Originally I planned on posting very detailed descriptions of our travels, but now that I am sitting down (well actually lying sprawled out on my stomach) to do this, I am vetoing my original idea, mainly because it would take ages and ages. A quick run-down of the places we have seen and things we have done this past week:


1. As I said in my last typo-filled post, the climate is very similar to that of Upstate. Well, with the addition of palm trees and loads more cows, if that is possible. Also it has yet to rain for any longer than 30 minutes at one time! Yay, considering as I was prepared for drastic downpours every afternoon and brought a brand-new super classy raincoat to wear during these.
2. Drivers hardly ever use their blinkers because of the abundance of roundabouts. Also, they HATE stoplights and one town we drove through even went as far as holding a live, one-man protest to argue against putting in one stoplight, complete with signs saying to spend the money in Afghanistan instead of on stoplights.
3. Arundel Castle still has a Duke living in it, and so I felt super lame in comparison. Damn, why can't I live in a house that is on display to the public so they can ogle at portraits of previous Dukes and royalty? I'll have to work on that (aka marry a Duke! okay great plan!!). While we were there I witnessed some mini-Dukes getting into a golf cart, so I already have some options.
4. People are really well dressed here, so of course I am making some mental notes of what I should probably purchase (second hand or vintage of course, not because I am sooo hip that I have to have original items only but because with the exchange rate being 1.67 pounds to one U.S dollar I will be broke in about 2 months). Tights with floaty shirts and boots seem to be the usual uniform, with messy hair (thank goodness I don't have to buy that!) and random bracelets. Also oversize sweaters and skinny jeans. Hmm...
5. Some VT lovin'- we were at a small air force museum where my mom's cousin volunteers and met another guide there. When we told him we were from Vermont he said "Ohh, that is the funny state where everybody is happy and loves each other, yeah?" I told him "Yeah, that is the one". Also, we had Phish Food ice cream after dinner and the people were are staying with said "We got some Pppp-HHH-ish ice cream, funny spelling". I had a nice chuckle. And we met a gardener at Arundel Castle who loved skiing at Smugg's and driving over the Gap. Who knew?
6. London was a blur, doing it in a day was pretty ambitious I suppose. The top of the Double Decker was fun, took lots of photos but mainly people watched. Definitely going back to see the wax museum, shop, and go clubbing duh.
7. LOVED LOVED LOVED Bath, so pretty. It is carved into the side of a mountain (yesss they have things that almost resemble mountains!!!!) and has funky streets and all of the buildings are the same color but with bright doors. The Roman's definitely knew what was up when they ate their oyster snacks in the their baths there.
8. Oxford was cool too, the Colleges are gorgeous. Except I felt totally inadequate roaming the streets with what I assumed were the super smart Oxford- goers. Oh well. Some of the buildings had funny gargoyles on them so I got over my worries of not being smart enough to be in the city pretty fast.
9. BRIGHTON aka the BEST PLACE ON EARTH. I will move there one day, and work in a cute old record shop by day and bar tend at night. On the weekends at I will eat fish and chips on the beach and go clubbing with my hippie friends. I will also bike around in boots and a dress and grow dreadlocks. It will be amazing, and an excellent use of my degree in English. Also, I will somehow find a way to sneak in to the Royal Pavilion and re-create one of the elaborate parties put on there by the Prince Regent.
10. Jane Austen's House. Confession which will surprise you seeing as I am an English major: I have never actually finished a Jane Austen novel. Horridly appalling, I know, as I do respect her as a great female novelist. I just don't like her books, that is all. So the house had little significance for me, but the town it is in is cute.
11. At many of the historical places we visited, such as Westminster, The Royal Pavilion, and The Roman Baths, you can get a headset leading you on a tour explaining what you are looking at. This cracked me up because when you first walk in, it appears as if everybody is chatting away on their cell phones in these highly regarded places.
12. I almost forgot this one. I went to a small section of Hogwarts!!! They filmed the a few scenes of H.P one and two here, so of course it was a magical experience.

So, there it is, a very short and concise rundown of my time here thus far.

Enjoy the day.

Here we are now.

Oh boy. So out of order but here we go, these are my direct notes from my very jet-lagged addled brain the afternoon we landed.



The day started at 5:30 AM when I awoke in a cold sweat realizing that AHH I forgot to pack my fleece! Clearly an important item and worth waking up over. After that large scare I couldn't fall back to sleep so decided that instead of actually going downstairs to get said forgotten fleece and pack it, I lay staring at my walls, which proved to be a great use of my time.



Fleece packed, some more shoes acked, volvo packed, we roll out at 7:30. Stop at Bruegger's for one last bagel and coffee and chats with my fave costumers. Passed out in the car.



A cop drove us to the airport? Not in a cop car darnnn. Crazy stories told. Tried to keep up with 4 different very detailed texting convos, which is quite difficult indeed. But I figured my poor semi-broken cell phone would get lonely and confused as to why it was not being used for 3 months, so I gave it some extra love.



Made it to the airport. Stood in line with my arm falling off (ughh brought way too many items) and then held up the entire security line by attempting to re-pack my carry on bags (yes plural, I am a horrible traveler), and when I looked up the guards were laughing at me, sweeeeet! Gate 4. Plane sooo big ahhh 2 stories. So of course I am ready to turn around, say screw this plan, call up the cop and tell him to drive me back to Geneva.



Plane. Mom held up every single passenger by trying to stuff my large, haphazardly packed carry on into the overhead compartment. I sat on a pillow, socks, toothbrush, headphones, and eyemask, all complimentary from British Airways aka the classiest airline ever.



Flight= 6 hours. blahh. Pluses of plane ride- The Hangover (aka the funniest movie I have seen in a long time) was playing, we were served chocolate caramel cheesecake and free wine, I literally bumped into a gorgeous and super polite British boy while exiting the toilet mmhmmm, doze off to the dreamy sounds of Bats for Lashes which was extra trippy due to my half-lucid state and the changing time zones, and finally awoke from my half-slumber just in time to see the sun rising through the clouds while David Grey made sweet sweet love to my eardrums.

Cons of plane ride- It was 6 hours, an upset stomach resulted from the cheesecake, there were no words exchanged between me and the yummy British boy, I didn't actually sleep, after the first three hours all of my clothes were sticking to my bod, and (here's the kicker) I spent my first 3 minutes on land in England throwing up into a plastic bag. Classy.

Heathrow at 2:00 AM U.S time- body clock all out of whack. Manged to get through customs (unclear as to how). Fast forward to the British rent-a-car place where they had an acoustic version of Mika's "Relax" playing and I instantly remembered why British people are cool. We get a car with UEA on the plate, which, oddly enough, is where I will be attending Uni. That along made me realize that it was a great thing that I actually got on the plane and didn't run in fear like I initially intended to do.

In rented car, snoozing in the back after being upset by how much the landscape here resembled Upstate New York. Although everything was made better when I saw my first palm tree, although my mom thought I was seeing things due to my lucid and sleepy state. Also she was focused on the road thank god or else we probably would have ended up in a bad situation, which would have been bad. We got lost in an adorable town and almost ran into 6 brick walls and practically side-swiped 4 cars and 2 buildings, but luckily reckless driving no longer phases me (my own driving skills are um, questionable at times).

Made it to Bogner Regis, where Neon Indian's "Deadbeat Summer" played in my head. Got lost along the English Channel, but somehow managed to make it to the house, had breakfast, and fell asleep.

Exciting stuff of course, and more about the travels to come later.

Enjoy the Unknown.