I can't believe that after months of planning, I'm actually here. It still doesn't seem real. We flew into London at around 6 a.m. It was pitch black, but the city was lit up and as bright as could be, and as beautiful as could be. As we circled London a couple of times to prep for landing, I was giddy. Like little school girl giddy. We grabbed our luggage...excuse me, Grab is an understatement. I find it impossible to "grab" a 53 pound duffle bag...and made it to our taxi. After a £ 90 taxi ride (approx. $150) from Heathrow Airport to London's King Cross Station...taxi's are so damned expensive, I would have shared...Sorry Mom but now I understand what the girls in Taken were thinking... we stumbled into the station carrying luggage twice the size of ourselves and looked up at the ever-changing time tables. We stood there, 2 confused young Americans with a pile of luggage large enough for 5 people (I promise I did pack light.. well, as light as you can for 5 months) We were distracted by this huge and beautiful station, featuring platform 9 3/4 and a sea of attractive british boys, but nonetheless, we seemed to manage to make it to the necessary train. There we started the little journey to my Cousin's house. During this train ride we learned the lesson that even though they are speaking english, you can barely understand the British. We just nodded and laughed and pretended that we understood every word that our new friend, Tony, was saying......just a quick THANK YOU to Tony, who will never see this but hopefully will get some good karma out of helping 2 lost and tired American girls. As we traveled through the English countryside, it felt as if we were on our way to Hogwarts. It was even more beautiful than I imagined. We finally made it to the Newmarket train station where my cousins, Ed and Carol, were waiting there for us. I was relieved to be with family!! We drove to their house in Feltwell, and I couldn't believe their house. They live in an old mill with a round castle-like tower. I can't even describe to you how PERFECT their house is. Carol thinks of everything and had the cutest and most thoughtful little treats waiting on our beds. Ed and Carol make it so much easier to be away from my family back home. After a "quick" (4 hour) nap... we woke up to an amazing dinner equipped with candles and fancy place settings that Carol had made for us. We celebrated our arrival and facetimed my little family back home and headed off to bed. let me just say this once, JET LAG SUCKS. We finally get to bed at around 3 a.m. our time and before we know it, we woke up and it was almost noon. JET LAG REALLY SUCKS..alright I said it twice. Carol made us the cutest brunch since we slept through breakfast, and after we ventured into town.
With Carol and Ed, it's always an adventure. After parking.. reparking.. and maybe reparking a few other times (the parking stalls are very narrow) we explored Mildenhall. It is such a cute little town and the people are SO nice and helpful! We explored their town church and enjoyed the church's Christmas tree gallery, they were trees that were decorated and donated to the church by local businesses and organizations. I love the little traditions that each little town has.
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Mildenhall  Isn't it Charming??   |
We then set off to find Carol's favorite scone and tea restaurant but had more fun getting lost instead. Jetlag may or may not have kicked in a little bit and forced my eyes shut for a short period of that car ride. JET LAG REALLY REALLY SUCKS.. third and probably not final time. I woke up just in time to see the beautiful sunset and countryside. Now I'm currently packing for Paris! We leave tomorrow morning bright and early!
I can't wait to ring in the New Year in one of my most favorite places!!!
A few things I've learned:
1. Instead of saying something cost 5 pounds, they say 5"quid".. oh boy, I can just imagine all of the terms we are going to have to learn.
2. Adaptors for our electronics are the most difficult and frustrating things. Few work (especially the one that was sent with me, thanks for nothing dad! Just kidding...)
3. Sometimes someone might need a cupcake more than you...
****quick side story*** Maddi and I bought this HUGE peanut butter and chocolate cupcake at JFK and managed not to eat in on the 6 1/2 hour plane ride. We carried it with us as we journeyed to Ed and Carols and we decided that it was going to be our reward for making it all on our own. Well, that was until we left it on our LAST train. Oh well... I like to think that it made someone's day and that they really needed the pick me up rather than the train workers throwing it away.
4. Teeth are NOT a priority here... good thing they have their accents to make up for it!
5. I'm already in love with this country and can't wait for the next 5 months!!
Cheers!
xoxo
