Shallow Pockets Brimming with a Well-Suited Lunch

Although I am in England for Spring Break and to see Stephen and to visit parts of touristy England I missed as a student(/tourist) over the summer, a very important part of this trip entails internship interviewing.

There is a company based in Macclesfield (just outside of Manchester), England and I had the opportunity to train-it to Manchester for a lunch-interview with Edgar Brother’s head of operations as well as their HR assistant. Do you know how difficult it is to keep a suit wrinkle-free in a suitcase? Impossible- the name is misleading. I did the tissue paper shtick and placed it in a mini hanging pouch but no matter my attempts- wrinkled, wrinkled, wrinkled. And, while my suit is navy… I do not own navy shoes. I was nervous and hoped if any questions came up about my less-than-impressive appearance I could chalk it up to travel-woes…

Luckily I had nothing to worry about. The two women that greeted me at the train station swept me right into conversation and the interview was as appetizing as the salmon ceasar I ordered. It was quick and painless and rather enjoyable compared to what I had always imagined a formal interview to be like and I could not be more excited for the second round of interviews in Macclesfield the following Tuesday with all the head honchos.

As soon as lunch commenced I changed out of my horrid interview-ware and fell into what I’m most comfortable- being a tourist. Oh, and SHOPPING. Manchester had such a selection!

[Smoak was the swanky spot we dined at]

After a bit of shop-seeing [oh AND sight-seeing...] I sat down for a soy chai latte, a phone call home, a slice of almond lemon pie and I spent the rest of the time until my train writing Paris' postcards.

Manchester may not be as large as London but it definitely has character. The main strip was alive and pulsating with foreigners (like me!), street performers and those trying to get through the work day. It's not a bad little city at all. And, like most of Europe, it's got a tragically beautiful charm.

Shallow Pockets Brimming with Beret Sightings

Paris Part Deux.
[I took French in High School… three year’s worth. It’s useless. My French is abysmal.]

What a glorious day to see Paris. It’s unbelievable how vivid the colors are over here. I don’t know if it’s just my awestruck state of mind but genuinely I think the sky is blue-er on this side of the Atlantic. And the vibrancy of the architecture… buildings older than my country still intact and attention-demanding… God I want to be European.
[Mostly for the clothing- good grief have I been people (/outfit) watching.]

Speaking of people watching however… Parisians STARE. I’m not sure if it’s a cultural thing in France or just their most famous city but goddamn! I think that’s where the French (/Parisians) get their reputation for being rude… I didn’t run into anyone that purposefully wouldn’t speak English to me, I didn’t run into anyone less chivalrous than back home… it was just the damn staring! I should probably just grow a bigger backbone but I have never felt more self conscious in my entire life!!

Alright, off the people and back to the sight-seeing.

Once we found the tip we had to plunge deeper [eh, couldn’t resist]. I literally started running around corners to get my first glimpse of the tower up close… that may have added to the staring I suppose… I may have only myself to blame.

VOILA! La Tour d'Eiffel:

Man was it majestic… It was a lot smaller than I had imagined, but I suppose we tend to make things larger than life when they’re so [encompassing] of an entire people, an entire country, and entire love-struck ideal.
It was so lovely outside Stephen and I decided to lay on the lawn and rest from our exhausting day of traveling. There were elementary schools on recess and some soccer (football) performers engaging every little boy’s attention, families taking a mid afternoon stroll and couples, couples, couples.





















After that we just walked along the Seine and took in the sights, the sounds and the smells [which surprisingly were not as bad as rumor has it] of Paris.



















I was taken-aback by the… disrespect? No, that’s not the right word… but definitely lack of reverence for the grandiose infrastructure. This absolutely blew me away- an old museum with beautiful sculptures all over the exterior walls/courtyard of the building had been changed into a skate park for French youth. Skater hooligans were just lounging on these sculptures shooting the shit with their buddies and (railing…- another skate board term) along the marble. I’ve never seen anything like it…


We walked until we reached the islands and just before there was a bridge chock-full of locks. How incredible is it that the first lock that caught my eye had my initials on it?! I thought that was a pretty charming coincidence.




There was also this quaint outdoor market set up along the river with the strangest array of knick knacks. What a life it would be to merchant along the Seiene. I truly think, once I graduate, I’m going to lay my degree to waste and become a wanderer. It’s an enticing ideal… especially in an ancient city like Paris.

Shallow Pockets Brimming with Graffiti Arc

PARIS. Paris. Paris!


Europe is amazing... two hours on a train and hello new country! We took the first Eurostar out of St. Pancras to France and got to Paris just as the bustle of the city began. We took the Metro towards the Seine, bought postcards (you're welcome family), walked about a mile in the wrong direction and stopped for a very French bite to eat.

Once we refueled [with a Cafe Americano, thank you] we hit the sites. Tourists to a tee[hee].

Their porta-potties are MASSIVE... and automated. But the stench never changes. Even though these do flush- still, stagnant human excrement. Appetizing.

My biggest must-see had to be the Arc de Triomphe. My home in Atlanta overlooks a miniature Arc and it was incredible to see the real deal up close and personal. But HOLY ROUNDABOUT! The real Arc was heavily guarded by cars, buses, carriages, taxis, bikes- any and every fast-moving could-kill-you-if-you-got-in-front-of-it mode of transportation... so we took tourist pics from afar.

Then we saw it. Just the tip... at first. A little tease. Then- the Eiffel Tower!!
Another Paris post tomorrow. Bed tonight.

Shallow Pockets Brimming with a Burlesque Snow

Since Europe my first taste of travel outside of the rigors of school and work, work, and more work was to see my Big, Willie in Denver over Winter Break! She moved to the mile high city after graduation last May and I've only seen her once since. Her boyfriend, Nick, used some frequent flier miles to get me out there and I cannot stop thanking him! It was so good to see my Willie!

On New Years I flew out and was greeted by the firey-redhead I've missed so much <3 She and Nick and their Seattle friend, Issac, introduced me to Pho. It was delicious but my favorite thing was the walk from the car to the Pho restaurant... THERE WAS SNOW ON THE GROUND!!! As an Atlanta-native I have to say that no matter the drop in temperature, no matter the shoveling, no matter the traffic... snow is always such a magical, welcomed occurrence.

We spent much of the time lounging about the apartment watching Mad Men (so good- god I want to be a Joan) and eating lots and lots of Pho but we did tourist-it-out a bit and wandered to Boulder's Flatirons, explored some nearby restaurants, took little Ellie out to play and then I got to experience a snowfall :) Oh happy, happy day.






























Miss you, Mamabear. Miss you snow. Good to see you Colorado.

Shallow Pockets Brimming with Heavy Goodbyes

Ireland was our final big adventure... and then it was finals week. Even in England a finals week for Tech classes is just pure hell. Courtney and I did manage to escape for an afternoon jaunt to London midway through, though. She'd never been before and I welcomed any excuse to head to the train station.

We headed back to Camden, did a little shopping, and then made our way to Buckingham Palace. It was raining on my last visit and I never got the chance to see the Queen's home.










It actually rained this time around as well, but only enough to create a RAINBOW. It was stunning.


We were heading to Vauxhall to visit the Pilgrim when Stephen called to let us know the riots were there and we needed to find someplace safe. Our train home wasn't for a few hours so we made our way to the most touristy area we could find and had a meal of fish and chips.




The rest of the week was full of studying and clubbing upon the culmination of finals testing. Then it was time to pack and kiss fair Oxford goodbye.
I went to London the day before my flight to spend one final night in London. Stephen took me around to more must-see sights... I think I will never see it all- London is so vast!


Carnaby Street I liked very much.


Making my way to the airport the next morning amid all of the street and Tube construction (preparation for the Olympics, Summer 2012) was the fight of my life. It was the first time I felt ready to fly home...

But I've got the itch again.