On Wednesday, there was a welcome BBQ hosted by FIE (that who the program is through). There were students from schools all over the country including A&M in Texas, Loyola Marymount, and some school in upstate New York among others. They also held a raffle. Two out of the three prizes, vouchers (gift cards) to Whole Foods, went to Cal State University students. We were very excited as we all like Whole Foods, a little reminder of home.
This past weekend there was a British Superbike race about 100 miles away. I had hoped to go, but public transportation in the countryside on Sundays is not very good. My only hope was to take a taxi from the train station which was 10 miles from the track. Dad suggested I speak with a local dealership as they often do shuttles out to tracks for races (at least they do back in the States). I found a multi-brad dealership, Metropolis Motorcycles, only a few stops away on the Tube. On Thursday, I went there and asked about this possibility, but it is a bi too far for Londoners to go. He suggested that I ask again once a round at Brands Hatch happens (in a few weeks) and there will most likely be a group organized through the dealership that is going. I am very excited about this.
Friday brought about our next British Life and Culture field trip. This day was a day trip out to Cambridge by train. Yay! A train trip. We left from London King's Cross and took a First Capital Connect train to Cambridge. The journey took just under an hour. We had a guide give us a tour of the city. I have never taken an interest to Cambridge but I found it interesting to hear the history and the significance this town holds for England. 
We went inside the famous King's College Chapel. It is huge inside. The stained glass tells Old and New Testament stories. The upper half are Old Testament and the lower are New Testament. Going around the New Testament are arranged chronological and the Old Testament story above it, has a similar message. After our tour we went to lunch at a pub called The Eagle. Back in WWII, RAF and American Airmen stationed nearby would spend many nights at the pub and a tradition of taking a lighter and using the soot from the flame to write on the ceiling. I spent some time looking around and reading about 
the history of the pub and these soldiers before sitting down to eat. On our way out of town, we stopped by the town square where a market was open. Everything from fruits and veggies to shirts and books were on sale.On Saturday I went to the Victoria Coach (like a greyhound bus) Station. My friend, Alex from Calvary, was in town for an hour. He is an R.A. at a bible college up north and was in London to pick up the new students. It was nice to see a friend from back home. After I went across town to an area called St. John's Wood. Coming out of the tube station I immediately knew that I was not in South Kensington or other areas I have visited. This was clearly more of a residential area with lots of trees. There is where I found Panzer's, a specialty market and deli. The big draw was the American brands. I found Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, El Paso Refried Beans, Arriba Chipotle Salsa (my favorite), and real tortilla chips. They also stock Wheat Thins, Graham Crackers, Campbell's Soup, and lots of American baking brands.
Sunday started as a slow day, but by midday it was gorgeous outside and I did not want to stay inside. I decided to walk down to Parliament and see Big Ben. I grabbed my camera and armed with my Oyster card headed out. It was such a wonderful day. The sun was warm (relatively) and the sky was blue, barely a cloud in sight. I came out of at the Westminster Tube Station walked across the Westminster Bridge and walked along the Southbank past the Aquarium, the London Eye, and the British Film Institute. I walked past the Tate Modern, across the Millennium Bridge to St. Paul, got a 99 Flake and took the St. Paul Tube Station to get home. I took tons of pictures and had a wonderful time wandering around. There were many locals out this Sunday, the weather was perfect for a stroll about town. You can see some of my favorites here.
On Monday we celebrated a birthday (the first of many while I am over here) by going to a Mexican restaurant called Cafe Pacifico. It is down an alley in Covent Garden. I have no idea ow they initially found the place. It was delicious. Just as good as MexiCali, except this is more of a sit down restaurant than fast food. I will be sure to return.
Until we meet again,
-Maggie the traveler
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