Leavin' On a Jet Plane

Well a "coach" actually. I leave tonight from Britain and get into Amsterdam tomorrow at 9 AM. Turns out Nicole Hrycaj, who some of you might remember from High School, lives in Amsterdam now and she's crazily agreed to meet me at the station tomorrow morning and take me bike riding around Amsterdam - how cool is that? It should be a great way to see the city and not something I would have done on my own (I don't even remember the last time I was on a bike - but I haven't told Nikki that). So I'm really looking forward to it.

Other than that the last day in Britain was pretty much just a recap. Went back to Trafalgar (I know I mispelled that) Square because it was raining the other day when I went and today was bright and sunny. Went back to a couple of other places as well. Now I'm back at the hostel where I'm going to hang out until 6 then I'll collect my bag and head to Victoria Coach Station for the (hopefully) uneventful overnight trip to Amsterdam.

I've posted some of the London pics (http://www.adoramapix.com/jjtest/London/), put only a small sample (like 30 of 300). This internet access at the hostels kinda sucks but I'm trying to figure out a better solution. But the cell networks here are just as screwed up as they are back at home with roaming charges being crazy expensive. So y'all are stuck with the sporadic posts and emails, the lack of spelling and grammar checking and watered down pic uploads until I figure something out.

I have to say I'm starting to get a little homesick already which I hadn't expected. But isn't entirely surprising either. So that's it for now. I'll post more rantings and, hopefully, some pics of me NOT falling off a bike into oncoming traffic (kidding Mom - i'll be fine) tomorrow or the Monday.

Days 2 and 3

Spent time just walking around for these days - checking things out. I walked my ass (arse) off - well I would have if I actually had an ass to walk off. But you get what I mean. I went and checked out all the sites: Big Ben and Parliament (look kids), the London Eye, the Tate, Westminister Abby, and all sorts of other very British things.

Then today I went and checked out the British Museum and they supposedly have this really good section on Mummies but I didn't see that (though I did get to see some Egyptian stuff and the Rosetta stone). But the mummies were upstairs through throngs of Asian tourist groups (at least 6 different groups - I kid you not) and I just couldn't deal. I hate crowds as it is, but tourists groups are a whole different animal. And then Asian groups on top of that - all the cameras - it was mind boggling. So, sorry Monica, no mummy pictures for you.

I'm still getting used to the whole hostel thing. My lack of patience for people who aren't me coupled with the fact that most of the people here are about 18 years old has been a challenge. It's getting better though. I'm learning to cope (or just avoid) and it is way cheap to stay at these places. I will say this - if these kids are the future - we're all pretty screwed.

Day One

So day one was a success even if I didn't do too much. After begrudgingly leaving the airport arrivals lounge and my free massage - I headed to the hostel in Piccadilly. No one should ever go from the first class arrivals lounge to a hostel - ever. It's way too much of a shock to the system.

But the hostel is good enough for me and it's cheap and cheap=good. Don't really know what I'm going to do today - maybe just head out and see where I end up. I'll post pictures soon.

I've seen how the other half lives...

And I'm not going back! So I'm here in London (though I haven't left the airport yet - more on that later). So after going on ad nauseum about this trip - I'm finally here. Thanks to all who put up with and encouraged me while I planned this hare-brained scheme (especially Nancie who took the brunt of it). And thanks to Monica, Kerry and James who made my last weekend in DC (for a while anyway) lots of fun.

So, now I have to say, this first class plane tripping is the way to go. From the departure lounge at Dulles, to the flat bed on the plane, to the arrivals lounge with showers and a complimentary massage (which I'm still waiting for - hence my still being at the airport) - this is the only way to travel by plane. So I guess I should thank American Express for sending me a crazy points deal - this is the best 50,000 points I've ever spent.

So the plan is to see London until Saturday and then grab a coach to Amsterdam for 5 days. I’ll keep you posted on how things go.

Hope everyone is well and I’ll post some pics later…

Getting Ready

OK, so this space is for me to keep up with folks while I travel around Europe. It's easier, though geekier, than postcards and phone calls. I'll still be trying to keeping up via email as well, but this gives me a place to do general updates and share some pics and stories. It also gives all my friends and family a place to leave some comments and messages for me (just remember that my parents will be reading this - so let's keep the comments G rated please). I'll also be posting pics here: http://www.adoramapix.com/jjtest This site let's you view and save the pictures and even order prints you find one you like.

So I leave on Tuesday, 24 June and don't get back until September 20th. I'm just busy trying to make sure I have what I need and that I take care of stuff before I go. Stay tuned here for more updates...