Well, not a lot has changed over the past several days; I'm still making plans that are subject to change. Faffing about, as they say (I guess "Faff" means to be indecisive, so there you go). So much to see and so little time. I think I'm alright though, and have decided that I really must make some solid plans here (solid not synonymous with completely inflexible) so that I can get the most out of my time there.
My current decision is between finding a bed and breakfast in London and taking day trips out, as my professor suggested, or actually traveling to each place (at this point all in the Southern UK) and staying in a hostel at each town. Benefits to both, I'm sure.
Currently, my overall plan looks like this:
July 9: Depart for England
July 10: Arrive at Heathrow; Travel to Cambridge by coach
July 11-15: Classes
July 16: Cambridge Excursion to London and The Globe (Tempest)
July 17: Cambridge Excursion to Bodiam and Leeds Castle
July 18-19: Classes
July 20: Free Day (Travel somewhere -- East to an ocean town?)
July 21-22: Classes
July 23: Cambridge Excursion to Stratford-upon-Avon (Comedy of Errors)
July 24: Skip Excursions, Travel somewhere (Canterbury?)
July 25-29: Classes (official end time is 3:30 pm)
July 29-31: London
July 31-1: Oxford
Aug 1-2: Bath (Jane Austen!)
Aug 2-3: Salisbury (Stonehenge!)
Aug 3-4: _______________ (visit Dr. McDermott in Dartmoor?)
Aug 4-5: Back to London
Aug 5: Depart for home in early afternoon (arrive home 3:30 pm MI time)
All of these (outside of Cambridge planned excursions, which are also by coach) I've been planning with coach transportation and hostels for accommodation in each town.
Oh, and there's a slight possiblity I'll replace the first couple of days of my plan with a flight over to Dublin... in which case I would also try to adjust so I could spend more time in London at the end of my stay.
Whew. More later...
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Monday, June 06, 2005
Blimey, it's official!
Well, I guess I'm really going, since I just spent about 1,000 non-refundable dollars on an airline ticket with British Airways. Yikes!
I am at this moment sitting at "The Wings Station" on Lewis and Sterns, enjoying a greek salad and the nearness of my love, who works just a few doors down. Sappy, I know. Look out, the greek is coming back up... ha. Just kidding, of course. Anyway... you may say to yourself "ooh, the Wings Station is classy and technologically advanced, eh? Providing Wireless?" No. I have my cell. But it is very... well, anyway.It's Marcos Pizza "appreciation week" so they're selling their large pizzas for 5.50 (you call that appreciation? I call it trying to slide in and get a slice of the Little Ceasars action...get it, slice?). So... I picked one up for dinner. And I eat the salad in an effort to keep myself from simply chowing down on the entire order of cheezy bread, which I love and haven't had in ages and ages. That must be saved. I think my next trip in this progressive meal will be that new cafe that appears to have wireless right down Lewis here... Looks exciting.
So back to UK business. I purchased my ticket. I also took in my passport application and paid for it. Woohoo. Within two weeks. I wasn't going to pay ANOTHER $30 to get it in one week... sheesh....
I am at this moment sitting at "The Wings Station" on Lewis and Sterns, enjoying a greek salad and the nearness of my love, who works just a few doors down. Sappy, I know. Look out, the greek is coming back up... ha. Just kidding, of course. Anyway... you may say to yourself "ooh, the Wings Station is classy and technologically advanced, eh? Providing Wireless?" No. I have my cell. But it is very... well, anyway.It's Marcos Pizza "appreciation week" so they're selling their large pizzas for 5.50 (you call that appreciation? I call it trying to slide in and get a slice of the Little Ceasars action...get it, slice?). So... I picked one up for dinner. And I eat the salad in an effort to keep myself from simply chowing down on the entire order of cheezy bread, which I love and haven't had in ages and ages. That must be saved. I think my next trip in this progressive meal will be that new cafe that appears to have wireless right down Lewis here... Looks exciting.
So back to UK business. I purchased my ticket. I also took in my passport application and paid for it. Woohoo. Within two weeks. I wasn't going to pay ANOTHER $30 to get it in one week... sheesh....
Friday, June 03, 2005
UK Planning is Making Me "Barmy"
After much "hard" work with html and templates, returning a couple of times to this template which I kept giving up on, I have succeeded in acheiving the UK Blog "look" I want while not sacrificing any cool features (such as the archives/recent posts listings -- which does not come stocked in every template). Exciting. Anyway...
Plans for the trip are going swimmingly. Sort of. My loan stuff from school is pretty much all taken care of. I just need to wait for the money to be transferred to school and for school to send me a refund check. I can't believe I'm spending $1000+ on a ride to a different country. I have decided to go with British Airways. They were recommended by a friend and, more importantly, have little personal movie screens behind each seat. They'd better work.
oh, and I have $1000 limit per day on my checking credit card, and $1000 limit on my real credit card, so I am having to find some other way to pay for my currently 1018.30 ticket. Nice. If nothing else I will have to wait until Monday, transfer money to Jeffrey's and my joint account and Republic Bank, and get my ticket from there -- because the checking card per day limit is $1500. Either that or find a travel agent or drive up to Detroit. I wouldn't mind driving to Detroit to "check out" where I'll be "checking in."
I waited too long to get my passport and so now I need to get it expidited. Since doing this takes only three days, I have been continuing to wait to get it done. Mostly for lack of opportunity to have a nice passport photo taken. I think tomorrow or, at latest, Monday, I will turn in the app and "take the oath" saying I have no ill will towards this country.
Plans for the trip are going swimmingly. Sort of. My loan stuff from school is pretty much all taken care of. I just need to wait for the money to be transferred to school and for school to send me a refund check. I can't believe I'm spending $1000+ on a ride to a different country. I have decided to go with British Airways. They were recommended by a friend and, more importantly, have little personal movie screens behind each seat. They'd better work.
oh, and I have $1000 limit per day on my checking credit card, and $1000 limit on my real credit card, so I am having to find some other way to pay for my currently 1018.30 ticket. Nice. If nothing else I will have to wait until Monday, transfer money to Jeffrey's and my joint account and Republic Bank, and get my ticket from there -- because the checking card per day limit is $1500. Either that or find a travel agent or drive up to Detroit. I wouldn't mind driving to Detroit to "check out" where I'll be "checking in."
I waited too long to get my passport and so now I need to get it expidited. Since doing this takes only three days, I have been continuing to wait to get it done. Mostly for lack of opportunity to have a nice passport photo taken. I think tomorrow or, at latest, Monday, I will turn in the app and "take the oath" saying I have no ill will towards this country.
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