Long lost friends and playing catch-up

If you are wondering where the posts have gone, please do try to remember the "study" portion of "study abroad". It has gradually become that all-too-familiar portion of the quarter during which everything is due but nothing is done. Traveling every weekend certainly does not help matters, on the computer-related time-constraints issue. Wifi in Europe is not nearly as available as wifi in the States (except perhaps in London, where it's better!) and so this has become a problem. Finally, I have begun to take many photos on my phone rather than my camera; advantage: it takes them faster/better which means jittery hands don't ruin things; disadvantage: a LOT harder to get them onto the blog!

Less time + more pictures + harder to get pictures up = fewer pictures

That said, here are all my pictures from today, and a few random ones from England! You don't need pictures from yesterday. I just had classes and napped (after arriving late from my bus ride from Hell, that is).

Le Mur des Justes. Commemorates people who helped Jews escape the Nazis/hid them

With a friendly military man to guard the memorial, of course

Then a lovely lunch from Chez Hanna, enjoyed at Place Saint-Louis (the western tip of the island)

Musée D'Orsay happened. For class, we studied Degas, Renoir, and a dollop of Monet. Then, I met up with a friend whom I have not seen in years, but who is also studying in Paris, and we got café (me)/lunch (her). Afterwards, I rushed off for my stage to meet with the professor.

Outside the Issy campus, for my stage

Also outside that same window. It was a lovely late-afternoon.

After the stage, I rushed back home for dinner. A tasty beet and carrot salad was followed by the boudin-blanc I love so much (with olive oil, potatoes, and apples), and then some fromage frais de chèvre and then some fromage blanc à confiture for dessert.

Ever since, I have been studiously laboring away, but here are some England photos. Just an arbitrary selection, really.

Tree in Hyde Park, morning, the odd occasion of sunlight in London!

A perfect English breakfast: greasy, not so delicious, but gets the job done! There was no cheese and spinach omelet on the menu, but there were other things with spinach and there was a cheese omelet so I asked. How kind of them!

Big Ben, in real sunlight!

Westminster Abbey, morning

Parliament in the sun…now THIS is a unique picture.

This is London. There were more cranes than I have ever seen in my life.

We strolled around the National Gallery and found some old favorites

Saint Pancras in the late-afternoon sunlight was lovely. Just before King's Cross, of course, for the obligatory Platform 9 3/4 photos!

In Covent Garden, these musicians were dancing around playing. It was quite good.

My delicious sandwich on the way to Poole. Aubergine, tomato, sweet pepper, chèvre, balsamic glaze.

Hengistbury Head, Poole. When I climbed the hill, the wind nearly blew me off!

Still by the sea

Roads in England are just better

How to keep your children in check in England...

Hello, bird. It was extinct, but is coming back (from Siberia…) Such an admirable creature, the heaviest flying bird would be an excellent pet (if not for the remarkably sharp beak)

That is all. Perhaps later the rest of the many pictures I have will follow, but then again, maybe I will touch them up and sell them all on Etsy and make a killing, and use my profits to come back and take more pictures…in that case, I can't just be giving them away for free!

Tomorrow night in Amsterdam...