Prague (Days 63-66)

I took my trip to Prague for my fall break during the London portion of our program. My friend, Caroline Blake, and I made the journey to the Czech Republic not sure what to expect… but it turned out to be one of the highlights of my entire semester! 

our shabby chic (mostly shabby yet wonderful) hostel!

There is a magical quality to Prague! Autumn was in full swing when we arrived, and the gorgeous red leaves perfectly matched the red rooftops which blanket the city. The cobblestone streets (which are both quaint and treacherous… I had more than one painful/very public wipeout) and antique architecture add to Prague’s fairytale appeal. 

Caroline and I did so much in our short visit! We especially enjoyed a few of Prague’s many art museums, seeing a wide variety of fantastic art. The historic Charles Bridge, just between our hostel and Old Town, was another great spot for art-viewing as dozens of artists take advantage of tourist traffic to sell their work. 

at the Gallery of Art Prague's Warhol exhibition

And its no wonder that so many artists flock to Prague for inspiration! The city is breathtaking, even during the chilly season when I visited. From the many parks throughout Prague, Caroline and I got to experience the beauty of the city from above, with all of its spectacular castles and churches.

the stunning view from Petrin Hill

We also visited the incredible library in Strahov Monastery, one of the most beautiful and lauded libraries in the world! 
The Lennon Wall was another favorite stop we made. Since the 80’s, the wall has been used as a public canvas; even today it is still regularly gratified with John Lennon/Beatles-inspired art and messages of love, tolerance, and solidarity. 

Finally, Caroline and I attended vespers at St. Vitus. St. Vitus is, without a doubt, the most beautiful cathedral I’ve ever seen. The outside is covered in an elaborate, gold mosaic, and the stain glass is the most brightly-colored and breathtaking that I’ve ever seen. The entirety of vespers was in Czech, but it was still worthwhile just to be in such an ornate building. At the end of the service, the congregation was led through a series of rooms that are normally closed to public viewing, each one more beautiful than the last. Such an experience! 

When Caroline and I weren’t exploring the city, we were eating. Czech food is so homey and comforting: lots of meat and potatoes and stews. Everything we tried was delicious, filling, and warm. Between meals, there was gingerbread and trdelnik, a yummy cinnamon-sugar-coated treat served on nearly every street. I already miss trdelnik. 

In fact, I miss all of Prague! This short trip was such a special experience, one I will remember for a life-time! I’ve only even mentioned a few of the things I got to do and see during my visit. I feel thoroughly satisfied and blessed by my fall break adventure! 

London (Days 44-89)

How do I even begin to sum up the past 45 days? In London I visited museums and churches, attended nearly 30 plays, explored the historic streets, and had my 21st birthday out on the town! All between classes. You could definitely say I’ve been busy. 

It was here that I really encountered the study part of the my “study abroad” experience. In London, all of the due dates we’ve all tried to ignore all semester sprang upon us as suddenly and cruelly as the English rain. 

When I wasn’t doing work, I was typically in the audience of some magnificent production. I saw so many show in London! 29 plays in 45 days, and I’m not sick of seeing shows yet! I could gush about the incredible performances I saw at theaters all across the city. I saw everything from Shakespeare and Sophocles to contemporary premiers; huge budget musicals on the West End to a play in a warehouse. Going to the theatre was possibly my favorite part of my time in London. I have been inspired by the excellent productions I attended, and I feel so blessed to have had that experience! 

Oh! And I got to see two celebrities: Lindsay Lohan made her stage debut in Speed the Plow on the West End (And it was rough. Bless her heart). I was on the front row so I was less than a foot from Freaky Friday herself.
I also got to see Cillian Murphy (Scarecrow from Batman Begins among other things) in Ballyturk at The National Theatre. Cillian Murphy was outstanding! He gave one of the best performances of the entire semester. 

Besides hitting the books and seeing shows, I did a lot of exploring around the city! Here are just a few of my favorite things I did in London…

1. British Museum with Mel and Bob! Oh, did I mention my amazing parents came to London for a few days?? We had so much fun. It was one of the highlights of my semester! 
   
2. Tower of London
   
3. Covent Garden. This is my favorite part of London.! There are so many great places to each and shop, there is a musical quality to the hustle and bustle of the crowds, and the area always features the best street performers and artists! 
4. Westminster Abbey 
   
5. Hampton Court. A beautiful castle, stunning gardens, and a hysterically cheesy guided tour made for a perfect Sunday afternoon.  
   
   
6. St. Paul’s Cathedral might have the most stunning ceiling I’ve ever seen! I also climbed 528 steps to the top of the dome. I can't say I found the view worth the perspiration, but at least I got a much-needed workout! 
7. Borough and Portobello Markets. Borough features big crowds and restaurant-quality foods. Portobello is out of the main city area and is mostly for trinket shopping. I had a blast at both! 
8. Abbey Road. It's out of the way and it appears no different from any other cross-walk, but I’ll be darned if we weren’t going to go anyway and get this picture! 
   
9. Harry Potter Studio Tour. This is a must-do for any Potterphile. I got to see the sets, costumes, props, and creatures of the legendary Harry Potter movies. The coolest attraction is gigantic model of Hogwarts, coated in snow to celebrate the Christmas season. More info HERE for anyone curious to know more! 
   
10. Acting on The Globe stage. This was one of the greatest experiences of my entire life. Our group participated in a private (and incredible) acting workshop on the stage of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. At the end of the workshop, we were given the opportunity to perform scenes from A Midsummer Night's Dream in pairs. You know what that means? I can officially say I’ve performed at Shakespeare’s Globe! Pretty cool, right? 
    
    
    

I hope that this post gave you a taste of my very special London experience! Only a few more posts left: from my fall break in Prague and my end-of-the-semester trip to Paris and Cornwall, so look forward to those in the near future! Thanks for reading!