Goodbye.

And so Lauren's Great European Adventure came to a close on the lovely day that was July 5th, 2007...I learned more than I ever had hoped to learn, I met more interesting people than I thought existed, and learned more about myself than I ever thought possible.

Already I'm planning my next escapade that I hope will be even more adventurous than this original...will it be Japan...could it be Argentina...or maybe even Mexico. Only time will tell what life will bring!

Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt.

And so it ends...

The morning I woke up to go to London, I just couldn't believe it was almost over...6 months it'd been since I left home for Spain, and it was all about to end in just 3 short days. I road into Waterloo with these great girls I'd met from Australia who were traveling around for a month or so. My hostel was in beautiful Notting Hill, right on the edge of Kensington Park...so off I went.

My first hours there I spent them wandering through Kensington and Hyde Park...I met this woman, Nadia, from Germany who showed me around a bit...all the way through to Oxford St. and Soho. After I'd gone back and had dinner I decided to stop by Harrod's...the most overwhelmingly expensive store I've ever been in. Pretty good start to London!

Second day. I decided to go on the Free Tour which was just as great as the one I went on in Amsterdam...basically we went around to ever possible thing you'd want to, so I got my London covered. The rest of the day was spent with an old friend of my dad's in Camden Town. Thank you Anita for introducing me! That part of London is just great...there's tons of little shops and vendors everywhere, and a great place to finish up with any last minute gifts that you might need for family and friends. After Camden Town I just wandered around St. James Park which was by far my favorite of the parks in London.

My final day in London was wonderfully relaxed. I woke up and started my trek through Kensington and Hyde Parks...through Green and St. James Park...and as I came out of st. James Park and up to Buckingham Palace I realized I'd made a horrible mistake...what I hadn't thought about was that it was 11:15 am as I made my way past the palace...11:15 am means that all the tourist are rushing the Palace for the changing of the guard at 11:30 am...I've never been more terrified in my life. I literally almost got knocked over by this crazy tourist family backed by the rest of the tourist in London. Lesson learned. NEVER EVER BE IN THE AREA OF BUCKINGHAM PALACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 10AM-12PM.

After my near death experience I continued along past Parliament and the Thames River and onto the South Bank which is just a wonderful part of London...highly recommend it. It was just a wonderful day to be out...it only sprinkled once. I came up to the Millennium Bridge and made my way to the last museum adventure in Europe...it was a good one to finish on, the Tate Modern. Luckily they were having a Dali exhibit as well where I got to see his Disney movie, totally hot...called Destino...seriously amazing.

After that I walked just a little further past the Globetheater, on to the London Bridge, finally up to Tower Bridge.

The following morning I made my way to the airport and got squeezed onto a flight that was a good 4 hours earlier than my original flight! After the lovely trip that is customs I came out to baggage claim where I was greeted by my lovely father and my beautiful mother who was waiting for us in the car.

Stones upon stones.

In the morning, I realized I had made a terrible mistake. I arrived at Temple Meads train station about 10 am, just in time to catch the 10:22 am train. What I had not taken in to consideration was the time and date. Saturday and late morning is not a good time to try to get somewhere...because people aren't waking up to get on the 7am-9am trains...they want the 10am-12pm trains...HORRIBLE! DISASTER...I mean, 2 cars! 2 cars only! standing room only! for almost 2 hours. Not cool...when I alighted from the helltrain I was greeted by more of England's incessant drizzle and the quaint town of Salisbury, gateway to Stonehenge.

Salisbury is a great little city...their cathedral is absolutely wonderful! However, my favorite thing of all in the city was The India Shop. It was one of those shops that just has everything...but the best part about it was the woman who worked there. The nicest woman I think...not originally from Salisbury by the sound of her accent...she sort of reminded me of Mrs. Doubtfire's accent. My trip there wowed me with some good old customer service!

Besides the India Shop, I had just a great time in my hostel...it was in this beautiful old house up a long drive so it was nice and peaceful. I hadn't had that for a while so it was pretty nice. They had a T.V. and I spent an obscene amount of my time watching it...oh well, sometimes you just need a break.

The important thing is that I made it to Stonehenge. It was beautiful...A bunch of stones, but it was a beautiful bunch of stones. It had this quiet sort of vibe to it, despite the entire this huge tour bus pulling up right when I got there...not sorry I did it.

The cooler side of England...

From Dublin, I flew into London Gatwick, and from there I took the train back over to Bristol.

And OMG, I loved Bristol. It's a really laid back city with a mountain of ridiculously interesting things to do. I got in early afternoon and just roamed around a little bit...got used to the pound which is incredibly frustrating because of the exchange rate, but so it goes.

My second day in Bristol was amazing! I started out at the St. Nicolas Market, which was off the chain wonderful...tons of vendors of jewelery, textiles, etc. I also had lunch from this great little stand called About Soup. I had their coconut Thai soup with a really tasty tabbouleh. I also seemed to find it necessary to drop all my money on these really beautiful throw pillow cases made out of saris...they are absolutely wonderful, and I know I could have gotten them a lot cheaper from the source, but oh well.

After the market, I got on the bus to Glastonbury, although the festival had already passed through, basically the week before me, I still wanted to see the city...more like town. Anyways, the abbey was absolutely amazing! I got to see where King Arthur and the Queen are supposedly buried which was fun. After that I went up to the Glastonbury Tor, which is this big tower on top of an ancient hill that is either the gateway to the underworld or where Avalon receded into the mists...your choice basically. All I know is that the town was something special, I can totally see what all the commotion is about because it's like when you go to Machu Picchu, there's an energy that is unmistakable. I fell in love.

The next big city...

So Dublin...it's good...I like it. It's a big city basically. It's funny being here in contrast to Cork and Galway (all the other little cities I've been through in Ireland) because while it still seems all Irishy and all that, it's uber International at the same time. So it goes when you have a city in the neighborhood of 1 million...that'll happen in any country.

Yesterday I went to Trinity College, which reminded me a lot of UVa
actually. They have the same ridiculousness about living on the lawn
basically...but it's not the lawn, it's this ugly old brick
building...and they have to walk down a bunch of stairs out in the cold
and back into the bathroom, sorta like they do on the lawn. So it goes.

So for another crazy story in Lauren's Great European Adventure...I was walking up to see the Book of Kells (in the College) and I look over, and who do I see but an old friend from UVa. Totally random! I tell you this world is a crazy place. So today we went to lunch at this tasty little Italian place called Trastevere Ristorante...anyhoo, a bowl of mushroom soup, a caesar salad, and a glass of wine later I'm about to head off to the Guinness Storehouse to learn about all that loveliness, and then after, who can say...there's an endless sea of possibilities!

Gaillimh slash Galway

June 23

Ireland was my dream...and I'm lovin it! I've just had a brilliant time in Cork, and I know Galway's gonna be just great. Today I didn't do much but wander around a little bit. Along the beach a bit and then back into the city to wander up and down the streets, saw the Spanish Arch and the cathedral, and that was basically it. Tomorrow I'll be going to the Cliffs ofMoher and the Burren and then Monday I'll be at Inis Mor, the largest of the Aran Islands...will definitely update on how that goes!

June 24

I joined Desmond on the Cliffs of Moher and Burren tour today by way of the Galway Tour Company, and it was great. Desmond is this crazy old man whose been eating too many oysters (as he reminded us throughout the day, they're an aphrodisiac)...it makes him a little too saucy, but he's great anyways! always jokin. You can see the trajectory on their website ( www.galwaytourcompany.com ).

June 25

Today I went to Inish Mor, the largest of the Aran Islands, which was absolutely amazing! They say that it used to be connected with the Burren and that's why it has limestone all over the place just like that...and then they also say it was connected on the other side with Connemara...anyhoo, whatever that means, it was really pretty. My tour guide was Martin, a native of the island. That man was some pretty deep stuff! The primary income of the islands now is tourism, but before it used to be all fishing, and he still goes out, even all the way up to Norway and does some of that crazy intense fishing...think Perfect Storm style. Inish Mor is just covered with those awesome Irish stone walls, Martin said 3000 miles of it.

Next time I come back, if I come back, which i would love too...someone needs to keep me away from those sweater shops! they're completely dangerous for me because those things are just so cozy and wonderful.

I tried some awesome Aran Chowder at a restaurant right down by the port...shoulda had the fish and chips, but I was just so chilled to the bone from all that wind and stuff I just had to get the soup.

Also I got to go up to that big fort they have which was off the chain...it's up on top of this cliff, that's just straight down...and then wind is coming up over your back, drivin straight into the Atlantic, and it's a freakin powerful wind...but it's just beautiful...powerful you could say, because it feels like you're standing on the edge of the earth looking out to where everything just ends.

Last day on the westside of Ireland = very good. Tomorrow, Dublin...and if one more person tells me how horrible it is...I just might not go!

Stout

First may I say, I love stout. (But only in moderation Ma!) And therefore I love Ireland.

Wednesday
Planes, trains and automobiles...follow me here: bus from Paris to Paris Beauvais Airport (where I accidentally smuggled more more liquid than allowed on planes these days! oops! at least I didn't get caught), plane from Beauvais to Dublin, bus from Dublin Airport to Heuston Train Station, train from there to Cork, and there we are...Cork was the first real stop on the Irish leg of Lauren's Great European Adventure.

Straight away at Kinlay House Cork Hostel I met this awesome girl who I got to travel around with for the rest of my days in Cork. To start, since there was only the afternoon left we wandered
around Cork city and stopped into a great pub (that said it would have music although lacked it...that was the only downside) called the Old Oak...after sampling a number of Irish drinks I had my first BabyGuiness...Kahlua with a little Bailey's on top in a shot glass and it looks exactly like it's big brother, but cuter.

Thursday
To Blarney to kiss the Blarney Stone and get the gift of the gab so that I may never lack words again...not that it was a problem before...but just to be sure. The castle was amazing, almost 600 years old. After waiting in the line for about an hour they get you up there and rush you so fast that you can't have anyone take a snap of you and you're force to buy the 10€ one they take of you. BOO! otherwise quite cool.

The rest of the grounds are wonderful really. They have this awesome section called Rock Close where they have a Druid's Circle, the Fairy Glade, Witches Kitchen and more...totally exciting and beautiful. That was definitely a wonderful way to spend the morning.

After that we went to the Blarney Woolen Mill which was actually anticlimactic and unfortunate because it actually wasn't a mill at all, just a large shopping center. Anyhoo I got some awesome wool yarn to knit some scarves later on, that should be good...and to make up for not actually being a woolen mill they had this awesome old guy working on a loom that was pretty cool.

Now for a ridiculous side story. After getting back into Cork we were walking around Shandon where our hostel is and I bumped into this guy from my program from Spain...crazy huh? What are the chances...life is crazy is all. All of us headed out to this awesome pub called the Corner House and threw back a few. Red Beamish is my muse.

Interruption: back to the hostel to fix dinner. What'd Lauren Fix?
I call it..."Show me how you do that trick, the one that makes me scream...just like heaven"
Ingredients:
* 1 chicken breast
* A few strips of bacon
* 1 packet cream of chicken soup
* Swirl pasta
* Water
* Irish cheddar cheese
Instructions:
Put the water and packet of soup on to bring up to a boil...meanwhile heat a little oil in a pan and add the chicken and bacon to cook. Make sure the pasta is cooked through and add it and it's sauce into the pan with yummy bacon bits and chicken to deglaze the pan...add cheese to melt and serve. Ooo ooo just like heaven.

Back to the Corner House Pub and the Pub next door for some evening stouts and local music.

Friday
We were thinking on going to Kinsale, but in the end this is what happened.
* Cork Butter Museum
* 1st Ever Shandon Street Festival: awesome little street party, they had musical performances like a little choir playing the recorder, a young band covering songs from the Kaiser Chiefs, The Troggs,
and Seven Nation Army to name a few, in addition I was trying some
awesome hot chocolate and potato fries from local street vendors. YUM!
* Cork City Gaol ...a creepy men and women's prison that was apparently horrible during its day. that was one hell of a jail.
* Meat: the most insane play ...well maybe... I've ever seen.
Read the blurb if you will...
"A comedy. Sort of...

Are you tender, fragile perhaps? Then be warned...

The tale that follows contains scenes of murder, betrayal, adultery,
bisexuality, castration, fellatio, prostitution, pornography, male,
female and vegetable sodomy and at least six varieties of drug abuse...

...not forgetting psychological torture, epic battle of sexual wits, nudity,
poverty, gambling, corruption, embezzlement, bribery, political
scandal, cannibalism, bigamy, necrophilia, organized crime and group
sex."

...crazy play, didn't I tell you?

And that was that.