St. Paul's Cathedral

I have the smartest cousin in the world! Really she is going to do great things! When I told her I'm a few hours away from Paris by train she was like "what? Isn't Paris in London?".... Ya... That's my smart cousin.. I promised I wouldn't tell who she was so no one would think what a complete and total moron she is.. Don't worry Taya Scherger, your secret is safe with me. 

I got 2 new roommates, they r 2 older ladies from Poland and don't speak a lick of English! They are here visiting the one ladies daughter who lives here in London. The daughter was here helping them move in so I got to meet and talk with her for a bit. She must have told them my name because last night the one lady said "Taylor" and I look up from my bed and she had a bottle of wine and 3 glasses. I laughed and nodded. So the 3 of us drank wine in the room, me not knowing a word they are saying. But still how nice to offer a stranger something to drink at their expense! Just proves that we all drink alcohol in the same language! 

I went to St Paul's Cathedral today, my grandmas are going to be so proud that I went to church. The inside was cool, the architect of the church walls and ceilings are incredible! But my favourite part was going to the top and looking out over the city! More than 400 steps to the top but I made it. At the top its 345ft in the air, looking out over the city and you can see a lot of the main attractions from this view aswell. Tower Bridge, London Eye, The Shard, River of Thyme, Big Ben, etc. 

Getting to the top wasn't the funnest climb. Steps are very steep and very narrow. And at some parts where your climbing up the hallways get so small! I'm not really Claustrophobic but those spaces are so tiny even I was having a little bit of a hard time with it! Once your at the top it's great, minus the wind! Very windy up there, but makes sense your 345ft in the air what do you expect. 

After that I went to a store called Primark, just a clothing store to buy stuff for my trial run. I got a pair of pants, 2 shirts, a pair of shoes and a bracelet for only 30 pounds! (60 dollars) that's Insanely cheap! In Canada it would be double that! But it's crazy because everything in London is so expensive yet this was beyond cheap! 

I saw someone famous today, not a clue who she was. But I was standing on the street on my phone trying to figure out where I was and she was walking on the street and stopped right beside me and just started posing for the dozens of paparazzi following her. It was awesome because I looked so good today. Uh not! I was also looking at my map very confused and then this rando walks beside me and starts posing so I think I gave her the biggest WTF look in the world. Not kidding you I looked at her like she was on drugs. Well that was until I realized she was posing for cameras. So I swear to god if that ends up in the paper or in a magazine I will jump off St Paul's Cathedral because it will be her looking all sexy and seductive and me looking like a homeless confused person. 

I get the feeling that my family totally misses me. Like I'm sure I am all they think about! Well for starters you have Keifer, oh what a guy, I messaged him almost a week ago... Still hasn't responded to me. Oh but wait then there's Laine who I know misses me! We have the same heart bracelets to represent our sister love for one another and I wear mine all the time.. She told me today she hasn't worn hers once since I have been gone and thinks she actually may have lost it... At least Connor misses me. I never get to talk to him unless it's over Skype, I Skyped home the other day, mom and dad were in the living room skyping from the tv. Connor sat on the couch and was on his iPod the entire time, and then after about 5 minutes I think he figured this was boring and went to his room. And now that I think about it I'm pretty sure he didn't even say hi to me. Wow, what a great bunch of siblings I have!!!! 

London

My French roommate moved out, so now it's just me and one other girl, she's Romanian and extremely nice! I met her this morning before she left for work. I was telling her how I was going to go to an Internet cafe to type up another resume so I could send it to some employers over email and she said I could borrow her labtop while she was gone! Like wow super nice! I could be leaving today and could steal her labtop but no she just offers it right up to me! So nice. 

So now it's just me her and 4 empty beds, she also said she works a lot and they are extended shifts so I will probably only see her in the morning and that's it. I met 3 more people in the lounge today very nice guys, they are all Italian, 2 are studying and one is working. There are so many Italian people at this hostel! I swear I'm in Italy sometimes with them talking Italian all the time to each other. 

I had my interview and things went really good, I was invited back for a trial run on Monday. I'm excited but it just makes me realize how much I would rather be working in a restaurant or bar. Only because I would meet a lot more people and it would be a lot more of a fun chill atmosphere, where as a hotel is more strict and professional. But a job is a job, and if this is the only thing right now I will take it. 

I finally went grocery shopping because there is a actually a kitchen here! Very happy I won't have to be spending so much on food anymore. There is a pound land also right beside this hostel (basically a dollar store) and I think I'm there best customer. Seriously I buy everything from water to shaving cream to some types of food there. I know I know I'm basically a homeless person. But with these prices I literally have to or like I said- British hooker will have to make an appearance.. Good times 

If I end up getting a job not too far from here I think I will extend my stay at this hostel because the price isn't bad and the rooms are great. I actually unpacked a little and It's starting to feel a little more homey in here. 

I found out that I'm only 2 hours away from Paris by train! Really hoping I can make a friend that would maybe want to come with for a day or 2. I would consider going alone, but that scares me a lot more than this did because of the language barrier. And the fact that I know nothing about Paris or France. Plus my luck it would be the movie taken all over again.  

Nothing seems to change around here. it's hard to explain living in London unless you actually live here. I was so excited to just "live in the moment" or whatever I called it before I left. I'm beginning to feel that I'm more of a traveler that likes to be going and doing things. Just like my dad, he's doesn't like to sit and lay around when he travels. I find that we are both the same in the sense that we like to get out and explore and learn new things, and not spend all your time in one place. Which is at the moment exactly what I'm doing. 

Speaking of my dad I'm so excited it's just over a month away for when him and mom are coming to visit! Seeming a lot more real because we are booking trains and accommodations at the moment! It will actually feel like I'm going on a holiday when they get here! 

I will also have a lot more to write in here because we will be touring everyday! I'm sure your reading this expecting to hear glamours stories of me seeing and doing things but instead your getting let down all the time because 90% of the time i'm not doing any of that. 

Got to skype with Grandpa, Grandma, Jolene and Ashlyn the other day which was great! I also heard that my #1 follower is my grandpa! But no surprise there I'm his favourite grandchild. Duh. Just kidding! Love you grandpa! ❤️ And I want to shout out to my grandma who when we were skyping was so concerned what type of shoes I was wearing. Like not kidding you we had a 5 minute conversation on my runners... Oh grandma how I miss you and your weirdness. Your just like me! Love you grandma! ❤️ P.s I miss your food... 

I want to wish ALANA a happy 22nd birthday today! Love and miss you! ❤️😘

London

I moved out of my hostel this morning and traveled to the eastern side of London where I have my next hostel booked for another 2 weeks. I arrived a few hours before you are eligible to check in, but the receptionist said I could wait in the lounge for the time being. Yes! A lounge! It isn't much, it's a room with 4 picnic tables and a higher long table with bar stools.. So a lot of room to sit, there is also a tv, and a kitchen! Oh my good gracious I have never been so excited! 

I waited in the lounge for a few hours, applying to more jobs on my phone and just doing other things. I was listening to music when all of a sudden my phone rang! And it was a London number! I knew instantly that it could only be a job calling, because I don't know anyone here and how would they have my number. So excited and nervous I pick up the phone and it's the travelodge hotel calling. They want to set up an interview for tomorrow so that's what I will be doing tomorrow! Yayy! Finally something! 

The new hostel has it's ups and very few downs! The downs are minor and I can live with! I only share a bathroom with 5 other girls and the room I'm in is very big and has room for me to actually open my bag and leave some things out for once! 

I never thought the smell of toilet bowl cleaner would put a smile on my face but it did! I was very happy to smell it when I got here because clearly they clean the place once in awhile compared to the last hostel! 

I met 2 of my roommates they are sisters and from Germany, they were just here for a few days and are leaving tomorrow, too bad because they seem like a lot of fun and are extremely nice! My other roommate seems good too, she is French and has been here for more than a month. 

This hostel has 3 floors, a lounge/kitchen, has bathrooms on every floor including in some of the rooms (like mine) it has a laundry service (quite expensive however) but hey it's better than nothing! They have a breakfast in the morning for only pound which is something I will for sure have to check out! Quite a big change from my last hostel which had 3 rooms, one bathroom.. Aaaand that's it. Those rooms were also very small, these ones are very big and it smells like normal air here, the other one was so small and it didn't smell good. 

The hostel is also right across from a huge football stadium! So hoping I make friends here we will maybe get to check out a game or something! 

London

Quiet day today, I went to a library to type up some more resumes and then walked over to the mall, didn't buy anything of course because if I keep spending money I'm going to have to become a British hooker. Like I get that London is expensive but holy Jesus I didn't realize before I got here how expensive it was going to be! Like it never clicked in my head that just a small water is more than 4 dollars! That shit adds up! 

For the 2nd Friday in a row I didn't know it was Friday! I only realized when I saw someone's status about going out and partying tonight. That's how lame my life has gotten. The days of the week seem to never end for me because I am never going out and having a drink or having fun for that matter. And I realize that a detox is good! Don't get me wrong. But I was a bartender only 4 short weeks ago! It's very weird to go from a constantly party atmosphere to what feels like an on going episode of the golden girls. I take it back. I bet those ladies are partying harder than me at the moment. 

But partying and going out isn't what I want at this moment. It's finding a job and making friends! I need to be able to talk to someone who I can actually talk to again the next day, or be with a group of people talking or anything! Any type of conversation will do! If I don't get it I will go crazy I think. And like I said if I don't find work soon I will be in serious trouble money wise that is! 

Maybe it's because I have yet to make friends but I'm already thinking that these 10 months are going to be too long. It hasn't even been 2 weeks and I already think that which isn't good. I'm really hoping that it's just because I haven't met anyone and that these feelings will pass but a part of me just keeps saying that maybe I'm not cut out for travelling by myself for months at a time. 

Don't get me wrong I love travel and I want to continue, but a part of me just keeps saying that maybe I should be doing it in small amounts and not all at once. I wish I had prepared myself better before leaving. No idea how I could have done that but I wish I could have mentally realized what I was about to get myself into. 

I'm moving to a new hostel on Tuesday, one that from the looks of it has a lot of young travellers! So hopefully I can make friends there, fingers crossed! And then from there I can find a job! Here's hoping to better weeks to come! 

Buckingham Palace

Ok so I woke up earlier today so I could head out and go see Buckingham Palace today, and if your going to go I hear you have to go for the guard change which starts at 11:30am! Also you should for sure be there at 10:30! Ish if you want to be against the gate to actually watch it! 

So I'm on the tube and for the first time it stopped and wasn't moving for a half hour! By the time I actually got to buckingham palace the gates were packed with people everywhere, no way would I have been able to see if I stood behind everyone, so I just stood by the street, I knew they would have to go by on the street to get into the palace so at least I would be able to see them there. 

HOWEVER I am beyond thankful that my train wasn't on time, because I had to stand by the street, and so I'm standing there and then the gates open and out comes a car with the QUEEN IN IT! Not even kidding you I was less than 20 feet from her for sure! I was so close I could see the detailing on her cute little hat! SO COOL! 100% one of the coolest things I have ever seen in my life! It was minutes later and I still couldn't believe what I had just seen!! So incredible! And because I watched the whole guard change for the hour even though I couldn't see anything the Queen came back as well! So I saw her not once but TWICE! 

It's been about 9 hours and I'm still in shock that I saw the queen of England. After the guard change I went to a cafe to get hot chocolate because I was absolutely frozen and if I wanted to see buckingham palace without thousands of people being there for the guard change I would have to wait. I walked through green park, nice to see some open green area for once. There was a Canadian monument in the park, it was dedicated to all Canadian soldiers who were fighting in Great Britain during the war. 

I walk back an hour or so later and the place is 90% less crowded, nice because I could actually walk up to the gates and look in. After that I went to the Queens gallery and walked through the exhibition on Cario to Constantinople. Wasn't the best choice, for me that is! I thought there was going to be actual royal things in there, or things of past kings and queens. But it was about royals from the Middle East thousands of years ago, and some gold artifacts. 

After that I went to the Queens Royal Mews which was very cool! I got to see the royals carriages both old and new, and see the Queens horses, stables, etc. The lady working as the tour guide had a familiar accent so I asked where she was from and she said Ontario! It was nice to talk to a person who actually knows where Saskatchewan is for that matter. And it was the first person I have met from North America which was nice! 

I skyped mom from in front of the gates at buckingham palace because I knew she would absolutely love it! My mother is a little crazy and believes that in a past life she was part of the royal family. Like not even kidding you this crazy lady Is convinced and you won't be able to tell her otherwise... The doctors still haven't figured out what's wrong with her... 

(For more pictures on today check out my Facebook) 

London

So I didn't write in my blog yesterday because I had an extremely boring day that isn't even worth sharing. I'm still on a job hunt and hope to find one very soon! I'm not picky at this point and almost any job will do! Like If I don't have one by next week I would pick ditches! I don't care! Problem is it's hard finding a job because all job sites won't let you post a resume without having an address and because I'm staying in hostels I don't have an address. Hopefully me or my mom can find a London resident who will let me use their address! If not I may have to find a flat (apartment) that I can rent from month to month! 

Ok so I'll be honest and say I hadn't showered in a few days, I mean I wasn't running marathons so it's not like I was starting to stink, however I have probably the thickest hair in the world. Like thicker than Kanye wests ego. And let me tell you my fro was a tangled mess last night. Like I have very stretchy pony tails for that bad boy and I was having an extremely hard time getting it around 2 times let alone 3 times which is how I have to wear them! So I obviously knew it was time for a shower. And if I haven't said it before I try to stay out of that bathroom as much as I can. 

So I go into the bathroom and oh how lovely is it to find every colour of hair on the floor, all short to long. The bathroom floor is always wet also, never has it ever been dry. It's usually a little muddy too because people always wear shoes In there I'm guessing. I am quite unsure how people are tracking mud into the Bathroom when these streets are very clean. Maybe they are running around in a construction site and then heading straight to the bathroom. I don't know, But ok! 

The shower is always cold, never hot or even warm for that matter, and it wouldn't be a huge deal except it's colder in the rooms so it's hard to go from cold room to cold shower. But yayy me! That's my bathroom time! 

I know why the bathrooms are such a mess, A- it's because i'm sharing it with 20 people, who I'm pretty sure are more than 70% guys and they could care less what they leave behind in there. But also B- because this hostel is run by all men! All of which are Albanian I think. Not saying that a man doesn't know how to clean a bathroom but I think because we are all moving travellers they don't care to clean it because we all pay for our stay when we arrive so it's not like we can just pick up and leave. Our stay has been paid for. So they don't care to clean it because there is nothing we can do about it. 

Ok also! My roommates up until now have been great, ya I don't know them and they are all guys but it's nice because they are quiet, and I don't think they would steal any of my stuff. Unless they wanted to wear one of my bras? But I keep my stuff locked up regardless. 

Anywho I probably took them for granted because last night the one guy moved out and a girl moved in! Pretty exciting because I haven't met any girls here. I hadn't talked to her yet, I was lying in bed falling asleep when I heard her come in but I knew it was a girl because I peeked out from behind my curtain and I saw her. I thought I would introduce myself in the morning and maybe finally have a girl to talk to. Oh but lucky me that's not how we met. 

I woke up at 6 am hearing a strange noise, it sounded like someone was folding and unfolding several grocery bags. ( if you don't know what that sounds like go get one and crumple it up and then open it and then crumple it up again. Fairly simple concept. It isn't quiet especially at 6 am) I was laying there so confused as to what was happening so I look out and this hoe has everything from her suitcase laying on the floor. No clue what she is doing. Maybe she was categorizing all of the items she has alphabetically. I have no idea. 

I thought she would just be getting dressed or something and then leaving, but the sound of the grocery bags just wouldn't stop! I am pretty sure she had each item in her suitcase wrapped in a bag. To give you a mental image or to hear it in your head it sounded like she had about 200 grocery bags on the floor and she was rolling around in them!!! Not even kidding I almost took my book and threw it at her head.

I tried clearing my throat a bunch of times loudly so that maybe she would think "oh I'm being a loud ass hole at 6am and maybe I should keep it down". But no she continued with the bags for about another half hour. Then I'm not sure what happened to her, one of my other roommates may have killed her. 

 

I fully also understand that I'm in a hostel and we all get up at different times, but dear god have some respect women. Especially at 6 in the morning! Maybe at 12 or even 10 for that matter do you have a right to be louder because it's later in the day, but no one was awake but her! It made me realize that the guys I had been staying with were very quiet especially the ones who leave for work from 6-8 because I had never heard them before! So clearly they are trying to be quiet for their roommates unlike the bag lady. 

Got to Skype with the family today! I was extremely happy to see some familiar faces!! They are out in the mountains enjoying better weather than me! Which is crazy to believe! Nothing much is different with them. Connor was of course insulting me the entire time.. Normal family conversation. 

More job searching tomorrow! Cross your fingers! 

London day 5

So today was 100% my best day so far! I went out and first of all the sun was shining for the very first time! Great way to start the day, I went to the cell phone shop and got my phone! So it's great because I get cell service everywhere now and not just at the hostel. Which makes getting around a lot easier. 

I got on the tube and went to central London and saw Westminster abbey, Westminster Bridge, Big Ben, and the London Eye. All were very cool! I will for sure have to take mom and dad back there when they arrive! I think at night however it will be a lot more better! 

After that I got back on the tube and went to see the London Tower Bridge. Absolutely my favourite out of all the things I saw that day! It's just absolutely massive and looks beautiful! Again something that my parents will have to see when they come visit in less than 48 days! 

When I was in school my campus director was Scottish and she had told me that her nephew (Jamie) lived in London and that when I come he would love to show me around. And because my phone finally had service I gave him a call when I was in central London and asked when he wanted to get together, and just as luck would have it, he wasn't far and asked if I wanted to get together for a drink and talk. 

We went to the covent gardens (basically Londons version of Central Park) and after the drink he said he was meeting friends at a sports pub to watch a rugby game and invited me to come along! It was an Irish pub and it was an Irish vs. France game. So as you can imagine the place was absolutely packed! No seats it was all standing and this bar had a basement main and top floor! The place was absolutely massive! And there had to have been 400 people in there for sure! Not even kidding if I would turn around I would be face to face with anther person, very crowded! But it was such a great atmosphere to watch the game in! Escpically how Ireland won. 

After that we went out for supper to a Mexican restaurant, after supper I decided to head home because it was after 9:30, I had been up since 6 and had been walking and standing for more than 12 hours!

Finally made it back to the hostel, me and the family had planned on skyping for the first time but it wasn't working on there end so hopefully Monday we can give it another shot! 

I would like to send safe travels to my family as well as all the other families on the Butze Bus today! They are off to Kimberley for their annual February break for skiing and snowboarding! Hope you all have an awesome time! 

London day 4

So before you read this I want you to know it wasn't a great day for me. A lot of stressful things happened which lead to be being upset, which led to me having a very shitty day. So if you think this is going to be a funny post it isn't, and you might as well not read it. I just wanted to warn you! 

I was up at 6:30 this morning for some reason, I got to meet up with Lisa which was great! We spent 3 hours talking and I got a lot of information. I am a little stressed from the conversation because I thought I could do a lot of the stuff I needed to get done in the UK, actually in the UK! (Bank account, UK cell phone, travellers pre paid card, etc) but turns out a lot of stuff needed to happen back in Canada. It isn't impossible, I can get it done it is just going to take more time. But again just makes me more stressed. 

It rained all day today and although I love the rain and was excited to whip out my umbrella for the first time, however since I had woke up all I could think about for some reason was my mom. When I talked to Lisa it was good but then waking home it was a 50 minute walk with just me the rain and my thoughts. And because my talk lead me to being very stressed and down on myself, all I wanted was my mom there to talk to. 

It just frustrates me too that it's only day 4 and I'm missing people already. Because I know I need to find a way to deal with it. I really hope that it's just because it's my first few days, I don't have any friends or even many people to talk to for that matter. I don't have a job to occupy myself with, etc. and the fact that I went from a town of 1800, to a city of more than 7 million. And because I don't have a job all I have right now is spare time so all I do right now is think and miss back home. 

My lovely mother got me more contacts here in London that I can hopefully meet up with soon! My mom is the best. 

It was nice seeing Lisa because she took me to central London and though we didn't do any sightseeing I got to see a lot more buildings and "London" than what I'm seeing now. I rode the tube for the first time and it was easy enough, but I rode 1 tube, there are dozens and dozens more, some that you have to get off to, to connect with another one aaand again just a little stressed. I'm hoping today goes better (I didn't write last night because like I said I wasn't having a good day so I just went to bed) so it's 6:30 now again and hopefully I can get out and do some new stuff! 

I had always wanted to be a story teller and when I return I will be able to just that with all the travelling I have done. I have been told that no story exists without some ups and downs. No real story that is. I was told today by my lovely auntie that stories are boring if they don't have rough times, because then they don't seem real.