Across the Big Pond

A great deal of time has pasted since I went on my trip across the big pond. The only excuse that I have is that it has taken me this long to try and figure out what I would want to write about and all the great things about England. I am not so sure what it was taken me so long. When I came home from England and while I was there I was just taking it all in and not knowing what to think about it all. Maybe this happens to everyone there first time to leave their home country and maybe their in the other country for a long enough time to digest it and process this new world. Also I was not sure what I was wanting to tell the people about or how to put it. Yes, what I am about to write and express to you about England is a bit long ago now but here it is.

The first week we were in London. We wondered around and saw everything we could and we were very much like tourist. Top five things to see in London are:
1.St Paul’s Cathedral: You can get in for free if you attend a service. This is what we did and the service was lovely. Plus the inside is so magnificent! You are not allowed to take pictures but it’s something that one will never forget. Also you do not get to see the entire Cathedral. You only get to see the main entrance part and the quire.
2.Trafalgar Square: At Christmas it is wonderful. There are Christmas trees and everything. It is just an awesome thing to see.
3.Buckingham Palace: This is just one of the sights to see. You walk up and there is a huge roundabout with a very large monument and it just feels like instant Royalty and it is pretty cool.
4.Abbey Rd.: This was my favorite place to visit out of all of London. It was just awesome to know that I walked in the very place that the Beatles did. Also just to see all of the graffiti across the wall in front of Abbey Road Studio and everything. It was just absolutely the best thing ever!
5.Kensington Gardens: I thought this was lovely as well. They had several different statues up. My second favorite thing was getting to see the Peter Pan Statue. There are also several other monuments in the Gardens. Such as the Diana Fountain memorial. When we visited here though we did not have much time because the night was approaching fast. Even though it was rather rushed it was still very much enjoyed.
Like most huge tourist areas it is very busy and crowded. I think that is why I enjoyed the last two sights the best, because even though there were few tourists it was not over crowded like the first three. Of course one is probably wondering what about Big Ben and Parliament. They are great sights, but again not as enjoyable because of the large crowds and tourist traps. My travel partner Scarlet probably kept getting mad at me because my navigation skills are good, but I like to wonder around and through the back alleys and get a feel for the city not as a tourist but as if I live there. When you go to London I suggest making a plan to see the sights that you really want to see and then wonder the city through its back door. Just like my one of my favorite sayings or quotes “Not all who wonder are lost.”

The second and third week we were in England were spent with our lovely friend Hulky Pulky. We stayed with her in her college house in Portsmouth as well as with her family in Brighton during Christmas Eve and Day. It was really awesome to have an Englander to show us around. It also made us feel less like tourist. We also took a small road trip of our own around the southern part of England. We stayed slashed visited: Portsmouth, Bristol, Oxford, Bath, and Brighton. All the places were quite nice, but I would have to say that my favorite was Bath. It is such a gorgeous place. When you come upon the city and get a chance to walk about it truly feels as though you have ventured back in time and you’re in a portion of Rome or Greece. There is actually a Roman Bath that is there and one can take tours of it. I wish that we would have had more time to really explore but we arrived shortly before dark, so it was quite hard to really be able to look about. Each English city we visited it had its own special thing to offer to the trip, each unique.

I will definitely one day be returning to England. There is still more to see and explore. I want to go to the Northern part and visit Liverpool and Manchester, as well as back to the Southern part because I was unable to visit Oxford as well as I would have liked. Over all England is an awesome place to visit no matter what time of year. So many of there cities are very diverse and you can explore and very colorful and wondering culture.

Some helpful things to know and try:
1.You must make sure you pushed the boost so your water will be semi warm when you go to take a shower. I think I had maybe one or two warm showers while I was there. I was so cold most of the time (I am very hot natured person as well).
2.Buy and Try Percy Pigs, they are the best gummy ever!!
3.Traffic tends to come from the left, so look LEFT then RIGHT then LEFT again before crossing the street. I do not know how many times Scarlet had to grab my arm because I almost ventured into traffic.
4.Have Kinder Chocolate.
5.Find a person or a place that will make or serve you a drink called a Snake Bite. Super great drink. Although it is Alcoholic beverage, it well get you well on your way.
6.Marks & Spencer is a wondrous and magical place, go and explore and you can find them everywhere!

I am sure there is so much more that I am leaving out and forgetting, but once you visit you will make up your one opinions and discover even more great things.