Some Nature

I realize that these are really random but I like the fall photos haha.  By the way, blogger has a new set up where if you click on a photo it will make a nice slideshow although then you miss out on my great commentary haha.  I wish I had more photos to share of the beautiful weather!  It actually rained for real for the first time since I've been here today.  I was hoping it would rain though because my mom sent me some new rain boots so I got to wear them and trounce through the puddles! : )

Buckingham Palace Gardens squirrel walking home yesterday.

When I first got to London I wondered what was up with the tree bark.  Apparently, when the pollution in London started getting really bad, these were the trees that survived the best because their bark could absorb the pollution and meanwhile grow new bark underneath.

I've never seen so many swans as I have in London haha.

I love this photo because of the people with the balloons.  Buckingham Palace Gardens.

Skateboarding

Charlie (from Woodward) visited London for a bit last week and was kind enough to introduce me to his friends and take me to this awesome spot.  It's built on the foundation of an old water plant of sorts.  Steve, an Irish guy who lives in the area, built the park with "borrowed" concrete.  That started about 7 years ago.  Now I guess the government is pleased that the heroine addicts shooting up are gone as is the overgrowth so they've decided to put in the smooth flat bottom but I guess they did it wrong because now it won't drain as well.

Sam is doing the wall ride with (left to right) ...can't tell who the first guy is hah..., Charlie, Andy, Steve, and Josh holding the wood.

Unfortunately, part way through the sick night session (they brought a generator, gas, and lights just to skate it this night) it rained for maybe 5 minutes.  It was just enough of a coat that the park was more or less soaked.  First we tried sweeping the flat bottom with a broom.  Then we took cardboard and tried soaking up the water.  We tried to squeegee the water too which somewhat worked.  The lamps were doing an okay job of drying up about a square inch in front of them.  Eventually Steve went and got some petrol (gas) and poured it all over the flat bottom.

Steve dousing the park.

Then he set the park on fire.  That dried it up in about five minutes haha.

Sam skated through the fire and did some power slides.  Someone threw his board in and it caught on fire (just a little bit) and he took it and did a kickflip.  Mid-flip the flame went out, pretty gnarly if you ask me.

Me and Charlie watchin the sesh.

This is a pretty famous spot on the Thames called south bank or something.  Brendan took this nice picture.  I know the picture is dark but it's the pillar's shadow's fault haha.

I've been skating with Thom a bit too hitting up some other skate parks.  Love it around here!  Gotta come check it out.

Buckingham Palace Garden

Just thought I'd share some pictures I took on my walk home with Brendan yesterday through the park by Buckingham Palace.

Soundtrack for this post is by the Damnwells (featuring the Fray).  It's called "Golden Days."  Thought it was fitting for the autumn theme.

UCL's Campus

Thought you might be curious as to what my campus looks like.

This is the Cruciform Building (the side of it is visible from Ramsay Hall) where the medics have courses.  The bus from my room in Victoria Station lets me off on Gower St., here (the campus' main street) which is across from the next picture...

...which is the library (and the main quad)!  A scene from inception was filmed just outside the law library...

...which is pictured here!  Ellen page walked down those steps haha.

And then down stairs is the Print Room Cafe.  Good soup.

Just outside the cafe is this courtyard...

...more courtyard.  And through the arch in the last photo...

...is this sort of street which has a lot of the academic buildings for classes.  The engineering building is at the end on the right.

Once you get through the card checkers, you're in the engineering cafe.  And then my classes are on the fourth floor.  I didn't take a picture of that...

Back to the main quad!

Back to Gower Street waiting for the 24 bus.

Abbey Road

Of course I went to Abbey Road.

Crossing!

You have no idea how many people visit this crossing! haha Cars are constantly having to honk at the people posing in the middle of the street (since it's the law to stop for them).  Although in this photo it looks like your average zebra ("zeh-bruh") crossing!

Abbey Road Street Sign

Parliament Square at Night

These pictures  were mostly taken around Parliament Square.  I believe they are best to view while listening to Coldplay's Cemeteries of London.  : )

A black taxi driving away

 

Darker pictures of West Minster Abbey and St. Stephen's Tower (Big Ben is the bell inside!  Who knew?)

London

The London Eye

I love this one! haha

The Thames

Parliament.  Sadly the clock shines too brightly but the top of the tower is so ornate in person!  Plus, I love any picture with the moon.  lol

Parliament Square

Parliament Square

West Minster Abbey

Two theaters near my place.

Oxford

Tierney, Brendan, Tierney's friend Tim, Sam Drapeau (from RPI), and I all took the train to Oxford for only 11 pounds round trip for the day.  We hit up a bunch of Harry Potter spots for Tierney which will probably be posted later but we also got to take a tour of the Bodleian Library as well as a few other spots on campus which was really fun and interesting.  You wouldn't believe how many books they have on this campus!  Haha, unfortunately no pictures were allowed in the library.

Christ Church (a school within Oxford)

The dinning hall for the students.  Also, the inspiration for Harry Potter's Great Hall.

The Quad at Christ Church

I just like the cool architecture.

Isaac Newton's Work and the Telegram from the Titanic saying they've hit an ice berg!

In the Divinity School the catholic saints were smashed during the Reformation.

Punting Boats!

Tierney at the candy shop.

The Divinity School where they filmed Harry Potter infirmary scenes.  They guy in the sweater is Tierney's friend, Matt.  He is from Notre Dame and is studying abroad at Oxford so he showed us around!  Nice guy.

This building/tower has five different kinds of architecture all in one!

The circular building on the left is the science library.  More cool architecture!

Oxford's Campus

Rugby Pitch

Tierney With A Chess Set

Tierney's Kind of Book, "Freaks of Nature" haha

Battle Figures with Brendan and Tierney

Brendan