I was there, now I'm here

The bells of Notre Dame! and the gargoyles, but no Quasi Modo

2008-06-19T08:18:00.000-07:00

This is what missing home looked like

2008-06-19T07:48:00.001-07:00

nothing like a giant Astroturf arm-chair to make you really home sick.

Beautiful day at Stonehenge

2008-06-19T07:46:00.001-07:00

View from a London theater

2008-06-18T14:32:00.000-07:00

This is the view from the top floor of the National Theater. This panorama that I fashioned was during intermission of The Revenger's Tragedy. Click on the link to see the preview. This was the most amazing play I have ever seen. Milly Still, the director, did a brilliant job portraying the disturbingly dark sides of revenge, death, violence and sex. With the mix of techno music and the most amazing falsetto I've heard, I walked out during intermission bawling because my senses were so overwhelmed. I was in raptures! I've never felt or seen anything like this. I love London theater.

London Street Art

2008-06-18T14:05:00.000-07:00

Many famous street artists have originated in London. Banksy, for example, the graffiti artist know for his satiric paintings and stencils concerning politics, society, and ethics, is renown world-wide for his graffiti art. In the Tate Britain (one of London's famous art museums) I bought a book of street art and it served to perpetuate my fascination with street art and its punk and anarchic origins. These photos come from a skate park that is sandwiched between two of London's most prestigious theaters, the National Theater and the Royal Theater. Everyday artists come with their paint and make something totally awesome. You never see the same thing two days in a row because these artists continually have the opportunity to paint freely, even in the day light. It was really cool to watch them work.

this is all the louvre i need

2008-06-18T13:54:00.000-07:00

We were walking past this giant building and all of a sudden my professor says, "Oh yeah, here's the Louvre." These were taken at about 8 at night. The sun was perfect.
I went inside the Louvre, but it honestly didn't compare to these outside pictures. Who needs ancient artifacts?! The inside smelled because there were so many tourist bodies jammed inside this once palace. Unfortunately I walked through as fast as I could because I hated being in there. Luckily, this evening was the Louvre's redeeming grace.

This is the end. The end my friend.

2008-06-05T00:23:00.000-07:00

To day is my last day of class, and I have to give a presentation in just a few minutes. It's about censorship in the UK, and how ever since their censorship laws changed, oh say about 30 years ago, the country have gone naked-people happy. There are things here on the tube, on the streets, on the tv than your average Utahan sees in their life. Sex and naked people are everywhere. This sexuality has been repressed for so long that now the British have immersed themselves in a multi-media wave of sexy sexy things. Interesting, huh?

The next few days I have finals. After that, and maybe even amidst, I'll post my pics of Stonehenge and give everyone an adequate blog to read/view. I've realized that blogging doesn't give me enough instant gratification and I know my laziness on updates is obstructing your voyeurism, so I'll try a little harder.

King Lear at Shakespeare's Globe

2008-05-31T12:10:00.001-07:00

As "groundlings" we have to stand through the whole performance, but we get to lean up against the stage, close enough to have fake blood sprayed all over you when one character ripes the other characters eyeballs out. Like the poor peasants back in olden times, we can only afford the cheap standing tickets accompanied by a complimentary rain shower.

Ah, London.

2008-05-31T11:44:00.000-07:00

I just got back from a weekend trip around the English country side, again. It was nice and pretty, but I was glad to get back to the city. Now I cant remember why. I'm sitting in my flat next to an open window downloading my pictures onto a computer for my blog. I can hear from across the street that one of our neighbours is having a nice cocktail party from the sounds of their guests chatter from their balcony. There is one woman in particular, I can tell she's American, now out of college, freshly in the professional job market seeking a job where she can use her ingenuity as a young bourgeois, wanna-be Londoner. She has various speculations on attending law school and men, and I can tell she's full of shit and trying to impress the guy with the tie standing in front of her. This is more information than I care to know about any of my neighbours guests, especially bitchy American ones. So I glare at her outside my window and catch her eye to which she says to two other party guests whose ears must be bleeding now from her boring conversation, "Look at that weirdo staring at us." Then to this loud-mouthed American I say "I don't care to know about your schooling and career, can you keep it down?" "What?" she replies. I lean my head a little further out the window to ensure that she hears me as well as I can hear her, "I don't care about your life. Keep it down!" At this her snobby senses have been hurt and she whips her body around to recount this interaction to the other guests. I much prefer the shy girl with the black skirt who isn’t talking.

Aw, London. With is jam-packed buildings and neighbourhoods. There are seven million people inhabiting this relatively small area, and there's just no room for complete comfort and privacy. All this city exposure has left me sassy, and often cheeky, depending on how pissed off the people make me. All I can do is laugh and be glad that the big bad city doesn't scare me, or I would have reason to pee my pants at least three times a day. Oh look, someone’s car alarm is going off. Just another London evening in posh Kensington.

The Cliffs of Moher, west coast of Ireland, next to the amazing blue atlantic

2008-05-26T14:30:00.000-07:00

These cliffs were the reason I went to Ireland. They left me speechless. They are over 700 ft. at their peak. Many people have died, deliberately and accidentally. I absolutely loved this trip.

Peaking over the edge. I dont recommend it. I froze with fear, and my feet started sweating, I was like a sweaty statue--it scared the shit out me.

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It was very windy up there--my hair doesn't normally do that.

The Burren, just north of Moher, a giant limestone field.

Blarney Castle and Druid forest

2008-05-26T13:06:00.000-07:00

Cave

Wicked cool forest

The wishing stepts. Allison and I walked down and up these stairs with out eyes closed, concentrating only on our wish. Later on that night mine came true. You all will have to wait till I get home to find out.

Witch rock

Howth Peninsula

2008-05-26T12:47:00.000-07:00

Tidal pool

Cave

The Irish Sea and me.

The cute coupled I traveled with this weekend.

I think this is a wart

2008-05-26T12:41:00.000-07:00

I stared at this all the way to Ireland trying to figure out what it was.

Dad, I'm glad you got yours removed.

Dad, you were right.

2008-05-22T22:29:00.000-07:00

When I first arrived it was misting outside (because it doesn't really rain here as far as I can tell), and it was super overcast. It was what I expected, and didn't seem all that great. Then we started getting lost and people around the town were so friendly and helpful. Even our waiter and the security gaurds at the resturant last night were more than willing to share a joke with us and point us toward a local pub with live Irish music. Needless to say, the pub was awsome, and the music even better. London has nothing on Dublin. I love it here, and want to move here as soon as possible. My Dad said it all, when I told him I was going to Dublin he immidiately said "You will fall in love with Ireland." And I haven't even been out of the city yet! In a few minutes I'll be catching a train to Cork to visit Blarney Castle, you all know what that means! And if you dont I'm not going to spell it out for you.

So I'm staying in a hostle where I have to share a room with 5 other people. I thought that was bad, but the Green's (the married couple on the trip) have to share a room with 18 other people. When I arrived at the hostle my roommates weren't there and I had a chance to orient myself in peace. I didn't get a chance to meet them until 3 a.m., well actually it was 3:30, because last call in the pubs around here is 3. I believe they are from Sweden, and they are all male. Some might consider this lucky or scary, I consider it karma for better or worse. First impression, I thought they were the KGB for some reason, maybe it was their scary, wierd, Russian sounding language. They had aparently been to a Bruce Springstien concert, as well as visiting the pubs. I had barely fallen asleep because I was so anxious about sleeping in a room with strangers from God knows where, and I tried to act asleep in avoidance, but they knew it and I knew it, so I sat up and introduced myself as they prepared for bed in their tight fitting underwear and Bruce Springstien tee-shirts.

"My name in Indigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die."

2008-05-22T02:59:00.000-07:00

So this past week I've been very tired. I'm pooped! Being a tourist/student/Londoner is hard work. I've been reading lots of Jacobean plays about tragedy, revenge, rape, incest, death, blood, deception, love, lust, loss... the list goes on. It's all very classic stuff, and often I think of my favorite movie, "The Princess Bride," when studying these tales of woe and seduction. I want someone to sword-fight for me....

Speaking of The Princess Bride, I'll be leaving for Ireland today, and on Saturday I will be visiting THE CLIFFS OF INSANITY!!!!!!!!!!!! That's right. The cliffs of Moher are opposite the island from Dublin, and I will be taking a train to visit these cliffs where they were filmed for the movie. I may come back as a princess, with long blond hair, and the name Robbin Wright--you never know what fantasy land will do to a person. I'm so damn excited I might cry right now. So if you don't here from me by Tuesday you'll know I became overwhelmed by the power of the cliffs and flung myself over for no apparent reason. Just kidding, Mom, I'll be safe.

I went to Stratford-upon-Avon...

2008-05-17T07:08:00.000-07:00

ya know, Shakspeare's birthplace. It sucked. The only good part of the trip was the honeymoon suite that Al and I got to stay in at the B&B. It was heaven.

The Disneyland of Castles-Warwick

2008-05-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

Tate Modern

2008-05-17T06:59:00.001-07:00

The first, the original, Hard Rock Cafe-London

2008-05-13T03:06:00.000-07:00

Me and Tamalas waiting outside for our table.

This drink (with complimentary shot glass that I got to take home with me), may or may not have contributed to the cutting of my hair later on that night...

Before feast...

After feast, this food was so damn good.

Brighton Beach.

2008-05-13T02:43:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, eight of us took a trip to Brighton beach, on the southern tip of England. It was the best day of my trip. For those of you who dont know, I should have been born a fish because I draw my super powers from water.

The day started off as a really cloudy, but once we stepped off the train and on to the beach the sun came out for the rest of the day. It was absolutely beautiful.

The water was freezing, I could only put my feet in for a few seconds. But being that water is my life-force, I took a deep breath and dove into the surf. It felt like the wind was knocked out of my lungs because it was so cold, but once I became numb it was great.

I stayed on the beach for 4 straight hours. My group would leave to walk around, check out the pier, find food, but I refused to leave--I made them bring food back to me so that I wouldn't have to leave. I left feeling so rejuvenated and peaceful, not to mention tan. It was a perfect day.

this is Tam sleeping on the train

my friends from the beach yelling "you're crazy!" :)

Al braving the cold...

embracing for warmth

...and she's had enough

Me and the beautiful Allison

I love this picture, I'm convinced it portrays how utterly happy I am.

From the beach, looking back at the town of Brighton

This picture says it all

2008-05-10T15:43:00.001-07:00

WICKED! was brilliant

2008-05-09T13:55:00.000-07:00

The Globe Theatre and A Midsummer Night's Dream

2008-05-09T13:34:00.001-07:00

Standing outside the Tate Modern Museum, right after seeing the DADA exhibit.

Waking up in London

2008-05-07T12:04:00.000-07:00

I figured I would take time to actually write a blog for you all instead of posting ridiculous pictures of myself. I'm well into the second week of living in London, and the anxiety of living in a different country is starting to subside. I've seen some amazing places, and I'm keeping all my ticket stubs, brochures, and reciepts and taping them in my notebook. I'm quite the scrapbooker for someone who hates to scrapbook.

Being an english student in London has indeed added great depth to the meaning of what I'm studying. It hit me one day in class: this stuff that I'm learning about right now happened right here. There is such a great disconnect that happens when you study British literature in the U.S.; which, I feel, is one of the reasons I've never liked British literature. But being emursed in it here has been amazing. This isn't to say that all of a sudden I'm a British literature super star, I still visit sparknotes to figure out what the hell I just read, but a text has a lot more meaning when I read it then get to visit the sight where the story takes place or where the author is burried.

Besides keeping up with my studies, I'm taking advantage of the being abraod part. I dont feel like a tourist anymore. In fact, I look so integrated that "foriegners" have began stopping me in the streets to ask for directions. The best part it that I can usually help them.

Who knew that the best nachos can be found in London?!

2008-05-06T11:37:00.000-07:00

Cinco de Mayo Celebration!

Dont these nachos look scrumptious?

Sarah and Mary

Margaritas by the pitcherful!(Me and Tam)

End of the night on our stoop.

Feet haters beware.

2008-05-06T11:29:00.000-07:00

This is what I look like when my feet hurt. Yesterday I wore the wrong shoes. Damn you, cute payless shoes! I have bloody blisters on my heels, little toes, and bottoms of my feet.

"Goooooood morning, fish lovers"

2008-05-05T10:19:00.000-07:00

The London Aquarium:

I paid £11 for this statistic.

This is display of random items that were found in the Thames river, including: black and white TV, TV remote control, cow bone, used syringe, credit cards, and an 1875 tobacco pipe.

this is the birthday girl, Allison (with her wonderful hubby).

And this is the view from the front of the aquarium.

This is footage from the stingray petting pool! Th highlight of our trip to the aquarium.

I want to get a tattoo in London

2008-05-04T09:39:00.000-07:00

Before I left for London I knew I wanted to get a tattoo while I was here. Those of you who will give me positive advise about such matters, please do.

One of the first days in class my professor, Kate McPherson, read a poem to us by John Donne. I've never studied any of the old British Lit, I've always been too afraid. But when Kate read "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning" I couldn't help but cry. It was the most beautiful poems I'd ever heard. So I thought it would make an appropriate London tattoo. The stanza I want reads:

But we by a love so much refined,
That ourselves know not what it is,
Inter-assurèd of the mind,
Care less, eyes, lips and hands to miss.

So what do you think? It will have to be pretty big and I cant make up my mind on where to put it. The following line is equally good:

Our two souls therefore, which are one,
Though I must go, endure not yet
A breach, but an expansion,
Like gold to aery thinness beat.

but I think I like the first one more.

Someone, please give me your advise.

Tower of London

2008-05-03T13:28:00.000-07:00

I'm so inappropriate! Henry thought he particularly had something worth protecting.

Oh my God, a Castle

2008-05-03T12:37:00.000-07:00

Well, I dont technically know if a palace counts as a castle, but Henry the VIII did live here. This was my face while approaching Hampton Court Palace today. It was spectacular. In the first picture Allison, me, and Mary pose at the top of the entrance. Allison is probably the most beautiful person I've ever met, as you'll notice.

Then we went for a stroll through the Palace Gardens. You know how royal, or rich gardens are depicted in Hollywood films and cartoon fairy tales, all perfect and dreamy and stuff? Well it's true.

-Note the new, leather, bomber jacket. Yes, Mom, it fits, it just doesn't look like it in this picture-

This morning was one of the best mornings of my life. I cried because the scenery offered me pure, beautiful joy. Upon entering these gardens, it was as if my previously crushed childhood fantasies of fairytale life were revived and my dream had come true. Never mind the poor of the country, now I understand the Monarchy's motivation in maintaining such extravagant grounds. Selfish pleasure!

Oh, and this is my forehead in the gardens.

The tour of the castle was good, but actually paled in comparison to the experience we had in the gardens. The following is a picture taken in the guard's room. This design is made out of swords and really old pistols. Artillery designs of this nature are very common in the royal scenes around here. It's about 10-12 feet tall. And the whole room is decorated this way.

Here are some more.

I leave you with a video so you may too experience the serenity of the gardens.

I'll post more tomorrow on last night's drunken karaoke adventure, and what it's like to be lost, drunk, and having the best time of your life in London.

More stuff from yesterday

2008-05-01T05:25:00.000-07:00

This is me and me new friends outside Westminster Abby.

Trying to take a picture of myself with Big Ben in the background.

these protesters were outside the houses of parliament protesting the iraq war. i ran across the road and had a nice conversation with them. i talked to them about my efforts back home, it was great. they told me i looked like an american and i said 'thats because i am an american' then they said 'no like the one's with feathers in there hair and hunt animals with spears.' then i said 'ooooh.' they asked who my descendent's were and i said the scots. they were surprised, then i said the word 'native american' and they went on a tangent about how their not 'natives' their THE americans. i love radicals and free speech!

lastly, when it's not raining, this is what the sky looks like during sunset in london. i took this picture right outside our flat in south kensington.

My first days in London

2008-04-30T09:45:00.000-07:00

I finally made it to the student computer lab to do some homework and blog updating. The second way went much better. The Victoria and Albert museum is right around the corner from our flat. The England Natural History Museum is too, but I have yet to visit there. Here are some pics from the V&A.

This one I took and posted it for Cody because he likes eagles. or maybe this is another type of raptor, either way, if Cody had a pet with talons this is what he would look like.

These womens shoes were not made to fit a specific foot, that is, shoes could be worn on either foot, no right or left.

Wearing an armored glove...

Wearing a ruffle.

And dispite what these pictures convey, no, I am not pregnant.

Then today, the third day, we went to see the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey:

When you visit the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben is inevitably thrown in as a packaged deal.

Me outside the Abbey...

This one it Sir Issac Newtons tomb in the Abbey. These and the following pictures I had to sneak because cameras were not allowed.

I tried to take this picture for Cody to show him that his decendence are buried in Westminster Abbey, but I couldn't sneak the whole picture.

Thats it for today boys and girls. More soon.

My first day, which was a 100 hour day

2008-04-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

***Warning, I refuse to correct my type-o's for this post. Deal with it.***

So far I'm failing at being an traveliong blogger. First because I'm missing the greatest element, my own laptop. But I'm determinded to bum my roomies laptops when ever I can, and make the trip down the street to use our student computer facility. Sorry there aren't pictures yet. I've been too dostracted to take pictures, but the next time I post I'll post pictures of these distractions.

I made it to London great, not problems. Or so I thought. Unfirtunately my baggage was not put on my flight to London with me so I had to waut at the airport for 2 hours for its arrival. Then, I got completely lost in the airport, trying to find the right Tube station (thats the subway, to all you Aamericans). After all the confusion I spent 5 hours at the airport trying to get a grip on this place. I had to Emily while she was asleep at 12:30 in the mjorning to check my email for me so I could find out where I was meant to meet my people. Thanks, Em.

The plane ride was better than I thought it would be, however, it still sucked. I didn't get any sleep. So when I took a nap this afternoon I accidentially slept through our group meeting. I woke up so disoriented!!! I cant wait for bed time, which isn't for at least a few more hours.

My flat is located on the third floor of an amazingly beautiful old building, but in London, third floor really means 50th, and the British dont believe in elevators, so I've already started working in my summer swimsuit body that will inevitably form from hiking to and fro, up and down.

Thats all for now. I'm tired. Consider this a cliffhanger ending. Tomorrow I'll put up pics from what I encounter. As far as I'm concerned, my journey cant really begin until I'm well rested.

made it

2008-04-28T10:34:00.001-07:00

barely. horrifying details forthcoming. cody i love you, i'll call you soon.

Travel Anxiety

2008-04-25T11:31:00.000-07:00

I've come down with a case of something really crappy. I might die. The doctor said it was allergies, but I've never had allergies that made me vomit before (or maybe it was the Brick Oven pizza). I think he knows something I don't know because he sent me home with a prescription for anti-biotics, just in case. I think its a sinus infection slash travel anxiety. I don't know exactly which ailment is to blame for keeping me awake these past few nights, but I think they're both responsible. Because of all the stress from finals and packing and work and sickness I think I'm going to spend my first twenty-four hours in London crying. I hope so, I think crying might work well as decompression therapy.

On a lighter note CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL MY FRIENDS WHO GRADUATED TODAY! I hate/envy you. But then again, you're not the one's going to London, so I guess we're even.

So much to do, so little time. I cant believe I leave in two days. And sorry if some of this is incoherent. My typing skills may have suffered permanent damage from the past week of finals cramming. That, and the goodbye hug my boss's boss gave me left the aroma of his cologne on my blouse that has distracted me the whole time I've been trying to write this.

My London Address

2008-04-17T07:39:00.000-07:00

If anyone should feel inclined to send me post or packages the address to send them to is:

Ashley Robertson
Metrogate House
3 -7 Queens Gate Terrace
London, SW7 5PE

Will cheer for money

2008-04-15T09:22:00.000-07:00

During work the other day I went into my boss's boss's office, who is the Dean of Students, Bob Rasmussen. Phil Clegg was also in there. The following dialog ensued:

Phil: Is she (me) a full-time student?

Bob: Who, Ashley? Yeah.

Phil: Ashley, Do you want a scholarship?

Me: Yeah I do. What's it for?

Phil: I have some end-of-year money that I need to get rid of.

Me: Are you serious?!

Phil: Of course. You're enrolled in at least 12 credits, right?

Me: Yes.

Phil: You have at least a 2.5 GPA, right?

Me: Yes.

Phil: Okay. Expect a check in the mail.

Me: ....(dumbfounded)...

Basically the trip to England has afforded me many sleepless nights of anxiety over how I was going to pay for it, how I was going to eat while I was over there, and how I was going to support my shopping habit while over there. This pretty much takes care of that.

Thank you student affairs for giving me a CHEER scholarship! Thats right, its a cheer leading scholarship. I'll do a cheer for $1,000 dollars. You only have to ask once.

Roommate

2008-04-09T12:44:00.000-07:00

"Don't forget about me."

2008-04-09T11:43:00.000-07:00

I've gotten into the habit of TRYING to guilt Cody into giving me what I want because after I leave he will miss me so much he's going to to wish he had done everything for me before I left. "Cody, walk me back to my office. We wont have many more lunches like this together before I leave." To which he responds "No." Cody's handling me leaving a lot better than I am. In fact I'm convinced that he's in denial about it, and doesn't realize how hard it's going to be.

Me: I know you're in denial about me leaving. Once I'm gone, you're going to WISH you have paid me more attention.

Cody: You're right. Just like how when my mother dies I'm going to wish I had been nicer to her. I see these things, but there's no changing them.

I think in the end, he'll be just fine without me.

Last summer when Cody was studying abroad in Italy, he sent me postcards that said "Don't forget about me." So now I remind him everyday to return the favor.

Taking orders for souvenirs...

2008-04-08T08:50:00.000-07:00

So I leave for England in less than 3 weeks. I remember when it was 3 months away and I never really thought I'd go. Well, now I have to start thinking about packing, and it's terrifying. Yes, I'm scared to leave! This is what happens when you grow up in Utah suburbs and spend the first period of your adult life in Utah county: you become afraid of the real world. PLUS, tonight I learn who my roommates are going to be--the thought of which makes me want to throw up because I gave up roommates almost a year ago for a reason.

I'll keep y'all posted periodically before I leave, and once I'm over there I promise to update this blog very regularly (except for maybe when I'm in Dublin or Paris and don't have speedy access to the net, yes, be jealous). If you want me to bring you something back you'll have to let me know. I plan on getting the most out of this experience as is humanly possible and sharing it with just as many people.