Canterbury, Rye and Beachey Head

Every morning the sun rises in England at about 5:30 which disrupts all of us who sleep in the attic. However, yesterday we all woke up just after the sun had risen and headed downstairs for our trip to Canterbury and its famous cathedral. As soon as we hopped on the bus the Centre had rented, I fell asleep in the back seat and didn't wake up until we were well into the English countryside. Canterbury is a medium-size city in the county of Kent in Southeast England. The Cathedral absolutely dominates the skyline and has so for almost a thousand years. It is the current seat of the worldwide Anglican church which gives it a kind of Temple-Square feel with guides at every corner. The Cathedral is also known as the site of the martyrdom of Thomas Beckett in 1170 who at the time was Archbishop of Canterbury.We had a couple of hours to walk through the massive building, contemplating the statues, stained class windows and relics. After Canterbury we headed to the medieval village of Rye which used to sit on the coast. Years ago, it was a haven for smugglers but now it only hosts the massive throngs of tourists who descend upon its quaint streets. After Rye we drove further along the coast to Beachey Head in Sussex. This is the eastern most point of what is called the seven sisters, or seven massive cliffs made up of white chalk. With a more than 500 foot drop to the sea below, the cliffs have traditionally been a favorite spot for suicides and daredevils. As a group we walked the sides of the cliff and endured the strong wind coming off the coast. It was an incredible view across the English channel. On a good day they say you can see France, but for us it was impossible.
Call me a dork, but the English countryside looks like the Shire in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. It has rolling green hills, the occasional outcropping of trees, and a massive population of sheep.
Today I started my second class which is an Introduction to Drawing. Our first assignment was to head to one of the many museums in the area and sketch various sculptures. Myself and two others headed to the British Museum and sat in the Greek and Roman section for three hours sketching classical statues. We were asked by our professor to look more than we drew, and watch for the subtle differences in shading and texture. I produced a horrible drawing, but with more time spent among the classic works of art, I'm sure I'll improve.