Tuesday was our free day, which us girls spent in London seeing the sites. We all had an incredible time in the city.
Wednesday morning, Steph gave us a tour of Salisbury Cathedral, which has the largest spire in England and second largest in Europe. After, we had a free afternoon to do final shopping. We had a meal together in Bath before taking a 7:30 train that night. We finally made it to the airport in Manchester a little past midnight, where we slept on chairs in the airport until 4 a.m.
We were all so thankful to check our big packs so we finally didn't have to carry them around! We had a short flight to Amsterdam, then Stephanie flew straight to Minneapolis while the rest of us went to Detroit and then to Cedar Rapids, finally arriving in Iowa about 4 p.m. Thursday. We were all so thankful to be on the ground again!
I hope you've enjoyed the blog, Steph and I have enjoyed updating you on our adventures in England and Wales. Thanks for reading!
Emily
Friday, May 22, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Adventures in Bath
On Sunday, we took a bus to the middle of Bath and then went into the Roman Baths. There was a museum first to learn about the history of the Romans, and then we got to see the actual baths. It consisted of one large pool and many other smaller pools of varying temperatures. Also, there was a temple to a Sun god. The baths were built by the Romans thousands of years ago and were used to bathe, swim and relax in. Next, we went shopping a little bit around Bath and then met again to head off to Wells.
We took a bus to Wells Cathedral which is famous for having a very large front of the cathedral. A choir was singing in the cathedral while we were there, and I was so amazed at how beautiful it sounded. The cathedral also had scissor arches in the middle to help hold up the central tower, something we have never seen before. The chapter house in Wells was also pretty cool in that it was on the second floor rather than the first. We then took a bus bath to Bath and decided to eat right away as a group. We went to Jamie's Italian Restaurant, where everyone had a fulfilling meal, dessert included. Then it was back to the hostel to pack our bags to travel to our final hostel, the YMCA in Bath.
Today, we ate breakfast and then took the bus downtown Bath with our packs. We walked up to the YMCA, which I promise is nothing like YMCA's at home. It is pretty much a residential building along with a restaurant attached and a lounge with a huge TV! It is located right in the middle of the city, so it has much better access to shopping. After dropping our bags at the hostel, we went back into Bath for some more shopping. Then we took a train to Winchester. Once there, Cassie gave us a tour of Winchester Cathedral both inside and out. She did a great job. Winchester was really large; it has the largest nave in Europe. It is very famous for having a gravestone and monument for Jane Austen. We finally got to go to the second story of a cathedral too. This cathedral had some very old illustrated manuscripts of the Bible. We also walked by the house where Jane Austen lived her last days, very close to the Cathedral. Then we went to the Winchester Bishop's Palace and headed back to the rail station for Bath. Once in Bath, some of us went out for pizza at Domino's, yes they have Domino's here. All of us are headed to London tomorrow on early trains, mine leaves at 6:13 am, so it's early to bed for me.
--Stephanie
We took a bus to Wells Cathedral which is famous for having a very large front of the cathedral. A choir was singing in the cathedral while we were there, and I was so amazed at how beautiful it sounded. The cathedral also had scissor arches in the middle to help hold up the central tower, something we have never seen before. The chapter house in Wells was also pretty cool in that it was on the second floor rather than the first. We then took a bus bath to Bath and decided to eat right away as a group. We went to Jamie's Italian Restaurant, where everyone had a fulfilling meal, dessert included. Then it was back to the hostel to pack our bags to travel to our final hostel, the YMCA in Bath.
Today, we ate breakfast and then took the bus downtown Bath with our packs. We walked up to the YMCA, which I promise is nothing like YMCA's at home. It is pretty much a residential building along with a restaurant attached and a lounge with a huge TV! It is located right in the middle of the city, so it has much better access to shopping. After dropping our bags at the hostel, we went back into Bath for some more shopping. Then we took a train to Winchester. Once there, Cassie gave us a tour of Winchester Cathedral both inside and out. She did a great job. Winchester was really large; it has the largest nave in Europe. It is very famous for having a gravestone and monument for Jane Austen. We finally got to go to the second story of a cathedral too. This cathedral had some very old illustrated manuscripts of the Bible. We also walked by the house where Jane Austen lived her last days, very close to the Cathedral. Then we went to the Winchester Bishop's Palace and headed back to the rail station for Bath. Once in Bath, some of us went out for pizza at Domino's, yes they have Domino's here. All of us are headed to London tomorrow on early trains, mine leaves at 6:13 am, so it's early to bed for me.
--Stephanie
Off to Bath
On Friday, we left the Tudor House and took a train to Hereford. Dana gave us a tour of Hereford Cathedral, which has a copy of the Magna Carta and the Mappa Mundi (an old map of their view of the world with Jerusalem in the center).
Then we rode the train to Bath. We dropped off our bags at the rooms of 3 and Dr. Lindgren had her own. We went for tea at the Jane Austen Centre tearoom. We had tea, scones, cheese and cucumber finger sandwiches, and cake. We spent a while wandering the city center before going back to the hostel for the night.
On Saturday, we met a minibus downtown that took us and several others (all happened to be American tourists) to several sites near Bath. Chris, our tour guide and driver, told us alot of interesting things along the way.
Our first stop was Stonehenge, where we had audio tours and our finger froze trying to hold them to our ears. Stonehenge's purpose is unknow, but could be a calendar or a place for worship.
Next, we visited Avebury Henge, somewhat similar to Stonehenge only with two circles of stones that cover alot more land than Stonehenge. This is believed to be a place for worship.
Next was the village a Lacock. We visited Lacock Abbey, where the first photo was taken. It's also where many scenes for the Harry Potter movies have been filmed. Chris walked us around the town, where we saw the house used as Harry Potter's parents' home. Pride and Prejudice and the Other Boleyn Girl have scenes filmed on the main street.
Our final stop was Castle Comb, a tiny village dubbed the most beautiful city in England a few years ago. We looked at the church and the stream where scenes of the first Dr. Doolittle were filmed.
While driving, we also saw three white horses, which are drawn onto the side of hills. They were used to mark a town so travgelers could go towards them. We also saw several thatched roofs along the way.
Steph will update you on our past few days. Thanks for reading,
Emily
Then we rode the train to Bath. We dropped off our bags at the rooms of 3 and Dr. Lindgren had her own. We went for tea at the Jane Austen Centre tearoom. We had tea, scones, cheese and cucumber finger sandwiches, and cake. We spent a while wandering the city center before going back to the hostel for the night.
On Saturday, we met a minibus downtown that took us and several others (all happened to be American tourists) to several sites near Bath. Chris, our tour guide and driver, told us alot of interesting things along the way.
Our first stop was Stonehenge, where we had audio tours and our finger froze trying to hold them to our ears. Stonehenge's purpose is unknow, but could be a calendar or a place for worship.
Next, we visited Avebury Henge, somewhat similar to Stonehenge only with two circles of stones that cover alot more land than Stonehenge. This is believed to be a place for worship.
Next was the village a Lacock. We visited Lacock Abbey, where the first photo was taken. It's also where many scenes for the Harry Potter movies have been filmed. Chris walked us around the town, where we saw the house used as Harry Potter's parents' home. Pride and Prejudice and the Other Boleyn Girl have scenes filmed on the main street.
Our final stop was Castle Comb, a tiny village dubbed the most beautiful city in England a few years ago. We looked at the church and the stream where scenes of the first Dr. Doolittle were filmed.
While driving, we also saw three white horses, which are drawn onto the side of hills. They were used to mark a town so travgelers could go towards them. We also saw several thatched roofs along the way.
Steph will update you on our past few days. Thanks for reading,
Emily
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Final Days in Shrewsbury
Today we had homemade hot breakfast cooked for us by the hotel owner. Then we walked to the train station and took a train to Ludlow Castle. I gave a tour of this castle, my first tour! The castle was in ruins, and of us were scared by all the pigeons that now seem to inhabit the castle and its starwells. I'm sure you will hear stories. We had a lot of extra time before the next bus came to pick us up, so we went to our first English traditional tea house. Many of us had some really good desserts, like chocolate sponge cake and caramel shortbread.
Next we came back to Shrewsbury via train and headed to Attingham Park. This was the estate and mansion house of the Lord and Lady Berwick built in 1785. Many of the rooms were furnished with the original decorations and furniture. It gave us an idea of how really wealthy people lived.
Tonight, we have to pack up our bags and get ready to head to our final destination tomorrow, Bath. This includes a 5 hour train ride to Bath with a stop at Hereford Cathedral where Dana will give us a tour.
It has been quite a few days in a row now without rain, thankfully!
--Stephanie
Next we came back to Shrewsbury via train and headed to Attingham Park. This was the estate and mansion house of the Lord and Lady Berwick built in 1785. Many of the rooms were furnished with the original decorations and furniture. It gave us an idea of how really wealthy people lived.
Tonight, we have to pack up our bags and get ready to head to our final destination tomorrow, Bath. This includes a 5 hour train ride to Bath with a stop at Hereford Cathedral where Dana will give us a tour.
It has been quite a few days in a row now without rain, thankfully!
--Stephanie
trains, buses, and lots of walking
On Tuesday we ended up in Shrewsbury after a pit stop at Kidwelly Castle. The train ride from Kidwelly to Shrewsbury was 4 hours, but after 2 we had to get off because a train had broken down on a one-lane track ahead. So they put us all on a charter bus and we spent a little over 2 hours riding through the narrow streets before finally getting here. We're staying at a cute old Tudor House where the ceilings are super low, the doorway to Steph and my room isn't much over 5 feet tall. We're enjoying our final stay in a nice bed and breakfast before we move to hostels in Bath.
Yesterday, we had some free time in the morning and then took a 45 min. train Chester where I gave a tour of Chester Cathedral. After we got back from Chester, we walked around town and ate, caught up on our journals, and relaxed.
Yesterday, we had some free time in the morning and then took a 45 min. train Chester where I gave a tour of Chester Cathedral. After we got back from Chester, we walked around town and ate, caught up on our journals, and relaxed.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Last Day in Tenby
Last night, the owners of our hotel cooked us a fabulous meal, the Shepherd's Pie and Fruit Crumble with homemade ice cream. All of us really enjoyed the large servings and finally having a homecooked meal. Not to mention, everything tasted outstanding!
This morning, we were given a free morning to do whatever we wanted. Most of us went to the library to catch up on some internet. Then afterwards, we met Dr. Lindgren at the Tenby Tudor Merchant House which showed how a family used to live in Tenby. She delivered bad news, that the boats to Caldey Island weren't running today because it was too windy. So, that gave us a free rest of the day. Instead of going to Caldey Island, we went up to the remains of a castle in Tenby and looked at the ruins. We also went to the Tenby Museum which gave us a very thorough history of Tenby and displayed some art from the past. The rest of the day will be spent relaxing on the beach, catching up on our reading for the class, and shopping downtown. Tonight we are all meeting for pizza in downtown Tenby and then packing our bags to leave tomorrow.
Tomorrow, we are going to make a stop at Kidwelly Castle on the way to Shrewsbury, our next destination.
Hopefully everyone enjoys the pictures Emily posted!
--Stephanie
This morning, we were given a free morning to do whatever we wanted. Most of us went to the library to catch up on some internet. Then afterwards, we met Dr. Lindgren at the Tenby Tudor Merchant House which showed how a family used to live in Tenby. She delivered bad news, that the boats to Caldey Island weren't running today because it was too windy. So, that gave us a free rest of the day. Instead of going to Caldey Island, we went up to the remains of a castle in Tenby and looked at the ruins. We also went to the Tenby Museum which gave us a very thorough history of Tenby and displayed some art from the past. The rest of the day will be spent relaxing on the beach, catching up on our reading for the class, and shopping downtown. Tonight we are all meeting for pizza in downtown Tenby and then packing our bags to leave tomorrow.
Tomorrow, we are going to make a stop at Kidwelly Castle on the way to Shrewsbury, our next destination.
Hopefully everyone enjoys the pictures Emily posted!
--Stephanie
Photos from Wales
Here's some photos from our past week in Wales. We've seen tons of Welsh castles and have finally had some sunshine and warmer temperatures, although the wind has been insane. Hope you enjoy these photos, more to come next week hopefully.
Here's Sarah giving us a tour of Caernarfon Castle.
--Emily
This is me in front of Harlech Castle, which I gave a tour of.
Here's Sarah giving us a tour of Caernarfon Castle.
Yesterday, Dana gave us a tour of Pembroke Castle, which had tons of towers to climb and even a huge cavern to explore.
Yesterday afternoon, we had some free time to relax on the beach and enjoy the beautiful, wind-free weather. At least we've had warm weather while we are near the beach!
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