This is My Cup of Tea

London Coffee Shops

Ever walk into a coffee shop and it is silent? Londoners, although they are very busy on the streets, appreciate their quietness while eating. It is not unusual for a coffee shop to be hushed; it is a place to escape, a place to read, sip on some coffee or tea, or study. I find myself walking to a small coffee shop all the time, carrying my books with me, an iPod with headphones, and claiming my own little corner table. The only catch is it costs more to stay than ordering to go. Another issue: it is hard to decide what to order.

Caffe Nero (yes café is spelled with two fs) has the best hot chocolate. Rich, but not too chocolaty, this delicious treat is made perfect with the added whipped cream on top and little chocolate pieces.

 A pot of tea is a very nice choice as well. My personal favorite is mint tea. What is very convenient is that you can walk in and take a seat without being disturbed. You can just sit down and relax with a nice, warm drink.

Another place to consider is Pret. I have discovered that the people who work at Pret are always very friendly and cheerful. I have never left that place without someone asking me how I am doing or wishing me well. My personal favorite delight is their chocolate croissants.

London has coffee shops everywhere. All of them have been great, and I spend a great deal of time in them just reading or studying. While London is very crowded, busy, and constantly moving at a fast pace, coffee shops are warm, friendly, and sweet.

Megan Neill

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Fireworks, Feast, and Laughter, Oh My!

Remember remember the fifth of November

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

I see no reason why gunpowder, treason

Should ever be forgot!

What happens when the English wish to celebrate a famous almost disaster? They party, and they party like it is the last chance that they will have to. Which I do have to admit is not a bad philosophy.

            The party that I am writing about is that of Guy Fawkes Day. Guy Fawkes was an explosive expert who conspired with 7 other men to blow up all of Parliament on the fifth of November in 1605. If the plot was to succeed the men would have successfully killed the monarch and the members of parliament. But Guy Fawkes was caught checking up on the explosives making sure that everything was ready for the next day. He was taken to the Tower of London where he was tortured and eventually gave up his partners in crime.  So in short Guy Fawkes Day is the celebration of a failed terrorist plot. Guy Fawkes Day consists of three things that the English do to remember this day. They are bonfires, fireworks, and food! A person can experience these wonderful traditions all over England.

            I currently reside in London so I spent my Guy Fawkes Night

 out in Blackheath with some friends. 

We had the food (which was more of a feast),  

.

 

                                           

we had the fireworks 

(which were spectacular),

... and we had didn’t have a bonfire 
 because they are not doing them as much trying to be safe... 
but we did have sparklers.

           The English love their tradition, and Guy Fawkes is definitely an English tradition

 that you don’t want to miss out on if you’re in England on November fifth. 

It is worth cramming into a park and watching the fireworks explode 

as you hear the hundreds little children ooo and awe at the colors. 

Even seeing a child get the chance to play with a sparkler for possibly the first time is great.  

But for you folks who don’t care what the kids think of this national holiday, 

you can always go for the food.

(Toffee Apple)

           At the event I went to the stands were almost like that of a carnival. 

But I personally enjoyed having a traditional English feast 

with parsnips, beetroots, potatoes, shoulder of lamb, carrots, 

and an apple crumble with cream for dessert. 

In my book nothing can top that English meal. 

But if you want some candy floss no doubt there will be a stand near by selling it.  

It is not a horrible way to spend celebrating a failed terrorist plot!

          If you wish to find out more about Guy Fawkes Day 

and all the fun things that go on 

please see the web address below. 

You can go from there to other links to read up on Guy Fawkes. Enjoy!

http://h2g2.com/dna/h2g2/A639452  

Hadrian's Wall

What is it about a wall that impresses people? Is it the craftsmanship of it? Or maybe the history behind the wall? Are we interested in the people that built it? I believe the answer to all these questions is "yes." Hadrian's Wall isn't just an impressive piece of historic architecture. This wall is a window into the past.

Hadrian's Wall was built by the Romans in AD 122. This wall served as a border between Scotland and England and was meant to keep out the barbarians of Scotland. Forts were erected every mile along the wall and housed several dozens of soldiers. These forts were fully equipped with bath houses, kitchens and latrines. The Romans innovative architecture becomes clear while observing these impressive forts. The latrines were specifically positioned on the bottom slope of the hill so those living in the village below were never without fresh fertilizer.

The latrines in one of the forts

Not only was this innovative workmanship, it actually stood the test of time quite impressively. This wall may not look like it did in its prime but it is definitely still standing which is pretty impressive if you ask me. Though over the years the wall was plundered and many stones were used for building materials, a majority of this wall is still in good condition and you are able to walk on parts of it.

http://www.contours.co.uk/walking-holidays/hadrians-wall-walk.php?gclid=CNDkvNCZqKwCFYEZ4QodPWUoAA

Inside the fort

The best way to enjoy this great piece of history is to take a guided tour of it. The tour guides are very knowledgeable and who doesn't like having history explained to them in a British accent? I would recommend taking a coach to this location and this is a useful website to show you how to acquire one. http://www.hadrians-wall.org/page.aspx//Journey/Getting-Here

I would strongly suggest wearing a nice heavy coat and some hiking boots because it gets really cold up there and it is quite a hike up to the wall. And if you are a fan of sheep then this is your lucky day because you will get up close and personal with some on your hike since they are the major inhabitants of this hill.

If you are looking for a nice place to warm up after your chilly hike up to the wall, the Milecastle Inn is a great place to grab some fish and chips and thaw off! I hope you are ready to experience one of the most important Roman-built monuments in Britain!

Rachel

A Little Town Called Ambleside

You're probably wondering where Ambleside even is, since I myself hadn't even heard of it until I actually went there. Well it's a quaint little town in the Lakes District in England. The town itself is really cute, but the surrounding mountains just add to the beauty! Now that I've been there, I would definitely consider this town one of my favorites I've been to on my journey through the UK. 

During our stay in Ambleside we went to The Apple Pie Bakery for breakfast both mornings, which I would highly recommend! 

http://applepieambleside.co.uk/

And the million dollar question---do they serve apple pie for breakfast? Well, the answer is yes, they do! And of course I had to try it out. And when I was asked whether I wanted ice cream or not, I almost instantly said yes (and didn't regret it). If i'm having apple pie for breakfast, might as well go all out and add ice cream too! 

Yes, Ambleside is a very intimate town where everyone probably knows everyone, but it has so many places to go and things to do just a short distance away, which was the main reason I liked this town so much! Usually I'm not a fan of really tiny towns, having grown up in Houston my entire life, but the relaxing atmosphere of this one instantly drew me in. Outdoor activities are definitely emphasized in this town. You'll find a recreational sporting goods store on nearly every corner, 16 to be exact, but it really is a great place to just enjoy the magnificent scenery and the literary and artistic heritage. Speaking of literary heritage, one of the nearby places we visited was Dove Cottage, also known as the home of the brilliant poet, William Wordsworth.

http://www.wordsworth.org.uk/

It was a very interesting tour and gave me a lot of insight into the life of William Wordsworth. Looking through his bedroom windows, it's easy to see how he was inspired to write such beautiful poetry!

In fact, I think I could be just as famous if I would have lived here with a view like this! Well, maybe...

After visiting so many small towns and loving them all, I've decided bigger is not always better (as commonly said in Texas). Small towns like Ambleside have so much character and so much natural beauty. It's refreshing to escape from the hustle and bustle of big cities, and besides, I've never seen a free baby being given away in Houston!

I hope you'll take some time out of your next vacation to England to spend a couple of days in Ambleside and exploring the nearby towns. Be sure and have some delicious apple pie for breakfast, and who knows, maybe you'll get lucky and get a free child!

-Kristi Keese

  

The Mighty Stonehenge

If you are a big fan of the mysterious then you will love Stonehenge! This monument is one of the biggest mysteries in England's history. Not only will you see some gorgeous English countryside when you visit this incredible landmark, but you will also experience a taste of the history that makes this country so renown.
http://www.stonehenge.co.uk/

 As you circle this grouping of stones brought to this location over 5,000 years ago, you experience a sense of awe for those who were able to set up this unbelievable monument. Of course the main questions you ask are "Who could have done this?", "What is the purpose of it?" and, most importantly, "How in the world did they set this thing up?!"

Well one of my favorite parts about this place is that most of these questions remain unanswered. We can only guess who the architects of this fantastic monument could be. There is a theory that it was used as a calendar which comes from the fact that the stones are designed to perfectly align with the winter and summer solstice. These stones were brought from a distance of at least 20 miles away so it is quite an amazing feat to have transported them without our modern-day tools.

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/stonehenge/history-and-research/research/

There are also many interesting myths describing the origins of Stonehenge. Famous characters such as Merlin, King Arthur and even the devil make appearances in these stories.

Stonehenge is about ten miles from the lovely town of Salisbury which is where the closest train station is to the monument. If you have any free time after visiting Stonehenge, Salisbury is a wonderful place to grab a bite to eat and tour this beautiful cathedral pictured above.

So if you love history, like me, and a great mystery that has evaded the greatest minds of our day then Stonehenge is well worth a visit! It's not one of the Seven Wonders of the World for nothing!

Rachel Walters

Oxford: the Pitt Rivers and Natural History Museum

Oxford... What first comes to mind when you hear that word? Probably a bunch of old smart people, right? So many famous authors, thinkers, and scientists have come from Oxford University that it may sometimes dwarf the bigger picture of the City of Oxford itself. What's the first thing that comes to mind after visiting Oxford, you say? Still old stuff, but mixed with lots of fun as well. No matter what your particular interests are, Oxford should have something right up your alley, whether it is food, architecture, science, or museums. While there are quite a few museums in the city center, two of them particularly grabbed my attention.

It's difficult to sort out the Pitt Rivers and the Museum of Natural History. Since you may only enter the Pitt Rivers by going through the Museum of Natural History, they're sort of like siamese twins. Here, the similarity ends.

Museum of Natural History
http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/

"Here be dragons!"

As you walk in, take a moment. Take in the experience. No, there aren't really dragons, but who cares about dragons, when there are dinosaurs?!? You can't miss the various skeletons scattered about. By all means, take a look at them, but I would recommend the insect and Lewis Carroll exhibits especially. Exploding in hues across the spectrum, butterflies dominate the insect scene. The Lewis Carroll exhibit was informative and funny, a great hit with children, I'd imagine.

Be sure and plan your journey in advance. It is a small museum, but it is very kid friendly and regularly provides special opportunities for the youngsters to engage the material. In particular, before visiting Oxford at all even, I would recommend that you read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland just to be prepared.

Pitt Rivers
http://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/

Coming from the Natural History building, you may think there is nothing that could possibly impress after that. One look around should convince you otherwise. At first, it looks like piles of old junk in a dimly lit room. Give it time, though, and you will see the order emerge. Pitt Rivers, the founder of this collection, saw historical artifacts in an evolutionary light. He liked to group things in progressions of technological or artistic advances. Although this was a popular view at the time, the Pitt Rivers Museum is the only museum which holds true to this old, now defunct, understanding of the world. To me, this makes the museum an artifact itself and adds to the charm. So, be prepared to step back in time and think like a 19th century modern man.

Interestingly enough, I can't think of a better way to approach this museum than with no approach at all. With its unique grouping of items, it sort of creates its own flow or narrative, even without the abundance of plaques found in other museums. Don't be afraid to ask questions. The staff are well versed in old-stuff-ology and would be more than happy to discuss the artifacts with you, or even tell you the best place for tea.

In summary, these museums are on the tip-top of my suggestions list for a most enjoyable day in Oxford. My visit was by train from London, which actually had fairly cheap fare. I spent from 7 AM till around 10 PM due to my slavery to the cheapest tickets, but spending a half day would be more than adequate to visit the museums and possibly grab some afternoon tea or pub grub for supper.  Either way, I guarantee you'll leave with a smile as big as this guy's:

Although, you'll be a little more alive looking, hopefully.

~Kaleb Lape