With officially 8 days til I go home (and a week until I’m in the airport) I find it’s time to update on my life at least this one last time.
So after London/York I was back in St. Andrew’s for 10 days before leaving for Paris. In that time I went to LOCH NESS and Inverness which is the ‘city’ nearby. Loch Ness was really gorgeous and I think the most exciting part might have been touching the water… closest I can get to Nessie, you know? Pretty much our day there was so short though that we got there, ate lunch, grabbed a coffee, took the bus to Urquhart Castle which is a really nice place to see the loch and has some medieval history to it, and then took the bus back got McDonalds (I love America) and went home. It was a really fun day though and I’m glad I made it there, even if I do wish I hadn’t missed the Nessie museum and gift shop, yikes!
Okay, so then I left for Paris on Wednesday the 25th. The flight there was really nice and efficient and on time, by the time I got across the city on the Metro it was about 9pm I think and I met the girl we were renting the apartment from. She was really nice, the apartment was super cute, and it was such such such a good idea. The one we had initially planned on getting fell through a few days before so we really got lucky staying in this apartment, and the girl was about 27 and really fair and nice and everything it was great.
Okay, so Emily got in later that night and we pretty much just went to bed… the next morning (Thanksgiving!) we got up and went to this market in the neighborhood nearby. We also went on a journey to get ‘the best falafel in Paris’ according to the New York Times, I think, and we ended up topping that off with some gelato. Kind of ironic to be eating non-Parisian and non-American foods (on Thanksgiving) I guess, but what can you do. After that we headed to the Eiffel Tower which we so bravely took the stairs up. It was sooo gorgeous and probably my favorite thing that we saw, which is all cliche and touristy but was also unexpected since it’s sorta just a hunk of metal. But seriously, so pretty. We went at dusk so we got the best of both worlds (light and dark).
After getting conned into buying some stupid bracelet outside of the Tower, we took a long walk back to our apartment where we proceeded to buy groceries and then get lost. I don’t even think we ate a real dinner that night (?) because the falafel was seriously that filling. We had like, a bowl of French frosted flakes. Mmm.
On Friday we hit up the Sacre Coer, the Arc de Triomphe, and walked down the Champs de Elysees to the Louvre. After an unsuccessful attempt to find a bakery and or coffee shop and or inexpensive cafe, we settled for the oh-so-American Starbucks while we waited for our 6pm free entry into the museum. We saw all the famous exhibits (the Mona Lisa pretty much, with a few others) and then wandered through soo much because our dinner reservations for CHEZ DENISE were at 10:30pm. This restaurant is sooo delicious, it’s right near the Louvre and it’s where Anthony Bourdain goes when he visits Paris. We got the steak and frites for 2, and it was probably the greatest meal I’ve eaten in a year, definitely the greatest meal I’ve ever eaten in Europe. We topped it off with Rum cake (because that’s what Tony gets) but it was a little too rum-a-licious. Although the people sitting next to us chowed down on it in no time… our under-21 tastebuds couldn’t handle the alcohol. But dinner was also awesome because they cram everyone into this little place where you share a table with whoever else is there, we met two Parisian people (one who didn’t speak English, one who did) and it was fun to try to overcome the language barrier and just to not feel so touristy for once. Plus we walked away with these posters that they use as their tablecloths, so a free souvenir to boot.
Okay, Friday we got into the Musee d’Orsay for free (even though we maybe should’ve payed, we convinced her that we were EU students and that was good enough) and that was pretty awesome. The museum is filled with a bunch of Monets and Van Goghs and Degas and other famous painters. Plus they had this exhibit on about Art Nouveau Revival (so like 1960s 1970s mod stuff) and it was neat to see. After that weee walked for ages trying to find a croissant (harder than you’d think in Paris) and worked up enough of an appetite to eat a croissant and a crepe. Both definitely delicious. Then we saw Notre Dame cathedral (huge and beautiful and just like the pictures!) before heading back to the apartment. Emily cooked us dinner and we both cleaned up the apartment before watching THE FAMIL STONE and eating super-coffee ice cream (so much more coffee flavoring) and going to sleep!
Emily left the next morning and I hung out in the apartment til 1pm. My flight, however, wasn’t until 10:35PM at night. So I decided to look up directions on how wto walk all the way across Paris to the bus stop in order to kill time. It was a 1 hour and 45 minute walk that I interrupted with a few mini store tours and a break at Starbucks (same one as before) where I got some work done. I also got 2 more chocolate croissants for my trip. I was still early for the bus, early for the plane, and ended up in Glasgow at 11:35? and was stuck until the first train at 5:48AM or so. I did a lot of work for class that was good, and made it through the night on croissants, cereal, pringles, water, red bull, and another coffee in the morning. I eventually took the train, got lost in Glasgow trying to switch stations at 6AM but made it to Leuchars at about 9:40AM, took the bus to St. Andrew’s and went to bed at 10:15AM. Absolutely ridiculous, but Paris (and a cheap flight) was definitely worth it.
SInce then I’ve written two essays, done everything in my power to live up the Christmas spirit (including going to see ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ for the first time ever this last Wednesday at 11pm at the movie theater here) and ALSO visiting Dundee for some last minute Christmas shopping/to buy a second bag to bring all my gifts home!!! Now I’m two tests and one week away from a joyous reunion in good old Glens Falls.
Better late than never…
On Thursday morning we woke up early to hit Arsenal stadium before we headed out of England. Claire needed to buy a jersey for her brother, but they didn’t have his size. We seriously tried and failed at this sooo many times.
We eventually made it to Kings Cross, took quick pics with Platform 9 3/4 (duh) and then headed off to York. It was a smooth trip, we got there and checked into our hotel (AMAZING) and then explored the city. York is sooo cute, it looks like it is out of a Disney town. It is surrounded by Roman walls and the center of the city has a market every day of the week I believe, plus it has endless shopping and limited car access so it’s all pedestrians everywhere. Everything was soo cheap compared to London so that was a plus too. We got Fish and Chips again that night, and watched Wimbledon (now with our expertise on all the London landmarks) which was an ideal night in after a very long week. On Friday we also just explored York more. We saw what is maybe left of the castle, and on Thursday we had seen York Minster so we hit up the main sights I believe (along with the Roman ruins). They had a pound store (like a dollar store only worse because £1 = $1.67) and that was super exciting. Still a good deal if you ask me…
We took the train home at 5:33PM (or 17:33 if you will) and ended up sitting next to these pretty drunk 40 something guys. It was unreal. They were from Dundee and they talked seriously the entire time and they were drunk and kept drinking and just were ridiculous. We did have a fun conversation about accents though. They weren’t creepy old men or anything, just normal drunks. It was certainly entertaining, although really lasted way too long (all the way to Leuchars).
So all in all our trip was a huge success. Now back to St A’s life for 10 days until I hit up Paris!
Tonight we ended up getting italian food. I got Gnocci. Then we had crepes for dessert. So pretty much we splurged the night out on European delicacies… you know, London-style (almost).
That’s pretty much the only update. But it’s important.
Alright, today we rounded out our London experience with an early morning run (8:15AM… that’s 3:15AM your time) through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. We saw the back of Kensington Palace and quickly stopped by the Diana Memorial Playground. Hyde Park is pretty gorgeous and it could be (probably isn’t but could be) where 101 Dalmations is set. I’ll have to check that out but, I like to think it is.
After that we came back, had breakfast, and headed out for the Tower of London. That place is pretty crazy, like a mini city within huge fortified walls. It had a lot of history dating back to medieval times which is neat since it related to my history class (The British Isles from the 9th to the 11th Centuries). We also saw the CROWN JEWELS which was probably my favorite part. They had a video playing of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and that was awesome, especially because it happened in Westminster Abbey and we had seen all the stuff (the high alter, the coronation chair) a few days before.
Anyways, I have a lot of fab pictures of the Tower. After that we ate a yummy lunch on the tube (not really yummy but it was like 2pm and we were needing it a lot) and went to Kensington Palace. This was probably my place because their two main exhibits were on the fashion/dress of Princess Diana (who lived there too, in case you didn’t know) and they had a few of her famous outfits and then some videos of her and that was really nice.
They also had a second exhibit on debutantes in like… the 1950’s, 1953? or ‘52 or ‘58? Was the last year they were presented at Court (before the Queen I guess) and it was basically an exhibit dedicated to them and what they had to do. It was really neat and I loved the dresses and 1950 style. We also saw all the exhibits about…Queen Victoria and Prince Albert who I think were the first/main/most important rulers to live there.
It’s definitely different to experience another country’s history… everything you see in the US is personally connected to you, but here I’m an outsider. I know way less about the history and it’s the first time I’ve really viewed it from the outside. I wish I knew more about all those places and I think I would if I was a UK citizen… but I guess that’s part of what you learn when you study abroad. Oh, the US and their self-centeredness. And their anti-royalty history. Go us (both ways).
I hope I can remember that far back.
On Sunday (day 3) we went tourist crazy. We went to the Westminster part of London and hit up Westminster Abbey, saw Parliament and Big Ben, went to Buckingham Palace and saw the changing of the guards and went to Trafalgar Square.
For Big Ben and Parliament we just took pictures of the outside (they’ll be on flickr eventually) and for the changing of the guards its a pretty long process but it was fun. The queen was there (the flag was flying) so that’s pretty neat.
We toured Westminster Abbey and saw a lot of famous dead people, especially some cool poets who are either buried there or are commemorated there. All I can really remember is like Lewis Carroll and Lord Byron and Chaucer. But yeah, no pictures allowed.
Also, I bought an I heart London shirt just like Taylor Swift. Too bad I don’t have awesome fans who write in (Fundon) for me below it.
Anywayyysss, we decided to go see a show and picked out Jersey Boys. There is some irony to the fact that we saw such an American show while in London but it was still pretty good. Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons have some pretty stellar tunes (duh) but I was distracted by trying to figure out if they were covering up English accents with their New Jersey ones.
Today we woke up really late, walked to Notting Hill and saw Portobello Market (street vendors) and the Travel Book Store (From the movie). That was pretty cool and a long walk…
After that we met up with Claire’s friend from Milsaps and the three of us went to the Tate Modern and saw the Globe Theater. The Tate Modern was pretty cool and had a bunch of famous paintings from Picasso and Dali and other neat stuff in it. It was also free which is obviously a huge bonus. Shakespeare’s Globe Theater (the one they recreated after the original burned down) was neat to see too. We only really spent time in the gift shop though since that was free.
Afterwords we walked through St. Paul’s cathedral which is huge and gorgeous. Then we hit up Soho which was completely decked out in Christmas garb. As in, huge lights and reindeer blow ups and everything. They were doing this like, 60’s disco themed dance party and welcome in the Christmas season. It was a little ridiculous, but it was neat for there to be so many people. The stores there were absolutely fantastic if also a large bit out of my price range. But I guess everything is out of my price range these days.
We walked home from there which was an extremely long walk but I guess it was worth it to see London not from the tube. My feet hurt from the expedition though. Eep. Saved £1.30 on not tubing though!
Tomorrow is our last full day (and real day) in London. We’re planning on GOING FOR A RUN through Hyde Park in the morning and touring Kensington Palace and the Tower of London. We also are thinking about going ice skating at the National History Museum tomorrow night because they have an ice skating rink outside it and a carousel. Super cute, right? Let’s hope.
Okay, we’re tucking in at the hostel for night two so I have to make this quick.
Yesterday we took our train to London. It was a very smooth and very nice right. So much less stressful and more enjoyable than a plane or bus. It’s like an awesome plane on the ground. And no luggage or liquid restrictions. And wireless internet (crazy, right?) so really, luxury traveling. And amazing scenes. Okay, but I’ll stop (quick).
Yesterday night we explored the area of Kensington/Hyde Park and ate at a pub. Fish and chips (of course!). It was nice but we were exhausted. We made friends with an Australian girl staying in our hostel who has from Heath Ledger’s hometown and apparently had met him in passing and she had also been traveling Europe for four months pretty much alone which is insane. That was about it though.
Today was seriously absolutely amazing. We got up and ate breakfast, met up with Alisha who had been staying in a hostel nearby, and then went to Camden markets which is like the best amazing shopping center with a lot of like, outdoor vendors and a lot of touristey things and a ton of punk stuff but it was still super neat. I bought some nice purchases (well, a couple pairs of earrings for myself and some secrets) and then we had lunch at this diner where I got a Taco Salad which was so amazing. Guacamole for the win.
After that we hit up Covent Gardens which was another really cute shopping center. We also checked out ticket prices for a show/musical here and we’re planning on going to one tomorrow.
After that we continued on our walk to Harrods!!!!!! Seriously it was like a Taylor Swift tour for me. I stood where she stood in front of the cupcakes. Then I bought and ate one. Absolutely amazing. I mean, it was a good cupcake but it was just made that much better because we’re cupcake buddies now. ANYWAYYYSS Harrods is legitimately mind blowing. That was the only thing I bought but I’m planning to hopefully get back there later in the week.
Today was an awesome day. I do love London. London Fundon as they (she) says. It’s super easy to navigate and I feel so smart for navigating the TUBE and even though all we did today was shop it felt amazing. I also took some amazing pictures and I might have to hit Tess up on that flickr account…so let me know so I can put them all up all the time!
Also, obviously, yay for free wireless somewhere in the vicinity so I can post this from the hostel. I’ll try to update as much as I can because it’s amazing and I’m so so so glad to be here. Tomorrow we are doing really touristey/famous sight-seeing things. The only downside really is the expenses but I can’t help to think it’s TOTALLY worth it. Love love love.
Okay, a little delayed but last weekend was Halloween! Emily came to visit and we spent Friday night in Edinburgh. We saw the castle and walked around the streets anddd had delicoius Indian food for really cheap and go ice cream at this swanky italian place where we awkwardly sat at the bar. We also took pictures of the Elephant Cafe where JK Rowling wrote Harry Potter. It was a little too swanky for us though, so we ditched for the ice cream. But I still stole a napkin…cause that’s what she scribbled on to write HP! Maybe if I ever make a scrapbook I’ll add it in.
Saturday was Halloween and we ended up going to a couple of pubs but nothing too exciting. We did dress as the American flag though which, if you ask me, is the absolutely ideal costume for when you’re in another country. We got a couple shouts of solidarity and at least one “go back to your own country”esque one. But it was totally worth it. I have to say Halloween over here in general is a disappointment…they’re still pretty preoccupied with dressing up as ‘scary’ things and half the people don’t even dress up and there is no trick or treating and pretty much they just don”tttt get it. Who knew we had it so good?
Sunday we stayed in and watched Notting Hill (very british) and American Beauty (lol, America). It rained like no other and I wore my rainboots out which are actually a smidge too small and I’m still suffering the blisters.
Emily left Monday morning for England/Londonish area to visit her relatives and her parents are coming over (I’m so jealous).
But it’s sort of okay because tomorrow I LEAVE for London!! It’s sort of surreal and I’m not ready at all but I am meeting my friend Claire (who is going with me) today for coffee and to discuss our itinerary for the next 5 nights. The sixth night we are staying in York, which so I hear has the street that was JK Rowling’s inspiration for Diagon Alley. Between that and Elephant Cafe and Platform 9 3/4 when we get into Kings Cross it’s turning out to be a pretty stellar Harry Potter tour over here.
Also, not sure if this is on here already but we decided not to go to Paris… it was sort of fitting a lot in when we could just sort of chill out in London and really get a good feel for it. Plus we’re taking a day trip to Stonehenge. Which is sort of stellar anyways since 19 days til a Parisian Thanksgiving.
Oh, and on the weekend inbetween (Nov. 21-22…Berk/Poppie’s birthday) we are thinking about going to Loch Ness. Pretty much the month is going to fly by and before I know it it’s going to be December and I’ll be bogged down in essay land and then I’ll be HOME.
(also, 3/8 essays for the semester done. and 6/12 weeks)
Score 1: I got an extra hour of much needed sleep last night.
Score 2: The states don’t do daylight savings for another week. So I’m temporarily only four hours ahead. That means I pretty much gain an hour of life everday. PERFECT.
