Last Blog in England

This is going to be my last blog about England, as technically, I am no longer in England. Thank you to all of you who have found the time to read my random rambles. I had an amazing two months and I'm glad that I could share it with you.

Here it goes:

1. Paying for gas at the pump isn't really an option. 
2. Bathrooms are set up differently than in America. Doors usually go all the way to the ground and are generally more private. There are also separate rooms with baby changing stations, which is pretty cool seeing as though in America, baby changing stations are usually only found in the women's restroom.
3. There is a bigger push here for renewable energy than in America, including solar power, which doesn't make much sense.
4. News stations actually have more actual news stories than human interest pieces. 
5. Pretty much all restaurants have a delivery option. So do grocery stores. 
6. Grocery shopping in general in different. Firstly, you have to put a one pound coin into a slot in order to unhook the cart you want from the other carts (you do get it back at the end). Secondly, there is an options (at least at Sainsbury's) to scan your own items while you shop so checkout is way quicker. Finally, no one bags your groceries for you. Sainbury's also does this cool thing that if you over pay for any item (if you could have gotten it at another store for less money) they give you a voucher for the difference. Just keep the voucher use it next time for money off your next trip.
7. England, and all of Europe, use a different set of crutches.
8. There are fewer commercials in general, and none are for prescription drugs or lawyers. 
9. The contestants who are involved in radio contests (at least on BBC 2) are the absolute sweetest people in the world. They spent more time talking about how well the other person did than actually playing the game.
10. There is no such thing as a twist top bottle.
11. Celebrities do really funny endorsement deals (think Joey selling lipstick for men in Japan, that's basically what Snoop Dogg (Lion?) is doing in Europe. 
12. Because every school has the same six week summer vacation, every vacation spot or day trip touristy thing is absolutely packed. 
13. Stuff in England is pretty close together. Pretty much everything you want you can get within walking distance. 
14. There are usually the same brand of chips (crisps) as in America, but the packaging might be a different color. Salt and vinegar chips are usually green. It threw me off basically the entire time I was here.
15. If my experience of English weather is true, apparently it is sunny and warm pretty much every every day. I will gladly take credit for bringing it with me from California and I am sorry if it now rains continuously for 5 weeks because I am gone. 

Stuff we did in my last week:

Dover Castle

 

Canterbury Cathedral
Brighton

London one last time

Stumbled upon the premier of the Inbetweeners movie
Saw a West End musical

And had Afternoon tea (which is nowww the most British thing I have ever done)

These past two months have been the most adventurous, crazy, stupid, amazing, and unbelievable of my life. I have met some awesome people and seen the most amazing sites. However, I definitely could definitely not have done it without my travel buddy and her extremely generous family. I cannot thank the Eyles family enough. 

And to England, I have a feeling we will be seeing each other again soon. 

-Megs

Not Long Left Now

We've done a lot this week, just trying to fit in as much as possible before I head off next week. Here's more stuff I've noticed:

1. Road conditions are much better here. Paving freeways and streets seems to actually be a priority so potholes are few and far between.

2. US sport media doesn't care about sport unless Americans are competing. I had never heard of the Commonwealth Games before this year, and it turns out that they are a pretty big deal. But to be fair, I also didn't know half of the countries in the commonwealth were actual countries.

3. For some reason, drying clothes on a line seems to happen more here than in California.

4. There are definitely more Costa coffee houses than Starbucks.

5. Playing a sport in college doesn't mean much as people don't know about the NCAA or the collegiate system. I feel strange having to explain how collegiate sport works, mostly because of how much I hate the NCAA.

6. Air conditioning in houses isn't really a thing.

7. Average speed checks on freeways means people follow the speed limit more closely.

8. People don't fill up their tanks when getting gas. They only get enough to get them where they are going.

9. Pretty much anything is fair game on late night tv. You can say almost any words you choose. It still catches me off guard when comedians on panel shows curse.

10. Ordering lemonade will get you a lemon lime soda.

Things we did:

1.Walked around the whole of Wimbledon trying to find a way to the Tennis Club and then back to the train station.

2. Got a tour of Portsmouth from a history major (thanks Trav!) and stood where Nelson fought his last battle. Saw the HMS Warrior, HSM Victory, and the Mary Rose, which was at the bottom of the ocean for 400 years.

3. Hung out at Shakespear's house in Stratford-upon-Avon.

(Hamlet and the Bard)

4. Got to stay in a house which can be dated back to 1460 in Shrewsbury.

Thoughts about England

 This week has been less touristy and more 'regular life in England' kind of stuff. So here's some stuff I've noticed:

1. People pronounce Nike as if it rhymed with bike.

2. Customer service is not really a priority in restaurants and stores. I'm used to being asked if I 'need help finding anything' like 100 times, but here, you basically get ignored the entire time you are shopping.

3. Sweatsuits are acceptable to wear outside the house (even if you are not exercising/on your way to or from exercising).

4. England is way better at labelling alcoholic beverages. Percent alcohol is clearly featured and even pint glasses at the bar are labeled with the number of units of alcohol that are in the drink.

5. There is no ATM fee for taking money out of a cash machine, which are all over the place.

6. I think I like BBC's radio format more than anything we have at home. There is more variety and less of playing the same 10 songs over and over. There is also more listener interaction without stupid  people having a platform to express their opinions. BBC also has news breaks every hour, regardless of the station. Hypothetically, everyone who listens to the radio should have a vague idea of at least the major headlines of the day.

7. Crank windows are still an option, even when buying a new car. There are also car brands here that I have never heard of.

8. The parking on the street makes the side of the street you are meant to drive on more of a guideline than a rule.

9. I'm still not 100% sure who has the right of way on a roundabout.

10. I have seen more advertisements, shows, and sport featuring people with impairments while I've been here than my entire life in the US.

11. Different candies means different flavoured McFlurrys.

Stuff we did:

Windsor Castle

Oxford university

British Museum

Fruit picking 

Oxford Street, lots of ice cream, and I tried Pimms for the first time.

Wales

So this week we went camping in Wales for a few days. Real camping with a tent and everything. Here is what I learned:

1. Tides are a real thing here. I’m used to the tide going in and out maybe 50 feet. The ones here change by hundreds of yards. You can basically visit a new beach just by waiting a few hours. 

2. Tide pools are much different than the ones we have at home. There are no sea anemones to poke, but there are way more crabs. 

3. There’s a reason English people like fish and chips so much and I finally understand it. Also, fish and chips really is better at the seaside. 

4. Having cream tea is probably the most British thing I’ve done yet. 

5. Hot water can be found in most public restrooms. 

6. Restaurants and such have different prices based on if you are eating in or taking it away, and take away is cheaper. 

7. Camping and being away from people is so much better than being around people. 

8. The cha-cha slide is not the same everywhere. From what I have gathered, I must have learned a more country dialect (with grapevines and changes in direction) than what they teach in other places. 

9. I’ve started a reread of the Harry Potter series (beginning with the PHILOSOPHER’S Stone). Being here has helped me understand the cultural references that I must have just blown by last time (like Bonfire Night and the Underground stations).

10.The Welsh language doesn’t follow any of the same rules as English. Words don’t need vowels and pretty much any letter can follow any other letter.

Places we went/things we did:

Wales

Dunraven Bay (Bad Wolf Bay from Doctor Who)

Freshwater West (Shell Cottage from Harry Potter)

Pembroke Castle

Cream Tea

Back to England

And DJ-ed a dance for 5-11 year old kids.

Back in England

So we've made it back to England. I want to keep up the blog while I'm here, but also, I am on vacation so I'm not going to spend much time writing. I will add some pictures and make some notes about the things that are different over here. If you are curious about anything specific, I'll add a list of things we do each week and you can ask away.

1. I’m very happy to be back in a country that does not charge for using public restrooms. 

2. All riders in the Tour de France will pass by a stationary spot in less than a minute, regardless of the amount of time you stood there waiting.

3. Harry Potter will never get old. Books, movies, and everything in between- they will always be important.

4. If I could go to the studios every day, I would. No question. It has easily become my favourite place in the whole world. 

5. Our trip to Europe has taught us that there is no distance that is too far to walk. Walking 9 miles around London over 6 hours in nothing. 

6. I think I like Czech kebabs more than I like English kebabs, but it’s still open for debate. 

7. The best way to find good chips and salsa in England is to make them yourself. 

8. I have now traveled into London four different ways, and all take less than an hour. Once again, America needs to step up it’s public transport game. 

9. Interactive museum exhibits are great because they attract kids, but are terrible because kids are not good at sharing (with me). 

10. Rainy days make awesome recovery days. 

-Megs

Places we've been/things we've seen:

Tour de France

The O2 Arena

Harry Potter Studios

Natural History and Science Museums

Baker Street

Bruges & Brussels

Travelling to Bruges the next day became very complicated with trains getting cancelled, but by this point we were pros and also basically stopped caring. We made it to Bruges in the end after and hour stop over in Rotterdam. We walked around Rotterdam enough to see that it was almost polar opposites with Amsterdam. 

In Bruges we got a local bus to our hostel. Even the bus system felt like the old ticket system I used to used as a kid going to school. Bruges was just an old place, like going back in time. 

We spent our evening walking around Bruges, and we learned the hard way that in this medieval town that everything closed at 5pm. We luckily got onto one of the very last boat cruises in which we got a mini tour of the little town. What were pleased to have finally got a bout cruise after missing out in Venice and Amsterdam. 

After food in the hostel we went back to the square for Belgian Waffles, which we ate on a step while listening to a concert choir that was performing. It was awesome. 

The next day was our very last. We did a chocolate factory and climbed the belfry tower in the morning, and then headed for the station eating waffles on the way. 

We arrived in Brussels and hour later, and had exactly 4 hours until our Eurostar train back to london. Luckily we were able to store our bags in the station. A lady at the tourism office was very helpful, drawing us a map of where to go in such a short time. 

This is the story of how we did Brussels in 3 hours. While we didn't get to go into any of the places to learn about what they were, we walked in a loop to churches, museums, shopping districts, and the main square, and the Manneken Pis statue. Everyone was getting ready for the Belgium vs Argentina game, and we headed back to the station in hopes we could catch the first half before our train. 

Luckily a small cafe was showing the game, and train passengers from all over the station crowed it's doors to watch (much to the distaste of the workers in the cafe). The cafe sold beer, so we were set. After the first half we had to check-in with Eurostar. We knew they wouldn't be showing the game in departures, but to our surprise the information desk had flipped their two computers around displaying the game. All of Eurostar departures were crowded around these two tiny laptops. 

As you know, Belgium lost, but by that point we were on our way home. It was funny, because arriving in Kings Cross felt like just another station. It wasn't until I was properly home that it sunk in that our trip was over. 

- Evie

1) Mayonnaise is considered a dipping sauce. 

2) Belgian fries are good, but I've been spoiled by In n Out my whole life, so it's hard to judge the quality of fries accurately. 

3) Belgian waffles however, I can get on board with. Though covering something in chocolate is always something I can get on board with.

4) The customer service of the local restaurants can really make or break an impression of a place.

5) Belgium and the Netherlands really embraced the World Cup thing -streamers and flags and Tv's everywhere- like sitting on the floor in the train station with everyone hovered around two laptops. That's kind of what I'd been hoping for the entire trip.

6) Everyone in Belgium spoke three languages and I felt like a failure for still only knowing enough Spanish and French to tell someone that I don't know Spanish or French. 

7) Walking around different chocolate shops is fun, but also really tempts you to just buy all the chocolate.

8) Chocolate can be made into any shape, even the questionable, not exactly family friendly ones.

9) We have become so good at dealing with train delays that we managed to fit in an extra city in the Netherlands and we have become so good at layovers that we managed to see the majority of Brussels in under 4 hours. 

10) Traveling has not quenched my desire to travel, it has only inspired me to do more of it.

- Megs

So since this is our final entry, we would like to say a big thank you to our readers. Initially we just planned to do these for our parents, but the more texts and comments of support we started getting, the more we wanted to keep up with them. Without your support we probably would have given up writing a long time ago! So thank you so much for the 339 page views and counting! We have enjoyed sharing our adventures with you. 

- Both

Amsterdam

When we arrived in Amsterdam we were blow away with how busy the roads are. Trying to navigate our way to the hotel was almost a death sentence. Crossing the road you'd better make sure you were looking for bikes, mopeds, cars, trams, trams, cars, mopeds, bikes all the way across. It's a lesson you have to learn quickly, and just because you think you're on the footpath doesn't mean you are. The place was bicycle crazy, and not in a fun happy flappy Sound of Music way, but in a "I will run you over" way. We were barely there 3 hours before I was hit in the back walking through the park. I had a vendetta against cyclists the whole time we were there. 

Our first impressions of Amsterdam were that it was like Venice but bigger, and busier because of the roads and bikes. You could easily forget to look up at all the beautiful buildings with all the hustle and bustle, and you couldn't afford to take your eyes off the road to be honest because you'd probably be killed. 

For our day in Amsterdam we decided to walk and avoid the tram system. We visited the 'I Amsterdam' giant letters, the Van Gogh gallery, the red light district, a fun windmill, and of course the Anne Frank house. We packed a lot in to the day considering we walked everywhere, but it was a smart choice in the end because we were able to get out of those busy parts and appreciate how pretty the place was. 

We found ourselves walking through the Red Light district a few times due to its central location. To be honest it's what you expect, except more depressing. I had this idea that it might be a little glamorous, but it really is just depressing. It's for sure something you should witness at least once, but be prepared for the sad feeling you get when you look in the eyes of the poor girls sat in the windows, knowing that for them it's more than just a stop on your visit to Amsterdam. It was kind of a downer. And then we went to the Anne Frank house, so you can imagine what our afternoon was like. 

The visit to the Anne Frank house was a perfect follow on to our visit to Berlin, and I think as a result we could understand it on a whole new level. Our WWII knowledge just continued expanding.

We stopped in a small cafe on the corner of a street and sat outside facing a canal. We had traditional Dutch beers which are tiny, and 'Bitterballen' which were like deep fried balls with mushy stuff in, again a traditional Dutch snack. It was a nice break and it made us feel less guilty about having kebabs for dinner later on. 

We'd planned to do the smart thing a booked a hotel instead of a hostel for our stay, and so that night we watched 'Today at Wimbledon' in our hotel room. It felt like luxury after all those hostels! 

- Evie

1) After getting off the train, it was immediately clear why we spent the extra money on a hotel. 

2) I was surprised to find that Amsterdam not only welcomed 'alternative' lifestyles and behaviours, but encouraged them. It was assumed that every tourist was there for the same reason, which made me kind of sad, but I can't really blame Amsterdam because that's the same reason we went with the hotel. If everyone was there to be free and wild and crazy, I definitely did not want to be sharing a room with them.

3) The one time we had total control over a TV, in our own room that we could watch from bed, there were no World Cup games on.

4) Palm Springs could learn a thing or two about making good looking windmills. I finally understand why mini golf windmills look the way they do.

5) The Red Light District begins immediately at the train station. I learned that the hard way after I saw a store selling a very different sort of postcard.

6) Sometimes you have to get away from the city to really experience a place, and by doing so, you might stumble upon some pretty cool things- like a zoo.

7) I would have never guessed it would be "quiet" and "peaceful" I would look forward to the most (okay, I probably could have guessed that).

8) I'm pretty sure that Heineken just owns Amsterdam.

9) Anne Frank's house was surreal, as I am about halfway through reading her diary. How eight people lived in the annex for two years without any daylight is beyond me. It definitely makes you wonder about the four Aaron Franks and the six million people Anne represents, without museums.

10) Holland is definitely a place I could visit again, but I don't think Amsterdam needs to be on the list.

 - Megs

Berlin

It didn't take long for us to know we liked Berlin. As soon as we arrived everything just felt easy and familiar, and the more we walked around the city the more at home I felt. We found the hostel really easily and were able to grab dinner close by the hostel. The streets felt safe and clean and we were excited to explore the city. 

After our first night we headed out to join a walking tour. For €10 each the tour guide walked us around the main sites giving us all the insider info he knew. We saw museum island, the location of the famous burning of the books, checkpoint Charlie, the remains of the Berlin Wall, the location of Hitlers bunker and his death, the Holocaust memorial, and the Brandenburg gate. I learned more about Germany's history in those 4 hours than in my 23 years of life. It was awesome, and I especially appreciated how so many buildings still had bullet holes from WWII. It was a true nerdy experience for us both and that would only continue. 

After learning so much about Hitler's regime we went over to the 1936 Olympic stadium. Now was my chance to actually apply my Masters knowledge and my newly learned German history. The stadium was such a great example of the merger of sport and politics, and Hitlers regime truly left its mark. The grounds felt like a prison with its large uniform concrete architecture, and intimidating towers and statues. It was so awesome to really experience the feel of the place after our tour (and my sport-politics education). 

We went back into town to spend more time at a few of the museums and locations from the tour, and to visit the East Gallery where some of the Berlin Wall still remains, decorated by talented artists. 

After we headed to a bar for food and drinks before the USA game. We only made it through the first half though because we were so tired from the day.

We concluded our visit knowing we'd loved Berlin, and we really wished we could have stayed longer. There were still so many things we could have seen and done, and so we're definitely hoping to go back. 

- Evie

1) Graffiti in Berlin is actually art and the people who do it are really talented. However, the people who try to write or draw over it are not very creative and pretty much have the same mentality as the people who write/draw in high school textbooks. 

2) German efficiency is a real thing. Their public transport system is phenomenal, everything is on time, and they give you more information than you really need (in a good way).

3) Tours are worth the money, especially when they are only €10, last 5 hours, and are lead by academics who can answer any question you may have. I was kind of sad we could only fit in one tour, but I guess that just means we'll have to come back.

4) The Cold War made no sense and the fact that is was only 25 years ago blows my mind.

5) Everyone remembers the London air raids, but no one talks about how the Allies absolutely destroyed Berlin. 

6) Seeing the relics of the Second World War in person and standing where Hitler and the  Nazis would have stood is seriously chilling. Nothing can really prepare you for it.

7) Berlin is the closest we've come to a good sports bar. Now just add some cheap food and drinks and we'll be golden.

8) Berlin is also the closest I have had to decent salsa. I'm kind of worried salsa addiction might be a real problem.

9) People should talk more about the 1936 Olympics and all of the "traditions" of the Olympics that Hitler created. Actually, people should talk more about all traditions that Hitler created that we still use today, like the feminization of the colour pink -that was his doing.

10) Berlin is both trying to forget its past and making sure no one ever forgets the lessons it can teach. It's a very strange mix.

- Megs

Prague

Like before in Rome, first impressions count. Walking out of Prague's train station we were met by many beggars and homeless people hanging around because the shelter was nearby. Many of them were drunk, shouting, and some were approaching people. We screamed "tourists" with our back packs, and I was scared. 

Once we worked out the tram system we got out of there as quick as we could, very relieved. Our hostel was an old school house which was very echoey but the people were nice. We got Kebabs from a local fast food restaurant, Megan's first one! And with such a long train journey and the nightmare that was the train station we were in bed by 9pm ready to be done with our day. 

The next day was our chance to do the touristy things. We were up early for showers and breakfast, and we braved the tram system into town. We were becoming tram experts by this point. 

Prague has many old buildings that are churches or museums. The old square has many, and a famous astronomical clock like the Glockenspiel in Munich. It wasn't the best weather with showers on and off, but we got around Prague pretty quick using the tram system, there was a castle and a mini Eiffel Tower type thing (which was more expensive than the real Eiffel Tower). 

When we ran out of touristy things we just strolled around. There was a famous old bridge to walk along. We got a coffee (cappuccinos) and sat in the square people watching. There were a few stag parties getting started. Soon we headed back and Megan wanted another kebab of course.

We left early the next morning for our next stop, Berlin.

-Evie

1) I'm not sure how I've lived my nearly 23 years without kebabs. 

2) Getting caught in the rain is not as fun as Rupert Homes made it out to be (though to be fair, I  not really sure what that song is about).

3) Even though the tour guide (of the tour we overheard) clearly stated that the Astronomical Clock was rated one of the most disappointing tourist attractions in the world, I was still a little disappointed. I suppose I was spoiled by the Glockenspiel. 

4) Sometimes, castles look better from far away.

5) Smoking is still a thing in some places and it is possible to purchase cigarettes from a vending machine. 

6) It is confusing when water and a beer cost the same amount of money.

7) Prague is trying very hard to keep up with tourism. They single-handedly ruined my Starbucks counting fun. There was even a Starbucks in the castle. Also, Prague is not nearly as cheap as the brochures made it out to be. 

8) The level of PDA that is accepted in Prague is about 500 time that of the level accepted in America. It's like ninth grade all over again.

9) I will now, and forever more, say no to any meal the consists of cabbage, potatoes, and bacon. I'm not sure if I will ever truly get the taste out of my mouth.

10) I have a theory that states that the importance of a building is directly correlated to how much scaffolding is around it.  

- Megs