Yesterday was the longest travel day, or so it seemed. After being gone for one day short of six weeks, I suddenly find myself back in Melbourne. I couldn't sleep, despite it being close to 4am GMT when I arrived back home. My flights out of Philly were all screwed up, though I ended up taking a later flight than I was scheduled to...and one of my bags ended up on the new flight (don't ask me how) and the new flight ended up arriving 30 minutes before the flight I was originally scheduled to arrive on. And my second bag came on that flight...so no real gains either way. My friend Eric came to pick me up, but it took nearly 2 hours to get to the airport (what is normally a 45 minute drive.) He wasn't really late...I got my 2nd bag just as he arrived...but we both forgot about the traffic coming from the Cape after the shuttle launch. Anyway, I drove home in the dark, thinking about my trip and just chatting with Eric about anything and everything. Then I get home and its...well I cant sleep. So I unpack, put clothes ready for the laundry, sort some of the stuff I bought, and then go to sleep about 1:45 am.
I wake up at 6, and tell myself, back to bed, which is where I stayed until about 7:45. Luckily today is a slow day. I've been sorting mail and paying bills, going through an entire box of mail. I have a huge stack of magazines to go through, laundry to do, grocery shopping (which needs to be done sooner than later) and well an assortment of stuff that is small and large. Tomorrow is an all day business day at work, but I may pop in very briefly this morning to turn in grades and drop off a few things for the secretaries who have helped me out while I was gone.
Anyway, this may be it for this blog, but I will post a few more pictues when I can get settled a bit more and have some time to breathe. Probably over the weekend would make sense...
I hope you have enjoyed the blog. I plan on doing the same next year.
Matt
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Monday, August 6, 2007
Sorry for the lack updates...
...there really hasn't been much to say since last week. The last four days were spent with exams and prework around exams. I will post some pictures from the final dinner and from the dinner at my flat on Thursday when I can. I went out on Friday night with Ralph and Ingrid, and on Saturday, I went out to dinner with some of the students one last time. Sunday was spent checking on flats, arranging keys, and dealing with the last of the summer programme. It was also the move to London for the last few days. I didn't do much on Sunday night, except wander around and get to know this part of the city: Southwark. My hotel is not far from the Tate Modern and the new Globe Theatre (maybe 5 minute walk). Today was off to Hampton Court Palace, and then some last minute wandering around London. Tonight, I went back to where I used to live and ate in the local pub I used to frequent on Parson's Green. It is called the White Horse Pub, and well, it brought back fond memories. Tomorrow its off to the Imperial War Museum in the morning, then wandering to do some errands and some last minute shopping. Then its off to Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, a classic old pub which survives in part from the Fire of London in 1666. A little touristy, but good food and not far from the hotel. Then packing and off to Gatwick around 8:30 on Wednesday morning. My flight home is around 12:30, and I should be back in Orlando around 9pm. I am hoping to be in my bed in Melbourne around 11pm.
Anyway, this is probably the last post until I get back. I hope you have been enjoying these last few weeks. I will post more pics but I have hundreds more I can't post.
Matt
Anyway, this is probably the last post until I get back. I hope you have been enjoying these last few weeks. I will post more pics but I have hundreds more I can't post.
Matt
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Scotland Part 2
Saturday: The hostel bed, well it could have been thicker and more comfortable, but I have slept in worse places then before. Using the communal co-ed facilities was all unique, but not all the odd in the long run. A quick breakfast at a place called Deacon Brodie's Cafe (I would eat there again on Sunday morning) for scones and hot chocolate was a great way to start the morning. We met up with the Locurcio's and the students at Edinburgh Castle atop the Royal Mile. Preparations were already in place for the Edinburgh Tattoo, but it wouldn't start until after we left. One year I am going to have to time things to see the tattoo at least one evening. The castle has the most splendid sights of the city, and the history stretches back to roughly 1000AD. It was a great place to spend a few hours, visiting the Scottish Crown Jewels, two of the military museums within the walls, and finally the Scottish Great War Memorial. After that it was down the Royal Mile with the students, stopping and shopping, and pointing out the history. Lunch was a brief stop at a restaurant at the top of the mile, then back down the mile towards Holyrood Palace. By the time we got to the bottom, it was nearly 3:00. A bunch of the students went their own way, the Locurcio's went back to their B&B and I went into Holyrood Palace by myself. At 6, I went on a bus tour of the city with some people, one of those open top busses. It was fun and entertaining, and gave me a 24 hour free bus pass to use the next day. That evening it was off to dinner for Pizza and back to the same restaurant where we had lunch for desert.
Sunday: Started off brisk and cold. Back to Deacon Brodie's Cafe for a bacon sandwhich and some tea, then off to see more of the city. The bus tour took us around the city until we ended up at the Scottish National Galleries to see some art, both by Scottish artists and collected by Scotsman. I then saw a Native American musical group performing near the gallery and broke down and bought both their CDs because they were that good. If anyone wants some of the music for their Itunes library, let me know! Then it was back on the bus, and off to the Museum of Scotland to see a bunch of Scottish history for a few hours. Seven floors of stuff, though I never made it to the adjacent Royal Museum to see other exhibits. Then it was lunch at Greyfriar's Bobby pub and off to see the grave of the wee dog. Do a google search on Greyfriar's Bobby and you will see what I mean. Back on the bus, then dinner with the Locurcio's and all of the students around 9 at Deacon Brodie's Pub again. I should have gotten a tshirt!
Monday: I had moved into a hotel the night previously, not wanting to spend another night with my back and hip on the hostel bed. The Jury's Inn in Edinburgh was worth the expensive, and I would probably stay there again both because of the price, the location and the cleanliness of the hotel. Monday morning was off to the Bank Hotel restaurant for a wonderful Scottish breakfast and then met everyone at 11:45 for the exploration of Mary King's Close, a covered over, haunted and abandonned street from 17th century Edinburgh. It was a fun and intriguing hour long tour of a forgotten part of the city. Then it was shopping (and a brief visit to the Borders and Lothian police museum) and looking for a kilt. I went to a couple places, but I realized eventually that buying a kilt and all the accoutrements was going to be a $1200 dollar experience (A made to order kilt would take six weeks and cost 445 GBP alone!) I will think on whether I should treat myself at Xmas time or not. Anyway, it was time to head back to the hotel for a late check out and then meet up with everyone to head back to the airport. We probably left an hour earlier than we had to, but it was nice to relax and explore the airport, have some dinner, share some drinks and enjoy each other's company before flying back to London and returning to Oxford around 11pm.
Tomorrow night (Wednesday) is the last formal dinner in Oxford, and then spaghetti dinner on Thursday, finals on Friday, and grading on Saturday. I am going to spend the next few days doing things I haven't done yet. I had to run errands this morning and run by the supermarket for more Diet Coke and some laundry powder to do the last of my laundry on Thursday or Friday. Tonight was eating at the Eagle and Child Pub, the place where Tolkien and CS Lewis hung out and discussed their work. Great little pub with good food and I got to eat in one of the very special rooms that often fill up. It was a good evening, then back home to grade papers for my Civ Class. Finally, it was writing this blog to catch up.
I'll post up some of the pictures from Edinburgh.
Sunday: Started off brisk and cold. Back to Deacon Brodie's Cafe for a bacon sandwhich and some tea, then off to see more of the city. The bus tour took us around the city until we ended up at the Scottish National Galleries to see some art, both by Scottish artists and collected by Scotsman. I then saw a Native American musical group performing near the gallery and broke down and bought both their CDs because they were that good. If anyone wants some of the music for their Itunes library, let me know! Then it was back on the bus, and off to the Museum of Scotland to see a bunch of Scottish history for a few hours. Seven floors of stuff, though I never made it to the adjacent Royal Museum to see other exhibits. Then it was lunch at Greyfriar's Bobby pub and off to see the grave of the wee dog. Do a google search on Greyfriar's Bobby and you will see what I mean. Back on the bus, then dinner with the Locurcio's and all of the students around 9 at Deacon Brodie's Pub again. I should have gotten a tshirt!
Monday: I had moved into a hotel the night previously, not wanting to spend another night with my back and hip on the hostel bed. The Jury's Inn in Edinburgh was worth the expensive, and I would probably stay there again both because of the price, the location and the cleanliness of the hotel. Monday morning was off to the Bank Hotel restaurant for a wonderful Scottish breakfast and then met everyone at 11:45 for the exploration of Mary King's Close, a covered over, haunted and abandonned street from 17th century Edinburgh. It was a fun and intriguing hour long tour of a forgotten part of the city. Then it was shopping (and a brief visit to the Borders and Lothian police museum) and looking for a kilt. I went to a couple places, but I realized eventually that buying a kilt and all the accoutrements was going to be a $1200 dollar experience (A made to order kilt would take six weeks and cost 445 GBP alone!) I will think on whether I should treat myself at Xmas time or not. Anyway, it was time to head back to the hotel for a late check out and then meet up with everyone to head back to the airport. We probably left an hour earlier than we had to, but it was nice to relax and explore the airport, have some dinner, share some drinks and enjoy each other's company before flying back to London and returning to Oxford around 11pm.
Tomorrow night (Wednesday) is the last formal dinner in Oxford, and then spaghetti dinner on Thursday, finals on Friday, and grading on Saturday. I am going to spend the next few days doing things I haven't done yet. I had to run errands this morning and run by the supermarket for more Diet Coke and some laundry powder to do the last of my laundry on Thursday or Friday. Tonight was eating at the Eagle and Child Pub, the place where Tolkien and CS Lewis hung out and discussed their work. Great little pub with good food and I got to eat in one of the very special rooms that often fill up. It was a good evening, then back home to grade papers for my Civ Class. Finally, it was writing this blog to catch up.
I'll post up some of the pictures from Edinburgh.
Edinburgh: What a lovely city, pt 1
Ah, Edinburgh. I now know why I love this city so much. Four days was not enough to see or do even a small portion of what the city has on offer, but it was enough to whet my appetite again and remind me why I love the city so much. This will be an update, a kind of abbreviated one, because I think it will have to be broken into two parts to cover everything. I did learn a few lessons about being a group advisor, even with a small group, and one that takes into account that it is often better to be early than late. Though sometimes being too early can be just as never wracking.
Day 1: Friday
Well everyone was about at noon when they were supposed to be, though the buses were late and the Locurcio's were meeting us at the bus station. Everything was going swimmingly and excitement was high among the seven students who were traveling off on this small adventure. We were waiting for the bus when the first hiccup occured: some of the students got on (all but one it turned out), plus myself when the bus driver said there was no room for more luggage. We had to wait for another bus (which was running about 20 minutes at that point) and we knew we were going to miss the 12:30 bus to Heathrow. Well it turns out, that the student who did not get on, Nina, did not have the right ID (she left her passport in her room, so she ran from the centre of town back to the dorms, then back to the central bus station) and we didn't make the 1 oclock bus either by about 2 minutes. The other students had caught the 12:30 bus with Dr. Locurcio, and we caught the 1:30 bus. We arrived at Heathrow just before 3 and our plane was scheduled to leave around 4:15. It was cutting it close, but it still was within plenty of time to get to the gate and assembled. It was a good thing I had checked in early and online.
One of the students, Cody, who has been sick on and off the trip with an intenstinal infection, had to turn back and came back to Oxford and never made the trip. We were back to six, which was the number originally meant to go. The flight left on time, and arrived on time, and had one small miracle, something you never see on a US airline: a meal. The flight was less than an hour, but they managed to serve a salmon appetizer and drink in that time. I was impressed and the food was quite good.
Anyway, the trip to the hostel in Edinburgh was an interesting experience, and one that was relatively short, about 25 minute or so, even with rush hour. The bus dropped us off on top of the Mound, which still meant a steep walk up the hillside to our hostel. The hostel, Castle Rock Hostel, was actually right by the castle and a pretty nice place for a hostel. (I did stay in a hotel on Sunday night though, which is a whole other story). The students had two rooms, I had what we jokingly called the presidential suite (it had a sink and a tv) and a double bed (egg crate mattress on a wooden frame). It wasn't the largest room or the most spacious, but it was good enough for two nights. Then the group assembled and we went looking for dinner along the Royal Mile (or at least a portion of it) before ending up closer to the top at Deacon Brodie's pub and restaurant. It was good food, not too expensive (we ended up there on Sunday night as well with everyone) and had table service, which is rare in English pubs. After that, almost everyone went back to the hostel and called it a night since it was around 10 and an early day awaited.
Saturday and the rest, including pictures, will come later today or tonight...I have to go run some errands this morning before class.
Day 1: Friday
Well everyone was about at noon when they were supposed to be, though the buses were late and the Locurcio's were meeting us at the bus station. Everything was going swimmingly and excitement was high among the seven students who were traveling off on this small adventure. We were waiting for the bus when the first hiccup occured: some of the students got on (all but one it turned out), plus myself when the bus driver said there was no room for more luggage. We had to wait for another bus (which was running about 20 minutes at that point) and we knew we were going to miss the 12:30 bus to Heathrow. Well it turns out, that the student who did not get on, Nina, did not have the right ID (she left her passport in her room, so she ran from the centre of town back to the dorms, then back to the central bus station) and we didn't make the 1 oclock bus either by about 2 minutes. The other students had caught the 12:30 bus with Dr. Locurcio, and we caught the 1:30 bus. We arrived at Heathrow just before 3 and our plane was scheduled to leave around 4:15. It was cutting it close, but it still was within plenty of time to get to the gate and assembled. It was a good thing I had checked in early and online.
One of the students, Cody, who has been sick on and off the trip with an intenstinal infection, had to turn back and came back to Oxford and never made the trip. We were back to six, which was the number originally meant to go. The flight left on time, and arrived on time, and had one small miracle, something you never see on a US airline: a meal. The flight was less than an hour, but they managed to serve a salmon appetizer and drink in that time. I was impressed and the food was quite good.
Anyway, the trip to the hostel in Edinburgh was an interesting experience, and one that was relatively short, about 25 minute or so, even with rush hour. The bus dropped us off on top of the Mound, which still meant a steep walk up the hillside to our hostel. The hostel, Castle Rock Hostel, was actually right by the castle and a pretty nice place for a hostel. (I did stay in a hotel on Sunday night though, which is a whole other story). The students had two rooms, I had what we jokingly called the presidential suite (it had a sink and a tv) and a double bed (egg crate mattress on a wooden frame). It wasn't the largest room or the most spacious, but it was good enough for two nights. Then the group assembled and we went looking for dinner along the Royal Mile (or at least a portion of it) before ending up closer to the top at Deacon Brodie's pub and restaurant. It was good food, not too expensive (we ended up there on Sunday night as well with everyone) and had table service, which is rare in English pubs. After that, almost everyone went back to the hostel and called it a night since it was around 10 and an early day awaited.
Saturday and the rest, including pictures, will come later today or tonight...I have to go run some errands this morning before class.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Back from Edinburgh
I have returned home safe and sound from Scotland. It was the best weekend so far with the best small group of students and the Locurcio's. I will write more tomorrow, and post tons of pics, but I am exhausted at the moment and my cold continues to threaten me with severe bodily harm.
I so want to go back to Scotland tomorrow, but this is the last week of classes, with exams on Friday and then off to London until I fly home a week from Wednesday. I can't believe my time here in the UK is almost done.
Just wait until I recount this weekend's adventures...
I so want to go back to Scotland tomorrow, but this is the last week of classes, with exams on Friday and then off to London until I fly home a week from Wednesday. I can't believe my time here in the UK is almost done.
Just wait until I recount this weekend's adventures...
Friday, July 27, 2007
Off to Scotland, och aye!
Well today at noon GMT (like 3.5 hours or so) I am off to Scotland, particularly Edinburgh with a small group of students, just 6: 4 girls, 2 guys, as well as another professor and his wife. Three of the students had to drop out due to financial reasons (they have to eat the costs of the flight and the one night room they paid for) because the trip will cost an additional 55 GBP* or so before even getting to really see the city. Some of them have less than that to live on until their flights home next weekend. I am looking forward to the trip, and will probably make my first significant purchase of the trip and it is something for myself: a kilt and accoutrements. We shall see, unless the price is going to bankrupt me. I'll let you know when I return on Monday night or Tuesday morning because I won't have internet access for the weekend. When we return, there will be less than a week left for the students, many of them flying out on August 4th and 5th. I'll be here until the 8th (though I will be in London the last few days) and then flying home on the 8th and back in Orlando somewhere before 8 or so. Home by 10...and then to work on Friday (though I may sneak in on Thursday, briefly, we shall see how I am feeling.) Speaking of feeling, I am doing better, though my cold is not complete gone yet...mostly, but not completely.
Time to get a shower and get packing.
* 20 pounds for the roundtrip bus to Heathrow, 30 pounds for the remainder of their stay at the hostel, and 5 pounds for the roundtrip bus between Edinburgh and its airport. That doesn't take into account probably another 20-30 pounds spending money and the same amount on admission fees.
Time to get a shower and get packing.
* 20 pounds for the roundtrip bus to Heathrow, 30 pounds for the remainder of their stay at the hostel, and 5 pounds for the roundtrip bus between Edinburgh and its airport. That doesn't take into account probably another 20-30 pounds spending money and the same amount on admission fees.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Thursday July 26th
Its been quiet the last few days, not much going on other than school, classes and work. I have been getting better after a visit to the pharmacy on Tuesday to get a decongestant and a cough suppressant. Took a while as I am allergic to paracetamol, the UK equivalent of Tylenol, as most of the medicines have the painkiller in it. Also, unlike in the states were the cold medicine is help yourself, in the UK it is all behind the counter so you have to ask a clerk for help. It has its plus and minuses, but the plus is that you get exactly what you need. The minus, of course, is waiting in a 20 minute line since the girls behind the counter are true pharmacy techs and help diagnosis what you need for your specific symptoms.
Anyway, next to last week of classes, and I can't believe how much time has passed already. I am off to Edinburgh tomorrow through Monday, though to be honest, I am not exactly hot on the idea of staying at a hostel, but it is cheap. We shall see how it goes, but there might be a B&B in the future. I don't know. I'll let you know. However, I won't have internet while I am there, so I won't be back on line until Monday evening. Then its the last week of classes, before heading off to London for a few days, then home to Florida.
I'll try to post a few more pics today as well....
Anyway, next to last week of classes, and I can't believe how much time has passed already. I am off to Edinburgh tomorrow through Monday, though to be honest, I am not exactly hot on the idea of staying at a hostel, but it is cheap. We shall see how it goes, but there might be a B&B in the future. I don't know. I'll let you know. However, I won't have internet while I am there, so I won't be back on line until Monday evening. Then its the last week of classes, before heading off to London for a few days, then home to Florida.
I'll try to post a few more pics today as well....
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Paris: Last Day
These are some pictures from the military museum. Regretfully, I was so sick at this point, I didn't take any pictures of Napoleon's tomb. I will have to get some from one of the shutter bug students.
Paris: Louvre
Some pictures from inside the Louvre. What we could take pictures of and what didn't come out too blurry.
Stratford Pics
These were some pictures taken in Shakespeare's home town before we went to see Macbeth that evening.
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