Day 1

("Official") Day 1 in London is complete.  It is 8:40 pm and we just got back from our first day in Central London.
First off today we attended a presentation from one of the students here who deals with international affairs. After that we were lead by two student ambassadors around campus to find out where things like the washateria and  cafes are.  They were horrible because they didn't know anything.  The campus here at Roehampton is the prettiest campus I've ever been on! It dates back to the late 1800s and has a few ponds with ducks and lilly pads and flowers -- its just beautiful! I'll have pictures on my Facebook.
Next, we went on an open top bus tour, which was really fun, despite the fact we had a less than satisfactory guide.  I was at the very front of the bus too, so that made it even better.  We ate dinner in an old crypt under a church that had been renovated into a cafe... it was weird, but nice.
Now we're back at campus and I am about to make my second trip to ASDA (WalMart) to get things I forgot from yesterday.  It is about a 10 minute bus ride from here.  The worst part is having to carry all my stuff back!
Overall, just a great couple of days. Yesterday all we did was go to ASDA and eat pizza, haha.  Jetlag just about KILLED me! Tomorrow we will be leaving bright and early to go to Stonehenge (which ISN'T in Scotland, haha!) and Windsor Castle. Well, I'll post a few of the best pictures on here and the rest on my Facebook page.. Stay tuned!
XOXO

Nervous.

Well, tomorrow's the big day. I'll be leaving Tuscaloosa at around 11:45 with Jake and Ben taking me to the airport. My plane leaves at 4:45 for Philadelphia where I will have a 2 hour layover and after that I'll be in route for London.  I am really nervous now, actually.  I have a tendency to become very homesick and am afraid I'm gonna hate it.  I know I'll end up having a good time, but I'm anxious nonetheless. The universe is apparently on my side, though because of the fortune I got today at the chinese restaurant.  Well I suppose I'll wrap up... Please pray safe travels (for myself and those who will be traveling with me), for my nerves/anxiety to go away, and for homesickness not to hit me too hard.

XOXO

My fortune from earlier today held by my roommate, Jethro (Ben).

Flat Jethro

Well I will be leaving in less than two days! I am pretty calm right now, but I'm pretty sure I will start freaking out once I'm on the plane.  The whole point of this blog was to showcase my new friend Flat Jethro I felt sorry for my bff, Jethro (aka: Ben), since he can't accompany me, so we decided to create a Flat Jethro to come along instead.  We got this idea from an elementary school project we did based on a book called "Flat Stanley". I will take pictures with Flat Jethro at various points throughout my journey.  So, here he is....... FLAT JETHRO! (:

Places I've gotta go and things I've gotta do.

These are lists of some of the top places I want to go and things I want to do while in London and Barcelona.  The places and events are in no particular order.  The one for London does not include things I have already seen and/or plan to go back to (ie. Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminister, ect).  Since I have never been to Barcelona and don't know much about the place, my list for there may be underpar. I plan to update the list when I have completed the task.


In London:



1. London Eye 
2. Big Ben -- Check!

3. Globe Theater

4. Windsor -- Check!

5. Winston Churchill's Britain at War Experience

6. See at least 3 plays/musicals

7. London Zoo

8. King's Cross Station -- Check!

9. Hard Rock Cafe

10. Abbey Road/Beatles Store

11. Take a picture in a phone booth

In Barcelona:

1. Picasso Museum

2. Guggenheim Museum

3. Tibidabo

4. the bars at Port Olympic (because apparently they're "pretty hopping" according to Trip Advisor.)

5. Montserrat

6. Ride a sailboat into the Mediterranean

7. Shop at La Rambla

8. A concert hall like Gran Teatre del Liceu 

9. Hot Air Balloon Festival in Igualda!
10. Beaches

If you have any other ideas for places or events please comment and let me know!

Numero Uno

Well, since I couldn't figure out how to connect the blog provided by my company to facebook I decided to create this one.  This will be an account of my journey throughout Europe and my reflections once I return.  I am really going to try to keep this up considering I won't be able to talk to anyone very often; however no promises will be made(: 

this is how I feel when I think about how close I am to leaving

My trip begins in less than one week!!! 5 days to be exact! I am nervous, excited, apprehensive, and a lot of other emotions right now.  8 weeks is a long time to be away. I know I'm going to have fun though, and may learn something too.  Well, this is numero uno of many to come! Hope you'll accompany me on this journey and have fun living vicariously.. haha!