Photo Book

Enjoy some pictures from my trip!

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My Adventure Ends

This summer has been filled with adventure after adventure. Going to London was a dream I have had since I was a little girl. The added bonus of going to Paris was even better. I look back on the time as one of the greatest experiences in my life. I met some amazing people threw this trip and was lucky to also get to catch up with an old friend who moved to England. As a finale to my trip I came back to the states just in time to walk at graduation. I now have a Masters in Library and Information Studies. It is now time to start a new adventure by finding a career within the academic library field. I am hoping to find a position as a Instructional and/or Reference Librarian.

As for England, it was nice to spend 3 weeks there. I have left but I will go back. If you haven't been to London, then its time for you to start preparing a trip. I feel everyone should go to England and see the history that has influenced the world we live in.

I Graduate Saturday, August 6th!

I landed late last night in Atlanta, GA, just to wake up this morning and drive to Cordele then Tallahassee. I'm finally in Tallahassee and exhausted. My trip to London was wonderful and I can't wait to go back. I'll put one more final post up later this weekend.

Last Day in London! I'm sick. :-(

Today was going to be my favorite day. We were going to Buckingham Palace and I was super excited. I woke up feeling like my body was on fire, my throat had knives in it, and a stuffy nose; but I was going to persevere because I have been looking forward to seeing the Palace. The bug I caught has been going around the group and has been nicknamed the plague, so I will refer to it as such during this post.

As I entered Buckingham Palace my excitement grew. I was going to be standing in a place I had only seen in magazines and on television. It was no longer going to be this fantasy like world, the palace will be real and in front of me. I wanted to remember this with pictures in every room, but what happens NO PHOTOGRAPHY. That's okay, no pictures and I have the plague but this day was going to be amazing.

As I went through the rooms my mouth stood open in amazement by all the splendor that each room contained and because the plague kept me from breathing through my nose. I found some great decorating tips for my future home because gold inlay is always in fashion. I saw paintings galore and one that interested me of Queen Victoria that wasn't finished. Then came...the Fabergé Collection. The line was super long and people were taking their precious time, but oh was it worth it. To see all the details of the pieces, especially the eggs. Fabergé had actually made most of the pieces himself, which makes them even more special. You can explore the exhibition online by clicking Fabergé.

After the amazing jewels, I came to another show stopper...the Royal Wedding Dress worn by the Duchess of Cambridge Katherine Middleton, click on her name to see it for yourself. It was exquisite. I stared at all the little flower details on the lace, but the one thought I couldn't let go of was OMG she's thin! Then I went to the next room where I saw their wedding cake and yes the bottom tiers were the actually tiers from the wedding. They only ate the top 3 tiers, so they were remade and placed on top for display. I must say it kind of grosses me out to think of how old that cake is now and I didn't feel cold air coming off the case.

After Buckingham Palace the plague started to get worse, but before the day could end I won the award for Most Likely to Win in a Scone Bake Off! That would be me!!!! Then off to Boot's and sleep, luckily Crumpet made a new friend. I take off tomorrow morning for the states, but I leave with one major thought to tell you "I'M COMING BACK!"

Henry VIII & Hampton Court

Hampton Court is such a wonderful place to visit. I loved knowing I was walking along the same paths that Henry VIII and his wives walked. It's interesting being in a palace with such history. Every turn leads to new and exciting things to see. The ceilings alone are something to stop and get neck pain just to see.

Having to chance to see where history took place made me think. What if this palace were never built, would history have been the same. This is where Henry courted Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, and his other wives. Many of the places I have been on this trip make me think of the butterfly effect. If these buildings hadn't been there how different would the world be today.

Ok, I'm done with my philosophic thoughts. Now for a little lighthearted fun. The flowers are Hampton court are amazing. The smells just instantly make you want to relax. I wish I had brought a book and had time to lay in the garden and read. It would make such a wonderful afternoon. Here are a few of my favorite flowers for Hampton Court.



And keeping to the Henry VIII theme of the post today, I have created a Glog about the theories of Henry VIII's health and why he may have had only 1 surviving child with each wife.



You can also view the Glog at http://ceriggs.glogster.com/health-of-henry-viii/

Hi Hyde Park

Today we had a nice walk through Hyde Park and ended with Tea at the Orangery beside Kensington Palace. Hyde Park is a large park and we walked all over it. The ponds were huge and filled with geese, ducks, swans, etc. Now many of you may know that I don't like geese. I think they are evil and out to destroy us all...at least the American breeds. These animals were nice and allowed us to walk around with them without attempting to bite us with their beaks.

The Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Playground was built for children to play on, but its oh so fun for adults. We were able to go into the playground before the children got there in order to see the fun things that were placed in the area. The second some people saw a pirate ship they were off. Unfortunately my hurt ankle kept me from being one of the people to jump on board. Oh what fun we had.



Then off to rest our feet in the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain. This is one of the best places in Hyde Park. Children are laughing and running around in the water and adults are enjoying the sun and fresh air. I believe Princess Diana would have loved this fountain. I know my sore feet and ankle did. The cold water was so nice and this was the best comfort stop ever.

Pardonnez-moi. Excusez-moi. GET OUT OF MY WAY!

Paris is a big city and the tourist areas a packed full of more people than they can handle, which means people are in each others space. Over the weekend I went to Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, Musee d'Orsay, Saint Chapelle, and La Conciergere where not one of these places wasn't packed. People would run into you and not even say pardon. My favorite was when I would say "Pardonnez-moi" AND "Excusez-moi" and the person would just ignore me. I know very well that they heard me. I don't want to lead you astray and say that all of Paris is like this. Outside of the tourist area the people a polite and nice. Plus, most of the rude people probably were tourists anyway.

I can't talk about all the rude people without mentioning the one nice woman we meet in line for the tower at Notre Dame. She was Australian, but has lived outside of Paris for a number of years now. She gave us a list of the best places to go to and how to go at the right times. Her daughter was very jealous of our ice cream cones and begged her mom for one. When the grandmother came back with one the lady we met told us it was our fault for giving ourselves a little treat that her daughter wanted one. This little girl was covered in ice cream by the time we got into the tower.

The tourist areas of Paris are also patrolled by armed forces in cameo carrying large guns. The feeling in Paris isn't of safety with all the people pushing you around, but I did notice a safe feeling whenever these guys came around. The crowds back away from them and the kids trying to get you to sign clipboards run away. It really does thin out the crowds to have these guys patrol.

The worst part came when I was out of the crowds. I was in front of Saint Chapelle where an evil stone lay waiting to trip me. Not only did I fall, but I ate it! People came running over and all I could do was bite my lower lip making an F noise. Let's just say if I had tried to speak I would have cried like a 5 year old. All I could think was, don't cry in Paris. Oh the trouble I get myself into. I feel this may have been karma for complaining about the crowds.

EVIL STONE!!!!!

Welcome My Friends to Paris!

So Friday, July 29, 2011 I arrived in Paris, France. Having never been to Paris, I must say its amazing how nothing is free. Its common in European countries to have public toilets, but in Paris they cost about 70 € cents. Luckily I never had to pay for one.

Our first day there was jam packed with activities. It started at the Louvre where I Beth from Cordele, GA was able to stand directly in front of the Mona Lisa and I found it to be......smaller than I thought. It is a beautiful painting but not as big as I expected it to be. I guess with a painting being so hyped up my whole life I thought it would be larger and grander. But the Louvre did not disappoint. It is so massive and decorated from head to toe. I want to go back to Paris and finish seeing the whole thing, but that would take a few days.

The next item on our agenda was to take a bus ride through Paris and then stop at the Eiffel Tower. I sat on the top of the bus, which was freezing cold. Summer in Paris and I'm wearing a scarf and sweater. The bus trip was the best part because I felt like I had a touch of every important thing I wanted to see. If you end up going to Paris I suggest taking one of these, it is well worth it. However, the stop at the Eiffel Tower wasn't all that great. Here is where I was first stopped by a kid wanting me to sign a paper for homeless kids. It would be a great cause if only it were true. These are scams to get your money, so DON'T DO IT! The Eiffel Tower is more beautiful from a distance than up close. Then back on the bus to take us to a boat ride down the Seine River.

Again is was windy and cold just like the bus. However, when you are on the Seine in Paris who cares if its a little chilly. Dr. Everhart brought bottles on Peach Champagne for us to enjoy, which was so yummy. After seeing everything from the boat we docked at Notre Dame and enjoyed the outside of this gorgeous cathedral. Then off to dinner, where we had the best French entertainment you can find. The two men who performed for us were such characters. I loved when they made some of my classmates part of the show.

So basically my first day in Paris was this, a time I will never forget because it was filled with all the sites, laughter, and drinks anyone could ever need.