Wednesday, June 22, 2011

day 21.


FIRST DAY IN PARIS.

We took the Eurostar to Paris this afternoon and made it in around 5pm, and let's just say I was "that girl" today. As in the girl with a million pounds of luggage... I don't really know how that happened. I thought I packed so light on my way to Europe and I feel like I didn't get that much stuff in London but my suitcase alone probably weighed about 75 pounds and then my big duffle bag weighed about 50. It sucked carrying all that up and down stairs and cobble roads.. apparently they don't believe in ADA here. In the process of our voyage to the hotel MY POOR LITTLE WHEEL on my suitcase died!! Good thing I had four wheel drive on that thing, so the 3 other wheels chugged along while the back wheel sadly drug along. When we first arrived to the metro and watched the rooftops and people as we zoomed along, my first impression was not as I imagined it to be. I thought it was going to be a lot more like London; clean, classy and everything pictures made it seem. But sadly graffiti walls and dirty roads welcomed me in. I already miss London! But I'm excited to be in a new place and see all of the amazing architecture! I also feel like a deaf person, because I can't understand anything people are saying around me! When I speak they don't know what I'm saying and I feel so helpless. I defiantly should have popped in the "French For Dummy's" CD on my roadtrip down to AZ. I would have been so much more prepared with this whole communication thing. Here are some pictures...

just waiting to board the train for Paris!

we had dinner at this cute little pizza place by the hotel. The first feast in Paris :)



our yummy pizza

okay... I don't even like soda, let alone Coke but for some reason I was having a craving for it. Maybe I was just missing home.

4 of our devoured this in a matter of seconds for dessert.
After dinner we all met up to check out the Eiffel Tower, for some reason it looked a bit smaller than what I was expecting, but then we got closer and it was just as amazing as I had pictured it to be. It was getting dark so they had it all lit up and every hour, the Eiffel would have a little rave with blinking lights from top to bottom. I also got a free Eiffel Tower key chain, who doesn't like a free souvenir?? 

we were sooo excited to be there!! as you can tell...

I like this shot :)

just having a grand ol' time


creepin in front of the tower

the group

me and Danielle squashing it



After running around at the Eiffel Tower, we walked back to our hotel, which was also a surprise to see. It's a whopping 3 star hotel!!! haha we are living in luxury right now sleeping 4 girls to a tiny tiny room! It's furnished with 2 twin beds and a nice little bunk bed that feels like you are gonna squash the person under you by how non-sturdy it feels. One thing that is nice is the service though :) The man at the front desk is a very nice, cute little man that is very happy. So it makes this little 3 star much better with his sweet hospitality. 

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

day 20.

LAST DAY IN LONDON.

It was a bittersweet last day in London... it was kind of sad, because London has been our home for the past two and a half weeks and we were just starting to get the hang of everything. But we are excited to go to France and see and explore Paris. So today we went and saw Kensington Palace (where Will and Kate will be moving into this weekend) and we did a walking tour of historical rooms that had to do with each Queen. There were 7 and we learned a lot about them with each themed room. We weren't allowed to take any pictures so I just have a shot of the outside..

Kensington Palace


After Kensington Palace we walked to this museum that was having a pattern exhibit. On the way, we got a little lost and went in a million different tubes. We basically went in a huge circle. To be honest I wasn't very impressed with the pattern designs... they kind of reminded me of grandma curtain patterns from the 90's. (no offense)

a cool building I saw on our way to the pattern museum


one of the pattern designs



the gang

me and Darwin just hanging out on our giant grass chair

after the museum we went to the Hummingbird Bakery to get some famous cupcakes... once again not very impressed. As we came to find out they were trying to perfect the American cupcakes! haha

then we came upon Harrods, the dream store for every girl (who has money)


check out these chocolates!

this place had everything and anything you can think of! It was amazing! Check out these awesome lights :)

like I said... they had everything! Including a pet spa, with a little tread mill and TV playing Beethoven 

hanging out with the Harrods bears

Harrods

Some of the things in London I will miss seeing...

it wasn't rare to see one of these... luxurious cars, sports cars every nice car lined the streets where we lived.

It was very rare to see an old car around here. Kensington was a very posh place. I miss it there already!

I'm going to miss these cute little alleys with cobble stone streets and adorable little houses

I'm gonna miss their colored doors

Mini Coopers were everywhere

I love Kensington!

our dessert from Hummingbird... a great way to end the day :)

Sunday, June 19, 2011

day 19.

LAST DAY IN IRELAND
[free day]

We were flying out of Ireland to go back to London at 5 so we had the morning and afternoon to explore the city a little more. So of course us girls took that opportunity to shop all day!! So we went to this cool mall that was partly indoor and partly outdoor. We went a bit crazy as we fell in love with every store we entered.. so there wasn't too much time to take pictures, as I was so distracted with the shopping. :)

it was a wee bit chilly

inside the coooool mall :)

At the top of the dome in the mall


looking down down down

day 18.

Today was a day packed with many travels through Ireland. I loved it! We went on an all day bus tour throughout the country and saw the top 5 sites to see there.

this was Belfast Castle

Belfast Castle

we explored the side of the castle and this is what we found!

it was a very windy day

me and Steph



it was absolutely gorgeous there!

the whole group!

just doing a few tricks




everyone thought I was gonna fall off the edge... but I didn't

oh heyyyy! just so happy to be there


this is the bridge we crossed... it was hundreds of feet above the ground, and don't worry... I fell of course. But don't worry a net caught me. :)

the bridge :)

here I am! Crossing!!1




this is the most famous pictured beach

this is also one of the most photographed castle in Ireland

The last spot we went to was called Giants Causway, it is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, which evolved from an ancient volcanic eruption. It is located in the northeast coast of Northern Ireland. It was declared as a World Heritage Site in 1986, and named as the fourth greatest natural wonder in the UK. The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and even disappear down under the sea. Most of the columns are formed in a hexagonal shape, although there are also some with 4 to 8 sides. The tallest ones come to about 39 feet high. It was such an amazing site to see!!!


this is Giants Causway


you can see all the perfectly shaped hexagonal shapes


a romantic setting for me and Danielle

che che check it out!!

just enjoying the scenery 



Ireland has such an exceptionally breathtaking views

yes... I went barefoot :)