My last weekend unemployed

So far this weekend has been pretty chill.  Friday, after I swore off the tube system, I braved the Friday afternoon crowds at Oxford and went shopping.  I figured shopping was better than pouting about my terrible travel experience earlier in the day (refer to previous post).  If I thought my stress level was high before, I have no idea how high it got.  I went to Primark (CHEAP clothes, like 2 pounds for a button down) and so did half of London.  It honestly looked like they all were shopping because the world was ending tomorrow and if they didn't get everything at Primark, they would perish.  So I only got a shirt and a dress (12.50 pounds total) and headed along the street to look at the other stores.  There were at least 2 of every store on the strip, if not 3 and everything was packed.  So then I headed back to the flat and waited for everyone to get back from work.  Christy and I decided to buy our favorite champagne again for before going out.  We then headed to Tiger Tiger, where the cover was 10 pounds!  It had the tightest security I have ever seen at the entrance to a club.  And luckily, after spend all that money on cover, I didn't spend a dime the rest of the night.  It was really crowded, but I had fun and talked to an Irish guy who I didn't understand, a drunk guy who I didn't understand and an Australian guy who was really nice and easy to understand.

Saturday, Christy and I woke up early and headed to the trooping of the colors for the Queen's birthday.  We got there early so we could get a good spot.  We realized that we had a good spot for the later part, not for the early part.  So we saw the beginning,  after waiting for an hour and a half, and decided not to wait another hour and a half to see the rest.  We came back and were greeted by some more mice visits.  This is a serious problem and our landlord seems to not care.  I am so afraid that I will be woken up at night by mice in my bed!  Then last night I went to Heathrow to meet Kristin at the airport.  It was so good to see her after four weeks of being away.  She came back to the flat with me, chilled at a pub until closing, and then we took the tube to the London Eye and walked around, got lost for a bit and then found Trafalgar Square and the bus we needed.  On our way to the bus, I saw a guy in a Cleveland Browns sweatshirt.  It turns out that he's from Seven Hills and is studying in Germany and just in London for the weekend.  This was a better Cleveland run-in than on the tube Friday night...

side note:  I saw a guy on the tube wearing a Cleveland Indians hat and I was like "Hey, are you an Indians' fan?"  and he said "Is that what this hat is for?  I had no idea; I just wear it."  But then we were talking and he told Caroline that he was an undercover cop...luckily we got off the tube when it started getting weird...

So then this morning (Sunday) Kristin and I woke up early and walked to Kensington Gardens to look at the Palace and walk around in the gardens.  Then we visited Peter Pan and saw the Princess Diana Memorial fountains.  Oh and watched a man chase his dog who ran away from him.  We then took the tube to the British Museum and hung out there for a bit (it was WAY too crowded though).  Then we stopped a pub that is officially my new favorite.  It's called Shakespeare's Head and it is massive.  And the menu is not only huge, but it is also CHEAP.  For about 5 pounds I got a chicken sandwich, fries and a beer.  All the drinks were just over 2 pounds!  I am definitely going back.  We came back and then Kristin's bag broke and wouldn't close, and we had a major crisis, but fortunately Carl was here to save the day and fix her bag, probably temporarily, but enough to get to the airport.  So I just came back from sending her off and now I'm looking forward to seeing Elise tonite and the Bergamo and Denmark visitors this week.  Oh and I start my internship tomorrow...

Things I've learned:

1.  Museums on Sundays=no go

2.  People who ride the bus alone like to make random conversations with people

3.  London bobbies (cops) are so much friendlier than US cops

4.  Coors Light is looked at as a "premium beer" (direct quote, no joke)

5.  I still hate mice

oh and Julia and Kevin got back from their Prague/Berlin extravaganza!!  YAY!!

Cheerio!