I was walking home from class after a very long day of classes and it was one of those moments that just lifted my spirits.  I saw this on the elementary school wall in San Jose, Costa Rica.  I couldn't help but smile.

So, remember this when you are having a hard day.  Somebody always loves you!

Recovery took longer than I anticipated. However, I can confidently say that I am almost back to full health now.

Manuel Antonio was great last weekend in spite of rain on Saturday. There were loads of monkeys, sloths, and other fascinating animals as well as gorgeous beaches.

Classes seem to be going well. Tomorrow (my last day), I´ll be learning the imperative tense. Finally I´ll be able to tell other people what to do in Spanish and English!

My plans to blog regularly in Costa Rica have pretty much been squashed... However, I am here on the outskirts of San Jose studying Spanish, meeting people, and visiting various places. Pictures will be posted when I return most likely.

I´m staying with a great host family (along with two other students). I walk 30 minutes to and from school every day, I´m in class for about 6 hours a day, and it rains practically every afternoon here. In the evenings and weekends, I´ve managed to meet new people, go dancing, and visit Monteverde (and Manuel Antonio this coming weekend).

I was dreadfully sick yesterday, but I am quickly recovering today. My friend theorizes that it was a result of me not finishing homework before I went out to have fun Tuesday night. I would blame the food, but it´s so tasty that it just doesn´t seem possible...

I'm back home!  I've been working in Atlanta the last week or two and right now I'm crunching through history homework before I leave for Costa Rica on Sunday.  Enjoy the blog posts though - Europe pictures and posts will sporadically appear over the next months, I'm sure.

Welcome to the White Cliffs of Dover, one of my top five fav's from England.  Dover played an important role in English history as the point of contact with the rest of Europe.  The short, safe link to French mainland (particularly the port of Calais) was heavily used and is still used in conjunction with the Chunnel to transfer goods between England and France.  Calais was a defensible stronghold traditionally held by the English until the French regained control (late 1550's) during Mary Tudor's reign.

In more modern times, Dover was heavily fortified as the point of first contact with German air raids in World War 2.  In fact, my friend Michael and I found a bunker carved into the side of the cliffs.  It's almost eery to be in history like this.

The best part of Dover, however, is the nature.  Majestic chalk cliffs, beautiful water, French mainland visible across the channel, sweeping wheat fields, and endless hikes along the cliff ridges.  I would love to go back some day with a backpack and just wander for several days, sleeping in the abandoned bunkers and absorbing the costal serenity.

As Bev (my literature teacher explained), you only stay sane on trips to England by planning what to see next time.  There really is just too much to do and see.  The Dover trip was a great Sabbath hike after a brief pilgrimage to Canterbury on a beautiful summer day.  Highly recommended for potential visitors to England.

I'm in Geneva, Switzerland (actually just across the border in France) and loving it! No pictures for now because my friend's laptop is having fits. I'm right next to a grand mountain and have a beautiful overlook on Geneva.

Rome was pretty nice - saw most of the big stuff, but it's much dirtier than most places I've been in recently. Good food, good people, and good experiences all over.

Will write more soon!

Leaving Oxford today (all too soon), but it's been fun! I'll have to put up new pictures soon, but in the meantime, here are some older ones.
A beautiful Lotus Elise - just one of the many exotic and beautiful cars I've seen here in England. I saw an Audi R8 and even a Mclaren at Stonehenge.

One of the most photographed and painted views in England, seen from the Bishops Garden in Wells (near Bath). Really lovely place!

Wells cathedral, I believe, with an amazing pipe organ.

Me, Mike, Yong (he's really not drunk), and David up on the Tor overlooking Glastonbury. T'was such a good hike with good friends.

Oxford's History of Natural Science museum. This particular piece from the enlightenment period reminds me of the complex astronomical machinery in movies. I would love to have one of these in my room...

Time to get back to studying and reading! Ttfn.

Huzzah, picture time!! Send requests :)

Here is Bath Abbey lit up at night (our first night in Bath). Several friends at Glastonbury Tor - a beautiful tower on a massive hill that overlooks the town. Highly recommended although the hike is a little intense.

Here is one of the creepy sculptures I found in a cathedral. It still weirds me out. Especially the eyes.

Here's me at Prior Gardens near Bath. It's a lovely landscape originally owned by a rich gentleman in Bath who bought out the stone mining industry around Bath and also revolutionized England's postal system.

Oxford is pretty great - took a tour of Duke Humphry's library (part of the Bodleian Library with about 7.5 million books and 20 miles of shelving) and the Ashmolean museum. Ashmole (a lawyer) tricked his friend into giving away a large collection of 'things' upon his death. After his friend died, the widow took possession and she "accidentally drowned" in her backyard in a puddle - after years of legal nastiness with Ashmole. Pretty clear what actually happened eh?

Anyway it's only appropriate since the Ashmole is mostly filled with plundered goods from the British Empire's expansion. Lots of great sculptures, paintings, treasures, and all that jazz.

I'm living at Queen's College (one of the 41 colleges in Oxford) and enjoying it thouroughly! More news soon...

I have deeply saddening news. We are leaving Bath tomorrow morning. I really love this city (even with it's ungraceful nightlife) and I'm looking foward to visiting again...

Winchester was amazing - we packed so much in that I'll have to share later. I went on the Dole for an afternoon (only my Aussie friends will pick up on that I suspect).

I'll be in Oxford tomorrow - hopefully the internet will be better and I can actually put some pictures up! Take care and make sure to send recommendations my way ;)

Many good things are still happening in England! Stonehenge (not that big of deal, surprisingly), cathedrals (amazing - very big deal), and other odds and ends around Bath and nearby areas. Tomorrow is Winchester and Southhampton. We are on our own to explore, so we'll see what happens.

I've been running around bath every morning at 6:30 and it's been quite pleasant. The nightlife is really busy - too bad I'm not a big clubber :P

No pictures for a few more days at least - the firewall here is apparently a bit too strict. Lo siento.