Brittish Museum

Yesterday I spent 5 hours at the brittish museum, after which I had to take a nap in a park because I was exhausted. There was sooooo much to see, and they let you take pictures. I almost filled my card there alone. Egyptian, greek, roman, & european artifacts, coins, history, and stories. And it was free. I saw the rosetta stone, which is how egyptian hyrogliphics were translated, numerous scupltpures, and so many more things its impossiblre to relay it all. Thats why I took a lot of pictures. Oh...there was this one really cool clock, built in the 1700's, and it uses a rolling ball to keep the time. I took some video of that one. Then I went on a pub walk along the thames river, and the guide was throwing out little tid bits along the way (which I love) about history, etc. At the first pub I didnt want to go in and buy a drink and drink alone, so I sat outside and took some pictures of St. Pauls Cathedral, and this guy walking buy stopped and talked with me and ended up joining the walk and bought me a few drinks. He's nice enough, ill try to sneek a picture tonight. Im meeting him at 7 for a tour of the city.

Im already planning when I will leave for the airport on monday. Im saving the old operating theater for monday as well, since its 2 minutes walk from my hostel. I mailed postcards yesterday, sorry I was so bad about getting to the post office. They will arrive, eventually.

Much Love!

Answers to some of your questions

H & M is a clothing store. They are famous for having cheap clothes that are supposed to be very fashionable. I went there, and thought they were just cheep clothes. I did buy a hat and a new purse. I found another 2 letter store, C and A, and went nuts. You are going to love what I bought. A jacket, two sweaters, two shirts and a tank top. Really fashionable, and great for my new look (as in not jeans and tshirts every day).

The weather here is cloudy with light rain today, thankfully. I am OUT of clothes to wear when its nice out. I need to do laundry really bad. I found a place, but dont really want to take the time it woiuld take. Hmmm....

I feel like ive been gone forever. But its only been 11 days. I am looking forward to getting home, to my bed, my cat, my family and friends.

Today, im planning on going to the brittish museum, the brittish library, and taking a pub walk tonight. LYMI!

Another Travel Day

...in the books. I have arrived and feel that this hotstel will be better than my first in London. The hostel in the Dam was the best ever, seriously. It rocked, towels, nice comforters, and bathroom in the room. This is different, but still better than my first hostel in london.

One thing I noticed is after walking around amsterdam all day, i got the gross feeling I always have after working a day at the city. The first thing I would do when I got home from work is immedietly begin stripping and take a shower. Same thing in amsterdam. Must take a shower before getting to bed.

I am worried that I am putting on the pounds. My diet has been horrible, Mcdonnalds 3 times in 3 days in amsterdam, and sometimes I had chips and soda for dinner in croatia. I havent eaten at a proper resteraunt yet, and proably wont. I am starving though, again, as usual. The only thing Im hoping to save me is the fact that I have walked SOOO much. I didnt use any transportation in Croatia, and all i did in amsterdam was walk around. Fingers crossed. My jeans still fit, but they havent been washed yet. I need to do laundry so bad. Okay, off to find something to do...LYMI

The DAM and the cruise

Yesterday, after meeting some cool people and going till I was exhausted, I took a break at the hostel and fell asleep for a hour or two. After not eating since heathrow at noon, I ate a candybar and took a shower (it was really hot here yesterday 27Cel) to cool off a bit. Then I headed out again and got some nice night photos, and got some mcdonnals for some sort of food. (cheap too) Thank goodness I know how to read a map, and have a sense of direction. After wandering around and just looking at people I ended up smak dab in the midde of the red light district. There were women werring practly nothing in windows, and tons of men walking around. I made a bee line out of there, and ended up in a "bar"" just down the street from my hostel. I met two more americans, Lath and Lathius (seriously), from michigan. We talked till the bar closed, then I headed back to get a nights rest.

Today I have already been to the Van Gogh museum (cool, but not all his famous stuff), the hard rock cafe, H&M, and a few other places. The canals are awesome, there are SOOO many bikes everywhere, and everything I see would make a good picture.

The cruise in Dubrovnik to the three islands was really cool. I met some people from california, and a couple from new zeland, and spent a relaxing day on the water. I even had a great chicken lunch, it was drowning in butter and garlic, and too rich to finish. It was great. I have a ton of pictures, and left a prayer for 9/11 in a 15th centrury monestary.

Im having a blast!

New Country

Well I made it to Amsterdam, finally, after a long long day. There was a lot fo time spend in airports, but well worth it. This is the coolest city. I've interacted with more people here than on my whole trip, and ive onnly been here 7 hours. Im going to have most of this in my written journal, but im planning on going to the van gogh museaum tomorrow, and the heinikan museum/old factory. Then its back to london for the weekend. MY number 1 priority is to get post cards in the mail tomorrow. Im so sorry I havent mailed them yet. Im on it and will get them out.

Love to all!

September 11, 2006

Heres what I am doing today. I have to be in the old harbor at 10:25 to board a boat. Its a three island cruise and fish picnic (although theyre making chicken for me:) Heres what the brochure says

if zou would like to relax, enjoz the sun, nature, and crzstal clear sea this is the trip for zou!

A whole daz excursion takes zou to the three largest Elaphiti islands. We will be stopping at each one with plentz of time to swim and admire the surrounding intact nature. Island Koločep was known during the Greek period as island Kalamota, which in translation meand beautiful nights. Zou will be enchanted with its tranquilitz and intensity of colors while the thick pine forest decends to the sea.

Lopud in the next island on our route and is known for numerous summer residences, small churches, and beautiful sandy beaches. It is truely a pearl amidst of the Eliphiti islands. Do not miss out on visiting ancient botanical garden and Franciscan monastery from the XV century. Šipan is the third island we will visit. Suđurađ is a tzpical fishermans village with a picturesque port, a place of rest for numerous fishing boats. It is ideal for an afternoon coffee while the island emerges into silance.

We will be returning at 6:45pm. Not a bad trip, for $40. I heard the hawks won! YEAH! I cant believe im missing two games. Anyway, I need to go buy some postage to mail your cards. I doubt they will beat me home, though. I heard Croatian post takes a while. Good luck with football Matt and Zac, and soccer hannah. I love you kids a lot and miss you a bunch.

Sunday in Croatia

Todaz I had to move. I packed everzthing up last night and hoofed it to the zouth hostel. The old town was packed...tourists everzwhere. There are a few cruise ships in the harbor, but thez should be leaving soon. Tomorrow I plan on taking a 3 island cruise with fish lunch. Im even planning on eating the fish! I went to the beach todaz again, i dont think zou will recogniye me when I get back, im going to be so tan!

Traveling alone can be boring. However, life is what zou make of it. I saw two weddings (sortof) zesterdaz. It was prettz cool. The whole wedding partz was walking behind the bride and groom singing. Then thez drove all through town honking their horns. Also, the kids here dont wear bathing suits till their about 4 or 5. Thez seem to have a different attitude towards everzthing here. Everz woman wears a bakini, almost everz man wears a speedo (eww), helmets are not required on scooters and even motorczcles.

Im off to make it interesting.

9.9.06

Todaz I did walk up to the zouth hostel and check it out. I decided to move there for sundaz and mondaz nights, since its cheaper, and closer to the bus station where I can get a free (or barelz free) ride to the airport for mz flight on tuesdaz morning. The bus leaves one and a half hours before the flight, which means 4:55am. OUCH! So this waz I am close and wont have to paz for a cab ride. I also went to a different beach over there, and it was verz UNcrowded. I met a guz from Manchester and one from new yeland, but the new yeland guz didnt talk much. It was awesome. I took pictures, and even some including me. Zesterdaz I uploaded mz pictures from mz walk on the walls, i had almost 200 pictures from zesterdaz alone.

Another cool thing I saw todaz. There was this little door to the left as zou walk into the main gate to old town, so I went to check it out. It lead to where the moat would have been, thez turn these areas into parks (I found another one zesterdaz). I was just sitting on some steps, and two kids on bikes came in. The ground is rockz, and a couple in their mid to late 60s were leaving, and the kids went and put the brakes on skidding and throwing rocks on the couple. The old guz took off after and caught one of the kids, and another guz came running over and grabbed the other kid, and made them appologiye (i think) to the couple. I thought it was great that the unknown guz came running in. He was there with his wife, 2 zear old and infant child. I have to saz that I have felt verz verz safe here.

Cheers!

Mz favorite tzpe of weather

Last night I didnt go skinnzdipping...it was verz windz and cold down bz the water, and there were people around...so obviouslz I skipped it. However, just as I turned out the lights in mz room I saw a flash, at least I thought I did. Then another. I went to the window and opened it and leaned out and saw another. LIGHTENING!!!! I watched from mz room for a few minutes, then decided to get dressed and go out and watch the storm. It was alreadz 3am, but lightening is mz favorite tzpe of weather. I walked through the buža (means hole in the wall) and sat looking at the high citz walls with lightening strikes everz minute or so behind them. It was great, occasionallz I would actuallz see lightening bolts streak across the skz. Numerous people passed me, thez were mostlz drunk I think, and I can onlz wonder what thez were thinking of me. I slept in again todaz, as I write this it is 12:18pm on Saturdaz. I have arranged with Petur (where I have been stazing) to come back for Mondaz night, so I onlz have to figure out Sundaz night. Im planningon walking out to the zouth hostel and see if thez have beds available (since I checked mz bank account and still have over a week left)!

Love to all!

Today

Hi (espically to those of you who comment...:)

So I did make it to the beach today, after I walked to the grocery store that the locals use and bought some interesting stuff. Filled crossants anyone? The beach here is very nice, although its a pebble beach, no sand to be found. I brought my sarong (thanks for that mom) to europe to use as my beach towel since I didnt want to carry a thick one. The water is crystal clear, and it feels so good since the temp is in the high 80s. One thing I didnt think about is the fact that this is actually a sea, meaning salt water. My first dive had me coughing, since salt water up the nose is not as easily cleared as lake water. Its interesting to have salt on my lips, and in my nose, and sinus. Its beautiful though, and no matter how far out I got I could still see the bottom very clearly. I then showered, and walked the walls at sunset. I took SOOOOOO many pictures. I introduced myself to a guy I had seen walking yesterdaz and todaz (sorry, the z is where the y should be, and im tired of correcting...so when zou seee a z, think y) up on the wall and when we were done, we went for dinner at the old port. It was nice to have companz. His name was Garz, and he was from Aulstralia. Now I think im oging to go skinnz dipping (if im alone) or just swimming at night (if people are around).

Love zou all...and if zou are reading this and havent commented, please saz hi!

>Take care, more tomorrow!

Dubrovnik, Croatia

I made it. Yesterday was a long day for numerous reasons. I had to leave the hostel early to get to the airport. The flights were good, you should have eaten the meal they served on the flight from london to Zagreb, Croatia (the capital). There was something that resembeled cottage cheese, but more bland and I couldnt find any salt/pepper. The main dish was turkey wrapped around something of a paste of something. I didnt eat the paste, but I did put the turkey into the roll provided. There was also a small side of pasta with garbonzo beans. Not bad, but not too flavorful either. For dessert there was this pastry, wrapped around some unknown brown paste. The couple next to me was from california, and the woman suggested it was ground nuts and figs, so we'll go with that. It was the best thing of the meal.

When I arrived in Dubrovnik, I missed the bus, so I took a taxi. The marcedes dropped me off right at buza, which means hole in the wall. Two turns later and a few steps down and I was at my lodging. The place is amazing, and about the same price as the hostel in London. I wont be able to send any pictures back, but you'll understand the importance of walking down the steps, instead of up them. I had a beer on the terrace of another buza on the adriatic side of old town, and the sunset was increadable. I ended up taking a nap at about 9ish, oops. I didnt fall asleep till about 4, which is right in line for my sleep schedule from the hostel. Im hoping its a time change thing.

Im not going to go to the Pltvic national park, like I planned, since its about a 7 hour drive. Today I need to find accomodations, or make plans, for sunday an dmonday. I already made arrangements with the cab driver to pick me up at 5.15am for my flight next tuesday.

I do miss you all a lot. Im planning on going tot he beach today, and walking the walls this evening. Beach and kayaking tomorrow, and a 3 island fish lunch cruise on sunday. Im also thinking of staying in one of the nice hotels for a few nights. Hmmm...maybe, maybe not.

LOVE YOU!!

Say hi to Zac, Matt, Hannah, Nate, Lexie, and Caleb for me please and tell them that I love them and miss them. Same to my sisters, parents, aunts, and friends!!!

6/9/2006 (european style!!)

Well, this afternoon was interesting to say the least. Apparently all you have to do is talk to a brittish man and he will shower you with compliments and offer to fly you back. Dont worry, im being very careful (mom and dad!) but it is fun. One of them gave me a ring (again, dont flip out;). Its pretty cool.

I went for a walk tonight (still havent eaten yet) along the Thames River, and got some really cool photos of the tower bridge, from both sides. As I continued, I came across a free play, and caught the last 40 minutes of that. Very cool, although it was too dark for those pictures to turn out.

I am having a hard time with charging my ipod. I searched my room last night, and finally discovered it was the freaky looking white box that I didnt think was anything but telephone plugs (aka UK plugs :) However, at about 1am the three dudes arrived, and I unplugged it. I dont want anyone to take it. I also have the delima of waking up tomorrow morning. My flight out of heathrow is at 11am. I have to pick up my tickets at the airport and heathrow is the airport that the terror plot was to leave from, so their security is very heightened. Plus I will be traveling through the subways during rush hour. I am thinking I should leave by 7:30, 8 at the latest. If it takes me an hour to get to the airport, I will have at least 3 hours to get everything accomplished...however, I forgot my alarm clock. My plan is to have my ipod in bed with me...(maybe inside my pillowcase) and set its alarm to go off (and have the headphones plugged in and turned all the way up on a really loud song)...

I already packed...either I lost some clothing or I got better at packing everything...hopefully I got better, that way I can do some shopping before I leave and still bring it back with me...

Thats the plan...im off to eat my dinner (eggsalad sandwitch, soda, candybar...im on a budget) and maybe grab a pint before I go to bed (theres karyoke in the bar on the first floor of the hostel)

Iteneary Change

FYI- I changed my hostel reservation for when I return to london from a 10 bed mixed room to a 6 bed female only room. I think it will smell a lot less. I met two guys today, all you have to do is talk to them and they offer to buy you a pint...

I went to westminister abbey today. I saw the outside last time I was here, but the inside is SO much more interesting. The ceilings are so high and so beautiful. They do not allow photography, so I bought some postcards. I was right in front of the minister when they paused for a minute and then said a prayer, so I said a prayer for all of you and for my safe travels. Love you all.

im off...its 6:30 and I need to find dinner. Then pictures of the tower bridge. Kisses!

Hostel Experience

So I am in a room with 6 beds. There were 2 taken when I arrived, and by about 2am all the beds were full of guys. Its wierd, they all seem to snore at some point. No worries though.

Im off to take some postcard pictures.
LYMI

I have arrived!!

8:25pm Seattle- Im now sitting in front of my gate, having already checked in and cleared security. So begins this adventure. Im wondering what I am forgetting (hind site:extra contacts, alarm clock), what I have that I dont need, and what I will wish I had. What will become of me?

6:12pm London Time- What a long flight. I didnt sleep very much which means very little sleep for two nights and im about to go out to Central London. (I was sitting at the bar of the pub below my hostel). I most likely took the longest route to the hostel. Honestly, i was lost and going off memory from what I had written before I left (wrong) as far as directions. (Hindsite: WRONG!!) When I finally arrived after walking with my luggage all over SW London, I found the directions in my bag. Good thing i have navagational skills and a london map. I met some CHARACTERS on the Underground from Heathrow to London...Louis and Ashley. Two guys, about my age, really hard to unerstand...but it was fun trying.


9:30pm- Reasons I love london...SHOES...everyone wears real shoes here. No athletic shoes anywhere (at least no big ones...the sketcher type that Lyndsay has are around...mostly on guys though). There was someone walking behind me in the underground (which I have gotten really good at navagiting) and I thought it was a woman in pumps, but it was a guy with loud shoes. I think I should go shopping...since I didnt end up bringing my pumps. Im going to try an dfind a H&M tomorrow, along with the old operating theater and the brittish museaum. Thrusday I have to get up early and head to the airport for my flight to Croatia.

Another reason is the abundance of Men, men my age. Espically when they all get off work and make their way home. I swear Im getting tons of looks, although im thinking its because its obvious im american since im wearing tennys...;)

I do love London...TONS. I could live here, easy. Do you all want to move???

More later..promise.

Iteneary

Sept 4, SEA-LHR BA52 @ 9:25pm
St. Christophers Village 44(0) 207 4071856
Sept 7, LHR-DBV @11am
Villa Ragusa 385(0) 20 453 834
Sept 12, DBV-LHR @ 6:25am
Sept 12, LHR-AMS @ 1:25pm
St. Christophers @ The Winston 31(0) 2 06231380
Sept 14, AMS-LHR @ 3:05pm
St Christopher Village 44(0) 207 4071856
Sept 18, LHR-SEA @ 5:35pm Arrive BA53 @ 7:05pm

Its 3:45am and we just got home from the gorge. Im exhausted, full of stories, and exhausted. I got a wave from dave!!! Goodnight.