Alright, this is the first time I've been to a terminal since the last post, or else I would have updated sooner. I am starting my fourth day in Stratford and second day of classes. Already we are on our way to see our first play tonight, Richard II. Still no sign of James Franco though, so no one knows if he is still coming or not. I think that might make things a little better, as there are some pretty immature people on this trip who might not be able to handle it.
Stratford is like the city of Solvang in California. It's about three blocks wide with lots of touristy shops and old buildings. The difference is that these buildings really are old while Solvang they just try to make them look so. There are lots of cute things, but there really isn't that much to do. I've had tea in the shops, seen some of the historic Shakespeare stuff, and poked into the bars and pubs, but that's really the extent of the excitement. The town is ridiculous with the Shakespeare references though. For instance, there is a shop called Much Ado About Toys (referencing a Shakespeare title Much Ado about Nothing) and there is a brand of Shakespeare Tea, which says on the back, tea was not introduced to England until 50 yars after the bard's death, but we think his plays would have been even better if he had had tea to drink. Ridiculous.
Classes are fine so far, roommates and other people are cool as well, so there's not much to say about that. I've only got a few minutes left, so I'll just leave it at that for now! Miss you all.
Ooh, call my mobile if international calls are not too expensive for you. Number is 44-79423-81922 (I think). Please be aware England is 8 hours ahead, so no calling after 4pm your time! Thanks!
Monday, July 30, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
London
It's day 1.5 right now. I say 1.5 because I probably should have had a night's sleep last night while on the plane (even as short as the night was), but I didn't. I've been up for a little over 29 hours straight now, and think I've earned a good night's sleep. The day started driving up to LA to take a flight out of LAX to Heathrow in London. The flight was long and the people next to me looked at me like I was speaking Swahili the few times I tried to strike up conversation (at least they weren't farters like on my cousin's plane ride to London). The food was good, I finished a couple chapters of my book, and I was able to watch 2 inflight movies: Bridge to Teribithia and Blades of Glory (again).
Once I got to London I was really tired, as it was about 3am California time. Jet lag is much worse if you don't force yourself to adjust the first day, so I told my friend Luke, who met me at the airport, that on no circumstances was he to let me sleep until it was good and time to (cue scene from Young Frankenstein). We walked so much, and saw a whole lot of stuff, though everything touristy was closed so we just saw exteriors of things. St. Paul's cathedral is HUGE. I knew it was big, but had not planned for how much this building dominates its section of town. Parliament is also really cool. All of the architecture is just amazing.
Another myth to dispel: British food does not suck. It IS expensive. Not everything in the UK is twice as much, but food for sure is. We went to a pub for dinner and had a few pints, and I had a beef and ale pie that was quite good. Maybe I just like beef pies, I don't know, but I thought this one was pretty darn good.
Maybe some of you didn't know this, but in Britain they drive on the other side of the road. Despite the fact that you all now know this, every single time you walk to an intersection in Britain for the first few weeks there, you will forget again and be amazed at how many times you have almost been hit by drivers not being where you expect them to be. If your life isn't in danger, you will still laugh at the seeming craziness of it all. The novelty doesn't wear off. Something else fun, they park whatever way they feel like, so in the same row on the same side of the street you will have 5 cars, two pointed one way, three the other. This doesn't help pedestrians figure out where traffic will come from if it happens to be one of London's many one way streets. Luckily the Brits realized what a pain it is even to walk in their city and built another labyrinth of streets below the streets, where only bikes, peeps, and trains can go. The train goes fast and runs on time--another victory for capitalism.
That's all for now, I'm going to bed and getting ready to head to Stratford tomorrow! Cheers!~
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Itinerary
Tomorrow is my last full day in America for a while. I finally have all of my travel plans ready to go to Europe, so now all I need to do is pack and figure out some last minute details. Here is my travel itinerary:
July 25th: Leave LA and fly to London. I get into London on the 26th in the morning, where I will hang out with my old friend Luke for the day, as well as staying at his building for the night.
July 27th: I head up to Stratford-upon-Avon to begin my Shakespeare class, along with famous actor James Franco. We are staying there in a Holiday Inn in the small town and will spend two weeks there studying, going to plays, taking in the sights, and enjoying the English countryside. From then we head back to London.
August 8th: Starts our time in London where we finish our Shakespeare studies. All in all, in Stratford and London, we will attend 8 Shakespeare plays and hear lectures from actors in the fancy Shakespeare troops. In past years these have included big names like Patrick Stewart.
August 22nd: The program is over and now it's time for some independent travel. I start by flying to Dublin, Ireland, where I'll stay for three days. I plan to do the Guinness brewery tour, walk the Bloom's day route (from the book Ulysses), and enjoy the pub life (my hostel is walking distance from the famous Temple Bar). I'm sure there is a lot more to do in this city, and I intend to find out what it is while I'm there.
August 25th: Now to the other coast of Ireland to Galway, where I will spend three days. Unlike Dublin, Galway has a lot of things close to it that are worth a day trip, even things close enough to bike to. During this time I'll kiss the Blarney stone and stand at the Cliffs of Moher.
August 28th: Back to Dublin now to fly to Edinburgh, Scotland. I will stay there for three days before heading to Glasgow, Scotland for a night. I haven't made plans for here yet, but I think Edinburgh's big yearly festival will still be going on, so I'm sure I'll check that out. Yes, I plan to eat haggis.
September 1st: It turns out it is cheaper to travel from Glasgow to Stockholm than it is to travel the much shorter route of Edinburgh to Copenhagen, so that is what I'm going to do. I will stay in Stockholm, Sweden for just one night, but in a hotel rather than a hostel. Despite being one night, this will be one of the most expensive stops for me, just because of the hotel.
September 2nd: Get on a train, plane, or boat and go to Copenhagen, Denmark. I'm staying here for three days, and the only plan I have right now is a cycling tour of the city. My friend Shannon stayed here for a whole quarter, so I will talk to her to gets lots of ideas of things to do. No way I can fit everything in though.
September 5th: Fly back to London, though again it's cheaper to go from Sweden, from a town just across the water called Malmö. I'm not staying in London long, as I board a train that same day to get to Paris. I stay in Paris for four days and will probably make some day trips during that time. The site I was using to book hostels in France did not have any openings in any other city except Paris, so I suppose I have no choice about making that my home base. There's a lot to do here though.
September 9th: Back to London for the night and then the next day will hop on a flight back to America!
September 10, 7:30pm: Land at LAX and be back at home sweet home. I haven't left and I already miss it.
Please write me emails at scbrengle@gmail.com if you want a postcard or have something fun to say. Even if it's not something fun, don't stay a stranger. Unfortunately, without a computer or a phone, this will be the only way to communicate with me (using internet cafes).
July 25th: Leave LA and fly to London. I get into London on the 26th in the morning, where I will hang out with my old friend Luke for the day, as well as staying at his building for the night.
July 27th: I head up to Stratford-upon-Avon to begin my Shakespeare class, along with famous actor James Franco. We are staying there in a Holiday Inn in the small town and will spend two weeks there studying, going to plays, taking in the sights, and enjoying the English countryside. From then we head back to London.
August 8th: Starts our time in London where we finish our Shakespeare studies. All in all, in Stratford and London, we will attend 8 Shakespeare plays and hear lectures from actors in the fancy Shakespeare troops. In past years these have included big names like Patrick Stewart.
August 22nd: The program is over and now it's time for some independent travel. I start by flying to Dublin, Ireland, where I'll stay for three days. I plan to do the Guinness brewery tour, walk the Bloom's day route (from the book Ulysses), and enjoy the pub life (my hostel is walking distance from the famous Temple Bar). I'm sure there is a lot more to do in this city, and I intend to find out what it is while I'm there.
August 25th: Now to the other coast of Ireland to Galway, where I will spend three days. Unlike Dublin, Galway has a lot of things close to it that are worth a day trip, even things close enough to bike to. During this time I'll kiss the Blarney stone and stand at the Cliffs of Moher.
August 28th: Back to Dublin now to fly to Edinburgh, Scotland. I will stay there for three days before heading to Glasgow, Scotland for a night. I haven't made plans for here yet, but I think Edinburgh's big yearly festival will still be going on, so I'm sure I'll check that out. Yes, I plan to eat haggis.
September 1st: It turns out it is cheaper to travel from Glasgow to Stockholm than it is to travel the much shorter route of Edinburgh to Copenhagen, so that is what I'm going to do. I will stay in Stockholm, Sweden for just one night, but in a hotel rather than a hostel. Despite being one night, this will be one of the most expensive stops for me, just because of the hotel.
September 2nd: Get on a train, plane, or boat and go to Copenhagen, Denmark. I'm staying here for three days, and the only plan I have right now is a cycling tour of the city. My friend Shannon stayed here for a whole quarter, so I will talk to her to gets lots of ideas of things to do. No way I can fit everything in though.
September 5th: Fly back to London, though again it's cheaper to go from Sweden, from a town just across the water called Malmö. I'm not staying in London long, as I board a train that same day to get to Paris. I stay in Paris for four days and will probably make some day trips during that time. The site I was using to book hostels in France did not have any openings in any other city except Paris, so I suppose I have no choice about making that my home base. There's a lot to do here though.
September 9th: Back to London for the night and then the next day will hop on a flight back to America!
September 10, 7:30pm: Land at LAX and be back at home sweet home. I haven't left and I already miss it.
Please write me emails at scbrengle@gmail.com if you want a postcard or have something fun to say. Even if it's not something fun, don't stay a stranger. Unfortunately, without a computer or a phone, this will be the only way to communicate with me (using internet cafes).
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