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.