This is a piccadilly line train to cockfosters

I can't believe I only have a week left in London, that seems so weird! I feel like there is so much more to see and explore and I wish I had more time! BUT I am so so so excited to be home and with everyone. This past weekend we went to Scotland and it was probably the best thing I've ever done. We went on this backpacking trip called "Mackbackpackers" which was absolutely amazing. We started out in Edinburgh and then up into the Isle of Skye and back down with a few stops in between to swim in loch ness and climb mountains. NOT a big deal or anything but...I waded in Loch Ness. I know. Lame right? I should've just jumped in but it was so so so cold! Oh well, at least a part of my body was in it! The first night before the Mackbackpackers tour we were in Edinburgh where I had my first taste of haggis. I must say..not that bad. On our tour we met and became friends with these amazing French people! We also met a girl from South Africa and one from Scotland. We had a whole house to ourselves in Skye so we got to know them quite well. The last night in the house we taught the frenchies how to play spoons and I beat the Parisian man! We also taught them how to play circle of death which was quite entertaining. I wish I had my own computer so I could post some pictures! I will soon enough...hopefully..

Scotland is absolutely breathtakingly gorgeous. I don't think I've ever been to a place so beautiful. Skye was probably my favorite part, I felt like I was lucid dreaming the whole time or something because it was just that beautiful, unreal. The first day we went up into Skye we went to this creek near where my ancestors came from actually and dipped our faces in the water. Apparently if you do that you have eternal beauty so I'm set! Later that day we climbed a mountain!...Well not a whole mountain, more like the base of a mountain but it was pretty high up there. I was soaking wet the entire time and for a short while there was a fear that my cheeks were frost bitten, either way...completely worth it. We ended that night by going into a fairy glenn which was probably the most peacful, almost dreamlike place I've ever been. The trees were covered in moss and we were cradled by the hills. If you couldn't guess why it is called "the fairy glenn" it is said that that is where the Fairies live and there is a sort of positive energy about it. I believe it.

The next day we made our way home and stopped at Glencoe where it is said that the water from the rushing river there is the purest water, purer than evian even! I had a cup of it, it was delicious.

Overall Scotland is my favorite thing ever. The end. No question about it. I go to Ireland in a week to do a 2 week session at the gaiety school of acting. Scary huh? I'm a little nervous I won't lie. It should be a really good experience though so I'm excited.

I hope its not strange when I go home. I miss everyone so much so it will be good to see people, but i fear that I will be missing London quite a bit. It will be so weird not taking the tube everyday, or not seeing the london eye in the background of everything or not going to tesco or the patisserie or covent garden or soho. GAH. I'm making myself depressed so I'm going to stop for now. I can't wait to see everyone. Get ready for huge hugs!

<3
~ali~

TOP TEN LDN

I figured it was about time for a top ten list so here we go.
Here is a list of the top ten things I love about London in no particular order:

1. The street performers/tube performers. These people are great. I love walking through the underground late at night and hearing anything from guitarists to opera singers and whistlers.

2. The crypt cafe/surrounding Trafalgar square area. The crypt has delicious food and a great ambiance, there is no place like it....you're eating on top of a crypt! CRAZY! Trafalgar square is absolutely gorgeous, maybe overcrowded with too many tourists, but it is my favorite place at night.

3. Hyde park. I've been there a few times, but the other day I went there by myself and it was so peacful. It's a great place to sit and read or just people watch, or in my case...pigeon watch.

4. Taking the bus. Although I take the tube much more frequently, riding the bus gives you more of a chance to see everything. And double deckers are sweet.#

5. Baked beans with breakfast! To most of you that sounds disgusting, but since I've been here I've developed a love for those delicious beans. I don't know what it is, but it gives the breakfast a little more...pizazz?

6. Walking along the Thames. The Thames is especially gorgeous at night, the London Eye is lit up, the National has it's crazy lights going on and there is a certain romance to it. Also great place for people watching.

7. Falling asleep on the tube. Between the hours of 4-7 or so, the tube is packed and usually more nausiating than normal. BUT, when no one else is on and you are able to sit, it can be one of the most soothing, sleep inducing things ever. mmmm so good.

8. Camden town. An area of open markets, good food, music shops, cheap clothes, interesting characters. Need I say more?

9. SoHo. Although it can get a little sketchy at night, it can be a lot of fun just walking around the area and drinking strawberry beer! SO GOOD!

10. Le Maison Du Moulin. Best. Patisserie. Ever.

Oh! I forgot! I went to Paris last weekend and it was absolutely wonderful. We stayed in the "Aloha Hostel" which was smelly but good. We got to see pretty much everything that we wanted to, we even went to the top of the Eiffel Tower! And we also went to one of my favorite museums called Musee D'Orsay which used to be a train station. Paris is absolutely gorgeous and charming. I got to use some of my french as well, although it wasn't very good...at all. Needless to say, Paris was an enjoyable time. And I recommend the Chunnel! (when its not on fire that is)

Unfortunately my computer is still broken and will be for the rest of the time here but I will try and blog as soon as I can!

Much love from the UK!
<3
~ali~

Oy

It's been quite some time since the last post eh? Well. We are FINALLY done with the show, and we had a good run. The audiences were pretty small but that's expected. The parents came! It was very exciting showing them the sights and sounds of London. The first day they were here I took them on the London Eye. Now I have been on it 3 times! The next day I took them to Trafalgar Square where my father insisted on climbing on top of one of the lions. Unfortunately though we aren't the best climbers and the only thing we could reach was..the rear. Now there is a picture out there of my father and I and a giant lion's ass. So there ya go! The next day I took them to the Tower of London which was amazing! It was the second time I had been there and I would definitely go again. SUCH a cool/creepy/crazy place full of history and hauntings. LOVE it.

OH. Not a big deal or anything BUT I'm going to Paris next weekend! I intend on seeing everything and starting/ending each day with a nice baguette and glass of wine. J'adore Paris.Je M'apelle Ali. J'aime beaucoup le petit chien. Ou est le toilette?

Anyway...thats enough for now.
xoxoxox
~ali~

mmmmm

So I've realized I have this fear that I will be cut in half by the doors on the tube. Yes. Irrational. BUT I've already seen this happen to many people..well..not cut in half, but squished! In other news, the London Eye is friggin sweet. For those of you that may not know, it is this HUGE ferris wheel type deal made and owned by British Airways. It is so neat, you are up so high and get to see pretty much the whole city. It's quite beautiful, I got some really nice pictures, hopefully I will be able to post them soon.

After the Eye the other day, we went out and walked around Westminster and it finally hit me just how beautiful this city is. Well ok..I already knew it was amazing, and beautiful, and wonderful, but for some reason it REALLY hit me then. I am a very lucky girl. When I am not sitting back and admiring the beauty of LDN or in class, I am in rehearsal for our show! The show starts in a few weeks and it is finally coming together. I'm getting pretty nervous, I've heard the British crowd is a little less response than most crowds but who knows, I hope it goes well!

In other news, we are planning a trip to Paris! We will hopefully be heading across the channel on Halloween. I definitely need to brush up on my French for that. I'm also hoping to head on over to Luxembourg to visit the family at some point. I also want to go to Spain, and Italy and everywhere! Thats the problem, once I'm in Europe...I want to go everywhere. Oh goodness. So much to do, so little time.

Well...love from the UK!

~ali~

Favorite things..cinnabons in Trafalgar Square

London is starting to feel like home finally! Although it will never be as wonderful as my actual home :). This past week my friend Tim was here and it was soooo great to see him again. He's been in Germany for..forever doing a run of "Porgy and Bess" there, and he's finally on his way back to good ol' Mpls to work at the Guthrie. Tim is so great, he showed us a few of the places that he used to hang around when he was here. The last night he was here, Shannon and I roamed around Piccadilly Circus trying to find food. We ended up getting delicious Cinnabons and walking to Trafalgar Square, for some reason things taste better there. After a delicious meal Tim met up with us and took us around town, trying to find a pint. We found our pints of delicious hard cider and decided it was time to dance. He took us to this club called the "Zoo Bar", which was exciting. It was my first club experience! Tim had to leave the next morning so we called it a night. We got on the N9 bus (my first double decker experience!) but had to transfer because someone threw up on the bottom floor. By this time it was around 2 in the morning and they had us get off and transfer buses all because someone spewed. Although very gross, I would've been fine staying on the puke bus just to get home. Anyway...we got off the bus, had to wait another half hour and then we accidently got off too early and walked another 30 mins. So all in all, buses are very exciting useful and helpful, but not when someone throws up. Enough of that, London is great. I saw Kenneth Brannagh on stage the other day, it was pretty AMAZING! I'm sure I'll have more exciting stories soon. I love it here, but I do miss home. I miss fall in Minnesota, especially in Winona. SO. Pretty. Anyway...love from the UK

<3
~ali~

Curry

I love Indian Food. I love this city. Sorry its taken so long to post again, the internet is unfortunately not up in the flats yet so I am currently in the office building where we have our classes. London doesn't feel quite like home yet, it still feels like a vacation but I think that will pass rather quickly. This past weekend we took a day trip to Cambridge which was absolutely gorgeous and charming. Then on Saturday Caitlin and I went to Notting Hill and wandered around Portobello Road. It was really cool just being in that area, lots of people, lots of cool stands with fresh fruit, artwork, gas masks, you name it. ALSO delicious cheap Indian food. SO. GOOD. I have already set up a personal goal for myself. I am going to try and find a day every week to go sit in Trafalgar Square. That is probably one of my favorite places in the city, it is just so gorgeous and open and a perfect place to go sit and people watch. Also, I love Covent Garden. Covent Garden is right next to Trafalgar and has the open markets and cute shops, record stores, and delicious restaurants. OH I almost forgot, my dear friend Tim Markus is here this week so there is definite debauchery that awaits us. Last night he took us out for pints and DELICIOUS kebabs. We went to this place that is apparently the best place in LDN for kebabs...they were delicious. Tomorrow is Tim Schmall's 21st so we will probably end up somewhere in SoHo or who knows where. Alright that is all for now, I miss you all terribly and send my love from across the pond!
xoxoxox
~ali

Finally

Greetings from foggy London town! I have finally arrived...well...I arrived a week ago but we still don't have working internet in the flats so I am updating from an internet cafe! London is pretty amazing. We've been here only a week, yet we've done so much already! The first night we just settled into the flats, met with the playwright of the play we're doing here (Radium Girls) and then went out to dinner in Leicester Square. Sooooo cool. I forgot how sweet London is. The second day we just went out and walked around the neighborhood. The West Kensington area is really cool, I've found many adorable cafes and patisseries. My favorite patisserie so far is called "Maison du Moulin" they have amazing food and its so cheap! The next few days to follow were just filled with classes, becoming familiar with the town and going to shows. We went to the Globe on one of the first nights we were here to see "A Midsummer Night's Dream" which was very cool. We were on the ground floor, some would refer to us as the "groundlings", it was really neat to watch a Shakespearean show the way people would have back in the day! The other days have been filled with a lot of wandering around, becoming familiar with the area and drinking. mmmm screw drivers and gin and tonics that come in a can. delicious. This weekend we went to Camden town which is AMAZING. So many different people, so many clothes, shops, cafes, great place for people watching. SOHO is amazing as well. We went roaming around there the other night, went to a couple bars and I had strawberry beer. delicious. absolutely brilliant. There has been so much going on and I realize this post is kind of scattered but I promise once the internet works I will update more often and it will be a little more...cohesive. Anyway, that is all for now. Thanks for reading!
Much love from Auriol Road!
~ali~