Pictures of London

Last day abroad

Today was the last day I had as a tourist. I walked a ton today. I went to an outdoor museum, a nordic museum, and the vasa museum. I actually had plans to make it to one more museum that had all the pippy longstocking stuff but frankly, my feet couldn't take it anymore. It was a lovely day. Ironically, I have had the warmest and sunniest weather here in Sweden than the rest of my trip. I am slightly sunburnt but I think it may actually turn into a nice farmers tan.

Tonight/this morning, a taxi will be coming to pick me up from Sarah's. I think this is the best choice since I would be completely lost if left alone to use the subway and catch a train here in Sweden. I was able to do it when it was in English but I won't lie to myself- it just won't happen here. Sarah even had to order my food for me tonight. If anyone is planning on coming to Sweden, most people do speak English but I recomend getting yourself a 'Sarah' to guide you and point you in the right direction because the signs are not in English all the time. Anyway, tomorrow is a long day of travel but my bed lies at the end of the journey and I can hear it calling my name. Yes. You are right, that is loud. Not only can I hear it across the ocean but I can also hear it over the Iron Maiden Concert that is playing very near Sarah's.

I made it to Sweden!

Yep. I did it. I am officially in Sweden. At least that is what I am told. I can't read the language so it is based on trust- well, that and the fact that Sarah was at the airport to pick me up. I am so grateful for that. I would still be in the airport if it wasn't for her. She brought me to her condo and she had cake to celebrate my birthday as well as a book for me(in Engligh) that is very popular in Sweden. Talk about sweet. Tomorrow I am going to be venturing out on my own which is a little scary. She will get off of work around four and then we will go out with 6 of her friends and then to see Mama Mia the movie. I am really excited about that. Right now, I am happy to be able to relax a little. I think tomorrow will be a big day for me.
Can't wait to see you all soon. Oh, Mom or Julie, do you know if Mrs. Woodstrom's second book has been published yet?

Bumpy ride

So, I left London yesterday (Sat) morning. My airport shuttle came early but luckily, I wasn't eating breakfast so I was ready to meet him at 6:30am. Much to my horror, I discovered that I was at the wrong airport when I couldn't retrieve my e-ticket. BLOODY HELL! So, the airport I was at didn't have any available seats so my only option was to try to catch the one I was supposed to be on. I took two trains back to the spot that I started in. I could have taken the tube from there to the correct airport but was told that would take me an hour, i.e. the time my flight was scheduled to leave. I took a taxi instead. So, roughly $120 later, I made it to the correct airport but there was a problem checking bags. That actually turned out to be a good thing because I wasn't the only one running late and therefore, the flight was delayed and I made it! Lets just say, I was thrilled to be leaving London at that point and moving onto a new venture.

Edinburgh is so much more for me. It's just a small fraction of the size so that helps. I can't figure out the bus system to save my soul but I don't care. I went to two modern art galleries when I got here and then the National Art Gallery. After, I bought a 24 hr ticket for a hop-on-hop-off tour. I rode it around the night before so that I could make the most out of today and I would have to say that it worked. I could always see more art but I am very satisfied with the things that I did see so I can't complain. I know that I ended up seeing more than I thought I would so that is really great.

Tomorrow morning I need to try to catch the bus back to the airport and then it's off to see Sarah in Sweden. I am getting really excited for this part. I am getting so desperate for seeing a familiar face that I keep seeing people who I am certain are doubles to my friends and family. Paige, I swear I have seen you several times in London as well as a former student, Eliza. In Scotland, the tour guide at the Edinburgh castle reminded me of a friend from Northfield. I could go on but you get the point. I am slightly nervous about not speaking Swedish but Sarah is going to meet me at the airport and take me by train to her place. Can you imagine me trying to get around in a country where they don't speak English? There were many times on this trip that I wasn't sure we were all speaking English.

I am looking forward to seeing you all very soon.

Tower of London

After a very unrestful night due to this absolutely ridiculous stomach thing, I went to the Tower of London. I had a ticket after all and I was not about to spend the day in this bloody hotel if I could help it. So, I skipped breakfast and loaded up on peptobismol. This seemed to help enough. I stood in line for 45 min only to find out, I didn't have to wait. Sort of funny since the people behind me were talkig the entire time about wishing that they have prepurched their tickets and it didn't occur to me. Oh well, I got in. I listened to the tour. He was very funny and I would recommend going on the tour to anyone who goes there- it helped orientate me. Then, I wandered around the rest of the towers for a while before I headed to the Kensington Palace. (I must insert a little notice here. I successfully took the tube to the Tower of London, stopped at Buckingham Palace, then proceeded onto Kensington Palace.) I must say, that I really enjoyed seeing Princess Diana's dresses. I know that is slightly silly given all that I saw today but it was the thing that I could relate to the most. Also near that display was an entire section on Debutants. I am just wondering, why did that go away? It looks like so much fun! I want a reason to wear dresses like that and no, chaparoning prom doesn't count.

I hate this bloody hotel!

This hotel is ridiculous! I just asked the desk attendant to call and confirm a shuttle pick up that I have already paid for. He wouldn't do it because it costs 10pence- bastard. I gave him my calling card and explained that I purchased a calling card so that I would be able to make a call but can't dial out on the cheap ass phone in my room. He dialed with my calling card but was not willing to stay on the line and told me to pay £1 to use the internet for 30 min. to write the company an email! On top of that, my room hasn't been cleaned yet since I have been here and I am reasonably certain that it wasn't cleaned before I got here either. It smells discusting and the walls are actually dirty. Oh, and this is 6 days of a stomach virus. I am getting incredibly weak and bitchy as you can tell.

Positives:
After the 'tour' this morning dropped us randomly at some stop, I was able to buy a ticket for the tube. I got to the museums and got back to this crappy motel. I didn't get to see the changing of the gaurds or westminster as my ticket that I paid for in May said that I would but I made it home.

I have a voucher for the Tower of London tomorrow, or at least I hope I do.

p.s. never use travel bound or Evan Evans travel. They over charge and feel it is ok to change the tour at any given moment with no notice or compensation.

Bloody Hell

I just threw that in for good measure. Today, I was on the original sightseeing tour of London. You all would have laughed if you would have been there. I dedided that since I have no idea where anything is or how things work, that I was just going to ride it around once and then make my stops. Well, the tour guide came up to me at the end and asked if there was anything wrong. Did I mention I was the ONLY one on the bus! I told her what I was doing but she still thought I was nuts. I also didn't realize how early things close in this city. I might not have rode the bus for so long had I realized that. Oh well, I did get to see the Tate modern museum, I was in the National Gallery for only a short time before they were turning off all the lights on us, and I took a cruise on the river. Not a bad day but I didn't see everything I wanted. The buses were really slow because the Queen was having a garden party. I waited for 45 minutes for one bus that I am certain never did come so I walked to another stop.

Tomorrow, I have a tour of Westminster Abby and then I have the afternoon free. I hope it goes well but have given myself complete permission to ride the tube all day if I need to- especially if there is a party as Jackee mentioned.

My birthday- and Julie's too

Yep, as you all remembered. Today is my birthday. I spent the day in Bath, Stonehenge and then a short stop in Westminster (the town). I wasn't kidding when I said all I want was people to tell me where to go, when and all that. Taking the tour (once I was able to find the bus) was nice. I have good pics but don't think I can post them in the hotel here. The owners are from India and we are having a difficult time communicating with eachother. I bought a calling card but I can't use it from my room I guess. They told me just to call from there desk but the connection is crap and it is really strange to talk on the phone at the desk, facing the desk attendant as people walk in so I am not sure how much I will do that.

Tomorrow, well, I think I may ending up having to tackle the tube situation. I can't lie, I am terrified of it. It seems like I can make some really bad choices and end up in places I am unaware of. I know several of you thought it was amazing but I am still scared. Wish me well.

Moving On

I arrived in London today, relatively whole. I had a terrible experience in Dublin yesterday followed by a complete break down. I have decided that traveling to large cities alone is horrible and I will never do it again if I can help it. I can handle the smaller villages and the less extreem accent but not so much Dublin and lets face it, I didn't do well in Cork either. If I hadn't already paid for the rest of my trip, I would have turned around and went home. Obviously, I havent' as I am in London. I am still very proud of myself for hopping on a train from the airport and hoping for the best, not knowing exactly what I was doing. Once I got to Victoria Station, I tried to take a cab to the hotel because yesterday I walked around Dublin for 4 hours and didn't find anything and I didn't want to repeat that. The taxi driver wouldn't take me to the hotel. He told me it was really close. Maybe I am giving up to easy but I didn't think so. I got only slightly lost on my way here but managed to find the closet of a room I have. It is so small that when I go to sleep tonight, I will have to put my luggage in the bathroom; the luggage is currently on my bed.

Tomorrow, I go on a tour to Stonehenge and I am excited about that. Really, I have decided that I will be forever excited about guided tours and people telling where to go and how to get there, even better if they can hold my hand while doing it.

So, a new phase of my trip has begun. As of yet, I am excited about the following things:

1. On my way to Dublin, a local Irish couple told me that I no longer have an american accent but they knew it wasn't Irish.
2. In the Dublin airport, someone from South Africa thought I was Irish (it's helps that I am wearing an Irish T-shirt and told him what the announcement was).
3. I am still alive and I think the stomach virus is slowly moving out.

I really am thinking that worst part of the trip is over. It has to be. If it is not however, I have the phone number for Heather A's uncle and I will not hesitate to use it. I know where the bus station is and I am about to walk there to get a scedule and map so that I can get around a little better.

This trip has been a slap in the face with all the self awareness. I must say, I am not sorry to learn all these things about myself but to learn all your weaknesses in a short time like this it not what I was expecting. But then again, I don't know what my expectations were for this trip.

Cork Screw Hill

I just hiked 5 miles up hill both ways, against the wind, in the rain for this picture. OK, not really, it was actually a 5 mile hike and it was up to the top of Cork Screw Hill but it was only uphill half on the way there and it was sunny but I actually do much better in the rain than the sun but I thought maybe if I said that it was in the rain, you can start to understand what I went through to get these photos. Hope you enjoy.