Weekend, Interrupted

My weekend of fun adventurous outdoorsy things has been rudely interrupted by classes and I am not pleased. Although I'm actually really enjoying all of my courses, I'm not really enjoying the fact that I have to actually get up and walk to them. I miss being at Duke where I can wake up, get dressed, grab a quick bagel and coffee on the way to class, and not have to walk more than 5 minutes everywhere. Here I have to wake up (after pressing snooze an impressive 12 times over the course of an hour), go to the kitchen, find our cleaning staff in our kitchen and bathroom (not visibly cleaning anything, just talking), retreat back to my room, not really do anything productive, wait until they leave, go back to the kitchen, eat, get dressed, go outside and realize it's raining, go back, get my umbrella, go back outside again, realize it's not raining anymore, and THEN walk 15 minutes or so to class. It's quite a process.

Despite my course material being incredibly interesting, I literally got 4 pages into my book this evening before I fell asleep. Maybe jet lag is just hitting me now? An hour nap seems to have made the world right again, however, and instead of reading I am writing this entry. Procrastination is a sign of normalcy.

Anyway, this past weekend was my flat's trip to Lindisfarne and Berwick-upon-Tweed, which are both in northern England. We went with the International Student Centre, which organizes (organises) trips every weekend during the semester. Lindisfarne was kind of dreary and cold and windy so when we passed a little house advertising tea/coffee (and crab sandwiches) for sale, we of course stopped. I got some tea and normally I don't have milk/sugar in my tea (or coffee), but this elderly Englishwoman asked "milk and sugar, dear?" and of course I couldn't say no to someone who asked me that question in an English accent. The walk to the castle was also made better because we passed sheep on the way. The castle itself was a little odd because it had been renovated into a vacation home (think medieval on the outside, early 20th century on the inside), but it was cool by virtue of the fact that it was a castle on a hill in the middle of nowhere on an island you can only access when the tide permits.

The highlights of Lindisfarne (aka Holy Island) also included a short trip to Lindisfarne Priory, samples of mead and cream liqueur, buying a bottle of mead (slightly sweet for my taste, but good for the right occasion), and buying a jar of homemade strawberry jam. Here are some pictures from Holy Island:

Lindisfarne Castle

Standing in the ruins of the Priory

There were signs posted everywhere saying to turn around if any water covered the road. Our bus driver sped up.

Next up on our trip was Berwick-upon-Tweed, the northernmost city in England. Walls were built around it to keep the Scots out way back when (although, it should be noted that these walls could not keep these Americans out since naturally one of the first things we did was climb them).

Part of the wall

Overlooking a golf course/ocean (this one's for you, Dad)

View from the shore... and yes, those are swans!

Sunday found me exploring Holyrood Park, but that deserves its own entry so perhaps later in the week when I find myself avoiding work (tomorrow), I'll post that recap with pictures. For now I should get back to my reading and rest up for my inevitably stressful morning of trying to get ready for class... which I don't have until 3pm tomorrow.

As a sidenote, if I could have just one wish in the entire world right now it would be that my laundry magically does itself. I've been outside (yes, outside) twice today to check if a washing machine is free and they never are (there are only 3 to my entire building). I desperately need to do laundry and am having trouble finding time to do it, what with all my exploring and napping.

Okay, back to reading...