London and Wales!!!

Since I last updated, our seminars have ended and our tutorials have begun. We are beginning the third week of the Oxford term (there are 8, but we will be here one additional week). So far so good. Joseph and I both like the tutorial we have together (Chaucer), although it is rather difficult. It is at Trinity College- I hope to put pictures of it up tomorrow. I am enjoying Spanish. We are doing a mixture of language and literature. So far I've read two Garcia Lorca plays: La casa de Bernarda Alba and Bodas de sangre. Spanish is at Christ Church College (snooty) which is really beautiful and boasts the only cathedral in Oxford. Cardinal Wolsey founded Christ Church in the 16th century. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement was a student here:

So far, I have written eight papers (in five weeks) and have at least eight more to go. Joseph and I also decided not to go to the Keble Ball. It was just too much money. So... we traveled! Last Saturday, we took a day trip to London. We saw Buckingham Palace, Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Hard Rock, Hyde Park, and HARRODS!!! Here are some pictures:

Lucky for us, London is only about an hour away by train or two hours by bus. In the next couple weekends we hope to go back and see the Tower, London Bridge, Piccadilly Circus etc.

This weekend we went to Wales with some friends. Tenby, which is on the west coast of Wales is about 5 hours by train. This was my first time on a train and it was AWESOME. Very easy to travel, cheap (thanks to our Britrail Pass) and really relaxing. I highly recommend it. Tenby was absolutely gorgeous. It's one of the oldest resort towns in Wales and has one of the nicest beaches in the UK. Oddly, people there must be very hot natured. We saw people in shorts and tank tops when I was cold in a jacket and jeans. Here are some pictures (note the tidal extremes):

Wales is a very interesting place. Welsh, a Gaelic language, is still spoken. There is a dragon on their flag which represents Uther Pendragon, King Arthur's father. Wales also boast more castles than anywhere in the UK. I would definitely go back!