Blogs from Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe - page 9

Since I’ve had plans the last few Saturdays, today I decided to just explore Leeds a little bit. I meandered through the city center until I found Kirkgate Market. That place was crazy! They had a huge building, and inside were a lot of stands selling all sorts of things: candy, cards, toys, clothes, watches, etc. There were little bakeries, butcher shops, and fresh fruit stands. There wasn’t much room between vendors and there were a lot of people crowding the spaces. I eventually made my way to the outdoor market, which was a little more spacious. There was so much to see, but it was all in a confusing mess. I have no idea how people shop there normally. I just bought 2 postcards and called it a day.... read more

Arrival in Leeds, Part II Leeds Met University offers students a Meet and Greet service. Basically, I get to ride in a taxi to my flat (dorm/apartment thingies) for free. I knew taxis had a reputation for being scary. I also knew that I was likely to get more scared than I normally would, so I said to myself, “Jade, he’s going to drive on the left side of the road. Don’t freak out!” While I was thinking this, he pulled into the road. Since he didn’t turn immediately, I assumed we were making a left turn. He suddenly swerved to the right, and I about had a heart attack. It took me a few seconds to realize that driving on the left side of the road meant that right turns were long and left ... read more

well, iv been banging on and on and on...and on about this trip for the last year and now im finally going!! wahoo!! im really excited about it, but must admit a little nervous! though im sure when i get on that first flight i will be fine. and im also missing people already!! my main concern being that baby harry will be huge by the time i get back and wont remember who i am! my flight is tonight at half 9 and aparantly the weather is fab in bangkok, temp in the 80s (yes i know it will be muggy and humid but at least i will be wearing shorts and a vest instead of a coat and snow boots!). so i best go get ready and make sure iv got everything, although as ... read more

After a very long, uncomfortable and uneventful flight including a change of plane in Paris, I finally made it to Manchester Airport where my parents met me and took me home. The hero returns scene. I was looking forward to my home comforts in the days to come. Looking back, this has probably been the best trip I made up to date. There has been a lot of highlights and a lot more than I anticipated. The big highlights were seeing Volcans Osorno and Villarrica in Chile and Cerro Aconcagua in Argentina. There has been some challenges especially with myself and concerning my stay in Mendoza. I do not expect an incident free or challenge free trip but I can say I got through those trials and look back at those as an achievement. I had ... read more

Yes, we're back and a little bit knackered!! Look forward to catching up with you all soon. xx... read more