London

We got back from London late Tuesday night, but this is the first time I've had more than a few minutes to sit down and write about it. With the semester winding up, I've been doing double-duty with teaching preparation and the like. Only one more week to go before sweet, sweet research leave.

Sara and I managed to do and see a lot while we were in London and Cambridge, mostly due to the generous hospitality of Chris and Steph, Justin and Anne, our respective hosts. Since I'm too lazy to write a detailed description-review of each thing we did while we're there, I'll resort to the dreaded summary point list:

London:
Thursday night -- arrived late, took an expensive cab ride to East London.
Friday -- Went to the British Museum, marveled at the many splendors of British Imperialism. Was nearly convinced imperialism is not such a bad thing if it means seeing the Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon statuary in the same place. Later that day went to meet Chris at his lab at King's College, London, and got to see the super-secret forensic specimen library. Started to feel faint after seeing the third pickled conjoined twin, then felt insufficient upon seeing a penis engorged to giant size from retained lymph. Sara had a great time. She's weird. Had a quick snack of beigals and hot salt beef (the London equivalent of bagels and corned beef, but oh so much better). Went out to amazing Tandoori and curry at Tayyabb's in the East End. Called it a night.
Saturday -- Touristy stuff. Went to see the London Eye, balked at the lines, and walked over to Parliament and Big Ben. Went into Westminster Abbey and saw the burial place of many British royalty (yawn) and well as Geoffrey Chaucer (yay!). Walked up to Trafalgar Square, shook my fist at Nelson because of his treatment of Copenhagen during the Napoleonic Wars, and went into the National Gallery, where we saw many wonderful works of art that blended into each other except for this and this. Met up with Chris and Steph at their place, had a nap and a bite to eat, and went to the Burning Man decompression party. Had a great time, met many cool people.
Sunday -- More touristy stuff. After a late start, went to Spitalfield Market and gawked at things we couldn't afford. Walked around central London and marveled at the city's architectural renaissance. Walked over to the Tower of London, crossed over London Bridge, went into the new Mayor's Office building, then met up with Steph. Chris made dinner.
Monday -- Went to Cambridge.

Cambridge:
Monday -- Met Justin and Anne. Walked around Cambridge and marveled at all the wonderful architecture and quaint student life. Had a few beers, promptly started to fall asleep. Called it an early night.
Tuesday -- More touring of campus. Punting along the Cam River. Learned that Cambridge comes from "bridge over the river Cam." Train back to Stansted and back to Copenhagen. Arrived late.

We had a wonderful time, and thanks again to our hosts, who empowered us in our quest to pack as much into one long weekend as possible. Pictures can be found here.