After being in the Czech Republic we were in England for about a week, which was nice to just relax with sam's family and catch up on sleep and see everyone. Then Nigel, Sam and I went to meet his grandma in Oxford on saturday. She was very nice and we just sat out in the garden and had some tea and cake and caught up. Then Nigel and I left sam the next morning to pick up my friend Amber from the airport. Amber and I went to high school together. She had never been to England and we thought this would be a great time for her to come over while sam is studying in oxford. Nigel and I had left sam a bit late so we had to hit the motorway, so we were cruising down the motorway around 90 miles an hour, which is normal in england, and arrive at the airport just in time for amber!!
Amber and I had decided that we would go someplace we both hadn't been first and then travel around england so we decided on sweden. One of the biggest reasons we decided on Sweden was becuase Jitka, my friend from the czech republic is working there so we would have free accomodations and have someone that knew the city to help us around. Also the weather there was not has hot as it was going to be in Rome, I am not a fan of the heat so Sweden was a good choice!
We were in Sweden for four nights and we were staying in Jitka's dorm room. It was perfect for getting some rest since all the students are on holiday, it was a great place to stay. We were mainly in stockholm and the islands that surround it. It was unbelievable all the water and islands there were. I loved it becuase I have always found the water relaxing and beautiful.
We went to Gamla Stan, which is the old town and walked for about 9 hours that day. It was amazing how many different buildings and surrondings there were. IT was great though becuase it is such a walkable city that you could walk everywhere. Once I see Sam I will try to add some pictures but he is Oxford at the moment and you know me and technology! We went to a museum in Gamla Stan that had royal attire, it was amazing to see what they would wear in battle, it seemed so heavy and impossible to fight it. They also had what the women would wear in that time period and I don't know how they would manage to get through the door becuase the material around their hips were huge. I think I would like that time period though becuase it would have hidden all my lumps and bumps.
There was also an old boat that was turned into a hostel which we broken into to see what it was like. We went on a two hour river cruise, that had headphones that told us about all the different sites in stockholm we went under 15 bridges in that short period of time. Then we also saw a boat that sunk on it's maiden voyage in 1628 but they did not recover the ship, don't ask me why seeing that everyone was there when it sank in the harbor, but they recovered it in 19...something! It was really cool though to see how they restored it and all that jazz.
I was proud of my navigational ablitlies, it is amazing what you can do when you have too,. I am used to following Sam around and not dealing with directions. We got lost once and seemed to walk in a complete circle but hey that is part of the fun isn't it.
Amber and I ate a lot of ice cream and pizza, the pizza in Europe is excellent and addicting! I think that traveling makes you feel invincible to putting on weight! Lovely! I am going to have to run miles when i get home to shed the pounds.
The last night we were in Sweden we went out with Jitka's boyfriends mates and we had great fun talking to the local Swed's. We had some interesting drinks in their flat and then went out to the club. Jimmy, one of the friends, was rocking out to Purple rain all night which was great fun.
We returned to Tunbridge Wells on Friday and had a relaxing evening in the park having Fish and chips with mushy peas!! Then we went out to have a few drinks in the pub with david, sam's brother and some teacher friends.
On Saturday, my birthday, I had a nice breakfast and got spoiled with all my presents. Sam got me my favorite cheese, smoked applewood. He also got me some jewelry and a book that I have been wanting! So Rich, he did well but I was still hoping for the bow!!:) Amber, sam's sister, got me a nice manicure kit, braclet, address book. Then Annie and Nigel gave me some gift certificates to get some clothes and some food!! David got me some workout clothes, which i think was a hint at my eating episodes. I am a food freak I have figured out, I follow in my dad's foot tracks. My parents gave me some money to buy clothes for this trip which was great. I don't feel a day older other than the great neck brace i have to wear at night:)
But enough about the presents. The coolest thing was that we went to Hever castle, which i would normally not be interested in but I am currently reading a book called 'The other Boylen Girl' which was set here in England. It is all about the Queen of England and Henry the 8th.
Then we went to Oxford to see the town sam is working in for three weeks. It was really nice becuase we were able to get a college tour and oxford is mostly made up of colleges so it was perfect. There are 39 colleges that make up the university of oxford. We went punting with a mate sam has met in the lab. I did pretty good at punting but it would get stuck in the mud and then I would go backwards instead of forward. We stayed in sam's aunt's house which was nice to have a proper house to come home to.
Amber and I then traveled to Bath Spa, which was really really beautiful. We had this amazing tour guide that was 77 years old but walked us around for 2 hours and told us so much of the history of Bath. We didn't go into the baths but after hearing the stories of how the baths cured so many illnesses I would definately go back when I became old. We saw where Charlie Chaplan started his career and we also saw where Jane Austen lived and wrote some of her novels.
I will stop there so that you guys don't get bored without pictures to accompany my blabbing. I still have loads of stuff i could talk about but I will save that for a later date.
I also wanted to say thanks to Rich and Jenny and Cali for calling me on my birthday, it was a great surprise, and thanks to my parents for calling as well.
Hope you are all well and we will be seeing you all soon.
posted by SamErika @ 4:16 AM
1 Comments:
Sounds like you are continuing to have a great time! Glad Amber was able to travel with you, Erika, to see our niece, Jitka. What a wonderful trip you and Sam are having for both your anniversary and birthday!
I didn't realize that Oxford University was made up of 39 separate colleges. It must be beautiful.
Don't worry about eating a lot of ice cream. You have the rest of your life to lose weight, and then eat some more - HA!
Love, Mom
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