chocolate love

Stolen from J. Christina. But just had to share with others.

February break 2008 reflected

I liked this break. I needed it. And now, on the Sunday before school starts again and I face the teenagers again, I feel like I'm ready to go back. I've seen and experienced new things. I've re-energized myself and I feel refreshed.

I did a little recreational reading -- always good for the body and mind -- and relaxed. Caught up on sleep. Had time to get out! It was good.

Back to London (or London 2008) post 4

In the end, I'm glad I lived dangerously and made a trip back to London. I saw some sights that I didn't know were important or noteworthy, but after two classes in British history, I saw the error of my ways and saw things more clearly and with more appreciation this time around. I walked around Brick Lane, I saw Whitechapel in a different light. I watched British TV, which I didn't have before. So it was a good trip. Enlightening, exhilarating and refreshing. Wanderlust sated.

Back to London (or London 2008) post 3

I wrote the following on the plane. I knew it was going to snow heavily on Friday, when I was supposed to land in Boston, so I was anticipating a delay, but there wasn't. But the troubles began on route, around Nova Scotia/Maine, when the captain first mentioned that there was snow in Boston. So this is what I wrote toward the end of the plane ride. Note that we were supposed to arrive in Boston around 5:20 p.m.

***

Friday, 5:25 Eastern

Captain has been announcing that there is very little visibility (1/2 mile) in Boston and that we are being held at a location about 30 minutes north of the city and are in line to land because there is quite a line. Now, the captain has announced that Boston Logan is closed and we are first in line to land when it opens. We are now waiting for the airport to close. We are supposed to be on the ground right now. He said that we have "plenty of time" to wait -- I'm guessing he's referring to fuel -- but I'm sure there are people who are making connections and whatnot, so this does not bode well for them. On the other hand, the airport is closed right now, so no planes are going or leaving. Fun times. On the other hand, it's at least good that we're in the air, not in London, where we would've been stuck until god knows how long. On the other hand, under what circumstances would we need to divert to another airport so that we won't run out of fuel? I mean, we've been in the air for about eight hours now. Turning off laptop and continue to read "Undaunted Courage" by Stephen Ambrose. I can feel that plane descending. Good sign? 5:32 Eastern.

Back to London (or London 2008) post 2

First of all, Virgin Atlantic is amazing. The flight attendants were friendly. We had a choice of wines for dinner (even in economy) free of charge. They gave out these flight packets that had an eye mask, socks, toothbrush and toothpaste. Its safety procedures video is actually a little cartoon animation, so it was fun. I'm not sure whether it'll be fun after the initial newness wears off, but it was cool. Customs went smoothly, as did the journey to the hotel. I had been debating whether to go directly to Leicester Square from the airport because I wasn't sure I had enough time to make it to the hotel, which was in Bayswater, in time to also make it to the TKTS booth to buy some rush tickets for that night (Wednesday). I actually got there in time to buy and eat breakfast. And the line wasn't that long anyway, seeing as how it was around freezing. But I won't bore you with details. I'll attempt to tell the story with photos and videos. I actually took a few video clips, but there is no sound. But it should tell the story just fine.


* So this is how far consumerism has gone. There is an iPod vending machine at the international terminal at Logan Airport. It's crazy. I think there was a guy who was actually buying things.


* Ruins of the London Wall that used to surround the city. One of the many things on my list of things to see that I didn't get to the last time around.


* I've also been wanting to get a photos of just how far that "gap" is at Bank, which has a curved platform, so the gap is definitely more noticeable and scarier. Note where the doors (red) are.


* Also stood in queue for cheap theater tickets. Saw Gilbert and Sullivan's "Pirates of Penzance." Very funny, even though I felt asleep. It was the night I got in town. I was exhausted.


* Also wanted to see Monument, the memorial to the Great Fire of 1666. I didn't know what the "monument' was for the last time I was there until it was too late. But this time, it was closed until next year because of restoration work. But I saw this plaque.

I also saw Sarah Chang in concert, where she played Shostakovich's first violin concerto. There were so many Koreans at the concert that night. But she was really good, especially in the scherzo and passacaglia. Anyway, lots of curtain calls. Afterward, she signed copies of her new CD and also some programs. I don't have good pictures from the concert. Just a video of the curtain call.

Back to London (or London 2008) post 1

So, on a whim, I bought plane tickets to London. Now, let me qualify. There wasn't a need to "get away" from "someone." Or "something." Recently, I've been feeling claustrophobic. I needed to get out of the country. Fulfill my wanderlust and see what's out there. So Montreal happened. But even after booking Montreal hotel rooms, I still felt restless. I began to look for plane tickets. Anywhere that I would be able to make a case to the parents, even though they did say (when I finally told them about said wanderlust) that I'm too old for them to tell me what to do. (YES! dance with joy. There IS life out there.)

I had in mind a few places. A cruise, perhaps, to the Bahamas? Sydney, Australia? New Zealand? In the end, I checked prices for a cruise (nothing. well, it IS the winter) and Sydney ($3,000 for just the flight! well, it is summer there.) I also checked flights for London. I've been wanting to return, and if the price is right, it seems like this might be as good a time as any. It's not bad. I found plane tickets on Virgin Atlantic on Student Universe for less than what I paid two and a half years ago, and back then, I bought those tickets literally three months in advance. This time, I got it a week and a half before the flight. So it's really happening. Hotel costs actually isn't bad at all. I found a hotel from STA Travel that, for two nights, costs less than what some hotels charge for one. So I will leave Boston on Feb. 19, arrive in London at 7:15 a.m. Wednesday and leave London around 2:40 on Friday.

Montreal photos/video -- Montreal!

* this is part of the Montreal skyline on the way out of the city. Didn't make it to Mount Royal.


* Complexe Desjardins, part of the underground city that's basically a huge mall, where the hotel was.


* a real, live porcupine! at the Biodome, where the Montreal Olympic park is converted into four ecosystems.

* video of real penguins! swimming! at the Biodome!


* Notre Dame Basilica. Really crazy, huh? Too bad they made us sit through 30 minutes of pointless, bad acting in the guise of informational video/light show.

Montreal trip photos -- Burlington, VT

Went to Montreal Saturday and Sunday. Stopped at Burlington, VT, for lunch on the way up. The SURPRISE was that I didn't know Lake Champlain was RIGHT THERE even though my cooperating teacher mentioned in a class that he learned to scuba dive in Lake Champlain in college. It was GORGEOUS. So clear, pristine. Anyway. Pictures.

It ain't in PA

I saw this on one of my flights hither and yonder this past year and just now scanned it in. This is from the US Airways in-flight magazine for September 2007. Note where they put the pin for Syracuse, NY. It not only illustrates the need to know geography, but a need for COPY EDITORS. Hurrah. Click to enlarge.