Warwick Castle and Stratford-apon-Avon

Today, I got up super early to catch a bus to Warwick Castle and Stratford-upon-Avon. (Stratford is the town, Avon is the river). It took about 2 hours to get to Warwick, and the very expensive entrance fee was paid by Butler. (Thank you Butler!) We got to explore, including the dungeon, which was kinda disapointing because the real dungeon was under this grate which was on top of a ditch where the prisoners were actually held. I would not like to be in that situation. Then Kathy and I explored the inside, including the chapel and royal chambers. There was even a wax figure of the queen you could get your picture with, of course for a fee. Then we started to climb the 600 steps around the castle wall. My god. It was amazing tho. We made it through all the spiral staircases which were very tiny. I kept saying, "you can do this, Maya temples are way worse." Its true. Spiral staircases with railings beat crumbling, tiny steps straight up a Maya pyramid. Then I bought my arial view postcard, at each castle/cathedral I seem to buy an ariel view postcard, since it is the only view I cant seem to get with my camera, and its a cool souvenir. We got on the bus (Kathy and I were on the wrong Butler bus for a second. No big deal except we screwed up the roll call for a second.). We then went to Stratford and explored the birthtown of Shakespeare. I didnt get to meet him tho (sorry mom no impersonators.) There was one guy pretending to be a statue and then jumping at people and freaking them out. WE didnt go into the house he was born at because once again it cost a fortune but you cant take pictures in there anyway and we got to see the outside. I did pay 50 pence to see his grave tho. It was pretty awesome. We walked the river, saw the royal shakespeare theatre and the swan theatre. Not alot more to do there but take pictures of old houses and walk the river, which was great and perfect for the two hours we had there. Then back onto the bus for the ride home. (I got our fantastic 3 pound pizza, which was the best deal in town, except now (gasp) they raised the price to 3.50! Everyone is upset which is kinda funny.) Pics to follow:

Earthquake! (and fire alarm)

Last night there was an earthquake!! I barely felt it but my bed definitely moved... just a tad... like if Caitlyn (my big fat cat) had jumped on the bed.... I kinda thought maybe there was a big rat or something. I really thought the bed might be breaking and I got up and kicked it for a second. Then I thought I had imagined it. Then at 330am there was a fire alarm... which I almost fell back asleep and it woke me up again.... When we were outside I heard someone say something about the earthquake and I knew I wasn't crazy!

Trip plans

So Amy and I spent like 3 hours yesterday making our Italy and Greece plans. Its so complicated, but we did it. By the end we were hysterical. So, we fly to Venice on March 22, stay 3 nights, train to Florence on the 25th, stay 2 nights in Florence, train to Pisa for one night, then train to Rome for three nights there. Then on March 31 we train to Bari and then ferry to Patras, Greece. On April 2 (happy bday dad) we travel to Athens by train and stay in Athens for three nights. We then take a ferry to Crete for beach fantastic times until we fly back to London on the 7th. Wow. We have all the traveling booked (hopefully). All for 530 dollars. Not bad. Now we have to book the hostels. One issue with the trains is that the Eurorail is primarily for non Europeans (basically Americans) and we were supposed to buy the train tickets while still in America, because they only ship to an American address. So we shipped them to Amy's mom's house and shes gonna send them here (hopefully thats no issues with that). Hostel search now! I am so excited! This trip is just over two weeks long, which is soooo much, but it will be awesome! yay!! and Marcey may meet us in Venice which would be awesome!

So anyway, nothing happening here, writing essays. Almost done with essay number 2. I keep procrastinating. Painted my nails, almost did my laundry (elevator is out of service and i am not dragging my laundry up 5 flights although i did that sophomore year). and I watched some movies. But its getting done.... this is why I allot more days for each essay then i should need. and this isn't due until the 19th anyway. no worries. I have to start the next on tomorrow.

Stuff coming up this weekend! I am going to Stratford on Avon and Warwick Castle on Saturday with the Butler program. I can't wait. I also booked my Stonehenge trip for the 9th!

I should do some more writing before dinner, but i didnt get lunch today (im saving money) and i am starving! the hunger is distracting....besides the world and the internet. But i actually unplug the internet so that I can get work done. It works pretty well!

back to work!

CORNELL HERE I COME!

"Dear Aviva,

This is to let you know that I have processed your application and
contacted Prof. Golden. You will be accepted into the 2008 Field Class
in Iroquois Archaeology as soon as I receive the $50 application check.

I look forward to working with you this summer! Please let me know if
you have any questions, or need any additional information.

---K.J."

If you are curious:

http://www.archaeological.org/webinfo.php?page=10037&entrynumber=883

http://www.sce.cornell.edu/ss/courses/on/special/iroquois.php

http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/June07/fieldArch.da.html

Reslife is ruining lives

So they gave out housing lottery numbers and it is my year for the bad. Last year i basically won the lottery so this is my year for a horrible one. yep 1942.. fabulous. zacks, alix also have bad numbers, jamie (boy) has a bad number, but jamie (girl) maybe has an ok number 15somethingsomething. marcy also has a sucky number. ickick... hopefully emily p-o has a better one. but i think we could get a grad with jamie (girl)'s number maybe. ahhhhh....

Marcy visited!

So my mom asked me if I was too busy to post this week, but really its just because nothing interesting has happened. I wrote a paper and am in the process of writing 4 more (in the next 3 weeks). I hope I can pull it off. Well, I have no choice.

Brandeis approved my Cornell Iroquois dig which is awesome and I sent my app into Cornell and they are waiting to for the check and for my reference before they accept me. funny bit from the email:

"It was funny to read that you are staying at Ramsay Hall at UCL -- I
spent the spring semester of my junior year at UCL as well (although not
as an archaeologist!) and I stayed in Ramsay Hall myself. I think my
room number may have been 382, which may have been completely
obliterated by remodeling! Anyway it, was odd to see the 20 Maple
Street address. I had a very good time in London, and I hope that you
do as well."

So funny!

Anyway, I met up with Marcy in London yesterday. She and a friend came in to see the city from Geneva. I hung out with them for the afternoon. Erin, Marcy and I split a box of 18 cookies... so good (we couldnt finish the last 5). And then they came to karaoke at the union which was a blast. I'm meeting Marcy for brunch is a few minutes. She was supposed to continue traveling but she is heading back to Geneva early to get some down time.

Then at 3 this morning we had a fabulous fire alarm.... yep 3 in the morning. It was horrible.