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Published: July 19th 2006
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Hello Everyone
Since I last wrote I have done quite a lot.
I caught up with Mum & Dad in London after the Europe trip, that was really great. We did a few touristy things around town, like Buckingham Palace, Big Ben etc. I only had 2 days with them & then they left to go back home to Australia.
I also caught up with a few friends from the tour before they all headed off. We went to Jamie Oliver's restaurant 'Fifteen' for lunch. The food was really really good, I have never tasted such nice antipasta in my life. It was very expensive, but worth every penny. For the 4 of us it cost £168 (approx $400). Its obviously a popular place because it was full.
After Mum & Dad left I had a few days to myself so I went on a bus tour around London. It was really weird seeing all of the street names from Monopoly!! On the bus tour you can get off & on whenever & wherever you like. The ticket is valid for a 24hr period, they have these in most major cities in the UK & Europe &
its a great way to see the place. I also stopped in at Madame Tussauds. Some of the wax figures looked so real, especially Princess Diana. They of course had Beckham & Posh in there, but funnnily enough most people stood in front of Posh to get a photo with Becks. They also had a chamber of horrors that you go through, they have live actors in there as well as wax figures of the worst killers in their time. It was frightening because the actors would touch you, something your not told when you go in there. Im sure I frightened the people more with my screaming!
I mentioned in my last blog about going to Ireland with a friend on the Friday. Well we decided to fly out on the Sunday, it was so much cheaper. It would have cost us £168 (approx $400) to go on the Friday but instead we paid £50 ($125) to go on the Sunday. It is so so cheap to fly around over here, its just expensive when you get there! Ireland is very very expensive. Great place but you need lots of cash.
We only had 4 days there
so we had to pack in as much as we could. We were staying in a great hostel in the centre of Dublin, Avalon House, if any of you want to stay there. The 1st day we wandered around town, the weather wasnt too flash, rained a bit. Apparently Ireland is known for the bad weather, the scenery definitely makes up for it though. My friends, Carol & Colin, picked us up in the afternoon to show us around Dublin. We saw where U2 all lived, & Larry Mullins (the drummer) still lives. They took us to this great little place called Howth (pronounced hoat). Had the best fish & chips I have ever tasted, even if it did cost 9 euro each ($18), once again it was worth it. We watched the World Cup Final in a quaint little pub in Howth, great atmosphere. There are so many Italians in Dublin, apparently students go over there every year to learn English......that's Irish for you!!
The next 2 days we spent on bus tours around the south of Ireland. Went to Cork, Lynda kissed the Blarney Stone, I didnt want to catch anything! Went to Kilkenny, Waterford Crystal factory
in Waterford. It was very hard for me not to buy something here, I love Waterford Crystal. The glass blowers, cutters, engravers have to train for 5-10 years before they are allowed to work in the factory. Waterford make the trophies for all the major sports, tennis, rugby, golf, etc
The last day in Dublin we did a bus tour around town, & tried to do as much shopping as possible. We visited the Guiness Factory. Im not a Guiness drinker, its really heavy back home, but here, its so smooth....Our last night in Dublin Carol & Colin & Carol's Mum took us to a traditional Irish night. They got me on the Guinness & black (blackcurrant), it was really nice & you dont get drunk, well I didnt after 6 glasses. When you order beers/guiness in Ireland they always come as pints, so make sure you ask when you only want a glass (scooner). There was great food, an Irish band singning & Irish dancers. It was a great night. Lynda & I ended up buying the CD.....that one's for you Dad. You would have loved the guy on the banjo!!
From Ireland I went to my
cousins place in Chester, where I am still staying on & off now. Its about 30 minutes out of Liverpool. Really nice little town. I met up with another friend the other day & stayed with her in Stockport for a few days. Stockport is about 15 minutes out of Manchester. She threw a dinner party on the last night together, God the women can drink here...great night though.
Im just chilling with my cousin & his wife at the moment. She works in the local pub, there are 3 in the main street where they live, about 2 minutes walk from each other. Every one knows everyone here & they all seem to know Im in town. Most people call me Shiela, how original!!!
Im off to Liverpool on Friday to spend 4-5 days there with my Aunty Laura. Im going to base myself there & do day trips here & there. I really want to go the Lake District, Southport & Blackpool, places I used to go with my parents when I was younger.
I still have 2 weeks to go, I can do heaps in that time.....I hope!
Hope everyone is well. I
miss you all terribly
Take care & I will be in touch again soon
Love you lots
Vicki
xxx
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