So this garden was HUGE. I mean, Stourhead was big, but this one was crazy. The day started off really cold and rainy and windy, so I couldn't use my umbrella and thus my coat proved itself more than worthy! I love my new rain coat, and it was worth every pence! It makes me feel all official too, like a tour guide or something. Also my new jeans kept me surprisingly warm so yay for that!
We spent about an hour and a half going around on the paths looking at all the temples and bridges and statues and cool lines of sight and sheep and big rolling hills and ponds and gorgeousness that defied the rain and wind. And after a while, the rain and wind sort of died out. It was still chilly, but not so bad. After that, we went to the cafe to eat lunch and warm up. I had packed chicken lunch meat, two croissants, a bag of red grapes, and a juice box with orange juice in it. Yes, something besides bread and cheese. Mostly because Jayme is afraid I'm going to die of rickets or something. Hence fruit.
After lunch, we had a class meeting and two of my classmates gave their presentations. We discussed the various architecture styles and influences we had seen, and then we were allowed to go to the gift shop or return to the gardens until we met back at the bus to leave at 4. Cara and I went and did some shopping in the gift shop (including stuff for my mother who is my most faithful reader of this blog, I do believe), and then we went out to the far edge of the garden to go to a place called the Circle of the Dancing Faun. Because you don't see a place like that on a map and not visit it. Because we were under a time crunch, we took a lot of shortcuts off the path and through the grass, but it's a garden meant for picnicking and playing so I doubt anyone really minded. We also cut through part of the sheep pasture, which was funny because earlier when we were headed back to lunch we were baa-ing back at the sheep and Ally wondered aloud if we were using sheep curse words and then we started wondering what sheep insults would be. I came up with "Your mother has a thin coat of wool!" and Cara came up with "Whatcha growin' over there, polyester?"
When we finally got to the Circle of the Dancing Faun, it was less epic than we'd hoped. The actual statue of the dancing faun was gone, but we stood in the middle of the area and recorded ourselves doing a bit of dancing so it was okay. In our haste to get back to the bus, we decided to cut across the Grecian Valley, and we frolicked through it. Yes, frolicked. And we called the professors on our way back to give them a heads up that we were in fact on our way. We were only a few minutes late, and when we met up with the one professor who'd hung back to meet us at the reception place so we wouldn't think everyone had left without us, the other professor who was already on the bus stopped me as I got on and told me he'd gotten something for me - it was a greeting card with cartoon Daleks on it!! It's fantastic and I adore it and he is so nice! Cara and I had gotten something called "stick of rock" candy that was essentially like a fat, fruity, straight candy cane. They were delicious, and we ate them on the bus ride back to the hostel. So despite the weather, quite a fantastic day!!
Now I'm sitting here on my top bunk (yes Kayla - I have begun braving the top bunk!) and working on catching up on some journaling assignments. A lot of people are going out to clubs or pubs to celebrate the dual birthdays of two of our classmates, and I may or may not join them. I don't drink so I would just stand there and talk, but it's going to depend on how social I'm feeling. I may just stay in and read Frankenstein. Also the clubs around here are more intimidating than the ones in Bath, so there's that. Eh, we'll see.
But guess what everybody?!
LONDON TOMORROW MORNING!!!! I get to meet my friend Maria in person and see police boxes and Baker Street!!! EXCITEMENT!!!
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