Hey everyone! Pia and I have safely made it across the pond and we are currently enjoying London! Our trip over was great... Pia just might be my good luck charm when it comes to traveling :) Late Sunday night, we flew into Keflavik, Iceland around 11pm, and it was still daylight, so that threw us off a little. We called for our hotel shuttle and we stayed in a nice private room (the last private room we'll sleep in over the next 3 months...) We got up early because we only had the morning to explore the little town of Keflavik, Iceland. We walked jacket-less in the 50 degree weather to the coast... which was so beautiful! As we were exploring, we came across a pathway with big footsteps that led to a wooden house with a huge door. It looked like it was made for a giant. Then we heard some strange noises coming from the other side of the door so we started running away. Later, we asked the tourist office what that house was, and he said it's where the troll lives...
We walked around some more and did some hiking. At the top of the cliff, on the other side of the ocean bay, we saw our first volcano! Then we headed back to the hotel and got ready to go back to the airport.
Two nights ago, we arrived at our hostel in London. London is such a fun city. I love everything about it except for this hostel. I've never stayed in a hostel that smells this badly. We are in an 18 person dorm with bunks 3 levels high, so everyone's crap is ALL over the floor. There are no fans and no windows. We honestly thought about sleeping outside last night. When I went to take a shower yesterday morning, the water was freezing cold and there was absolutely NO water pressure. In fact, it was like little droplets coming out of the shower head. But I guess it felt good considering I woke up drenched in sweat. Ahhhh only 3 more nights. We can do it.
Yesterday, we took a free walking tour around the center city of London. Our tour guide was really cute and really funny... and REALLY gay. I've never seen a man swing his hips so much. And he would walk with his water bottle in one hand held high in the air, and his other hand would be on his hip. We made sure to get a picture of it. Speaking of pictures, I'll try to upload some to go with this post in a couple days!
After the tour, we went with some people in the tour group to get fish and chips in an underground pub. Then Pia and I walked around a small market and headed back to the hostel due to some big, painful blisters on our feet.
After some more London-planning and a nap, Pia and I decided to go to Soho last night. As we were walking around, we saw about 20 Audi cars parked in front of a movie theater and tons of people starting to gather around. We found out that it was the premiere of Wolverine and HUGH JACKMAN was inside the theater!! We waited and waited, along with hundreds of other people, for him to come up. Camera-ready and everything. Unfortunately, he went out the back of the theater and we never saw him. We were so disappointed!
After another morning of waking up in sweat and taking a cold shower, Pia and I thought it would be a good idea to rent bikes and ride them to King's Cross to get a photo on Platform 9 and three quarters from Harry Potter. Well, the bike idea backfired big time. We spent probably an hour walking/riding around finding bikes that worked and stations that had the bikes. After an hour of this, we ended up only about 10 minutes from our hostel. So. Not. Worth. It.
We walked 5 miles to King's Cross and got our picture that we worked so hard for. Then we walked to Regent's Park, had lunch, and spent two hours just laying in the park under a tree in 80 degree weather. That made everything worth it :)
Tonight we're planning on seeing a free live Indie band in a bar in Notting Hill. Tomorrow, we plan on going to a market and in the evening, we are seeing Pride and Prejudice in Regents Park. Our last two days will consist of more touristy things - Tate Modern, St. Paul's, Diagon Alley, Evensong, and hopefully... celebrating the birth of the Royal Baby!
I probably won't have any phone battery for the rest of our stay in London, and it is costing me to use this computer, so I probably won't be online for a few days!
Our next stop is Edinburgh... we leave on Saturday!
Shea
We walked around some more and did some hiking. At the top of the cliff, on the other side of the ocean bay, we saw our first volcano! Then we headed back to the hotel and got ready to go back to the airport.
Two nights ago, we arrived at our hostel in London. London is such a fun city. I love everything about it except for this hostel. I've never stayed in a hostel that smells this badly. We are in an 18 person dorm with bunks 3 levels high, so everyone's crap is ALL over the floor. There are no fans and no windows. We honestly thought about sleeping outside last night. When I went to take a shower yesterday morning, the water was freezing cold and there was absolutely NO water pressure. In fact, it was like little droplets coming out of the shower head. But I guess it felt good considering I woke up drenched in sweat. Ahhhh only 3 more nights. We can do it.
Yesterday, we took a free walking tour around the center city of London. Our tour guide was really cute and really funny... and REALLY gay. I've never seen a man swing his hips so much. And he would walk with his water bottle in one hand held high in the air, and his other hand would be on his hip. We made sure to get a picture of it. Speaking of pictures, I'll try to upload some to go with this post in a couple days!
After the tour, we went with some people in the tour group to get fish and chips in an underground pub. Then Pia and I walked around a small market and headed back to the hostel due to some big, painful blisters on our feet.
After some more London-planning and a nap, Pia and I decided to go to Soho last night. As we were walking around, we saw about 20 Audi cars parked in front of a movie theater and tons of people starting to gather around. We found out that it was the premiere of Wolverine and HUGH JACKMAN was inside the theater!! We waited and waited, along with hundreds of other people, for him to come up. Camera-ready and everything. Unfortunately, he went out the back of the theater and we never saw him. We were so disappointed!
After another morning of waking up in sweat and taking a cold shower, Pia and I thought it would be a good idea to rent bikes and ride them to King's Cross to get a photo on Platform 9 and three quarters from Harry Potter. Well, the bike idea backfired big time. We spent probably an hour walking/riding around finding bikes that worked and stations that had the bikes. After an hour of this, we ended up only about 10 minutes from our hostel. So. Not. Worth. It.
We walked 5 miles to King's Cross and got our picture that we worked so hard for. Then we walked to Regent's Park, had lunch, and spent two hours just laying in the park under a tree in 80 degree weather. That made everything worth it :)
Tonight we're planning on seeing a free live Indie band in a bar in Notting Hill. Tomorrow, we plan on going to a market and in the evening, we are seeing Pride and Prejudice in Regents Park. Our last two days will consist of more touristy things - Tate Modern, St. Paul's, Diagon Alley, Evensong, and hopefully... celebrating the birth of the Royal Baby!
I probably won't have any phone battery for the rest of our stay in London, and it is costing me to use this computer, so I probably won't be online for a few days!
Our next stop is Edinburgh... we leave on Saturday!
Shea
Trolls, blisters, smelly hostels, and cold showers. So glad you have wonderful experiences planned such as live band music, Pride and Prejudice, and celebrating the birth of the Royal Baby! Sounds like one adventure after the next.
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