Lancaster Revision Tour, Potluck Dinner, and Trip to Liverpool!

Hey everyone!

So this will be my last post for a while as I am planning to travel around Europe with some friends starting on Friday! Which means I won't have as much access to wifi, but I promise to post a great deal about my experiences once I return from the two week trip! We are planning on traveling to Edinburgh (visiting Nikki and Katie!), Manchester, Barcelona, Nice, Milan (seeing Merritt!), Venice, and lastly, Vienna! I am so excited however the thought of trying to effectively pack is beginning to seem like its going to be a problem...

Anyway, I thought I would give a brief recap of this week so far!

On Monday, Sept 8th, our group had a revision tour around Lancaster to help us prepare for our upcoming exam on Friday (jokes). It was really interesting as we explored different parts of Lancaster that I had not seen before and we learned about Lancaster's role in the Industrial Revolution as well as World War I.

That evening, our ISP group had a delicious potluck dinner in which everyone brought something to contribute and we all celebrated the (almost) completion of our program (sad to think about!). I brought the sautéed veggies with my friend Sarah. The meal consisted of two types of chili, baked pasta, pasta with pesto, new potatoes, mashed potatoes, potatoes mixed with cheese, our sautéed vegetables, pizza, nachos and chips, 3 different types of cookies, a marzipan cake, brownies, and strawberry short cake!! Obviously, I was in a deep food coma afterwards.

After recovering from the food, on Wednesday, Sept. 10th, our group travelled to Liverpool to explore the museum and the city's history. While I had visited Liverpool for the International Beatleweek almost three weeks ago (WHAT?! 3 weeks already!), it was nice to learn more about the City of Liverpool. Our day began exploring the Museum of Liverpool and then some of my friends and I went back to the Leaf Restaurant for lunch (it was so good last time, we had to go back!). I tried the smoked salmon salad with blueberries and pine nuts which was delicious! I also decided to buy a tea blend called "Autumn Fire Tea" which just smells like the perfect combination of fall scents, I can't wait to brew some! We then went back to Albert Dock where we met up with a local tour guide who gave us a walking tour of the city. After the tour, we were allowed to have some free time, so some of us decided to do a bit of shopping before checking out the Cavern Club for old times sake!

Well that just about sums it up! Tomorrow is going to be a fun filled day of studying for my exam on friday as well as completely packing up not only my travel luggage but my entire room as I will be moving to a new dorm when fall term starts. Wish me luck!

xoxo

Who Says that Good Food is Hard to Find in England?

Hello all!

Warning: Do not read on an empty stomach! This blog post is mainly about food as I was able to have some of the best food that I have eaten during my stay here in England this weekend!

On Thursday, Sept. 4th, most of us went to a Tapas restaurant in Lancaster called Bar 1725 for our weekly ISP Social. To say it was delicious is definitely an understatement! For every five meals purchased, you received a free litre of Sangria (the portions are very small!) My friend and I decided to each get two meals and split the third so we were able to get the special. I decided to order the "Vegetales Mixtos"which were vegetables fried in a lemon and pine nut sauce, and the "Championes 1725" which were mushrooms with garlic dipped in a white wine and cream sauce (my favorite dish!). My friend and I also split the "Esparragos Asados" which consisted of asparagus in butter and white wine sauce with almonds. Yum! The meals were very tasty and I hope to go back once term starts!

On Friday, Sept. 5th, I reserved a room at the pub we had previously eaten at after visiting Lancaster Castle called Merchants 1688. I wanted a chance to try the cheese boards as they were a hit among the group last time we went (I regrettably had a chicken caesar salad last time and, while it was good, the cheese boards looked amazing). This time around, I opted for the popular cheese board and ordered the "Tasty Lancashire" and "Smoked Applewood" cheeses. Very good choice I must say! In addition to the food, the pub offers a wide selection of wines, my favorite being the Merlot. It was a fun night as we all bonded as a group!

On Saturday, after spending a majority of my day writing my essay, and going into town, some people in my flat decided to host a Frat-themed party! It was very entertaining seeing as it is our last weekend altogether!

Well that's it for now! I hope this post didn't make you too hungry!

xoxo

Exploring Manchester and Revisiting Lancaster Castle!

Hello everyone!

It's been a nice few days here in Manchester since my last post! On school related subjects, we had a presentation on Monday which went well and our next focus is on our essay. That's enough about school... I want to share my experiences yesterday visiting Manchester!

On Wednesday, September 3rd, our group traveled to the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester.  This is fitting as we have been focusing on World War I and its impact on Britain during our class seminars this week. Fun fact, the museum opened July 24th, 2002 (my birthday!) and its quite unique in its architecture. We were given two hours to explore the museum and read about the hardships both soldiers and families endured throughout the war. The topic of World War I is particularly popular this year as 2014 marks the centenary of the Great War! (1914-2014)

After looking at the exhibits, some of which were interactive (one involving trying on common clothes of the time and one involving smelling samples of distinct scents of the time such as gun powder, mustard gas, and trench foot), most of us climbed to the top of the museum which over looks the entire City of Manchester! The design is also interesting in that the floor is comprised of crates, meaning you are able to see the ground beneath your feet! (Great for a person who isn't too fond of heights, aka me) However, I was up for the challenge. The views were incredible so it was definitely worth it!

We then all gathered back onto the bus and were dropped off in the City Centre to wander into town.
A group of us went to grab lunch at a well known place called Pieminister. If you haven't already guessed from the name, the restaurant specializes in pies as well as mashed potatoes. While I wasn't feeling up for an individual pie, I opted for some tomato soup and mint mushy peas! (Side note: mushy peas are quickly becoming my favorite British treat and since I love mint, it was an added bonus).  After a lovely meal, we went into a hipster-ish store called Afflecks Palace, a place recommended to us by one of our tutors, which was directly across from where we ate. The store was actually comprised of many individual shops and went up several stories! The clothes were also very cute I might add.

Once we finished looking at the merchandise, we walked back into the City Centre. It somewhat reminded me of New York City with the crowds of people, however, there were also trolly carts which move through the side walks so its best to keep your guard up at all times! A few of us then decided to pop into the Manchester Art Gallery which was very nice.

After the Art Gallery, we walked a bit more around the city before deciding to have Afternoon Tea (I sound so British!) within the Town Hall. The cafe offered something I had never seen before called 'Champagne Cream Tea' which I would have completely ordered in a heartbeat had it not been 19 pounds per person... haha.

Once we had our filling of tea and scones, we all met back up at the bus to drive back to Lancaster. However, the day was not over!! Once arriving back on campus, many of us went to Lancaster Castle to listen to the award-winning illustrator Jonny Duddle. Why might we be so interested in listening to Mr. Duddle? Because he was chosen by Bloomsbury Publishing to reimagine the magical world of Harry Potter of course! J.K. Rowling and her team at Bloomsbury asked Mr. Duddle to create new illustrations on all seven of Rowling's Harry Potter novels which were officially released to the public on September 1st! Awesome, right?? Even if you aren't a Harry Potter fan, you have to admit this is pretty cool. We listened to him speak about his concepts for each of the book covers as well as how his illustrative process evolved using a digital screen. Afterward, he signed his newly illustrated book copies.

To say that it was a busy day yesterday would be an understatement but I was definitely glad to be able to experience all of it :) Until next time!

xoxo

Trip to Quarry Bank Mill

Greetings once again from Lancaster!

On Wednesday, August 27th, our group visited the Quarry Bank Mill just outside of Manchester which is one of the best preserved textile mills from the British Industrial Revolution and specialized in the cotton industry. Samuel Greg founded the mill in 1784 and built a cotton empire. 

To begin our tour, our guide first lead us to Styal Village which consisted of apartments for the workers in the mill. On the way to the apartments, we passed the Greg home which was almost directly attached to the mill (unusual for mill owners at the time). Samuel's wife, Hannah Greg, was sympathetic towards the mill workers particularly the children and wanted to keep a close eye on the conditions of the mill (she was quite progressive for her time, go Hannah!). In order to get from the mill to the village, the workers had to walk about a quarter mile to their homes. I found it very interesting to be walking through the open fields and walk the very same path that the workers had walked in the 18th-19th century! Once in the village, the guide pointed out the two churches surrounding the village, as well as a small school house for the children who worked in the mill (Hannah Greg made great efforts to make sure that the children were moderately cared for considering the situation). There was also a shop within the village where workers could save up for assorted items such as shoes, clothing, or special treats. Today, the apartment buildings are actually open to the public to rent or buy however apartment #13 is kept in the same condition for historical records. 

We then visited the Apprentice House, which was where orphaned children who worked in the mill would stay. The first floor was a schoolhouse for the children as well as a kitchen for making a majority of the meals. Samuel Greg, who was seen as a more compassionate mill owner, insisted that the children receive three meals a day as he believed that the happier and healthier the workers were, the more productive they would be inside the mill, thus increasing profits. Breakfast consisted of cold porridge that would be scooped into the workers right hand (no need for plates or spoons!), and lunch and dinner would vary, although it usually consisted of some type of bread. The upstairs consisted of a large bedroom which was meant to hold over 90 children! The side of the house was dedicated to the children that would fall ill and after listening to the ways in which they treated illness back in the 18th century, it seemed that most tried to avoid sickness at all costs! (lets just say that leeches were involved)

After touring the Apprentice House, we took a break for lunch and since it was a gorgeous day most of us decided to sit outside the local cafe. Once we were done eating, we explored the gardens surrounding the mill and saw multiple people picnicking with their families. 

When our lunch break was over, we regrouped and toured the inside of the Quarry Bank Mill. The tour was just about two hours so we were able to catch quite a grasp of the conditions that these workers endured. We walked through multiple exhibits which explained the life of the mill workers but what particularly interested me was seeing the machinery used to make cotton cloth. The exhibit workers even turned on machines to demonstrate the noise and dangerous conditions that mill workers faced on a daily basis. Accidents occurred all the time at the mill and workers often developed Byssinosis (cotton in the lungs) from poor air quality. The average living age back then was only 35! (scary to think about considering I'm 20)

One exhibit worker turned on three machines at the same time and I personally thought the noise was unbearable. I was absolutely shocked to learn that it was normal for 310 machines just like the ones I listened to be working all at the same time in the very same room that we were stationed!! The thought of working with that noise for 12 hours a day on a 6 day work week was unfathomable! While the Greg family was more tolerable and provided better working/living conditions then most mill owners, particularly Hannah, the lives that these workers lived must have been horrific.

On a brighter note, on Thursday, August 28th, I found out my housing for the upcoming Michaelmas Fall term! I will be staying in Lonsdale College which was my first choice. Their motto is "simply the best." Can't wait!

Until next time then!

xoxo

International Beatleweek in Liverpool

Hello all!

It's been a lovely few days here in Lancaster recently! No rain and sunny skies, I can't complain!

This past weekend, a few friends and I went to the City of Liverpool (about an hour drive from Lancaster) on Saturday and experienced the International Beatleweek festival that was hosted there. For any Beatles fans out there, the group started in Liverpool! It was also a great chance to explore a different city and experience the culture.

Once we arrived, my friends and I went to a restaurant called "Leaf" which we had heard serves an amazing breakfast. After eating there and ordering the eggs benedict, I would definitely recommend it! We then walked along the streets, stopping at vintage clothing stores and looking at what they had to offer. I found a hilarious pink 80's tuxedo shirt and convinced my friend to buy it for a laugh!

After shopping around a bit, we decided to check out International Beatleweek. Once we arrived, we found The Cavern Club which is where the Beatles first performed and started their career. After learning this, we had to check it out! Upon entering, we went down three flights of stairs until we finally reached the entrance. To say the place was crowded is an understatement! Despite it being only 1:30, tons of people were inside listening to bands on the two available stages as well as drinking a pint of beer. We immediately joined in and listened to the various acts! One group that we watched perform even dressed like the Beatles. Looking around, I also saw that many famous acts had performed there such as Adele in 2011!

After listening to a few bands, we went back into the city and walked around the harbor side. Before getting on the bus, we also explored the Beatles merchandise shop and I purchased a postcard of the famous picture of the Beatles on Abbey Road in London as a keepsake to remember the amazing time I had in Liverpool. :)

Until next time!

xoxo