Wales and my 21st Birthday!!

Hi everybody! I realize it's been awhile since I've written, but I've been really busy the past 2 weeks. I don't think I've written about Wales, so let's start there, shall we?

Now, I have to be honest. I was not EXTREMELY excited to go to Wales. I mean, I was happy that I was going, but not as excited as going to Paris and Amsterdam. Maybe because I knew I was staying in the UK? I'm not entirely sure. The important part of this story is that I was WRONG. Wales was absolutely AMAZING! I could not have been more far off in judging...
The first place we went to was a Roman Amphitheater. So cool! We stood in the middle and took photographs where soooo many years ago, Gladiators fought. Our bus then took us to

Caerphilly Castle (pictured above.) I probably had the most fun there because my two friends and I (also pictured above) ran around the castle screaming 'we are under attack!!!" and "someone throw me a bow and arrow!" We got PLENTY of weird stares by other tourists, but who cares? We had the time of our lives...The next day we went to the Big Pit Coal Mine. AMAZING. We got to suit up in full out coal mining gear, and go down at least 700 feet into the mine. At one point we turned our lights off on our helmets and stood in the dark. SCARIEST THING EVER! I almost ran away, but then I realized, "Where would I go?" Anyways, it was an amazing experience. Something I'll always remember, much like my entire trip abroad. We finished our trip at Tintern Abby. It was really neat seeing it up close and personal because I've read Wordsworth's poem like, A THOUSAND times in all of my literature courses.

So that was basically my weekend in Wales in a nutshell. I also will take this time to announce that I TURNED 21 ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!!! It was an awesome birthday. My friends bought me a cake and we all hit up an Irish pub. INSANE. I just wish my family had been there...this was the first birthday I did not get to see them at all. Thanks to all of you who sent cards and/or skyped me on my birthday. I TRULY appreciate it. It made my birthday all the more special. Thank you and I love you.

Ok, well I'm off to finish some more homework and things before bed. I have a long day of work ahead of me tomorrow. Oh! I thought I should add that I've received an A on every paper I've handed in so far this semester! Mom and Dad - BE PROUD! LoL. Ok. I'll update you all soon about my newest adventures I've yet to have...

I'd like an order of Sheep stomach and guts. And why not a side of dry blood for desert?

Hello everybody! So I just got back from visiting my friend Mat (Ursinus Alumni) in Scotland. AMAZING times. Let's start with Tuesday, shall we?

Matt and I boarded our train from Kings Cross at about 10:30am. I never realized how long 5 hours was until I was forced to sit still for that long on a train. Luckily, I bought another Twilight book, so I had my fantasies about handsome vampires to keep me occupied. I also attempted to sleep on the train considering the week ahead of me was going to be jam packed with events. Finally, at about 3:00pm, we arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland. Mat was waiting for us at the station. We were all so excited. For the first time in awhile, we each had a touch of America. A touch of Ursinus College. A touch of HOME.

We had to walk to his flat, which I thought wouldn't be too bad. I've been doing nothing but walking the past few months, so I thought my legs were rock solid. Unfortunately, my London legs were not prepared for Scotland. London is mostly flat land. Scotland? Scotland is NOTHING but hills. If you know me at all, or even my mother for that matter because I'm sure I get it from her, you will understand that I OVERPACK FOR EVERYTHING! So put this image in your heads: Helen Ann lugging a very large suitcase uphill in the rain. Yes, you are allowed to laugh. I still do. Mat's flat was very nice. He has 3 roommates: 1 boy from Iran and his girlfriend, and another boy from Scotland. They were all super nice, and treated us as if we were friends already.

Wednesday, Matt and I woke up at the break of dawn to catch a bus tour of Scotland. The bus left at 8am and did not return back to Edinburgh until 8pm. Do the math. It was a 12 hour tour!! We saw EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING that was in Scotland. My favorite part of the tour was the Highlands. I've never seen anything like it in my entire life. The snow covered mountains were absolutely breath-taking. We even got to step off the bus and take pictures outside in the snow! I also saw some Harry Potter filming sites and Sean Connery's house. The history of the people of Scotland was also fascinating.

The tour ended with a boat ride of Loch Ness. I had my camera on at all times, just waiting to catch a glimpse of the Loch Ness Monster, also known as Nessie. Alas, there was no Nessie...this time. But the boat ride through the most beautiful lake and mountainside was well worth it anyway!

Thursday, we went to Edinburgh Castle. It was really cool, but honestly, I'm getting castled out. Those are words that I never thought I'd say, but it's true. LOL. Since I've been in Europe, I've seen COUNTLESS castles and churches. They are all beginning to look the same to me. However, I also decided that my future husband is going to build me a castle to live in. It's official. He has no other option.

Friday, we said goodbye to Mat and his flatmates. It was bittersweet; a part of me wanted to get back to London to relax, but the other part of me did not want to lose the comfort of home that Mat brought to us. On the train ride home (another 5 hours), Matt and I both agreed that we felt a little homesick for the first time in awhile. If that's how I felt after leaving Mat, I don't even know what I'd feel like if my parents came to visit and left again....

To wrap things up, today I took a Beatles tour around England. It was so cool!!! I got to see sites where A Hard Day's Night and Help were filmed. I also saw different apartments that the members of the band lived in, where some of them were married, and where they wrote certain songs. My favorite part of the tour was Abbey Road. I got to see Abbey Road studios, where most of their albums were recorded. Last but not least, I saw the crossing from the Abbey Road album. It was hilarious watching everyone (including myself) attempting to mimic the picture while crossing the street. There are no traffic lights around there, so you just have to pray that the cars stop for you. They were not happy drivers, but they dealt with us crazy Beatles fans...

Well, I'm off to go do some homework now. I'll update you all later!

Oh!!! I guess I should explain the title of this blog. Well, my first meal in Scotland was QUITE interesting. I was asked to sample Haggis, which did not taste TOO bad. I then found out that it was sheep stomach, intestines, liver, and all that gutsy jazz. I then sampled Black Pudding, a favorite desert of the Scotish. EW EW EW. It tasted HORRIFIC. I then asked what was in it. DRY BLOOD. I kid you not. I ate DRY BLOOD from a sheep. EW EW EW. I'm sick thinking about it now....

I said I was up to trying new things when studying abroad. I did not mean becoming a vampire...