Read Me From the Top Down…AKA THIS ONE FIRST!

As long as you are already caught up!! If not refer to the one titled “Finals” or “I suck at updating my blog” or something along those lines.

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OK, if you’re ready so am I, it’s about time I got caught up!!!!

Well, I’m going to post these in a couple continuous installments. After this they will be in chronological order from where I left off before (AKA Right after WALES). I am doing this purely to help you pretend that it’s not the longest thing you’ve had to ever read in one sitting. Or to mark a good stopping point until you motivate yourself once again to read this madness I am producing.

I guess I’ll start with now and then go back to the beginning of memory lane. Right now I am on my first ever night train. Zurich to Wien, you know it better as Vienna (“the American way”). I am in the cheapest of accommodations because, hey, I already forked out hundreds of bones for a rail pass, I figured 36 Swiss Franks was plenty. I am in a 6-person “couchette” type room. Pretty much the seats on both sides double as beds, as do the headrests fold down into another level of beds. And then the “ceiling huggers” get to be all the way at the top of the rickety ladder (which isn’t that high, but is still kinda weird). I’ve deemed myself a “ceiling hugger” tonight. This is my explanation as to why 28 minutes into the trip I’ve decided this. 1. The two other people in the room know each other and will probably keep talking longer than I want to stay awake, so I can’t exactly be awkward and lie down where they are sitting, and I sure can fold down the “headrest level”. And 2. The old lady will break her hip if she tries to climb this ladder. Hell, I might break MY hip!

Anyways better get to the good stuff before I pass out!


(Oh and just FYI – I’m taking a break too. HEY! Being funny is tiring work!)

Everyone’s Irish in Dublin.

Ok 4 ½ minute break over...I’m too bored to be too tired to write.

OK. Flash back to Thanksgiving. And before you get sad, don’t worry we had a little turkey dinner at the flat complete with stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, the works! It was fabulous and such a great time. Especially when Mike pulled his plate into his lap… HAHAHA. Oh man.

Anyways, Thanksgiving day, Katie and I headed to Gatwick and boarded a 35 GBP return flight to Dublin on this little airline called RyanAir. They are the premier budget airline, and man are they cheap. No free anything not even water, they don't even get a jet way thingy! We had to walk to the plane. LOL. Once on, we could sit wherever, the seats were bright blue with yellow tops… and they didn’t reverse. It was like being in a cartoon. However, the flight was only 1 hour so it didn’t really matter a whole lot.

Anyways, get to our hostel, Avalon House (totally awesome!) and head out to the “Temple Bar” district to meet up with Katie’s friend Lauren from Santa Cruz and her flatmate Annika (I know she spelled it different than that but I can’t remember and that’s how I like to spell it!). Was a good time, this crazy Irish guy kept buying us Jameson Irish Whiskey. Anyway, wake up the next morning and check out of Avalon House, unfortunately we could only stay there one night because we booked late. We walked across the River Liffey (I really hope that's the right name – I’d feel like a right wanker if I blew that) and got to our new hostel “The Shining Emerald”. It was not shining. And it was not an emerald. It was crap. But hey, chalk it up to experience, at least Katie and I had each other.

We spent Friday at Christ’s Cathedral (built in 1000 AD), Dublin Castle (now a palace, the castle burnt down), learning that Earl Grey was a viceroy of Ireland and got the tea named after him, and wandering down Grafton Street enjoying the scenery and shopping. Friday night we met up with Lauren and Annika for dinner at some place in Temple Bar. And then the BEST part was we went to this small pub near the river that had a live Irish band playing. IT WAS AWESOME!!

Saturday morning, Katie and I got up bright and early to do a castle and ocean tour. We were taken to Malahide Castle – it’s famous for being owned by the same family longer than any other property in Ireland. After the castle tour we were driven all along the coast and Dublin bay before getting dropped off. Great views and a great way to see some stuff but stay dry since it was quite rainy. After getting back to town we got an Irish Coffee at The Brazen Head pub – oldest pub in Dublin. We met up with Lauren and Annika again and did the Guinness Brewery in style. It was awesome!! And the free pint in the top floor bar was awesome because it was so cozy and already decorated for xmas that it felt like we were at an exclusive holiday party over a brewery pub. Dinner at The Brazen Head was the biggest fish and chips I’ve ever had, but also the best. Saturday night was mellow after that because we had an early flight back Sunday morning.

THE END!

SWITZERLAND!!

I am lucky enough to have international friends. And even luckier that they are willing to offer me a place to stay in their homes. I spent the last weekend with my friend Peter in Aarau, Switzerland. Its just about a ½ hour train ride away from Zurich. I arrived Friday evening and Peter picked me up from the train station and took me to his house. I met his family (Mother, Brother, Step-dad) and, lucky for me, dinner was served right after. I’m not sure what it was exactly…something meaty (they like meet in these parts!) and Hungarian (Peter’s mom is from Hungary) and sooo good!

Saturday I slept in a bit because I was so tired from finals all nighters, but then went into Aarau with Peter. He showed me his old school (where his brother is now) and all around town. It’s such a quaint little place. And very old fashioned. Apparently, Aarau is famous for the ornate paintings they do on the inside of the building awnings. They were gorgeous!! Unfortunately the photos didn’t really come out though. We walked back to Peter’s house from Aarau along the river (about a ½ hour). At home we had cheese fondue for dinner w/ his brother Matthew. It was so good and so fun to eat! Hehe. Then we met up with Remo (another friend I know through Marcus) and the four of us went out to “The Boiler Room” – Aarau’s little club. It was a LOT of fun just to be with friends and have fun dancing. Sunday I went into Zurich and walked down Bahnofstrasse (the main street off the train station – and home to all the shopping. Sunday night we got to have traditional Swiss food: wurst of some sort w/ Rossti (hash browns of sorts w/ gravy and WAY better) with applesauce and salad. Then we just watched a movie and hung out.

Today was a long day. Peter had school all day in Zurich, so I got up with him at 6:30 and even attended his first class. He is a mechanical engineering major and his first lecture is analysis (pretty much advanced calculus). The reason behind going is because his professor is this crrrrazy American guy who can barely speak German. So whenever he wants to emphasize a point he starts yelling wildly in English. It was one of the most entertaining lectures I’ve ever been to. Oh and Peter’s college is like a palace! The Uni is on top of a hill with gorgeous views of Zurich below and inside its new and huge and awesome. I’m jealous. Balmer High sucks. ANYWAYS back to the story. After school I headed to Grossmunster (Cathedral) and the church across the river from it. Gorgeous stained glass and gorgeous organs in both of them. Also, gorgeous architecture – Baroque style. Hrm, then I went to Café Sprungli. Its famous for its chocolate. I had some minestrone and a 5 Frank cup of hot chocolate. Worth every penny!! It was soooo good! Afterwards, I did a bit more photo taking and a bit of holiday shopping then headed to Luzern.

Luzern, just about a hour from Zurich, is the epitome of Swiss towns. Tiny quaint, water, mountain views, castles in the background. OMG, it was amazing. Great to just take a bunch of pictures. I stared at the mountains forever – and really, really wished I was on my snowboard. I also walked through their advent (pre-xmas period) market which was a lot of fun because there were a lot of unique crafts.

Spent the last couple hours of the day just eating dinner and relaxing at Peter’s house before heading back to the train station to start my adventure. I am officially on my own for the next 8 days. 9 if you count the entire day of flying back – I don’t because I’ve done that part alone quite a few times. Anyways, I’m all by myself… all by myselllllllf… however that song goes. I’m really excited though! I get to do everything I want and nothing I don’t want to, I get to meet lots of cool people and see some amazing places.

AND BEFORE ANY OF YOU WORRY— I PROMISE TO BE VERY CAREFUL, NO STRANGERS HOUSES, NO WALKING ALONE AT NIGHT, ALL THAT. ☺

Anyways to end the blog marathon I’ll give you a preview of what I’ll be doing (NOTE: some are just key words/phrases I don't want to give it all away!!!)

- Vienna
- Sound of Music
- Munich
- Cinderella’s Castle
- Dachau
- Berlin

Peace to the Middle East! I love you all and miss you tremendously! See you soon!

Cheers my dears!

XX, Sara

Its that time of year again...

No I'm not talking about Christmas.

FINALS. Well, the English version. Papers. Lots of them. This is going to be the excuse I use to explain my inability to post the new pictures and blogs you all want and deserve. I apologize for cheating you, my small but loyal fan base, of this.

But, good news. It's sunny today so on my way to the Library I will take pictures of my campus. So everyone can finally see what it looks like. And so that I cannot ever forget.

Until that glorious moment happens when I actually do post them...Or actually post about my trip to Dublin. Or my plans for Switzerland and Germany. I bid you adieu.

Because for once in my life I am not too cool for school. Because school is for cools. And I am one of those.

UK Tour Part 1 of 3

WALES!!!


Yes, yes, I went there. Get over it. Ha. In America the response is, "You went to Wales?!? That's awesome! How was it?" In England its more of, "Why? Did you have to go there for something? Did you enjoy the sheep? Hahahaha..." Quite the contrast!

But back to the point. I went to Wales last weekend to visit my friend Donney (I know him from Seattle, he's just home in Wales for a couple months). And let me tell you it was awesome! It was fabulous to be able to lounge on a couch, watch tv, eat home cooked meals that I didn't make, talk about Seattle and San Deegan and have someone know what I was talking about, see someone I knew from before this adventure started... etc. etc. It was like a mini vacation from my life. Haha.

Anyway, Donney lives between Neath and Swansea on the southwest coast of Wales. So we spent quite a bit of time touring through Swansea and the more upper-class neighborhood, Mumbles. I got to see the Welsh coast (unfortunately no pics--it was so cloudy the sky kind of melted into the ocean) and Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas's house. :) We ate ice cream at one of the best ice cream parlors I've ever been to, Joe's. Just plain vanilla ice cream -- usually not a fan, but this was the BEST vanilla I've ever had. And we got it with chocolate bits (sprinkles) and strawberry sauce. YU-UM! So good, that we went again on Sunday.

Friday night and Saturday were both devoted to football games which was great! Friday night was Swansea City -- unfortunately a loss and a very boring game to watch. Still a cool atmosphere though. And then Saturday we went to Cardiff (the REAL cardiff) and watched Wales play Republic of Ireland. Saw a great goal from Wales and a last minute penalty to tie the game in the end. Really cool. Also got to experience the Swansea nightlife. Pretty similar to anywhere else, but fun for a first timer in the area.

All in all a great, relaxing weekend.

Next week: Part 2 -- Dublin

Remember, Remember the 5th of November,

Gunpoweder, treason, and plot,
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 't was his intent
To blow up the King and Parliament.
Three score barrels of powder below,
Poor old England to overthrow;

By God's providence he was catch'd
With a dark latern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, ring bells, ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King.


So obviously this post is about the 5th of November, better known in England as Guy Fawke's Day. After Guy Fawkes's plan was foiled, the 5th became a day of celebration not too different from our 4th of July. There are big bonfires and even bigger fireworks shows. And yes, everybody seems to be drinking. This is true for the majority of England. However, in a town like Lewes, "Bonfire Day", is a HUGE deal. It is probably the most looked foward to and celebrated day in town. And all of England knows this. A Within Lewes there are 5 Bonfire Societies composed of hundreds of members each. We're talking 10 days olds to 10 decades old. And they ALL participate. From about 5pm on to about 9, there are continuous processions throughout town. These processions consist of 90% of members (even the 3 yr olds!) carrying something burning, usually a torch, and 99.99% of them in an elaborate costume of some sort. As it gets closer to 9 (the Grand Procession), the burning things become bigger. Huge crosses that commemorate the lives of Lewes Protestants killed by Bloody Mary (no NOT the drink), crazy pink flares that make you blind, popper things that make you cry they are so loud, the list goes on.



My story starts here. I went down to Lewes with Mike and Karl and the rest of Sussex Uni and probably about 40,000 (!!!!) other people from Brighton and beyond about 4 pm on Monday. We made a stop at Harvey's Brewery Pub to grab a pint of their special November Ale always released on the 5th. Bonfire Boy. A very appropriate name. We ventured up High Street trying to find a good spot to watch the processions when we were suddenly shoved aside (hey we got front row seats!!) for them. 3 hours of processions followed. After the grand procession we had the option of 5 different bonfire sites speckled around town. We decided to skip the crowds and followed the majority of the young people up a GIANT neverending hill to the top of the Lewes Golf Course. We found a comfy spot on the green and settled down. Our view consisted of all 5 bonfire sites and subsequently all 5 fireworks shows. These shows put our San Diego fireworks shows to shame. ABSOLUTE shame. They were comparable to the Lake Union 4th fireworks, but there were 5 of them. So way cooler! Anyways, all in all, a fabulous, insanely crowded, 8-hour, surreal, unexplainable no matter how hard I try, wouldn't-take-it-back for a million dollars kind of evening.

Check out this link for a good little article about it:
http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/collection/bonfire-night/features/november-5th-in-lewes

Pictures up soon! Cheers ma dears.

Peanut Peanut Butter

So. I met a kid tonight who loves peanut butter as much as me. Eats it out of the jar and actually likes it on bananas and apples! Woo hoo. At least there's ONE person in England who thinks PB on fruit isn't completely disgusting! I'll just try to forget that he actually did live in Boston for 5 years, so that could be why.