bop to the top

I got back yesterday from my Reading Week break. Dianne and I went to France and the north of England. We spent three days in Paris, two in the Loire valley near this small town called Fontevraud (I don't know how to say it!) and then about 5 days just outside Lancaster, near the Lake District. It was all so whirlwind and crazy, and a lot of things went wrong, but it was a great trip. Here are some tidbits:

I chose my courses for next semester from an internet terminal in Heathrow airport. Not sure if I think that's annoying or awesome, but it's done. I have all the courses I want. :)

The day we arrived in Paris was also apparently the day all public transport went on strike, so there were no buses, trains, or subways working in the city and we arrived so late in the day (about 6pm) that there weren't any airport shuttles happening either. We had to take a cab from Charles de Gaulle airport to our hostel. Sucked, but it had to be done.

We took a cruise on the Siene, and it was a great way to see some of the city. We also hit up all the major tourist spots: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame, Musee D'Orsay, Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees.

The Loire was gorgeous, and I think I'd rather return there than to Paris. I think coming from London is just felt like another big city, but the Loire was like a different world. Pretty landscapes, nice people, comfy places to stay, and if I had more money I would be able to say good food and wine. Maybe next time?

Once back in Britian we went to Blackpool (on the west coast) to go to a big amusement park called Pleasure Beach. It was really great! We went on tons of rollercoasters and, despite the cold, they were really fun. It's been a while since I've been on roller coaster, it was fun!

We also spent a couple days in the Lake District. GORGEOUS. Such pretty hills (they call them the fells) and valleys. Cute little towns with yummy cafes and great shops. We went to the house Beatrix Potter lived in when she earned enough money to move out of her parents' house. Small and cute, and they've planted a garden like the ones she writes about. It reminded me of that Beatrix Potter/Peter Rabbit dish set I had when I was growing up. I wonder if that's still around? I'm sure it is, but whether it's out a moving box yet is an entirely different matter. We also drove up a really really windy road through a small mountain in the Lake District, to really get a sense of what it's like. Lots of winds, narrow roads, and sheep! Some sheep even posed for my camera.

And now we're back home, and I'm trying to get back into the school mindset. Today I don't have any set class (well, a show tonight...) so I'm going to catch up on life: write and mail postcards I bought while away, choose a topic for my British art history paper (suggestions, anyone?), and get caught up on schoolwork in general. Oh, and watch last week's Grey's!

I suppose that's all for now. That's not a very good glimpse at what my break was like, but it's hard to tell you everything you want to know without hearing your questions. So ask away if you want to know about something. In the mean time, I'll try to update in a couple days.