October 8th // Bill’s Restaurant // Cardiff Bay, Wales
Today’s breakfast included a strange, but very good meal. I ordered the “Bill’s Vegetarian Breakfast” and replaced the eggs with beans. This also came with pesto roasted plum tomatoes, mushrooms, tomato hummus, guacamole, sweet chill sauce and basil on toast.
Website: https://bills-website.co.uk
October 17th // Wagamama // Putney, England
A delicious dinner with friends! We met in Putney where we shared a meal and caught up on life. This meal was purely vegan and Wagamama was very excited to show us their new vegetarian and vegan menus. I highly recommend trying Wagamama if you’re ever in Europe!
Website: https://www.wagamama.com
October 10th, 2017 / London, England
We finally have our own kitchen! This means lots of home cooked vegan meals to fill our hungry bellies. If you know of any good vegan books or recipes, please let me know!!
Our hearts broken. Eyes full of tears. Questions racing through our minds.
How could someone do such a thing? A human being went out of his way to purposefully take the lives of strangers. We are all asking ourselves this question and trying to find a reason for this incident. We mourn over those lives lost and those who are physically as well as emotionally recovering from the shooting. This concert was a place for people from all around the world and join together to appreciate music and have a good time, while rather it turned into a blood bath.
Although I do not know of anyone who was personally harmed, I have spent hours crying and reflecting on what occurred so close to home. Let me reassure you that being emotional, crying, and hurting is valid to feel right now as most people are experience this as well. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone during this time of loss and chaos.
I believe it is important to grieve and think about this current event, however, I feel that we have the power to make a difference. This could be by donating blood, adding to the Las Vegas victim fund (https://www.gofundme.com/dr2ks2-las-vegas-victims-fund), or even writing letters to the victims and their family.
It is important that we stand as one and pour our love, encouragement, and prayers into those in need.
Shooting Victim List
Adrian Murfitt. Charleston Hartfield. Denise Burditus. Sonny Melton. John Phippen. Sandy Casey. Chris Roybal. Thomas Day Jr. Hannah Ahlers. Angie Gomez. Dana Gardner. Jessica Kylmchuk. Rhonda LeRocque. Jordan Mclldoon. Jennifer Topaz Irvine. Jenny Parks. Quinton Robbins. Lisa Romero-Muniz. Bailey Schweitzer. Rachael Parker. Susan Smith. Neysa Tonks. Brennan Stewart. Kurt Von Tillow. Jack Beaton. Carrie Barnette. Melissa Ramirez. Victor Link. Kelsey Meadows. Calla Medig. Bill Wolfe Jr. Christiana Duarte. Stacee Etcheber. Tara Rose Smith. Cameron Robinson.
Cover Photo: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/aerial-view-las-vegas-strip-nevada-504833641?src=rHUnm9SSpYhGBVvexTdqWA-1-0
September 25th // Camden Market, England
Since Fae had been dreaming about eating vegan cookie dough, we made a little trip to Camden Market after class on Monday. We know how to use public transportation pretty well now, so getting there was fast and easy. We walked around the market and shopped a little, buying creative and handmade products. There was one booth that caught our eye. It had a sign that read “#LEAVES NOT LEATHER” and we were drawn in. Instead of using animals, they use leaves that they collect in London and press them into bags, wallets, purses, etc. I bought two small bags, but I know that I’ll be back for more!
After shopping, we went to fulfill Fae’s dream. Remy, as talked about before, was working the stand and made our cookie dough with so much love and kind words. We ended up sitting and talking for hours until the sun had set and we all needed to scurry home. Overall, today included our first day of classes, a beautiful market, delicious cookie dough, and new friends.
September 24th // Oxford, England
The girls take Oxford! Today myself, Fae, Anna, Sydney, Ash, and Kaylee all set out for a long day of exploring a new city. We took off around nine this morning to the train station where we then had a two-hour journey to Oxford. Once we arrived, we met up with Kaylee’s friend from high school who is studying abroad at Oxford University and was so sweet to show us around the city all day. We first headed to the Turf Tavern for lunch. This tavern is hidden behind walls and in allies so you have to search a little to find it. But it’s so worth it! The food was delicious and this tavern is a favorite of Elizabeth Taylor, Margaret Thatcher, Stephen Hawking, Oscar Wilde, Thomas Hardy, David Cameron, Emma Watson, Ernest Hemingway, Ben Kingsley, Jack Gleeson, and more! It was also a big hangout spot for the cast of Harry Potter while they were filming in Oxford! (See my post “Turf Tavern” in the Study Abroad –> Foreign Eats section for more details and photos).
Next, we headed to a small bookstore. Here I got these two books covered in brown paper. The concept behind this is to not judge a book by its cover, which I find to be absolutely beautiful.
For our next adventure of the day, we went and toured a part of the Oxford campus where Kaylee’s friend is staying for the semester. There were gardens everywhere and students sitting on the lawn chatting away. We entered their cafeteria that looked like a scene straight out of Harry Potter.
After, Anna was really wanting to get some high tea. We went to a local cafe where we ordered pastries, tea and coffee which we scarfed down (See my post “Vaults and Garden” in the Study Abroad –> Foreign Eats section for more details and photos).
Post tea, we went to a local museum to see a famous piece. The best part was that the museum was FREE! This is a big hit with broke college students. See the photo below to see Einstein’s blackboard in the flesh!!!
We then went to another free museum full of stuffed animals, animal bones, rocks, and crystals. We decided to tour the rest of the city and headed back home, finishing our day in Oxford with smiles and good company.
September 23rd // Notting Hill, England
Another day, another city. Today we explored the famous Notting Hill which you have most likely heard of because of the movie. I, however, have never seen this movie and didn’t understand the excitement that Faeln was expressing when she found the city on the map. We took a bus and a train for about 30 minutes over to a street fair in Notting Hill.
We bought a plethora of things like scarves, new shirts, a chest, etc. We also met the sweetest workers who greeted us to Notting Hill and gave us a list of places to explore nearby. The houses were bright beautiful colors and there were flowers in every direction you look. The city had such a unique, but warm feeling to it. I’m sure this isn’t the last we’ll see of Notting Hill!
September 24th // Vaults and Garden // Oxford, England
Could we get more English? We got pots of tea along with coffee and desserts for a perfect, sunny day out in the town of Oxford. We shared lots of laughs and enjoyed a little down time in the city. This is definitely not the last high tea session in England!
September 23rd // Notting Hill, England
Today’s lunch consisted of splitting a vegetable roll and a quinoa arepa at a cute little street fair in Notting Hill. The two items were delicious and very filling! The quinoa arepa included krispy kale, spinach, turtle beans, guacamole, sweet plantain, pico de gallo, topped with homemade limena sauce only made with fresh vegetables.
We then ran into a Starbucks later in the day for some fall drinks which included a turmeric latte and a peppermint mocha.
September 24th // The Turf Tavern // Oxford, England
A delicious lunch in a hidden Tavern. This Tavern is known for all the famous people who have paid a visit to the place: Elizabeth Taylor, Margaret Thatcher, Stephen Hawking, Oscar Wilde, Thomas Hardy, David Cameron, Emma Watson, Ernest Hemingway, Ben Kingsley, Jack Gleeson, and more! It was also a big hangout spot for the cast of Harry Potter while they were filming in Oxford! Fae and I split a side of fries and I ordered the falafel, kale, and quinoa salad which was to die for. The feel of the Tavern was unique and captivating. If you’re ever in Oxford, I highly recommend going!
Exploring the World 