Well it's hard to believe that my last week in England is almost up, but here we are. In the last week I've been to York, hung out with friends, been to a couple movies, and traveled back to Reading.
First off York was beautiful! I had such a good time there, although I was somewhat tired and hungry for the majority of the trip. I went to the York Minster which is a must if you make it to York. I then walked around the city before going to the York Castle Museum. Was good fun. On the way back on the train, I had a great time chatting with a family that lives in Missouri and was traveling around. It was nice to talk to some Americans. I finished off my week in Darwen with Liv, I had such a great time with her, we just chatted up the nights and caught up! I had so much fun with her.
Friday I headed to Reading, I was so excited to see both Claire and Victoria coming up the stairs at the train station! Friday the three of us had some dinner then met up with other Met students that were celebrating the submission of their Thesis. Good times! The weekend was also quite fun, slept in went to a BBQ, shopped...went to a free concert, and just hung out with friends.
Monday I had lunch with Ross Reynolds who was the organizer for the OU/Reading exchange on the Reading side...and then just walked around the University of Reading campus, brought back old memories. And like usual it didn't feel like I had been away for 4 years. It's insane!
I leave in the morning for the US, I'm excited to go home, but I'm not excited to leave England! Two different feelings...I'll be sad, but having my normal life things and not living out of a suit case will be nice...however I will still be living out of a suit case for another couple weeks or so. Miranda is picking me up from the airport in Raleigh, hopefully everything will be on time. Then Friday morning I will again head off on a train back to Washington DC. (I fly into there from England), where I will spend the weekend with my friend Amy. I'm looking forward to that, and it's hard to belive that being in DC for the weekend is just 48 hours away.
So next time I write I will be writing from the US! Hope I will be seeing some of my readers soon! Much love!!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
South Wales and Manchester!
Well it's been a while again, but trust me it doesn't seem like it! My time is just flying by! I can't believe it's Wednesday tomorrow!!! Where is it going? Only one full week left for my travels, then 8 weeks will be over! Time has seemed to stop in my world, but I know when I reach home, I will quickly join in where time did not stop.
I've had an amazing week. I traveled on Friday to see Helen. She lives right by the Wales/England boarder, on the England side. So I headed from Birmingham to Chepstow (just over the boarder in Wales) to meet her. I had some time to kill so I went to Gloucester, and walked around the pretty city and went to the cathedral. That was good fun! The Cathedral was really nice, and even scenes from Harry Potter were filmed there! Tons of pics there! I finally met up with Helen around 5:30pm and we went to her home. Her mother had a Wonderful meal prepared, and we had dinner in the conservatory watching the sun set! It was so nice!!! That night we decided to just chill and talk and catch up while watching some tv.
Saturday we went into Chepstow, Wales and to the castle, which was intersting, one of the bigger ones I've seen, well it's ruins anyway, but it was fun. Then Helen took me along the Wye Valley to a couple wonderful scenic lookout points!!! We did some hiking and the wye valley is very pretty looking at it from above! We also went to Titern Abbey which was a nice place, we didn't pay to go in, but we saw it from the road...wow! We had some lunch along the river, got sunburnt and enjoyed catching up again. Sunday we had a nice relaxing day, we had some lunch, took a walk went to a movie and had dinner! The walk was really fun! I learned what I stiles were which is used to get across the fences along the public footpaths. They allow people to get over the fences that separate crops/grazing land. I also had a wild blackberry(I think that's what it was) Wasn't to bad, but I'm not a seed girl..and I could feel some seeds. For the movie we went to Atonement, which I had no idea what it was about. It was a good movie, I recommend it. I was confused a bit, but that was because I'm not british...I don't even know if it's out in america now. oh well!
Monday I left Helen, (sad) and headed toward Manchester to see Liv. I stopped off in Birmingham to kill some time and went to a free art museum. Well if you know me, then you know I'm not much of an art appreciator, but I walked along, looking at some things...killing the better part of an hour. I then thought about going to the canals, but decided I didn't want to lug all of my luggage down there and back up to the station. So I got some of my new favorite (well besides Elieens) cookies, and headed on board...oh I also bought the 6th Harry Potter which I was able to begin since I finished my 3 book of the trip. I met Liv in Preston, and we went back to her place, had some tea and then talked for ages.
Today I went into Manchester, a 45 min train ride away which isn't to bad. I really enjoyed Manchester, it's a nice city, especially near the new millenium area. I went to the Cathedral where I watched a school lunchtime music concert. Then onto the visitors museum about the cathedral. Their Town hall is also quite elaborate and beautiful! I got to walk around in that for a little bit. Then I headed off to the Science and Industry Museum. Now that is my kind of museum. I walked around only 1 of 5 buildings. I learned about the Science history near manchester (those who lived here who've contributed) and then went to the childrens hand on experiment center....well actually everyone in there was an adult, but it's geared for children. That was way fun! I got kicked out of there at closing and headed back to where Liv lives. We've had a great night talking and what not. I've taught her a little bit about meteorology...hurricanes and tornadoes and some basic weather things. I hope I didn't confuse her to much! I'm not a good dumb it down teacher.
Tomorrow I'm heading off to York, which I'm really excited about! I think it will be a gorgous city! I've heard great things about it, and my guide book speaks highly of it too! So that should be interesting. I think I might go to Liverpool on Thursday, then off to Reading on Friday. I get to see Victoria and Claire, very excited about that! It's been 2 years and it will be fun to see them!
Well I think that's about it from here! Miss you all!
Love
I've had an amazing week. I traveled on Friday to see Helen. She lives right by the Wales/England boarder, on the England side. So I headed from Birmingham to Chepstow (just over the boarder in Wales) to meet her. I had some time to kill so I went to Gloucester, and walked around the pretty city and went to the cathedral. That was good fun! The Cathedral was really nice, and even scenes from Harry Potter were filmed there! Tons of pics there! I finally met up with Helen around 5:30pm and we went to her home. Her mother had a Wonderful meal prepared, and we had dinner in the conservatory watching the sun set! It was so nice!!! That night we decided to just chill and talk and catch up while watching some tv.
Saturday we went into Chepstow, Wales and to the castle, which was intersting, one of the bigger ones I've seen, well it's ruins anyway, but it was fun. Then Helen took me along the Wye Valley to a couple wonderful scenic lookout points!!! We did some hiking and the wye valley is very pretty looking at it from above! We also went to Titern Abbey which was a nice place, we didn't pay to go in, but we saw it from the road...wow! We had some lunch along the river, got sunburnt and enjoyed catching up again. Sunday we had a nice relaxing day, we had some lunch, took a walk went to a movie and had dinner! The walk was really fun! I learned what I stiles were which is used to get across the fences along the public footpaths. They allow people to get over the fences that separate crops/grazing land. I also had a wild blackberry(I think that's what it was) Wasn't to bad, but I'm not a seed girl..and I could feel some seeds. For the movie we went to Atonement, which I had no idea what it was about. It was a good movie, I recommend it. I was confused a bit, but that was because I'm not british...I don't even know if it's out in america now. oh well!
Monday I left Helen, (sad) and headed toward Manchester to see Liv. I stopped off in Birmingham to kill some time and went to a free art museum. Well if you know me, then you know I'm not much of an art appreciator, but I walked along, looking at some things...killing the better part of an hour. I then thought about going to the canals, but decided I didn't want to lug all of my luggage down there and back up to the station. So I got some of my new favorite (well besides Elieens) cookies, and headed on board...oh I also bought the 6th Harry Potter which I was able to begin since I finished my 3 book of the trip. I met Liv in Preston, and we went back to her place, had some tea and then talked for ages.
Today I went into Manchester, a 45 min train ride away which isn't to bad. I really enjoyed Manchester, it's a nice city, especially near the new millenium area. I went to the Cathedral where I watched a school lunchtime music concert. Then onto the visitors museum about the cathedral. Their Town hall is also quite elaborate and beautiful! I got to walk around in that for a little bit. Then I headed off to the Science and Industry Museum. Now that is my kind of museum. I walked around only 1 of 5 buildings. I learned about the Science history near manchester (those who lived here who've contributed) and then went to the childrens hand on experiment center....well actually everyone in there was an adult, but it's geared for children. That was way fun! I got kicked out of there at closing and headed back to where Liv lives. We've had a great night talking and what not. I've taught her a little bit about meteorology...hurricanes and tornadoes and some basic weather things. I hope I didn't confuse her to much! I'm not a good dumb it down teacher.
Tomorrow I'm heading off to York, which I'm really excited about! I think it will be a gorgous city! I've heard great things about it, and my guide book speaks highly of it too! So that should be interesting. I think I might go to Liverpool on Thursday, then off to Reading on Friday. I get to see Victoria and Claire, very excited about that! It's been 2 years and it will be fun to see them!
Well I think that's about it from here! Miss you all!
Love
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Exeter, Cadbury World and the like
It has been awhile since I've written, this I know..sorry! I think about it almost daily...but then when I get on the computer I go...eh, don't want to write that. So here we are, I'm about to write of my adventures for the past 10 days or so...bear with me.
I got back from Iceland on Wednesday the 5th, I made arrangements to stay with my friend Olivia that night. She wasn't free till she was off work, so I grabbed my stuff and headed into St. James Park where I continued reading Harry Potter for a couple hours, then I headed off to my hostel I'd stayed at and that had my other bag, and then off to the other side of London to where Olivia lived. That was a 2 hour plus journey, I eventually got there. We just chilled and watched some tv before repacking my stuff and heading to bed.
From London, I headed to Reading to drop off my 2nd bag with Claire and Chris until I get back to Reading. Then I headed into Exeter. I got to Exeter in the late afternoon, where James picked me up. He had to work that night, 12 hour forecasting shifts...LONG! if you ask me. I was more than happy to just sit and laze about that night, and so I did...watching tv and playing on the internet.
Friday I met up with Matt and we went down to two costal cities. They were quite beautiful. Big red cliffs that just drop into the sea. It was nice catching up with him, and seeing him. He was heading out to Italy the next day for the european severe storms conference...which my advisor is also at! That night I got to talk to my little one! A highlight, I also went out with some of james friends as he was working again that night.
The weekend was quite good, I went into the city of Exeter and went to the cathedral and then on a free city walking tour around the city wall, which is 90% still intact. It was quite a fun time. That night James, Ed and I got some chinese take away and then went to Exmouth to meet a whole group of people he works with. Was a good time, till the last train didn't run and the replacement bus service didn't advertise that it was replacing it and then it was very full!! So we had to get a taxi back to Exeter...wasn't to bad, 4 sharing for 24 pounds. Then we continued the night in Exeter getting home around 3am...Boy did I walk a lot that day! Probably 5-8 miles...not totally sure.
Sunday, James and I went to Dartmouth, which as a joke, but not really James tells me is at the mouth of the dart river. What' I've learned this time in England is that the english are not very creative...all of the names of cities and roads and what not are exactly what you think they are, or describing. We also went to Dartmouth castle which was good fun! Monday we went into Dartmoor National Park and hiked around Becky Falls and Hound Tor, all was great fun! We just about named Becky Falls, to James fell..but luckily he didn't fall in to much. It was nice being in Exeter with James, it is a cool city, I really liked the size and feel of it! It was good to see James and Matt as well, I'm glad I headed that way.
Tuesday this week I headed to Birmingham..where I went around the shopping center called the BullRing. Wednesday I went to Cadbury world which was really fun! I took a 15 min train ride to Bournville and walked to Cadbury world. I started out at the Essence of Cadbury where I learned how they made cadbury's dairy milk chocolate and then got to make my own chocolate concoction, which I used gummy button thins with liquid chocolate over top. Good fun! Then went into the museum and tour, which I learned how chocolate was descovered in the Mayan villiages and how it was brought to Europe. Then how it's made into the chocolate bars they have. I tried a Curly Wurly...which was good fun! I really enjoyed it and bought loads of cheap chocolate, which I'm not sure how I'm going to get home! Ahh! T hen I went to No Reservations wednesday night, which is a really good movie!
Today I went to Nottingham, and went to the Nottingham Castle where the sheriff of Nottingham use to live. It was fun and good to see nottingham. I also got to go in some of the numerous caves that are underneath the city. Amazing how many there are.
I've been spending a great deal of my time reading my books....before bed, on the train, in parks...whereever. I've just finished the 5th Harry Potter book, and will finish my other new book I bought (which I'm half through with) before buying the 6th Harry Potter. I don't know where I'm going to put all this stuff, as my bags are getting full...and I've still got 2 weeks left!
2 weeks from today I'll be home, and should be back in Raleigh at this time. However , turns out my travels won't quite be over, I'll have a stop over in Raleigh for a night, maybe two before I head up to DC to see a dear friend who I haven't seen in probably 3-4 years!!! I'm way excited about it! It will be crazy to continue traveling though, but I better keep with it while I'm going...if I stop I may collapse!
I'm heading to Gloucester tomorrow to view the city and then on to see another friend, Helen! I'm excited to see her and am excited as to what this weekend might bring. Then up to the north to see Liv on Sun night or monday. Don't know how long I'll stay there before heading out, maybe to Edinburgh..maybe not..we'll see. Still to be determined! I love living each day as it is!
I'm missing everyone, and eventhough I'm loving my travels, I'm looking forward to seeing you all again soon!
Love
I got back from Iceland on Wednesday the 5th, I made arrangements to stay with my friend Olivia that night. She wasn't free till she was off work, so I grabbed my stuff and headed into St. James Park where I continued reading Harry Potter for a couple hours, then I headed off to my hostel I'd stayed at and that had my other bag, and then off to the other side of London to where Olivia lived. That was a 2 hour plus journey, I eventually got there. We just chilled and watched some tv before repacking my stuff and heading to bed.
From London, I headed to Reading to drop off my 2nd bag with Claire and Chris until I get back to Reading. Then I headed into Exeter. I got to Exeter in the late afternoon, where James picked me up. He had to work that night, 12 hour forecasting shifts...LONG! if you ask me. I was more than happy to just sit and laze about that night, and so I did...watching tv and playing on the internet.
Friday I met up with Matt and we went down to two costal cities. They were quite beautiful. Big red cliffs that just drop into the sea. It was nice catching up with him, and seeing him. He was heading out to Italy the next day for the european severe storms conference...which my advisor is also at! That night I got to talk to my little one! A highlight, I also went out with some of james friends as he was working again that night.
The weekend was quite good, I went into the city of Exeter and went to the cathedral and then on a free city walking tour around the city wall, which is 90% still intact. It was quite a fun time. That night James, Ed and I got some chinese take away and then went to Exmouth to meet a whole group of people he works with. Was a good time, till the last train didn't run and the replacement bus service didn't advertise that it was replacing it and then it was very full!! So we had to get a taxi back to Exeter...wasn't to bad, 4 sharing for 24 pounds. Then we continued the night in Exeter getting home around 3am...Boy did I walk a lot that day! Probably 5-8 miles...not totally sure.
Sunday, James and I went to Dartmouth, which as a joke, but not really James tells me is at the mouth of the dart river. What' I've learned this time in England is that the english are not very creative...all of the names of cities and roads and what not are exactly what you think they are, or describing. We also went to Dartmouth castle which was good fun! Monday we went into Dartmoor National Park and hiked around Becky Falls and Hound Tor, all was great fun! We just about named Becky Falls, to James fell..but luckily he didn't fall in to much. It was nice being in Exeter with James, it is a cool city, I really liked the size and feel of it! It was good to see James and Matt as well, I'm glad I headed that way.
Tuesday this week I headed to Birmingham..where I went around the shopping center called the BullRing. Wednesday I went to Cadbury world which was really fun! I took a 15 min train ride to Bournville and walked to Cadbury world. I started out at the Essence of Cadbury where I learned how they made cadbury's dairy milk chocolate and then got to make my own chocolate concoction, which I used gummy button thins with liquid chocolate over top. Good fun! Then went into the museum and tour, which I learned how chocolate was descovered in the Mayan villiages and how it was brought to Europe. Then how it's made into the chocolate bars they have. I tried a Curly Wurly...which was good fun! I really enjoyed it and bought loads of cheap chocolate, which I'm not sure how I'm going to get home! Ahh! T hen I went to No Reservations wednesday night, which is a really good movie!
Today I went to Nottingham, and went to the Nottingham Castle where the sheriff of Nottingham use to live. It was fun and good to see nottingham. I also got to go in some of the numerous caves that are underneath the city. Amazing how many there are.
I've been spending a great deal of my time reading my books....before bed, on the train, in parks...whereever. I've just finished the 5th Harry Potter book, and will finish my other new book I bought (which I'm half through with) before buying the 6th Harry Potter. I don't know where I'm going to put all this stuff, as my bags are getting full...and I've still got 2 weeks left!
2 weeks from today I'll be home, and should be back in Raleigh at this time. However , turns out my travels won't quite be over, I'll have a stop over in Raleigh for a night, maybe two before I head up to DC to see a dear friend who I haven't seen in probably 3-4 years!!! I'm way excited about it! It will be crazy to continue traveling though, but I better keep with it while I'm going...if I stop I may collapse!
I'm heading to Gloucester tomorrow to view the city and then on to see another friend, Helen! I'm excited to see her and am excited as to what this weekend might bring. Then up to the north to see Liv on Sun night or monday. Don't know how long I'll stay there before heading out, maybe to Edinburgh..maybe not..we'll see. Still to be determined! I love living each day as it is!
I'm missing everyone, and eventhough I'm loving my travels, I'm looking forward to seeing you all again soon!
Love
Monday, September 3, 2007
Greetings from the Land of Ice....wait, I mean Iceland!
I'm sitting here in Elin's house, enjoying the company of everyone, and watching Snorri run around through the living room. Needless to say, I'm having an amazing time in Iceland!
I arrived in Iceland on Saturday afternoon, I saw the first bit of rain I've seen all trip, well maybe not the first, but really the most rain I've seen. And if you think it's windy in the plains, then you need to think again!!! Iceland is very windy! It's great though! Elin picked me up from the airport with Snorri her son! cute and I mean CUTE!!! little guy! We went to a coffee shop, and then back to her place. That evening I got to see her on TV, and not only did I get to see her on tv, as the very wonderful weather girl, I got to see the whole news broadcast being taped!! I don't even get to see that in the states!!! It was awesome! Then we had some dinner at her place and went to Becoming Jane with her sister, mom and some other friends of theirs.
Sunday was good as well, Elin and I chilled around, chatted catching up and watching the hilarious Music and Lyrics!!!! I love that movie!!!! Then in the afternoon I got to go to a 2 year old's birthday party, and boy was that a treat!!! I really enjoyed the whole thing!!! All of the little children were so cute, and I really got to experience the culture, it's definatly better to be with a native than be a tourist the whole time! From singing happy birthday in Icelandic to the wonderful bread, it was a great experience! Later in the evening I got to go up to the pearl and see the sights around the city! The pearl is a high point over the city, I got to see all of the bay/ocean and mountains! Reykievik(spelling I know) is a beautiful city, surrounded by mountains! The landscape is not cluttered by trees, and ith true beauty is allowed to shine through, reminds me in a way of home...much different, but somewhat similiar.
One thing I find kinda funny is that the temperature is about 9-11 C which is about 50 F....so yea, I'm in a winter coat...I don't have any winter clothes really, other than a sweatshirt, but I've got my winter coat, and you better believe I'm using it...but everyone here, the natives are all walking around in crop pants, skirts...and light jackets. Shows how much of a wimp I am. And 50 isn't that bad! But when Raleigh hardly ever even got below that, it's hard to think it's not chilly.
Tomorrow's my last day and I can hardly believe it, it's flown by so fast! Then back to England, and almost 3 weeks left on my tour around the countries far away from the US! I am totally enjoying my time, but I do miss having my normal conviences...like my own food...living in a hostel isn't that great, my own bathroom, however it's been nice having Elin's wonderful real bathroom, and then of course a washing machine and dryer!! I'll be so happy to have those things again!
Next I'm heading on to Exeter to see James and Matt...should be good times!!!
Oh and a brief note about my ending time in London...I went to the British Museum, which I will go to again because I didn't have enough time to see it when I was there, then I met up with Olivia for dinner and went out after. Friday was a busy day, I went to Buckingham Palace, then met up with Duick in Greenwich. I stood on the 0 line, between the eastern and the western hemisphere! Twas cool! I got back to the hostel again late and packed up what I could for my early departure for the airport to head for Iceland.
Who know's what's in store after Exeter, or even in Exeter...but I'm looking forward to it, and wondering how I'll get everything that I want to done!!! One thing is for sure though, I miss everyone!
Love
I arrived in Iceland on Saturday afternoon, I saw the first bit of rain I've seen all trip, well maybe not the first, but really the most rain I've seen. And if you think it's windy in the plains, then you need to think again!!! Iceland is very windy! It's great though! Elin picked me up from the airport with Snorri her son! cute and I mean CUTE!!! little guy! We went to a coffee shop, and then back to her place. That evening I got to see her on TV, and not only did I get to see her on tv, as the very wonderful weather girl, I got to see the whole news broadcast being taped!! I don't even get to see that in the states!!! It was awesome! Then we had some dinner at her place and went to Becoming Jane with her sister, mom and some other friends of theirs.
Sunday was good as well, Elin and I chilled around, chatted catching up and watching the hilarious Music and Lyrics!!!! I love that movie!!!! Then in the afternoon I got to go to a 2 year old's birthday party, and boy was that a treat!!! I really enjoyed the whole thing!!! All of the little children were so cute, and I really got to experience the culture, it's definatly better to be with a native than be a tourist the whole time! From singing happy birthday in Icelandic to the wonderful bread, it was a great experience! Later in the evening I got to go up to the pearl and see the sights around the city! The pearl is a high point over the city, I got to see all of the bay/ocean and mountains! Reykievik(spelling I know) is a beautiful city, surrounded by mountains! The landscape is not cluttered by trees, and ith true beauty is allowed to shine through, reminds me in a way of home...much different, but somewhat similiar.
One thing I find kinda funny is that the temperature is about 9-11 C which is about 50 F....so yea, I'm in a winter coat...I don't have any winter clothes really, other than a sweatshirt, but I've got my winter coat, and you better believe I'm using it...but everyone here, the natives are all walking around in crop pants, skirts...and light jackets. Shows how much of a wimp I am. And 50 isn't that bad! But when Raleigh hardly ever even got below that, it's hard to think it's not chilly.
Tomorrow's my last day and I can hardly believe it, it's flown by so fast! Then back to England, and almost 3 weeks left on my tour around the countries far away from the US! I am totally enjoying my time, but I do miss having my normal conviences...like my own food...living in a hostel isn't that great, my own bathroom, however it's been nice having Elin's wonderful real bathroom, and then of course a washing machine and dryer!! I'll be so happy to have those things again!
Next I'm heading on to Exeter to see James and Matt...should be good times!!!
Oh and a brief note about my ending time in London...I went to the British Museum, which I will go to again because I didn't have enough time to see it when I was there, then I met up with Olivia for dinner and went out after. Friday was a busy day, I went to Buckingham Palace, then met up with Duick in Greenwich. I stood on the 0 line, between the eastern and the western hemisphere! Twas cool! I got back to the hostel again late and packed up what I could for my early departure for the airport to head for Iceland.
Who know's what's in store after Exeter, or even in Exeter...but I'm looking forward to it, and wondering how I'll get everything that I want to done!!! One thing is for sure though, I miss everyone!
Love