My Trip to London, Spring 2019!

I was warned about the local Parisians before I took the trip to Paris.  People told me things like, "they can speak English but hate talking to people in their non-native language," and "tourists are looked down upon in general."  I didn't really understand why people would treat visitors to their country in a cold way until I experienced the teeming, massive, overpowering throng of sightseers firsthand. (It was most intense in the Louvre and other museums- outside wasn't so bad.) Paris is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for a lot of people, so it's easy to not grasp exactly how many people get to be in Paris at one point in time.  Not only the locals, but visitors from Europe and all over the world.    We talked a lot about what it meant to be a tourist in our classes.  How can we experience this trip "authentically," and what does "authentic" even mean when so much of what we do and see is catered to a kind of packaged tourism?  Paris is...

Miles and miles of trees and grasslands, seemingly uninhabited except for the roving animals; Wind whipping across fields of flowers and clear, fresh skies.   A picturesque, seemingly endless display of the vast countryside, grandiose ruins, and the secluded quiet gardens paint an almost fantastic portrait of the beauty offered by nature.   Suddenly, a cloud of darkness and lighting erupts from a castle in the distance, a demon broken free from years of confinement in its prison.   Its minions rush forward to overtake the peaceful land, destroying everything in their path…             What? That didn’t happen, you say?   Ok, I admit it.   This is the plotline from one of the most critically acclaimed video games of all time, The Legend of Zelda, Breath of the Wild.   But if you ask me, the game and Wales have a ton in common.   Several settings from the game were probably inspired by several di...

Saturday, May 4 - Let's just say I ended up regretting the sandals. The day started off nicely enough, with shining skies and a nice jog in Kensington and Hyde Park with one of my friends (also named Taylor.)  There were so many dogs everywhere!!! I felt as if I were wandering through a fairy-tale garden, exploring the auxiliary paths with their twists and turns, observing puppies romp and play freely in the lush grass and wildflowers scattered among the trees.  It was great to be able to push myself physically and enjoy the beauty of nature simultaneously. After this, I went back to the center and changed out of my workout clothes. Unfortunately, my wardrobe choice would come back to haunt me later. I met up with a group that left to get fish and chips at Bailey's.  As usual, it involved quite a lot of walking, but the chips with vinegar and salt and the huge deep-fried cod was worth it.  We made our way to the West Ham game after that.  On the tube, there...