MK · in · the · UK!

Weirdest feeling being back in the states... but I made it... I'm home. I haven't updated in quite awhile and I will put pictures on shortly. Just letting you all know I made it home safe and sound and now I need to shower and wash all of my clothing!!! In a washing machine- not a sink! I also need to get food.... since I don't have any at all.... it's just a good idea. Anyway the shower beacons. Pictures soon I promise.

I'm in italy... the keyboard is weird. I'm here though and it's pretty. Right now I'm in venice. Tomorrow visiting the island of Murano (where the venitian glass is made) and then going to verona on friday. sweet stuff. so excited.. granted only 6 days until I'm back in the states... which is really weird.

whoooop!

I'm in Paris... it's pretty although raining.

and more importantly... JENNY MOSBACHER IS HERE!

Which is awesome.

Yesterday I went to Disneyland Paris... rode space mountain 4 times and the rock and rollercoaster twice.... plus a lot of other stuff. It was cool.

Our legs are really tired and the girls in the hostel are not very cool. They are incredibly loud at night and leave their stuff all over. But oh well.

Tomorrow we are going to the Louvre. I can't wait!

Long time no post.

Prague was beautiful, amazing and wonderful. Jess and I just kicked it... walked around town, discovered things and walked some more. We saw a ton of beautiful buildings and a BONE CHURCH in a place called Kutna Hora. It was a great city... and one that I will definately have to come back to.

Right now we are in Brussel. It took us 12 hours on the bus to get here... which was pretty much hell. It was our "night sleep" and it sucked horribly. It was very uncomfortable and I didn't sleep at all. When we got into Brussel, We didn't really know what to do, so we hung out in our hostel to recoop. We didn't have mucht to accomplish in Brussel either, except for a statue of a peeing boy and that's about it. So we hung out... and it was raining... so we washed our clothes in the sink and sat around and read and stuff. Tomorrow we are off to Paris. AH. We are going to try and go to Disneyland Paris... we'll see how it goes. Jenny is also meeting up with us on the 8th... which will be awesome. We are going to meet under the eiffel tower. How romantic. Heh.

Oh jess and I watched movies too... they were american movies. eh. we were aching for it.

Waffles are to die for.

The end.

I just went to three countries in one day.

Scotland
England
Germany

So Jess and I woke up early this morning (5:20 a.m.) to get our bags and head to the bus to take us to the Edinburgh Airport. Our flight left at 8:20 for London's Gatwick airport... which is 30 miles south of London. We then had to get to London's Luton Airport which was 35 miles NORTH of London... and we had 3 hours before our next flight took off. So we freaked out a little... mainly because we thought we were going to have to take a taxi... costing around 120 pounds (240 dollars). Instead we were told by two completely amazing men that we could take a train... and that they departed every 15 minutes and took 45 minutes... and cost 18 pounds. That was a complete lifesaver. So we got on the train and got to the other airport... where we then had to take a shuttle to the actual gates.... The shuttle was rather full and I was in front of Jessica. The door slammed shut in between us... leaving me on the bus and her outside it. Whoops.

So I'm in Germany... and I'm not sure where Jess is.

just kidding!

So I exchanged my pounds to euros and then waited for her... we got through security (they really have it down over here... it takes no time at all) and then we were on our way to Germany.

1 hour and 30 minutes later... we landed... and about 3 hours later... we were at our hostel... we got a little confused seeing how we know about 3 words in German. We also realized that we are the "foreigners" on the bus that speak a different language... that everyone gets annoyed with easily. Oh well...

So Germany is really hot. I have never felt sweat drip from my butt to my ankle before... I mean new experiences all over the place. So I am in the birth place of a few of my ancestors and of my little cousin Tyler.

If anyone at all is getting my postcards/letters... please let me know.. because for some reason no one is recieving them. Grr.

I'm going to upload some photos... but first I need to get them off my camera...

Oh right. Scotland was beautiful. And I don't feel like I accomplished Edinburgh but that is okay. Next time.

So today we went to the Isle of Skye (aka beauty...) it was wonderful. Tomorrow we are heading down the stretch of lochness and then back into Edinburgh. After that it is over to Germany! HOT!!!!

Yeah... our hostel right now is more like a hotel then a hostel... the shower is WONDERFUL. It feels so so so good.

Anyway... my computer is about to die... so I'm signing off. I don't actually know when I will be on next... This might be my LAST ENTRY IN THE UK... BUM BUM BUMMMMMMM.

I'm done.

So today... scotland part 1.
My voice is completely gone which made for a very interesting day.

We went to The William Wallace monument (which has a hideous statue of Mel Gibson) and we went to Glencoe and I went on a boat in Lochness! And supposedly we saw 2 ness monsters on the sonar screen... which never ever happens? Yeah. It was a cool ride none-the less.
Right now I have 12.50 to my name... but I just transferred more to my account.... and I haven't touched my work funds as of yet. So pretty good. I really want to get 2-3 things in Scotland.
A. Sweater
B. True Argyll socks
C. Scarf

the end.

I will update more later. I can't believe I'm somewhere else? Huh?!

yeah dude... I'm in Scotland... I'm in Edinburgh... which is a really cool city. I'm going on a tour with Jess tomorrow for 3 days... it's going to be awesome. I was stung by a bee this morning...

I'm not a big fan of London. The End...

I need sleep.

So we are in London... currently sitting in the Hostel. It's hot. Too hot when you are no where near a beach. Ah. So we've been taking it kinda easy which has been really nice. Yesterday we got up and went to Hyde Park and went to the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain to cool our feet off. Then we met up with NICK!!!! and went to the Tower of London (inside that is) to see the crown jewels and what not. Then we headed to a pub and got food and talked... oh we also went around to a few shoppes. Nick had to head back and we walked around for a little longer and eventually got back to our scorching hot hostel...

Today we got up early (8:30) and went to the Princess Diana Memorial Playground (where adults can only go in before 10 a.m.) so we went there and then we went to Kensington Palace which was really cool... there was one room... it was in the kings quarters and on the ceiling was a painting with gargoyle-esque faces with their mouths open... their tongues were the strings that hung down and connected to the chandeliers. It was really cool. Then we walked around again... and went to the fountain... again... to get out feet wet. Then we walked to Harrods... which was HUGE. It was really hard to not buy stuff because EVERYTHING WAS ON SALE. So we walked around there a little more, jumped into a place for a quick little bite and some tea. Then we walked back and changed and went to Portobello Sq. for some food.

Now we are all back in the Hostel. Sweating like a hooker in church. Tomorrow we are going to St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tate Modern... and since I will undoubtedly spend more time in the Tate then Jess and Amy, They are going to go to Wimbledon and then meet me when they get back into town (I might go to the Tate Britain if I finish before they get back). I can't wait to go and be bombarded with a ton of stuff I have only seen in bad scans and poor copies... my mind will be blown by the end. That is for sure. Then it's up to Scotland on Friday! AHH!

So I bought a new pair of sandals, wore them for a day.... by the end of that day my feet were cut and bleeding. So my rainbows survived that farewell. (so don't worry dad). We did edit our bags down though... I'm actually tossing a few things (to charity that is) Including a new pair of converse (that I got for 11 dollars at Urban Outfitters and then wore once). Ah. yeah... my bag was too heavy and jess and I don't want to make amy carry a ton of stuff. Bah.

So I'm not a huge fan of London. Pretty much because the cities air makes me feel like I'm sick. And I'm sitting on a bunk bed with a window that might as well be a solid wall and I have a swim suit top on that is wet and a towel that I got soaking wet in order to relieve myself of some heat... or something. RIGHT... I'm totally going to be loving Europe in August. Eh whatever it will rock anyway. Jessica and I have become really chill... even when things appear to be wrong we just figure it out. Woah... I think we are growing up or something.

It's really sad to be leaving... and last night was very nice, exhausting and fun. I'm going to miss the people that I have met and the beaches and weather and hills and what not... I'm just going to miss all of it really... but it will be nice to move on... go back to London and into Europe. I'm attempting to upload pictures but I'm not sure that they will be uploaded before I need to leave. AH. I still have to pack up all of my stuff and clean a lot. I REALLY hope my bag isn't toooooo heavy... but I guess we'll see. I have to get a new pair of sandals... my rainbows are completely trashed. I have actually worn the sole down to the leather... and the heel is about to give as well.

alright. pictures loaded.

( PICTURES! )

I'm leaving Newquay in two days?

It's sad.

My phone isn't working very well.

I'm on a search for a new pair of sandals and I'm getting tan!

that's it for now...

I might update on Sunday, if not... it will probably be at the end of the month.. or somewhere down the road :)

So... it's july.. and that feels weird.
Jessica and I are liking work more... and now we have to put in our notice in one weeks time. It's sad really. Last night we went out on the beach with the 4 irish girls that live in our building (and work as chambermaids and the esplanade). It was a lot of fun... we just sat around and talked for a few hours... the other two people that we live with (in our old place and now our new one after being evicted) were there as well. They are from Wales... and my name is Welsh (I have heard that 3 times now... from 3 different people from Wales... and they all spell it the RIGHT way! I want to go to Wales. Anyway... yeah. I had a sore throat this morning and the KP Joe at work (who is really awesome) made me a honey tea and lemon drink. It really helped and it was really great.

Right... England is out of the World Cup... but the amazing experience that was the last game will stick with me for a long time. I went from our local hangout bar (where we watched the first half... drinking COKE and hanging with locals) to the bar at work (where we tried to hide from all of the guests that we would have to serve in an hour and a half) to the small tv in the kitchen surrounded by coworkers. That was probably the best part. If anyone ever asks me where I was in 2006 during the World Cup when England played Portugal I can say I was standing in a kitchen in Newquay, Cornwall, England polishing dishes and doing other duties just to stay in the kitchen to watch the game. It was great. Really really great.

So today jess and I worked breakfast and then we headed to Truro to try and find new sandals... my rainbows are about to give and so are Jess' birks. (although we are buying some of those in Germany) It will be a sad farewell... maybe I will drift them off in the sea or something... possibly burning... a proper burial. So we got to Truro at 4:00 and everything was...closed. I bought 2 books and then we searched for food... which was incredibly difficult. We finally found a bar and got veggie burgers... (where you can actually see the veggies).

Now we are back in Newquay ordering tickets and things. We are going to take a bus from Prague to Brussels... in the middle of the night. Yes.

Okay...
pictures...

( PICTURES!!!! )

We have our Haggis Tour in Scotland booked and we have our bus tickets from Newquay to London and from London to Edinburgh. It's cheaper than flying and way cheaper then the train. It will take 9 hours to get to Edinburgh... oi. But it was 7 to get here... and we were okay with that. So it's all good!

I don't have to work today, but Jessica does. I'll probably watch the Football *soccer* game and read and write letters... it's cloudy in newquay... I just want some SUN!

We had the day off...
we moved in.
we booked our hostel stays for our trip.
the only thing left is booking the plane tickets!

WEE.

So I realize I haven't updated in 5 days... so here's what has happened.

On tuesday Jess and I had the day off so we went to St. Ive's. It was a really cute little place. (I will put pictures up soon) It's an artist's community and has narrow streets and a lot of little alleys with cute shops. It was much more relaxed (and I little higher class) than Newquay as there weren't as many surfers (or gambling arcades in which there are about 5 on our street alone). We really liked it there, and will definately go back. We saw a building on fire as well! It was intense. Then we worked on the 21st... and it was probably the worst day yet. Another person quit and we had 3 of the managers watching our every move for the entire dinner shift. It wasn't cool at all... and Jessica, Phill and I felt like walking out. It is just not worth it when you are making minimum wage and getting yelled at for every little thing you do. Especially since the real problem is with the authority figures. They don't even know what they are doing, and yet we are supposed to know exactly what we are doing? It doesn't make sense.

Oh... right... we were evicted.

They sold the building and we have to move out. I was told by my next door neighbor 20 minutes before Jess and I had to go to work. It was pretty awesome. Luckily he also gave me a phone number of a lady that knew our situation and was willing to let us move in. That was a blessing since it took us two days to find our first place in a town that you could walk in less then 40 minutes. Yeah. So we move in there on Sunday. It kinda looks like a place you would go to die... like a long-term hospital room or something. We are going to try and make it as normal as possible... ahh.

Thursday we went to Truro to get our National Insurance Numbers. We had the day off because we weren't sure how long it would take... we ended up being done by 12:30... so we took the rest of the time to walk around and shop. We BOTH forgot our cameras which was really dissappointing because the town was really cute. It has cobblestone streets and looked really euro. We spent a good deal of time there... it was really nice and relaxing.

So today we worked again and after the breakfast shift Jess and I were pulled aside and had to sit with one of the managers. She told us that we don't SMILE enough. Yeah. WHAT?! And she was like, it appears that you are not happy. And I was like... I'm happy with the customers. The customers are easy. But I am not able to deal with the stress of having 3 managers watching my every move. And I don't think she was really listening to what Jessica and I were saying. I said that I was talking to one table and one of the "heads" walked up behind me and told me to clear tables... They are trying to up there scores for the restaraunt, but I don't think rushing your guests is a good way. But hey... what do I know... I mean I have only been eating food for 20 years...

Yeah. So now jess and i are going to see how the next couple of shifts go.. and if they start sucking even more- we are going to be looking for new jobs pronto. It's not cool and no one is happy. We have now been there longer than 1/2 the people... and we have only been working for 2 weeks.

In other news...
We cut out Athens. We are now going to 7 places in 35 days.
We are going to London, Edinburgh, Berlin, Prague, Brussels, Paris and Italy.
We have cut Amsterdam, Copenhagen and Athens.

What is really nice is we will have 7 full days in Italy, 7 full days in Paris, 4 full days in Scotland, 3 full days in Berlin, 4 full days in Prague and 2 full days in Brussels.. and the rest is travelling.

Awesome.

Now for the final touches!