London day 3

Well long story short I didn't get to meet up with Lisa today unfortunately. We had planned to meet up at a park (about 15 minute walk from my hostel) and I had a feeling that with me not having a wifi connection that something was bound to go wrong because that's just my luck. And sure enough we were at the same park and didn't see each other, it was also very cold so I waited for an hour then had to leave because I was absolutely freezing. So I walked back to the hostel and we talked and hopefully we can meet up tomorrow. 

By this time it was already 2:30 and I didn't want to go on the tube by myself being 99% sure I will get lost. I would have if it was 11 am or even 12. Because then I would have more time to get back before it gets dark. (Gets dark around 5). So being a little late in the day I walked back down to the streets and am just sitting in a little coffee house reading some brochures on things to see in London and reading a map on the tube. 

I decided that no matter what if I meet up with Lisa or not tomorrow I for sure want to go on the tube and go to central London. Because I have been here for roughly 3 days and I feel as if I have seen nothing. 

So because this would have been a very short post it occurred to me that I haven't posted pictures or talked about the hostel I'm staying in. So a little run down on the place. I'm sleeping In a room with 2 bunk beds. And when I booked online it said it was an all female dorm, but of course as my luck would have it I'm staying In a room with not 1 but 3 other guys... Good times.. 

Granted they aren't ever here, they get in after me and leave before me usually. I met one today and we talked for a bit. I don't know where he is from, somewhere in Europe I'm sure. He has a very thick accent and it's quite hard to understand him when he talks. Him and another guy from one of the other rooms are going out tonight and they invited me to come. A part of me thought yes because I haven't had much social interaction here and I need to get out! But another part said you don't even know the other guy, and if they both talk like that you won't be able to understand them all night. And of course the other possible alternative; they r kidnappers and might steal me and sell me on the black market or throw me into the sex trade. Sooo I decided to just stay in again... I know I know, I'm such a party animal. I would rather go out with a group, even just for the first time. So I may look like a panzy because I didn't go but come on it wasn't like it was me and 2 girls. Both of which I would at least kinda know! It's 2 guys, one I don't even know and the other who I can't understand. 

This place isn't the greatest I will tell you that much. I swear the wifi here is run on a pregnant ladies hormones. When she's happy the wifi is on. When she's mad the wifi is off. When she's in between the wifi switches to different towers every 2 seconds. I am going to go sit on the roof for a better signal right away!! Like this is ridiculous! I have gotten so used to watching the signal dissepear then going into my settings and having to play around with it to turn it on that it seems normal to me now! When I leave it's going to seem weird that a connection stays longer than 6 minutes. 

The bathroom is so awesome by the way I could sit in there all day!! Hahahahah I'm so kidding I'm sure the bathrooms in prison are better than this!! There are 4 people in my room, and two more rooms with 8 people in each. That makes a total of 20 people.. And guess what there is a total of 1 BATHROOM! 2 showers and 1 TOILET! Holy wow did I take for granted what I have back home! Like is a counter to put your tooth brush on too much to ask for!? I was scared to shower because I have no flip flops and I'm not going In there and getting a disease so I showered in my socks. Yes I am a hillbilly. (Bathroom photo at bottom) 

Oh but now I'm at the good part! Where I sleep! So I knew it would be bunk beds, and I could deal with sleeping on the top. Not a big deal. But oh my god no one said anything about the low roof hanging on one side of my bed! And it's not like I can just hang out on the side that doesn't hang low because I will fall off and break my femur. I also wouldn't care about this low roof but I have smacked my face on it about 20 times and I have only been here 3 days! And will be here for another 11! Yayy me. (Bed photo at bottom) 

Sadly that's pretty much it, most hostels have common rooms which I was excited for because that's a huge way you meet people but the one here is under construction so no one can go in unless they want to sit in dirt and pipes. So right now it's just the 3 rooms which is why it's difficult to meet people cause the doors are locked and you can only get into your own room with your key. So technically you can really only meet your roommates. And because mine are never here that is why I haven't met anyone yet. 

So I get that I just complained for about 90% of this post but I wanted to tell you about where I'm staying and in my honest opinion that's how it is here. 

... Oh good my signal is gone again... 

London day 2

I woke up and knew I needed to connect to wifi soon or I was going to lay in the middle of the street and let a London bus hit me. And again NO one judge me because imagine yourself in a foreign country, by yourself, and not being able to talk to a single person for more than a day. Other than waiters and reception people. I was going a little crazy. 

I also needed to get a bank account set up and I needed to figure out how to get on the busses trains and London tube. So those were my goals for the day. 

After asking for directions about 4 times I finally found the underground train station, I got an Oyster card and it's basically a card that you just put money on and can use it for any type of transportation here. Then I asked for directions to the Barclays Bank (it's a very big bank in the UK) which is good because then I can use it when I'm in Scotland, Ireland, etc. 

I found the bank and ran into a little trouble but it isn't a huge issue because I don't have a job yet so I don't need a bank account here yet. However I was leaving the bank when I saw a wifi sign and I thought maybe I should try it, and I click into it and instantly I am getting messages, emails, etc. I right away Facebook mom and dad, and even though it was 6am my mom answered and talked to me for 45 mins. Oh it brought a tear to my eye because I hadn't heard from anyone in what felt like forever! As that time went on I got to talk to dad as well! And Alana was up at that time so I got to talk to her too for a little bit. 

However I couldn't sit in this bank all day.. And I'm pretty sure I looked like I had a bomb, or I was going to pull a robbery because I literally sat in this bank on a chair for more than 45 minutes. Sooo I said my goodbyes and hoped that when I got back to the hostel I would be able to connect. 

I walked a lot more just up streets, went into different stores. I went into a cell phone shop to hopefully get information because I will need a phone in the UK once I get a job. And again more walking, I walked by the bank again and because I had connected to wifi already it reconnected so as I'm walking down the street my phone started vibrating! Oh my god you'd swear I was on fire I screamed that loud! Very exciting for me. So I stood outside and saw more messages from friends and such because it was later in the day in Canada. 

Immediately after that I couldn't take not being able to connect to wifi at the hostel, so I went back and asked the owner to help me figure out why I wasn't connecting, I got him to come to the room and help me, and in the end it worked on another wifi thank god. 

I stayed in for a bit in the hostel and then went back out for supper at 5. I went to the Great Northern Railway Tavern bar for supper, the food was great, but the best part was the bartender! Her name is Victoria, she was very funny and it was the first real live conversation I have had in 2 days! Talking to her made me realize how meeting locals and other travellers is going to be a big thing. 

She wrote down all the places to see while I'm here in London, and in England.  Got me connected to wifi in the bar and so she helped me download an app in London For the tube which she said is going to be so helpful. She even said if I'm not happy with my hostel she would rent me the spare room above the bar Basically to help me get on my feet here in London! And that she would only charge me what I'm paying now in my hostel which would me amazing because then I would get my own room and have to share a bathroom with only 4 people instead of sharing it with 18 people which is what I'm doing now! All in all so happy I went to that bar! 

I have a very helpful mother and she helped me get ahold of someone we know through friends in London, her name is Lisa, and we face booked and she is going to meet me tomorrow to help show me around more, and help me with the biggest thing at the moment and that would be transportation. Because once I have that figured out I can go anywhere and will be confident on doing a lot more! Including leaving London for the day and going out into the country side of England! Which I'm sure is very beautiful and I can't wait for that! 

London day 1

I come off the plane and am extremely sick due to a few things; jet lag, I don't fly well, and I think dad gave me the flu before I left.. Thanks robin.. 

So I get my luggage and out the doors I go, I was about to go just walk until I found a taxi, then I look back into the airport and their is a tourist information desk, and I figure they will know which are the best taxis. 

So not only did she recommend the best taxis she called one for me and I just waited in the airport until it arrived. The drivers name was Chris, younger probably in his 20's or so. Extremely nice guy, we put my luggage in the trunk and I walk and go to get in on the passenger side of the door and it appears that it's the driver side. Whoops. Forgot that they drive on the other side of the road here. 

My drive to the hostel is about 40 minutes and the whole time me and Chris talk, he gave me lots of advice and tips on London. 

The city is absolutely huge, there is no grass or anything just concrete everywhere. There is no snow here but still quite chilly. I still wasn't feeling good when I got to my hostel so I put my bags down went out and found a cafe. I had a bite to eat because I was so hungry at that point I would have eaten the seats in the cab. Got back to the hostel and it was 3pm (London time) 9am (Canada time) and I needed to have a nap because I hadn't really slept all night. I couldn't connect to wifi but I thought I would go out after my nap and see if I could connect to some. 

Now if you don't know my mother she's a little crazy. And apparently because I hadn't messaged her when I got here she was calling Iceland Air, and then she called the Hostel where I was staying. So when I'm sleeping I get a knock at the door from the owner saying "Taylor your mommys on the phone and she's crying for you!" So got to talk to mom and dad for 15 minutes which was nice and good to hear their voices. 

Later that night I went out for a quick supper because I was still very tired just to a bar and grill right beside my hostel. Then returned to again no Wifi and so off to bed I went

~First post~

Hi! And welcome to my blog! This blog is going to be used as a diary for the next 10 months to possibly 2 years. Over that period of time I hope to travel through the UK and I invite you to join me! Please excuse any grammatical errors I may have in my writing, I am not an English teacher and have no one with me to ask if what I write sounds good! So no judging! Anyways here we go! :) 

Growing up I was always obsessed with travel! Moving away and experiencing new things. Travelling through a different country and becoming a story teller when I return home. I can't even pin point when I decided I wanted to go backpacking through the UK because I have been thinking about it for more than a decade I'm sure!

 I have been talking about this trip for more than a year now that I was going to be leaving at the beginning of 2015 but I really didn't know what that meant until I had to say goodbye to my beautiful family at the airport in Edmonton today! I can honestly say it didn't hit me until I had hugged them all and realized I had to turn around and walk through security alone. That was it, no one was coming with me, I was all alone and would be for the next 10 months! However I do have amazing parents and they will be visiting me in 2 months! And possibly friends coming over in the summer so I really can say I have the best family and friends in the world! 

I boarded the plane which was a 6 hour flight to rejykjavik Iceland where I have a 2 hour layover and then I get on another plane for 3 hours which is taking me to London England where I will start my adventure! 

My flight was overall good, I had a window seat and no one sat beside me which was great because I had more room to spread out into. The older gentlemen sitting on the aisle seat was very nice and we talked for a bit on the plane, he was from Holland and moved to Canada about 20 years ago. 

I am writing this from the airport in Iceland, I had hoped to get a picture of something outside that could show what Iceland looks like, or something to represent it, except it's dark out, the airport isn't very big so there isn't much to look out onto, and the city isn't beside the airport so it's literally just pitch black outside. So sorry but no picture. 

I just paid $1004 for a water and some grapes... Dear god let's hope that's not what it is in Canadian dollars or I will punch myself in the face. 

I have no idea what to do when I get to London, I will get my big back pack that I'm travelling with, then hopefully get a cab outside and give him directions to the first hostel I'm staying in. All I have are the directions to the hostel so let's hope their right and I don't end up in Whales. 

After I finally get to the hostel it will be a very big relief, I have no idea what I'm doing when I get there, check in and then go explore my new home for the next few months. BUT I can tell you right now I am already excited for bed tomorrow night because it's 1:30 am and I won't be sleeping for another 15 hours for sure!