Group #24: Ismet Kucuker (London), Julia Nichols (Paris), Marie Youngcourt (Edinburgh) and Jenny Zhao (London)

When looking at the photos we have taken recently that we could contribute to this post, we recognized a central theme in the presence of water. The majority of these images were captured on excursions that took us away from the cities we are studying in, bringing us to the coast and providing a moment for us to appreciate nature amidst the hustle and bustle of life abroad. 

 

This is a photo taken at Seven Sisters Cliff which is a 90 minute train ride from London. It is close to the town of Eastbourne. There were also many sheep living on the mountains. There are sightseeing buses that are available to take tourists from the town of Eastbourne up into the mountains, which was super convenient. This was definitely one of the most beautiful natural scenery I have ever seen — where there many many shades of blue in the ocean! 

I took this photo on the shore of Loch Linnhe in a small town in the Scottish Highlands called Ardgour. After taking this picture, I stood with my friends and simply took in the stillness of the water as well as the endless layers of mountains, valleys and clouds that can be seen beyond the loch. Ardgour is a town of just a few hundred people who mostly live off of their land. When I visited, I was able to get a glimpse of what it may be like to live in a way that has a much less detrimental impact on the nature we are so lucky to live within and alongside. Additionally, during my short trip outside of Edinburgh, I learned about Scotland’s “right to roam” act. This act allows people to walk relatively freely across most land in the country as long as they are respectful and, as a local told me, close every gate behind them. I found this to be interesting and pleasant considering how privatized so much land is in the US. 

As a student in the Northwestern in Paris Art, Literature and Contemporary European Thought program, much of my time is spent visiting art museums. The museum in this image definitely wins the award for the best view so far. Pictured is the Picasso museum in Antibes, located in the French Riviera. This was one of four museums visited during the program trip to Nice and the Côte d’Azur, which is about a six hour train ride from Paris. Around the exterior of the museum are many of Picasso’s statues, as well as stunning views of the sea. In the background, there was a sailing regatta taking place, which added to the incredible atmosphere of this museum and its spectacular seaside ambiance. As one of my classmates said when reflecting on the trip, “the view was better than the museum.” We truly did not want to leave this stunning place.