London Calling

It's hard to believe that we've been traveling for nearly six weeks now. I find it even harder to believe that I've been successfully living out of a suitcase for that long with only a few (minor) frustrations. I'd like to say that I've established a rhythm, that I'm starting to fit in the UK, but that would be a lie. With the constant moving, every single day is different. It's all wonderfully exhausting. Luckily, that will all change soon because we depart for LONDON tomorrow. I can hardly contain my excitement.

Well, for the last two (has it really already been two?!) weeks, we've visited Oxford, gone to six Shakespeare productions by the Royal Shakespeare Company, talked with actors, had class, stalked actors in pubs (if you're ever in Stratford, the place to see them is the Dirty Duck), and have not gotten nearly enough sleep. But that's the way it should be, right?

Anywho, here are a few photos from Oxford, the Christ Church campus, cathedrals, Shakespeare's grave, and basically everything I haven't had the time to post about for the last few weeks. Enjoy!

This is the stairwell where the conversation between Dumbledore and Tom Riddle was filmed for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. It was packed and this is the only photo I could get without any people in it...

The Great Hall at the Christ Church campus, which was the inspiration for the Great Hall in the Harry Potter movies. 

Apparently Milton played this organ. Pretty neat, eh?

On the right is Shakespeare's grave (we think. and hope.).

York Minster

Aside from flora and fauna, cathedrals (and architecture in general) are one of my favorite things to photograph. When we were in York a few days ago, we spent a few hours being guided around the massive structure known as York Minster. Aside from being an architectural masterpiece (it's stunning), it possesses this hushed quality that persistently reminds any visitor that it is still a cathedral, a place of worship. Here are a few photos from the experience. Enjoy!

The Lake District

Ladies and gents, lords and ladies, lads and lasses, I have wonderful news: I have found my new home.  Driving into Ambleside that late afternoon almost a week ago, I had the oddest sensation (a revelation of sorts, one could call it). Seeing the mountains, the lakes, the stone façades of the houses that dot the hillsides, I realized that this was the land I've been fantasizing about for as long as I can remember. It's ridiculously cheesy, I know, but it's true. So, somehow, some way, I will return to Ambleside and the Lake District for at least a week, but hopefully the rest of my life (Sorry, Mom and Dad. I'll have an extra room so you can come visit!). All cheesiness aside, though, the short day we spent in the Lake District has been one of my favorites of the entire trip thus far. We went to Wordsworth's houses with one of the most amazing home gardens I've ever seen (no, really), read some hilarious poetry written by other visitors, wrote some hilarious poetry of our own, and walked through the countryside for hours on end. The last photo is from a hike (-ish?) my friend Will and I took that ended at the top of one of the nearby mountains, right before the fog started to roll in. I could honestly write about those few hours that passed far too quickly for pages and pages, but I'll spare you. Enjoy the pictures instead.