WHOO-HOO, finally in the UK (after experiencing the second major hick-up in our travel plans this time with the trains). We arrived in London station on the train to find my cousin Clare waiting for us with a sign that she decorated with red and blue stars for the forth of July. It was so nice of her to remember!
She and her boyfriend Tom let us stay with them in their London flat which is right by the river, and is totally darling. After showers (much needed), and running a load of laundry (yeah, a real washing machine!), we headed out for a walk. We went to the old Navy college, and then made our way up to Greenwich where the meridian is kept at an old observatory high on a hill overlooking all of London. At night they shoot a laser out of the observatory to show where the meridian is, it was so cool to see! The city is getting ready for the 2012 summer Olympics, and construction was under way to get everything ready. Here is a picture of Clare and Tom , and the bread we just bought from a British Bakery, in front of the old British Naval school. =p.
We then went to a pub for fish and chips and had a drink called Pimms. It's something with alcohol which you mix with fruit, cucumber, mint, and a pitcher of lemonade, it was very nice. We then walked to a cafe for dessert, which they call pudding =). Even though it wasn't so very late, Sean and I had a teeny bit of jet-lag, and crashed quickly when we got back to the flat (or as Clare says, we were 'shattered')
Clare was my pen-pal when I was growing up, and I was able to visit her once before when I was a senior in high school with my Auntie Ellie. She is just about to start her second masters degree at a university in Venice to get a degree in human rights, and is currently working at a not-for-profit to provide, and do research on the impact of, providing low-cost solar-powered LED lanterns to rural parts of Africa, and she has been all over the world for different reasons, it was very interesting to talk with her about it!
No comments:
Post a Comment