Magic is Might

The day we had been waiting for had finally arrived! After sitting through a "Declaration of the Rights of Man"-heavy class with Dr. Foy, a small band of us set off to the Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour at Leavesden Studios! Way up north, we had to take the London Overground to get to Watford Junction, where a shuttle would pick us up and take us to the studio. The Overground was an entirely separate experience from the Underground. The Underground may be quiet, but the Overground is hilariously silent, and we all couldn't suppress a few nervous giggles every once in a while. We traveled through the quietest of little London towns, through some industrialized areas, and even past a few cricket fields. But finally after an hour or so, we made it, and a mad dash to the shuttle later, we were at the studio! It was an experience of geekery that I can't quite put into words. We all loved it.

Our bus!

The group in front of the entrance

Excited!

Actor portraits

Emma, Daniel, and Rupert's handprints

Warner Bros.

The real Great Hall!

Hufflepuff

Ravenclaw

The Hogwarts Crest on a fireplace

Slytherin

Gryffindor

Sitting in the Great Hall with Laura and Lynn!

Dumbledore and Faculty

The directors and their thoughts on the series. A nice touch!

Sirius Black's tattoo designs and Dumbledore's wig

Luna's accessories and Fleur's uniform

The Umbridge wall of rules!

Olivia, Laura, Lynn, and Marissa in front of the Hogwarts gates!

The girls in front of the Mirror of Erised

Hermione, Harry, and Ron!

Dumbledore's office

Key props: Azkaban number, remembrall, and the time-turner

Snape in the potion's dungeon

Tom Riddle's Diary

Portaits

One of the things I enjoyed the most was the homages to the crew throughout the production. All of the portraits in the movies were made with a crew member as its inspiration. The prominent one here is of David Yates! It's the little things during the tour that got to me!

The Chamber of Secrets door! Surprisingly, not CGI, but completely automated!

Quidditch

The Burrow

 The Baddies!

The "Magic is Might" statue from the Ministry

Umbridge!

"I must not tell lies"

Umbridge is my favorite because you just have to love to hate her! And her office (with the kitten plates) was perhaps the most ridiculously wonderful thing that I have ever seen in a movie.

 

The graphic design department had it going on!

Up to this point was all within the first sound studio! There was so much to see! However, we still had another sound studio to go, so we made our way outside to see the outdoor props and even get some real butterbeer from the concessions! Since butter beer is essentially pure sugar, we got a little too excited to be outside on Privet Drive...

At Privet Drive!

On Hagrid's motorcycle!

Fun with the Knight Bus!

Concerned at Tom Riddle's grave

The Potter's house and wizard's chess pieces

The special effects magic

And the suddenly... We were in Diagon Alley! It was crazy to think that the actors had walked those same streets.

Mood lighting in Diagon Alley with the girls!

Some shopfronts: Olivander's, Flourish & Blotts (complete with a Lockhart book display), the Animal shop

The best part, however, was the "secret" that the studio saved for last. After the excitement of Diagon Alley, everyone rounds the corner into a quieter space of concept art, models, and architectural diagrams. After all that, the crowd goes slowly through a dark doorway, anticipating the end of the tour, and come out to see...

It's Hogwarts!

Needless to say, I don't think anyone was expecting a small-scale, fully detailed model of Hogwarts to be in the next room. I hate to say that I got emotional over seeing a model of a movie set, but with the most dramatic of music swelling in the background along with some mood lighting, I got a little misty-eyed. This was indeed my childhood, and to see it live was overwhelming. The pictures really don't communicate how huge this model was. It took up a large portion of a closed-off area of the sound stage. There were also computers all around showing how this was the model that was used for exterior shots of the grounds, along with a little CGI for the most intricate bits. This is Hogwarts. It was marvelous to see, and not something I will be forgetting the experience of anytime soon.

The wand room, with the names of the entire production crew

I'm picking mine out!

The tour ended with a final room full of handmade wand boxes. Each box had the name of someone who had worked on the film embossed on the side (I happened to glance over and find Helena Bonham Carter's right away). The room was massive, which showed just how many people had to work to make the film! It was certainly an extremely exciting experience. Overall, the tour was wonderful. Seeing the work that got put into the movie didn't make it any less magical -- it made it even more magical. We all stopped in to the gift shop, bought our swag (and maybe a gift or two), and headed back home.

Laura, Olivia, and I made friends with two of the other girls in the Harry Potter group, Lynn and Marissa, and we went out to dinner on the way back. After a haphazard search for a fish and chips restaurant that I recommended, we settled on a hole-in the wall Italian place in Leicester Square out of pure hunger. The food was great, and very Italian, and we all happily wandered home via the Tube. No readings for the night finally meant an early bedtime for all!

Sigh No More

Our first day of class was a little jarring for most of us. Dr. Foy and Dr. Facinelli by no means went easy on us because it was the first day of class in a different country. Facinelli's class covers history and the humanities, and her off-topic discussions stories are extremely interesting to listen to. Her readings are a little dry to slog through, but nothing that some decent research and note taking can't handle! Foy, on the other hand, is a man of science. His readings are tough and his quizzes are tougher. I have gone back to the days of Dr. Martin, when everyone would sit around laughing about the professor's "String Theory" jokes and I sit in the back and try to blend in with the wall (I still don't know what String Theory is. Apparently, it's hilarious.)

As the morning progressed, some plans got switched around, and instead of heading to the Leavesden Warner Bros. Studios as intended, the Houcks and I decided to have a more mellow day in preparation for an evening at the theater. So instead, we decided to do the most nerdy thing possible:

Pimpernel & Partners in Fulham, London

As fans of the band Mumford & Sons, (and as fans who are going to see them play live in Galway, Ireland in less than a month!) we did our research and found the shop where they shot the cover photo of their first album, Sigh No More (and by "we" I mean Olivia). So off we went on a haphazard venture to the south, near Fulham, were we found the store: Pimpernel & Partners. Everyone got their photo, and we only got one or two strange looks from locals!

Across the street from Pimpernel & Partners, I found a photo opportunity that I simply could not resist:

Megan's!

I had to!

Our adventures to Fulham turned out to be more exhausting than we planned (I honestly think my jet lag still has a ways to go), and we headed back to Courtfield for a brief rest. After a bit of sprucing up (I navigated myself through Tube stations in heels), the whole study abroad group found their way to Leicester Square for the main attraction of the day!

Phantom of the Opera

The show was wonderful, and I happily enjoyed it my second time around. I was lucky enough to get assigned to a seat front row, center, in the Grand Circle, so I could see everything. The whole cast did an amazing job and did not disappoint. Even Dr. Foy, an admitted man of the "oldies," confessed to enjoying the show immensely the next day during class. Everyone seemed to have a great time (although a few of the guys were nodding off in the first act...) and we all made our way home safely to study and read for a second day of class with Dr. Foy.

Welcome to London!

Our second day here was a big orientation day. We were escorted to our classroom area, provided by Richmond University, to receive a program orientation for while were were in London! They gave us the details on cultural differences, transportation, money, and even safety while abroad. Sgt. Paul, our British comedian of a bobby, came in to discuss with us the stupid things study abroad kids seem to get themselves into while overseas... And then promptly forbid us from doing any of those things, of course. He also told us that possession of pepper spray in the UK is a felony (it is considered a firearm), so a few girls and I had to kiss our mace goodbye!

After the orientation, we had a brief break before our big coach tour of the city. A few of the girls and I browsed the shops in the area to look for lunch spots, and I made yet another trip to Sainsbury's to retrieve some items that I was too disoriented to remember to pick up the night before.

Back at Courtfield, we were loaded on to a coach that would take us on a tour of greater London. Our tour guide, Liz, was a self-proclaimed loony Brit, full of all the sarcasm and wit that the British have to offer. We took off from the flats as the jokes rolled on.

The gardens across the street from 23 Courtfield!

Our first stop on the journey was Westminster Abbey, so we made our way through the London traffic and foggy weather to the Westminster area, passing some lovely sights on the way!

The Natural History Museum

Victoria & Albert Musem

A lovely dress shop in Knightsbridge

A cake shop in Kensington

Hyde Park perimeter

Outside of the Palace!

We finally arrived at Westminster Abbey after a couple of frantic dashes across the street with 50 college students in tow. Liz led our tour, and we got a wonderful background on the best parts of Westminster, starting with the grave of the Unknown Warrior and the Coronation chair (which is now in a special room and facing some hefty conservation repairs!) We then walked to the corner of science, where quiet a few of my group members where more than alarmed to know that they were standing atop Charles Darwin. As we headed deeper into the church, I couldn't help but identify the church with all of my art history terminology: the nave, the flying buttresses, the stained glass, the vaulted ceilings... Gothic architecture is one of my favorite architecture styles, and the English sure did it right. Standing in front of the altar, I couldn't help but picture the royal wedding... Being there and seeing it was surreal!

We strolled through the rest of the Abbey and Liz made her cracks about the past kings and queens of England, each having their own unique history and notoriety. We ended, of course, with Poet's Corner, and saw all of the greats. This is when the humanities students all ooh-ed and ah-ed over their idols and Liz went a little over her time limit entertaining them with stories about their favorites. We hustled back toward the buses, and on our way there encountered the boy's choir from the Westminster Abbey Choir School, walking in two straight lines into the abbey to prepare for that evening's performance.

The westwork of Westminster Abbey! You can always judge what your directions are in a city by looking toward the old cathedrals. The most elaborately decorated side (and the main entrance) of the church faces west!

From Westminster, we made our way through the rest of the city! We got back on the bus at just the right time, because London decided that hail was the appropriate weather for a good portion of our journey.

Parliament!

Liz got very distracted by Robert Downey Jr. on this bus next door during a stop

Trafalgar Square!

The National Gallery

A stereotypical London phone booth shot

Somewhere between Trafalgar's Square and Waterloo, however, I apparently got a little too cozy in the back of the bus and went right back to sleep (sure, I can fall asleep on buses...) I was later told that Liz made a comment about me sleeping, but I woke up after a while! I just needed to rest my eyes!

I woke up just in time for a classic photo-op! The London Eye framing the Big Ben clock tower.

As we approached Piccadilly Circus, Dr. Foy and Dr. Facinelli revealed their devious plans, and we were kicked off of the bus at the Circus. The intention was for us to explore the heart of London (and learn to use our Oyster cards) by force encouragement. So off we went! We did not have a lot of time because it was late and a lot of the main attractions were shutting down, but we snuck a few things in!

Olivia and me in Trafalgar's Square!

The countdown to the Paralympics

Me in the National Portrait Gallery! (After a docent came through and told us they were closing in 30 seconds)

Tube ride home!

Luckily, we ran around enough that we beat rush hour and headed back home on the Tube without issue! When we arrived back at our flats, the dark reality of our situation set in: it was time to do our readings. Because we have a thing called study abroad with this thing we have to do called class. Dr. Foy and Dr. Facinelli had a double header class ready for us tomorrow, so we had to buckle down and study for the day ahead!

Welcome Home!

Well, it's high time that I get this little travel show on the road! I've been incredibly busy settling in to my new home, which hasn't left me time for much else!

 My wee London flat!

Unpacking in a haze of exhaustion...

It was an exhausting first day, seeing as I barely slept on the plane! Apparently, two Benadryl and a high-powered melatonin dose just don't cut it for me... I spent my waking hours watching My Week with Marilyn and The Artist on the plane's free movie system (great movies, by the way!)  Regardless of my sleeplessness, however, we arrived at Heathrow right on time!

From Heathrow, we met the coach that was to take us to our apartments near the Kensington area. My new home... 

23 Courtfield Gardens! Unfortunately, this is a picture I stole from Google Maps... Our building is currently covered in some lovely scaffolding.

We settled in briefly before our RAs took us on a brief tour of the area. We walked all around the Earl's Court area to see the restaurants, the grocery stores, shops, Tube stations, and our classrooms. After that, they allowed us to roam freely so we could get used to the area!

The first night here, Laura, Olivia, and I went to the first place that looked appealing (and GF friendly) to eat. We were all tired, delusional, and starving! We actually stopped in at a great place called Masala Station, and ate some wonderful Indian food. From there, we recognized our need for groceries to furnish our bare flats, and relocated to the favorite local grocery chain, Sainsbury's. 

I get the feeling that I will be spending a lot of time and money here. A lot of cheap gluten free options, though!

I honestly don't remember much of the rest of the night, I was so far gone! We managed to haul our groceries back up to our rooms (did I mention that for the first day our lift was broken? And that we lived on the 5th floor and had to climb 10 flights of stairs to get there? Good times) and I think I passed out as soon as my body came in contact with my bed. Though it was a long and exhausting journey, I could not have been more excited for what the coming weeks have in store! 

Accepted!

I was officially accepted into the London, Dublin, and Edinburgh program as of two days ago. I can't even believe it. I am so incredibly excited. I have no idea what to do now, though! The possibilities are endless! So much to do. So little time.