My Momma was here!!

It has been a long long time and I apologize for that. I should be studying right now, but I can't get myself to do it yet. So here we go (just so you know, the pictures will be go with each paragraph that they are under, but they will probably be out of order in each of their categories. I'm wayy to lazy to sort them all out any more than I already have). This is going to be a VERY long post.

As you probably know, my mom, Martin, and Andrew came to visit me. I left super early on the morning of April 3 and headed to the train station to catch a bus to a train station an hour or so away to catch a train to London. I was unlucky enough to need to travel the day before the trains were fixed. I got to Paddington Station and I just stood between the Heathrow Express platforms and waited, for what seemed like forever, for them to get off one of the two many trains that were coming and going. When I finally saw them, I almost cried, but I think I managed to hold it together. We made our way to the underground, bought them Oyster cards, and headed to Kings Cross St Pancras. At Kings Cross, we set out to find Platform 9 3/4, but it turns out that you have to pay to take pictures with it now. Anyway, we ate some food and waited to get on the Eurostar to go to Paris. The train wasn't all that interesting, and when we got there we ate (I think) and then just went straight to the hotel. *NOTE* A lot of the pictures you'll see are going to be of buildings because really, I just LOVE the way the French build their shit. :)

The next morning, we got up and did EVERYTHING. Oh god, we went to the Eiffel Tower first, so we would get the most exhausting activity out of the way first. We spent a long time there. We then walked got crepes, and headed up the steps of some big thing, which I can't remember what it was right now, to get a better look at the tower. We walked past a protest-ish kinda thing and made our way to l'Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées where we walked around, went into a few stores, and then headed to le Louvre to look around and see the big glass pyramid thing. After our short visit to le Louvre, we went to Notre Dame, which just so happens to be like the only church that allows pictures and is free. If you wanted to know. I think after that we headed back to the hotel and rested for a bit before we headed out of a nighttime boat tour along the Seine River. I wasn't all that excited for it, I didn't think it would be fun, but really it was awesome. We got to see the Eiffel Tower at sunset and then we got to see it all lit up. It was pretty cold on the boat, but it was worth it. The next morning we went out for breakfast, where we found an American diner to eat at (I had a chocolate shake with my breakfast) and then we wandered around for a bit before we had to check out of the hotel and head to the train station. At the train station we found a thing. It was a really cool thing. It was a table where you could sit and charge your phone or whatever, but in order for it to charge, you had to pedal like you were on a bike. If I had one of those here or at home, I would be in FANTASTIC shape. We took the train back to London, but this time the train had a few problems, which was pretty scary, but we got there just fine. After that train ride, we took the tube back to Paddington and waited to get on the train to Plymouth.

 




 
 




 

We got to Plymouth pretty late, so my mom and I took Martin and Andrew to their hotel and then walked Astor. We didn't do anything else that night, just settled in and slept. The next day we got up and got ready to head out on the town. We met the guys in their hotel and then went to find some breakfast. We found a little restaurant on the water and had a nice breakfast. After that is when they got to experience Plymouth when it's windy, rainy, cold, and awful. We went to the Mayflower steps and up around the Hoe. We didn't want to be outside too long because it was so awful outside. After we walked around the Hoe a bit, we went up Smeaton's Tower (which is the lighthouse) which was a really really good break from the cold wind and rain outside. It is a lot bigger than it looks because it's a pretty big climb to get up there. From there we stopped off at the flat, where we talked to Zander and his dad for a bit before I took them to see the city centre. We went up on campus, to Drake Circus, and even to pound land. I made them go to Nando's and enjoy the fantastic food. After that, we came back and watched The Princess Bride because there really wasn't much else to do. We tried to go to the gin distillery but we went too early in the morning and too late in the afternoon. So that didn't happen. We tried to go to the restaurant right across the street from my flat but even after we sat down and waited for what seemed like forever, we left and went to a Mexican restaurant down the street We had two pitchers of alcohol, so packing that night was interesting. My mom and I watched Frozen while we packed and that was our night. The next day we got up pretty early, so we went and got my mom some coffee, packed everything, cleaned my room and bathroom, and at the very last minute, we ran up to campus to get my mom a shirt from the store. After that we got on the train to head back to London. It seemed like the longest. train. ever.

When got to Paddington, we took a cab to the flat. We got settled and tried to go out and eat but the restaurant we wanted wasn't open yet. So we explored our area a bit to kill time. We had some BBQ for dinner and then headed back to have an early night. The next morning we got up and went to the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge. We spent a long time going through the tower, exploring. After the tower, we headed across the bridge and then came back to make our way to Brick Lane for Indian food. As we walked down Brick Lane, people from different restaurants would come out and try to get us to come in. Andrew was the one deciding where we went, so we just followed. I had chicken curry, believe it or not. It was here that I determined that I am not a fan of Indian music, if you were curious. We wandered around the street a bit after lunch and then decided to head... I'm not sure where. I think we may have just wandered around for a bit, went to Big Ben, and went on the London Eye. We went to my favorite restaurant in London where they have the best lasagna I have ever eaten, but they have taken it off the menu. Most depressing meal ever.

The next day was my favorite day. We went to Warner Brothers Studio Tour London to see all of the fantastic Harry Potter stuff!!!! Oh god it was the best. We spent a long time there, but I don't think I am going to go into detail. BUT I did buy a Weasley sweater. It is a scratchy, maroon jumper with a big R on it :) After that, we split up. My mom and I went for dinner and shopping and Martin and Andrew headed back to the flat and then out to dinner. My mom and I had pasta for dinner, I had a HUGE beer, and then we wandered through Leicester Square and Covent Garden, but everything was closing. So after a while we headed back to the flat to get some rest. The next day, Thursday, we went to Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral and walked up to the top. It's a lot of walking, but the view is always worth it. From therre we went to Buckingham Palace, we didn't watch the changing of the guard, it was too crowded when we were there for it the day before, but we watched them change out the guards inside (it just wasn't the big show). We went wandered to Trafalgar Square, got some ice cream from a little street vendor and just watched people for a while. Since Trafalgar Square is really close to Leicester Square, we walked over there only to find that the Spiderman 2 premiere was going to be that night, so that's cool. I am really sucking at remembering what we did. I think we wandered through China town, past Queen's Theatre (where Les Mis is playing with one of my favorite youtubers as Eponine, but we didn't go like I wanted to) and down Charring Cross Road. I think after that we went back to Hackney and headed to look for a restaurant near the flat. I was really grumpy and tired that day, so I remember it being difficult for us to find something to eat.

On Friday, our very last day (and Andrew's birthday), we split up. My mom and I went shopping while Martin and Andrew went to see Stonehenge and the city of Bath. My mom and I went to Madame Tussaud's first. It was CRAZY BUSY. It didn't look like it outside, but when you got in there, holy hell. It was super crowded. But it was still cool. Not nearly as creepy as the one in San Francisco. After that, we headed to Harrods and had lunch in the Disney restaurant. We wandered and wandered and wandered. It wasn't a very successful shopping trip. We only bought our lunch, some beer, and some cupcakes. After Harrods, we went back to Covent Garden and Leicester Square to try to find Andrew a birthday present and souvenirs for what seemed like everyone and their dogs (which we were actually looking for a present for a dog HA). By the time my mother had dragged me through every single souvenir store in that freaking square, I was extremely tired and I didn't think my feet could take anymore. So we went to get some food. We weren't super hungry though. I had a sundae and a beer to make my feet feel better while my mom had a beer and the worst nachos ever, they had no cheese. We went back to the flat and I watched Les Mis and started packing up all my stuff. We managed to get one of the bags into the big suitcase and were just going to pay the over weight fee at the airport. It was a really good trip. We walked over ten miles every day. It was insane.






















 

I was flying standby (which is awful) and had to be at the airport by 640 Saturday morning. They didn't have to be there until 9 something, but they came with me anyway. I got on the flight and got the last first class seat available. I love first class. It is my goal in life to successful enough to be able to fly first no problem (I think it's a good goal, don't you?). I made it Boston but wasn't able to get on the flight to Salt Lake that night. So after dealing with rude gate agents, nice gate agents, and my mom's fabulous friend Maria, I sat down, ate a burger, had a blueberry beer and waited to get on a flight to Minneapolis where I would stay the night and try to get to Salt Lake the next morning. I got on the flight (at the very last second) and my wonderful daddy booked me a hotel at a Hilton in MN. Hilton's are nice and I would have happily stayed there for several days, just laying in the bed, not going anywhere. But really, I did want to go home. I woke up and headed to the airport the next morning at 630 the next morning and got on the flight. I got home and immediatly Kyli and Margo came over. At this point I was extremely tired, jetlagged, and gross so I was not the nicest (sorry guys). After I got showered, my dad picked me up, we went down to feed and snuggle my warehouse bubbies and headed to Layton to meet Grandma and Papa for lunch. After lunch, I went to Mike and Kelly's with my mom to see them and to meet my new puppy cousin Max, who is like the cutest ever, by the way.

While I was home, I went to work, snuggled all five cats tons, visited as many people as possible, got a new tattoo, went to one of my best friend's wedding receptions, went to The Park three times, spent Easter with both families, and became addicted to the show Bob's Burgers. I visited the U and changed my major to International Studies with an emphasis on European Studies. Since I have been back, I have decided that I am going to add an English minor to my degree and and I am starting an online class this Monday through the U (which is an outrageous price for one online class). I went to the Red & White game with my mom, Grandma, and Shirley; I got super sunburnt on one side. I got to go to my first St. Olaf auction this year. So that was fun. I really want to take a makeup class when I get home too. I love makeup. I can't help myself. I just want to buy it all and use it all but I don't know how to do it properly. My dad thinks it's not a good idea because the only classes in the Salt Lake that I can find are to become a licensed makeup artist. I don't want to be a makeup artist as a career, but it would be fun to do occasionally. It would be fun to do nails, too. It's expensive but you get a ton of stuff and I would get to learn about something I'm interested in. Does anyone else think it's a good or bad idea? Thoughts? Help? I should be studying for my exams but I can't get myself to do it. I hate what I'm learning about so much. I'm just ready to be done with school but I have several years left.

I'm really excited to go home but I am also sad that I am going to be leaving all of the people I have met here. I may not do much with many people, but I still love them all. I'm going to miss living with these eight fantastic people and I am going to miss everyone else I have met here. Earlier this week we went to see Bad Neighbors (which is called Neighbors in the US) as a flat. Seven of the nine of us in the flat went. The next night, six of nine of us went to Nando's for dinner, which was actually my idea :). Tomorrow, which is really today because I'm probably not posting this until Thursday, I am going to lunch with three of my friends that I met on the Nice trip. I may actually miss Plymouth a little bit. But not much. I really want to live in London some day, but I don't want to move back over here alone again. It was hard enough the first time, I don't think I could do it again. I love it over here and I love it at home, I just wish there was a way to combine the two. I am obsessed with Marvel movies right now. I don't know why. So that's fun. I joined Spotify. I'm still figuring out how to use it. But it seems fun.





    

I hope you are all doing well. I miss you, I miss my cats, I miss home. I love you guys. I'll try to write more often now that I have gotten you all caught up. I have to go sort through hundreds of pictures to go with each paragraph here. So have a good night you guys. LOVE YOU.

Jessica.