Travel Writing for Journalists

The Beauty of Being London

2009-05-27T09:46:00.009-04:00

I'm experimenting a bit with some writing styles, and put this piece together in about a half an hour. It's raw, but I think it sets a tone. And yes, I know "indescribability" is not a word. But I think it needs to be. Anyways, here it is:

I’m watching the water in the Thames River move upstream. It’s a chalky brownish color, constantly digging up silt from the bottom and regurgitating it to the top. It looks like chocolate milk; thick, brown, and velvety textured.

As I lean against the black wrought iron railing, I’m trying to figure out what London means to me. Trying to find some symbolic likeness that could sum up the city, the people, and the vibrations of this ancient, new, hip, square, traditional, cutting edge place. And then light dawns: this place can’t be summed up; my quick fix, fast solution mind can’t wrap it up into a neat little package. London simply is. It will always be, and it has always been.

The tides of the sea have swept up and down this river for thousands and thousands and thousands of years. Before a city was here, the Thames was throwing its murky waters onto these banks. When the Romans leapt over it, and created the city, the river never stopped. When London Bridge was built, the river kept moving in beat, in rhythm, up from the sea, and back, up from the sea, and back. Back and forth, thumping like a heartbeat, constant, and never ending. No chain can shackle it.

People move beside it, buildings are built, torn down, fires destroy, plagues kill, and the river is impervious. Never thinking, never hearing… just being. Things constantly change and the river just is.

I look up from the river, and check out the landscape and see Big Ben, lit up, looking lovely, tick-tocking away. Parliament stands beside the big clock, and the large ferris wheel hangs with them, the new kid on the block, looking for love from the older ones.

I’m standing outside the Temple tube stop on the Embankment, trying to figure out why this city holds me in its grip, and never will let go. I’ve come back four times, and will come back more, it’s allure, it’s romance, this maddening inescapable thing that I can’t describe and so desperately want to. I’ve tried everything; living here, visiting, shopping, sightseeing, drinking, playing, loving and hating in this city, and still I can’t describe the trance it holds over me.

The only thing for it then, is TO describe it. The only way I think I might be over it is to put into words how enchanting its nature is to me. So I try and fail, and try and fail. Thump, thump…. Thump, thump.

What IS London? London is the person you know who suffers from split personality disorder. Maybe you don’t know that person – but I know that city. It’s New York sometimes, sometimes San Francisco. I’ve heard it described like Milwaukee, Rome, Paris, Berlin, D.C., and all of the Manhattans: Lower Manhattan, East Side Manhattan, Upper West Side Manhattan. And every person, every description is right. In certain lights, at certain times London is all of those places. And at other times, it’s none of them.

Its complete indescribablity is what makes it the most aggravatingly lovely place on earth. So my hate/love affair continues with this place. As I stand on the banks of the Thames, outside the Temple tube station on a cool May night, with the city opening up in front of me lit in purples, and golds, and greens, nothing has changed, nothing is solved, but everything makes sense. Everything…. Is. And the river doesn’t care, it just goes about its business, moving up and down. Like it always has. Like it always will.

Fantastic videos from Scully...

2009-05-20T18:22:00.004-04:00

Mike made some great video postcards from London. Here are some of his best:

Re-energized and Ready to Roll

2009-05-20T14:25:00.002-04:00

So day two started out with a bang. My good friend, and fantastic teacher Mike Scully energized the students with a discussion on writing for a web based audience.

From London 2009 Days 1 & 2

You can find the student blogs to the right of this screen, under the title "Travel Writing Blogs."

The blogs are a tool to get the students reflecting each and every day on what they did. To make it a bit more interesting Mike and I decided to give them a specific theme to work off of every day. Day one's theme was color.

We headed out for the Tower of London where we all hammed it up for the camera before going inside.

You can find all of the pictures of day one and two here.

From London 2009 Days 1 & 2

Drowsy and drizzled upon...

2009-05-20T14:17:00.002-04:00

One of my favorite days of the London class is when the student's actually arrive into Heathrow. They are tired, disenchanted with the airline, yet also excited and anxious. Frankly it's an awful mix, and eventually sleep deprivation takes over. I enjoy it simply because I know what awaits them for the next three weeks. This is just the beginning -- and it can only get better.

Here are some randoms from the first day:

From London 2009 Days 1 & 2

2009-05-17T17:08:00.006-04:00

Not sleeping for a long time is bad for you. Who knew? Professor Mike Scully is living proof of that. The guy slept for four hours today:

But after the little nap, Mike shook off the jet lag and took to editing some video for his blog, called journalismprofessor.blogspot.com Check it out. Here are the after pictures:

Look at the man go! That's what rest can do for you. He couldn't speak prior to the nap, now he's editing video on his MacBook Pro. Proof that sleep is, in the end, a good thing.

Here's a quick shot from my bedroom window:

Students tomorrow at 9:30 am. Can't wait!

Blogging from JFK...

2009-05-16T15:38:00.005-04:00

So I'm just chilling at JFK waiting for my flight (is "chilling" even a word anymore? I feel like Will Smith in his "Bel Air" days). About two hours before I hop on the plane. I'll be meeting my teaching partner at Heathrow early Sunday morning. His name is Mike Scully, and he is a former professor at Ithaca College, who now works at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island.

He'll be helping to teach the class the first week, especially in the "art" of blogging.

Anyways, airport waits are one of my least favorite things to do. Here's a message for my Parkies who will be joining me in London on Monday.

To Do Lists

2009-05-14T21:48:00.002-04:00

I hate to do lists. I'm a loosey goosey type of person, and don't like the idea that my life can and should be planned by a series of yellow post it notes. So you can understand how frustrated I am that my life right now is being dictated by a series of lists.

Go to the bank, pack, get passport, get health insurance cards, print out tickets, and the list goes on, and on, and on.

The only thing I like about lists is getting through them, so tonight and tomorrow I'm pushing through, trying to get it figured out, so I can wake up on Saturday and focus on London.

I'm also weirded out a bit by people who ask me whether I've packed yet or not. Really? Do people actually pack three days ahead of a trip? I pack three hours ahead of a trip and feel great about it. That's definitely the deadline oriented adrenalin junkie (procrastinator) in me. I like cutting it close, and I've always been under the impression (delusion) that I work best under pressure.

So this time I'm trying a different tact. I'm trying to plan things out, get things in order, and make sure I have everything in place for Saturday. Which means that there's absolutely no doubt I'll forget my airline ticket and passport.

Lists drive.me.crazy.

So the only thing I'm doing right now is projecting towards London. Pubs, cobbled streets, the city, mews, and Holland Park. If I can get to that, these lists won't matter anymore.

Writing about Travel

2009-05-11T22:33:00.004-04:00

So we've talked a little bit about keeping a running diary in our blogs about travel. The anxieties, or little thoughts on the mundane details, and what we want to be inspired by. As journalists, we often tend to deflect attention away from our thoughts when writing our stories. Travel writing is a different beast. You're expected to write about what YOU think of something, and what the place you're at means to you. It really is an intensely personal style of writing. You know what else is intensely personal? A diary or journal. So use your blogs as that journal. Open up a little bit on your blogs, and start getting in touch with how YOU feel about things. It will help the travel articles you write while we're over there. I guarantee it. So with that said, I'm going to get things kick started and hopefully you'll all follow.

It's closing in on 11 pm this Monday, and my TV is on. I'm in and out of watching the basketball game on my HDTV. I'm trying to distract myself from the fact that I'll be on a plane in less than five days headed for London.

It's never the destination that gives me anxiety. I LOVE the destination, I live for it. What makes me nervous is the getting there. A large knot is taking up residence in the center of my chest right now, and it makes it difficult to breathe sometimes. Other times the only thing I CAN do is take deep breaths.

I don't fear flying necessarily, I fear the plane plummeting out of the sky. I know the likelihood of it happening is incredibly small, but it's a fear I focus on constantly. Once I'm on the plane I'm usually okay, but the anticipation of the flight really bothers me. I'll do anything to take my mind off it, but typically you'll see me at the airport, foot tapping, fingers drumming, eyes darting. I definitely don't like flying.

Sometimes I actually think my mind might substitute fairly irrational fears for real, legitimate concerns I have about this trip. Will everything come together? Will you students have as amazing of an experience as I hope for you to have? Will you enjoy each others company, will we become a cohesive unit while we're over there? Is the final budget correct, and are any of you having second thoughts?

These are real issues I should be looking at and trying to deal with, but instead I focus on the Boeing 757 that will be my cylindrical airborne home for seven hours over the lonely Atlantic. That's an easy fear to focus on, because it's such a universal one.

The other, mundane fears are more pertinent, more important, but because they are those things, sometimes it's easier to avoid them. So for tonight, and tonight only, I'll watch this basketball game, and consume myself with my irrational fear of flying.

So that's a simple post about my odd fear. Seriously, make this a journal for jotting down your thoughts. You'll find that you can refer back to it for inspiration for longer stories.

TAG... you guys are it.

Backpacking in Scotland

2009-05-11T22:12:00.005-04:00

So part of this course is a week in Scotland where we will lightly backpack through the Northern Highlands and Skye. The deal with backpacking is that you NEED a backpack to do it.

I've been trying to decide what type of backpack I want to get for the trip and have come down to a couple decisions.

One of those decisions is that backpacks are incredibly overpriced. Trying to find a good buy is like trying to find a pregnant nun. In other words, next to impossible.

With that said, I've found a couple backpacks I think I like. I know I need one that is large enough to hold five days of travel stuff, so for me that's probably a sweatshirt, and five days change of clothing. Probably a couple pair of jeans, and maybe a pair of shoes as well (other than the pair I'll have on my feet).

So I started checking out easternmountainsports.com and Dicks Sporting Goods. They have some okay options, but even better, some pretty reasonable options.

I know I need a mulitday pack, and preferable a frame pack. These are the two I'm pretty much down to:

THE OSPREY A pretty nice pack that has 2300 cubic inches. It may be a little small, but I like the way it looks and feels.

Here's the second:

The Sentinal

I think I like the Sentinal better. It felt better on my back, and it is also nearly 4000 cubic inches. I think it's perfect for a week long trip, and it's only $120 dollars.

So that's the thought process I've been going through lately. It's a nice little distraction from grading, overseas travel budgets, and making sure everything is in order on the homefront before I leave for London.

ATM's, Traveler's Checks and more...

2009-05-10T08:55:00.002-04:00

So we talked about this in quite a few of our meetings, but it bears repeating -- and deserves to be its own blog post. It's probably the most common question I hear: "how do we get money over there?" Amazingly, England and Scotland work much the same way as the U.S. I'll quickly break down the money situation in the U.K.

ATM's

Probably the best way to get money in the U.K. ATM's work the same way over there as they do here, and typically you get the best exchange rate possible.
**Make sure that you call your financial institution in the States and let them know you're going, or else there's a chance you could get your card shut down.**

Traveler's Checks

I have no problem with traveler's checks, especially if you're going to be carrying a lot of money. The main reason I don't use them is because the ATM card is so much simpler. It might not be a bad back-up if you want to get some, but I don't think it's a necessity.

Changing Money in the U.S. for the U.K.

If you want to get some British Pounds while still in the States so you can hit the ground running, absolutely do it. It can be a bit difficult through your financial institution, because typically a branch bank doesn't have foreign currency sitting around. Usually it takes a couple of days -- or you'd have to go to the main branch to get it. It's worth calling your bank and finding out their policy.

Changing U.S. Money in the U.K.

Usually I take about 100 dollars with me to London, and change it when I get there (not in the airport though!). You can usually get an okay rate from some of the money changers around Chelsea though. That's where I'd try to change money.

So there are some tips for money in London. Definitely have an ATM and credit card, and if you want, have some cash on you when you get there. Just like any big city, there are many options to change your money, or to get money in the native currency. It's something that seems daunting, but it really isn't much of a big deal, as long as you take the proper precautions.

Fighting for British Cuisine

2009-05-07T07:50:00.009-04:00

Let's cut right to it: My name is Ryan, and I love English food. And dammit, I'm proud of it. I'm sick of listening to people bash the fantastic cuisine that the English turn out. Yorkshire pudding, black pudding, shepherd's pie, suet pudding, bangers and mash, spotted dick, I love them all.

The thing that bothers me the most is people thumping on English food without ever really trying it. I defy anyone to have a traditional Sunday roast, and not like it. See, my family is pretty much 100% English. I grew up with English food, and love it.

As travel writers, part of the deal is to immerse yourself in the local culture. Sure that means the sites, sounds, and smells -- but it also means the tastes.

Here's an Idiot's Guide to English food:

Bangers & Mash

I think sometimes people get freaked out simply by the NAMES of the meals. Bangers & mash is traditional fare. You'll find it at pretty much any pub you go to. So what is bangers & mash? Simply put, it's sausage stuck into mashed potatoes with gravy poured over it. Typically the sausage is flavored, and made out of pork or beef.

This meal is English cuisine for beginners. It's an easy entry point into English food, it has a funny name, and it tastes pretty good.

Black Pudding

Let's dive right into the deep end. Black pudding is also known as blood pudding. Where did it get such a crazy name? Let's get back to that. Black pudding is basically another sausage type dish, actually served with the traditional full English breakfast. The sausage is stuffed with animal's blood, and cooked with filler like barley and oats, until it has congealed to a point that it can be sliced and served.

Okay, okay --- I admit it SOUNDS gross. But it really isn't too bad. A lot of times places will infuse bits of bacon into the sausage as well. It kind of tastes like a sweet sausage. It's worth getting a traditional English breakfast just to try it.

Meat Pie

So traditionally the English relied on animals for most of their food products. According to wikipedia the "food of England has historically been characterised by its simplicity of approach, honesty of flavour, and a reliance on the high quality of natural produce. This has resulted in a traditional cuisine which tended to veer from strong flavours..."

I think meat pies fit into this nicely. It's not overly spiced, there is no strong flavor, but if you get a good meat pie, it's simply delicious. More specifically, steak pies are a traditional English food. Steak and ale pies are served in just about every pub. In Ireland (and in many pubs in London) you'll find the steak & Guinness pie.

The pie is what it sounds like. A pie crust covers the stewed meat, and often vegetables like carrots, and celery are cooked in.

Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pie is another type of meat pie, but it's a family staple, so I need to include it. It's also known as cottage pie. Basically shepherd's pie is a meat pie with mashed potato used as the crust.

If you like stewed meat and mashed potatoes, you'll love shepherd's pie.

Yorkshire Pudding

Can you tell the English love their puddings and pies? Yorkshire pudding is another family favorite, so I include it hear. Usually served in the traditional English roast, Yorkshire pudding is made from batter. That's all it is. But served with roast beef, and gravy it turns into a fantastically delicious side dish to the meat. A traditional Sunday roast consists of Yorkshire pudding, mashed potatoes, roast beef, a vegetable (typically broccoli and carrots) and gravy.

I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

Fish and chips

You knew this was coming right? There are fish & chip shops scattered across London, but some of the best is served right in the pubs. Fried fish (usually cod or haddock) with a side of chips (fries) and some mushy peas. Mushy peas are, well... mushed up peas. Get some froma takeaway shop, I'm sure you'll like it.

Now let's move on to a couple of deserts.

Spotted Dick

Spotted dick is a really tasty English desert. You'll find that English deserts aren't as rich as the desert you're used to, but they have a subtle flavor that really is enjoyable. Spotted dick is a steamed suet pudding. Usually it contains dried currants, or another dried fruit. It's usually served over custard, and is typically served warm.

Bread Pudding

Probably my favorite English desert. As Wikipedia says, it's pretty much baked layers of french toast, with raisins. It's usually served over custard, or creme, and is another treat you all should try before you leave.
---
So there's a beginner's list to English cuisine. I will say that I've left a lot out. The chocolate in Europe is better on the whole than the stuff we have in the U.S. There's also a lot of English cuisine that fuses traditional Indian fare with food products from the island.

While in Scotland, it only gets better.

Haggis anyone?

Figuring out your flat

2009-05-05T19:58:00.004-04:00

So I've done a little research and talked with Fernanda, who seems like an absolutely fantastic lady who will be in charge of your dorm while we're in London.

I asked her some questions in regards to the living situation, and here's our conversation. Hopefully it will help:

Does the dorm have internet access, and is it wireless or hardwired?  If it's
hardwired, do we need to bring any cables with us?

Yes, we have free internet access. It is hardwired and we sell the cable
 at £7.50 but you can bring your own cable.

Are bed linens and towels provided?

Bed linens yes, but not towels

Are there locks on the dorm rooms?

The wardrobes are lockable but you need a padlock (we sell here at £5.00)
Is there phone access in the dorm?

Yes, you can receive calls in the room and need an international card
to make a call.
Is there a washer/dryer in the dorm?

Yes, we have a laundry facility in the building.

Does the kitchen have utensils, and pots/pans, etc...?

It is fully equipped! We even have dishwashers….

Heavy Reading

2009-04-30T08:08:00.003-04:00

Some books I think might make sense for you guys to have (maybe not all of them, but some of them) to bone up on London and travel writing in general. I'm into lists today, so here's a list:

1. Wanderlust (Real Life Tales of Adventure and Romance): It's a solid read done by the now defunct travel section of salon.com. It's really a good look at incorporating yourself into your writing, and explaining what you see to the world through your eyes. It's one way to write travel pieces, and this is a solid book looking at that.

2. Between the Woods and the Water: On Foot to Constantinople from the Hook of Holland - The Middle Danube to the Iron Gates: Really just a fantastic book written in the '30s about middle to eastern Europe. If you don't read it for this class, just read it on your own. It's fantastic. Did I mention how fantastic it is?

3. London: If you like historical novels, and you want to learn a little bit about London before you go, this is the book for you. It's long, but a fascinating historically accurate look at London from Roman times to present day.

4. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: Hunter S. is a favorite of mine, and his gonzo journalism is fantastically shown here. Thompson is as much about the adventure and the explorer as he is about the writing. It's all about experiences, and doing new things. That's what this book is all about. You can color your writing by putting those experiences onto paper.

Those are just a few great books that focus on narrative, observational journalism, and the style of writing we'll explore in this class.

London is simply a historical novel to hopefully help you understand the scope of the city, before you write about it. Although there is something to be said for seeing everything with new eyes, new ears, new nostrils, and a new perspective. So maybe don't read London. I'll leave it up to you.

So That's The List...

2009-04-30T07:48:00.003-04:00

So that's the top 10 things in London that we WON'T be doing during our trip. We will do a pub tour, and we may hit Holland Park, but those experiences are things that are best done by just going out and discovering them.

Here's a recap of the list:

1. The River
2. The Pubs
3. Holland Park
4. Speaker's Corner
5. The Music Scene
6. London Museums
7. Westminster Abbey
8. Greenwich
9. Hampstead Heath & Richmond Park
10. The London Eye

What I want this list to accomplish is to give you ideas of some things to do outside of class while in London. More than anything hopefully this will help tap into your adventurous spirit. Don't waste a moment in London. You have two weeks there, make it worth it. Do stuff you want to do, and more than anything, go out and explore.

Sometimes the coolest experiences are those born out of necessity. I have found some of the most unique places while traveling abroad simply because I was lost and wandering without a GPS.

1. The River

2009-04-29T21:22:00.006-04:00

From Travel Writing for Journalists

Okay, so maybe this #1 is a bit of a cop-out, but honestly in many ways the river IS London. The ancient Roman city Londinium was chosen by the legions in part because they could ford the Thames River at that spot.

It grew from there, was destroyed and rebuilt as Lundenwic in the Middle Ages, and became a trading hub in Northern Europe. The river created London, and in part helped it become a world superpower for 300 years. The British Empire was built on shipping and trade -- London was at its center. The way that shipping got to London? You got it -- The River.

Even today London is built oriented towards the Thames. Parliament, the Tate Modern, Big Ben, the Tower of London and St. Paul's all look over the Thames. Tower Bridge silently stands sentinel, as the entrance into modern London. The Thames used to be incredibly polluted, but has been cleaned up in recent times.

It's a tidal river, which means it ebbs and flows with the tide, it's color, and it's look changes by the hour. It's a living, breathing thing, winding through the city it helped to create.

Times have changed the way it used to look. In ancient times, the river was much wider, and dozens of tributaries flowed into it from both north and south. Those rivers are well known on their own -- and their names still lend their name to different areas in the city: The Fleet, The Walbrook, The Tyburn, and the River Westbourne among others. All these rivers now flow through pipes as part of London's extensive sewer system. There are still spots where some of these rivers pop up above ground, but for the most part they've become caged animals.

Joseph Bazalgette and his modern sewer system helped narrow the Thames, and make it a faster flowing river than it once was. Through all of the changes in the river, through all of the fires and plagues, in good times and bad times, the river has stood as the thread that runs through the ancient city. It has seen it all.

While in London, appreciate the river and it's history. Try to take a stroll along the South Bank at night if you can... the city opens up in front of you, and its negative image is illuminated along the length of the Thames. It's a sight you'll never forget.

That's why the Thames gets top billing on my list -- because none of the other nine sites would even exist if not for the river.

2. The Pubs

2009-04-28T08:27:00.008-04:00

Nothing quite says London like dark wood, warm pints, and hanging signs. London's pubs are fascinating places, each a different and unique experience all its own. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese is a pub in the City of London that we'll have lunch at before touring St. Paul's. Dickens and Dr. Samuel Johnson drank here. In Dickens case... he pretty much drank everywhere.

But the pubs of London are about more than just drinking. In many ways they are a congregation point for people who live in that neighborhood. It's a place people come together to discuss their shared experiences, and what's going on in their life.

Part of this class is about you folks experiencing London, the city and the people. Pubs are a great way to meet interesting characters who can tell you what the city is like. This class is also about exploring places that may seem a bit outside your comfort zone. Pubs are a great place to do that.

Some of my favorites? Here they are in no particular order:

The Churchill Arms on Kensington Church Street for it's decor, and flowers.
The Founders Arms near the Tate Modern for it's view of St. Paul's and the city.
The George Inn for it's history and links to Chaucer and Shakespeare.
And pretty much any pub in the Highlands of Scotland, like Saucy Mary's (on the Isle of Skye)
These are just a few of my favorites. I know you'll find your own. There are some very close to you in Chelsea right down near the Thames on Cheyne Walk that are very nice.

If you want to know the United Kingdom -- know it's pubs.

3. Holland Park

2009-04-27T11:17:00.007-04:00

I'm re-starting a list here that I began last summer and never completely finished. Numbers 4 through 10 are at other spots on the blog.

Holland Park is one of those places that no tourist venture into. It's just not on the beaten path enough for tourists to be interested. But it's probably one of the most interesting small parks there is.

Situated at the corner of High Street Kensington and Earls Court Road, it's truly a "posh" park. But it's so much more. Holland Park holds within it a Japanese Garden (truly stunning), an amazing tulip garden in the spring, plenty of peacocks and forested space, and the ruins of an old Jacobean mansion.

From Travel Writing for Journalists

Take a picnic here, find a secluded spot (there's plenty of them) and relax.

Here's a map of the area:

View Holland Park in a larger map

Check out the different pin tacks (especially the tube stop) as I give directions for how to get there from our tube stop.

Home Sweet Home...

2009-04-27T09:22:00.004-04:00

So I found out today that you'll all be living in Chelsea, one of the nicest areas in all of London. It's also where Chelsea FC, one of Europe's finest football clubs resides.

You'll be living with other student's on the London program, which is great news. It means you'll have other students to go out and explore with.

MAP of AREA

View Your Flats in a larger map

This map shows your flats in the lower right hand corner, and the London Center (your classrooom) in the upper left hand corner. Here's a link to the website which will give you a LOT more information about where you'll be staying.

I also have information about your flights, and some other London and Scotland "stuff" that we'll go over at the meeting this Thursday.

Starting it Back Up

2009-02-26T23:54:00.003-05:00

So it looks like the London program will once again be a go this year. The difference? This year we're heading out to Scotland for a week at the end of the program. Excited doesn't even begin to describe how psyched I am for that trip.

For the students who have applied for this trip -- let me say this: you made the right choice. We're going to have a blast, and you're going to learn some pretty cool things along the way.

Check this blog out -- it's a year old but it has some interesting things to say about London. I'll be updating this throughout the rest of this semester, straight through our trip.

The first thing I do when we get to Scotland? Delve into some fried Mars Bars, and Irn-Bru; the official drink and snack of the Scottish.

Five IC students make it to London!

2008-07-07T16:55:00.004-04:00

So I woke up in my London flat this morning planning to pick up my five Ithaca College journalism students from the airport. I was expecting a late morning pick up -- it turned into a late afternoon pickup. As is the norm nowadays, their flight out of JFK was delayed nearly 4 hours.

When I finally arrived at Heathrow I welcomed five dazed, disheveled, and down in the face looking students. They were pretty much the look of every traveler jilted by the airlines.

After making sure they were all ready, we made our way to the tube station below Heathrow and took a 45 minute tube ride into central London. The tube is usually a fantastic first entrance for students -- especially journalism students. Being so alert and observant can really be a fun thing on the tube.

When we arrived to where their accommodations are, we were greeted with a pouring rain. Everyone got a good soaking, and after they were all moved in I gave them a walking tour of their local area. We finally made our way into the cozy confines of a local pub, and sat down with a drink and some dinner.

Tomorrow class officially begins and we'll be checking out the Tower of London. After the meal everyone seemed a bit more chipper and I sent them off to get prepared for the rest of the trip, and to get some much needed rest.

4. Speaker's Corner on a Sunday

2008-07-01T20:59:00.007-04:00

As journalists, you should all want to see free speech being expressed in a very public way -- on Speaker's Corner. Close to where the ancient hangings at Tyburn took place, some people think the condemned man's right to speak ended up turning into Speaker's Corner.
Others say worker's demonstrations in the 19th century that happened in Hyde Park led to Speaker's Corner. Whatever started it, it's a long-held tradition in the U.K., and one that is beloved by tourists and Londoners alike. Karl Marx and Lenin both spoke at Speaker's Corner, among others.

Some myths about Speaker's Corner is that you are immune from arrest for speaking your mind. That notion is false, as police step in (only rarely) if they receive a complaint or if the speaker in question is swearing a bit too much.

When you arrive, take a walk up and down the area where the speakers congregate. They talk about all sorts of things -- religion, the U.S., government, war, and anything else they can think of.

The term "getting up on your soapbox" comes from Speaker's Corner. It was another long held notion that if you you were not literally on English soil, you could talk about the monarchy without getting arrested. Not technically true, but it makes for a good story.

In any case, you've got to try it out at least once. And if you have something to say, bring along a soap box and speak your piece!

Directions: Take the Piccadilly line to Hyde Park Corner. Cross the street in front of you and walk along Park Lane. The Speaker's congregate near Marble Arch which is the far corner of the park. Conversely you can walk from your flats north to Kensington Gore/Hyde Park Gate, take a right, follow the park until it ends, take a left across the street, and follow Park Lane to the northern edge of Hyde Park.

5. The Music Scene

2008-07-01T08:05:00.005-04:00

It's no wonder that London is known around the world for it's music scene. There are so many bands that got their start in clubs like the Astoria, or Shepherd's Bush Empire that it almost defies description.

London has some great concert venues for big acts as well. Wembley, the Royal Albert Hall, the Earl's Court Exhibition Center, and the Hammersmith Apollo are the main large arenas. The pulse of London's music scene really resides in the clubs around the capital that cater to the up and comers, and the almost there's.

From Shoreditch to Brixton, to Shepherd's Bush, London's music scene truly stretches across the capital.

Here are a couple places worth checking out:

Astoria and Astoria 2: Located in Soho, these two sister clubs have had some fantastic acts through the years. They've booked bands like Oasis, Pearl Jam, Radiohead (who has a live album at the Astoria) U2, and the Rolling Stones. This year both Amy Winehouse and The Shins will play there. Gnarls Barkley will perform while we are in London.

Brixton Academy: In the south of London, this venue used to be known for what I like to call the "ecstasy" acts that played it. Now it pulls from all different scenes. A cozy venue, it only seats around 4,000. Death Cab For Cutie is one act that will be there during our time in London.

Shepherd's Bush Empire: This is a favorite of mine. I've been to all three of these venues, but the Empire holds a special place in my heart. Phish, Elton John, and David Bowie have all graced the stage. It's also the place where the Dixie Chicks dissed President Bush. All in all, a really interesting venue. Eddy Grant, Jason Mraz, Band of Horses, and the Wu-Tang Clan are all playing the Empire while we're there.

This list is far from exhaustive, go to this website for a much more exhaustive list. You can also go to the Wembley website for a list of many of the acts performing in the U.K. while we're there.

With all this said, this post fails to mention the wonderful live music a lot of pubs have on a nightly basis. All in all, London is a pretty musical place and worth a big mention on this list.

6. London Museums...

2008-06-30T17:51:00.005-04:00

So an entire course could be done focusing just on the incredible scope of London's museums. They're literally everywhere, covering everything from clocks to ancient Egyptian artifacts.

A few must dos:

1) The British Museum -- The most ancient Egyptian artifacts gathered in one place outside of Egypt. Also holds the Magna Carta, Greek antiquities and other amazing "stuff" from around the globe. A fantastic place to check out if you're into history.

2) Victoria & Albert Museum -- Literally right around the corner from Imperial College. The whole area is known as "Albertopolis" because it was the prince consort who dreamed up an area in London focused on learning and knowledge. The Natural History & Science museum are right nearby as well. The V&A is dedicated to design, and the decorative arts. Want to see dresses and clothing through the ages? This is the place for you.

3) Museum of London -- Documents the history of the capital from prehistoric times until now. It overlooks part of the old city wall that surrounded London in Roman times. A really cool look at all that London was, and is.

4) The Tate Modern -- super cool art in a super cool building. Once an old power plant, the Tate Modern is a fantastic modern structure that holds some incredible art. It features work from Monet, Matisse, Picasso, and Andy Warhol. A very cool museum to take a look at.

5) The Cabinet War Rooms -- the World War II ere war rooms were used when The Luftwaffe would bomb London during World War II. I'm a World War II buff, and this is one of my favorites in London.

There are so many other museums in London as well. These are just five of my favorites. This website gives a good list of some of the lesser known London museums. This site is a more "mainstream" look at London's museums. Everyone has their favorites, hopefully you'll find yours. And really, that's the coolest thing about London -- the plethora of choices.

Live it, Learn it, Love it

2008-06-29T21:30:00.005-04:00

The map above is your Holy Grail to all things London. It's the London Underground tube map. The tube is literally the nerve center of the capital. Your stop is South Kensington, the ICLC is Gloucester Road.

The tube, as all things in London, has a storied history. Steam trains were the first to go underground, and the black soot and ash made for a messy commute. During World War II the tube served as a literal lifeline.

Thousands clamored into local stations when the Wehrmacht was bombing the city. Small cities existed in the tube during those horrible raids.

You'll be flying into Heathrow and we'll all be taking the tube into the city together. Because of that, remember to try and pack light for the trip. It's about a 30 to 40 minute tube ride, and there will be a decent amount of walking involved.

You'll love the tube by the time the program is finished... I promise you that.

Very cool website...

2008-06-29T21:28:00.001-04:00

Hey folks, I want to direct you to a pretty cool website on the right hand side of this page in the gutter. The site is called Street Sensations, and it gives you a look at some of the main shopping streets in London. Surf it a little bit and you'll find quite a few cool features.

7. Westminster Abbey

2008-06-29T20:55:00.003-04:00

We will be taking a look at Westminster, but won't have a chance to tour the Abbey grounds. The site where British kings and queens are crowned, Westminster's history stretches nearly as far back as the Roman occupation of the island.

It's history dates back to 616, but it wasn't until the 10th century that a community of Benedictine monks took up residence at the site. The original stone abbey was built in 1045 and then rebuilt in the 13th century by Henry III, the first king to be interred at the abbey.

The coolest thing about the abbey (besides the magnificent history and architecture of the place) is the names of the "important" people interred here. They include Queen Elizabeth I, Henry V, Mary Queen of Scots, King Edward the Confessor, Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Geoffrey Chaucer, Dr. Samuel Johnson, and many, many more. The list of writers and poets buried in the abbey are congregated most closely in the area known as Poet's Corner.

It's an interesting place, but also a wonderfully beautiful place. Walking through some areas of the abbey, you can transport yourself back to a quiet, simpler time. There are hidden parts of the abbey that still (in this commercialized and crazy world of ours) seem to be spiritually charged.

Indeed, it's tough to imagine that when you're handing your 12 quid over to get into the place, or when you walk through the gift shop and can buy a decorative Westminster key chain. With that said, you can still worship at Westminster, and that is completely free of charge.

The abbey is one of the most ancient sites in Greater London, and is a must see for any tourist.

Directions to Westminster Abbey: Take the District Line train to the Westminster tube station. Come out of the tube station take a right and the abbey will be on your left down the street a bit.

8. Greenwich

2008-06-29T16:33:00.003-04:00

Go to the place where time began! Okay, maybe that's a bit over-dramatic, but the history of time as we know it today began in Greenwich. As the place where all time across the world is measured, Greenwich is a really unique and interesting place to spend a day.

The suburb of London is known for its maritime history and its incredibly well preserved architecture. It also is the place where the Cutty Sark is in dry dock. The Cutty Sark is a famous English clipper ship that was built in 1869. The Cutty Sark was most well known for competing in the tea trade races in the late 19th century. Unfortunately the ship was partially destroyed by fire last year.

The Greenwich Hospital is worth a look -- built in part by Sir Christopher Wren (who rebuilt St. Pauls and a plethora of other churches and buildings in London after the Great Fire of 1666) after the English Civil War.

You can also check out the Royal Observatory (Prime Meridian runs straight through it) which is within Greenwich park. All in all Greenwich is a place that is steeped in maritime history but also has a unique royal history as well.

Old ferries and royal barges used to ferry the elite to Greenwich, where their estate houses were. There's also a cool foot path that goes under the Thames connecting Greenwich to the Isle of Dogs. It opened in 1902, and was quite the amazement in its time.

This is just a quick synopsis of what Greenwich has to offer, and I'm sure I've left out some great things. Without a doubt though, it's worth a day trip out there to take a look at where the world started keeping time.

Directions: There are plenty of ways to get to Greenwich, but perhaps the best way is by boat. It's usually not my style to pimp companies, but the boats from Westminster Pier (near the Houses of Parliament) do a great job of shuttling people between Westminster and Greenwich. You also get a unique look at the capital city this way. If you do this, you'd take the District Line or the Circle Line to the Westminster Tube Station. The pier is adjacent to Big Ben, and right next to Westminster Bridge. This website give you more info on the boats. It looks like it's only £9.50 for a round trip ticket, which isn't too bad at all.

9. Hampstead Heath & Richmond Park

2008-06-28T19:44:00.004-04:00

Hopefully you'll hit quite a few of the myriad green spaces in London while we're there. There's no shortage of parks -- including Green, St. James, Hyde, Regents, and Kensington Gardens. One of my personal favorites is Holland Park.

But for absolute vastness of greenery, you can't beat Hampstead and Richmond. The park (at that time considered a manor) dates back to the 13th century. At that point it was well outside the city of London. Today, boroughs surround the park on all sides. Nonetheless, get to the center of the park and you'll feel like you're in the woods somewhere in Ithaca.

The park is famous most for the wildlife that lives there. It also affords a phenomenal view of London from Henry VIII's mound. It's a great respite for the jumble of city life.

As for Hampstead Heath -- it's a bit more city-bound but also gives you a touch of the country. Again, the views from the Heath (specifically from Parliament Hill) are fantastic. There are also some pretty cool pubs in the neighborhood to whet your whistle.

Both of these places are great ways to stay in the city, but get out of it all at the same time.

Directions to Hampstead Heath: Take the Piccadilly Line towards Cockfosters. Change to the Northern Line at Leicester Square. Get off at the Hampstead tube stop.

Directions to Richmond Park: Take the District Line towards Richmond. Get off at the Richmond tube station. Then take the 371 or 65 bus to the pedestrian gate at Petersham.

10. The London Eye

2008-06-19T20:26:00.003-04:00

This is a no-brainer and very much a tourist attraction. Most native Londoners that I know still think it is a blight on the city. Architecturally and aesthetically it doesn't really go with its surrounding, what with being straight across the Thames from the most quintessential image of London: Big Ben.

In any case, it is a fantastic thing to do if you really want to get a sense of the city from a birds eye view. It also gives a really clear view of lands to the south of London, beyond the city limits.

So I guess you can argue all day whether it adds to London's landscape or not, but it definitely is something every red blooded tourist should do.

HOW TO GET THERE: Hop on the tube at South Kensington and take the Circle or District Line to the Westmister Tube Station. Go up to street level and take a left to go across Westminster Bridge. Take a direct left after crossing the bridge and you'll head straight for the gigantic ferris wheel looking thing.

10 Things to do in London

2008-06-19T20:24:00.002-04:00

So over the next two weeks I'm going to list ten things to do in London that we won't be doing during our trip. So these are things to try out on your own when not in class. Some of them are obvious and very touristy, others are just fun things that I've stumbled upon in my traveling. Do you have something you are dying to do before you get over there? Let me know.

Some Great Questions...

2008-06-08T10:25:00.002-04:00

So Tristan asked some fantastic questions in response to a post I made below and I felt like it would make sense to make a blog post about it. Remember, NO question is too odd or silly. I'm an old pro at living overseas, so a lot of the "simpler" things I don't even think about anymore. So here are Tristan's questions:

1) Is the kitchen fully equipped? I don't need to bring my Boy Scout mess kit with me, do I?

-- The kitchen is fully equipped with two stoves, a toaster, a fridge, and a microwave. As far as the things you'll need to actually cook... I'll check on that. I would assume most stuff (kitchen utensils, etc...) will be there.

2) How and where do we exchange currency? What about traveler's checks, where do I get those, and do I need them?

-- There are a couple answers to this question. First, it's always a good idea to try and exchange some money in the states before you get to London. Usually your personal bank will have a way to do this. Be aware though -- it could take a couple of days as usually branch banks don't have foreign currency on hand. Another smart idea is to make sure you have your ATM card with you. Using your ATM in England, you'll almost always get a better exchange rate than you would from an exchange place. The third option is that there are a ton of places in London (especially where you'll be staying) that have stores that will exchange currencies. Most of these places usually give an unfavorable exchange rate. But do some window shopping -- sometimes you can get good deals in these places. It also makes sense to ask questions at the banks and exchange rate centers, like what their exchange rate and commissions are. It takes 20 seconds but could save you some money. As far as traveller's checks are concerned -- they are nice to have for safety's sake. I don't personally carry them, but it might not be a bad idea to have some cash in traveller's checks.
***On the talk about banks -- make sure you let your bank and credit card company know you are traveling overseas. Many times these places will shut your card down as soon as it sees you have made a foreign purchase.

1) During our daily outings, will we be stopping somewhere for lunch, or bringing our own? What kind of stuff should we be carrying for our day trips?

-- If you look at the syllabus posted to the right on this blog it will tell you that there are three times we will have lunch or dinner together. Obviously, there will be times I'll ask you all informally if you want to go to dinner somewhere, but you are not obligated to do that. I will try to set most of the field trips up so they will happen between breakfast and lunch, lunch and dinner, etc... If you all are famished, obviously we can make a pit stop if you need to while we're touring.

For the trips you should be taking a pen or pencil (or audio recorder) and a notepad. I'm not going to hold your hands through these exercises but I do expect you guys to talk to tourists, folks from the UK, etc... while we're there so you can get an idea of what London is all about. These interviews will obviously help color your stories. I'm also very much a visual person and expect you guys to create visuals in your stories for me. Whether it be describing a person, a place, a thing -- you want to set a tone and a mood for your story. Travel writing is ALL about description. So you should be taking notes constantly or at the very least taking in your surroundings in a meaningful way that you can write down later.

4) Shower sandal. y/n?

Shower sandals are a definite "yes". It is a dorm after all -- same rules apply as an American college.

5) You told me once that $500 for food would be enough. Still true? Also, about how much could we spend pubs, weekend trips and souvenirs? Maybe a high estimate and a low estimate.

-- I just went to the Sainsbury's website and created a grocery list for myself (I suggest you give it a try) and found that a week's worth of groceries came to about 120 dollars. So yah, I think you could do groceries for 3 weeks for 500 dollars pretty easily. As far as pubs are concerned, most meals range between £6 and £12. If you decide you want to imbibe, prices are fairly expensive for beers, etc... because it's a big city and our dollar is getting creamed by the pound right now. I'm not going to give a high and low estimate because it really is a person's personal preference.
*** Check out Sainsbury's website if for nothing else the really odd food combinations they have there. England is definitely interesting when it comes to food. Haggis anyone?

Keep thinking of questions folks! I'll keep posting and responding to them.

American Airlines...

2008-06-05T12:12:00.000-04:00

One quick thing I wanted to add into the blog -- I'm sure you've all seen that American Airlines is charging 15 dollars for the first bag, and 25 dollars for the second bag. Luckily we booked tickets before this went into effect. So we don't have to worry about that. It is important though for you to know a little bit about the restrictions you'll face traveling overseas. The American Airlines website will explain all the things you'll need to know.

Travel Plans

2008-06-05T11:46:00.001-04:00

I know one of the nice things about this course is that it gives all of you some freedom on weekends (since we have three day weekends). That means you have the ability to do some stuff that you wouldn't be able to do during the week.

Whether you want to sight see in London, travel around the UK, or check out mainland Europe, the three day weekend will help you guys out alot.

So do any of you have plans to travel somewhere while in London?

I have a couple plans. On the second weekend there my wife and I are going to escape to the Netherlands to check out the sights, sounds, and culture of beautiful Amsterdam.

We're also planning on hitting up Liverpool where the Beatles got their start. We'll go on the Magical Mystery Tour while there. I've done the tour twice before and it's fantastic -- an essential for anyone who loves The Beatles. Liverpool is a day trip from London -- about a three hour train ride. If anyone is interested in doing this, let me know maybe we can go together.

I also would love to check out Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral again but probably won't get a chance to do that this time. I'm definitely checking out Hampton Court Palace in far west London this time around. It's a fantastic place from what I've heard. I've never had the opportunity to check it out though.

So what are your plans? Use the comments section here to tell me and everyone else what you're doing. Who knows, you might just get a travel partner out of it!

By the way, I'll be giving you guys tip and suggestions of places to go in London that we won't necessarily hit during class time.

The Great Cell Phone Debate

2008-06-05T11:34:00.001-04:00

Okay, so using an American mobile phone in London is tougher than putting NAT sound that Parkhurst likes into your TV packages.

It looks like AT&T/Cingular and T-Mobile have the best phones for overseas. First thing you'd need to do is figure out if they are quad band though. After figuring that out, you need to decide if you want to pay $2.99 a minute to call back to the US or receive incoming calls. If you don't, you need to get a SIM card that can go into your phone. In order to do that you need to get it unlocked by a few different services.

So as I said, that's the easiest option for using cell phones in England. Other cell phone carriers are much more difficult. So instead of killing myself doing this I decided to ask some students of mine who spent a semester abroad in London what they did. Below is an e-mail exchange I had with Mike Lurie on cell phones in London. For our purposes I think what he suggests will probably work best.

Hey Ryan,

We went through a company called Piccell for our cell phones. Basically
you order them online and they get sent to you before you leave and you
send them back when you get home. It was fairly priced, and Piccell to
Piccell calls are free, except I don't know if it would work out for such
a short term trip. I would suggest buying a "pay as you go" phone when you
get to London. There are tons of stores around that sell phones for 10-20
pounds. You can top up in many stores as well, and just pay for minutes as
you use them. That is probably your best route.

So there you have it -- I think pay as you go phones are probably the best option for cell use. It's basically a phone and a calling card and that's it. I used one when I lived in London and it worked very well.

Questions Answered

2008-06-05T11:20:00.001-04:00

Hey folks... got an e-mail from a representative of Pepperdine today (Pepperdine is the college that is subletting your rooms to us for the program). Got some answers to some of your questions, and I'll post it below.

One month from today I'll be in London preparing for your arrival! Are you guys ready? What questions do you have for me? I'll try my best to answer any questions you have about pretty much anything to do with the trip, London, Europe, travel writing, etc...

In any case, here's the e-mail I received from Glyn:

1)  Does the dorm have Internet access
for the students laptops?

The dorm rooms are hard wired as opposed to wireless.

2)  Are bed linens and towels, etc.. provided or do they
need to pack those things?

Linens are supplied and changed on a weekly basis and the rooms
cleaned weekly I understand. I had a look at a brief version of
the contract and there is no mention of towels so I would bring
one although you could buy a cheap one here.

3)  Are there locks on the dorm rooms?

Rooms are lockable. I'm sure there will be a fee for lost keys.
There is also a swipe system to get into the building. Security
is 24 hours and is by the main entrance. They will have photos of
students so we know who is in the building and who is a visitor.

4)  Is there telephone access in the dorm rooms, or in the dorm?

I believe that rooms have phones but that you need to purchase cards,
from security, to make outside calls. I know that many of our students
use Skype for speaking with people at home so that may be something your
students want to think about.

So after playing Alex Trebek, I think some of your questions have been
answered.  Hope this helps!

Groceries and Adapters...

2008-06-02T10:14:00.000-04:00

Okay, I know a lot of you were a bit worried about cost of living in the UK right now. As far as food is concerned, the grocers you'll probably be using would be Sainsbury's or Tesco. Both stores have online shopping, so if you want to get a sense of how much you'll pay to eat per week you can do it right at those sites. I'll also give you another fantastic site called xe.com This website is a currency converter online and works very nicely.

If you play around with the grocery websites and xe.com you'll get a solid sense of how much everything will cost.

If you like Brit Pop, Lily Allen actually has a song where she mentions Tesco. It's kind of the Wegman's of the UK.

If you're planning on taking your Mac Book Pro to London you'll need a voltage converter. The Apple Store sells one. It's 39 bucks, but you might be able to find it cheaper elsewhere. EDIT: Reading some reviews on the Apple Store website it seems that for our purposes you can get a similar thing for much cheaper at an electronics store. Also remember that the London Center has computers there, so you don't have to take your computer to London.

Since the UK uses a different electrical system than the US you'll also need voltage converters for any appliance you take to the UK, like a curling iron, hair dryer, etc...

Along with the converter, you'll also need a plug adapter. This seems like a lot of work, right? Well, if you go to Wal-Mart they usually have full packs of adapters, etc... in their Travel aisle.

So since I just pimped Wal-Mart, I'll give you a link to K-Mart.

Living Quarters...

2008-05-28T17:18:00.000-04:00

So we now have living quarters for all of you in London! You'll be staying on the Imperial College campus in South Kensington. It's about a ten minute tube ride from the Ithaca College London Centre, (lets all start spelling British!) and is right in the middle of museum land. You have the Victoria & Albert, The Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Palace, and Hyde Park all within 5 minutes walk.

Basically this area is the 90210 of England. If you have an "SW7" postal code, you're livin' like Posh & Becks.

Click on this map to see where you'll be living!

But wait, there's more.

The name of the building is Weeks Hall, the proper address is 16-18 Prince's Gardens, London, SW7 1NA.

You each have your own room. Yes that's right -- you'll each have a single.

There are cooking facilities in the dorm and a laundry in the basement.

Bedroom Picture

Kitchen Picture

Here are some more hall features:

Washbasins in all study bedrooms
Large kitchens located on alternate floors, shared by 15 students
Bathrooms and shower rooms located on each floor, maximum of eight students sharing
Study/bed-sitting room with en suite bathroom, specially adapted for mobility restricted students
Individual internet and telephone access
Coin operated fully equipped laundry room
Rooms accessible by lift
No smoking residence

Cheers!

The 1 Square Mile

2008-01-14T14:46:00.000-05:00

The interesting thing about London is that each borough is like it's own unique neighborhood. One of my absolute favorite places in London is the one square mile that makes up the original city of London.

It is now a bustling, busy center of the capital. The Bank of England and the Royal Courts of Justice both reside within the city limits. It also holds some of the most unique architecture and streets in the whole of England. St. Paul's, Temple Church (Knights Templar and DaVinci Code anyone?), St. Brides (picture above -- also the inspiration for tiered wedding cakes!), The Temple Bar, and The Courts of Justice are just a few of the amazing places in the city.

It's also a really unique area because of how well it still represents the ancient city that sprung up along the banks of the Thames many millenia ago. Cobble stoned pathways, The Cheshire Cheese, Ye Olde Mitre pub, and Twinings Tea are just some things that hearken back to a time that is long gone, but not forgotten.

For all the things I just mentioned, there are about 20 things I missed that make the one square mile so unique and awe-inspiring.

In the course, we'll be spending a good deal of time in the city. If you want to get a feel for the feel of the city, here's a popular children's nursery rhyme that gets its inspiration from this hallowed area:

ORANGES AND LEMONS

Gay go up and gay go down
To Ring the Bells of London Town
"Oranges and Lemons" say the Bells of St. Clements
"Bullseyes and Targets" say the Bells of St. Margaret's
"Brickbats and Tiles" say the Bells of St. Giles
"Halfpence and Farthings" say the Bells of St. Martin's
"Pancakes and Fritters" say the Bells of St. Peter's
"Two Sticks and an Apple" say the Bells of Whitechapel
"Maids in white aprons" say the Bells at St. Katherine's
"Pokers and Tongs" say the Bells of St. John's
"Kettles and Pans" say the Bells of St. Anne's
"Old Father Baldpate" say the slow Bells of Aldgate
"You owe me Ten Shillings" say the Bells of St. Helen's
"When will you Pay me?" say the Bells of Old Bailey
"When I grow Rich" say the Bells of Shoreditch
"Pray when will that be?" say the Bells of Stepney
"I do not know" say the Great Bell of Bow
Gay go up and gay go down
To Ring the Bells of London Town

Do some Internet research and you'll find the nursery rhyme actually has some really deep meaning to it.

Just another reason to LOVE London!

Information is FUN!

2007-12-06T12:53:00.000-05:00

Yo folks,

I'm having an information session for this Travel Writing for Journalists class in London on Monday December 17th from 12-1 pm in Park 220.

I would entice you with food, but I don't have a budget for that. So bring a brown bag lunch and we'll chat about how awesome this trip will be. I'll have syllabi for you to sink your teeth into, and also some applications.

Deadline for applying is February 25th, but I want you folks to get in before that. There's been a fair amount of buzz surrounding this course, so I'm hoping for a solid turn out.

If you have any questions, shoot me an e-mail at rparkhurst@ithaca.edu and I'll get back to you.

Let's Talk Money

2007-11-30T10:07:00.000-05:00

Okay, so you're probably thinking to yourself "hey this sounds like a great trip, but how much is the damn thing gonna cost?"

I'm not gonna lie, it's kind of expensive. When I break it down for you though, you're going to see how worth it this will be.

So here's the deal, 3 1/2 weeks in London is going to cost $4800 dollars. WAIT!!! DON'T LEAVE YET!!! Let me break this down for you before you get scared off.

Here's where that money will be going:

Tuition for a 3-credit course: $2415
Flight to London: $850 (round trip)
Tube Pass (3 weeks):* $160
Room & Board: $1155
Field Trips:** $175
Book for Course: $15
International ID Card: $22
________________________________________________________________
TOTAL: $4792

* - The tube pass gives you transit on London's Underground in Zones 1 & 2, plus you can use it for the buses anywhere in the city. It's THE way to get around London and it's included in the cost of the program
** - Field Trips include: Entrance into St. Paul's Cathedral, The Tower of London, Kensington Palace (where Princess Di lived), a ticket to see a Shakespearean play in the Globe Theatre (a MUST see), and 4 different London walking tours (a pub walk, a Beatles walk, a Jack the Ripper Walk, and a DaVinci Code walk).

Okay, so here's the deal. More than half of this cost is tuition for a three credit course -- something you'd be paying for anyways right? This course is LIBERAL ARTS (and Special Topics if you're a journalism major and haven't fulfilled this requirement yet), which means it counts towards your liberal arts credits (duh!). You'd be paying for these credits anyways. So basically you can do London for three weeks with an expert guide, that includes flight and room & board for about $2300 dollars.

Go to any travel agent in the world. Are you back? That's a deal you will never find anywhere for three weeks in one of the hippest cities on earth.

So there's the pitch. Take it for what it's worth but hopefully you're still on-board. As I've said before... my guarantee to you is that you will see more of London in 3 weeks with me than you would see in three months by yourself. And you're going to learn a whole lot about writing for a travel publication too.

The Syllabus for Travel Writing

2007-11-27T13:33:00.000-05:00

Here's a link to the syllabus for Travel Writing for Journalists: Syllabus

Welcome to Travel Writing for Journalists!

2007-11-27T12:41:00.000-05:00

First off, introductions. My name is Ryan Parkhurst, and I am currently a professor of journalism in the Park School at Ithaca College. My three passions are writing, travel, and teaching. This course is based around those three loves.

I lived in London for a little more than a year on two separate occasions. London is one of the coolest cities in the world, and is a city you absolutely have to experience before you die.

This blog will act as a place where I can update what is happening with the program, and when students start to sign up, a place we can talk about what YOU want to learn about London while we're over there.

This is a chance of a lifetime -- for you and me! Let's make the most of it.

If you have any questions about the program shoot me an e-mail at rparkhurst@ithaca.edu and we can chat. Or you can post it in the comments section here.

Travel Writing for Journalists

More Pics Posted...

The Beauty of Being London

Fantastic videos from Scully...

Re-energized and Ready to Roll

Drowsy and drizzled upon...

Blogging from JFK...

To Do Lists

Writing about Travel

Backpacking in Scotland

ATM's, Traveler's Checks and more...

Fighting for British Cuisine

Figuring out your flat

Heavy Reading

So That's The List...

1. The River

2. The Pubs

3. Holland Park

Home Sweet Home...

Starting it Back Up

Five IC students make it to London!

4. Speaker's Corner on a Sunday

5. The Music Scene

6. London Museums...

Live it, Learn it, Love it

Very cool website...

7. Westminster Abbey

8. Greenwich

9. Hampstead Heath & Richmond Park

10. The London Eye

10 Things to do in London

Some Great Questions...

American Airlines...

Travel Plans

The Great Cell Phone Debate

Questions Answered

Groceries and Adapters...

Living Quarters...

Cheers!

The 1 Square Mile

Information is FUN!

Let's Talk Money

The Syllabus for Travel Writing

Welcome to Travel Writing for Journalists!