I'm back...

...after not posting for a ridiculously long time. I know you all missed me terribly. So here are some Halloween pics to make you all feel better. Enjoy!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=u54fr1b.53yelv9v&x=0&y=-ipzz89

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Sweet, sweet goodness

So I just watched the series finale of Dawson's Creek with my housemate, complete with red wine and chocolate. Mmmmm....what's yummier? My dark chocolate bar with almonds and cranberries? Or Pacey?

The finale made me all nostalgic for the Dawson's Creek days of my life. I mean, it's an awful show, but it's just so ridiculously emblematic of my teenage years. Ah, life-shaping WB shows. It's so sappy. And so much fun to watch. And doesn't EVERYONE want to end up with Pacey?

Ok, I'm just rambling now. Just thought this was a moment I should share with everyone.

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Latest Triumph

So I've been overdosing on BBC America lately, and I've watched a couple episodes of Gordon Ramsay's The F Word, which is this fantabulous show about food, running a restaurant, getting people back in the kitchen, and showing cute shots of Gordon with his many, many children in order to prove that he's not such a jerk, after all.

Anyway, after getting particularly inspired by some pumpkin risotto that Gordon concocted on the last show, I decided to go out and make my own while pumpkins were still in season. At many a point during the chopping, peeling, sauteeing, pureeing, and mixing in of the pumpkin, I had doubts that my grand experiment would come to a good end.

However, I have to say that I have possibly cooked the most delicious meal...EVER. (Except maybe for that awesome Thanksgiving in London.) The risotto has just the right amount of sweetness and pumpkin-y goodness. I just need to bask in the wonderfuless of it all. Because all every cook wants is some validation, right?

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P.S. Requests for the recipe will be honored, but I cannot guarantee that your version will turn out as fabulous as mine. That's just the way it works. Sorry.

Food Heaven

I have just discovered food heaven. It's like Whole Foods, the food halls at Harrods and Selfridge's, Willams Sonoma, and the international food fair after Cultural Rhythms combined. Mmmm...

Today I went to A Southern Season, which is a food megastore a few miles from my house. It's got all sorts of ridiculousness - an amazingly large wine section, a huge assortment of international foods, all sorts of gourmet goodies, a bakery, a deli counter, and a confectionery. Of course, there are prices to match the ridiculous selection, but I decided to stop acting like an impoverished grad student and treat myself for once. I got rillette (duck pate) and smoked cheddar and nice wine and bread and even some Lebkuchen. I am so content right now, you wouldn't believe it. Ok, maybe you would. I guess this just proves it - I DO love food more than Nic.

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Weirdness

Today is 76 degrees and sunny. Right now I'm sitting on my porch, on the couch (which we dragged out here in honor of the weather), sipping iced tea. This place is weird...AND I LOVE IT.

To celebrate the return of summer to North Carolina, here are pics from my adventures in Jersey this summer. I promise to get working on the rest of them so I can update on NC so far. But for now, bask in a little sunshine.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=u54fr1b.apveza17&x=0&y=2fguga

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Dead and Dead

So I made a futile trip to the mall today to try and repair my glasses and iPod, both of which are apparently beyond saving. So now I'm walking around with glasses with a piece broken off, and I have no music to comfort me.

But then I saved the day with a little retail therapy. After buying a top (on sale - I need to start saving for glasses and a new Ipod), I walked around Williams-Sonoma and scored some free spiced cider. Although I couldn't buy a single thing there because of their ridiculously inflated prices, I did come to the conclusion that I would get married just to have a registry at Williams-Sonoma. No other reason. I LOVE that store. Someday my kitchen will be that pretty. And pretentious.

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Out of State Experience

So I had the weirdest thing happen today. I was studying for my econ exam last night and didn't get too much sleep. I woke up to find a grey, rainy morning - lovely. The two cups of tea I had this morning provided enough caffeine for getting through my morning exam, but I was kinda groggy the rest of the day. So I was working in the library and I got up to leave. I saw someone who looked like Barb, and for a minute I was back in Cambridge. I was heading home to Lowell, where I would meet my blockmates for an early dinner and then some Nintendo or Sex and the City before studying. Maybe it was because I was so tired, or maybe it was because everything reminded me of Boston today - the grey sky, the rain on the brick sidewalks, the feeling of dragging yourself to class without very much sleep...weirdness. I swear, I was CONVINCED I would walk out the library and see Sever Quad, or I would turn the corner and see the Harvard Book Store or ABP. I need sleep.

It all just reminded me how great college was, and while grad school is fun and all, it's just not the same. Ah, reminiscing about the past. Ok, I'm done now.

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Toto, we're not in the Northeast anymore

This morning I decided to go get a state ID, in my endless quest for establishing residency in North Carolina (in-state tuition, here I come!). Before being turned away for not having the requisite 20 forms of ID and 60 days' proof of residency, I overheard this gem of a conversation between two of the DMV officers.

"Did you see that flashy Eur-o-pee-an car?"
"What did he say it was called? A Min-ee Coo-per?"

Imagine all this said with thick Southern accents. Pauses and all. Priceless.

Sometimes, living in Chapel Hill makes me forget that I really am in the South. But then little times like these remind me that I am far, far away from home.

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And a new beginning

A new post, a new title, a new look, a new country...it's all so exciting! Welcome to my accounts of the South, from my new home of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I've got so much to update on, but for now, you should know I'm in a two-year graduate program in City and Regional Planning at the University of North Carolina (which most of you probably do). I'm completely overloaded with work (already!), hence the ridiculous time lapse in getting this thing updated. But not to fear - I will have pics from the summer, tales of grad school, and sundry other delightful things coming your way soon. Till then,

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The End (for now...)

Well, it's been nearly three months since I left the UK, and I've finally finished posting all the stuff from my trip. Hope you've enjoyed all the accounts of crazy times abroad, because I've certainly enjoyed the crazy times. And although I'm back in the US, it doesn't mean I'm here for good. Stay tuned for further adventures.

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And finally, Scotland

The last and final stop on my trip - and the pictures are finally done. Enjoy!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=u54fr1b.8oqv3vi7&x=0&y=-r9dbxr

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Romania!

Pics are finally online - only one country to go!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=u54fr1b.c77meylb&x=0&y=-fxnpjd

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Slovenia! Vienna! They just keep coming!

More pics!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=u54fr1b.2fvvgme7&x=0&y=-8vh8g2

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Croatia!

Pictures from Croatia, for your enjoyment. I promise I'll get the rest of them up soon.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=u54fr1b.1n3ovylb&x=0&y=le0dk7

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I know it's been forever...

but I finally finished editing my first round of pictures from my trip this summer. Watch and enjoy.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=u54fr1b.427g004f&x=0&y=-hb0tj

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Wee Bonnie Scotland

Or at leats it should be called that, because it sounds suitably Scottish.

I had an absolutely wonderful time in Scotland, and I wish I was able to spend more time there. I took a tour with the same company Erin and I took to Wales, and the tour was just as phenomenal. The weather cleared up and was an unseasonably warm 22 degrees on one day, a little misty on the next, and warm with blue skies on the third. I saw the Isle of Skye, visited the William Wallace Memorial (freedom!), ate haggis, and resisted the urge to buy every little cheesy Scottish souvenir I could find (Nessie hats and snowglobes, anyone?). I served as bait for the Loch Ness Monster, climbed a hill entirely shrouded in mist, used the Loo of the Year (2006), and heard the fairies piping at Kilt Rock. All in all a successful trip, I might say. (Oh, except for my failure to find a fried Mars Bar anywhere, probably due to the fact we only stayed in small towns. The only chip shop we found refused to make one, even when we offered to pick one up ourselves from the nearest newsagent. Boo. Next time.)

In Cambridge now at Nic's, where I've been lazing in the sun all day along with the cats. After all that traveling, I needed a little relaxing. Next stop: London!

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So Cold

So, so, so cold.

Edinburgh is a very pretty city. Edinburgh is also freezing, even in the middle of summer. No one told me this. I assumed it would be colder in Edinburgh than in London - I just didn't expect a temperature change of 15 degrees Celsius on a 5-hour train trip (33 in London, 18 but feels colder in Edinburgh).

I am not equipped. I don't even really have warm clothes. Fed up with the weight of The Beast, I dropped off some clothes in London...including my coat. Awesome. But whatever, it probably wouldn't have been adequate enough, anyway, as everyone else seems to be wearing winter coats.

Is this a commonly known fact? Are you supposed to wear hats and gloves in Scotland, even on July 4th, when I should be sitting on a porch somewhere, eating watermelon? I feel so ignorant and naive. I also fear hypothermia.

If you don't hear from me within the next few days, you'll know what has happened. Remember me fondly.

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End of the Affair

So, I'm back in Bucharest, and it's my last day in Romania. What a short, strange trip it's been. Romania has been an experience, to say the very very least, and I'm glad I got a chance to visit before globalization (further) wreaks its havoc. I'd like to come back here in a couple of years and see what joining the EU does to change the country.

In a way, this also feels like the end of my big backpacking adventure. I'm off to Scotland on Tuesday, but really, it's in the same country as London and everyone speaks English (kinda). I didn't really think I could travel alone at the beginning of all this, and it's had its tough bits, but I really, really enjoyed being able to travel around and see places I had only read about before. It's given me the traveing bug, though, which should be interesting on a student's budget for the next 2 years. To celebrate my successful conquest of (parts of) Eastern Europe, I think I'll get a nice pasta dish from the local Italian place. All that meat has made me consider the vitues of vegetarianism. A vegetarianism that contains a little more variety than cheese, bread, and more cheese. Yummm.

In the spirit of last days, here are some pictures from my last night out in Camden (my last night out before tomorrow night, that is, when I'm going to treat myself to a big jug of Pimms - all for me, of course). Please note: we were very, very inebriated at the time - I bear no responsibility for how ridiculous we may look. :P

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=u54fr1b.b1pl39q7&x=0&y=9b60vj

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Village People

Hey everyone -

They keyboard here is not agreeing with me, so bear with the typos and short entry.

The tour is getting better day by day. On Friday morning, we headed off to a little village called Viscrii (from the Saxon "Weisskirche"), which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We had to travel on a bunpy, bumpy dirt road to get there (damn you, back seat!), but it was worth it. The village is almost completely isolated, and its cute little houses are all well-kept and brightly-painted. There are all sorts of foundations supporting the village and its inhabitants, so it's much cleaner and more beautiful than surrounding villages. Inhabitants take part in the "Sock Project," in which they earn money by knitting various items (socks included, obviously), and sell them to the public.

You have to wonder who they sell them to, though, since there were only 2 other tourists in the town with us. The main attraction of the village is the White Church itself, a fortified Saxon church from the 1600s. It still has a loyal congregation of about 15 people, descendants of the original Saxon (German) population that moved there in the 1500s or so. The Church is in decent condition, but climbing the rickety tower was still an adventure. The people who take care of it are amazing. They still speak the Saxon dialect and maintain all of the traditions of their people - even after living among Romanians for over 400 years! A Saxon family invited us for lunch, in what was definitely the highlight of the trip (shush, Nic). They made homemade wine and plum brandy, and this fantastic tomato soup and cabbage stew, all made with ingredients freshly grown from their garden. We ate it at a long table in their garden, among their dogs and cats, and it was by far one of the best things I've done while traveling.

We're in Sigisoara now (birthplace of Dracula!), which is cute and old and all the buildings lean to the side. Off for the England gane and one last Romanian feast tonight, and then back to London on Monday. Sadness. I know Romania will all be changed when (if?) I come back, but it's been a great experience to be here now. Yaay Romania. :)

Off to Scotland next - on July 4th - woohoo! Talk soon!

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Brighter Day

I don't know, maybe yesterday was a bad day, but today's looking a lot better. We all had a big dinner last night, and it was a lot of fun. A lot of wine, and a lot of meat.

Meat. Romania is ALL about the meat. Most menus hardly have anything meatless on them, and you even get cold meats for breakfast. Madness. That aside, the food is absolutely delicious. I usually end up having some hearty soup for dinner, along with some kind of meat and the national dish, mamaliga (a kind of polenta). Like one night I had minced pork rolled in sauerkraut. And last night I had a peasant dish of layers in a bowl, starting with mamaliga and then with goat cheese, pork, a fried egg and more cheese piled on top. Awesome. Where else would you get food like that?

The tour is, at worst, convenient, and it gets me into a lot of things for free and gets me there for free. Like today we went to Bran Castle (of Dracula fame...pretty boring, really), and Rasnov fortress, which was really great. It's an old ruined fortress from the 1400s, and they're painstakingly restoring it to the way it looked then, complete with 80 houses, a chapel, and a school, all within the citadel walls. There are also donkeys, which, while not as exciting as monkeys (see Shelley's blog), are really cute. Plus, they eat apples from your hand. Awww.

Other highlights of the day - bargaining furiously with an old woman at the market at Bran Castle and riding local buses in 90 degree weather. Shelley, I do not envy you your Chinese transportation.

Going to eat soon, which is always the highlight of the day. :P Also, something else that makes me happy? Pictures. Enjoy the smorgasbord...unfortunately, the only photos the internet speed in this cafe allowed me to upload. So enjoy and quit your complaining. :P

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=u54fr1b.beo8lb9z&x=0&y=-meb44f

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Coolio!

Oh my god...they just played "Gangsta's Paradise"! I love Romanian radio.

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Degamed...big time

So. All the guidebooks (and a lot of fellow travelers) warn you about Romania before you visit, telling you to look out for scams on taxis and trains and pretty much everywhere else. Little did I think that the biggest scam would be from my tour group.

I don't know what made me sign up for a group tour of Romania...maybe I was afriad to go to the country myself, maybe before setting off to travel alone I didn't think I could make it by myself for 2 straight weeks after Croatia. Whatever it was, it was a bad idea. First of all, the country is dirt cheap, so I have no idea where my exorbitant (for Romania) tour fee is going. My tour mates are: 2 middle-aged friends from Australia, a Kiwi couple in their 30s, and a mildly boring Belgian girl about my age. (Our tour guide is another matter altogether - she's Polish and in her 20s and fantastic, but she really can't make up for everyone). Everyone is perfectly nice, and we've had some good dinners out, but there's no one I've really connected with. I met SO many people at the hostel in Bucharest - maybe it was a fluke, but I had someone to go out with every night. Here I feel more isolated than I did traveling alone, because I'm alone in a group, which is far worse.

We're visiting lovely little Transylvania villages, which is nice, but ultimately boring, because there's not much else to do besides hiking and walking around - both of which are pretty undesirable in temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius and above. I just want something to swim in SO BADLY - I was right about thinking I should have ended my trip on the coast. I spend a lot of time reading and searching for shade. It's exciting, let me tell you.

It's not all bad. Oue first day in Sinaia, a little mountain resort, we took a cable car up 2,000 feet and then hiked down the mountain - for 6 hours. It was tiring, but really exhilarating - every turn offered a new view down the mountain, and we ran into herds of sheep and cows on the plains on top of the mountain. We also visited Peles Castle, which is absolutely gorgeous. It's just the dead time like now that's hard...I find myself trying to kill time a lot in between meeting up with other tour group members. If I were by myself, I would be on the move every day - or most likely, I would have given up and headed for the Black Sea by now. At this point, I'm looking forward to England being cold!

I don't know what I expected...maybe I thought the other people would be younger, or we would have a more interesting, less relazed tour. All I know is: no more tours. Ever. I don't care if I'm going to Cambodia, I'm doing it by myself. Or only on highly recommended tours (by people I know). I could have saved so much money! Eh. You live, you learn.

Sorry for the depressing news...I'm a little down because this is the last part of my trip and I was really looking forward to it. Oh well, there's still Scotland. Will write again soon (probably very soon, considering there's nothing else better to do). Boo.

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Purple Rain, Purple Rain

Hey everyone...just thought my fellow Green-hoes would like to know that Prince's "Purple Rain" is the single most commonly-played song on Eastern European radio. I swear, I've heard it at least 6 times since I've gotten here. Big shout out to Sammy Ford. Bye!

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Hello, people of Budapest!

Which apparently is what Michael Jackson said to a crowd filling a public square. In Bucharest. I've made sure not to mix up the names myself.

Bucharest is absolutely fantastic. It's hot as hell, the streets are full of people, and it's loud and noisy, but I really like it. I visited the Parliament today, which is the second largest building in the world, and is obulently turned out in the best of everything from Romania - marble, wood, silk, etc. It was built under Nicolae Ceausescu, the communist dictator, as a kind of meglomaniacal plan to transform Bucharest into the ideal communist city. It's actually not even finished yet, and the fact that construction continues is astounding. The Parliament is such a symbol of the repressive communist regime, but the people of Bucharest seem determined to turn it into a national monument - it's opulent enough to warrant that.

Ceausescu's plan razed a lot of the old city and involved a lot of concrete and a ceremonial boulevard exactly one meter wider than the Champs Elysses. The best part, though? It was called "Project Bucharest." Gotta love it.

The Funky Chicken Hostel has also lived up to all of my expectations (basically based on the name). It's really chill, in a great location, and the people are tons of fun. I think we're going out again tonight, which should be fun, considering the headache I woke up with this morning. I've definitely gone out on this trip more than I have in London for the past few months...madness. It's all been worth it, though. The fact that alcohol is generally the cheapest beverage helps a lot, as well. :P

I'm off to join my tour tomorrow, which I'm actually fairly ashamed of. I could totally have done Romania by myself, and for a lot cheaper. I feel like a wuss, somehow, after meeting all this hardcore backpackers. I feel like a dilettante. (And now I feel like a nerd for using that word. :P ) At least it means I might actually meet and hang out with people for more than one night for the next week. This can be good or bad. We shall see. Rest assured that I will pass judgement if the tour members suck. But then again, that didn't really prevent me from enjoying the last tour, so we shall see. It only takes one cool person...

Anyway, that is enough from me. Internet is cheap here, so expect to hear from me more often. And I'll try and post some pictures. I can't believe it's all winding down!

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Romania!

I am finally here and it is so cool. I arrived in Bucharest today and it's so different from every other place I've been so far. The city has so much history, and I hope I can learn a little more about it before my tour, starting this Sunday. Also, the weather is nice hot summer weather, good for wearing summer clothes (finally!), but not so great for riding public transportation or lugging The Beast around. (I think it's actually growing...I weighed it at the airport today and I'm sure it was heavier than when I started - how is that even possible? I haven't bought anything!)

Anyway, am off to treat myself to a nice, cheap dinner. The hostel is great and everyone seems friendly. Looking forward to a good night's rest, really. See ya!

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First love

You´ll all be relieved to find out that I´m back to taking pictures of fountains...Vienna is a little short on the waterfalls. The city is pretty nice, but seems stifling after Bled. It´s been 30 degrees Celsius for the last 2 days and its sticky and hot with no sea, waterfall, or lake to jump in. I miss Croatia. :(

Other things I´ve done: gone to the gardens at Schönbrunn (very nice, Denis), visited the old cemetary (gorgeos and leafy and very gothicly falling apart), and ate laugenbrotchen (pretyel bread) and spätzle (potato noodles). MMMMM. All my happy (food) memories of Germany coming back. Happy now, Nic? :P

Also - and I can´t believe I forgot to mention this - my last night in Split I went to a Bob Marley tribute concert, which was fabulous. The tribute band members were all white and Croatian (of course), but they did a pretty decent job of interpreting Bob´s songs. The perfect thing for a summer night by the beach after a couple of cheap Croatian beers. Ahh.

Flying to Romania, and hopefully internet is cheaper there. Then you can all look forward to a good long post. I know you´ve been waiting for it.

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Waterfalls are my new fountains

...considering how many pictures I've been taking of them in the past few days. To be fair, I've been to 2 national parks where the main attractions are waterfalls. But still...the numbers would horrify you.

I have actually been Little Miss Outdoors today. Determined not to let the fact I have one full day in Bled (in Slovenia, in the Julian Alps) deter me, I woke up at 7am (gasp!), had breakfast, and was on the road by 8. I managed to fit in today (deep breath) a hike in Vintner Gorge, which has beautiful waterfalls (and a 4k walk there and back through cute little alpine villages), a hike up to Bled Castle (too expensive to go inside), a swim in the lake (brr), and a whitewater rafting trip. All before 6pm. I am amazed by myself.

Anyway, internet is expensive, so must fly. Vienna next and then Friday in Romania!!

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Fresh off the boat

Going to have to make this one quick...my internet time is running out.

Off the ship, after getting a decent tan and enjoying a week of eating good food and swimming (in that order, naturally), and heading inland again. After one more day in Split, Im off to the Julian Alps in Slovenia and then Vienna, all before...duh duh duhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Romania! Should be some crazy times and Ill look for cheap internet so I can update more fully.

Miss everyone!

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Croatian 'Sailing'

Note to self: Next time you plan on booking a 'Croatian Sailing Adventure,' ensure that the sailing adventure in question is A. On a boat that actually sails, as opposed to a glorified fishing trawler, B. At a time of year that has good weather, and C. Not on a boat almost entirely populated by Australian girls, aged 20-30.

So yeah, the sailing adventure has proved to be a little disappointing. The weather wasn't too nice and we were spending a lot of time on the boat with some very silly girls. But yesterday the weather improved and things started looking up. We went swimming off the boat in the gorgeous blue Adriatic, and I took out one of the sea kayaks and explored some seashore caves. It was amazing...the water is just this fantastic shade of blue, and the coastline is endless rows of cliffs with little red-roofed villages perched on them.

Yesterday we also arrived at Dubrovnik, a walled city right on the coast. It was damaged in the war in 1991 and 1992, but has been rebuilt so thoroughly, you could never tell anything was destroyed. I took a walk along the city walls with Dana (a really nice Canadian on the boat with me), which gave amazing views of the city and the sea behind. Then off to a little beach by the city, filled with all these smooth round pebbles and the same gorgeous water as everywhere else. I forgot my bathing suit, but figured if the men on the beach could subject me to their Speedos, I could get away with my underwear. Then the tastiest seafood paella/risotto-type dish I've ever had, and a liter of red wine for the both of us, all for about 8 pounds. And that's one of the most expensive meals I've had so far. Yaay Eastern Europe.

Off to more islands for the rest of the week, and then back to Split on Saturday, where I'm staying at Al's Hostel again (I was there on Thursday and Friday) because I had so much fun. Al is this entertaining British guy who just decided to open a hostel in Split. He reminds me of my fantastic gymnastics coach in London, and is tons of fun. Both the nights I was there, a group from the hostel went out for dinner and drinks, guided and accompanied by Al. The hostel isn't the prettiest, but it makes up for amenities in hospitality. It's nice when you're traveling alone to actually spend time with real people. (Although at the end of this tour, I know I'll definitely be needing some alone time - yaay floating dorm of Australian girls.)

Anyway, that's about it for now. Boring post, I suppose. All that wine last night has dulled my wit. Will try and write again soon!

= :)

P.S. Aw, thanks, Shelley! Although if you could see me after a day of serious traveling, you might change your mind. :P

Split!

Hey everyone -

Sorry this has to be quick, but Im heading off sailing in a couple of hours. Ill be away for a week and I dont know if I can update. But thats ok, because - who am I fooling? - no one really reads this, anyway. :P

Anyway, the weather is finally nice and Ive met a good group of people here..I dont think I want to leave. Off for new locales, though - will try and post a quick update soon.

= :)

P.S. My backpack has a name. Unfortunately, its not a cute name like Shelleys had. Its The Beast, and if you could see it, youd know what I mean. :P

A Lady of Leisure

Hello Everyone -

I just got back from the baths, where I sat in the sauna, waded in a thermal pool and got a massage AND a pedicure (for about 10 and 4 pounds, respectively). Then off tonight to the ballet and probably ending the night with a small meal and a glass of wine at one of the small cafes near my hostel. Ah, this is the life...too bad I need to make my salary in London to be able to spend it this lavishly in Budapest.

In other news, Budapest has completely kicked Prague's ass. I've spent the same amount of money here and done so much more, have eaten better, and have had so much fun. I really like Budapest - it's grittier and bigger than Prague, and it really has a lot more character.

Yesterday I wandered around the city for a while, walking through this gorgeous island park in the middle of the Danube, and then made my way up to Castle Hill, high above the city. Unfortunately, there wasn't much to do up there, but I did have some delicious sour cherry strudel at a cafe Let's Go swore was around when the Hapsburgs were in power. Hm. Delicious, though. I also met two middle-aged Swiss guys, who ate about 6 pastries in between them (stocking up for the ride home, they said) and called Budapest a "criminal city," which I thought was fantastic. Then caught a late Mass at the gorgeous St. Stephen1s Basilica before heading home for dinner.

Today started so ridiculously early that I got a lot of stuff done before 5. After a scare with my bankcard (Barclay's had froyen my account because it thought I was committing fraud with my own card by traveling to too many countries) that was tahnkfully solved by a quick phone call to England, I went off to the giant market on the river. Gin, it's just like the one in Florence, with all the fruit and meat vendors. Then off to the Great Synagogue, the largest one in Europe. Then Parliament, based off the British one. Then the best part of the day...the baths. I feel so ridiculously relaxed and pampered now...the rest of the evening is going to be great.

I leave tomorrow for Croatia, and I think I'll be a little sad to go. I don't know why, but I really like Budapest - maybe it's the lack of tourists or the cheapness of everything or the way the metro sign looks like the Transformers symbol, which is pretty cool but still odd because of my childhood fear of the Transformers cartoon - just ask Virginia, who used to taunt me with the theme song.

Anyway, off to the ballet soon. I'll try and write before I leave for sailing (this Saturday), because I don't know what my internet access will be like. Bye for now!!

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Traveling alone is more fun when you spoil yourself

So, today was shaping up to be the worst day ever before I turned it around. Read on.

I left Prague feeling a bit disappointed. I ran to the astronomical clock before I left to see it chime, and was severely disappointed. Everyone had been looking at me incredulously and saying - "You haven't seen the astrological clock yet?" So I went, running to get there in time, and it was so piddly. I mean, the disciples rotated around these two windows, and a little death statue rang a bell, but that was it. Huh.

I had a 12:40 train to Budapest, so I went to the station, realizing for the second time this trip that my backpack was too heavy. The "sleep sack" is going tonight. Damn you, Let's Go packing tips! I got on the train and was chucked out of two compartments before finding a seat. Note to self: Reserved seats are only 1 Euro. Get one next time.

So I did get a seat, but I was stuck next to this middle-aged, drunk Hungarian guy who felt the need to talk to everyone in the cabin - endlessly. I went to the restaurant car, buying a useless 2 Euro water for the privilege of sitting there, only to have him follow me and sit across the room creepily, smoking. I did get to try out some rusty German, though, as it was the only language the waiter and I had in common. Yaay, Deutsch!

So back to the compartment, where the otherwise lovely Czech lady across from me (she invited me to dinner with her, if I were going to Bratislava) felt the need to tell me everything that was wrong with America. Damnit. I should have just said I was Canadian. Much easier.

Meanwhile, drunk guy is continuing to harass the poor British teenage couple in the compartment with me. The guy is too nice to stop answering the drunk, so this just keeps going on until Budapest - for the entire 7-hour trip. I plug in my earplus and pretend not to notice.

When I got to Budapest, I started off ok, but then realized the directions my hostel sent to me had no street names on them. Awesome. After awkwardly asking Hungarians for directions, I found the hostel, where I took a shower and then collapsed on my bed with my stuffed cat, which Nic thoughtfully packed. (She IS a little heavy, though...damn you, Nic!!!)

I was about to give up on the night when I knew the trip would suck if I did so. So I got up, asked the hostel guy for recommendations, and ended up in Lizst Square, which is this lovely little square lined with big trees and tons of cafes. (In fact, this whole neighborhood is lovely. It's kinda like Paris, with the grand boulevards and the big trees. I like it better than Prague already.) I dropped into a cafe playing Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Ella Fitzgerald, and treated myself to a fabulous appetizer of grilled feta cheese and tomatoes with garlic bread and a pretty decent glass of red wine. I will sleep well tonight. AND I feel 1 million times better.

So, the moral of the story? Food and wine will solve any of Anne's problems (and that's exactly what Nic would like you to think). Or maybe I should just step up and stop waiting for this vacation to happen to me. Spoiling, here we come.

= :)

P.S. Nic, I did NOT spell "traveling" wrong. I am American. Deal with it. Don't even think about posting about it.

P.P.S. I love you, sweetie. :P

Communism rocks

So it's my 3rd day in Prague, and it's unseasonably cold and wet and icky. Most of today was spent walking aimlessly, as I couldn't decide which museums/attractions I wanted to spend my money on. And then I knew - the Communism Museum.

This museum has come highly recommended from people staying at my hostel, so I knew I had to give it a chance. It's this little cluttered place on the 2nd floor of a casino, right above a huge McDonald's (oh, the irony). It's a weird mix of kitsch and serious information, all in badly translated Czech. (Everything seems to be badly translated here - surely there must be some English speakers lying about.) There were massive statues of Lenin and Marx, and what appeared to be a gilded bust of Stalin. I have to say my favorite piece of memorabilia had to be the sign reading "Timeliness for work delivers a deep blow to the Western agressor!" Awesome.
I was going to buy a set of postcards with mildly funny sayings printed on vintage posters, but decided that laughing at Communism was a little crass after the exhibitions on the secret police and people getting beaten at demonstrations. I settled for one with Lenin reading, "We are located upstairs from McDonald's and across the street from Benneton. Vive la Internationalism!"

I spent the rest of the day in a cafe drinking coffee, reading a book, and staring out the window in the manner of one who has no one to hang out with. :( But I had a cookie. :) I rode the trams home, which are super-fun and like the trolleys in San Francisco, complete with bells and astounding hill-climbing ability. Then after heating up my Chinese takeaway from a few nights ago - mmm, eating on the road - I met my new roommates, some charming guys from West Yorkshire. Quiet for Brits, actually, even when coming home drunk. One has a Weezer t-shirt, so they can't be all bad.

That's all from me. Oh, except that I am developing an alarmingly involved inner monologue. Ah, traveling alone - I can't shut up, even when the only one listening is me.

= :)

And the rest is goulash

So I can't believe it, but I forgot to talk about the pub crawl I went on last night. I'm usually pretty opposed to these guided tour things, but a girl from my hostel was going and I had nothing else better to do, anyway.

So we met up with our tour guide, who was this hilarious Czech guy named Ivan, an economics student at the local university. He had a thick accent, but a good enough grasp of English to make many halfway witty and self-deprecating jokes.

We went to four pubs, and got a traditional Czech meal along the way. Czech beer is pretty good - I can't say how good a judge I was after the first two beers - and goulash and bread dumplings is damn tasty (it was a toss-up between that and fried cheese and fries...yum)

Emma (the girl from my pub) and I met some other Australians on the tour (the slightly older and less annoying kind) and had a really good time with them. I'm pretty sure I got some pictures, but haven't had the chance to screen them yet. I also remember a badly-advised shot of plum brandy...yuck. However, I DID stay away from the absinthe, as I wanted to be able to walk home.

My hangover wasn't actually that bad this morning, given the circumstances, but I can't say the same for our tour guide (or teh Australian guy in my dorm, still sprawled out in bed at 10:30. Late for the dorm, trust me - everyone seems to wake up at the same time at around 8:30 - boo). He was TRASHED by about the 3rd pub. He was bright red and couldn't focus too well. And it was still a great tour, testament to his skills as a guide. Seriously, what a crazy job - all the free alcohol you can drink, and you get paid for it. Nice.

See ya!

= :)

Prague: Stop #1

So, I've finally found a decent Intermet cafe and can write a proper message. Prague, stop #1 on my grand Eastern European tour, is pretty nice. The buildings are gorgeous, and a lot of the original architecture and street layouts are still here.

Also, traveling alone? Not as bad as I thought it would be. So far, I've met someone from my hostel every night, and have been sitting and talking late into the night. I'm sure I'll get lonely at some point, but for now, it's ok. Good times.

My first day was basically spent wandering around the city, which can get pretty confusing with all the little winding streets. Didn't do too much in the way of official sightseeing, but got a general feel for the city and got to sit in the sunshine - yaay sunshine!

It's still pretty ridiculously cold for June, though - today is 50 degrees. ick. I can only hope it gets better as I head south.

Yesterday I attempted to go to the Prague Market, and was foiled by Let's Go's crunchy directions (see Spain), which basically sent me on a tram that didn't have the stop I wanted. Awesome. That failed, I went to the Prague Castle, which is massive and took me practically the rest of the day. There's a gorgeous cathedral with more beautiful and vibrant stained glass than I've ever seen. It also has a tower with a tiny spiral staircase that goes up 220 stairs and has people coming up and down at once, squeezing past one another. THAT was fun - but the view was worth it. I also visited the Toy Museum, which is inexplicably in the castle, and I'm almost ashamed to admit that it's my favorite sight in Prague so far. Am I really that uncultured? But hey, the Barbie exhibit was amazing. :P

I was going to see the old Jewish cemetary today, which is like something out of a Tim Burton film. People were buried on top of each other over the years, and now gravestones are coming out at all angles. I was really excited to see it - until I found out you have to pay to see it. Ah, living on a budget. Fun, fun.

Anyway, should get going, as my internet time is ticking away. Will update soon!

= :)

There's always gotta be some annoying loud American college girls on a budget flight, doesn't there?

But at least there was a massive British wedding party to drown them out.

So, I made it to Prague and it's day #2 of a month-long trip. Seems like forever now, but I'm sure it will all go by quickly. I've met some cool people so far and have been having a great time - plus, the weather was warm and sunny today, which was a nice change from grey and cold England.

Anyway, deepest apologies, but this keyboard sucks. I'll write a proper update when I can make it to an Internet cafe. See ya!!

= :)

Postcards from Amsterdam

Or pictures. Just as good.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=u54fr1b.4dmbexqf&x=1&y=-cbmw6h

= :)

Spoon-tastic

Went to go see Spoon on Tuesday at my last-ever gig at Koko. (Or, as Nic reminded me, my last gig at Koko for a while.) Every time I see Spoon, I remember the time they opened for Cake and the marquee outside the theater read simply, "Cake with Spoon." Fabulous. Spoon was fantastic as usual but the New Pornographers were a huge disapointment, as was the dull, generally unresponsive audience of largely 30- to 40-somethings. Weird.

Anyone have any recommendations of gigs to go to this summer? (In the US, after July 10th.)

= :)

Amsterdam.....um...I've got nothing

Last bit...

We headed over to the Anne Frank museum, which was incredibly surreal. It was in the actual house they hid in during the war, and Anne's bedroom even still had scraps of the movie posters she had pasted to the walls. It was so strange - one of my favorite books had suddenly come to life. I guess it made it all the more real because you feel like you know Anne Frank after reading the diary. I highly recommend it. Then, for dinner, I tried Indonesian for the first time and loved it. We got this fantastic little sampler plate and tried about every dish the restaurant had. We stayed there till closing, after all the other patrons left, and strolled back along the lit canals to our hotel. Did I mention I love this place?

The next morning, we sadly went to return our bikes, after we had finally mastered the locks. After that, we went to this great flea market, where I got shirts for 3 euro, a necklace for 1, and found out where all those little brightly colored plastic rings that you'd stick your overlong t-shirt through in the 90s had gone. Some guy had a whole box of those - that's where they were when I desperately wanted one! (Many, many years ago, for the record.)

We tried to find the same cafe we had coffee at the day before, but couldn't find it anywhere. It was like it had vanished in thin air. Melinda and I headed in opposite directions to get some lunch, but then bizzarely ended up at the same cafe - the cafe from the day before. Hmmm... After a delcious meal, we picked up some of the best chocolate cake ever, and I took a walk through the city. I know what you're thinking about the cake, but no, that was actually the brownie we had later.

One happy trip to the airport later, we had our Amsterdam buzz killed by some scary Dutch soldier with an automatic rifle herding us into the right part of the airport. I thought they had no guns in Europe? (not true, actually saw a regular police officer toting one of the same in Regent's Park for no apparent reason. Scary.) After contemplating getting some cheese in the duty-free shop, and amusing ourselves by listening to the announcements, which seemed to exist solely to shame passengers into making their planes ("Would John Smith head to gate 11? The flight is waiting for you. Way to make them late, asshole."), we boarded our flight back to London. Sigh. I'll always remember you, Amsterdam. And I'll definitely be back.

= :)

Amsterdam-a-ding-dong

More!

That night, we headed off to the center of the city for a walk in the red light district. How strange. It was like some kind of Disney for prostitutes. They were all standing in little glass doorways lit up with red on these narrow little alleys, but instead of a seedy clientele wandering around, there were normal tourists. Middle-aged couples strolling arm in arm. Chinese businessmen lined up for the sex shows. Families (!) laughing and gaping at the open windows. It was so weird - it was a bunch of prostitutes, but it was all de-fanged. Some were posing their hardest, but others talked on their mobiles or just looked bored. I wonder if they have enough customers for all those prostitutes - we only saw spectators like us.

Then off to the center of town, where they had a carnival with skeeball! Madness...turns out that Malinda and I both love it, so we played long enough to get sex-themed playing cards for Malinda's housemates. Male AND female, just to be balanced.

The next morning was Sunday, so it was really nice and quiet. After sleeping in, we found a great cafe on the canal, where we got some coffee. And then we did what every proper Amsterdam(er?)(ian?) should - we rented bikes! The place is full of cyclists, from people riding side by side and holding hands, mothers with giant kid-boxes on the front of their bikes, and girls riding sidesaddle on the back of their date's bike. The place is so ridiculously quaint it hurts. Bikes made us feel like such locals, and it was great to sail around the city.

We stopped for lunch and had some fab brie and goat's cheese sandwiches. Next to us at the cafe were old and loud American tourists from (where else?) New Jersey. They seemed to like Malinda, but I distanced myself as much from them as possible. They were loud and annoying. Eek, Americans abroad. I get to be such a self-hating American when I travel. I try to blend in as much as possible because the American accent sounds so grating. Oh, well.

We hopped back on our bikes and went to a pancake place up a steep flight of stairs. (Let me just say that Let's Go was my savior on this trip. Nothing it recommended was bad. Good for you, Let's Go. You've officially made up for Spain.) We had the best pancakes ever (more like a crepe - mine had chocolate and coconut) and made friends with the chef, who gave us his philiosphy on life (and a very Amsterdam-like one), which apparently roughly translates as "Don't worry about other people's books" (ok, really roughly), and means that you shouldn't worry about what other people are doing. Mind your own business, basically. That's probably what makes Amsterdam such a tolerant and laid-back city (well, that and all the pot). No one looks at you funny, no one judges. I love this place.

= :)

Amsterdamalicious

Hello All -

Because I am completely inable to write concise descriptions (like Shelley), here is Part I or a 3-part series (just to make it fun).

So, I should probably tell all about Amsterdam. First off...I want to live there. Forever. And ever and ever. (Amen.) What a fantastic city. It has all these fabulous tall houses along the canals, and everyone rides bikes and sits out on their stoops and is amazingly relaxed. I need an EU visa (potential suitors, take note).

We almost missed our 6am flight after Malinda's bag broke right as she was leaving the house, but thanks to a helpful cabbie got to the station on time for our train to the airport. Our EasyJet flight was considerably less crunchy (see Seville) than Ryanair, and the Amsterdam airport was really nice, clean, and suitably Dutch. It was weird...everyone spoke English, but they were all taller and blonder than English people. I mean TALLER. I felt like a midget. More than usual.

We took the train to Amsterdam and headed off to find our hotel, which was this ridiculously cute little canal house with frighteningly steep stairs, all-day breakfast (mmm), and 2 fluffy, friendly cats. After a well-needed nap, we went off to explore, and could barely keep ourselves from cooing with delight and taking pictures of every. single. intersection. It's a cute city, what can I say?

After developing a newfound respect for Van Gogh at the (you guessed it) Van Gogh museum, and checking out a street of designer stores (I love you, Chanel!) we began the endless search for a cheap place for dinner. Cafes? Everywhere. Coffeehouses (where you don't actually drink coffee)? Even more of them. Affordable dinner? Nope. We finally found an Ethiopian place, where the food was incredible - I had this chicken-curry-like dish, and it came with spongy bread and all sorts of salad-like sides. Yummy.

More bits soon!

= :)

Mystery Jets in Concert...

...are absolutely fabulous. Go see them if you get the chance.

In other news, not too much going on. I'm doing a lot of off-site interviews for work at places like BT, Glaxo Smith Kline and Christie's, which makes me feel important. Woohoo.

Off to see Madame Butterfly tonight - yaay opera. Will post next week.

= :)

Meet the Parents, part II

I went to Nic's this weekend, and by "Nic's," I mean Nic's house. The kind with parents and housepets. Dundunduhhhhhhh!

I met his mum, his dad (again), his little sister Hannah (14 years old), and his five cats (a number I jokingly made up in the office, only to find out it was true), Meesie, Sybil, Pandora, Salem, and a cute little grey one I kept calling Ferragamo but whose name was actually more like Fergari. I think.

And amazingly, it was not the horrifically embarrassing ordeal I thought it was going to be. His family did not hate me - in fact, I think they may have outright liked me. And I liked them. I also see where he gets his propensity for teasing me, as that's all they did to Nic all weekend. And by the time they started teasing me, I figured I had passed the test.

Nic lives in this adorable little village near Cambridge called Linton, and it has thatched cottages and winding streets and no useful shops, just like a proper village should. We had a fantastic time, though - the weather was gorgeous and we took a walk out by the fields (rural landscapes!), did some wine tasting at a local vineyard and lazed out in the sun. Just the relaxing weekend I needed (not including the 5:30am dawn pagan May Day dance in the woods (in a downpour), which, while fun, wasn't what I'd call relaxing.)

Lest I neglect to mention the food, it was delcious and plentiful. Nic's dad cooked us a fantastic curry on Saturday (apparently his one and only speciality), and Nic's mum made the tastiest Sunday roast ever, complete with duck confit, tons of veggies, stuffing balls, and homemade Yorkshire puddings. Not to mention the sticky sponge pudding and chocolate tart for dessert - both homemade as well. We even got a proper English breakfast before we left on Monday. Major points for good food, especially since I'm sure Nic will be telling his family I posted about the food, after teasing me about my "food blog" in front of them. So what. I love food. :P

So, a wonderful weekend spent in Linton. Thankfully, Nic's parents took no awkward pictures of us together. It's the little things that matter.

= :)

Cringe worthy...

...but oh so fantastic.

Stephen Colbert at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. They DID know who he was before they hired him to speak, right? Doesn't anyone watch Comedy Central? Hm.

http://video.freevideoblog.com/video/AAC7FA18-2DDC-4D3E-B1BB-9D6CBD83E27F.htm

Beware...the rest of the most-requested videos appear to be homemade porn. Shiver.

= :)

Bye Bye, Alana

Sadness...Alana has left London for her world tour. It's so weird - people come and go all the time here, but she's been here longer than I have, which makes her feel like a fixture of the city. It won't be the same without her.

On that note, here are some ridiculous pictures from her going-away party. Enjoy.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=u54fr1b.3q2d6ypj&x=1&y=-8wdtv5

= :)

Check out this awesomeness

www.internationalhero.co.uk

Who researches this stuff?

= :)

Amsterdam!

I went to Amsterdam this weekend, I had the best time ever, and now I want to live there. Prepare for a recap in about a month or so.

= :P

Fine, don't read it then

Denis said my blog was "boring".

Denis, you are no longer allowed to read my blog.

So there.

:P

Thanksgiving Pics

Yes, I realize Thanksgiving was back in November, but I actually only got these pictures on Sunday. They're not taken by me, but they give an idea of how excited I was about cooking an entire Thanksgiving dinner (and not giving anyone food poisoning in the process). View and be amazed!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=u54fr1b.8x14o0tj&x=1&y=-5k8gpn

= :)

Look what I found today...

http://www.worldcitizenguide.com/

= :)

Ireland pics

Here's a small selection of pics from Ireland. (And by "small selection" I mean the only ones I actually took. So sue me, I'm lazy) Enjoy!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=u54fr1b.9avkvbjr&x=1&y=-dnq7e6

= :)

Dublin, Part a do*

Last time, on Anne's blog...

Anne & friends almost didn't make it to Dublin, but they actually managed to arrive in the city, where they discovered sunshine, traditional music, and The Most Beautiful Irish Man in the World. To continue...

Then off to Doyles, across from Trinity College, and I believe, the scene of Erin's notorious fling of her Dublin summer. :P That was fun, except for the requisite carding (i.e., asking "how old are you" and expecting us to be honest), which we got everywhere in the city. "I'm 24," through gritted teeth. I know, I know, I'll be happy about it someday. It's just not cool to look 17 now.

After a round of tequila shots, some Bulmers (btw, Erin, I love that stuff - it's called Magners in England) and a particularly animated competition between me and Joe to identify the music playing (yaay Doyles for having a fantastic selection), we headed off to a random gay bar, where Alana and I had to pose as a couple to get in, but then were surrounded by straight couples when we got in (??). Hm. Then, in a complete coincidence, the yummy-smelling kebab shop next door was none other than Sultan, which was apparently Erin and Jody's late-night haunt. Strange. But oh so tasty.

We stayed up until 5 watching the A-team (yaay Mr. T!) , marveled at the fact our clothes didn't smell of smoke (England is just about light years behind everyone else - I think it's going to take another year for them to go smoke-free), and woke up and lazed in front of the TV watching American Idol (what is that doing on the air in Ireland?). Then off on a bus to Kilmainham Gaol, which is a jail with an amazing history, holding prisoners from the range of Irish history, from the struggle for independence to the potato famine. Our tour guide was fantastic, even though I think he made Joe (the sole Englishman with us) feel like a bit of a villian.

That night, we went to an Italian restaurant, which could have been an awful mistake, but had the best pizza I've had in Europe outside of Italy, and then a Temple Bar pub called, coincidentally enough, Temple Bar (what came first, the pub or the neighborhood?) This is also where I got completely schooled by an Irish bartender. When he asked where I was from, I gave my automatic response of "New York." Hey, I know it's a lie, but no one knows where New Jersey is - or cares, for that matter. He then proceeded to ask me "what part," at which point I was forced to say Brooklyn and then give my Grandma's address as mine. Whoopsies. Really - what kind of European knows all the NYC boroughs? Anyway, the bar wasn't as good as the previous night's entertainment, and it was pretty late - we didn't even finish dinner until after 11 - so we headed home.

Monday morning we woke up at 5:30am (ugh), and flew back to London so some of us could go to work. I, on the other hand, had taken the day off, which meant a nap, early afternoon movie with Nic, and a trip to Bodean's, an honest-to-God barbecue joint in London. They even had Nascar on the TV. Weirdness. I actually forgot where I was a couple of times until I heard the accents of the people around me. I got ribs and they were delicious. Mmmm, ribs.

Just so you know, my trip was basically a two-day approximation of Erin and Jody's summer. My friends had next to no plans, so I took our entire itinerary from a shortlist of recommended sights from Erin and Jody. All I can say is - great list, guys. What a summer it must have been.

= :)

* "two," in Irish Gaelic. I know, I know - I AM awesome.

Dublin!

So I went to Dublin two weekends ago. Actually, I also went about 6 years ago, but that trip doesn't really count since I was in Dublin for about a day and a half and asleep for most of that, due to jet lag. And the company this time was fantastic - Alana, Joe, and Aurelie, Alana's French housemate. So this is the real trip. And a fantastic one.

We actually almost didn't make it to Ireland, since Alana took the meeting time of "around 6-ish" to mean 7:30. Hm. But we got there, and after battling with the staff over our "2-bedroom" apartment (1 double, 1 single, and a couch), got to sleep, since it was ridiculously late and cold. Very exciting, I know.

Saturday dawned bright and sunny, which was an amazing change from most of the weather in London. Unfortuntely, it only lasted the morning, but I made the most of it and got up early and took a walk around central London, including Merrion Square. Then I picked up a bagel and headed back to the flat, which made my friends laugh, since it is apparently a running joke that I'm obsessed with bagels. Not my fault if they can't make enough/good enough ones here in Europe and I have to vocally pine for them. Every day, in fact.

We went shopping on Grafton Street (where I almost got the cutest red trench ever, only to remind myself I already had a red coat - rarr!) and then off to the Dublin Castle, which kinda looks like a movie set, because it's a basically an 11th-century stone castle in the middle of a parking lot. Strange. Then off to the incredible Chester Beatty Museum, which had a lot of Asian and Islamic art, and a collection of religious artifacts. This museum was also the site of my favorite fact of the weekend - the best brushes for painters of Islamic manuscripts were made with the hair from the neck of a 2-month old white kitten. They don't teach you THAT at Harvard, let me tell you. (Yaay Art of the Mongols!)

Then off to the Porterhouse to see Sliotar, this band Erin & Jody were in love with. They were really great, but the Porterhouse was probably the only place in central Dublin that didn't serve Guinness, so that was a bit disappointing. Had a great red ale, though. Weird - I'm a beer drinker now...who would have thought? Oh England, what are you doing to me? Then off to this fabulous restaurant called gruel (mmmm, tasty, and no capitals, of course) which had a basement dining room that looked like my friend's rec room (minus the washer & dryer) and fantastic food.

Back to the flat (right on the Liffey, across from Temple Bar - couldn't be more convenient, really) before heading out for the night. First stop: The Celt for traditional music and our first Guinness of the trip. It really is more tasty there. I also appreciated the yellowed pics of JFK on the wall. Also: The Most Beautiful Irish Man in the World. He was standing across from us and wearing this white button-down shirt with rolled-up sleeves, and he was the most effortly gorgeous thing we had ever seen. And all of us being inclined towards the male sex, he provided a lot of exciting viewing while finishing our drinks.

Part two, in all its scintillating glory, coming soon.

= :)

Oh, and in case you were wondering...

...the grad program I've been accepted to is a 2-year Masters in City and Regional Planning. Details...

= :)

It's Official

So I got the results from the grad schools I applied to, and - drumroll, please - I'm going to...

UNC Chapel Hill. Woo Tarheels!

So I got into UNC and UVA, but decided Charlottesville was a little TOO Southern for me. Waitlisted at Berkeley and outright rejected from MIT. Boo. They're nerds anyway. :P

So yeah, looks like I'll be down in North Carolina for the next two years. Anyone want to come visit?

= :)

More Patrone pics

My collection, this time:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=u54fr1b.bbjyt4tb&x=1&y=e0p0co

= :)

The Italian-American Invasion, Part II

To recap: my parents visited. It was fun. Read on.

Wednesday and Thursday were an adventure. On the advice of Nic and a couple of other people, we headed off towards the Dorset coast. This meant renting a car and navigating England's quaint roadways. Quaint, indeed.

The English really like their roundabouts, apparently - there was one about every five minutes. Confusing in and of itself, yes, but then add the fact that my dad was driving on the wrong side of the road (for him, not for England), an experience he likened to "taking your brain out of your head, turning it backwards, and sticking it back in." We knew we were in for some real fun when Dad started the trip on the right foot by opening the passenger side of the car. Oh dear.

We did a whirlwind tour of British sights, including Stonehenge (which we saw through the fence - it's basically ON the highway), Bath (where we spent about an hour trying to keep out of the freezing rain), and Glastonbury (the Abbey was closed). After only a couple angry outbursts and two near-misses, we ended up in Dorcester, where we stayed at a nice little B&B and had one of the best meals I've had in the UK. Nice. Then off in the morning to Durdle Door, a really nice rock formation on the coast, Lulworth Cove (where we got snowed on), and fish & chips by the sea. Then back off to London, to end what was a short but satisfying trip.

On Friday, we went to the British Museum, where we were educated on what it takes to stuff and wrap a mummy, and then commented on how just about everything in the museum was stolen from somewhere else. Yaay England. Then we went to Borough Market, which is this fantastic weekly market that has all sorts of gourmet food and desserts. Lest we forget where I get my love of food from, my mom and dad raved about their sandwiches, and mom even seriously thought about getting a second one, just to be able to try everything.

After freezing a little more, we went to the Imperial War Museum, which is possibly the best museum in London. Dad and I checked out the submarine exhibit, while we all went on the hilarious Blitz Experience, where you go on this completely low-rent tour of a model of WWII-era London during and after a "bomb raid". Mom (and I don't blame her) laughed inappropriately throughout the entire thing. It was awesome.

Dinner that night was at an Italian restaurant in Mayfair (recommended by my parents' friends), which would have been great - except for the fact I got food poisoning that night (although I haven't ruled out the venison sausages Borough market). Other than that, though, the restaurant was fun. Nic seemed a lot more comfortable with my parents, and my mom seemed comfortable enough to flirt with the waiter, snap many, many pictures of me and Nic, to our collective horror, and sing along to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin - loudly. But really, the place was full of other loud Americans, so no need really to be embarrassed. (Funny how much you notice them after being here for a while, and how grating they sound.)

So, all in all, it was a pretty great week. Cold, yes, but lots of fun - it's always good to be a tourist in London again. And it couldn't have ended more fittingly. Since my parents' hotel was right across the street from me, I had grand plans to wake up at 4am and see them off to the airport. Did that happen? Nope. Of course not.

= :)

The Patrones come to London

So my parents came to visit in February. I know, I know...yes, it takes me this long to post something to the blog.

Anyway, their visit was fun for many reasons, the most obvious being that I got to see my parents after about two months of being away. Less obviously, it also meant I got useful/tasty presents from home, including American pancake mix and a lifetime supply of saline solution. (You'd never believe it, but London appears to be going through some kind of saline drought. My drugstore - and every other branch I've been to in the city, for that matter - has been out of saline for over a month, with no end in sight. CVS, where are you when I need you?) Also, it was a huge novelty to have my parents in London. Worlds colliding, indeed.

We started the trip off on the right foot when I discovered I couldn't pick them up from the airport because the damn tube didn't start running until AFTER their flight got in. This would have been okay, if I then didn't sleep through picking them up at the tube station. Whoops. I think they made it to their hotel ok, though.

We didn't do too much that night...just went for a Sunday roast and walked in the freezing, bitter rain. This is a theme that will recur the entire week, by the way. The weeks before and after my parents' visit were dry and generally mild. The week they came to visit had weather magically transported from Siberia. Ah. C'est la vie (in London).

On Monday we took a ferry to Greenwich, which is the home of British Naval History and the Prime Meridian. Meaning we had plenty of pictures of us standing in two hemispheres, and my dad had the BEST TIME EVER learning about naval navigation. I think we were at the tiny museum for over 2 hours. Then that night, (dum dum duhhhhhh!) Nic met the parents. We decided to go to this little tapas place that's usually fantastic, but which kinda sucked this time. Oh well. Dinner was moderately awkward, with my parents convinced Nic was quiet (??) and Nic convinced my Dad's relative silence wasn't due to jet lag, but rather to the fact he was plotting on the best way to kill Nic and dispose of the body. So, yeah. That went well.

On Tuesday we did the London tourist thing, and went to Harrods, St. Paul's Cathedral, and the Tate Modern. Wandering through Harrods (huge jewelry, expensive clothes, saddles) is always an experience, but I have to say my parents' favorite part (and mine, really, let's be honest) was the food halls, where you can get anything and everything pertaining to prepared food or raw ingredients, and all of it arranged in a gorgeous manner. After picking up a few sandwiches, and some macaroons from Laduree, this fantastic bakery I wanted to go to in Paris but didn't, I headed off to work for a bit while my parents headed off to St. Paul's, where they apparently took more pics of Mom looking freezing (recurring theme: see pictures below). I met up with them again for some coffee at the top of the Tate Modern, which again resulted in my Dad being fascinated by all things nautical (i.e., watching the boats and tide on the Thames).

Dinner again, this time at my local cheap Chinese restaurant. Nic was also there, and things went slightly better this time around, with more relaxed conversation on all sides (although Mom was forever lowered in Nic's eyes for ordering a bottle of Budweiser with dinner). Also, my parents had crispy duck for the first time, which they loved. And you think I'm the only one interested in food. Come on.

I don't know how to write a brief description, so stay tuned for part II.

= :)

Dublin-riffic

Yes, Erin, I did go to Dublin - this past weekend, in fact - and an update is coming soon. Sufficient to say, I had a great time, and basically recreated Erin & Jody's summer in Dublin in miniature over the weekend. Fantasticness.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

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Red Letter Day

Yesterday, I got to sleep in late, I went to go see Sigur Ros (band from Iceland), who were amazing, and I cooked my first real risotto, which was pretty damn tasty. All in all, a great day, if I say so myself.

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My New Flat

Ok, it's not so "new" anymore...I've been living there since mid-January. Just thought I'd add a quick note or two about it, though.

First of all, it's clean, which is fantastic and incredibly underrated. It's so clean, it even got the rare Josephine Patrone seal of approval - hooray! I went back to my old flat last weekend and it's completely filthy. It's actually WORSE than when I was forced out in January. I have no idea how human beings live there happily. Yaay for getting out while I still could.

Second of all, my flatmates are a lot of fun. Their names are Lia, Gabrielle (Bibi), and Rafael, and they're all from Brazil, which basically translates to a lot of shouting (excited, not angry), a lot of tasty food, and people over practically every other night. It makes the flat really lively, which is nice. Still working on the whole understanding Portuguese thing, though. (My flatmates speak great English - their friends, not so much).

Lastly, it's cozy, which is also wonderful. It's pretty tiny, but my bedroom's big enough and the kitchen is well-equipped and has a gas stove - yaay! (If you know me at all, you'll understand how happy a clean, well-appointed kitchen can make me.)

So that's about it. A fairly boring post, but no more complaining about how I never post messages anymore. That means you, Nic.

And Erin.

And Barb.

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More sadness...

I am surrounded by death.

My condensating window - damn you, poorly insulated flat! - created a giant puddle on my windowsill, which my cell phone was unfortunately sitting in the middle of when I woke up Sunday morning. Boo.

My phone is now completely unresponsive, leaving me with absolutely no means of contacting anyone. Not like I'd even know their numbers, even if I tried.

Ah, the trials of my life!

= :(

Sick, Sick, Sick

I am sick of being sick. I've had an awful cold for over a week now, and it shows no sign of disappearing. As does winter, for that matter. We were teased with a couple 50 degree days, but now it's back to the dreary 30-40 degree weather. I might just give up going to grad school and emigrate to Brazil at this point. Grr.

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Sadness

My Ipod is totally dead. The battery holds a charge for an hour or so, tops. New battery = £30 and the possibility of killing it more. Replacement Ipod = £70. Anne = poor. And sad. And musicless. I have lost my transportable groove. Mourn with me.

= :(

Spain pics!

You've read the entries - now you can see the pictures. Check them out, in all their majesty...

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=u54fr1b.6kv30ogn&x=1&y=plvfzv

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Seville - Somewhat crunchy as well

continuing from part 1 - see below...

After relying on good old Let’s Go for our trip to Seville, we got degamed yet again. Apparently the researcher for the city hadn’t actually done much research, since they neglected to mention that the city had not one but two train stations, the second of which we arrived at. Luckily, Venu’s Spanish saved the day again, and we were able to get to our guesthouse.

Our guesthouse. Relying on LG again (silly, silly people), we decided on Pension Vergara, singled out with the coveted “thumbpick” (the best rating an establishment can earn) for its “elegant rooms…with lace bedspreads.” If your ideal hotel values frilly pink sheets before hot water and a bed longer than 4 feet, than Pension Vergara is definitely for you. It also didn’t really have heat, which was great. Whenever we returned to our room, we would huddle around the portable heater for warmth. In short, Pension Vergara = crunchy.

Sadly, Venu’s language skills couldn’t actually save us from missing out on one of the two only big attractions in Seville. We were planning on seeing the ( ), with its Moorish architecture and supposedly magnificent gardens. However, someone at LG Spain (damn you, cursed book!), decided that a closing time of 15:00 must mean 5pm. Degamed again.

So we wandered in the rain and saw the cathedral, which is the third largest in the world (after St. Peter’s in Rome and St. Paul’s in London) and pretty impressive. It’s free on Sundays, but I decided to overcompensate for not having learned a single thing about the Alhambra by getting a 3-euro audio guide. Big mistake. Those things are heavy, unwieldy, and most importantly, mind-numbingly boring. But the climb up the tower compensated a bit for that degaming – the sun came out for the only 5 minutes of the day to reveal the city…which was generally unimpressive, but still pretty cool looking from up in the air. We also caught a glimpse of the castle we were shut out of.

We wandered the city, only to find that almost every single store was closed. I mean, I know this is a Catholic country, but COME ON. At least we managed to stake out the 4 (count ‘em, 4) Zaras within a two block radius. Fantastic.

More rainy wandering led us to Seville’s bullring. Now, I’m sure this city is gorgeous in the sun, but grey rain doesn’t really suit it. We ducked into the bullring to mainly attempt to get shelter from the rain, and managed to catch a free tour. Now, I’m sure Seville’s natives hate the winter as much as the tourists do. How do I know this? Because our tour guide looked uniformly bored/uncomfortable the entire time. I’m sure an audio guide would have more emotion. And she resented us for having to give the tour in both Spanish and English, even though there were only 6 people on the tour, including us. Now, Venu and I were going to battle our way through the Spanish tour, but some Italian tourists insisted they wanted English. Fine. But then they completely sold us out, listening only to the Spanish one and making us look like the dumb Americans. Thanks, Italian people.

Monday morning dawned sunny and (fairly) warm, and we made the most of it by spending time inside the city center’s many Zaras. I bought sooo many clothes. And spent very little money. I love A) good exchange rates B) January sales. Venu, on the other hand, wasn’t really happy with the one small men’s store in the center – so unhappy that he practically jumped out of the airport bus when he saw a huge men’s Zara out in the suburbs. We finally arrived at the airport, frantically stuffed our twelve million Zara bags into Venu’s duffel bag, grabbed one last Coke Light (So good. Not at ALL like Diet Coke. Yummy.) for the road, and each got an “Adios” from the flight attendant on our way to the plane (the British woman ahead of us got a “Goodbye”). Score. And….goodbye, Spain.

And despite the largely negative tone of this email, I had the greatest time on this vacation. Sure, the weather was freezing and wet. Sure, we got absolutely no sleep. Sure, we missed half the attractions. But Venu and I are such good travel buddies, none of it mattered. We laughed it all off, drowned our sorrows in Zara, and good times were had by all. So, to recap, the highlights. Crunchy, “your card is damage,” “el palacio de los gatos,” degamed, frilly pink bedspreads, “Bueno Dia!!” and our best friend, Zara.

Basically, Spain is awesome.

= :)
(co-authored by Venu)

Glossary (in case you missed it the first time):
“crunchy” – Unsuitable, not up to standard. Synonyms: ghetto, sketchy, bootleg, wack.
“degamed” – a derivative of the acronym “GAME.” To be "degamed", therefore, is either 1) to attempt to gain a benefit and be rejected or, worse yet, 2) to be rejected or disadvantaged at random, purely due to bad luck. Synonyms: to get screwed over, to be played

Terry Jones is funnier than me...

...which is why I'm posting his article from The Guardian. Enjoy.

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God: I've lost faith in Blair
All the signs are that the Almighty is unhappy about efforts to implicate Him in the attack on Iraq

Terry Jones
Wednesday March 8, 2006
The Guardian

A high-level leak has revealed that God is "furious" at Tony Blair's attempts to implicate him in the bombing of Iraq. Sources close to the archangel Gabriel report him as describing the Almighty as "hopping mad ... with sanctimonious yet unscrupulous politicians claiming He would condone their bestial activities when He has no way of going public Himself, owing to the MMW agreement" (a reference to the long-established Moving in Mysterious Ways concordat).

Mr Blair went public about God on Michael Parkinson's TV show. "If you have faith about these things," he said, "then you realise that judgment is made by other people. If you believe in God, it's made by God as well." As is customary with Mr Blair's statements, it's rather hard to tease out what he is actually saying; but the gist is clearly that if God didn't actually tell him to bomb Iraq, then the Almighty would certainly agree it was the right thing to do.

"If Tony Blair thinks his friendship with George W Bush is worth rubbing out a couple of hundred thousand Iraqi men, women and children, then that's something he can talk over with me later," said God. "But when he starts publicly claiming that's the way I do the arithmetic too, it's time I put my foot down!" It is well known that God has a very big foot.

A source says Gabriel has spent days trying to dissuade the Almighty from loosing a plague of toads upon the Blair family. Gabriel reminded God that Cherie and the children had nothing to do with Tony's decisions. God's response, it is reliably reported, was: "Blair says the Iraqis are lucky to have got bombed, so how can he complain if his family gets a few toads in the bath?"

The archangel is said to be ticked off with God's ability to provide glib answers without even thinking.

What has particularly incensed the Almighty is that Mr Blair made the claim on the Parkinson show. "If he'd done it on Richard and Judy I could have forgiven a lot," He is reported to have said.

The archangel reported that the Almighty has become increasingly irritated with the vogue for politicians to claim that He is behind their policies - especially if these involve killing large numbers of humans. According to Gabriel, God spake these words: "That George W Bush once had the nerve to say: 'God told me to go end the tyranny in Iraq, and I did.' Well, let me tell you I did no such thing! If I'd wanted to get rid of Saddam Hussein, I could have given him pneumonia. I didn't need the president of the United States to send in hundreds of heavy bombers and thousands of missiles to destroy Iraq - even though I appreciate that Halliburton needed to fill its order books."

"How do Bush and Blair think it makes me look to all those parents who have lost sons and daughters in this grubby business? Don't they know that the Muslims they're taking out worship the same Me that they do? It's a public relations disaster that ought to set Christianity back hundreds of years. Though knowing the fundamentalists, it'll probably have the reverse effect."

The archangel further revealed that he had been advised by no less a person than Alastair Campbell to warn God to keep out of politics. "But it's hard to get God to do anything He doesn't want to," sighed the archangel. "It's all to do with what He calls 'free will', though a lot of us have a problem working that one out, since He's omnipotent and omniscient."

God, the archangel says, is also disturbed by Mr Blair's remark that while religious beliefs might colour his politics, "it's best not to take it too far".

"How would he like it if I went round claiming that he gave me his full backing when I sent the tsunami last year?"

· Terry Jones is a film director, actor and Python

Spain, Part I: Grenada - cute or crunchy?

So a couple weeks ago, my friend Venu and I took a trip to Grenada and Seville in Spain. We had such a great time that we decided to share it with everyone else. Apologies for the length…skip down if you’d like!

After a relatively uneventful flight on crunchy (see glossary) budget airline Ryan Air, we landed in Grenada. Yaay, Spain! Yaay, 6 degrees Celsius! Well, I guess that’s all we could expect for a trip during January – taken for the express purpose of some serious January sale shopping away from the rabid London crowds…and some sightseeing, of course.

When we got off the bus from the airport, the first thing we decided to do was get some money out of the ATM. When Venu gave it a try, it let him request the amount of money he wanted, only to reply, “Your card is damage.” Uh oh. I suggested we try across the street instead, where Venu frantically withdrew the rest of his account before the other machine could start embezzling from him. First 5 minutes in Grenada and already degamed (see glossary).

Our hotel was actually pretty nice – they gave us a room with a balcony, which was an absolutely useless amenity in the middle of January, but whatever. We wandered around the city that night, which didn’t actually take too long, because Grenada’s city center is tiny. Also, Spanish people must have the most amazing stamina in the world. They leave the house to go OUT at 11 or 12. Crazy, crazy, partying Spaniards.

Despite our late night out on the town, we made sure to get up super-early the next morning after numerous warnings about gigantic lines at the Alhambra. We thought, hmm, it’s January and freezing and not quite the high season for tourists, but my co-worker, the guidebook, and the guy who works at the hotel can’t ALL be wrong. Right?

We tried to wake ourselves up at the local coffeehouse, which was also not coincidentally the only thing open at 7:30 in the morning. This is where we started to notice the completely busted Spanish pronunciation. Like using “bueno dia” for “Buenos dios,” and “adio” for “adios.” And so on. This was also the beginning of my café con leche addiction. I had one or two more that day, and at least one per day the rest of the trip. And I don’t even LIKE coffee. That stuff was good. Mmmmm. (what, did you think we’d get through a whole entry without me mentioning anything remotely food-related? Come on.)

So we take the bus ride up to the Alhambra (IN THE DARK. It was still dark. That’s how disgustingly early we were), only to arrive at the ticket office to find that there was no gigantic line. In fact, there was no line at all. I think it was us, about 5 other tourists, and some stray cats (more on that later). And maybe 2 more people came up the hill in the 20 minutes before the office opened. Degamed again.

So we get into the Alhambra and start wandering the grounds. First we go into the Palace of Charles V (this bizarrely incongruous Renaissance-style building with a circular courtyard), and since we’re not scheduled to enter the other palace just yet, decide to take a better look from the second level, where Venu promptly got attached by a crunchy swarm of birds that were nesting on top of the columns. We moved onto the next palace, which was gorgeous. However, the Spanish seem unconcerned about explaining things, as there were absolutely no labels or plaques anywhere in the palace. Those audio guides are always useless…except for today, I suppose. Degamed. Boo. The Alhambra also has an abnormal amount of stray cats, prompting us to rename it El Palacio de los Gatos.

When we finished with the Alhambra, it was only 1pm or something because we had gotten up so ridiculously early, so we decided to spend the rest of the day shopping. (the real purpose of this trip – let’s be honest). After climbing to the top of the windy little old Moorish neighborhood to see a view of the Alhambra, we were degamed yet again, as the gorgeous and huge mountains behind them were completely hidden by clouds. Sob. I think that seeing the mountains was actually Venu’s only goal for Grenada. Double degamed. And the bus in the morning that said it was headed to the train station? Not actually going to the station. Degamed, degamed, and degamed.

Stay tuned for Part II, in which our heroes head to Seville, and are most likely get degamed. Again.

= :)
(co-authored by Venu)

Glossary:
“crunchy” – Unsuitable, not up to standard. Synonyms: ghetto, sketchy, bootleg, wack.
“degamed” – a derivative of the acronym “GAME,” commonly used by business consultants. “GAME” stands for Goal, Audience, Message, _Expression and serves to remind consultants of what to think about when attempting to convince a client of something. To be "degamed", therefore, is either 1) to attempt to gain a benefit and be rejected or, worse yet, 2) to be rejected or disadvantaged at random, purely due to bad luck. Synonyms: to get screwed over, to be played

Longest Post EVER...No, I really mean it.

Hey everyone...I'm about to post my blog from Spain. I might actually divide it into a couple parts, in order to make it more readable. And more fun, like a serial. That, and I have nothing else to say...at least for now. Oh, except that the Noisettes are super-fantastic. If you can, go see them - they're going to the States for a bit later this month. I have a giant girl-crush on the lead singer. She rocks my world.

www.thenoisettes.com

Go. Click on it. You know you want to.

Spain forthcoming....

= :)

Parents and London - Worlds Collide!

So my parents came to stay last week, which was lovely, despite the title of this post. Not quite ready with the update yet, though, so here are some pics my dad took. Please ignore the last few ugly ones of me.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=17oliurz.7q0ce4vj&x=0&y=262v85

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P.S. Nic requests that everyone ignore him in the pictures, too. :P

Pancake Day!

Yesterday (the day we normally would call Mardi Gras) was Pancake Day here in the UK, and I had some exceptionally tasty pancakes. This should become an American tradition, too. Along with the beads and the flashing and the rampant drunkenness. That is all.

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Hipster or Emo Kid? You Decide.

So I know I've been pretty lax with the updating lately. I have a trip to Spain to recap, as well as the week my parents were here. But for now, I'm just going to entertain everyone with stories of my concert-going exploits.

A couple weeks ago I went to see Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, the latest hipster-of-the-month band to come out of New York. They actually surprised me and lived up to the hype, though - they were fantastic in concert. The supporting act wasn't bad, either - and had the completely entertaining name of "Dr. Dog." Awesome. I also finally figured out where all the hipsters in London were hiding - it seems like they came out en masse for this show. And more importantly, they decorated the stage with balloons. And I got one after the concert. Yippee.

Last night I indulged in a guilty (guilty, guilty) pleasure and went to go see Death Cab for Cutie. Great show - I didn't think they would be so good in concert - but some points for contemplation. A. I was probably the oldest person at the concert. B. I found myself in a minority for not having messy-looking yet meticulously styled black-dyed hair. C. I did not look like: 1. Seth Cohen or 2. My sister's ex-boyfriend (jerkface). And yet, I still enjoyed the show. More specifically, I enjoyed the show but received even greater joy from watching the skinny, pale teenage boys around me shake their fists in the air, nod their heads meaningfully in time with the music, and sing their little hearts out. Especially the three in front of me who kept shouting lyrics to one another, jumping up and down, and hugging. I don't think little girls at an N'Sync concert could have been more excited.

So yeah, those are my concerts. Judge as you may, but I still have Sigur Ros, the Noisettes, 65 Days of Static, and We Are Scientists later this month. Eclecticism. Gotta love it.

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Deli!

I don't even know how I managed to miss this, but there is a real, fully-stocked, honest-to-God Italian deli on my street. It has fresh mozzerella, about 15 varieties of pandoro and panettone, and
more types ofBarilla pasta than I've ever seen before. AND it's less than half a block from where I live. I'm so excited I don't even know what to say. That is all.

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I had a winning lottery ticket...

...for the EuroMillions £73million lottery last weekend. Of course, the two paltry matching numbers won me a grand total of £8, which I promptly blew on ready meals (mmm, Rogan Josh) from Sainsbury's. But I think it sounds better the first way I said it.

= :)

Back in the U(SS)K

Hey bitches, I'm back. Finally, I know. I've stopped posting so often because:

a. England isn't really that new and cool anymore
b. I hate typing
c. I read other people's blogs and get intimidated because they're funnier than me.
d. Who really cares what goes on in my life, anyway?

Anyway, went home for Christmas and New Year, which was actually really nice. For one thing, I didn't think I missed the US so much. And by "the US," I might just mean my nice warm house and the homecooked meals that come along with it. I got fed SO WELL. Coming back here is a bit of a letdown, really - but should help with my much-needed post-holiday diet. Yummy. :
Christmas was just as fun as always - had a delicious faux-traditional-Italian Christmas Eve dinner with Grandma and Grandpa (including fried shrimp, linguine with clam sauce, and king crab legs...mmmm) and then got all dolled up for the yearly fashion show, a.k.a. Midnight Mass at St. Michael's. Ah, good old St. Michael's. This Christmas Mass was by far the most hilarious church service I had ever been to, made no easier by the fact that Hilary and Eric came along to add to the giggling. The priest kept referring to Jesus being born in a cave (Is it just me, or was it a stable?), the "orchestra" was embarassingly out of tune, and the cantor forgot a verse of a song, so just stopped with a croaking sound and remained quiet for the rest of the song.

Ok, so not hilarious hilarious, (although you really had to be there) but it's church. Hey, you've got to make your own fun. :P Add that to a successful turn down the runway (the aisle to get communion, so christened by my sister because everyone from high school is there and we're all craning our necks to see who got fat and/or ugly) and a surprise appearance by a notorious high school classmate turned model/actress/Cheesecake Factory waitress and I would say the night turned out well. Good times.

Christmas consisted of so much more eating - make it stop! - and the entire family gathering around the table to play some kind of game where you have to describe a word without using the word. Much wild gesturing and hilarity ensued. Proof again that my family is crazy. Check out pictures here:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=u54fr1b.4wmsrzr3&x=1&y=cjmdft

I was a little worried about New Year's since I didn't have any solid plans, but I had a great time. First off to Danielle's for dinner, which is just like eating with my own family, for all the hugs and kisses I get. :) Then at 11, I rushed off to Virginia's inspired party, held in the basement of the Clark VFW, complete with plenty of cheap champagne, disco ball and amazing playlist. Oh, and it was also a dress-up party. It was like a sweet sixteen on crack, and it was amazing. For pics, check out http://vpatrone.shutterfly.com. (Just scroll past the first few pictures and you'll get to the party. I'm in a couple towards the end.) Fantastic.

Came back to London last week and am still getting used to the cloudiness - where did the sun go? But no matter - am off to Spain this weekend - yaay! Also, I got a new flat. Updates soon!