Tim Walker

After the previous post, I was walking along and I saw a big pretty building. "Hm, what's that? Since I do whatever I want whenever I want I guess I might as well wander over there." It turned out to be the Somerset House and they had a free exhibit on Tim Walker. I literally stumbled into it.It was MAGICAL. There were no photos allowed, but here are a bunch of his images and a few photos of the exhibit. There were these enormous fantastical props all around. I loved it so much and bought my first souvenir: a postcard with one of his images.

Karen Elson

from http://agirlastyle.com/tag/tim-walker/

from http://agirlastyle.com/tag/tim-walker/

Tim Walker Helena Bonham Carter

London Calling

I'm in London, or as far as I'm concerned home of Harry Potter, Doctor Who, and nudie Prince Harry. And a rich history and culture and blah blah.

I was positively giddy coming off the plane. I've never been to London before. Makes me feel bad about how neutral I was about Iceland. Not to further shit on Iceland, but I was really excited about daylight. It's the little things that get me excited. Seriously. Other things that made me happy as a clam today: squeezing in TWO movies on my short flight, hearing British children speak, and not being on a top bunk.

My hostel is cute as a lil BUTTON. It's the former home of a cookie heir which puts me at 2 out of 2 for Cookie Related Hostels (Iceland hostel was a converted cookie factory and the wifi password was cookiemonster). **Behind the Scenes Blog: I originally wrote "biscuit" instead of "cookie" in this paragraph**

And here is my bed! I feel like an American Girl doll in this thing and love it. Maybe it's the Lilliputian proportions? I'm SO a Samantha. I also have to duck my head at a few spots around here like a damn Amazonian Princess.

Today was Tate Modern and walking around a bit. I'm currently walking to Covent Gardens and stopped into a cafe for a SPOT O TEA and some wifi that's much better than my hostel's. Btw, click the photos to make them bigger and read my always sparkling captions.

Staying: Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage

More Iceland

ICELAND
Here are some photos of Iceland!
Iceland and some Icelandic Rocks
Reykjavik

I went to the Harbour House Museum, part of the Reykjavik Art Museum, and thoroughly enjoyed it. The have a permanent exhibit on Erros, an Icelandic graphic artist who donated the works. I love when art and design overlap. The work was largely lithographs and silkscreens, which I'm terribly interested in. I loved his comic book style "Facescapes."
Facescapes
Erros

I then went to the National Museum of Iceland, which was well done, but boring for me. Sorry, Iceland. I was expecting more Vikings.
Icelandic Home

Finally I went to Iceland's most popular restaurant, Bæjarins Beztu! It's a small hot dog stand that has been proclaimed "Best Hot Dogs of Europe." So there you have it. It was quite good. According to wikipedia it comes with ketchup, sweet mustard, fried onion, raw onion, and a remoulade. But I didn't taste any Heinz 57. *snaps fingers in a sassy fashion and struts off to London*


20130110-174710.jpg

Commence

I made it. I am typing this from a coffee shop in Reykjavik. Currently pooped because we basically flew past night and I can't check into my hostel for a good ol' American NAP until 2pm. But HERE.I'm pretty proud to think that I got my butt to Iceland totally by myself. Reykjavik is cute; unfortunately Iceland was dark when I was getting in. The sun is finally beginning to peek out at 10:30! And it will set at 6pm womp womp. I also found a Subway which amused me. My hostel is next to a Dominos. People keep thinking I'm Icelandic... until they see my very troubled face when they start speaking Icelandic. Especially that one poor man that was just trying to get a sticker off my back.

Staying: Kex Hostel

THE TRIP

So I'm going on a trip. A little two-month solo backpacking excursion through Europe in January and February. Bananas!Here's a tentative plan: Reykjavik 1.9-1.11 London 1.11-1.20 Gent and Brussels Day Trip 1.20 Amsterdam 1.20-1.25 Berlin 1.25-1.28 (Dessau Day Trip) Prague 1.28-2.05 Vienna 2.05-2.07 Istanbul 2.07-2.12 Vienna Day Trip Zagreb 2.12-2.16 Venice Day Trip Basel 2.16-2.19 Blah Blah Blah do whatever Frankfurt 2.25 Reykjavik 2.25-2.27

I google mapped "Europe" and made a little route. I feel like that is a dumb way to plan a trip, but here we are.

Liz, why? Why why why? It's partly a John-Mayer-esque quarter life crisis, sure. But I also never did the backpacking thing after college, and I feel like it's now or never. I started to question the whole thing, so I promptly quit my job and booked my tickets.

I'm also a fan of forcibly shoving yourself out of your comfort zone.

By Yourself? I'm doing it by myself because I really can't expect anyone else to want to spend tons of $$$ to go freeze their tuchus off with me. I'd love to have a friend join me, but I didn't want "find travel companion" to turn into another excuse. I also think traveling solo will result in a totally different experience. Like in a good way. (?)

I'm usually pretty good at meeting people, so I do hope to make some friends while over there. Otherwise this trip will be thousands of instagram selfies.

It's WINTER! I'm aware. Not exactly ideal. However, I'm 23 and going to be unemployed for two months. Everything will be cheaper! The eurail pass is 20% off, and I'll roll around in giant empty hostels. Maybe jump around from bunkbed to bunkbed? Also, I think locals will take pity on me and talk to me and tell me interesting things. And buy me drinks.

What're You Going to DO? I want to draw a lot. I'm not planning on bringing a computer or my nice camera. I just want to see cool things, meet different people, and document that. It's a pretty selfish trip, being honest. Write and draw, draw and write. It's my young adult pilgrimage.

What About After? I'm going to stay in Brooklyn (I'm subletting while I'm gone), work on my portfolio, and start my job search. I'd also love to design a book about my trip, but that may be a bit ambitious. Let's just see how it goes first.

When did we start romanticizing hobos?

This past weekend was Camping Adventuretime! AHH! My friends and I trudged up to the perilous Franconia Notch, NH where we scaled mountains, caught fish bare-handed, and wrestled bears BEAR-handed. Okay, so maybe the "Adventuretime" is a bit of an overstatement, but it was a lot of fun. Quite legitimate too. Sleeping in tents, outhouses (creepy) , building campfires, boiling water; the whole she-bang. Despite the cold temperatures and frequent rain, we had a lovely time and got to enjoy some beautiful nature. Here, look at the beautiful nature:

While driving around New Hampshire I spotted a sign for Hobo Mini-Golf. Now, as a general life rule, I do not pass up hilariously themed activities. We had also been admiring a brochure for Hobo Junction just the previous day. [My favorite part of the brochure: "Enjoy a souvenir Hobo Bindle Stick (bundle on a stick)"]

I'm really kicking myself that I left my camera in the car. Hobo Junction did not disappoint. First, let me say it was a quality mini-golf course. Very clean and workers were friendly. It's just the hobo theme that cracked me up. There was a a big distiller for "furrmentin'" and an enormous wooden lawn chair that really had no explanation (except for some signs implicating I needed to sit down after all that moonshine). The real treat was the mannequins though. I loved them. They were clearly a hodge-podge of different mannequins including one very sad lady-mannequin with a stubble beard painted on her face. My personal favorite was the one who was floating in the water wear a baseball cap next to a wrecked boat. He was more drowning victim than hobo. In conclusion, if you ever find yourself in Lincoln, NH I highly recommend Hobo Junctions and I demand you send me photos galore.

V Day 2010: Party of One

I am currently sitting alone in a very nice hotel room next to the Cincinnati airport. I'm supposed to fly back to school tomorrow, but the weather report is saying another snow storm will be hitting tonight. After briefly considering the options, my parents and I decided it would be best for me to just stay in a hotel by the airport tonight, so we won't have to worry about the roads tomorrow. Initially, I was a little sad. The idea of being alone in a hotel room on Valentine's Day seems slightly more tragic than just being alone in my bedroom at home. However, my mood has significantly changed. I have a king-sized bed, a plasma screen TV, a couch, a big comfy bathrobe, and a big bathroom (no tub though). I also have 2 ELLE magazines, nail polish, my iPod, my iPhone, and my computer. The possibilities here are endless.First up: jumping on the bed while blasting Wild World* and wearing a bathrobe. Success!

I wish I had a tub, but now I just really want to clog the shower drain and fill it up like a giant tank. And then swim around in it like Daryl Hannah. I have a feeling this endeavor would be considerably less successful than the bed-jumping, but who knows, I've got a long night.

I'm also considering making a fort.

*click to listen. This version is from the BBC TV series Skins.

Spam

For some reason, I get tons of spam comments on this blog, which is strange because no one reads it. Although I'm really not surprised; spammers are a very resourceful people. I really like the comments that try (but not too hard) to not sound like spam. Anyway, I thought I would share my favorite comment from "louis vuitton":"This is a weighty blog and I influence vast on reading it every morning recognition you because sharing it!

louis vuitton handbags"

Troubling

Today in my purse I had an orange, a banana, a tuna fish salad sandwich in Tupperware, two pastries in a plastic baggie, and a Special K chocolate bar. When did I turn into a grandmother? All I'm missing is some unwrapped butterscotch candies floating around in there. I should probably invest in a lunchbox before this really gets out of hand.

You're Just the Bees Knees!

Today I realized that my vernacular is positively absurd. I'm like a sponge, just absorbing everything that I come across. I'm currently obsessed with Skins, a teen television drama from the UK, so these weird British terms keep slipping in. In the dining hall a few days ago I actually said, "Oggie Oggie Oggie! Oi! Oi! Oi!!" When did I become a British footballer? Yeah, never. I have no business chanting such things. Especially not in a dining hall.I also never retire my weird slangs. Remember in 2003 when people (mostly from California, I believe) said "Holla" ? Well I still do. As in, "I just found a quarter on the floor! HOLLA!" (For the record, no one has ever "hollered back") I also still say "neato", "Sweet!", and "Whoa!" a la Uncle Jesse. Do cool kids still say "cool"? I don't think so. I certainly know they don't say "cool beans" or "cool kids" for that matter.

I think I could be forgiven if I used these terms ironically, but I don't. And most of my outdated slang is still too recent to be ironic anyway. This year, I think I'll try to adopt some cockney slang, just to thoroughly frustrate my poor buddies.

It's a Fine Day for... Wallpaper!

Vivienne Westwood wallpaper

Vivienne Westwood wallpaper at Cole and Son!  So wonderful… I’m going into a very strange decorating coma just staring at it.  Goodness, am I drooling?  Yes, yes I am.

AND there’s a new desktop wallpaper at design*sponge!  While I can’t afford the Westwood wallpaper (and the whole living in a dorm issue…), at least my desktop is properly spruced!

New Desktop

2009: The Year of the Mashup?

Ah, 2009.  I don't have much to say to you.  We had some good times, we had some bad.  I'm pretty neutral on the subject of 2009.  This is really an excuse to post these:The Movies

The Music

Hello world!

I think this little website I have undertaken will be a nice project for winter break. I also went ahead and moved over all my blog entries from when I was in Italy. I think moving blog posts may break some blogging ethics or something. Eh, I wanted everything in one place.

ruh roh.

I started playing Farmville today. This could turn into a problem…

I'm on a BUS!

Now I am back in America. I'm not super happy about it, but New York is really cool. I only walked around looking for Penn Station for a few hours, but it makes a nice transition. Outside my bus window I see statue performers, vendors selling bags, and KEBABS (but of the shish variety). I'm also lovin' this MegaBus. $20 to Boston, plugs for charging, and free wifi. I MegaLove MegaBus.My last night in Florence was so amazing. I went out with a bang. I had to catch a cab at 5 am for my flight, so Hannah, Hillary, and I pulled an all-nighter. As the cab was driving through the empty streets of Florence I got a little teary. I have to go back to that city. Excuse the mush, but I haven't really slept in well over 24 hours. Also, I keep saying "Scusi" and feeling like a loser.

Also last night, I was told by 2 different people that I looked like this Italian popstar named "Elisa". I googled her today and I don't really see the resemblance.

Elisa Even if I don't look like her at all, let's pretend I do. And my life is basically the Lizzie McGuire the movie. So then Elisa was being a diva or something, I had to go on stage as her!!! OMG it was so scary but so fun! The entire Piazza della Signoria was filled with people cheering for me as I sang and wore crazy outfits. Montages were involved. Then my Italian love interest whisked me away on his moped, but I realized I had really been in love with my deceptively old little Jewish friend the entire time.

I think I ran with joke a little too long. Eh, I'm leaving it.

My first American meal was a soft pretzel. I see a disgustingly large portion of sushi in my near future.