Our Portugal Trip (by Nick Fimek)

For the long weekend in February five other guys and myself decided to head to Portugal. It seemed like the whole school was going to Ireland and we wanted to go somewhere warm so after a little research we booked a flight to Faro. Needless to say if you get six guys going to the same place it is impossible to plan anything so four of us were arriving in Portugal on Thursday and the other two booked the wrong flight and had to come in Friday. Upon arrival to Faro we were extremely excited to see the sun, kind of a rare sight in England, and the weather was beautiful. We were staying in Lagos, about a two hour train ride away from Faro, so we had to get a ticket at the train station and we had a couple hours to kill. Faro is a cool town but it wasn’t my favorite part of the trip, I was really glad I stayed in Lagos. In Faro we just kind of wandered around and went to a place called La Pizza, they put banana on the pizza and it was awesome. I told the pizza guy I was from Chicago and he kept asking me questions, I felt bad because I really couldn’t understand what he was saying so I did the whole smile and nod thing but I think he is under the impression that on the roof of the skyscrapers in Chicago there are a ton of gardens filled with animals. Hopefully he doesn’t go there and gets disappointed. Luckily we were able to make it to the train on time and get to Lagos, which was beautiful. The guesthouse we booked was amazing, right by the beach with a patio, a BBQ, a kitchen and we got two bedrooms. We went out that night and the town was empty, it felt like we owned the town. It was a good start to the trip.

On Friday the four of us headed to the cliffs, which were so cool, and did a little climbing. I’m not sure how safe it was but it was one of my favorite parts of the trip. You could see the tourists on the beach taking pictures of us, hoping we would fall for a good picture. Nobody fell but we all did get some great pictures. Our two other friends arrived when we were cooking dinner and we had a nice relaxing dinner, which all the groceries were really cheap so it was a great alternative to going out. After dinner we went out with a couple people who lived in the other bedroom in the guesthouse and had another good time.

Saturday the weather was beautiful, close to 70 degrees, so we decided to borrow bikes and just ride around. The bikes were pretty interesting because we hadn’t ridden bikes in years so a couple of us fell down but it was pretty funny when it happened though. The first place we went was a great beach, one of the nicest beaches I’ve ever seen. From there we just took our shoes off and wandered around. After the beach we went into town and had a great fish lunch at a really nice restaurant. Probably the best fish I have ever had. When we got back to the guesthouse we thought it would be a good idea to go out to the cliffs and watch the sunset, but most of the group fell asleep. Thankfully two other guys and myself were still up and got on our bikes towards the cliff. Of course, we got hopelessly lost on the way and the sun was going down fast. After going through some really creepy Portuguese back roads we made it just in time to the point, which was the best place in the whole area to watch the sunset because they were facing west. This was by complete accident and even if you were to ask me to take you there again. It was sheer luck that we got there, but the spot was perfect. This was my favorite part of the trip; just sitting on the cliffs watching the waves come in and the sun go down. I’m usually not into that kind of stuff but this was hands down the most naturally beautiful thing I have ever seen. We spent about an hour and a half up there and watched the lights around the distant villages come on. Because we were on a cliff, in the middle of nowhere, in the dark, I got a little paranoid and we rode our bikes back. Riding the bikes back in the dark probably wasn’t the best idea because we could barely ride our bikes in the day, but it was defiantly worth it. That night we went out and we had a really good time.  

Fortunately we saw on the schedule that there was a train from Lagos to Faro that would give us enough time to safely get to the airport and have no risk of missing out train. Unfortunately we read the schedule wrong and that train wasn’t available on Sundays, which we didn’t find out until we got to the station. This could have been potentially disastrous and we were under the impression that we were going to have to be stranded in Portugal, which wouldn’t have been too bad, but we kind of need to go to class to graduate. Luckily the owner of the guesthouse was able to call some people and get us a cheap cab to Faro. I don’t think this was a legally licensed cab to the airport but it was cheap and I didn’t ask questions so it worked out. Actually, looking back we were pretty lucky with the whole situation. Finally we got to the airport, bid farewell to Portugal and headed back on the plane to England (I almost missed the flight because I fell asleep in the airport and nobody could find me but thankfully I made it). Overall this trip was amazing and turned out about as well as it could of. Portugal is cheap, beautiful and it doesn’t have that overly tourist feel and I would for sure recommend it.

Sunny Spain!

by Holly Cunningham

After spending a few cold weeks in the United Kingdom, I decided it was time to head somewhere that would offer warmth and sunshine! So my friend Colleen and I booked at trip to Granada, Spain, which turned out to be the most beautiful country I’ve visited thus far. It was so warm that we didn’t even have to wear our coats the entire time we were there! Granada is also filled with beautiful landscapes, views, and buildings. It was definitely a trip worth taking.

Our first day there we just explored the city, visited some shops, and attempted to speak Spanish. One of the locals told us that we should not miss walking to the top of the city (up a tall hill) to experience an incredible view. Although the walk was pretty steep, it was absolutely worth it. Even just walking up the hill was beautiful; the streets are all narrow and made of stone, and the houses that line the streets are gorgeous! Once we made it to the top, the view was fantastic! It took my breath away. On the horizon we could see the entire city, surrounded by a light layer of fog, with the sun beaming through. But the most beautiful scene was that of the Alhambra, with snow-covered mountains as its backdrop. Words really can’t describe the beauty of this site.

The next day we decided to visit some local markets, followed by a trip to the Alhambra. The market was a colorful, lively place, with shops that were full of good buys! There were beautiful painted tiles and ceramics everywhere, handmade leather bags, jewelry, scarves, and so much more. Each shop was unique in it’s own way, although most sold similar products. The shop owners were also really nice, and usually willing to lower their prices a bit if necessary. Once we left the market place we caught a bus to take us to the Alhambra.

This was probably our favorite site from the trip. The Alhambra is enormous, beautifully crafted, and filled with fascinating history. The inside of the palace was one of the most incredible parts. Almost everyone wall is decorated in hand-painted tiles, as well as detailed carvings and décor. It was all so intricate and spectacular; we took hundreds of photos! Every corner we turned there was something new and excited to see, and we felt like we never wanted to leave. There is also an amazing view of Granada from the top of the tower, which was simply breathtaking. The entire trip to the Alhambra was definitely worth the small entrance fee.

Finally, we walked back to our hostel after a long day of site seeing. The next morning we visited a local restaurant before heading back to the airport. Luckily for us they printed the menu in Spanish and English, so we actually knew what all our options were. We both decided to get a ham and cheese croissant, orange juice, and hot tea. The orange juice was the best I have ever had in my life! It tasted as if I were literally drinking a fresh orange, and it was wonderful.

So all in all I would say that we had a great experience in Granada! It was a good way to experience a different culture while seeing beautiful new sites. This has been my favorite trip of the semester, and I would highly recommend visiting there.

London: The Nick Fimek Story

The first weekend in Harlaxton everybody goes to London but I never booked the school trip because I am a bit of a procrastinator. I have already been to London a couple times before that so I figured I would be able to save some money and just do the trip independently, which after some thought was the right choice for me. So after some last minute planning I booked a train ticket, a hostel and was all set for a good weekend. I left for the train station after classes with my roommate and was excited for the upcoming weekend.

It turned out our hostel was in a rich neighborhood right next to Kensington Palace, which was surprising to me because I just picked the cheapest available hostel. I really liked the neighborhood, I felt comfortable and when I told locals I was staying in that area I got a ton of style points. As much as I wanted to look around for hours it was already late at that point and we just wandered around the neighborhood. There weren’t many tourists and we decided to stop at a few pubs before calling it a night.

The next day we hopped on the Tube and headed towards the British National Museum. The museum was massive and I would really recommend it for anyone, and it’s free. I am not a huge museum fan but this one was great, it had the Rosetta stone, mummies and tons of other artifacts from around the world. It would be easy to spend an entire day there and we spent most of our day there. After spending so much time in the museum we decided to just wander around the neighborhood and the nearby universities. It was fun wandering around and getting lost, London is a great city to just walk around with no plan. After a full day we met up with some other Harlaxton students and wandered around the pubs in the area before retiring to our hostel.

Our second day in London was a ton of fun also. The first thing we did when we woke up was head straight to Camden, which is an awesome neighborhood. Because Camden is kind of the hip, counterculture neighborhood in London people watching is a blast. We stopped off at the famous Camden market but I think it was more enjoyable to just to wander in and out of the old record stores in the area where all the locals hung out. I had a blast just meandering around Camden, talking to the people and looking at some of the outrageous things they were selling. Because it was such a nice night we headed to Westminster to see Parliament and just look around. Both of us had already seen that whole area on our previous visits so we weren’t too inclined to go in the actual building and look around. We ended up just sitting on a ledge next to Parliament facing the River Thames and just relaxed until the area was dark. Knowing it was our last night in London we opted to head back to Camden to check out the nightlife, definitely worth it. After an eventful day we both fell asleep instantly at the hostel.

I really enjoyed my time in London and it is a great city to handle with little experience. London is so tourist friendly; pretty much anyone can have a great time without a lot of problems. The train ride back was a bit of a hassle, turns out they get really mad if you get on an earlier train than the one you bought the ticket for, but despite the best efforts of the conductor I made it back to Harlaxton. London was great; I saw some great sights and met some cool people, after that weekend I can’t wait for my next trip to London.

by Nick Fimek

Independent Travel to Ireland - Mary Ashlyn Dohoney

I stayed in Dublin for 4 days.  From my experience I can offer a few tips.  First, research where you are going before you leave.  This way you do not waste time while you are there.  Many hostels in Dublin offered free walking tours though the city.  Highly recommended.  The city is so condense that its hard to find all the historical sights on your own.

Most of what Dublin has to offer are pubs and huge shopping centers. You can really find some good deals if you look around. When it comes to pubs one can always hit up Temple Bar though it is a tourist trap. At the same time it’s where you can meet the locals too and find plenty of fun things to do. One thing to keep in mind is that Dublin is pretty pricy.

I found a great pub called the Shakespeare. It’s located on Parnell St. and owned by Koreans. They have Japanese beer in a three pint bottle for 9 euros. Plus the bartenders are really fun loving.

If you get tired of the city, hop on a train to the coast. There’s a little village called Malahide that offers a beach access, a lush park and castle. All of which is free and a round trip was only 4.20 euros.

So to summarize my Ireland experience:

Dublin = expensive indulgence

Malahide = beautiful simplicity

Morris Dancers - Mary Ashlyn Dohoney

CRAZY men dressed in bells and flowers waving sticks that they very well may whack you on the head with, dancing enthusiastically in traditional dance = The Morris Dancers for Nottingham. They were accompanied by a group of lady cloggers who entertained and educated us on the art of clogging during intermission.  This was truly a fun filled night!  The performance ended with their traditional New Year’s Eve skit which symbolized the old year passing, but being revived by the new one to come.

After everything, the whole lot of them decided to come down to the Bistro to mingle with us. The students and Morris Dancers had a sing-off which was fun, yet embarrassing on our part.  Old fashioned drinking songs combatted with Journey - “Don’t Stop Believing” and “The Lion Sleeps tonight”.

We finished the night by participating in a dance that the group taught us spur of the moment.  

Brilliant night!!!!

Lincoln Field Trip - Mary Ashlyn Dohoney

Though the weather was windy, it didn’t put a damper on our time spent at Lincoln Cathedral.  Personal tour guides made sure to inform us of all miscellaneous information that took place on these historic grounds. For instance, did you know that at public hangings, little boys were sometimes paid to hold on to the legs of those sentenced to hang in order to ensure a speedier death?  Not everything was morbid about this adventure.  The Lincoln Cathedral itself was an astonishing display of craftsmanship.  It epitomized a reverent heaven.

This area was heavily occupied by Romans from 40-390 ad. We all had the opportunity to walk along the perimeter of where their colonia once stood and go through the Newport Arch, one of the oldest intact and still in use arches in all of Britain.

After all the historical sightseeing, the High Street was the place to go.  Even if your aim wasn’t to shop I’d still suggest going to Steep Hill Tea; a cozy and inexpensive tea house.  All pots of tea were no more than 2 pounds. 

Over all it was a great success!

A Day in Cambridge - Katelyn Spainhour

The coach drove into the bright sunset after another lovely breakfast at the manor. All of the students fit on one coach, so there were about 50 or so of us. After a relatively short ride (compared to the trip to London or Edinburgh), the coach stopped at the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial. We arrived early, so students roamed the cemetery, taking pictures of the beautiful memorials and headstones, until our tour guide called us together. Our guide gave us a brief outline of what happened during the World Wars, America’s role in the wars, and how the cemetery came to be. He then took us around and pointed out a few headstones, telling us the stories of a few of the men buried there. He also showed us the Wall of the Missing, which lists the names of those whose remains have not yet been found, and the Memorial Building. Everything was beautiful, and the students walked around contemplating the sacrifices of those who fought in the wars. It was nice to have a breath of American history.

Cambridge University was about fifteen minutes from the cemetery, and once there the students had about four hours of free time. Things to see and do included seeing the different colleges and their chapels, walking around town, and punting on the river. The most visited college and chapel was King’s College. The chapel was commissioned by Henry VI, and was thus grand and covered in detail, mostly referring to his Kingship. The stained glass windows covered every wall and were extremely detailed. The rest of the wall space was covered in numerous unique stone carvings. It was a beautiful sight to behold for those who went. The town offered numerous little shops and restaurants to visit, and punting offered a view of the backs of the colleges. Guided punting tours told the history of the buildings and bridges along the river. Another sight was the Round Church. It was a unique place in that there are only four churches like it left in England. Students could walk in and learn about its unique history, which could be tied to what we are learning in British Studies. It was an interesting little stop for many.

One interesting thing was that there were way more tourists in Cambridge than students. The university has definitely become a hub for tourism, so the students find other places to hang out or stay in the private places on their campus. Overall, it was a great visit to Cambridge, and the weather could not have been more perfect.

The Edinburgh Excursion – Katelyn Spainhour

The group left bright and early Friday morning with Edinburgh, Scotland as their destination. With six hours on a coach between us and our hotel, many, if not all of us, slept as much as we could. We stopped for a few minutes at the border of Scotland and England, though not many exited the coach due to the rainy, windy, and cold weather that we had driven into. Those that did get off now have a picture of themselves with the big rock that says Scotland on one side and England on the other. I personally think that the wet chill was worth the picture.

A few hours and many beautiful views of the Scottish countryside later, and we were finally in downtown Edinburgh! Our excitement was somewhat false, though, for it took our coach driver several more minutes and a few circles around the city to find our hotel. It seems that GPSs aren’t always trustworthy. Anyway, after checking in, students had the afternoon free.

Many chose to climb Arthur’s Seat, the extinct volcano that overlooks the city. The path up the side of the mountain tricked us into thinking we were as high as we could go, but after it descended some and circled around one of the peaks, we realized that we weren’t even close to the top. I think I can safely say that most of our students braved the wind and steep paths and successfully got to the top. The views were stunning and definitely worth the hike. Other paths lead students to beaches, ruins of an old chapel, or other views of the city. After the long day, some went to bed while others scoped out pubs and clubs to spend the evening in.

Saturday was another free day, and the Royal Mile, the Scott Monument, the Scottish National Museum, and Edinburgh Castle were among the favorite spots to visit. The Royal Mile is the main street for shopping. The majority of tourist shops are located here, and many spent the day perusing through each. Those who were lucky enough to be in the right spot at the right time saw a parade of people and whistle and drum marching bands. It was a unique cultural experience. Also, the parade traveled by a corner where a gang of men dressed as Willy Wonka’s Oompa Loompas were hanging out at a pub…another unique demonstration of Scottish culture. The Scott Monument was a huge tower by our hotel that was built in honor of Sir Walter Scott. Those who were brave enough to tackle the 287 spiral steps enjoyed more spectacular views of downtown Edinburgh. The Scottish National Museum had a variety of exhibits, displaying things from Scotland’s religious reformation, the development of the modern engine, and more. Edinburgh Castle was the most prominent building in the city. It was on a hill, and thus overlooked downtown. Students who went enjoyed its grandeur and historic qualities.

The coach left the hotel after an early breakfast Sunday morning. On the way back to Harlaxton, the group made two stops. The first was at Hadrian’s Wall. Students roamed the remains of the Roman fort and took several pictures before heading back to the coach. The next stop was in the city of Durham. Students had an hour and a half to grab lunch and explore the city. Most looked around the small shops or walked up to the cathedral. There were a few platoons of Royal Air Force cadets outside of the cathedral commemorating the anniversary of the Battle of Britain, which made the visit unique. The building itself was massive, but absolutely beautiful. The foundations for the church were laid in the 1090s, which made the open architecture and huge stained glass windows even more impressive. There was an art exhibition set up in the back room, which displayed pieces about the church. Overall, it was a very good stop that nicely broke up the long couch ride back to school.

LONDON ~ by Katelyn Spainhour

Students left the Manor at 6.30pm after dinner on Thursday night. Our coaches seem to have a talent for lulling all of their passengers to sleep, because most of the 127 or so students who went slept for most of the three hour journey. Upon our arrival to the Royal National Hotel in downtown London, we all checked into our rooms and were free for the rest of the night. Most took to exploring the surrounding square, and others jumped right into experiencing London’s night life.

On Friday a group of students met at the Tower of London to have a private tour with one of Dr. Green’s old friends. She told us interesting facts about the tower’s history and modern uses and pointed out different buildings and elements, explaining the significance of each. It was an interesting tour, and we got to see things like the crown jewels and Henry VIII’s armor. After the tour, students went their separate ways.

My group ended up at the British Museum. This was a great place to visit, because admission was free and many infamous items are displayed. Many of us took pictures by the Rosetta Stone and an Easter Island Head, two iconic artifacts. Other groups took the afternoon to explore other great attractions such as the Big Ben, the Eye of London, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and the National Gallery. All of these places are easy to get to via the Tube, or London Underground. Though the system takes a little getting used to, many students easily got the hang of it, and travel all over the city quickly and cheaply.

Two other aspects of London vastly enjoyed by students were shopping and theater. There are little shops and shopping squares sprinkled throughout the city, so shopping breaks were very easy to take. Theaters are also much more abundant than in American cities. Students enjoyed buying discounted tickets for any show of their choice and going to the theater at night. Some shows attended were Stomp, Chicago, and Billy Elliot. Each group had a different story to share about their theater experience, and the coach ride back Sunday afternoon was buzzing with stories of the weekend.

The group made a stop at the Hampton Court Palace before heading directly back to the manor. Students were free to explore the palace for a few hours. Some took advantage of the free audio guides, some were entertained by the actors portraying characters who initially inhabited the palace, and still others explored the beautiful gardens and surrounding grounds. Overall, it was a nice stop before heading back to the manor for another week of school.

Talent Show

Our Talent Show this semester included an amazing 15 acts plus a couple surprise acts, all of which were absolutely fabulous! Congratulations to Sam, who managed to raise the most money for the much needed disaster relief - Shelter Boxes. Well done to all those concerned!

We have many more photos for you to look at, these can be accessed by clicking on this link.

Behind the scenes photos can be viewed by selecting this link here.