The Real Thanksgiving

And now, after a lengthy intermission, Part II:

The Boyfriend and I returned to Lancaster, tired from traveling and carrying around eighty pounds of Christmas presents on our backs, and made the executive decision to do nothing of great importance for the remainder of his visit.

Me: So...
Boyfriend: So...?
Me: ...Wanna watch 30 Rock all day and eat junk food?
Boyfriend: jumping up and grabbing Cheetos, Goldfish (pizza blasted), plethora of assorted candybars.  Let's do this.

And thus began the 30 Rock marathon, though I think he got annoyed at me for quoting every single line because I've watched all five seasons at least four or five times.

The next day we had terrible rain.  Rain that I had never witnessed in England; and despite the common myth that it rains here all the time, which is partially true, but it does not rain consecutively like it would back in Ohio, just obnoxiously on and off.  But that day, it was a cold downpour, and because we're awesome, we decided to go on a walk to the amazing sheep fields.

Unfortunately, I did not bring my precious camera on this adventure, but Boyfriend brought his SLR and took some beautiful pictures and I'm sure some of you will recognize the stone wall from previous entries.

"If we take nine pictures in a row, we can't mess up!"

That night, the rain stopped and I took Boyfriend to one of my favorite pubs in town named The Borough.  It was my first pub I went to in Lancaster, with my friend Caitlin.

Also note that the Christmas lights have been up since early November...Not right.

Sunday was Real Thanksgiving and thus we made drunk chicken with Mr. E's recipe (by "we" I mean Boyfriend):

Naturally, we used Stella Artois as the beer can

Yes the chicken is in a sauce pan, it is college cooking after all

And on Monday morning, I shipped Boyfriend off on the next train to Manchester (which he would proceed to trip over his luggage and pull the train alarm) and I found myself with only two weeks left in England!

Cheers!

A Gentleman's Intermission

First and most importantly, Lydia's birthday was YESTERDAY and she is now 21.  I'm sad I couldn't celebrate with her, but excited to have our ladies night back in session this Spring Semester so we can at least have a belated birthday celebration, probably in a really small, danky room in the basement of the crappiest dorms on campus.  Also, her new tattoo is amazing.

Secondly, this is not Part II, not because I'm being cheeky, but because a certain someone (BOYFRIEND) hasn't updated his blog OR sent me pictures, ahem, ahem.  Here are some so nobody gets their knickers in a twist:

Interpretive posing at the James Joyce Center (and yes, my shirt has owls on it, from Primark!!)

Boyfriend taking some really cool pictures of Dublin at the Gravity Bar, Guinness Factory

Boyfriend and River Liffey before we did our 2 and a half hour walk

Third: because I have four papers due by the time I leave, I reserve the right to be cranky at/with everything.  Such as:

1. Look, it's 3 AM.  There's no need to be shouting in Chinese at whatever or whoever in your room across the hall.
2. There are three girls in this flat and two boys.  Put the dang seat down.  (I'm looking at you, Greek boy).
3. I did NOT pay money to sit on this bus or train to listen to your crappy mix of Rihanna and techno music.  Why do you even have earphones if you insist on playing it so loud that the entire carriage can hear?
4. And to the ten Occupy Lancastrians in town square: go home.  Just go.
5. To the empty aluminum can rattling outside every time there is a gust of wind: STOP IT.
6. Also, everyone should walk faster than me so I don't have to slow down my pace.  Thanks.

Oh, God.  I've become an old person.



(Cheers!)

The Common Sense Journey Back to Childhood

One of my favorite books growing up was "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" by Beatrix Potter.  I had no idea, until Allison informed me, that her museum was approximately thirty eight miles away from this University!  With nothing to do for Thursday (except homework that wouldn't be due in four days time anyway), I was going to do it.  I was going to go on the train.  Solo.

I took the bus to town and found the rail station by reading the signs.  Who said traveling was difficult?  (Maybe no one said that..)

English towns just got quainter...can you handle it?

This is Windermere.  I had to change trains at Oxenholme to travel further into the Lake District.  I took this picture about five minutes of walking distance away from the rail station.  I don't know anything about this town other than it's apart of the Lake District and holds the Beatrix Potter World.  But I've got this amazing super power that I used earlier to find the Lancaster station.  Common sense.

I had no idea where to go, but the town had a lake.  Obviously, I should go downhill.  And so I did.  Guess what I found?
Wait for it....

If you answered "a lake" you are absolutely correct!  I found the lake!  And then applying the knowledge of what I knew from Mrs. Potter's books and background, her museum wasn't far.

The museum was incredibly well done and paid a proper tribute to one of the greatest children's authors in history.

Beatrix Potter and Her Animal Characters

A Beautiful Recreation of Mr. McGregor's Garden

My Favorite Little Trouble Maker

It was a good day.

This weekend is also the Lancaster Literature Festival (another reason why this was my primary choice for a study abroad school) and a shopping trip in which I will try to look less like an American (probably not going to happen).  I'm so excited about future travels about England now that my first small journey has been successful and not emotionally scarring.

Cheers!

So, Two Americans Walked into a Bar...

And it looked like this:

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

First, we saw this:

The small ruins of a Roman bathhouse

After my friend and I toured the castle, which unfortunately did not allow any pictures despite me thinking about trying to take a few, the guide informed us of Lancaster's ruins of a Roman bath that are directly behind the cathedral that stands next to the castle itself.

The tour of the castle, however, was extremely fascinating.  The first room we walked into was still in use for a rather small court of justice.  In this particular room, shields of arms lined the walls, dating back to Henry III and his knights, to the current Queen Elizabeth II.  Members who are still working in the castle even had to invent their own coat of arms.  The guide showed us one shield, with crosses and zig-zags darting down the middle, belonging to an electrician.  The zig-zags represented his years working with electricity. 

I also learned that the castle was a working prison until five months ago, when it was deemed unfit for prisoners.  It was usually for young men serving small sentences of drug-related crimes.  Honestly, if I were to be hauled off to prison, I'd want to go to this castle!  The original cells are quite roomy for about a few people.  The guide offered to shut us inside to get a taste of what convicts had to face!

I was informed about the famous Pendle witch trials here as well.  I knew they must be important to my University because an entire college is named in their sake.  The tour guide said that a little girl of about six years old, accused members of her family and neighbors of being witches, thus ultimately leading to their trials and executions.  Thanks, little Susie.

After an educational afternoon, we then headed for the Borough, a pub located across from the town hall and the looming statue of Queen Victoria.  It was there I had the best fish and chips yet followed by my first British dessert of an apple and berry crumble drenched in custard.  We originally planned on having a pint of cider, but the Lancaster Amber caught my eye, I just had to try it.  Everything was exquisite but I think I'm going to lay off the pub food for a while!

Last night, I finally made my way over to my own college's bar, Trevor.  It was unfortunate how much I enjoyed myself there because it will be closed for renovation.  We asked the bartender why this is and he responded with a grunt, "asbestos".  Ew.

I love my asbestos bar!

I'm fairly certain this is the only bar on campus that A.) serves a beer on tap by the name of Dragon's Cub B.) plays all of my favorite alternative American music, and C.) has table tennis, a terrace, and darts.

And before I leave to begin my Saturday...
A German, an American, and an Irishmen walk into a bar and order a beer.  Unfortunately, in each beer floats a fly.  The German shrugs and guzzles the beer, fly and all.  The American plucks the fly out and drinks the beer.  The Irishmen sits the fly on the counter and shouts at the poor insect, "SPIT IT OUT!"

Cheers!

Pocket Lancaster

This morning was the morning I explored the beautifully old town of Lancaster.  During the international student orientation, the local historian came in and taught us the history of our University's town.  Many were alert on the edge of their seat, many were asleep, and me--well, I was still thinking about how my wallet was approximately three hours and forty five minutes away, but I caught a few main points.

The coach rolled out of Lancaster and past miles of bright green fields, scattered with sheep that looked like little walking clouds across the land.  The fields were perfectly manicured with the occasional healthy-looking tree that loomed over resting cows in the lush grass.  I almost wished I walked those four miles.

And as I gazed upon the beauty of the cobblestone streets, I thought to myself, thank God I didn't buy those high-heeled boots

Built Circa 1094

There were two structures in the town that I didn't want to miss.  One of which, I had read about when applying to this school nearly six months ago:

This is one mere doorway to this enormous beauty

The castle, wrapping around a corner, about the size of two or three Kaukes!

The Castle!  Lancaster's castle is the oldest standing building in the entire town.  It was originally a Roman fort built in 79 A.D. and has changed many hands over this long course of time, royal hands to be precise.  Richard the Lionheart (who passed it on to his brother), Henry III and IV, and even Elizabeth I (spent an enormous amount of money to rebuild the top levels.  This castle is also home to the famous trials of the Pendle witches as well as acting as a prison at one point.  There is even a hanging corner which I'm sure I passed unknowingly.
Queen Victoria also made a large impression in front of the town's hall, literally:

Queen Victoria looking rather sour

Famous Brits who are relevant to the town.  It was said that Dickens wrote a short story in a hotel in Lancaster.

Just in case no one noticed the Ashton Memorial, he stuck this one in for good measure

Lord Ashton, who created this rather affectionate memorial to Queen Victoria, brought the popularity of oil cloth and linoleum to the town of Lancaster.  Basically, he was filthy rich and started to make a giant memorial on the top of the hill for his second wife, Jessy.  She passed away and he remarried Lady Ashton III while the memorial was still being built.  While the memorial itself is a glorious artichetural gem, it remains empty on the inside.

Behind me is a small pool of water with spigots for water fountains (it wasn't ornate enough without them)

The view is also breathtaking:

We also went into some very beautiful cathedrals today as well.  The churches are just as ornate as the Ashton memorial.

 When I got back after such an amazing day in my town, I decided to try my jinxed luck at the Porter's lodge (where they keep my mail).  I scanned the list, desperate for any news on my wallet, and sure enough I spotted my name. 

This wallet has been through hell and high water.  The weekend before I was going to leave, I accidentally left it in Boyfriend's car and he drove it off to Wooster and had to overnight it back to me.  Now, it had just spent three and a half days hanging out in London.  I think it's possessed, or has a mind of it's own and doesn't care for me.  Too bad, it's never leaving my sight again.

Tonight I go to the international dinner and hopefully after to Trevor, my college's adorable bar, because it will be closed in a weeks time for renovation!

Cheers!