National Portrait Gallery and Ladurée

Today the students and faculty woke up to a surprise breakfast.  Cookies.  We also had the usual fruit, cereal, and yogurt.  But, cookies, really?!  We still haven't figured out if she put them out because she forgot to give them to us last night for dessert or if she really meant to feed us cookies for breakfast.

After classes we took a bus ride down to Trafalgar Square to see the National Portrait Gallery.  We should've taken the tube because this bus was so crowded (I had a great view of the double-decker stairs).  Anyway, I actually really liked the gallery and want to go back when I'm not so rushed.  My favorite portrait was one by John Singer Sargent.  It was titled "Some General Officers of the Great War”

I loved the plaque next to this painting.  It explained how these men were called "brass hats," presumably because those are the kinds of helmets they wore. Duh.  Anyway, I guess people mocked these men because on the plaque was this little spoof of a song that Emma and I got a crack out of:


"Onward Christian soldiers
onward without fear
with our great commanders
safely in the rear."

After the National Portrait Gallery I wasn't quite ready to go home yet so Emma, Sarah, Cami, and I walked the couple blocks over to Covent Gardens.  The girls wanted a Ben's Cookies so after we stopped there Emma and Sarah left and Cami and I stayed.  I tried my first macaron.  If you have never heard of them listen up.  Two years ago Rachel told us about this place called Ladurée that is famous for their macarons.  They're not macaroons like the coconut ones, but are totally different.  They have a thin crunchy, yet soft shell with some kind of filling inside.  I would recommend Ladurée to people except they're super expensive.

Ladurée macs

Anyhow, two years ago my mom being the amazing woman that she is started making her own and boy were they divine.  Hers are prettier and way more creative.  Like who thinks of doing a tie-dye macaron? Mom does.  So if you ever see a Ladurée feel free to try them, but just know that you can save about £7 and commission my mom to make you some.

Mom's macs

For even more of my moms mouthwatering macarons click here.  Her photography is amazing too!

I can't believe it's already been 3 weeks since I've been here.  Time flies, although at the same time it feels like I've been gone forever.  The vacation phase has faded out and it's starting to feel like I'm here to stay.  I'm beginning to like it more and more.  Don't get me wrong, I liked it the first day I got here but now I'm starting to understand the layout of everything and I'm not getting lost as much.  I do still have a hard time with direction though because there are no mountains here to help me know which way I'm standing.  But I'll see those soon enough; April 13th to be exact.  Yup, my family is no longer coming to travel with me after but I'm surprisingly ok with that.  I think I'll be so ready to be home when April comes.  But it's a good trade off because instead of touring Germany and France, my parents are treating us to a vacation in Puerto Rico this summer.  But for now I get to live the dream in England!