Living my trip, rather than writing about it...

I'm a crappy travel blogger, I admit it.

After I went to Rockness Music Festival last weekend I swore I'd log on and write a long entry about what I've been up to in Scotland....but obviously I haven't. My reasoning was that I would rather take the evenings I have free to post photos, as I know more people are looking at them rather than reading this...kind of foolish reasoning I know, but I also don't want to have to go home to NL and have to upload 3000 photos (I've already taken about 2000, and I haven't been to Liverpool yet!).

I'll summarize my stay in Scotland:

- I don't want to leave.

- Rockness was the best, most exhausting weekend of my life. 

- Since arriving here I have visited Edinburgh Castle, Scottish Parliament, Scotland's Secret Bunker, Falkland Palace, St. Andrews, Anstruther Fish n Chips (the "Best in Britain"-they've won the award several years running), Dundee and Glenrothes (for shopping), Loch Ness and Inverness, Peebles village....there's probably more and I can't think.

- Edinburgh is probably the most beautiful city I've ever visited, and the people are nice to boot.

- Shopping here is great...I know everyone says it's so expensive in the UK (and it can be), but because of finding Christian Louboutin Dillian Flower Pump lookalikes for 18 pounds (as opposed to 2800), I am ecstatic. If you heard me talking about these shoes for the past few months (Karen O wore them in Spin), you'll understand how important this is to me. I tried to replicate them with my graduation shoes, but it just wasn't the same... I've bought about five dresses since I arrived here and I don't think I've paid more than 15 pounds for any of them. I love that this place is about six months ahead of Canada in terms of fashion, I can buy something on the sale/clearance racks and still be ahead when I go home, haha. Neon has become HUGE here, I bought a pair of neon pink jelly gladiators, which are hilarious, awesome, and comfortable. I've wanted jelly shoes since I was a little girl, but couldn't find ones that fit my alien feet/were comfy. I can't even list the rest of the stuff I've bought, but I have to pack tonight and am semi-dreading it. 

- I'm going to need a vacation to recover from this vacation. Or at least a drunken, bbq-fueled Canada Day (the day I return:). Katie Jackson, do you hear me? hahaha

Bonnie Scotland

I've been having an amazing time in Scotland. While I really enjoyed London, I could never see myself living there. Not that I don't like cities or can't handle the crowds, in fact I thrive on that stuff...I can't really pinpoint it. The history and sites were incredible, the shops were beyond my wildest dreams, and I can imagine the nightlife surpasses George Street by far. I just didn't dig the atmosphere of the place, if that vague analogy makes any sense. Maybe it's because I tried to see as much of the city in four days as possible, but either way I don't really see it as being somewhere I'd like to live permanently. 

Glasgow was really fun. I haven't seen Laura in eleven years so it was great to see her. We've both come very far from Titanic/Leonardo Dicaprio-crazed teenagers! The first evening there we went drinking at her friend's house and had a laugh, I had to keep explaining to one of them that Newfoundlanders have as strong an alcohol tolerance as Scots, hahaha. When I tried to change the iPod playlist he exclaimed, "But I worked so hard on that! It took me an hour an a half to create that playlist!" I wish I could party with them all again :)

On Sunday we went shopping and walking through the park, they have some really nice boutiques and vintage/thrift shops, I wish I WISH had more space in my suitcase! At one charity shop, I picked up a Topshop dress that looked totally new, a black trench coat, and a Shopaholic book that I haven't read yet (shut up they're funny) for just 20 quid.  For the same price (at another shop on the previous day) I also found a great watch, with big swirling numbers and a metallic face, now I won't be so clueless about the time. That's what I get for relying on my cellphone as a clock! I blame Bell mobility for their damned unlockable phones.

On my third and final day there I visited Kelvingrove Gallery and Museum, which was fascinating, I'll be posting pics on Facebook when I get the time.  I learned a lot about Scottish history that I didn't know and had the opportunity to see paintings by Matisse, Rembrandt, Picasso, Monet...something I definitely didn't think I'd get to do in my lifetime for sure. That evening, Laura's boyfriend Gary was a great tour guide and drove us around the city looking at the interesting architecture of the city, an aspect I had never really thought about Glasgow. I guess when all you hear is "stabbing capital of Britain" you don't really think that they have pretty buildings. Despite that grim statistic, I still think I'd really enjoy living in Glasgow.

I've been in Cupar, Fife with my grandparents since yesterday. As I'm developing a headache and my battery's about to die, I'll have to write about this part of the trip when I come back from Rockness music festival on Monday. Flaming Lips, Basement Jaxx, Dizzee Rascal, LCD Soundsystem...HERE I COME!!!!!!

Glasgow Bound on Virgin Rail

I only have a half hour of internet because I'm too cheap to spend 20 bucks on the net for 4 1/2 hours of traveling time. Stupid exchange rate. Come on Canadian dollar, strengthen up!

Yesterday was my last day in London. I got up around 10 and went to Windsor Castle, the Queen's Official Residence and the largest  still-in-use castle in the world. It was so interesting, I now understand why people have such an obsession with the monarchy. I always thought it was silly to be into that stuff, that it was such a dated and unnecessary existence in modern times but the history behind the British Royal family is so fascinating it's hard not to get wrapped up in it. I unfortunately couldn't take pics inside the castle or the chapel, so it's hard to describe the splendor and beauty of the places. 

Because it's the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII's ascension to the throne they had a special exhibit about him in the State Apartments, full of portraits, information about him and his wives, and keepsakes. I stood on his grave in the chapel which although it was just a black square in the ground, felt really amazing to just be there. I saw original Da Vinci sketches, the largest and most beautiful doll's house I've ever seen, and so much more that I can't list with the 20 minutes I have left here. 

After I left the castle I wandered around the village of Windsor which is very interesting in itself. I visited Falstaff's Pub, located in the building where Shakespeare lived while writing The Merry Wives of Windsor. I then got the train back to London in hopes of making Kensington Palace and the Royal Albert Hall. Apparently the Palace closed early that day for a private function, so I just lurked around the gate and then headed up to RAH. The tours had ended for the day there as well, so I visited the gift shop, walked around and took photos. I wanted to go up early this morning but since my hotel checkout time was 12 pm I had no idea where I'd put my luggage. I also didn't want to risk missing my train at 2:30 from Euston. There will be another time to visit it...it ain't going nowhere!

In the nighttime I went on a "Jack the  Ripper" tour, with a tour guide that resembled Johnny Depp (who played Jack in From Hell). It was really informing and creepy, we visited the sites where they found the dead prostitutes bodies and the pub where the fifth and last victim Mary Kelly had her final drink. After that I headed back to Bayswater near my hotel for the most expensive meal I've ever ordered myself (again, stupid exchange rate), at an Indian restaurant where the food was yummy but the waiters weren't very friendly. I thought this was strange, they made jokes with the table full of Germans next to mine, and did nothing snide remarks to me. I should really stamp a Canadian flag on my forehead, or just say to everyone, "Hello, I'm not American, and I'd like some information please...."

Anyway I've got 5 minutes left and more to do on the net. Until the next time I pick up wireless...

Kirsten Joy: Tomb fRaider

The London Tombs is officially the most frightening thing I've ever been in. The Bridge tour was kind of cheesy, but still interesting, and they gave us the choice to continue on to the Tombs (which are actually full of dead bodies in the walls), warning it was not for the "faint of heart." Me thinking that it'd be a funny little stroll through flashing lights and smoke machines said "to hell with it", and proceeded. IT WAS SO FUCKING SCARY I CAN'T DESCRIBE IT IN ANY OTHER WAY THAN BY ABUSING CAPSLOCK. You can't see shit, there's things grabbing, noises everywhere, stuff is shaking, just all around horrifying. I have a souvenir picture of me "screaming" surrounded by superimposed corpses. Facebook will love it once I get near a scanner.

 Murphy's Law I was the only single person there and got stuck at the back of the line behind a terrified Chinese teen and his dad. I wanted to clutch on to his backpack but thought it might be a bit weird. The gnarly tour guide who described the process of how people had their heads put on sticks looked at me and bellowed, "It's not nice being alone is it?" Thanks for rubbing it in like salt on a decapitated head, dude (that's how you preserve them, tee hee I'm such a ghoul).

Because I was once again late leaving the hotel today (had to wait for my camera battery to charge) I didn't get to see the Royal Albert Hall but I'll probably check it out tomorrow on the way to Kensington Palace and Windsor Castle.

I did make it inside the Shakespeare Globe Theatre but because there was a matinee going on we couldn't go inside the actual area where they hold plays. We explored the streets around it, visiting the Rose Theatre archeological site and the original site of the Globe (sadly, now an apartment complex). We also went inside the exhibition which featured lots of artifacts from Shakespearean theatre and costumes that have been used in the plays put off there. It was neat but I was disappointed we couldn't go inside.

I really should have visited the Tower of London first, but my London Pass guide had the wrong closing time in it so I had a half an hour to do a tour that usually takes three hours that I had planned to do in one. I literally ran through the towers, snapping pics and asking the guides, "Hey where do I get to see the places where people were tortured and murdered, you know, the gruesome stuff?" I didn't make it to the site of the prince's murder, but did get to see the tower where prisoners were kept and inscribed their names and quotes on the walls, as well as the one where all the jewels were kept and you weren't allowed to take pictures.

Once again I grabbed my lunch/supper from a convenience store, a questionable, lackluster tandoori chicken wrap that just tasted like the sauce was made out of mayo and ketchup, it wasn't spicy at all, I was grossed out, and yet still ate it, because I paid for it. I might go to a real restaurant tomorrow night before the Jack the Ripper tour, depending on my money situation...

I wasn't disappointed by the dance/musical based on Marilyn Monroe's life that I saw at the Apollo Theatre near Piccadilly Circus. I've never been to a ballet before but I was amazing. People may make fun of dancers but if you look at the bodies of these people, they are fucking ripped, even the skinny women are super toned. The costumes, the stage, the music, the lights, it was all great. The couples on both sides of me left before it was over (the two girls to the left were gone about 15 minute in!), but I really enjoyed it. 

I'm starting to figure out the subway system a little better, it's a lot like Toronto's. I LOVE planned cities, or at least cities that plan their transport systems, haha. I made it from Piccadilly to Bayswater without any help (three train changes!), with just one accidental ride to Charring Cross (so I guess you can make that four train changes).

I am exhausted. If I want to go to the castles bright and early tomorrow I should pass out now.

Day Two in Londontown...

Wow I must have really been tired, because I slept for 12 hours and didn't leave the hotel til 2 pm today. So much for my "out the door by 9 am everyday" rule. C'est la vie I spose.

I went to the London Zoo today, which was lots of fun. I've been to zoos before but I really wanted to go to the one here. I saw sleeping lions, giraffes, and penguins, oh my! Took some pics before my camera died, thankfully not before the giraffes. I'm so pissed, the travel adapter mom gave me doesn't work and my camera has an ion battery that needs to be charged. Joanne gave me a pack of adapters but I left them at home thinking mine would be fine. I thought wrong. Now I'm gonna get up bright n early so I can go buy an adapter at Boots, come back and charge it, shower and eat, then head out. My original plan was to wake up early and avoid the shower so I could visit more sights, but I guess I won't lose that much time...I've figured out the underground/buses much better than I did yesterday, when I got a bus, got off too early and wound up spending 10 quid on a cab just to get close to where I'm staying because I was so sore from walking all day. Looks like my shitty sense of direction is valid in all countries.

After the zoo, I realized I wouldn't make any of the other sites because it was 5:30 and most of them close then. So I decided once more, to shop. I visited the London Beatles Store and bought an Abbey Road bottle open/fridge magnet and the It's Only Rock N Roll shop (bought a beaded Bowie tee there). Both shops were amazing and I could have spent all my money on the rare LPs they both had. Someday.

Next I visited Oxford Street, probably one of the most famous shopping streets on the planet. I spent most of the time just gawking at things I wish I could afford, like the entire Selfridges store. My camera died in the zoo, but god I wish I could have taken pics of that store. It's like their somethingth anniversary so there were art exhibits all over the store commemorating the designers like Yves Saint Laurent who have had their collections featured there. I felt very out of places amongst the people working there, it was an absolute designer dreamland. Where else would you pay six grand for a watch? Some of the clothes in that place cost more than my university education.

London Calling

Following about four or five hours of broken sleep I left St. John's Monday morning. Rather than do something that made sense, I flew towards inland Canada to get to London, rather than that lovely direct route across the Atlantic. The cancelation of European flights outta St. John's probably tacked an extra couple hundred dollars to my flight, but what odds, I got to hang out with Lucy and Arnob in the Toronto airport for a few hours. Woot?

After my last experience in the Pearson I never wanted to return again but it was really fun having overpriced beers with my fave Torontonians (besides George Strombolopolous... but he doesn't really count because he doesn't remember that one time we met in the Avalon Mall and he signed his Mary Brown's napkin for me :). It was so much fun, my watchless dumbfuck self almost missed her second plan out of Toronto in her life. Apparently while I was finishing the largest pint I've ever drank and chatting up a storm, they were paging me repeatedly. That's the last time I ignore the recommended boarding time. They were ready to take my fucking suitcase off the plane! The people at the gate bitched me out, "You've been here since 2:30, what the hell were you doing?" Uhhh, drinking beer and trying to pick out magazines for my flight, obviously. 

I was the last one on the plane, and was so late they didn't look at my passport. As I boarded the attendant looked at me and said with a cynical raised eyebrow, "Joy?" Yes I am, fuck you very much. Thanks to the nonstop turbulence that was so bad they didn't serve hot drinks the whole flight I didn't sleep a wink, I just pretended to in hopes I would pass out. It might have worked for about a half hour, then I'd get woken up by insane shaking once more. I guess it could be worse, I made it to London in one piece! Just a very sleepy piece, but that's nothing that the promise of a day of vintage shopping can't cure.

It took me about two hours to find the hotel that the guy from Hotels.com said was "right by Paddington Station." I asked directions from a few people and got different answers out of everyone. I assume if you're wearing a suit and smoking a fag outside an office building (look at me, using British slang already! Bahahaa) that you know how to get to a place that's a few blocks away, but I assumed wrong. Wanker.

Eventually I found Hyde Park Towers and was pleasantly surprised that it's really quite posh. I ate the best club sandwich I've ever had from the restaurant, where the service was absolutely great. I sat on the deck to eat, reading I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell by Tucker Max, which is so hilarious. I don't care if he's a conniving piece of shit that uses women, his adventures are entertaining and kind of addictive to read. 

After starting to sunburn I decided to head for the shops, not deciding to stop and buy sunscreen. Smart girl that I am and all. I didn't even look up what stores to go to, I just kept walking down souvenir shop and boutique-lined streets adjacent to the hotel, until I came across Portobellos Market, vintage and cheap chic heaven. 

I literally lit up when I saw this place. I visited a shop, I can't remember the name for the life of me, where celebrities like Lindsay Lohan and Sienna Miller, among others, like to shop when they come here. It was full of gorgeous stuff, lots of designers, and all expensively priced. I mean, some of the stuff probably cost more than what it did when it was new! I guess you can do that once people from Hollywood are plastered on your walls.

I found my treasures all over, especially at this place called Hideout Classics. I got a wicked silver/grey Diesel jacket for dead cheap, in addition to a leather bomber that was even cheaper. The guy working there gave me 10 pounds off for buying two, which was even nicer. The Diesel jacket kind of makes me look like Michael Jackson (I asked the shopkeeper if this was true and he said no and still howled with laughter), but fuck it. At least my nose hasn't fallen off before. Oh yea, I don't touch little boys either. I'm not surprised he canceled his first few shows here next month, what a weirdo. I bet the people that were flying here just to see him are PISSED.

I arrived back at my hotel, exhausted, sunburnt in stupid places, and loving it.