http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , United Kingdom en-us Thu, 15 May 2008 13:40:50 BST Thu, 15 May 2008 13:40:50 BST It's been an interesting week. I've been busy but at the same time I haven't really done a lot. Let's see if I can remember what I've been doing ....Friday I moved out of the horrible Kilburn hostel which really was a hovel. Moved into the Globetrotter on the other side of London. Found out I'd been put in a room with 5 guys but they all turned out to be great. Four Aussies and a Kiwi.Sa http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/blog-276537.html Well the flights are booked not paid for yet thoughJust a quick update so those of you that are recently subscribed will recieve an email confirming this thing does actually workI'm going to write something later with photo's in it almost like a REAL blog Oh the excitementSo the plan is this02nd June fly to Sao Paulo Brazil. We then have four months to do what we want all over http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Lancashire/blog-276535.html This past Sunday I went on the Whisky trail with the International Society. It was amazing We first went to Huntly Castle in...Huntly about an hour and a half NW of Aberdeen. Huntly Castle is according to my guidebook made up from an original 12th century motte built by an Earl of Fife and palace block from the 16th century added by a governor sorry I don't remember who. It was really http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Aberdeen/blog-276529.html Wed May 14Well we decided at the last minute to stay an extra half day in Edinburgh to check out a few more of the sights. Since the UK is best known for its castles it made sense to check out one of the oldest Edinburgh Castle which is still an active military installation however its mostly a historical monument with museums that pay tribute to the Scottish military and lineage of the scotti http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/blog-276380.html The town of Peebles can only be described in guide book terms. It is a quaintly cobbled place not so much straddling the Tweed River as demurely placing one toe on either bank. Old ladies smile and make eye contact as they hobble past. The tourist office gives you friendly advice for free. In fact it's the sort of place where you can tweedledee up the main street then tweedledum back down the ri http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/blog-276267.html Nearly every day we are privilaged to hear from some of the most influential and accomplished library and information science professionals from here in the UK. While most of the lectures are about the model of change for Oxford's libraries in particular some are very beneficial theories and practices that have been used successfully.It is a note of interest to mention that the recently hired dir http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Oxfordshire/Oxford/blog-276251.html I've just spent the weekend with brother Doug showing him the limited sights of Belfast http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Northern-Ireland/Belfast/blog-276232.html The girls and I got away for the long weekend to Bristol and Bath. We spent Saturday in Bristol before heading out for the night which was interesting. Sunday we headed to Bath for a beautiful day. Unfortunately the british weather played up as usual and it rained most of the day. We took in the sights of Bath and then headed to the Thermal Spa in the evening which was great. Monday we headed back http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Somerset/Bath/blog-276221.html This is London. Honestly it was a lot of fun but I don't think it was anything too special. Seemed like a solid cycling culture though.Stayed at the Astor Victoria hostel. Less than 20 a night and you get a cheapy breakfast and a really comfortable place to sleep. My only complain our room was on the absolute highest floor. With full backpacks or after a day around the city stairs are a rea http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/London-City/blog-276206.html Today is our first official day in Liverpool. We had a guest lecturer at 10 who talked to us about the British education program and that was fun. After that Katie Heather Erin Sarah and I decided to walk to the chemist. While there we visited the post office McColl's and some other random places before walking back to campus. Katie and I tried to show the girls our secret garden but it http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Merseyside/Liverpool/blog-276167.html My first impression was of a city in shambles Dirty messy and tacky Nevertheless Liverpool is facing a major refurbishment and the whole city is being renovated. Loads of road work underway making it almost impossible to drive in the center of the city. Pretty much everything is being refurbished and I guess that in a couple of months the city will look totally different. All that said there http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Merseyside/Liverpool/blog-276131.html Tuesday May 13thToday we went on a Highlands bus tour all day. We were out the door at 700 a.m. and came back by 800 p.m. here in Edinburgh. There was some beautiful spots. We saw many lochs lakes. We saw the Duone castle where Monty Python's Holy Grail was taped. Our bus driver Bob told us about the Clans and the Tribes before that. Looks like Inverness isn't so happy with the Campbell http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Loch-Ness/blog-276107.html Monday May 12th.Well here we are in Edinburgh Scotland at midnight reflecting on our first travel day. It was a LONG first 24 hours being that we were on the plane heading out of Toronto by 600 p.m. on Sunday. We arrived in Scotland time in Glasgow at 530 a.m. We left our luggage at the train station and walked around Glasgow for a few hours. Our first taxi ride will be our first stor http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Edinburgh/blog-276106.html Today was the most fun I've had on this trip yet. After a morning filled with lectures about library science theory and instructions on how to use the complicated library catalog in Oxford we were able to roam free about the city. The Ashmolean Museum was a treat to explore displaying everything from ancient Egyptian pieces to a quirky collection of pocketwatches that I was endlessly facinated http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Oxfordshire/Oxford/blog-276078.html The day has come and we are ready to go. Everyone has been so kind and helpful we are so lucky to have so many great friends. The weather was absolutely foul but it did not drench the moment when the limo turned up at the door the look on the boys faces was a picture the best kept secret and how else to leave Great Shefford in style 'A la Pretty Woman' but in a limo shame Richard Gere could not m http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Berkshire/Hungersford/blog-275958.html Its that time of year again..time for a vacation and where else but sunny old England. Contrary to popular belief England can actually have very nice weather and this past week has been no exception. 039not quite as hot as I'm used to but nonetheless sunny enough to warrant shorts for a large number of people I pass on the street. 4 legged puppy had to stay in Costa Rica for this trip and appa http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Buckinghamshire/Aylesbury/blog-275932.html It's 10.30pm now and we've been up since 6.30am this morning so I will keep this short and simple.The last few days have been spent with loads of Adrian's family most of the pictures were taken at Mandy's place about half an hour from Chester Le. Her place is gorgeous and backs into this lovely pathway leading to a farm with stream sheep and lots of beautiful greenery. They treated us to a tra http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Durham-County/blog-275931.html I had a trial pack on friday which showed me that I had too much stuff to fit in my case as well as the fact that I was over the weight limit I have actually tried packing properly today and it was a lot more sucessful I think I have got everything in my case and it has all fitted fairly well although it is still over weight. I have also managed to put all the things I will need for my ove http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Nottinghamshire/Nottingham/blog-275926.html A bum. A beggar. Lives on the street. Not any street though but Princes Street in Edinburgh. Sits outside a store in rags with some text on a piece of cardboard telling his story in a few lines. Basically the reason why we should give him money. Hersquos in his 20rsquos. No visible signs of physical or mental defects. A cell phone rings. In todayrsquos day and age everyone has a cell pho http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Edinburgh/blog-275917.html Day 2 Monday the 5th of May 2008 School week beginsNormally school started at 9 orsquoclock but I got up at 730 to take a shower etc etc.Before leaving for school Alberto Thomas and I ate breakfast toast coffee and orange juice. I think we were all really excited to see how this would turn out. We left for school a quarter to 9 after asking Ms. Smith where to go. She said the Kent scho http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Kent/Canterbury/blog-275845.html I have lost count of how many times I have done the same ldquotourist tourrdquo around London however every time I find it more enchanting. London is such a multicultural and dynamic city where everything and everyone blend nicely together.Vilma and Frank spent only 2 full days in London and it was far from enough to visit the main tourist attractions. I would have loved to show them the o http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/blog-275824.html I took the train via Wales to Hereford for the first of two May long weekends 2 5 May. After a few weeks spent living and interviewing both for jobs and house shares I was ready for a quiet weekend and some space in the countryside. So it was to my Great Grandmother's farmhouse in Hereford that I retreated. I have taken some photos of where I stayed and my walks on the walking paths throu http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Herefordshire/Hereford/blog-275820.html I am in Liverpool at Hope University. We arrived in Manchester this morning. Will update more later http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/blog-275800.html So after a long absence in writing blogs the time has come again for regular updates to start with a short recap of what has happened in the last 3 month. Well after getting back from India in February the plan was to get into a medical trial as quick as possible and return back within one and a half month. But things don't always go as planned and this was no exception. The right trial never m http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Greater-London/blog-275780.html Things are getting a little hectic now realising how much I have left to do and now I have got myself a job for when I'm in New Zealand so I have ever more paperwork to fill out. Not only the working holidays visa but the New Zealand Nursing council registration too. How many forms does one person need to complete Oh well nearly there 5 weeks and 5 days Then I may have something interesting http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Hampshire/Southampton/blog-275768.html I arrived home safely Sunday evening and was glad to find the sunny weather had followed me I've now uploaded all my 1500 pictures onto the computer and have now added some of my peru ones onto my blog page and some of the pictures people have sent me after my camera died. I'm sure the next time you see me you will get a full load down on the tripthanks again Kez http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Berkshire/Reading/blog-275572.html A HUGE sigh of relief...I've never seen a dorm that serves full three course meals with a complete table setting of silverwear and cloth napkins. The Rewley House is a labyrinth of halls and tiny spiral staircases to me at the moment. I was lost a few times but from the outside you could swear there were only three stories to the charming homey brick building. As most people are very jet lagged http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Oxfordshire/Oxford/blog-275568.html Day 1Well day one feels like day one and two because I haven't slept since before the flight. It's 900 pm on May 10th but only 100pm over in California. The travelling was long but not particularly unpleasant. Besides the fact that a revolving door severed me from my carryon baggage the whole thing went smoothly... until we landed of course. I will never again scoff when someone warns me http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Oxfordshire/Oxford/blog-275565.html