Europe #1 - March

March 19, 2008
So... when i got to the airport on Monday i found out that i had REALLY REALLY like 30kg over packed my suitcases and had to re-pack quickly at the airport. I now only have 2 pairs of shoes here.. and one purse... I guess that just means i need to go shopping!!! After a supper long flight and about an hour delay leaving YVR I finally made it to London Gatwick airport. I had my first drink at the airport at a cafe called Costa. We drove to Islington, London taking a tour through the town and seeing all the parlament buildings and driving past the london eye; which were all really neat! The roads here are very narrow and driving on the oppisite side is weird... but not as weird as having to look the oppisite way when crossing the street. I managed to stay up almost until 10:30pm London time after having a couple hours nap in the afternoon. So it helped to get me adjusted to the new time. We had chinese food take out for dinner, and suprisingly i found it better then in Canada. Today me, Sandra and baby Spencer went for a walk to the bank (Yes, me i walked!! apparently everyone here walks!!) but it didnt quite work out because i dont have any ID with UK adress its a bit of a problem, so it may be up to a month before that silly thing is sorted out! After we went to a little restraunt called Giraffe!! it was really neat. Although i found out that i really dont care for the batter on the onion rings and also thought it was weird that in my chicken club sandwich i had corn kernals; it was rather tasty! After lunch we walked back towards "home" and tried to get my registered with the doctor but at the doctors office they get TWO hours for lunch!!! lucky eh? anyways i think im going to go lay down for a bit because tommorow i need to be up and out by 630am!! i know early eh? But i will get to do some shopping!! which trust me is good.. i had to leave so many things at home hahamiss you all!!! and will keep you upated
♥Nicole

On Saturday the 29th of March:
Today i ventured out on my own and took a bus down to piccadilly circus (its not really a circus just were a bunch of roads meet up to a round-a-bout with a statue of cupid in the middle) from there i walked up regent street towards Oxford street. I stopped at Hamley's which is a famous toy store... its like 5 levels!!! It had EVERYTHING... (Piccadilly and oxford circus are famous for all the shops around there) Afterwards I wandered around a bit (but didnt go shopping because i was going on Sunday) I did pick up a "tourist" map which is actually very useful. I ate lunch at Apstrophe (a sandwich and some nasty lemonade) well actually my whole meal wasnt too good.. I DO NOT reccomend it... I wandered back down and ended up in St. James park (very nice with a big lake in the middle.) It was very pretty there and not so crowded because it has rained a little so alot of people went home.. I walked the whole length of st. james park which is like 4 or more blocks i think? and took some photos at buckingham palace and the statue in front as well. There was a police officer on a hourse out front with loads of kids crowded around and the guards were behind the gates and not in the bearskin hats i was kinda disapointed. They were in just short hats (ill add photos asap). Afterwards I was soo exhausted i just wanted to go home... i didnt really know where the tube station/bus's where so i just walked a few blocks down and caught a bus to Victoria station, from there i took the 73 back home... it was a big mistake... it took FOREVER.. it goes straight down oxford street which is really crowded with people walking everywere!! But i did eventually make it home. All in all the day was pretty great I got loads of pictures... On sunday i went SHOPPING again.... it was wonderful... they have a store called primark and it is the BEST!!! everything is like 4£ which is like 8$ canadian... i got a jacket with kinda short sleaved for only 8£ haha...great deal! I also bought two shirts, and a pair of sweat pants and some underwear, and a pair of the same idea as ugg boots (only 3£) and black flats! Then at M&S (Mark & Spencer) I got a purple shirt, At next i bought a new purse, and at H&M I got two pairs of casual "trousers" and i thinkk thats all i got... The best part of shopping here is the tax is all included so the price you see on the tag is how much you pay. So basically Sandra, Jamie, Spencer, and I were at the mall from 11:00am when it opened to 4:45pm (it closes at 5)... and again... i bought the most haha.... but now at least i have more then just three pairs of pants... On monday i registered at the doctors across the street. I also went up to woolworth and got a battery charger, and some rice krispies from sainsbury. Did you know that no one has anyidea what a rice krispie square is!! and marshmellows only come in pink and white and they are hard to find haha! I am going to make some rice krispie squares for them. Well actually barly anyone in London/England/Uk does there own baking,,, its usually all just store bought... weird eh? They dont even really have a baking isle in the grocery store. Ive also been eating a lot of ben and gerrys ice cream... which is still as good as at home... Usually every night for dessert after dinner we all have a bowl... its sooo good... or strawberries and real cream... thats good too haha! anyways... Spencer just woke up so I have to get going... ill write some more later and hopefully add my pictures on the computer in the next day or too!!! Miss you!!
♥Nicole