London (actually, Surrey) was a fabulous 6-day excursion with Chelsea at her Grandma’s house. My first night there I experienced my first English fish-and-chips, and talk about delicious. The next day Chelsea and I went into London, she went to see her aunt who was flying through, and I went exploring. I took my self-guided walking tour map that I got off the internet and set off on foot around London. I basically made a big semi-circle, starting at the Parliament building and ending in Covent Garden. I pretty much saw everything that day: Parliament, Big Ben, London Eye, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, St. James’ Park, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden (Drury Lane!!!! aka where the muffin man lives). That night we went to Chelsea’s uncle’s house for a big Hill family gathering. I pretty much met Chelsea’s whole maternal side of the family, every single one of them being awesome. That night I had what I would classify as an emotional breakdown and called my family, thus the reason for this trip being only 5 tapas instead of 6. The next day Che and I went to Kensington to do a little bit of last minute shopping, and I also had my first pasty (lamb and mint). Christmas morning I was surprised to find a stocking (well a stuffed pillowcase) from Chelsea’s grandma!! After we opened gifts we went to Chelsea’s uncle’s house again for breakfast with their family, I think they really like smoked salmon, and I can’t complain. Then that night we went back to Kensington for dinner at Che’s cousin’s house with his family. Another delicious meal, and by far the best stuffing I’ve ever had. That night I was introduced to two new foods: bread sauce (I’m still not really sure what it is or of its purpose, but I still enjoyed it) and mince pie (D-lish). Then on Boxing Day we went to a family friend’s house for another delicious meal and holiday love!! To end the fabulous trip, we had Indian food our last night there. Chelsea’s family made being away from home so much easier than I thought, and they were all amazing and loving! As much as I missed my own family, I was so lucky to be with them for Christmas.
Christmas crowns from Christmas crackers on Christmas day!(+) 3 tapas: Budapest
After London, Chelsea and I flew to Budapest to meet two of her good friends from Houston. We showed up in Hungary to discover that it was absolutely FREEZING. Luckily, our couchsurfing host kept his apartment nice and toasty. He was extremely helpful in giving us ideas on where to go and what to do, and even ripped a map out of a tour book for us. On our first real day there we walked from our apartment to Castle Hill (we were staying on the Buda side of the river) and went to the Fisherman’s Bastion, then walked down to the Chain Bridge and walked into Pest. After our lunch of Goulash, we were tired and irritated from walking around in the cold and took the metro to the Szechenyi Baths, the biggest bath house in Budapest. We spent 2.5 jolly hours playing in the fun bath, mineral bath, indoor baths, and saunas! We spent the whole of the next day in a bar by Che’s friend’s hostel hoping we would see them. Halfway through our time there we spotted them and spent the rest of the day drinking in the warm bar with them. The next day Che and I moved into a hostel (GHETTO) and then met up with the girls to prepare for NYE. Maria bought a wig, Holly a mask and giant noisemaker, Chelsea a mustache and giant noisemaker, and I a mustache and piggy noise-maker. That night we opened the bottle of fake champagne our hostel gave us and then went to Art Catacombas, a bar underground where our couchsurfing host told us he’d be. He never showed up, but we had an awesome time dancing, drinking, eating, and socializing. The next day I left to come back to Madrid, and of course it finally snows when I leave.
Che and me in front of Chain Bridge
Holly, me, Maria, and Chelsea (or should I say Burt Reynolds?) on New Year's Eve 08/09(+) 1 tapa: Snow Day!
Luckily a week after I got back to Madrid the city experienced a SnowStorm!!! I convinced my friend Ciara to go play in the snow with me, which we did until after it got dark. This involved throwing snowballs at each other, slipping a lot, getting in an impromptu snowball fight with strangers, and making our own little snowman!
Me and Ciara with the snowman we did NOT make, it was holding a beer can too, how spanish.(+) 2 tapas: 2 newbies to Madrid
Yella, my friend from high school, made her return to Madrid! It has been fun catching up with her half-way around the world!
Lizzie’s friend from Brandeis, Nicole, showed up on my doorstep a few weeks ago. She’s been staying with me the past couple weeks and we have been having a ball :D
(-) 1 tapa: Finals approaching and constant procrastination
So the end of the semester has come, and now I have exams. And I can’t concentrate. And I don’t like it one bit. Poop.
(+) 1 tapa: Fundación Magdala
At least I got an internship with this awesome NGO! I only just started so I have nothing interesting to say on it yet.
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