Just touched down in London town....

I love London. I want to move here. The tube is so convenient, the weather is perfect, and there's so much to do. The plan was to spend a day here, two days in Edinburgh, and return to London the night before my flight home. I arived from Rome late Friday night, so explored as much as I could Saturday, which also happened to be the Pride festival and parade. I loved the parade. Everyone had whistles and there was loud music and bright colors, and of course rediculous outfits. And Jay Z and Drake were here for a music festival. Too bad tickets were £100.

Sunday morning, I was supposed to fly out at 7 am. Cost: £10. The first wrong turn happened when I booked a bus to Gatwick from a tube station that I would have to take 2 buses to. Cost: £20. Then I found out that that would require me to get up at 3 and leave by 330. No way Jose. So then I booked the fastest way to Gatwick, a train that left from a station I would need to take one bus to. Cost: £30. I would get up at 445 and leave by 5. Then, I woke up at 5:09 am. Frantic, I checked out and left without washing my face or brushing my teeth. Ran to what I thought was the bus stop and bought a ticket. Cost: £2. But that wasn't my stop. My stop was like 3 blocks away. Ran there searching, but couldn't find it. By the time I did, it was past 6 am. Total travel time would be 65 min, so I was definitely missing my flight. Then I stepped on some glass because my shoes like to vacuum debris from the street. So I made my way back to my hostel, rechecked in, crawled back into my original bed, and cried myself to sleep. Not really cried, but I was sweating. So £62/$90 and a heart attack later, I pretty much got up at 5 am to take a mile jog. Awesome. But having only one mishap in 2 months of travelling isn't too shabby. So I'm kind of ok with it, only because I get to spend two extra days here.

Tomorrow I plan to go candy shopping, free museum roaming, and park napping. Tuesday, I return home! Boy, do I miss it. I've had an amazing time abroad. 2 months flew by in the blink of an eye. I've seen and experienced things that many people my age will never get the chance to do, and I am grateful to be so lucky.

Arrivederci Roma!

Rome is a huge mix of stuff. There are ancient ruins all over the city, high fashion shopping, sketchy looking people and places, and soooo much gelato. Its crazy that the original forum that Julius Caesar used is still here, or the Colosseum, where Gladiator happened in real life! The sistine chapel wasn't as large as I thought it'd be, but the paintings were more than I imagined. The walls were covered with beautiful, huge, colorful art. Every inch of the ceiling was painted. So crazy! Too bad no pictures :( I snapped a few quick, blurry ones anyways though. And Saint Peter's basilica was filled with statues of popes and paintings! Rome was all about the over the top, ornate decorations and marble everywere! Which, for your information, is mighty slippery in flip flops. I have a bruised elbow to prove it. And I didn't make it to the Pope. I got here too late :( The Vatican has its own Swiss guards, that wear the most awesome uniforms. Round berets with a button in the middle and tilted to the side, poofy pants, pilgrim like shoes, and all of it is like red, yellow, orange, and blue striped, and they hold a spear.

I don't know what it is about Europe, but over here its quite normal to stare, especially in Italy. And if you make eye contact, they don't look away, they just keep staring. I've gotten my fair share of cat calls and hollers, which gets old quick. And there are lots of Asians here and they own stores that have the most random stuff in them including, but mot limited to, cheap jewelry, socks, hardware, fly swatters, and parasols.
My hostel happens to be surrounded by them. And European kings and emperors loved stealing obelisks from Egypt. Every major piazza has an obelisk for a centerpiece, or a fountain.

Rome swarms with tour groups. Everywhere. You'll just be standing reading something, or what not, and then, all of a sudden you're surrounded by a tour and in the spotlight next to the leader holding an umbrella or a stick above their head.

I can't wait to see ECLIPSE!! Argh!