every night.  Lauren and I, along with most of the students here, think this absolutely ridiculous; don't they know college students usually don't even think about work until 8 pm?!  Anyways, we were forced out by 7:45 and headed back to Courtfield, where we worked for a while until we deemed it "movie time."  Tonight was Bridget Jones's Diary, another classic British romantic comedy.  I forgot how much I LOVE that movie!  We were literally giddy watching Hugh Grant and Colin Firth...heaven.  I'm glad to know someone shares my love of British men....Courtney.

All day it was quintessential London weather; a little nippy, cloudy, and kind of a constant drizzle.  It definitely made getting work done a little easier!  And cozier.  We're keeping our fingers crossed for a couple more days of warmer weather before it really becomes frigid...hopefully our Connecticut and Italy visitors bring us sunshine this weekend!
     xo Carolyn

Taking Care of Business

As our alarms jolted us at 7AM Monday morning, we knew it was the start of a long day. Make that a long week. We both managed to survive our four hour elective courses (although I had to come back to Courtfield during our 15 minute break for a much needed second cup of coffee), but the afternoon was not much to look forward to. So much to do, so little time. Carolyn made her first trek to the laundromat (I’m still trying to stretch it out as long as possible) and thankfully, everything came back the same size as it left! I, on the other hand, made two different grocery store trips. The first was to Waitrose for the weeks cooking supplies, the second to Sainsbury’s for the other two items essential to our survival (and sanity): bottled water and chocolate bars (emphasis on the s). You wouldn’t believe how quickly we go through both. Before we knew it, the afternoon had flown by and it was time to make dinner with some flat mates. The next item on the list: homework.

Current Bain of my Existence

Carolyn and I both agreed we would work until 9:30 before taking a “break” to watch the movie “The Queen” on the big screen downstairs (and by break we meant calling it a night). In our defense, it was extremely relevant and educational (just go along with it…), and we even ended up making it a hall activity. Tomorrow we’ll be more productive. We promise.
     xo LC
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Just a quick re-cap on last night’s fireworks over the Thames: AMAZING! There were thousands of people there, but we got there early enough to find the perfect spot on the pedestrian bridge and had the most incredible view, St. Paul's Cathedral perfectly centered in the background. The city is so gorgeous at night.

The most amazing part: we got SEATS on the tube on the way back! It still boggles my mind; we were expecting it to be a complete mob scene. The Mayor sure knows how to throw a festival.

Our Lazy Sunday

Ah, Sunday, the day of rest.  And for the most part, that is exactly what we have done!  After a much needed full night of sleep, we woke up to the sunshine streaming through our flat windows; it was literally the perfect morning out.  To celebrate this glorious weather, we thought we would start the day off right with a relaxing Sunday brunch.  Lauren and I, along with two of our other flatmates, strolled over to High Street to try this place we had all seen and were looking forward to trying.  My Old Dutch pancake house is a little restaurant tucked away from the hustle and bustle of High Street.  Being the tech-savvy girls that we are, we had managed to find the menu online beforehand, which made us even more excited to go.  Their specialty is, of course, dutch pancakes that are about the diameter of an extra large pizza.  Lauren and I both opted for a new menu item that I'm not even going to attempt to spell out.  They were small, fluffy pancakes covered with berry compote and whipped cream.  Need I say more?  After our plates were successfully polished off, we leisurely made our way back home, and by leisurely I mean going as slow as we possibly could, as we knew what was waiting for us when we got back.

The whole idea of doing work here is still a difficult one for us, but we decided that this afternoon would be dedicated to being at least somewhat productive.  We spent a few hours reading, taking notes, and organizing all our syllabi and papers, but it wasn't until too long that we decided we had done enough for the day.  I mean we don't want to be sitting inside all day, right?! 

Since we had pretty much crashed after our outing yesterday and didn’t really leave our room, we thought we should go out and find somewhere new to eat for dinner tonight.  We have both been craving Mexican, so after a thorough search online, we settled on Tequila Tex Mex in Notting Hill.  I think Lauren can attest to the fact that I almost cried when I began eating my fajitas; I have really missed them since Wake!  After what Lauren coined an “epic” meal, we made our way back home on the tube.  Of course the one we get on gets stuck for about five minutes at the station before Gloucester; I think the transportation gods have something against us. 

Right now we’re just hanging out, reading the latest on Perez (you don’t have to tell us we’re pathetic), and getting ready to go to the Thames River Festival tonight, which is this huge festival that has been going on all weekend.  They’re having a big fireworks display tonight, and since neither of us are going to Disney until next year, we figured we should get our fix!  Hopefully we refrain from singing Wishes…no guarantees.

   xo Carolyn

Daytrip Deux

Saturday was another lost chance to catch up on some much needed sleep, as we had to meet the coach at Harrington Gardens at 8:45 for our daytrip. Carolyn and I were actually among the first few to arrive, and of course had to wait for some stragglers, but we managed to leave South Ken pretty much on time. Our tour guide’s name was Linda, and I can describe her entirely with one phrase: she loves the sound of her own voice. As we pulled away from Harrington, she gave us a brief time table of what we would be seeing and doing, promising to let us “get in a nice snooze” before arriving at Blenheim Palace. That would have been possible if she hadn’t repeated everything she said multiple times, adding different adjectives each time OR step in as weather-man, giving us a detailed forecast for the next eight hours (basically it poured then stopped. the end.). In any event, the drive from South Kensington to Blenheim Palace took about an hour and a half, perfect timing for our 11 o’clock guided tour. The Blenheim Palace is the only private estate in England to be called a palace; every other is owned by the Crown.

 The Palace was originally given to John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough, as a token of appreciation (pretty nice “token,” huh?) for beating the French and the Bavarians at the Battle of Blenheim; however, it’s main claim-to-fame is that is the birth-place of Sir Winston Churchill. He was born six weeks early, to his American mother, in one of the front bedrooms of the Palace. We were able to see the room as well as first “baby cloth” (19th century onesie) and his first locks of hair. He also proposed to his wife Clementine at the Palace.

In the the Gardens

 The rest of the tour highlighted the beautiful painted portraits of past dukes and duchesses, ornate murals, and exquisite tapestries. After the 40-minute tour was over, Carolyn and I ventured out to the gardens to admire the perfect hedges and fountains, and to take a few pictures. Facing one way, the majestic palace towered behind us; the other featured the sparkling lake and fountains. Carolyn immediately wanted the nature background, while I assumed the Palace would be our back-drop. I think we finally found something we don’t agree on! In any case, we got the best of both worlds (I hope everyone has been catching on to my subtle Hannah Montana references throughout the blog) and had pictures taken in both directions. After admiring the gardens, we headed in to the small café for lunch: enter scones. We both got a home-made lavender scone with a small pot of strawberry jam; Carolyn said it was the best scone she’s ever had, and although I can’t say I’m a scone connoisseur, it was absolutely delicious (and the jam was incredible).
After lunch, we met back at the coach for the 15 minute drive into the heart of Oxford. Unfortunately, their term doesn’t start until October, so there were no brilliant British men to be found, but we did manage to take in a good part of the town, including Christ Church, which is probably the most well-known constituent college of Oxford University. It is absolutely breathtaking; I can’t even imagine it being someone’s “campus”! We were excited to find out parts of Harry Potter were filmed there, and even saw the inspiration for Hogwart’s dining hall (they had to recreate it on a larger set because they didn’t get permission to use it).

Hogwart's Dining Hall Inspiration!

Christ Church College

However, the pinnacle of our day was the wedding that was taking place while we toured around. They had rented out the Cathedral for the ceremony and the dining hall for the reception. We saw a few of the guests (Carolyn even stepped in as photographer for one), but of course the highlight was seeing the groom and (handsome) groomsmen having their pictures taken against the spectacular backdrop. We could not stop gushing over how incredible it would be to get married there (or at the Palace… we saw a wedding there too!). Guess we’ll just have to marry someone from Oxford!

Next stop was “Alice’s Shop” (Lewis Carroll’s The Old Sheep Shop), where the real Alice used to buy her sweets 140 years ago, and which Carroll incorporated into “Through the Looking-Glass”. Now it is a store dedicated to all things Alice in Wonderland. We still had about 2 and a half hours to spare before heading back, so we decided to just walk around and shop (don’t worry parents we didn’t buy anything except an Oxford t-shirt!). We saw some really cute and expensive things, and some really cheap and not-so-cute things; why does it always work out that way? We also checked out the “Eagle and Child,” Oxford’s most famous pub where C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien both worked on their most well-known pieces of literature. By this point, our feet couldn’t take the cobblestone streets for any longer, so we found our way to a cute little home-made ice cream store for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up before meeting the coach for our journey back to South Ken. When we got on the coach, there was really no reason for Linda to use the microphone, as we had been given information on the same route coming in, and everyone was exhausted by this point. Instead, she decided to go on a 10-minute discussion about the following day’s trip (which about 98% weren’t going on), practically giving us a play-by-play. At this point, Carolyn and I were both so tired, we started laughing over her commentary and couldn’t stop. Luckily she decided to give the mic a rest and give everyone a little piece and quiet on the way back. Amen. We both snuck in a short nap, but by the time we got back to our flat at around 6:30 we were beat. A quick dinner with some flat mates and some Skyping was all we could handle before calling it a night. 8+ hours of sleep tonight will be a (much needed) treat!
xo LC

Eat. Pray. Eat Some More. Then Love.

Since Lauren's placement interview was scheduled for Friday, we decided to forgo any travel plans and stay in London for the weekend.  As luck would have it, when I walked into my room on Thursday from class I was met with a scowl on Lauren's face.  All she said was, "I'm so mad."  Turns out the person who was supposed to interview has fallen ill with laryngitis, aka we could have gone somewhere this weekend. Oh well, nothing we could do about it but make the most of our first real weekend at "home!"
Friday morning we woke up early and started our day off at the Victoria and Albert Museum.  This museum, along with many others considered to be the best in London, is only about a ten minute walk from our flat.  Admission is free and they have amazing exhibits open, so since we hadn't been to any yet we thought this would be the perfect opportunity!  The exhibit that had caught our eye at the V&A was called Grace Kelly: Style Icon.  Here you could walk through and see Kelly's wide collection of clothing and accessories, from the time she was a young Hollywood starlet to when she became a member of Monaco's royal family.  Anyone who knows me and Lauren know how much we appreciate our fashion (according to our parents, sometimes a bit too much), and this was no exception.  Each piece was more amazing than the next, from a classic Chanel coat dress to an elegant Dior ball gown.  After seeing all her pieces, there is no doubt in my mind that if I could go back in time and wear the clothes from any decade it would absolutely be the 1950's; I would give anything to be able to wear those clothes!  Outside the exhibit was another showcase of fashions dating as far back as 1500's from all around the world.  Our favorite was a pearl studded dress that Princess Diana wore while on a trip to the Orient - so gorgeous!  From there we roamed around the rest of the museum, stopping to look at everything from oriental rugs from the 1300's to a jewelry collection that was to die for!  We loved exploring all the parts of the museum, but as midday rolled around and our stomachs began to talk, we decided to make our way to the next stop of the day.

Victoria & Albert Museum

A bunch of our flatmates had gone to Borough Market last week and said it was amazing, so we knew we would have to try it.  This open air market sits across from the Thames River and attracts people from all over the City.  It is filled with every kind of food stall you could imagine, each filled with fresh, delicious choices.  Looking back on it, it probably wasn't the best idea to go there really hungry, but we embraced our hunger and took full advantage of our surroundings.  And so begins our food count for the day.  We started with tomato, mozzarella and basil sandwiches which were to die for.  As we continued to make our way through the different sections of the market, we were offered samples of everything from chocolate covered almonds to fresh olive oils and jams....and of course we had to try every one, we wouldn't want to be rude, would we?  After perusing through what seemed like an endless number of stalls, I decided to try a brownie from "Flour Power" bakery; they were world famous apparently so I felt kind of obligated.  By the time we had finished making our way through the market, we were experiencing a serious food coma.  Our eyes heavy, we rode the tube back to Courtfield to recover and relax for the rest of the afternoon.  I got to have my second official run through Hyde Park, which was just as peaceful and wonderful as the first!
For dinner we decided we would venture over to Knightsbridge and explore an area we had been looking forward to visiting since coming here: Wilton!  My grandparents had lived on Wilton Place years ago, and right down the road from their flat was the Wilton Arms pub.  Naturally, we needed to go and make sure this place upheld our beloved hometown's name.  We made our way to Wilton Place, a quaint little street right off of a major road lined with shops and restaurants; we could see why the Bauer family loved it so much!  After waving hello to #7, we made our way to the Wilton Arms.  This place was so cute!!  Outside, the street was packed with businesspeople enjoying pints, while above them bright colored flower spilled over the window sills.  Inside was even more charming, with warm colored carpet, a big mahogany bar and cozy furniture.  Because it was so crowded we decided we would try somewhere else for dinner, but we are absolutely going to be coming back, hopefully with a couple more Wiltonians!  We definitely approve...I think we'll let them keep the name :)

Around the corner from the pub was one of my grandparents' and Courtney's favorite restaurants, the Spaghetti Factory.  This is where we continued our food fail for the day:  warm goat cheese on ciabatta, risotto and cheese pasta, and wine to go along with it all.  It was a glorious meal to say the least.  Too bad we can't eat for the next week now....
Overall, I would say we made the most out of our day at home!  It was so nice to just explore and take our time seeing things, we feel like this is slowly becoming our city!  Luckily, we have even more of this planned for the rest of the weekend!
    xo Carolyn

Let's Go F.N.O!

Wednesday was our second core class; it’s hard to believe our first and only session was last Thursday! Carolyn’s was at 9AM once again, but mine didn’t meet until 1:15, so I took the morning to head to Kensington High Street and stock up at Whole Foods. The place was basically empty, which allowed me to examine all the aisles and leisurely shop for some favorites; as always, Whole Foods didn’t disappoint. The most entertaining part of my morning was on the walk back, when I spotted two good-looking young men, dressed in suits, walking up the street towards me. As we got closer, I made eye-contact with one as he walked over saying “excuse me” in an American accent, none-the-less! Of course I was excited to hear what he had to say… but once he began talking again, I knew my dreams were crushed: “Today we’re talking about God and his mission for all of us…” A quick glance down at his lapel revealed his identity: Andrew from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Oy vey. Before he got the chance to tell me of this “mission,” I told him no thank you with a smile and continued walking. “Thank you for your time, have a great day!” trailed behind me. Suddenly I felt like I was back home in New York City (minus the courteous reply). This certainly was the most unexpected part of my day, but the highlight was when I returned to our flat: Skyping with Brock and Collin! It hadn’t even been two weeks since I’d seen them last, but it felt like two months! Both looked more adorable than ever, Brock smiled at me but I’m pretty sure he was just eyeing the keyboard. In any event, their faces would make anyone’s day 100x better, as it certainly did mine.
After I got out of class at 5, we had dinner with the flat-girls (a new term I’ve coined), then headed out for a night on the town: Fashion Night Out that is.

  Similar to the event in NYC (both hosted by Vogue), all the high-end designer stores stay open until late, wining and dining customers and offering special events. Our first stop was Alexander McQueen, where we bought our first (and only… don’t worry parents) purchase of the night: FNO t-shirts, all profits going to charity. To be completely honest, we were equally excited about the Alexander McQueen shopping bag we got with purchase as we were about the t-shirt. Chanel gave out peach bellinis, free manicures (although the line was massive), and a photo-booth, while Prada had free Pimms and white-chocolate covered raspberry sorbet lollipops (out of this world). Most were entirely open to the public, while a few were more exclusive, like DKNY which had a strict guest list, and Stella McCartney, which was being hosted by Gwyneth Paltrow. The free blood-orange and vodka sorbet samples handed out to the mob of people outside of the store, however, were very much appreciated.

The streets were filled with people, some who deserved the high-fashion title, others who clearly did not. We also spotted some (who are we kidding… TONS) of gorgeous guys in suits (a big plus for us) who were equally as easy on the eyes as the designer merchandise. We walked around for about three hours, gazing longingly at Hermès handbags and Prada pumps (and a fro-yo stop on the way out), before calling it a night.
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Thursday was the last day of class for the week (hooray). Carolyn had her first field trip to the Brand Museum and did some research with her marketing group at the City Business Library before heading back to meet me at Courtfield. After 16 hours of class, it was finally time for some relaxation. We spent the afternoon lounging and uploading our recent pictures, before having a casual (and I mean casual) dinner in our flat kitchen. Of course, our first weekend activity involved food: a group of eight of us headed down to Cromwell Place to satisfy our sweet tooth’s. Carolyn and our friend Ashley tried a place called Crème de la Crepe, which serves both savory and dessert crepes, while four of our other friends got SNOG (the Pinkberry of the U.K.), and I decided to be unique and go for gelato. All equally satisfying and delicious. Afterwards, Carolyn and I felt the need to move around a bit (we always regret the desserts AFTERward) so we went for a stroll (a brisk walk in our terms) around the neighborhood, finding the hotel my parents will stay at the first night they arrive, and of course, a few restaurants and pubs to add to our must-visit list (it gets longer and longer every day). I made a quick stop at the grocery store to restock on my Greek yogurt, where the check-out guy told me he “remembered my signature” (creepy?), helped a few tourists find their hotel (I was proud of myself), and then called it a night.
Three of our friends are waking up at 3:45AM to go to Geneva for the weekend, and although I’m beyond jealous, at this point the thought of being able to sleep for eight hours or more sounds heavenly. We have to rest up for another jam-packed weekend, of course!
xo LC

Wait, we're taking classes here?!

Having to wake up Tuesday for class was a bit of an adjustment as our schedules last week had tricked us into thinking we only had one class a week.  Yeah right.  We now have eight hours of our elective classes under our belts, and it's so weird to think that we don't have it again until Monday!  I have to admit though, it's pretty nice!  After class, we all returned to our flat kitchen to have lunch and talk about our mornings.  As the afternoon rolled around, the weather became too perfect to be sitting inside, so I decided to venture out and have my first run (and some walk) through Hyde Park!  I probably looked like such an American, with my Nike shorts, Nike Shox, and Hanes t-shirt (don't worry, Mom, I only wear them working out), but I tried to blend in as best I could.  After making my way to the park entrance, I spent probably two hours just making my way through the grounds.  I ran by the Serpentine River and the lake next to Kensington Palace as well as the park's many statues (including the Peter Pan one, which I have been DYING to see since seeing it in "Winning London"...I know, I'm cool).  It was so gorgeous and peaceful - a perfect afternoon activity.  One thing I noticed, not only while running but pretty much since we've gotten here, is that everyone and their mother has a dog.  They are all so adorable, mostly terriers, and none of them are on leashes (or leads as they call them here), they just wander and explore and when they realize they've strayed run back excitedly to their owners.  Our tour guide from the other day had pointed out a dog cemetery on our bus ride, commenting that "We Brits love our dogs more than our children," and I can see that.  Seeing them always make me wish my doggies could be here, but I don't know how Parker would do without a leash...

Part of my running route!

After a completely soothing run, I came back to find Lauren sitting on her bed taking notes.  That's when it hit me...we also have to do homework here.  The next four glorious hours were spent taking notes and reading; it made me realize that I am still so not in the school mode, I don't think anyone here is really.  After our eyes couldn't take any more, we returned to the kitchen to make ourselves dinner and decide our activities for the night.  After our DVD fail the night before, we had decided we would rent movies from our school library and would try to watch one tonight.  Except when we went down to the TV room, all excited to watch "Love Actually," a group of kids were already crowded in the room just starting to watch another movie...about drug trade.  DVD fail part 2.  We returned to our floor, debating on what we should do, where we should go, but in the end we just ended up sitting in our hallway talking for three hours, which was just as fun!

Missing everyone at home!

     xo Carolyn

Wake-Up Call

Monday began the first full week of classes, AKA our wake-up call. After almost three months of summer living, and a week of what felt like a group vacation in London, we were reminded of the primary reason for being here. Carolyn and I both had classes at 9AM; hers “Advertising in the U.K.” and mine “European Capital Markets.” Both went well, but no matter how much you enjoy a class, four hours per session is torture. Luckily it’s only for the next four weeks!

Where we have our four hour classes!

After class, we made lunch with some of our flat mates (our goal is to cook every day during the week… so far so good!) and conducted our daily afternoon Perez Hilton check before heading to the grocery store yet again. I told my mom I feel very European going to the grocery store every day. It’s perfect because you can buy whatever you’re in the mood for; unfortunately, on Monday we were in the mood for chocolate bars (fail). The afternoon flew by and before we knew it, it was time to make another meal (I swear we do other things than eat). After dinner, we all decided we weren’t in the mood to do school work, so the pouring rain outside convinced a group of us to make our way down to the basement with a DVD and cozy up on the couches for the first time. Culture Shock #2: American DVDs don’t work in Europe. Good thing I brought about ten with me (thanks Michael Oliver for the heads up). Thankfully, we found an American movie on one of the British networks that sufficed, but first stop tomorrow is the library at Harrington Gardens to rent “Love Actually” and “Bridget Jones’ Diary.” One movie and two chocolate bars later, a successful first night of school.
xo LC

Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend

So Sunday was yet another day we had completely open.  We debated on what to do, where to go, but ultimately we decided we were going to attempt to get into a panoramic tour of London that was available through the BU "social programme."  We agreed we would wake up and arrive at the bus stop early so we could snatch up any open spots; students were supposed to arrive at 9:45 am.  Good thing we ended up waking up at 9:15, asking each other "do you think we have time?" and bolting out of bed.  After record quick showers, we walked over to Harrington Gardens, our hair still dripping wet, hoping that this rush would be worth it.  And what do you know, there were about five spots open!
We boarded the bus to be greeted by our tour guide, Penny.  This tiny older woman had quite the spunky attitude and a brash British sense of humor to go along with it.  She (with the help of our trusty coach driver, Andrew, but we'll talk about him later) would be leading us around London on what would turn out to be an eight hour journey throughout the city.  We stopped at many of the quintessential tourist spots, including Royal Albert Hall, Trafalgar Square and the London Eye.  With our packed itinerary, we were ready to easily cruise all around the city, but it turned out Sunday was the Mayor of London's city-wide initiative called Skyride.  They had closed down all the major roads to allow bikers to travel around the entire town and enjoy the last days of warm air.  It actually looked kind of fun to me, but Penny was having none of it.  Whenever we came across a diversion, the whole coach could hear her scream "bloody hell!" or "where's my machine gun?!"  A little over the top but it was hilarious at the time.  Now back to Andrew; at one point he had started to make a left turn on a street until Penny started yelling, "no, right!  go right!"  He then proceeded to back up but stopped suddenly.  When Penny questioned him why he had stopped, his cool reply was "I just rolled over that car behind us."  He then calmly walked out of the bus, stopped to talk to the driver behind us and jumped back in without any look of worry on his face.  Guess you get used to rolling over cars when you drive a coach.

The Tower of London - the "skyriders" are in the yellow jerseys and were everywhere!

By 1 in the afternoon we were running low on energy and all starving, so they let us out at the Tower of London, where we had tickets to enter the grounds.  After a quick lunch at wagamama (nom), we met back with Penny who took us inside the Tower.  This place is amazing; there is so much history and so many interesting things to look at.  I loved hearing all the little stories; who met who here, who got executed there - maybe it's a bit nerdy but I just think that type of stuff is fascinating.  But THE best part of the entire day, by far and away, was seeing the Crown Jewels.  After waiting in the "queue" watching videos of the royal coronations, we got to ride the conveyor belt and catch a glimpse of the bling itself.  It was absolutely amazing!!  Lauren and I were literally drooling, mostly at what is the biggest diamond ever (around 3000 carats, no big deal) called the First Star of Africa...gorgeous.  It made us even more determined to try to find the princes in the next few months :)
After a few hours at the Tower we boarded back onto the bus, exhausted and ready to take relax!  By six we were back to our beloved Kensington.  After saying our goodbyes to Penny, we ran over to Waitrose, another grocery store close by, to grab something for dinner.  The rest of the night was spent in the kitchen chatting with our friends and anxiously talking about our classes the next day.  Monday marks the start of our first full week of classes, and even though we have enjoyed having a lot of free time, I think everyone is kind of looking forward to getting back into a routine.  We're still giving ourselves plenty time to explore, of course!!  Wish us luck!
     ~Carolyn