Happy Halloween! Here are Some Creepy Places to Find in London

It’s Halloween! So, I thought I would write about some of the stranger, and somewhat creepy things I discovered in London (at least creepy to me). It makes sense that there would be some unsettling things in this city. London is one of the oldest cities in the world, with over 2000 years of history including battles, executions, plagues, and fire. Couple that with the fact that the city is built upon layers of itself and it’s nearly impossible not to stumble onto a grave or a place where something horrific happened. Below are just a few that stand out in my mind.

I will start this list off with one that I discovered during my second day in London: bathrooms in

Cafe in St. Paul's crypt.

crypts. That sounds pretty odd, doesn’t it? Yet, I found ran into this several times. I guess when
modern plumbing came around, they had to put the bathrooms somewhere that didn’t interfere with the historic architecture. However, it’s came as a pretty creepy shock to me. I don’t want to go to the bathroom standing on top of a gravestone. It feels a bit disrespectful, to me, whether or not there is a person buried directly below the marker. I think that’s my American sensibilities kicking in.

Memorial in St. Paul's.

My first encounter with this was when I was on a bus tour with my study abroad group. We stopped for a quick tour and bathroom break at St. Pauls’s Cathedral. The restroom signs led me downstairs into the crypt. It turns out, not only are the bathrooms down there, but there is also a cafe and gift shop. It was so strange. I walked into the bathroom and saw names on the walls and on the floors. I used the facilities, grabbed a cup of coffee, and wandered around a bit, looking at the names. It’s interesting and I do recommend heading over there, just be prepared for this unusual moment in your life.

The second creepiest thing in London I found was the parks formally known as graveyards. I stumbled upon one of these strange places while taking a walking tour through Little Venice. We ended our tour in the small little park that had an old church in the middle. What set this park apart was all of the ancient gravestones lining the walls of the park. They were shoved up again the fence, some were leaning against it, some were leaning on each other. It looked so strange and out of place for a family area.

As it turned out, that park used to be a grave yard. Years and years before, when the area started to really develop, the community needed a green place for people to play. So, they dug up all of the bodies in the graveyard and moved them somewhere else. Actually, from what I understand, the people had to be moved at the relatives expense, the city wouldn’t do it. I assume that means that there is a very good chance that bodies are still buried within these parks. Tombstones and monuments that weren’t removed were shoved against the wall surrounding the boundary of the park.

Since I was thoroughly spooked, I forgot to take pictures. So, unfortunately, I don’t have anything to show you visually. I also can’t remember the name of the park we went to. If you Google “Postman’s Park London” you will find and excellent example. Or, if you image search "parks in Little Venice in London “tombstones” “ and scroll a bit down, you will see photos of the tombstones against the boundary walls.

So, as you are wandering through London, keep in mind, if you go to a park and see tombstones up against the fencing, that park was once a home for the dead.

My next creepy discover from my time in London also deals with the dead and the fact that London is literally filled with graveyards. You can be walking down a nice street, or take a walking path through a neighborhood, then suddenly you are surrounded by tombstones and crypts. You will find a good portion of these are plague cemeteries. This type of graveyard differs a bit from traditional ones mainly because of how the people were buried and how many people  there are in the ground.

For instance, I walked by once plague cemetery where the ground was as high as my shoulders. The height was due to the many layers of bodies buried on top of each other. So many people died during the Great Plague, that mass graves became the norm as a grave digger simply couldn’t keep up with individual ones. Not to mention, they often ran out of room for burials. You might find that there aren’t as many tombstones in a plague cemetery, which might be another clue to what you are looking at. (It’s also an interesting side note that, up until the late 1800’s, it was common practice to reuse graves.)

I had walked by this cemetery numerous times before I realized what it was. The height of the ground and the fencing made me think it was just a private yard of some sort. I would also like to point out that this wasn’t in the outskirts of London, this was somewhere near central London and right next to a popular tourist attraction. You just never know what you’re going to find in this ancient city.

My last creepy find probably won’t feel unsettling unless you have done it. In that case, I do recommend giving them a try. What I am speaking about are walking ghost tours. We have this sort of thing in the States as well, but in London, it’s far creepier.

If you don’t know what a walking tour is, it is literally a tour of a little area of London with a guide. S/He will lead a group and tell about the history of the area. A ghost tour focuses on hauntings or disturbing events. I enjoy them because they are usually only 5 to 10 pounds, last about an hour or two, and typically take you through areas that aren’t typically on a tourists path.

However, what makes these so unsettling in London is the fact that so little has changed over the centuries. You can find yourself walking through Victorian streets where murders happened and be directed to the exact spot where the grisly deed took place. Search online for pictures of the murders and you can compare them to the photos I’m sure you will take, very little will be different. It is truly like going back in time. So, be prepared to be a little creeped out if you do one of these, but I do highly recommend them.

Well, that’s my lists of some of the weird and creepy things I found when I was studying abroad in

London. I wish I had taken more photos, but if you get the chance, seek some of these things out. You won’t be disappointed.

Until next time!

Some Advice for Studying Abroad in the UK

Studying abroad in the United Kingdom is a big decision to make,  the whole idea can be so overwhelming. I’ve been through the process before utilizing my undergraduate school's international program. Now, I’m going through it again, this time without the support of a school department. I felt that organizing some of my thoughts into blogs would help relieve some stress of the whole process. I also feel that, maybe, I can pass on some knowledge to those who are seeking it.

So, here is my list of five things you will need to accomplish to study abroad in the UK, some advice, and some resources that might help. There are so many more things to consider than and to do before going abroad than what I have listed here. Honestly, I could probably write a book about it. These are just five of the biggest points I feel you will hit along the way.

First and foremost, pick your program….then a second, and a third, maybe even a fourth. This may seem like common sense, but you’d be surprised by how many people get caught up in the idea of going to another country and wait until the last moment before finding the program that is best for them. Or, pick just one school and not have a backup school, just in case. Also, keep in mind that universities have deadlines and often they are in the fall, so start your search early in the year, find the right fit for you and what you want to study, and apply as early as possible.

When it comes to applying, I always recommend contacting the school or the program lead for advice on your application and what you can do to strengthen it. For instance, I am wanting to study fine art conservation. I have the degree in fine art, but I am lacking in chemistry, which is an important part of conservation. So, after discussing this with my first pick school, I started taking undergraduate chemistry courses here in the States at my local community college. This will make me a better candidate for the degree program I want. It’s also so much cheaper to take prerequisites here than it is over there. Do your research and make sure you are well informed about the requirements.

Also, make check that the degree you are looking into will be acknowledged in the United States. The UK has similar degrees to the US: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD’s, etc. These are all fine and transfer over (though there are some medical and veterinary degrees that will not). However, there are other programs that fall outside of the degree spectrum that we are used to in the US. These are graduate diplomas and postgraduate diplomas.

These diplomas (and certificates) fall somewhere between an undergraduate and a graduate degree. The difference between these two is the level of study, or difficulty, required to complete. The Graduate Diploma is typically a one year program taken after the completion of an undergraduate degree. It is taught on the same level as an undergraduate degree, but does not actually award a degree. Think of it as an extension onto the end of a bachelors, or an extra year to specialize in something related to your field.

The Postgraduate Diploma is very similar to the Graduate Diploma, except it is taught on a graduate (or postgraduate) level. It can be described as a full master’s program, without the dissertation. This little difference means that it doesn’t hold as much weight as an actual graduate degree.

It is usually recommended that a US student not waste their time on these diplomas since the United States doesn’t really recognize them. However, you might find that some graduate programs require them as a prerequisite if you don’t have the correct undergrad degree or are lacking experience. This is something to consider when looking for schools abroad.

A great resource for advice on programs and assistance with finding what is best for you is Across the Pond. They will ask you for some information about your accomplishments and what you are wanting to pursue. Then they will help pair you with a school that is a great fit. They have affiliated schools that work directly with them, which can make the whole process a little easier.

The next item to consider is cost and do a thorough cost comparison. How much will it cost you vs a United States school? Furthermore, if it is more expensive, are you OK with spending the extra money or taking out larger loans?

Sometimes, it actually can be cheaper to complete your degree overseas. This is because it usually takes less time to complete a degree in the UK. A typical undergraduate degree can be completed in three years and a master’s in one. There are exceptions, but you will find that this timeline is quite common. Keep in mind that some schools in the UK can cost tens of thousands of dollars a year, but perhaps, removing that final year will save you some money in the end.

Or, maybe it won’t. Tuition is typically far more expensive for overseas students than it is for UK/EU or even Commonwealth students. This can sometimes be as much as double what home students would be paying. There is also the conversion rate that you must consider. The dollar doesn’t go as far in the UK. When I went in 2013, it was $1.60 for 1 pound. That doesn’t seem like much, but if you are paying your tuition, that extra .60 cents can make a very large difference. Now, with the uncertainty of Brexit, the conversion has dropped significantly. I’ve seen it below $1.25 everyday this week, so this might actually be the best time to study abroad.

One more thing I need to mention when it comes to comparing cost is maintenance funds. Maintenance funds refers to money that you have on hand to support yourself. This money is used for rent, food, bills, travel, and pretty much anything else you need to live. The amount required varies. If you are spending 50% or more of your time studying in London, you will be required to have 1,265 pounds per month in your account for nine months. This means that you need to prove to the UK government that you have 11,385 pounds, in addition to the cost of tuition, at your disposal. They essentially want to make sure that you will not be homeless or starving while you are studying in the UK, because you will have zero access to public assistance (except for the healthcare system, but you pay a surcharge for that). So, this is an extra expense on top of tuition that you must provide for, which can significantly increase the cost of study abroad.

The third item is about funding. This is probably the most import thing to consider and research, because if you can’t fund your studies, you can’t go. Plain and simple. Some people are fortunate enough to be able to fund their studies out of pocket, however, the majority of students can’t. Luckily, there are a couple of options available. (I do want to let you know that I am not a financial advisor. Any decisions you make towards funding should be carefully considered and discussed with your school, parent, or adviser.)

The government has provided a program for US students wanting to study abroad: The William D. Perkins Program. This program allows federal funding for study abroad through two loans: the Stafford and the PLUS loan. If you are currently using students loans or have in the past, you are probably familiar with the Stafford loan. There are yearly limits (Undergraduate is $12,500 and Graduate is $20,500) as well as lifetime limits.

Unfortunately, the Stafford loans typically aren’t enough to cover tuition and maintenance funds. So, the government has provided a federal private loan which can be used to cover the full cost of attendance, minus any other loans or scholarships you may have. Even though this is federal funding, keep in mind that it is a private loan which is different than a normal federal loan. This can have consequences down the road when it comes time to pay them back.

There are some stipulations for being eligible for US federal funding. The biggest, in my opinion, is that the course you are taking has to be a degree granting course. This means those graduate diplomas or postgraduate diplomas we discussed earlier will not be eligible for federal funding. It can make getting into some graduate programs difficult if one of th0se diplomas is a prerequisite to the masters.

The other stipulation I will discuss is that the school granting the degree has to be a UK recognized body. This simply means that the United Kingdom government has officially validated that the university is legitimate. This recently came into the press when Theresa May, before she was PM, and her department revoked the sponsoring licenses of several hundred schools which no longer classified them as a recognized body.

This led to the deportation of nearly 50,000 international students, who the government had listed as being in the country illegally. In addition to being deported, the students lost out on the money they had paid to these schools for their education. This is now leading to the possibility of the deported students suing the UK government for illegal deportation. As you can see, it can be quite a mess over there for international students. Always be aware of any political situations that may be happening while you are preparing to go abroad and while you there. You never know how they will affect you.

If the program you are wanting to do doesn’t qualify for federal funding, there is only one other loan option available to US students: the Sallie Mae Smart Option loan. This is a true private loan, not federally funded, so make sure you seek the proper advice before proceeding. Also, this loan is notoriously difficult to be approved for without a cosigner, so if you do go for it, make sure you put yourself in the best possible position. I have searched high and low for any other type of loan, but unfortunately, I can’t find any, specifically for graduate students.

There are a couple of other companies out there that provide private loans to undergraduate US students wanting to go abroad. Also, the list of schools that accept this is quite limited. Again, do your research before seeking any sort of funding like this. I’ll put some links at the end of this post for your reference.

I also want to note that you cannot get any sort of federal grant for international study. There are some scholarships you can get and other sponsored programs, such as Fulbright. Again, I’ll list those at the end.

The fourth item I wish to discuss is disbursement dates. This could be lumped into the funding section, but I feel it is important enough to point out on it’s own. So, if you are relying on federal funding to pay for your overseas study, you must find out the disbursement dates. The school will provide these to you once they begin processing the loans, but that might not be until a couple of months before you leave for the UK. I recommend thoroughly searching their website for this information or asking the financial aid office.

Because the school will be accepting money from the United States government, they have to abide by US regulations which state that all federal funding must be  disbursed into equal potions at the beginning of each semester for the school year. This means that if your program is a two semester program, then your loans will be split into two equal portions and used at the beginning of each semester. If your program is three semesters, then it will be split into three portions.

This can actually lead to some financial issues for the student. You will be responsible for paying for tuition when the school says it is due. Most schools understand how the money is disbursed and have a fee schedule in place for students who are relying on federal loans. However, some schools don’t. That is why it is important to ask. The school you are interested in might have a strange pay schedule.

One example of this is UAL. The first payment is due at the beginning of the first semester and you must pay 50% of tuition. The second semester, you must pay 30% of what is left on your bill, and the third semester you pay the remaining 20%. However, your student loans will be divided into three equal portions and not adjusted to this pay schedule. That means, if a third of your loans is not enough to cover 50% of your tuition, you will be responsible for the remaining balance out-of-pocket.

However, it’s a little different for private loans. Typically, the full amount of the private loan is disbursed to the school at the beginning of the first semester. All of tuition for the year will be taken out of that loan, then the rest refunded to the student. As long as you have taken out enough to cover tuition, you won’t have to worry about the possibility of the disbursements not matching the fee schedule.

Luckily, universities are very understanding and might be willing to work with you if you reach out to them in advance. Always ask.

On a final, final note, you cannot get federal funding for your visa fees or your plane tickets. This will have to come out-of-pocket, though, sometimes you can get reimbursed for the cost later from your loans.

The last item on my list is visas. It might seem a little scary to apply for a visa for another country, but it actually isn’t that difficult. There is a ton of paperwork and so many steps, but the good news is that your university will most likely have an office for international students with experts on hand to help you out. I highly recommend using this resource as the application can get confusing. There’s also a lot of papers and proofs that you need to provide, so again, it’s always nice to have some help.

Also, you will have to get biometrics taken. This is where you go to a local federal facility, I actually think it might be run by the British Consulate, and you have some things officially documented about yourself. They will take your fingerprints, a photo, and some other general information. This is something that the Consulate can compare against the passport you will later provide to ensure that you are who you say you are.

You can only apply for a Visa three months before the start of your course, but I HIGHLY recommend that you apply the day that three month mark rolls around. It’s a busy time for visa processing and you never know what can happen to delay yours. Also, if for some reason they request additional paperwork, this gives you time to get what they need in order to continue processing your visa.

I have a fine example for you from my own personal experience. My program started January 14th, 2013, so I sent off my application mid-October 2012. Not too long after, Hurricane Sandy hit New York and caused an emergency situation. The city was shut down for a while. Mail was permanently lost or severely delayed. I didn’t know if my application (along with my passport) had been lost or destroyed. There was literally nothing I could do about the situation. I couldn’t apply for a new passport, that process was also handled in New York city. So, I just had to wait and pray.

Luckily, I received my passport two weeks before I left. It was close. Just goes to show, you never know what can happen. I wouldn’t have dreamed that a hurricane would decimate New York in October. It was a freak twist of nature. So, plan ahead.

My  final piece of advice I will give you is to never give up. If this is your dream and your passion, you can find a way to accomplish it. You might be told no by so many schools, or not qualify for any federal funding, or have a cosigner to help with private funding. Don’t despair, just keep at it and you will find away, even if that means putting it off for a year or two. Research as much as you can and reach out to your UK school for help. They want you as a student and will try all they can to help.

I know there was a lot of information in this list, and there are so many things I didn’t cover. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments.

List of Resources:

Assistance with finding programs:

Across the Pond


Information about Visas

UK Visa and Immigration Guidelines



Funding Options

Fafsa


Fulbright Sponsorship

(I’m not recommending taking out a loan or putting any loan companies here as a way to convince you to apply. I’m simply providing these as a reference. It took a lot of searching for me to uncover them, and I hope to save you a little time in your search.)

Prodigy Finance

Funding University

Immaturity, Shallowness and Stupidity = The Youth of America

As my time abroad is drawing to a close, there are some thoughts that have been on my mind, recently.  The ideas of individual independence and maturity are traits that seem to be becoming increasingly scarce. Why is it that people are proud to run back to their parents if a situation gets tough instead of finding a way to make it work and learning from the experience? Also, how is it that a lack of knowledge is celebrated while being intelligent is considered shameful? And since when did people become so shallow with who they would even acknowledge as a possibility to date? What is wrong with the youth of today? Why is everyone so judgmental?

It’s sad to say that I’ve always had a feeling that those about four years younger than me would wind up like this. I had a really great friend that young who I grew up with and I listened to her stories from school and watched the kids in her class. The behavior of her peers is what sparked my theory that if you look at each generation, the younger they are from me, the stupider and more reckless they get.

I guess my arguments began a couple of months ago when all of these ideas were righteously proclaimed to me by several people younger than me. I searched for people who knew these things, but sadly, it seems to be lost information. I’ll start with knowledge, or lack thereof. (I guess I should make it clear, the youth is the generations containing 19-21 year-olds that I have had the ‘pleasure’ to talk to since being abroad. Oh, and I mean US citizens.)  I have had several instances of things I thought were common knowledge turning out not to be. Here is a list of a few things that I thought everyone knew in no particular order:

-The story of Robin Hood took place in Nottingham, hence the Sheriff of Nottingham as the antagonist and the Robin Hood tours you can take if you visit.

-Pompeii was an ancient city destroyed and miraculously preserved from volcano ash. Herculaneum is not where Hercules lived.

-Sculptors, including Michelangelo can draw as most sculptures start out as sketches.

-Leonardo DaVinci painted the Mona Lisa and it a modern theory that it was his self-portrait as a woman.

-Paris is built on catacombs.

-Speaking of catacombs, it’s an underground burial place that consists of labyrinth like tunnels that are sometimes redecorated with the bones of the dead.

-A labyrinth is a maze and usually contains a Minotaur.

-The Venus De Milo is that really famous statue with no arms. (There is a reference in the animated Hercules movie, fyi.)

-The Hunchback was of Notre Dame.

-A guillotine is an execution weapon with a dropping blade.

-Tom Cruise is a Scientologist.

-The Thinker is that statue with that naked guy sitting with his head on his fist, thinking.

-A turncoat is a traitor. This term came about in the Revolutionary war. Any guesses as to why?

-The Mississippi River cuts the country in half.

-Have you ever heard of Super Mario Brothers? Turns out, too many people haven’t.

-Anne Hathaway was the name of Shakespeare’s wife. By the way, he wrote Romeo and Juliet.

                                -All actors used to be men.

                                -PLUTO USED TO BE A PLANET!!!!

-And, last and most certainly not least, did you know that most soda back in the States is made with high fructose corn syrup? Yeah, so did I.

                Do some of these seem too ridiculous to be true? I hope so. Then I can count you among those who are more knowledgeable than the rest. Ok, I can give a little leeway and acknowledge that maybe it isn’t common knowledge for some of these, but seriously? Robin Hood is from Nottingham? No way!

                What are people teaching their kids? This is absolutely ridiculous! Why are these people not looking up the information when they run across the fact that they don’t know it? Also, why do people not believe me when I inform them of these things? They argue and say things like, “Whatever, I don’t believe you. Uh huh, sure.” Freaking. Annoying.

                Now, in my next rant, I will address the issue of independence and maturity. I feel that (and I know the majority of my friends will disagree, just ignore them, they’re crazy :-D ) I have always been very mature for my age. I’ve never wanted to follow the crowd, never caught onto the latest trends, but always followed my own knowing that fitting in wasn’t important. I made decisions in high school dealing with my personal conduct based on the thought that I am too young to make certain decisions and I don’t want to regret anything I did in high school. I wanted to stay strong in my religion and carve out a good, independent life after graduation. Why kind of sixteen-year-old has thoughts like that? A mature one. So there, I’m mature :-P.

                Anyway, let me give you an example and the responses I have had from several people amongst the youth. When I was 18, I moved out of my parents’ house and into a dorm where I lived for two years. I only lived at home during one Christmas break and that was the last time I lived with my parents. When I was twenty, I moved in with my boyfriend, I had a steady job, was a full-time student and had bills to pay.

 Then, when I was 21, I had to have surgery. Because of this surgery, I lost my job and was unemployed for a few months. We struggled to make ends meet, sometimes digging in the couch for change to buy ramen or, if we were really able to splurge, peanut butter and jelly. Even though life was difficult, I stuck with my man and we worked our way out of the horrible situation we were experiencing. Now, we have been together for over six years (will be seven this May :-) ), both of us have our priorities in order, we work hard to pay our bills and are living a relatively comfortable life. We know that neither of us will back out if things get rough, we can depend on each other and know we will always be there for each other.  If times get tough, then that is the time that we should cling to each other and guide ourselves through together, right?

Apparently, I’m wrong. I was recently informed that, in not so many words, I was stupid for sticking around. Why would I let myself get into such a horrible situation? It was then told to me that these people would have gone back to their mothers. Really? Run home to mommy because life got a little difficult? Not to mention leaving your significant other behind to clean up the mess you helped to create? What ever happened to independence? I will only ask my parents for help in the direst of circumstances, always trying every other avenue to bail myself out first. Isn’t that what mature adults do instead of crying to mommy and daddy? Who is babying their child so much that they are ruining every chance that these people have of becoming independent? We should be raising our children to be strong adults. If they fall, they should be taught to get up on their own, dust themselves off and try again. Allowing them to crawl back at every difficult bend in the road will lead to their self-destruction. They will never be able to cope with the pressures of a real job or being an adult. What happens if they marry? How will they provide the right care for their children if they can’t care for themselves?

This leads me to my next point, shallowness. The younger generations are the shallowest people I have ever met. Did you know, if you don’t go to college you’re unintelligent, have no ambition and will achieve nothing in your career? This is such a common thought, but it is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Did you know Albert Einstein dropped out of school? Is he considered stupid? How about Steve Jobs? He dropped out of college after just one term. Is he considered unambitious?

So, because I was so flabbergasted, I asked each of these people a hypothetical question. If there is a waiter at a restaurant that shows you interest, would you date them? Immediate answer, “No way!”

How about if they are the most attractive person you have seem, “Well, if they were in college, then yes.”

What if they weren’t in school? “No. They have to be in school for me to date them. I can’t date someone who’s unambitious or stupid.”

 Who’s to say they aren’t ambitious? What if it is their dream job to be a head chef someday and this is the first stepping stone to the start of that career. They could be the next Gordon Ramsey. “That’s fine for them, but I wouldn’t date them. I can’t have a guy who has a job that is below mine. We have to be on the same level or he has to have a better job than me.”

How can you say that working in a restaurant is below another job? A job is a job; they are working hard to pay their bills. Maybe they have another job and this is a side thing to make ends meet? Maybe they are the most intelligent person in the world, working on a new computer in his free time, or new software, new theories, a writer, an artist? You don’t know. You could be missing out on so many opportunities because you are so snobbish towards people you consider under you because of their jobs. “It doesn’t matter, you just don’t understand.”

Oh, I understand perfectly. These people were brought up to believe that money is everything when it most certainly is not. How can people be this shallow? I just cannot understand this way of thinking. And so many share the thought! It’s mind-blowing. I was always taught that everyone was equal, I am neither above nor below anyone and though some people may act high and mighty, they are not above me and I am not below them. You are never to judge people. These are values that seem to be missing in others. Really, if someone can explain these thoughts to me, please do. I simply cannot wrap my head around such shallow stupidity.

This made me think about myself a bit. I never thought about the ‘qualifications’ a guy needed to have before I would date them. Don’t get me wrong, I have some pretty high standards. Mainly, they have to treat me right, they can’t be a loser (meaning 28 years old and mooching off of his parents cause he is too lazy to take care of himself) and they needed to be taller than me. That’s about it. Very strict, I know. I never went through a long list of detailing the job they have to have, the amount of money they need to make, the exact details of how they need to look. They believe I am essentially selling myself short. How can they think that?

I always felt that I would let my heart decide. If someone came along that kept me interested, treated me well, I was attracted to them and fell in love with them, then why not go for it? Why not give it a chance? Yes, I’m not going to marry a millionaire this way and I have led an occasionally difficult life, but I have someone who is loyal to me, treats me amazingly, loves me with all of his heart and will do absolutely anything for me. Had I followed their rules, I would have missed out on this opportunity. How sad that would have been.

So, I guess what I am trying to say is this: people are stupid, people are ridiculously immature, people are shallow. That is my conclusion. We are leaving the world in the hands of these so-called ‘adults,’ how on Earth is humanity to survive? Well, if everyone turns out this way, maybe humanity shouldn’t. One good thing that came of these mind-numbing conversations I have had with people is I know exactly what not to teach my future children.

That’s it. Rant Over. See you next time!

Cheers!

A Walk Down a 2000 Year Old Road....

This weekend, I walked down 2000 year old roads, I traveled through the markets of an ancient city that was one the most posh places to live, I saw where Julius Caesar was murdered and buried, and I saw where thousands fought to the death or were executed. I saw and experienced so much, it’s hard to list it all. Never had I thought I would be given the opportunity to see the places I studied in school or dreamed about since I was a little girl. I fully appreciate that I have been given such an amazing opportunity as I have had in the past few months. God has truly blessed me in every way. It was truly a miracle that I was able to go to Rome, especially since I won a contest that gave me this trip for free.

            Rome was the last stop on my artist pilgrimage. There are several other places I need to visit, but there were only three major cities that I had wanted for my first art history trip. The first two were London and Paris. I feel as though I have completed a significant life goal, something I have dreamed about for so long and now, it’s over. I feel extremely accomplished and, honestly, a little proud for pushing myself to do these things. Mission accomplished.

            Now, enough self-reflection, on to the good stuff.  My trip to Rome started off amazing. Not only did I fly first class, but they fed me an amazing meal (which you will probably never hear me say again about inflight food.)

My in-flight meat! :-)

I landed late Thursday night and took a cab to my hostel. On the way, I got my first glimpse of the one place I most wanted to visit, The Colosseum. I was stunned upon my first look. I was speechless, which you all know is hard that this is hard to accomplish. I couldn’t believe that I was actually seeing this in person. It was beautiful with golden lights making it look as though it still held some of the bronze that once made it so magnificent. The Colosseum is like the Tower of London to me, I’ve been obsessed with it for years (and the show Spartacus only fueled this :-D ). I didn’t want to go to bed, I wanted to explore and see it up close, but I had to be patient. I’d get to see it again soon. As those of you who are familiar with me know all too well, patience and I are bitter enemies. We fight all of the time, with me usually winning after a bloody, drawn-out battle fit for the Colosseum itself. Well, in the end, I did give in to sleep even if I didn’t want to. It was worth it as I had to get up very early the next day.

Friday was filled with nothing but amazement. Our first stop was Vatican City, the worlds smallest country. Just in case you’re wandering (and I know you are), no I did not crack any Catholic jokes. None. It’s hard to believe, I know, but I was a good girl this weekend, even if it was extremely hard to contain myself. 

Anyway, Vatican City is like a mini paradise. It’s so green with so many different kinds of trees, including palm trees, surrounding everything it seemed. No wonder people want to be Pope, his house is amazing! I’d want to be Pope for a place like that. Wow! I’ll post the pictures online soon because words simply cannot describe how amazing this place is.

I walked through the Vatican Museums, saw the chambers of many famous Popes throughout history, including Borgia (Who, it turns out, discovered Michelangelo!).  I marveled at the works done by Rafael and was amazed by the amount of art the Vatican had literally stolen from various countries including Egypt over hundreds of years. Catholics, you little thieves,  lol. ;-) 

From there, we moved onto the Sistine Chapel. This is the place I have wanted to see since I studied it in art history class. I have a huge appreciation for the works of Michelangelo and this is, arguably, his most famous work. It’s interesting, because originally, he didn’t want to do it. He was a sculpture, an architect, not a painter and he didn’t like the shape of the ceiling. However, he was convinced eventually, and used trompe l'oeil, which is a fancy way of painting something to make it look like something real. I could so be an art history teacher with that sentence couldn’t I? 

For instance, the ancient Romans used to have windowless rooms in their houses. To make them a little less dreary, they would hire painters to create an image using trompe l’oeil to create windows so realistic, you thought they were indeed really there. Trust me, it is very possible. You have to be an amazing artist to pull it off.

Stolen from Wikipedia :-) I'll explain in a moment.

Well, when you look at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, you see all of this beautifully carved marble pillars and molding and think, not only are the paintings beautiful, but the sculpting is especially exquisite. Ha! It’s not marble, it’s paint! Michelangelo, hating the ceiling and used this technique of painting to ‘reconstruct’ it into something he preferred. The shape of the ceiling you see is a facade. It is absolutely amazing and obvious why, after this, he became so famous. Not only is this astounding, the fact that he did it all himself, without any help, is simply mind-blowing.

The Last Judgement - Again stolen from Wikipedia.

There is another piece he did towards the end of his life behind the alter. It’s the Last Judgement and just as amazing as the ceiling. It has so many stories to it, like the human skin is actually a self-portrait of Michelangelo and the guy with the snake biting off his penis in hell in the bottom right is someone Michelangelo hated, so he put him forever in hell. It is an amazing painting.

Also, after Michelangelo's death, the church hired a person to  come in and paint over everyone's genitals. They knew Michelangelo would never have allowed this in life, so they waited. The painter who came in and did it is forever know as 'The Trouser Painter.' What an awful name to go down in history with. However, there was an attempt to restore it and only about 50% of the underwear that was added is still left. Hurray for original naked bodies! It reminds me of walking through the Vatican museums and seeing where a Pope wetn a little hammer crazy and knocked the penises off of several statues. I hate the destruction of art. However, I guess to redeem themselves, you can now by an image of a roman statue penis that's been printed in a particular spot on mens boxers. And yes, I did find them in the Vatican gift shop.

I digress, I don’t have pictures I have taken of the Sistine Chapel, I wasn’t allowed to take photos. However, you know me, I did anyway. They aren’t very good, so I am not going to post them, but I had to try. I most certainly was not the only one to try this, everyone seemed to be getting yelled at for photography. You can hear it because there isn't supposed to be any talking in the Chapel, so the shouts of the guards rang through the room.

Now, here’s an interesting thing that happened. When I mentioned that I wanted to take photos regardless of the rule, a couple of girls on the trip with me said they were actually offended at the idea that I would even consider doing that. They said it was a ‘Holy Place’ and by taking a photo or wanting to take a photo, I was attacking their religion personally. This made me realize the levels of ignorance in some people. Why is it people become so easily offended over such mundane matters? A photo is nothing to the Catholic Church. From what I have been told and what I have studied, there are no rules against photography of any kind of religious artifact. If there had been such a rule, I would have respected it. Just like when I go to the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, I will cover my hair simply out of respect for their religion. I feel we should all respect each others beliefs, even if we don’t agree with them.

However, this is not a Catholic belief. Funny enough, these girls don’t even know the real reason photos aren’t allowed. It actually has nothing to do with it being a ‘Holy Place.’ Actually, it has everything to do with filming rights. Nippon TV contributed millions of dollars to the restoration of the frescoes and, because of this, now owns all their filming rights. 

So, before becoming offended by something, maybe people should check their facts and see if it is reasonable to be offended in the first place. In this case, the reason for being offended was actually non-existent. I have to tell you, though I shouldn’t feel this way, but God I LOVE being right. Especially when it is against people who constantly contradict everything I say, even when I know for a fact that I am correct. People bother me.

St. Peter's Square

Well, then we moved onto quick pizza lunch and a lovely walk by St. Peter’s Basilica and, might I say, extremely long uphill climb to get a beautiful aerial view of the city. I’ve decided that Rome was all built on hills and cobblestones to make tourists pay for being so annoying to the locals. It’s simple as that. But it was so worth it. I got to enjoy a beautiful afternoon overlooking Rome, enjoying 60+ degree weather and amazing sunshine.

But you know me, I got restless. So, after asking if anyone wanted to go and getting told no, I ventured to the old district of Rome and explored a bit on my own. I found ruins around every corner, and an amazing square that was designed by Michelangelo, walked through some more old ruins and climbed 122 stairs to stand at the base of a really cool monument. Actually, I had climbed over 300 stairs and didn’t find out until the next day. I totally miscalculated and I can only assume halfway up, the exhaustion and lack of air supply caused my brain to falter and black out somewhere between steps 55 and 100. Still, it was so worth it.

Following my triumphant climb, I continued to wonder until I met the group again for dinner. I had real, and I mean REAL, lasagne followed by the best tiramisu I have ever had. Once thing I noticed about Italian food and American Italian food: the real stuff is much simpler. I feel in America, we put so many ingredients and spices in our version of Italian food. Not to mention, you won’t find meat in Italian pasta. It’s just not done, or so I was told.

Following dinner, I went to see the Stations of the Cross service with the Pope. Where was this held, you might ask? At the Colosseum! What? I know, pretty cool, right? Lol. I had no idea what was going on, we don’t do this in the Baptist church and it was all in Latin, but I got to see the Pope, under his Pope awning, wearing his Pope hat and occasionally speaking with his “I’m the Pope” voice. You can kind of see that the Pope amuses me, I just can’t help it. :-)

I’ve got to say, though, that I have never seen so many people in my life. I heard a report that there were over 80,000 people there. I’m not sure if it’s true, but it was overwhelming for a person like me who hates crowds. I will post the videos I have of this soon, it’s unbelievable.  I was worried I would be trampled when everyone was leaving. I was literally carried by the crowd for well over a minute, my feet never touching the ground. That was creepy.

But then the Pope drove by and it was kind of cool to see him all Popey somewhat up close. I’d do this all again to see the Pope. It really was neat to see a person that the majority of the world looks up to in person. Then I wrapped up the night by getting lost and discovering some more awesomeness before I finally made it to bed. And oh, did my feet hurt! Apparently, cobblestones are extremely difficult to walk on over long periods of time. Ow.

Inside St. Peter's Basilica

Saturday dawned bright and warm and I grew ever more excited for this day. It was the day we were going to explore ancient Rome and St. Peter’s Basilica. Again, words simply cannot describe these places, especially St. Peter’s. I’ve been to Versailles, I’ve seen the palaces of London, I’ve seen an Irish castle, nothing compares to the extravagance of St. Peter’s Basilica. Man, the Catholics have money! Everything was so ornate, the floors, the walls the ceiling, and the beautiful dome built by Michelangelo (again, by himself). The most impressive thing about it is, there are no paintings inside. Everything you see that looks like a painting is an enormously extravagant, well created mosaic. Even standing in front of it, I could almost not believe they weren’t painted. I don’t think I will ever see mosaics like that outside of St. Peter’s.

Then, feeling completely overwhelmed, we ran off to the Colosseum, the place I wanted to visit the most. I was not disappointed. It’s hard to believe that something that is 2000 years old is still standing. It’s unfortunate the marble that was once covering every inch of the brick, the bronze statues in the majority of the arches and the bronze that once also decorated the walls was recycled to build some of the amazing churches in the area. It’s a shadow of its former self, but with a good imagination, you can see how it might have once been. And, there are remnants of some fresco's left that I would never have noticed if my guide hadn’t pointed them out.

Outside the Colosseum

Inside the Colosseum

Another interesting thing happened here, did you know gypsies are real? I never did! They are though, and are a major problem in Rome. I’m told the Romans hate them, but they cannot legally discriminate against them. However, they train their children to be pickpockets and their old women to be beggars. I actually witnessed two gypsy children running from the police laughing at a bag they were holding that they had just stolen from a tourist. There are no laws pertaining to children, according to my guide, so there is nothing the police can do except hope to capture them to retrieve the stolen items. That’s why children are chosen to be pickpockets. 

I saw a good way to spot them. They usually travel in packs of two, usually the same gender and always have messenger bags. I noticed they were always wearing Rome or Italy sweatshirts. I was informed this was to make them look more like tourists. They are so good at what they do that when the purposefully bump into you, their hands have already been in and out of your pockets. Crazy! I held my umbrella (which is currently still somewhere in Rome) like a weapon to ward them off. I guess it worked because I was never bothered, though I saw them get the woman in front of me.

Anyway, from there we went to the Roman Forum. You could spend all day here, and I wanted to, but there was too many things to see. There were the ruins of temples and a palace. There was the Palatine Hill, where the posh of the posh once lived. I walked down 2000 year old roads through an ancient market place and saw the alter that was built on top of where Julius Caesar was buried. People still lay flowers on it. Again, marble would have covered everything, including the roads, but had been reused elsewhere. It’s so sad.

Another Temple

Ancient Temple at the Forum

The roads that were once covered in marble.

Palace on top of Palatine Hill

From there, we strolled through more of Rome and found ourselves at the site where Julius Caesar was murdered. The exact spot was recorded in history. You have to love the ancient Romans for their love of jotting things down. Now these ruins have been turned into a cat sanctuary. Kitties roamed on top of the broken buildings, fat and happy. I loved it! Why can’t we have animal shelters like this, where the animals are able to roam free in a large, yet closed in area? They are able to lead happy lives being well loved by the people running the shelter. Our guide made a joke that it was harder to adopt a cat than it was a child. I went into the shop and donated some money, I was so impressed. They gave me black cat earrings. I was so happy, Faia earrings! :-D

The spot where Julius Caesar was murdered, now a cat sanctuary.

Now, by this time, I was hobbling around in pain. Little did I know how terrible my feet were. I could tell it was probably an awful site, but I refused to look until I made it back in London. I was able to walk to the Pantheon, discover Rafael's tomb inside and make it to the the restaurant and enjoy a seven course traditional Italian meal with unlimited wine. After this, I tried a real amaretto sour, the best I’ve ever had. Then, apparently in the course of all the chaos of 52 people eating, drinking, then leaving, my umbrella was lost. :-( I’m still very sad about this. I liked my purple umbrella. Sad day.

The Pantheon

Rafael's tomb inside the Pantheon.

Anyway, I wound up chilling in the bar at the hostel I was staying at and, oddly enough, ran into a student from Blackburn College. What are the odds that from a school that small, where you have to be a junior or senior to study abroad which greatly lowers the amount of people who would travel, that one person happens to be in Rome, in the same hostel, at the same time I was and she wasn’t even part of our group. Small world!

Anyway, I was supposed to have Easter mass with the Pope. I had planned on going as early as possible so that I could get a front row seat. However, by the time I woke up, my feet and legs hurt so bad, I could barely walk. I decided to go later in the day, so I went back to sleep. Turns out I slept through one of my alarms. When I woke up, I still could have made it if I ran, but I wasn’t able to. Seriously, my feet have never been in that much pain before and I once spent a year wearing only high heeled shoes. So, instead, I packed up and went to the airport. At least I saw the Pope at the Stages of the Cross. That was enough for me and my non-Catholic self. In hindsight, maybe I should have tried to sell my ticket….oh, well, lol. 

            It was a very uneventful flight back home, but I rushed as quickly as I could. I wanted a hot shower and to inspect my feet. I’m glad I waited to look, because the sight that awaited me was just gross. I had blisters on both of my little toes, taking up the majority of the surface area, blisters on my heals and the balls of my feet. It hurt so much. Well, they decided to pop and that was even more painful. I spent all of Monday resting, trying to get my feet in a better condition so that I could walk to work today. It was insane, but you know what? Totally worth it. Next time, though, I’m wearing tennis shoes to walk on cobblestones.Lesson learned.

            Oh yeah! I forgot to mention that I also walked up the Spanish Steps and threw change into the Trevi Fountain. Apparently, if you through a coin over your left shoulder with your right hand while facing away from the fountain, this means you will one day return to Rome. Yeah, too me three tries, lol. The first time I didn't know this so I just tossed it in. The second time, someone told me you had to be turned away, so I tossed it over my right should. The last time I was finally informed of the proper procedure. Third time's the charm right? Maybe I'll get to come back three times!

Until next time, cheers!