A few random thoughts from the week...

There are approximently 80 steps up to my hotel room, which I climb, on average, 4-5 times a day. I'm sure that makes up for the all the KU hills I'm not climbing.

Couples are not afraid of PDA in this town. I was going up an escalator from the Tube the other day and I noticed not one, but two couple making out on their ride up. Hyde Park is really bad. At the same time, there is an element of sweetness about it...it's nice to see happy people enjoying a beautiful afternoon with the person they love.

I went to Winchester on Tuesday. It was so beautiful. Originally, it had been the capital of England, and this is recognized by a giant statue of King Alfred which stands upon the entrance to city centre. There are homes dating back to the 1400's, and a little stream that runs through the middle of town. So quaint, so peaceful, so perfect.

Jane Austen was bured there, and she lived about 20 miles down the road in a little village called Chawton. The village is very peaceful and pretty as well. It looks almost exactly how you would picture it based on her novels and movies. Her home was a cottage, but it wasn't small. They had about four bedrooms, and a large garden. She wrote and published most of her books there in the latter part of her life.

I can't help but to be depressed though, when I think about her writing all these fantastic love stories and then dying single and alone at age 41. They said she fell in love once, when she was my age, but it only last a month and then he went away to law school. Then another guy came along five years later and proposed. She accepted, but then the next day revoked her promise.

I ate lunch at an old pub (which was delicious), and went on a walk. The countryside is so green, so quiet, so old. I can't help but to think that where she lacked inspiration from experience, she found it in her beautiful surroundings. I hope I make it back there some day.

Next week, I'll be in Bakewell...which I'm a little unsure about. It's a small town, so there really isn't much to do. I was planning on exploring the countryside where they did a lot of the filming for Jane Austen movies, and visiting the estates where they shot Pemberly and Rosings, but it might be a little bit of a let down. The forcast is for rain all five days I'm there. At least I have work to do and books to read.

Ihave to look on the bright side, I haven't seen rain yet in London and today marks two weeks since I arrived. This week will be very warm and sunny.

All in all this has been a very successful break so far. I've had some issues along the way with travel, getting lost, etc. But it's been one hell of an adventure. I think I've grown more in the last 4 weeks than in the previous two months I spent in Leicester. This growth has caused some friction in other areas of my life, but I know by now that growing pains are a part of life, and I'm happy to have learned more about myself through this experience.