Westminster Abbey and Bath - Rachel Van Deventer

For the past week and a half I have been enjoying London and my management class. The course is interesting and we get to apply the concepts that we learn in class to the marketplace during afternoon site visits. Last weekend, we went to Westminster Abbey, the Churchill War Rooms, and to Bath, England. Westminster was very beautiful and historic. I was surprised to learn that Charles Darwin, Issac Newton, and Charles Dickens were all buried there. The war rooms were very interesting and taught me about how vital Churchill was to Britain during World War II. Sunday we went to Bath where we visited the Roman baths that are nearly 2000 years old. The baths still have warm water flowing into them from a natural hot spring. We also got to go to a fashion museum in Bath!

Overall, life is good and I am back into the school routine. I leave for Berlin and Prague Saturday morning though!

Spring Break - Jonathan Edwards

My Spring Break was absolutely amazing! Ten days of backpacking through the UK and Ireland with Ben. I had every single experience you can expect when traveling: new friends, staying in hostels, walking ALOT, getting lost, and experiencing more culture in a day than I have in my lifetime so far. I could easy write a 10 page essay on my break (which I did on my personal blog) but I want to focus here on some of my favorite scenic photos which everyone seems to enjoy.

Ben and I traveled through England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. We experience some of the most awful weather I have ever seen and it rained 8 out of 10 days. However, there was sunshine that popped out of the clouds every now and then and I was able to snap some wonderful photos.

Saint Andrews, Scotland is the birthplace of golf and brings a solid meaning to the phrase "God's Green Earth." I could have stayed there for days on the green grass or sandy beach. The views drew me in and the sea washed away all my thoughts leaving me in a state of pure bliss. The photos that follow may look fake but I promise they are 100% real and that I took them with a simple Samsung camera.

I know this blog post is short for a 10 day trip, and honestly I could write much much more, but I think these few photos of Scotland say more about my trip than I actually can. I had the chance to witness true natural beauty of a kind not often found anywhere else in the world, and I will never forget that.

10 days to never forget - Sarah Hudson

As I sit here still recovering from spring break, I am going to reminisce over the past 10 days of awesomeness.

Spring break was absolutely amazing. So much fun, so much sleep, so much no sleep, so much food, so much walking. And I loved every minute. My group was comprised of 7 people, and it was the perfect number! Not too many and not too few. We went to Venice, Rome, and Barcelona.

Venice was beautiful and quiet. It was a nice escape from the busy streets of London. It was my second time going, and although I liked it better the first time when we went in the summer, I still thoroughly enjoyed this time with my friends and lots of walking. We walked 13 miles one day and literally saw the entire island. We met some cool Columbians from our hostel and enjoyed seeing Lido (a water bus ride away from the main island) and having dessert day. Best decision of our lives. We found a great restaurant for our last night in Venice where we ate authentic Italian food and listened to the owner play the guitar and sing. He serenaded me; I loved it.

My group in Venice!

Next we hit up Rome which we didn't really like that much. It was pretty dirty and crowded, but we didn't regret it. It is just one of those places you have to go to. We saw all the traditional Roman stuff: the Forum, the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, and the Vatican. We also hopped on a few buses that may or may not have been free, but we made them free. We stayed pretty far away from the city center, but the hotel was really nice. Word to the wise: don't take a hotel's towel and leave the one you brought. They will charge you 20 euros. Been there done that. Anyway, we also saw what we think was a mafia mugging in broad daylight. It was terrifying, and we walked the opposite direction. We are smart people. Go GLS.

The girls in front of the Wedding Cake Building in Rome

Our last stop was Barcelona, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to travel internationally. We loved it so much. Mediterranean Youth Hostel for the win. Barcelona was so good to us. It was warm, sunny, beautiful, clean, and safe. We walked a lot in Barcelona too, but this was more of a stroll. We saw a castle and sat on the beach for about an hour. It was so peaceful and satisfying!

Last night in Barcelona and of spring break ):

Management started today, and we all already love it! It is so fun having Lane and his wife here in London. I can't wait to look at next year's GLSers spring break pictures and blogs. Then again, maybe I can wait. It will make me jealous and sad. That's why we are living it up now!

Until next time, cheers!

--Sarah

Amazing Spring Break - Rachel Van Deventer

Over the past 10 days I have been in 3 countries and 8 cities. I have learned so much about different cultures and languages.

My trip began in Madrid, Spain. I have been feeling ill and unfortunately flying only made it worse so, I arrived in Madrid in misery. After finding our hostel and grabbing a needed siesta, I felt better. Piper, Sammie, and I decided to explore some of Madrid and wander the streets before dinner. We found beautiful gardens and monuments. For dinner, we participated in the hostel's all you can eat tapas at a local restaurant. The restaurant wasn't classy but oh my, the tapas were delicious. We met several people from Australia, Italy, Canada, and India. Saturday was my friend's (Sammie) birthday. We began the day with a long walking tour throughout central Madrid in order to learn more about the city. After three hours of walking we needed our siesta! We went to the Rena Sofia museum that houses famous Picasso and Dali paintings afterwards. For dinner, we opted for a very nice restaurant and delectable tapas with salmon and steak. To finish off the night, we did a pub crawl with our hostel. We stayed out until 5:30 A.M. dancing and meeting new friends. Sunday was rainy but we still made sure to do some exploring and saw a vertical garden and the only public statue of Lucifer in all of Europe.Early the next morning we were off to Italy!

Monday we flew to Bologna, Italy and were surprised that we did not have to go through customs at all. We took a bus through the city and arrived at our hostel too early to check in. We found a cheap cafe and enjoyed several cups of coffee and pastries. We stumbled upon a museum that is currently housing "The girl with the Pearl Earring". Because Bologna is somewhat small, it was amazing to be able to stare at this famous painting with only a few other people in the room. Afterwards, we enjoyed a much needed nap. Our hostel was very nice and the bathroom was extremely modern. I took advantage of that by taking a long bath! For dinner, we found a very modern and odd restaurant. The deal was that each course is a surprise....and it was AMAZING! We loved the food and the restaurant owner even gave each of us a ceramic bowl! The next day we did a little shopping and prepared to move on to the next city.

Tuesday we took a train to Florence. We accidentally got into the First Class car and were kicked out into the super economy area by the conductor. Our hostel in Florence was built in 1100 and it was pretty cool. On Wednesday we joined a tour that took us all throughout Tuscany. I went to San Gimignano, Chianti, and Siena. The countryside was beautiful and breath taking. It was so nice to get out of the big cities and the crowds. Plus, it was sunny and warm! We explored the small cities and their monuments. In Chianti we had a delicious lunch! The day was a great success and well worth our money! Thursday morning we climbed to the top of the Duomo and could see all of Florence! The hike to the top was quite painful and there was a lot of sweating! Immediately afterwards, we climbed an adjacent bell tower. The 2nd climb was much more painful and I barely made it to the top (and when I did, i looked like a wet rat). After the exertion was over, we ate some well earned gelato and headed to the train station for our next adventure!

Thursday afternoon we hopped on a train to Rome! Our hostel was nice and was located just 5 minutes(walking) from the Colosseum. We went grocery shopping and cooked our own dinner. Friday, Valentine's Day, we went to the Vatican Museum. The museum was very busy but the art was beautiful. We saw the Sistine Chapel and it was absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, the room was full of tourists and there were loud speakers drilled into the wall in order for the staff to tell us to not take photos and to be silent. Next, we walked to the Trevi Fountain and to The Spanish Steps. We saw a marriage proposal at the Trevi Fountain and I made sure to throw a coin into the fountain and make a wish! The fountain was very busy but it was an amazing monument! We walked to the Spanish Steps and were bombarded with men selling flowers. We barely escaped! Sammie haggled with a man to buy a beautiful painting of Tuscany and then we went back to the hostel. Saturday we explored around the Colosseum and went shopping! I bought a small leather purse, some beautiful black leather boots (the boots I was wearing were literally falling apart- the sole was no longer attached to the boot), and I bought a painting of Tuscany. Saturday night we splurged on dinner. Extremely early Sunday morning we were on our way back to London.

Overall, this was the best 10 days of my life. I had an amazing time with my friends and I cannot wait to travel more. I love Europe and have learned so much!

Grazie, Gracias, Thank you... Spring Break !- Wayne Taylor

These past 10 days have been the best time of my life! Venice, Rome, and Barcelona all had different vibes, but the feelings of excitement and amazement were the same in all cities.

Venice was the first stop of the trip. As you as you enter the city, you immediately understand the meaning of a beautiful decay. The houses were vintage Italian architecture with chipped paint, but they radiated with feelings of hard work, calmness, and cool creepiness . Every where you turned, you saw alleys with hand crafted wooden doors and water passages with simple boats. The twisted pathways had pastry shops, boutiques, and gelato. The best thing about Venice is the serenity.
                                
The sites of Rome were worth the trip. I saw everything that I learned throughout school. The Colosseum, Trevi Foutain, the place that Julius Caesar was murdered, were few of the sites that really put a picture to the places that I have heard or studied for most of my life. However, the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City was the highlight of the Roman sites. The Creation of Adam was more than I imagined. It is a true representation of talent (Side note: I tripped inside the Chapel... only I would do that).

                             
My favorite place was Barcelona, Spain. The weather was above 60 degrees during the day the whole time I was there. The coast was amazing. The people have the most relaxed and easy going people. My group walked all around the city, not just to view a particular site, but to also enjoy the city. The food in Barcelona did not disappoint. Paella (Spanish rice with seafood) had fresh ingredients, the fruit was fresh, and the market was filled with food from all around the globe. Also, I ate an orange in a castle on the top of a hill in Barcelona. The beach was a scene out of a postcard. People were playing volleyball, dogs were running around, white sailboats were on the horizon, and I was laying down listening to music with my friends. It was the best ending to a great vacation.
                       
                        

This trip was a journey that  I can never forget. I'm so blessed and fortunate to be able to study abroad and travel. I would have never imagined that I could be anything close to a world traveler. The scholarship applications, the long studying hours, and leaping with faith into challenges definitely is worth the experience that I am currently having. Grazie, Gracias, Thank you to all who have supported me in this journey, GLS, and future opportunities.

Spring Break! -- Piper Davis

These past few days have been SO busy. London is definitely "home" now. I had an awesome time traveling with Sammie and Rachel. There were so many awesome moments of our trip and a few not-so-great (but those ended up being the most memorable).

Madrid was our first stop, and we met two of the coolest girls in our hostel. We ended up hanging out with the both of them for the rest of our stay in Madrid. We had to wake up super early Monday morning and fly to Bologna. I got to test out my Italian there (I probably need to improve on that..). We found this awesome cafe close to our hotel, so we ate there a couple of times. The next day we took a train to Florence. We accidentally sat in first class (in our defense, the man said that car was okay), and then we had to walk down about four cars. Definitely embarrassing, but super funny.

Florence was beautiful! The weather was fantastic the whole time we were there. We took a tour of Tuscany (Italian countryside) the first day and then climbed the Duomo and the bell tower the next day. My favorite day was the visit to Tuscany. We went to four different areas; San Gimignano was the best. The views were breathtaking.

Our last stop was Rome. I hate to say it, but Rome was probably my least favorite city. It had the most monuments, but it was very crowded. It was about 60 degrees with the sun shining, so that was a definite contrast to Knoxville weather (I think it snowed a few inches there). There were so many shops, so of course I ended up buying a leather purse. I got a 10 euro discount because I paid with cash! We ended our trip by eating at a nice restaurant. We had to wake up at 3:00 this morning to fly back to London. Finding the bus to get to the airport was difficult--at one point we were running through the streets with all of our luggage. Thankfully, we made it on time. We were so happy to be back to a country where the people speak English. Overall, the trip was fantastic. I am exhausted though.

Well, management starts tomorrow. Life is so hard.

Tuscany

Easily the BEST Week of My Life- Liz Cao

The past 10 days have been a whirlwind. After our last stats test about 10 days ago, I packed up my backpack and set off for Venice, Rome, and Barcelona with 6 of my friends. We woke up at 3 in the morning to go to Stansted Airport and arrived in Venice a bit tired, but eager to start our vacation.

Venice is a beautiful and quaint city. We stayed in a hostel that was converted from an old university that was built in the 1400's. We walked every foot of those little islands connected by canals and my feet were about to fall off. My favorite part was walking on the Academia Bridge, where I saw hundreds if not thousands of golden locks that had couples' names on them and dates. "Locks of Love" were what I called them.

Locks on the Academia Bridge

Canal in Venice

Our next stop was Rome. There was so much to see there that we couldn't do it all, but we visited that major attractions like the Colosseum and the Vatican. I'm not going to lie. While Rome had its very pretty parts of the city and the ruins were beautiful, many parts of Rome surprised me with its dirtiness and graffiti. (Although it probably didn't help that our hostel was about a 30-40 minute walk to everything and was definitely not in a good part of town!)

Trevi Fountain in Rome

Our last city was my absolute favorite, BARCELONA! I already know that I will be going back one day. The city is pretty, the weather was sublime, and the people are so nice. Everything about it was great, including the cheaper prices on food and attractions and our fun and clean "youth" hostel. I tried paella for the first time in Barcelona and I can't wait to try and make it myself. Paella is a Spanish seafood and rice dish that is DELICIOUS.

Park Guell in Barcelona

The past 10 days have been the best of my life and I can't wait until mini break!!

Standing in the Middle of the World: Tom Zyer

London has been so amazing thus far! One of my favorite things we've done thus far was our trip to Greenwich on Tuesday afternoon. I'm kind of a geek when it comes to historical things, and seeing the prime meridian was no exception. It was so cool to stand where everyone else bases themselves off of, and to be able to stand in both hemispheres at the same time! While I was pretty excited about this going into our trip, one thing I wasn't expecting was the amazing view from the Royal Observatory. It was seemed as if it the lone hill in all of London, and we could look out onto the entire city. Naturally, all of the guys decided to take a jumping picture, and we even talked Dr. Mee into taking it with us! Even though it's a little blurry, it is by far my favorite picture of my time in London so far!

Brighton Beach - Jonathan Edwards

Last weekend I looked out towards France across breaking waves on the English Chanel and enjoyed the grandeur of the natural world. I left London Saturday morning with 11 of the others and we headed for the Brighton coast. Brighton is on the south-east coast of the U.K. directly across the Chanel from France. This was my first chance to leave London and experience some other areas of the U.K. including the green, rolling hills of the countryside.

We arrived in Brighton by train around 11am and went to a nice pub for lunch with great food. After filling up, we proceeded to check into our hostel. The hostel was a bit far from the pier and other things but it was nice. We had 12 people but booked a room for 16, therefore we had a few random people to share a room with but they didn't bother us. After getting settled in we headed out for the evening.

It was extremely windy which made it super cold. The wind was so strong it would almost blow you sideways, but we continued and finally made it to the pier area. We walked along the beach for a while and had a quick photo shoot before dipping into some local shops and another pub for dinner. We discovered not only did the pub have great  food but also board games! We enjoyed a few games of Connect 4 before moving on. Walking around Brighton we found an amazing venue with great music and decided to check it out. It was just us and a few others at first, but soon it erupted and people were lined up outside just to get in. We danced, and danced, and then danced some more until finally we grew tired and hungry again. On our way back the hostel (it is now about 1 am) we stopped at one of the only places open to eat. I ordered the fish and chips, little did I know this fish was going to be gigantic. They brought me a plate with a small whale on it and about 2 pounds of fries, and it tasted amazing.

Getting around a new city is always hard, but when you try to do it at about 2 am it is really hard. After walking though some rough looking areas, we found a cab and went back to the hostel glad we didn't have to walk back the whole way.

The next morning started off with a free but terrible breakfast in the hostel before checkout. We walked outside expecting more wind but it was such a beautiful day. We headed directly for the beach where we used out backpacks for pillows and just sat there watching and listening to the ocean. I sat there for about half an hour just enjoying the beauty and feeling completely carefree. We headed to the pier to look at the food, rides, and more ocean views. We took a lap around the pier and headed to the train station around 1 pm. All in all, the trip was fantastic! At times it was windy, cold, and rainy but the good far outweighs the bad. Only one more day of statistics class and then I head out across the U.K. and Ireland for my spring break. Stay tuned

                                                                Me on the beach!