DH and I have been talking about going on a honeymoon for what seems like forever. Fast forward a year, and we're still at the same spot in the planning stage as back then (!) Sigh. What we are able to make decisions on are short trips, preferably to places we've been to before. So I guess our recent trip to Charlottesville fills that void until we go someplace more exciting.

UVA was our home away from home for four years, so it holds a special place in our hearts. There are a few spots we make a point to stop at every time we visit, which includes Bodo's Bagels, a dining hall, and more Bodo's. Sadly, dining hall hours are irregular in the summer, but I did manage to eat enough bagels to last me until the next visit. I'll never tire of their smoked turkey on an everything bagel [photo below]. We even brought some back with us for lunch the next day. Bagels for three consecutive days? No complaints here.

I love walking through campus -- the red brick and colonial style architecture set in a leafy environment is perfection in my eyes. I'm biased of course, so take that with a grain of salt. Holy moly, have there been changes recently. After huffing and puffing up hills, I found my first year dorm:
...or rather, the gargantuan monstrosity that replaced it:
Good bye suite-style walk-ups with no AC. I attribute all the climbing walking up hills plus four flights of stairs everyday as the reason I never gained the Freshman 15. We caught the construction in mid-phase, so not all the 60s-era dorms were demolished yet. For comparison, the dorms that we lived in our first year (actually DH's):
I suppose it's time some buildings were modernized. Lucky first-year kids of today living like kings with their AC, elevators, and laundry facility in each building. What they don't know is that accommodations go downhill from here, muahaha.

Other photos around Grounds...
[Photo above]: Speaking of modernization, a new eatery that's part of (?) a dining hall. I'd like to steal all the decor for my home, please.
[Photo above]: Thumbs up (literally) to the E-School! ...as if my nerdiness isn't apparent enough.
[Photo above]: Fun fact: DH went to a high school named after TJ, went to a college founded by TJ, and now works at a building named TJ. I'm a wee bit jealous of the bromance he's got going on with Tommy.
[Outfit details]: sunglasses: Walmart (similar) / necklace: gift from aunt (similar) / dress: J.Crew Jules (similar) / belt: J.Crew (similar) / bag: H&M (similar) / shoes: LOFT (sold here)

There was one low point during our trip, when I dropped my camera onto concrete. <Insert multiple expletives> My heart dropped as it landed with a sickening thud. I expected scratches and banged up corners, but surprisingly the lens looked to be ok and the screen was uncracked. Unfortunately I couldn't turn the camera back on (hence the lack of variety in photos), so I resigned myself to upgrading the body once I came home. Somehow, some way, I figured out that a battery replacement was all I needed -- the body was in better shape than initially thought. Hallelujah! Camera incident aside, it was nice to get away for a weekend, eat good food, reminisce, relax, and just spend time together. See you next time, Charlottesville!