reading week pics continued

Buckingham Palace. There is no changing of the guard ceremony on even numbered days. But, it was still cool to see the two guys move exactly in unison to reposition their guns.

I think this flag means that the Queen is there.

Harrods! It is like a bigger, better version of the Marshall Fields that was on State Street in Chicago. I love this store! I loved it as a kid too, and got lots of bears from it. It was cool to see it when the bus came around the corner. It was like I was being pulled to it, like I was going to the right place.

Lots of pretty leaves. The wall to the left is Buckingham. I was trying to find a bus to go to Harrods, because my foot hurt so badly. This was the only time on the trip that I went on the wrong bus. But, I figured it out. It was a little disappointing to walk away from Buckingham for like 10 minutes, then get off the bus and I was right back, close to it again. Once on the right bus, I got to see more of the city, including a square that had some sweet winter decorations and a jewelry store that LOTS light strands hanging from the roof down to the first floor. I saw this same family at Buckingham, at the bus stop I got off because I realized I was going the wrong way,  and again at Harrods. What a coincidence.

Me in the toy department in Harrods.

Looking down, going to the Tube. These stations were built as air raid shelters during WWII and are notorious for being a long way down.

Paddington Station, the station closest to my hotel the 2nd night. Lots of bikes. This is not the Tube section, but the further train section. Unless you walk though this part to get to the Tube station to the Hotel, you are lost and further away from the hotel when you come up to the ground.

My train to Newcastle. I got to the train 5 minuets before it was to leave. I got a little lost in the Tube station trying to get here.

The train I took from Newcastle to Haltwhistle to see Hadriens Wall. This is at Hexham were I had to switch trains, going to Haltwhistle. I only went to Newcastle to see the Wall. The Wall was built in AD122 by the Romans, and goes all the way across Great Britain.  I think it was also the most heavily fortified, or the 2nd most heavily fortified, thing that the Romans built and occupied. Because it is the tourist off season, and they want to persevere the wall, there is no bus, no anything to get to the Wall. I went to Haltwhistle, as it is the closest town to the wall and was told to take a taxi 2.5 miles to the wall. In the town, there are no taxi! The post office said that the man that owns the blinds place runs a taxi service, his wife said it was only for school child and the post office needs to stop telling people that. And, the information place was closed for the season, even though I was told it was one of the few open all year round. Not wanting to waste time, I started to walk!I had 1.5-2 hours until I needed to be back at the train station in Haltwhistle, in order to get my train at Newcastle to Leuchers.

There were lots of public foot paths to take you back to town (I think). There was always a gate that was closed, and some said "keep closed;" luckily, there was always a ladder next to it.

I was not sure how far I was to the Wall and there were lots of walls, and sheep! There were lots of false alarms on which one was the actual Wall.

The actual Wall! I think. I think one this part is some bigger part of the wall, some fortresses or something- it is the square rock part in the middle and back of the photo. I had only walked 1.5 miles. I took this picture and started walking back. It took 1.5 hours to get there, and 35 minutes to get back. I guess going up hill really does matter.

Cute, fat sheep. They are fat because of their winter coats. I am thinking that I was in the Moors of England.

A hill, on my journey to find the Wall. For most of the way, there was no sidewalk, and I walked on the edge of the road. There were times when I thought about knocking on someone's door and asking for a ride. It was a very country-like community. Not many people around, and I thought they would be old and very nice.

This is right by the train station in Newcastle. It is a model of the city? Out of the 3 cities I visited, Newcastle was the worst- I will not be going back any time soon.

Newcastle train station. I was surprised that my train was a little late. Ah, the things we get used to in Europe- trains that run on time.

I like that Newcastle is really Newcastle upon Tyne  (becasue it is on the Tyne River). I think it sounds cool. There was a pen in the information place in Newcastle that had it on it, but when I went back at 6pm, they were closed. Everything closes so early, maybe it is because it starts getting dark around 4. (Another reason why I was glad I did not go further to the Wall). I was glad that Harrods stays open until 8pm, when I got on the wrong bus. If I missed that train, I would miss the train to Leuchers, and I thought it was going to take another 1.5 hours to get back. I also ran out of water on the way there, just like when I did that day hike thing. Which makes the experience a little annoying.

At Leuchers, waiting for the bus. The Scottish flag! I felt like I was home and safe, and did not have to worry about anything going wrong, like where to stay.

It was cold and very windy while waiting for the bus. The whole time I was waiting for the bus I was thinking about how I had just had a conversation with Lindsay, yesterday, that it is much colder up here then down in London. I could have worn a short sleeve shirt in London. She did not think it was colder. I remained her the Scotland has the same latitude as Alaska. So, I was so relived when I saw the bus! From the bus station in St. Andrews I took a taxi to my dorm. The next bus to my dorm was leaving the station in like an hour. As I got into the taxi it started to rain- perfect timing for me!

My outfit for most of the last week- minus the white bag, that was London. Image me walking in the English countryside, in fog and dark skies with this white bag. I felt so out of place. Also, possibly, because I did not see another tourist after I left Newcastle to go see the Wall; and, I felt like everyone knew everyone that lived around Haltwhistle.

All in all, I was glad to be back and missed St. Andrews and hanging out with Jonathon and Michael. But, I had a great time and did a lot of things I had wanted to do! My favorite place was Belfast, hands down. It had history, it had all the best parts of a city while still not being a big city like Chicago. I also liked London, and seeing places I remember as a kid. It was a cool trip and I am glad I got to go on it. I also loved both flying into and out of Belfast, especially the Belfast security leaving, and also taking the train to Newcastle, from London. (Note: in the Edinburgh airport, when I was leaving for Belfast, there were people going to work, in London I think, for the day, and back at night, the 6:30 flight or something. That is cool to see, commute to work by flying- to a different country none the less, and back at night.  That is also crazy). I loved staying in Clink78, the hostel where I shared a room with 10 or so other girls that I did not know. I am glad I got to experience that stereotypical hostel experience. However, more then one night in a row was not something I was looking forward to. The B&B and hotel I stayed at where cool, and the B&B lady was very very nice and knowledgeable,but  it was weird to stay there by myself. At one point during the London part, I just wanted to stay in a huge hotel where I could just do my own thing, and no one was watching my every move. I spent the perfect time in each place, if I wanted to get back to St. Andrews when I did. I could have and wanted to stay in Belfast another day, but decided against it, since I wanted to see London, and already had the train tickets from London to Leuchers booked, and like I said, didn't want to be away from St. A's any longer then the time I had planned the trip for. I was glad to be back and see my room, and glad that I got to go on an amazing trip. I had a great time!