Bertii Goes U.K (imovie poster, got bored peeps)

Dear Reader,

Here is something I put together. I got the idea while working on an imovie project of my travels. Yes I am crazy but it was fun. Please enjoy this short entry

Teaser Poster!

Best,

Bertii

my oxford day trip

Dear Reader,

This is my trip to a couple of sights in Oxford with a friend I met here in the U.K. He showed me around the area and gave me some neat information about certain buildings. I unfortunately did not take many pictures and cannot remember the names of the buildings, but neat pictures to look at nonetheless.

ENJOY!

Best,

Bertii!

P.S "I might go back and if I do I will surely take more pictures!"

bloomsbury.

Dear Reader,

Another day of successful travel. Today I have wandered into the homes of many English intellectuals that have contributed to Bloomsbury art and literature. I visited the homes of Vanessa Bell, Virginia Woolf, Leonard Woolf, and the list of Bloomsbury intellects go on.

The first stop was Charleston where many Bloomsbury individuals meet for an escape of the city and the peaceful environment for working on their art and writing.

CHARLESTON HOUSE 

Sometimes things do not have to be that serious.

VIRGINIA WOOLF'S BEDROOM 

(unfortunately no photography allowed inside, no rules against outside)

The second stop was Berwick Church in which Vanessa Bell and Clive Bell where commissioned to paint the church in an Italian style of fresco paintings.

BERWICK CHURCH 

Neat sign!

Inside the small church with Bloomsbury art decor.

Bloomsbury painting on Berwick Church

The third and last stop was Monks House where Virginia Woolf and Leonard Woolf spent their last days. The small house is cozy and radiates a life once lived in its walls by the Woolfs; however, this last stop was quite somber because it was where Virginia Woolf committed suicide in a near by river to the house. The garden is beautiful and quiet and furthermore too untouched and interrupted. The area has an almost mourning-like atmosphere, something to be seen as a place of remembrance. Although Monk’s House is quite sad in my opinion, it was my favorite stop.

MONK'S HOUSE

Yeah another neat sign!

A hand painted lamp in Bloomsbury style of course

Dinning Table where Virginia Woolf, Leonard Woolf, and their guest ate of course

Me again, in Virginia Woolf's bedroom

Lily pond! Great photo right?

Virginia Woolf's grave. Located in her garden next to Leonard Woolf, this was quite sad I must admit, but in good spirit

Best,

Bertii

P.S: "I will wander Oxford this weekend I will post my travel there soon..."

An Unfinished Thought...and much more

Dear Reader,

Other than King’s College library, my second favorite place of study in Cambridge University would have to be the Pembroke library. On this particular day the stain glass window shines brightly reflecting off my laptop slightly obscuring my work in progress; my essay on Bloomsbury and English Culture. My fingers tremble across the key board at the excitement of a new idea, or at least only swaying rapidly to what I most desired in that moment, to be done! My practiced fingers and palms move from left to right, hitting, stroking, and yet caressing the keys, I type T, then H and E to spell one of the most common words in the English language. And then I begin to think of those Bloomsbury intellectuals and what they brought to English culture. They called for an alternative to what was then the convention of reality and more so the reality of their misunderstood ideas of human nature in early 20^th century. Was it naïve of them to explore human sexuality beyond the confines of their sex, not never imagined, but limited by sexual and gender dualities, and furthermore tolerating the label deviant? Such a limiting idea of sexuality and gender that serves to subordinate others and thus “Othering” the capability of human nature. To reach and touch knowledge itself.

It is unfortunate that only some of us have touch the edges of those unchartered waters. This is not to say that the knowledge you are most comfortable living by is by any means regressive, if anything it is part of the same water closest to the shore where all that is left is smooth wet sand, some of us sinking our feet and yet retreating to dry sand in the anxiety of losing a foot. Why not move into the shallows of the unknown? In all honestly I am afraid of the open sea, if anything the worst would be to find myself on a ship in the open sea fearing whether the boat will keep me afloat until my arrival on land. Fear is in the mind, but the mind also has a curiosity to venture on with fear by its side while questioning the possibility of sinking to one’s death beneath the dark blue. This is perhaps the worst scenario for those frightened by the sea, but what if we do not sink and instead stay afloat on the surface and every so often reaching below to find a lost treasure; a more refined knowledge of the world.

A picture of my study place in Pembroke library

William Blake's Songs of Innocence

Another angle

One of the 26 last remaining copies of Songs of Innocence, hand written and painted by William Blake and his wife. Our professor told us she had a surprise for us, but she would tell us as soon as Dr. Peter Jones, a librarian and Medieval Historian would arrive. Dr. Jones also happens to be my professor for my Bloomsbury and English Culture course. In his hands he had a maroon box and told us that he had something very special to share with us. We all stopped reading William Blake's poems in our readers and he told us that he had an original that we could look at and see if our reading of the original would change our interpretation and understanding of Blake's work. We were all so amazed!

Dr. Jones you are amazing!

King's College Fireworks

A little after 4th of July in the U.S, King's College was celebrating the summer with their own fireworks!

Pembroke Dining Hall Entrance

Best,

Bertii

P.S: "Reader thanks for your support, I only have 3 more weeks and I am done! But no worries I will spend some more time in London and a week in France! So be on the look out"

London oh how I like to wander thy streets..

Dear Reader,

It has been quite a while since my last post. Here are a couple of pictures of the more exploring I have done this past weekend. I went to London and saw many of its historical sights such as the Globe, Parliament, Big Ben and so many others that you can see below. Please enjoy until my next post.

THE LONDON EYE

A really neat sight!

SHAKESPEARE'S: THE GLOBE

The tour of the stage was amazing and so much history in how plays were actually meant to be performed. There is a structure but it would take too long to explain; basically the higher up one is the more expensive and of higher class one represented. I saw King Henry VIII and King Henry IV Part I (there are 3 parts and is part of Shakespeare's Historical plays). This is not the original Globe and is actually the second Globe, the first one burned down way before many of us were born, but with the help of Shakespeare's company the Globe exist today! (some history for you!)

BIG BEN

This is Big Ben!

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

This is Buckingham Palace. The gate and building is pretty neat but the walk threw St. James park was the real treat because of the scenery leading up to the palace.

THE MILLENNIUM BRIDGE

Pretty amazing all I can really say is that it was on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince! 

THE LONDON BRIDGE

The London was not as big as I thought it would be. I tried half an hour looking how I could cross but then gave up so I just took the picture.

THE UNDERGROUND

The best way to get around London of course! 

Once again thank you reader for your support! 

Best,

Bertii

P.S: More exploring on my agenda! But before that its work time, wish me good luck on mid-terms!

Eating International: Good Eat(s) #1

Dear Reader,

I have eaten quite much here in the U.K some good than others to my palate. Below I have a couple of pictures and thoughts of the food here thus far. Hope you find this entry in good taste and well if you get hungry, my apologies!

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Restaurant: Crag & Tail
Food: Sausage, sweet onion, and mash

The dish is quite delicious, I was skeptical at first because I never imagine sausage and mash together on the same plate, but to my surprise the dish was really good. The sweet onions really balance the sausage and mash. I loved the gravy sauce which has the sweet onions. It was reasonably priced and the setting was warm, relaxing and a good place to write. 

Location: Edinburgh Castle

Restaurant: The Wild Elephant

Food: Veggie Pad-Thai & Coconut Rice

Unfortunately I do not have a picture of my dish so this is as close as it gets! The pad-thai at the Wild Elephant was great because of the spices they use and the chef making meal, originally from Thailand, was quite nice. The waitress was very accommodating. I really enjoyed the coconut rice because the coconut sauce brought out flavors of rice that is not commonly apparent when eating plain steamed rice. It was really creamy and sweet.

Location: Cambridge, England

Restaurant/Dinning Hall: King's College Hall

Dish: Roasted Duck on bed of mash with season vegetables in a onion soup cream

This dish is among my favorites. It was served at one of the Formal Halls at King's College where we drink wine, dine, and talk with fellows of Cambridge and friends. The meal was part of a 3 course; onion soup, salad, and the Roast Duck on bed of mash. The cream sauce was great. The duck was so moist and full of flavor.

Best,

Bertii

P.S: "DISCLAIMER: I am not a food critique" 

Scotland and the North

Dear Reader,

I arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland quite tired from the long 6 hour coach (bus) drive, but not before a couple of pit stops and the Fountain Abbey as you can see below. The sights so far have been amazing! I cannot believe what wondrous treasures the world has to offer abroad. I enjoy strolling the sidewalks and stopping once a while to look at the intricate architecture or small café’s and shops. I found the Royal Mile great which is number of streets that have restaurants, shops, entertainment, tours of the area, and vendors selling their products. Amidst all the tourist distractions, I was highly anticipating something I had always wanted to see—the Edinburgh Castle. I decided to grab a bite to eat and mark the places I wanted to visit in the area including the Castle.

I stopped at a nice cozy restaurant named Crag & Tail and ordered the sausage, sweet onion, and mash. It was delicious. After leaving I headed up Castle Hill, which leads to Edinburgh Castle. I paid for my entrance and entered threw the castle’s passageway into the city within. There were loads of people, but not so crowed that it took from my experience. I walked the cobblestone paths, visited the different towers, royal rooms, and halls of the castle. The place was a palace. I wish I could have taken photographs of the King’s Crown, wand, and royal sword specially fit for a king, but it was not allowed. The halls are grand and quite decorative with paintings of the royal family; King James. The plate of beauty I was feeding my eyes and soul felt great. At a point I reached the highest point that was allowed by visitors in Edinburgh castle and took photographs of the entire city. It felt good to know that I was really here.

I began to think of home and family. I felt a bit lonely because I wanted to tell someone how much fun I was having but everyone I confine in was across the world. I began to miss my family not because I was lonely but because they could not experience the richness of the journey unfolding before my eyes. I wished they had the same opportunity to experience all that have seen in one week.]

A beautiful view of the entire city of Edinburgh and me of course

Best,

Bertii

P.S: “I miss you little brother, mom, and dad”

Where have I wandered thus far?

Dear Reader,

The pictures below are from a few places I visited in the North and Scotland. I visited Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, National Gallery, The Fountains Abbey, and Richmond Castle.

Please enjoy the pictures and if you have anything to say please leave a comment below.

Humming Bird Album:

Edinburgh Castle

another angle 

The castle is really great with many exhibitions, museums, and the opportunity to look at how royalty lived. There is a great view of the entire town of Edinburgh from the highest point allowed called the “Castle in the Sky”. I really enjoyed walking into the Great Hall and the rooms especially the birth room in which King James was born.

Royal Mile

The Royal Mile is the typical tourist distraction like entertainment, vendors, and performers. I really enjoyed the small restaurant I stopped for lunch. I took a break and listened to a performer play the bagpipe. I really wished I had taken the “haunted tour” of Edinburgh, but I felt it was not worth the money. There are many shops with souvenirs and trinkets fit for the family and friends back home.

National Gallery

The National Gallery is a must stop if you visit Edinburgh. The gallery has a great collection of Impressionist art and the some of the older pieces from the 17^th and 18^th Century which are amazing. I was in awe because some of the pieces placed in exhibition were some I had seen in many of my textbooks from high school. Unfortunately I could not take pictures.

The Fountains Abbey

Thinking everyday...

I really loved the scenery because it was still very natural. The ruins of the castle are fun to explore, read, write or have a nice picnic. Although many people come to see the Fountains Abbey, the place is quite enormous that it does not get crowded. There are many little chambers one can find to stop and just think.

Richmond Castle

Me sitting of course! 

The castle is small compared to the other locations I visited. I really enjoyed this site because it was still intact for the most part. One can really get a sense of the life before within its brick walls.

Best,

Bertii

P.S: “More wander travels to come! Perhaps London?” 

I found "A Room of MY Own"

Dear Reader,

It has been a week since I arrived at Cambridge. The town is beautiful and there is always something new to discover in the zig-zagging streets with crowds of tourist, locals, and coaches that inhabit the town. Every path I take whether its known to me or not has something to offer like a small shop that serves great coffee or clandestine-like alleyways that lead to a historical site of the Cambridge University. On the streets one is bound to hit a little secret of Cambridge. The biggest thing to explore are of course the colleges in Cambridge such as King's and Pembroke. I have wandered the libraries, staircases, halls, and bridges of King's thinking to myself, did Virginia Woolf walk along this path so many years ago during her visits and stays at the university?

The classrooms in the college are old and the passing of time jumps from the shelves that hold the books; knowledges of philosophers, artist, writers, intellectuals, and so many more. The coursework here is so rich because it is closely connected to the history of Cambridge. I am currently taking a Bloomsbury and English Culture course in which we are presently looking at the writings of Virginia Woolf and in particular "A Room of One's Own". I remember walking into the Ryland Room as Dr. Peter Jones started the lecture about a particular scene in Woolf's novel. As I sat he began to read the description of the lunch scene from the book. We all sat around and discussed the particular scene and began touching basis with what might have lead Virginia Woolf to write such an interesting piece, concentrating on the lunch scene.

Dr. Peter Jones, a medieval historian and librarian of the school, emphasized the particularity of the room we where all sitting in, while discussing Woolf's text. The Ryland Room named after George Dadie Ryland lived in the room until his last days of his life in 1999. He was a fellow of the school from 1927 until his death and was connected to the Bloomsbury writings through his friendship to Woolf. As I wrote this down, the professor placed attention to the fact that we were sitting in the very same room in which Virginia Woolf had lunch with Dadie Ryland and many of the Bloomsbury "group". This room was the place for her inspiration in the beginning of "A Room of One's Own". Those words gave me chills and my eyes brightened to know that I was sitting in the very room where Woolf had lunch with other Bloomsbury intellectuals. Dr. Jones pointed to the window and explained that this window is for certain the window described in Woolf's novel. It was difficult to digest the reality of where I was sitting. I was as close as I could be to Virginia Woolf and many of the writers I had studied in text back in the states. I will find it difficult to know that for the rest of the summer I will have studied and discussed literature in the rooms in which many of these writers inhabited. I can truly say that I have walked into "A Room of One's Own", that I have walked into A Room of MY Own.

A Study Place of My Own

A better view from my study spot

Best,
Bertii

p.s: "I'm off to wander Edinburgh, Scotland and will write upon my return"

The Town of Cambridge and King's College

King's Court Yard

King's Chapel

King's Cafeteria, Cafe, and Bar

Neat picture?

Me in front of the King's Court Yard (not allowed to walk on grass)

One of the many streets in the town of Cambridge

Some shops 

the opposite side of the previous street

The town is so amazing, its a new world for me to explore! I love walking and getting lost because I discover something amazing everyday at every zig-zag and corner street

P.S: "Will post more picture the more I wander into Cambridge"