The first reason for starting this blog was to make sure in ten, twenty, fifty years from now, I can still read about some of my experiences studying abroad. I admit that I most certainly haven't always wrote as much as I should have and haven't talked about my American perspective on Europe as much as I've talked simply about the things I did. At this point, now living in Washington D.C., it doesn't really matter; I've visited a substantial amount of Europe and, at risk of sounding cliche, it has really become a part of me and I miss it to an extent.
Just talking about the things I did is still of utmost importance. So, I would like to document my United Kingdom Tour!
I finished exams on Friday, May the 6th. I hung around Grenoble for a couple of days, got everything packed, and said goodbyes to friends. I left super early (5:00 am to be exact) to go to Paris, then on to London, then finally to Manchester, all by train. I arrived in Manchester around 2 pm with both huge suitcases and my computer bag. Luckily, Asher was right there to greet, help with luggage, and swiftly direct me to Greg's. Greg's is a very British, fast-food type place that specializes in pastries stuffed with meats. It's really great. Asher and I walked around Manchester a bit but pretty much just watched Big Bang Theory illegally online since I was absolutely exhausted.
On a side note, Big Bang Theory is my new favorite show! The show centers around the apartment of two physicists who are extremely dorky, awkward, and socially inept and their gorgeous, young, never-finished-college neighbor, Penny. It's a fact, I really like dorky, cute guys who most likely played Pokemon growing up. Please don't make fun of me if I start playing Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock or become addicted to comic books. I may even get into online gaming; Railroad Tycoon is only the beginning.
Anyway, Europe. I was so thankful for the opportunity to go to London, Stratford-upon-Avon, and Edinburgh, and I wouldn't have gotten to if it hadn't been for Asher's Dad. He had visited Asher about a month earlier and purchased four-day, first class Britrail passes that let one travel unlimited throughout the U.K. for four full days non-consecutively. However, their passes were rarely checked so they didn't write in some of their days on the passes. So of course, Asher and I used the remaining days to travel first class!
Our first trip on the Grand Tour of the United Kingdom was to, of course, London! Check the next post!
