Iceland Volcano...I hate you

I don't know if you have heard, but a huge volcano erupted in Iceland on Thursday and has prevented ANYONE from flying all around Europe. Its crazy. One girl who was staying at our flat had to go home to Ireland, took her 14 hours because of ferries and buses. So I am supposed to go to Amsterdam on Friday, but we don't know if we can still do it...hopefully we can.

Wednesday, I should have been doing work, but instead I took advantage of a beautiful day and walked around Camden. One of my favorite places in London. It has TONS of flea markets and AMAZING INTERNATIONAL FOOD. I learned I like Hungarian and Turkish food. I also got a cheap henna tattoo!

On Friday a group of us went to Brighton which is in England, but on the coast. Its gorgeous. Its a hippie town with lots of seafood. I got muscles. YUM. They also had a pier with a carnival type thing. It was a ton of fun, and it was finally nice out.




Saturday was Mandy's birthday. Emily, Mandy and I went shopping to Ache Y Emme for her birthday dress. You would all be proud of me, I did not bring my wallet out so I would not spend any money.She got a really nice leopard print dress. Emily and I bought her some orange headphones (since she kept stealing ours). She loved the gift. The we went to dinner at this Tex-Mex restaurant. They have a special which is 12 gbp pitchers of margaritas and nachos. I split it with Jasmina and Morgan. I also got a steak burrito with good guacamole. This place is pretty cheap too. Then we got ready to go out. We all decided to get really dolled up since its a 21st bday! It was probably one of my favorite nights our in London.



Sunday was 60 degrees. I know unheard of for London. So naturally we took advantage of it. We ate at this place up the street called Raouls. There food is heaven, evern Paul McCartney agrees. I have yet to see him. A huge group of us ventured to Hyde Park to do homework, play Frisbee and soccer and just hang out. I finally realized how many people actually do live in London. Apparently everyone in the world had the same idea to hang out outside in London. There were 4 futbol games going on around us, a ParKoure/ Taiwan demonstration with shirtless men. I think they were into each other and their stunts more than anything else. They entertained all of us. Then I got home and skype Sam. He had so much new information for me...NOT. But it was nice to talk to him. <3

Today I decided I will be a student and catch up on some homework since I have a ton.

Paris and EURODISNEY!

Not surprisingly,since the first week I found out I was going abroad and Stacy was going abroad, we knew we were going to meet up in one place: DISNEY! oh yeah and Paris too. She wrote a bomb entry http://stacykirkland.wordpress.com/.

But here is mine,

I meet Stacy at the airport on Friday. We traveled to our hotel which is in a small town 10 minutes away from Disney and 45 minutes out of the city. The first thing we found was the best homemade croissants and many other pastries and we got a baguette. So Delicious!! I could not even describe to you how good it is, its beautiful.

The next day we woke up bright and early to prepare for a full day of Disney. We even got there before the park opened...we are dedicated. But only a few of you would appreciate that. We got our map, planned out some of the important rides and parades. We did everything we could do and enjoyed every minute of it. We ate lunch in Frontierland with fajitas. We even got 2 pairs of FastPass tickets... shush don't tell anyone...we cheated the system.

We ate dinner at Disney Village at some sports bar where we watched the Man U vs FCB futbol game. We stayed till one hour before park closing because we were STARVING.

PS-We each got ears. I got t-i-double Ga-er and Stacy got Minnie.


On Sunday we went to Paris finally. I want to go on record and say that this is the place where Stacy and I feel in love... its is the MOST ROMANTIC CITY IN THE WORLD! We dropped our bags off at some locker place and then headed out. Weirdly enough the first Paris site we saw was the Paris Marathon. It was so exciting. Then we went to Notre Dame and got into Sunday Mass for free. It is amazing, the best cathedral EVER! Next was The Louvre.



Stacy had heard a great idea that if you say you are studying art you can get in for free. IT WORKS! Saw the Mona Lisa for free.

Stayed along the Marathon and bonded with some runners and got some food. We finally had crepes... so delicious, I still miss them. We then tried to go to find a Longchamp bag since everyone owns it there, but there were no stores. Where is the famous Paris shopping??! Oh well. We walked by the Arc de Triumph onto the Eiffel Tower. Let me just tell you how amazing this thing is. Its beautiful. Stacy made us stay in the cold till night fell and it lite up. At the time I was cold and something else, but now I am SO glad she made us wait cause it was worth it.
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We then went to get our bags from the metro stop and got there at 10:01, it closed at 10. The luckiest moment of my life, the people who were closing up were walking out and unlocked the the doors and let us get our bags. Close call. Then we went to our hotel near the airport which was the same as the one I stayed in when I went to Liverpool. They were really nice.

Woke up and went to the airport and had to register for classes then. Such an experience. Made it home safely. I am so thankful I went on this trip, I loved it so much. <3 Stacy.

SB,Duke,Stacy, Internet...could not get any better

Guess what? After a week of occasionally going to Starbucks/McDonalds for Internet, it is back in Clifton Gardens. Everyone knows the only reason I was so concerned was because I have so much homework to do and research, not because of email or facebook.

Oh by the way...DUKE IS NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!! <3<3 I stayed up till 5:30 to watch them win and still went to class at 10:30. Impressive?

So mi mum has been telling me for the past week that my last blog post was not enough. I need to write about Spring Break, so here it is:
Barcelona:First we have a little drama... British Airways decided it was going to go on strike the day we need to use them. So some of the girls were on the phone for hours trying to find a new flight. But when we did get on the airplane, it was empty. Some of us went a day earlier. Barcelona was destination #1. We had a hostel on Gran Via. The hostel was adorable. It looked like an old business building but on the 3rd floor was our hostel. It was very quiet and the woman who worked there was young and awesome... did I mention free internet. The first night we ate and got goblets of sangria. I got a little tipsy from it, but luckily my hostel was across the street. Then we went to bed at a reasonable hour and were headed to the beach the next day. However, we got a little lost, and it wasnt exactly beach weather. It was low 60s and we found water, but no beach. We walked a lot. Around the port, Las Ramblas, jsut getting lost and expolring the city. Thats the thing about Spain, there isn't much you have to go to and see but you want to just walk around. That night we went to Dow Jones Bar. The bar is what it sounds like... the Stock Market. The drink prices are based on how popular they are and at every hour the stock crashes and the prices decrease drastically. The only downfall was it RECKED of cigarette smoke, I can still smell it on my dress... EW. The next day we went to La Sagrada Famalia... but since we were bored with cathedrals, we just saw the outside. It was really cool, but has been under construction... for about 100 years. I dont think it will ever end. Then we walked around more of Barcelona, the streets, the parks. Everywhere. We went to Las Ramblas which is the shopping mecca of Barcelona. Out final day in Barcelona we went to Sitges... ITS BEAUTIFUL. It was my favorite day on spring break. Its a beautiful beach town. The pictures describe it on its own... see previous blog...

Madrid: Went to the big park, El Prado, and many other things. Its a little like Barcelona. Many people say its the lady and Barcelona is the teen girl. The metro is kind scary in Madrid so we tried to avoid it. We got to our hostel which was intersting. We had a room to ourselves for 2 out of 4 nights, have a random the other 2. Hostel living for you. We did a lot of expolring drinking sangria...

Did I mention it rained 80% of the time in Spain... I guess the rain is spain does NOT stay mainly in the plain. UGH

Stacy came last weekend!! I met her at the airport on Friday and we got to my flat. We immediately went site seeing and walked around London. We went to the Tower of London, B-Girl battle, River boat cruise, Piccadilly, Leicster, Abbey Road, walked around the Thames, particpated in the changing of the guards, and walked around a lot. It was a blast. We had so much fun. Ate fish and chips, some great mexican food and made the most delicious chicken, asparagus and guacamole EVER. Yeah we are part time chefs. Such a fun yet exhuasting weekend!! So worth it though. Oh did I mention, we went out a couple of times. Got to show her a good time.

But...Stacy and I are going to Paris tomorrow... to DISNEYLAND. So wait for that post. It will be phenomenal.

Barthelona y Madrid AKA SPRING BREAK!!

So, my internet seem to want to back stab me when an electrical fire broke out in the place. It will not be till Tuesday before I get it. So I am writing this from McDonalds...boy do I love America.
I know many of you have been patiently waiting for my spring break post. I am sorry it has taken me so long, but that's cause i needed a rest. It was pretty informative and eventful. I have decided since I do not have much internet time or anything I will do a collage/photo montage.... HERE IT IS:

Barcelona and Madrid in photos

Flamenco Dancer in Madrid


The Beatles (puppets) in Madrid


The fountain in Madrid...amazing


Parco del Retero...Madrid


Sitges!!!


again Sitges!!


Barcelona from the Parc Guel


Barcelona's Arc de Triumf


La Sagrada Familia


Girls at the Port