Backpack Europe, They Said: Tears in the Louvre

For many young adults, the dream of hopping aboard a train with nothing but a backpack full of enough clothes to get by (and some handy Poundland snacks) and simply spend a few weeks traveling Europe is found in the light of every shooting star. There is an undeniable draw to wanderlust. It is found in the chords of a Bon Iver song. In misty photographs on the internet. In the films we go and see at the cinema. I am so glad to have had the chance to travel as I did last month; to visit countries and cities I’ve longed for since I was a child and to visit places where no one else I know has been. I know that I will be sharing stories and memories with my friends and family for weeks once I get back to the States – it’s already begun with my friends here in Cheltenham. But for those who want a little bit more concrete of an idea of all the adventures I had during those two fantastic weeks further abroad, here is my first installment of my travels.

Rebecca and I knew that we would find adventure in some shape or form during our travels, however we weren’t quite prepared for it to visit us so soon. Before we had even left our “home” country of England we had already witnessed a man in a top hat running to catch a train in Victoria (the first of many top-hat-ed men we saw on our adventures, actually!), were told to move seats because we were in the way of a movie being filmed (who shoots a movie in Victoria Coach Station?), and had met dear, dear New York: an American backpacker who was terribly hungover and desperately needed a shower. Like always, he heard our accents and jumped on the chance to be reunited with other Americans even though we had been outside of the States far longer than he had. While Rebecca and I are used to the Americans in our study abroad program, its become somewhat surprising to encounter others. We’ve gotten so used to the mannerisms and accents of the English that we had forgotten what some Americans are like. Now, I don’t want to all to think that I’ve become some sort of snob! I’m just a little bit broken and displaced as to which culture I relate to more at this moment. It’s going to be fun returning to the states.

Anyways, we finally boarded our coach, made it through the sketchiest passport check ever at the French boarder, survived the most uncomfortable 45 minutes ever while in the Chunnel, and overcame a (nearly) sleepless coach ride to find ourselves in Paris in the morning. At first it didn’t quite seem real, we were stuck in the metro trying to figure out maps, tickets, and language barriers (on my part). But the next thing we knew we were on an escalator and rising into the Parisian morning sun. Yes, that was how I greeted my favorite city in the world: majestically. (And the first thing we saw was an Irish Pub. Hi, home)

By then we knew that we were close to the Louvre, so we started making our way toward the Rue de Rivoli. Because it was so early on a Sunday morning there were absoluterly no people in the streets despite being in the centre of the city. Rebecca and I were alone to make our acquaintance with the beautiful city.

Until we ran into the Paris Marathon.

I wasn't kidding. 

Yes. There was a marathon that was going right along the Rue de Rivoli and was completely blocking our way to everything that was on the other side of the street. The Louvre, the Champs Elyeses, Notre Dame, Isle de Cite. Everything. At first, we tried walking along the street to see whether or not there would be a place for pedestrians to cross. And soon we were debating whether or not we would have to take the metro just to get to the other side of the street. However, we noticed that there were a few pedestrians who would brave the runners and make a dash for the other side when the flow of marathoners had waned. The following moments went like this:

Rebecca: Should we just try to make a run for it?

Me: I don’t know. We have out backpacks with us and I don’t want to get in anyon-

Rebecca: Oh well, ultimate frogger! (takes off running across the street)

Me: … Yoloswag. (follows)

And that’s how I ran in the Paris Marathon. With my backpack.

Now that we were finally on the right side of the street, we could make our way through the passage way of the old part of the museum and see the iconic pyramids of The Louvre. Now, I should make sure that you all understand the deep, deep love I have for this museum. Art has been a part of my life since I was a young child and I have always loved and studied the works of those house in The Louvre. The Renaissance greats, the Baroque masters, the Classical sculpture, the works of the Greeks and Romans. It has always been my dream to walk in the hallways of the museum that represents the city of Paris to me as much as the Eiffel tower does for others. It never fully struck me that I was finally in the city of my dreams until I rounded a corner and found myself in front of the glass pyramids. And at that moment I became the girl who cried over museums.

My first glimpse. 

Still not over it. 

After becoming emotional over a building (and all of the ideas associated with it, mind you!), Rebecca and I turned away from The Louvre and began the trek toward the Arc de Triomphe along the Champs Elsyees. And it was a long trek, especially since we still had our backpacks. Looking back, you could tell that it was definitely day one of our grand backpacking adventure ad we were able to make that walk without too much pain and exhaustion. Plus, I think we were too jacked up on adrenaline about being in Paris. Along the way, we saw the Eiffel Tower for the first time,

That's about 3-ish miles... With our backpacks. 

the marathon (again), some p-i-z-z-a, and finally the Arc.

Which was under construction. 2k14, the year all of Europe was under construction.

We found that the trees did a good job of hiding the construction, though!

By then, it was mid day and still too early to check into our hostel, so we decided to make our way back to the metro (which would eventually become our best friend in the city) and head toward the Isle de Cite and find Notre Dame. We really didn’t think that it would be too hard to find the cathedral. It’s kind of big and on an island. But still, we lost track of it while wandering along the city streets and I was soon exclaiming, “How did we lose the most famous church ever?!”

Until I rounded a corner and found it. A skill that we ended up honing during our who time in Europe. Like, the Louvre, Notre Dame was the other main landmark that was so, so quintessentially Parisian and it took my breath away to finally be standing before it. It really is such a lovely cathedral!

No, I did not see Quasi. 

Soon enough, we wandered around to the other side of Notre Dame, found the lock bridge, some delicious crepes, and the garden that Owen Wilson sat in during Midnight in Paris – with wifi!

Conveniently, this was the name of the place we got our crepes. I wonder why they chose the name...

After a sit and a lovely chat with an older couple who was staying in Paris for holiday, we decided that it was time to actually visit The Louvre. Just like I imagined, being there was absolutely fantastic. There are so many great works, many of which I had only studied in textbooks or on projector slides, and I could barely contain myself. All I could keep thinking was “I made it, I made it!” When I had begane seriously considering studying/traveling abroad, I had been in the Prado with on of my favorite art professors. Seeing all of the great art there and knowing that studying abroad would give me the chance to travel to Paris and to the Louvre cemented the idea in my mind and I went up to my professor in the museum lobby and told her we would have to start discussing my plans to come to England. And now here I was, in the museum I had wanted to visit since I was a child. Seeing the greatest art in the world. I had made it!

Some Raphael's and DaVinci's

However, I do have to say that yes, there are so many people queued up to see the Mona Lisa. I had to remind myself that the reasons I study it as a painting are about the same reasons why it had gained such a fame that so many people queue up just to get a picture of it. But I was able to give myself several moments to simply stand before her and take her in as a work of art. While Mona is smaller than you imagine, she is just as lovely.

BUT GOOD LORD

After three hours in the Louvre with our backpacks, Rebecca and I were finally beginning to experience the first bit of backpacking exhaustion and decided to head back to our hostel for a much needed sit, rest, and shower. Several hours later, we made our way into the night in search for some food before attempting to find the steps in Midnight in Paris. We ended up eating at this lovely café down the  street from our hostel were we had the sweetest waiter, the most delicious rosé, and I had some fantastic duck confit. However, due to us not knowing the custom for paying for meals, we ended up staying at the café too late for us to make it to the steps by midnight and decided to go back to the hostel and sleep instead.

TO BE CONTINUED! (after some photo gems from the Louvre)

Tourists are the best. 

Don't tell me what to do!

Packing Up Our Peacock Feathers

While studying abroad offered me the absolutely unique and fantastic opportunity to immerse myself into a new culture as something more than a tourist stopping by to admire the art work, the chance to explore and travel across Europe was one of the biggest reasons I decided of go on this crazy adventure! When I first met with the professor in charge of the study abroad office at home, I had no idea what all I wanted out of studying abroad other than the time of a lifetime in England. However, as soon as she said "You'll have a three-week-long break in the spring. Take advantage of it!" the wheels in my mind began turning.

And now, here I am. Twelve weeks into my grand adventure with a full backpack at my feet and a stomach full of butterflies. In 48 hours I will be spending my first night in Paris!

It's been really difficult to even wrap my mind around the fact that I will be spending my spring break not only in Paris, but back packing from there to Venice, then to Vienna, then to Prague, and then, finally, to Amsterdam! For one, I've been so wrapped up in finishing all of my coursework (one 3,000 word creative piece, one 2,000 aesthetics paper, and two 2,000 papers on feminist and postmodernist art -- whew!) and the ending of the semester to even grasp that it's was only days away! Secondly, since my friend Rebecca and I had a travel agency sorting all of our coaches/trains/hostels out we would simply forget that the adventure would soon be underway.

For the longest time, Paris was the only city that was ever really clear in my mind as a destination to really get excited over. Ever since I was five, I've wanted to make it to the Louvre and explore all of the artwork that I've only seen in history books. As I've grown, my wishlist for Paris only grew: Notre Dame, Shakespere and Co., Eiffel Towel, La Rotonde, Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Elysees, and so much more! Paris has always been a wish, a dream, in my mind and I cannot believe that I'm finally, finally, FINALLY going to get there!

Because Paris is such a big thing in both Rebecca and I's minds, we are still unable to believe that we're going to be in so many other cities. It was only two days ago that it finally his Rebeccaa that we're going to be in Vienna and visiting Mozart's house. And I only just began to grasp that I've going to be in the heart of canals and Italian Renaissance architecture in Venice! The rest of the trip, Prague and Amsterdam, are cities that we cannot believe that we're actually seeing and all we can go is crack jokes about them.

So far, Prague is the silliest city in our minds. It is the city of hilarious exceptions. It is the only city where the main language is isn't close to one that Rebecca or I have studied (At least we know how to say hello. "Ahoy!"). It is the only city outside of the Euro zone (Czech money is covered with fabulously bearded people!). It is the only city we are reaching by a day train (all of our other travel is at night). It is the only city where we wen't able to locate our hostel on the map in the guide book

It is literally right on the edge of the map!

Prague is, as we like to call it, one big YOLO. Luckily another group of girls we know from the BCA program is going to Prague as well and, hopefully, if we both have wifi we can get some tips about traveling through Prague.

With all of this thought of travel in the last few days, I accidentally worked myself into a bit of mania and nearly planned and booked a trip to Barcelona for the few days I will be spending in Cheltenham alone after the end of my two week tour while everyone else will be traveling. For a while I've been a bit cranky over the fact that I wouldn't be able to get to Barcelona or Rome since I had no one else who would be free to travel with me and I guess it finally got to me. While I'm not going right after my two week adventure, I'm going to use my time in the five cities to gauge how confident I feel about the idea of traveling to Spain and Italy on my own. If I am feeling up for it, I think that I'm going to take myself to there during the second week of May -- right between my trip to London to see some Shakespeare and a trip with some other BCA girls to Scotland. 

Essentially, I am going to be traveling and exploring from here until I fly back to the states and these next two months are going to be both extremely fantastic and extremely exhausting -- in the best way! I am so glad to finally be only a sleep away from beginning the spring break adventure that I've been looking forward to for yeas. I'm so glad that I'm going to be exploring Europe with a friend who is as excited about culture, good food, and good times as I am. Even though we were unable to track down some peacock feathers,  I'm so excited to begin such an amazing journey as Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman. (Yes, we have been making Darjeeling Limited references to each other ever since we began planning this trip!)

     

I highly doubt that I will be able to write another blog post until I get back to England on the 19th, so until then I bid you all adieu and leave you with the song Rebecca and I will be singing nonstop over the next few days.

Love and Rockets,
Emily!

Two Inches Away From Going Home...

No, that title was not some dramatic allusion to me hopping aboard a plane in a minute or two to fly back to the (snowy) cornfields of Indiana. Instead, it is an illusion to this terrifying sight:

Yeah, you see that! That's today's date. And two inches away is the date that we go home. I have ~8 weeks left here. And it is so, so bittersweet. I feel like I've just started to feel comfortable here in England and it's going to be terrible to say goodbye to the friends I've made and to the culture and to the country that I've grown to love. At the same time, I've been planning my classes for my Senior year, getting things sorted for a summer on campus, and having skype conversations that make me so excited to return home. (Plus, I've been ill the past few days with a cough that makes me want to be where things are comfortable). Now that I've passed the midway point of being here I now have to remember and plan for life when I get back home, which makes me excited for it. But at the same time, things here have the ability to be really awesome and exciting and full of experiences that I'll never have again. So, yeah. Life!

Anyways, before I started having existential crises about May 24th, I was having a really wonderful week! Last Monday was St. Patrick's day which was celebrated in Cheltenham by a group of American study abroad students, and probably the only four Irish people who live in this city. To start it off, two friends of mine and I made homemade Bangers and Mash in our flat, which, surprisingly, turned out really well! Afterwards, a larger group of us all went to one of the few Irish pubs so celebrate a best as we could.

With Guinness and good company

It's really always so much fun when ever I go out with the group! It's such a fun mix of personalities and it always ends in a good time when we hang out. 

The next day, I found another new favorite place in Cheltenham that I anticipate frequenting in the next few weeks or so. Let me describe it to you. It's filled with hipsters and people who aren't either 12-years old or elderly. Their music selection includes gems like Mumford and Sons and Arctic Monkeys. They serve coffee, food, and cider. Advertisements for live music line the wall. And there is a tattoo parlor upstairs. And, to top it all off, it's called GRUMPY WHISKERS. It's my new favorite and I spent most of last Tuesday hanging out there reading Paradise Lost and flirting talking with the barista. 

The next few days were filled with nights out with the flat, interesting lectures, creative writing, and Netflix documentaries. On Friday, I went out with a group of girl to celebrate one of their birthdays and we had dinner at one pub before migrating to the Frog and the Fiddle for some drinks. All in all, it was a great ladies night out...

And a fantastic preparation for STRATFORD-UPON-AVON. However, it was a little bit of a struggle to get there. GEtting to our first bus of the morning wasn't a problem, but, silly me, didn't realize that the bus driver wouldn't stop for or call out every stop on his route. So, because of that I was mildly panicking about how I would know where to get off and catch the second one. Thankfully, the bus driver was super wonderful and helpful and told us exactly where we needed to be and what not. Unfortunately, our second bus driver wasn't as helpful and Kelly and I ended up stuck in Evesham for about an hour before  FINALLY catching the final bus that took us to the home of my absolute favorite literary figure!

The whole day was just a series of wonderful Shakespeare-tastic moments, for seeing a wall full of plaques commemorating all of his play, to seeing a several hundred year old collection of his plays, 

Conveniently opened to Hamlet, I night add. 

walking through the house he grew up in and seeing the bed he was born in, 

This bed to be exact

to then go to the place where he built his second home and then see lovely sculptures commemorating several of his plays, 

Like The Tempest, my favorite!

visiting his grave despite the fact that I couldn't lie on it or place flowers upon it, 

I could barely handle the fact that I was 5ft away from the bones that supported the mind that created the texts that I love so, so much. 

and then standing outside of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre (unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to explore it. That will be at a later date!)

All in all, it was a fantastic day of Shakespeare loving! I only wish I had more time to see more of the buildings and to shop at the lovely little outdoor market near our bus stop home.

Unfortunately, almost as soon as I got back from Stratford I began feeling ill and I have been drinking copious amounts of tea and taking lots of cough medicine. The next week will be extremely low key as I have a lot of assessments that are due next week at the end of term. Yeah, you heard that right. My term is over next week! 

Wait, that also means that by the end of next week (or, technically, by the 22nd of May when I have my one and only exam) I will have completed my Junior year of University. 

And that means I'll be a Senior. 

SEND HELP. 

Until then...

Love and rockets, 

Emily

That time when I visited five castles/palaces in five weeks!

Well, would you look at that! I am a month late from updating this lovely little website. A month that was filled with assessments, adventures, and activity! Let's see if I can remember all of the main things.

Okay, so, as I mentioned in my last post I was finally able to make it to London on a trip that some of the BCA kids organized on their very own. While it was a little bit difficult getting up in the morning since we needed to be at the bus station at, I believe, 6 am, it was completely worth it the moment I stepped off the bus. While in London I was able to see Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar square, the National Gallery (!!!!), Big Ben, Westminster Abby, the Eye, the Thames, the London Bridge, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and, finally, a reconstruction of Shakespeare's Globe Theater!

We were all a little sad that the guards weren't in their traditional red coats. 

The National Gallery was probably my favorite place ever. 

Such London!

P.S. That is the Tower Bridge, not the London Bridge as many American's have been led to believe... Like we were. 

Oh, Anne...

Quoting Richard III in the Bloody Tower? You're doing it right, England!

No matter how much I begged, I was not allowed to go on the stage and dramatically re-enact Polonius' death

If you know me well enough, you'll be able to (correctly) guess that my favorite points of the day were my hour in the National Gallery, my time tracing English history at the Tower, and then internally fangirling as I sat in Shakespeare's Globe. When I was at the National Gallery, I was completely surprised by what artworks they actually had there. Raphael's! Di Vinci's! Rubens'! Titan's! Bronzoni's! Vermeer's (whose pieces I was able to recognize by the tiles of his studio!). The entire hour was spent gasping over pieces I had only seen in textbooks or on projector screens. I think the other BCA students with me were rather amused by seeing me freak out over art. But hey, I will gladly take up the position as the resident art nerd.

The Tower of London was beautiful for the fact that I got to walk through it with other students who were as big of history buffs as I am and laugh with me as I made Kind Henry VIII and Richard III jokes. And the Globe was fantastic because, hi, Willy Shakes and I are best friends. The tour guide there was absolutely fantastic as well and full of snark and sass. At this moment I'm totally planning on returning to London to see Much Ado About Nothing in the globe at the beginning of May!

The following weekend BCA took all of us students to Blenheim Palace, built in the 1700's and still standing in all of it's gorgeous and opulent glory! After visiting the palace I now know how I wan't to decorate my house one day if I ever marry a Duke and how I will maintain my gardens.

Hi-yeh everyone, welcome to my crib!

Here is where I keep the pictures of my celebrity crushes. 

This is where we shall have afternoon tea. 

This is my RA chair. 

I'm sorry I didn't have time to clean up more!

The best part of the visit was taking pictures with my friends while wandering the grounds and having lots of laughs together.  

I also had a really great outfit that day!

The whole group together in all of their silly glory! Rebecca and I "assumed the position!"

Majesty. 

THE SELFIE TO END ALL SELFIES

We all just wanted to take pictures of each other

Kelly and I laughed a little too much at this English to American dictionary. 

After visiting the palace, we all went to Oxford! While there I was able to visit the Eagle and Child, the pub where C. S. Lewis and J.R.R Tolkien read and edited each other's works over a pint or two, and have an hour or so the wander the town. Unfortunately, I didn't really have enough time to properly explore Oxford so it is definitely my plan to return there sometime in May. 

The following-following weekend I ventured to Wales with the International students to celebrate St. David's Day in Cardiff. As a whole, the day was absolutely fantastic and a great relief after a stressful week writing a paper for my Aesthetics class. I got to wander the city with a really great group of BCA students who laughed along with me as we learned the Welsh word for caution ("Gofal"), sang the Genovian and American National Anthems, danced with our Welsh flags, visited the Doctor Who Experience gift shop, and more!

I would apologize for this tourist-tastic-ness... But I wont. 

Much Wales!

Seeing Welsh everywhere was the best!

TORCHWOOD.

Interpretive dance!

Yes, gofal. 

The absolute best part of the day was being able to see the St. David's day parade! It was so much fun being able to hear all of the fun music, the dancing, the Welsh pride, the everything! Since we American's aren't going to be here in England long enough to celebrate any of our own holidays, it was fun to take part in some Welsh pride and wear a glittery dragon on my face as we stormed the castle!

 

After Cardiff, I had three more days until my next adventure -- a trip to Ireland that, I can proudly say, I organized and planned all on my own! While it was absolutely terrifying to think that I was going to be traveling by train, plane, and bus all on my own, it was all worth it once I made it to Maynooth where two of my best friends from Manchester are studying for the spring term. While it has been exciting and fun to be meeting all sorts of new people in England and making new friends, it was so refreshing to be with friends whom I've known for nearly three years. For a moment everything felt normal and comfortable. I was able to get Starbucks with my best friend and chat about life. Stay up late and watch movies. Make delicious smoothies. Dance to the Wobble. Eat proper Spanish food for the first time since leaving Spain. Go out dancing with my friends. And just breathe and be with people who left like home.

My first glimpse from the plane!

Hello Manchester (and E-Town!) ladies!

Friendship!

Ireland was also amazing to me because it has always been a hope and dream of mine to explore bits of my heritage while there. When we visited Dublin, I was able to finally find and buy my own claudagh ring (which ended up in Kecia, Deanna, and I getting matching rings),

 explore the Dublin castle, 

WHERE I GOT TO SIT IN THE SAME THRONE THAT QUEEN VICTORIA AND QUEEN ELIZABETH II SAT!

play a bit of a prank on Deanna as we "searched" for a pub that we thought was owned by a family friend before going to a proper Irish pub! At the pub we were able to hear traditional Irish music in the lower level where people would sing and dance along with the band and then we heard another band play contemporary songs like Mumford and Sons "The Cave" and The Lumineers "Oh Hey." Being in the pub was so much fun and I am now determined to go to more places like that as I explore Europe.

On my last day in Ireland I was able to go to Deanna's Irish Language class and then later meet with people who are part of the Irish Speaking Club at NUIM. Since it was Irish Speaking week, the club was translating people's name in to Gaelic and we all thought it would be a cool thing to do. Not only did I get my name translated (Eibhlin ni Bhaoill), but I also meet with someone who I may be distantly related to since I gave them my Irish family name! While I knew I may be possible to find someone with the same last name as my grandmother, it was really exciting to actually meet someone. We're already planning the family reunion. 

Soon enough I had to return to England, my now home away from home away from home. This past week was a blur of paper writing, a trip to Windsor, and a newfound restlessness to explore. 

BCA's final excursion to Windsor castle, the Queen's home, will be my last bit to this extremely long post! While at the castle we were able to see the changing of the guard (which stirred up a lot of marching band memories), 

Again, they weren't wearing their red coats :(

finally a picture of the long sought after "Emily Sandwich" with another girl in the BCA program,

explore the interior chambers of the castle and see pictures of past monarchs (like a lovely "family reunion" of King Henry VIII's portrait next to ones of his son and daughter and noting that they "have their father's eyes"), and simply enjoying the lovely spring weather!

This is my new favorite dress, by the way. 

All in all yesterday was a great day of BCA bonding with some of the greatest ladies I know in the program!

Look at how cute we all are!

Today was yet another lovely day in England as the sun shone and the temperature rose to about 70 degrees! I spent the whole day wandering the town with one of my flatmates, drinking smoothies, reading on the grass, and planning our spring clothes shopping adventure to update our wardrobes. The next few weeks will be rather full as lectures come to a close, assessment dates approach. My plans for the next two weekends are to venture to Stratford-Upon-Avon, London, and Gloucester. And then, sooner than I can fathom, lectures will be over and I will be in Paris for the beginning of  my spring break tour of Europe!

I sincerely apologize for my lack of updating and, thus, the extreme length of this post! Hopefully I will keep up with this blog better!

Love and Rockets, 

Eibhlin (Emily)