Movember!

Yes, it is officially the last day of Movember. What a fantastic month. Not to long before the month started I looked like the clean-shaven, hair-mop kid smiling in front the Guinness brewery below.



I ended looking not incredibly unlike a dodgy creeper, who found himself smoking a cigar (the 2nd of my life, and perhaps not the best decision on a windy day in Paris-similar effects to spitting against the wind) from the gazebo atop the crags of Buttes Chaumont in Paris. It'll be a long time before the 3rd happens, but hey, it looks pretty rugged.



Highlights of movember include, but are not limited to:

Traveling to Vienna and Bratislava. Sitting atop the castle where Richard the Lionheart was held captive was exhilarating. View from the top.



Being visited by Travis and Jesse in London, and having a blast exploring what has become my favorite city in the whole world. The resurrection of the three-man pole extravaganza HAPPENED in front of Big Ben, Parliament, and a double-decker bus.



Winning our 2nd football game against South Bank University and making a few tackles in it and a fumble-recovery. I was so intimidated in our first game, but I think I'm conquering some of my fears. Incidentally, I played that inspired game right after watching the Lion King the night before. I think I picked up some life lessons from Simba.

Visiting Jesse in Edinburgh. While there, I got a personalized tour of Parliament, ate a fried Mars bar, tasted Scotch (not bad!), climbed Arthur's seat, played lots and LOTS of hearts, and watched Scotland take down the springboks. Me leaping onto the unsuspecting city of Edinburgh.



This past weekend I went to Paris. What a gorgeous city. I think Paris ranks 2nd among my favorite European cities. The Louvre was absolutely fantastic-hands down the best museum that I've seen. The Eiffel tower was as fantastic as always. Shakespeare & Company was positively enchanting. Walking through the Jardins de Tuileries with snow falling made my heart want to sing and dance at the same time. Buying nutella crepes at 1 AM by the Moulin Rouge with Jesse was unforgettable. Freezing outside the Pantheon with Brandon and Alex for over an hour unified three men even if only in our bitterness towards certain late people who caused our great pain and suffering. Praying in the Sacré Coeur and seeing Jesus honored was phenomenal. Seeing Pat over chocolat viennois and pain au chocolat and getting to talk over life healed my heart to a great extent and opened my eyes.

My favorite statue in the Louvre, Antonio Canova's Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss. Made all the more alive to me by C.S. Lewis's Till We Have Faces.



No caption needed for this one, eh?



Captured above one of the doorways in Shakespeare & Company, reputedly Paris's oldest bookshop, this slogan of Biblical origin sums up a lesson I learned this month-God means for us to love every single person we come across. I went to Paris with a motley crew, and oftentimes group travel tires me out, but at the end of the four days with those kids, I mentally remarked to myself that I loved spending time with each and every one of them.

To steal a Kushism: stay intense!

Two Weeks in Review

There's been quite a few days since I've last posted. A quick synopsis of the travels of the past few weeks:

York: I went to York with USC, and had a fantastic time exploring the old city walls, the neighboring ruins, York minster, and an old bookshop where I purchased Eliot's 'The Four Quartets.'

Dublin: I traveled with two friends, one from USC, and one who I have classes with here at King's. The city itself wasn't one of my favorites, but we took a day trip through the countryside, and I was enthralled by the raw, harsh, late-autumn beauty of the Irish countryside. We stopped at a 5th century monastery, which may have been my favorite destination throughout the trip. Also notable are the Chester Beatty Library with fantastic 3rd-century papyrus manuscripts of the Bible and the National Gallery of Ireland. The small coastal city of Dalkey was also quite charming.

Last night, I went over to the Snellers and had some of the most engaging conversation I've had in a while with some Brits who explained how the UK views the US, while we explained the vice versa. One of the most profound lessons I will take away is that the Brits have a long list of things they don't like, but America isn't necessarily on it. Good to know.

Looking ahead to the next week:
Football season opener on Sunday!! I hope to be starting at CB, and hopefully getting some time at WR. I've never played in full pads, and I'm excited to finally get a chance to play in a league where I'm not entirely undersized.

Monday morning I leave for Bratislava and spend a day there before bussing over to Vienna, after which I return back to Bratislava for a weekend back in London.

Some pictures of my adventures so far.

An 13th century priory on the coast of England, just outside of Newcastle.


The foreground shows the excavations of Hadrian's wall within a few meters of its Eastern end. The replica in the background shows what a fully intact version would have looked like. I think there are several more feet of wall underneath the ground, but excavations have been going slowly.


Remains of a Norman-era abbey (11th century), outside of York.


The monument in the main square of Trinity College, Dublin.


Christ Church, Dublin.


St. Stephen's Green, Dublin. One of the most beautiful parks I've been to yet. This vividly captures the rustic, Irish beauty.