Brighton!

Today I was up at the ripe old time of 4:30 after trying very hard to stay awake but falling asleep at 7pm! I was nice to sleep horizontally though! I face timed with my sister, niece and nephew and then with my mum and dad and then got ready for the day. My plan was to go to breakfast and then head to the underground to make my way to Victoria station and on to Brighton. I had planned everything all out so I knew exactly where to go and when and thankfully everything went according to plan! Are about 2 hours on the train I arrived in Brighton! 

It was definitely worth the train journey and the price. I walked straight down to the beach... Which had no sand... Hardly a beach really! And then along to the Brighton pier. It was very windy and cold but it was still beautiful nonetheless! It was nearing 11 and I was getting hungry so went to find somewhere to eat lunch. After lunch I wandered around the shops a bit and then decided to head back to the train and go home. I wish I had some more time there because it really was beautiful. Would have loved to go and visit the beach huts but it was too far to walk in the time I had. 

Back to London I went. The trains and public transport around London are so easy to navigate. I wish we had it back home! Everything is so well signed and clear it makes getting around easy. Before stopping home I stopped back in an Piccadilly Circus and then made my way back to the hotel. 

Tonight I'm going to meet up with the Contiki group and go through stuff for tomorrow I guess! I've spoken to a few people and they're there now so I'm going to head down and socialise! Another early morning tomorrow before setting off to Amsterdam! I really do love London it's such a beautiful city! 

- E

The Adventure Begins!

Wow, what a crazy 24 hours! My flight from Abu Dhabi to London was on the A380 which is a much newer and bigger plane. It was still pretty cramped but nice and new and it was so much quieter! We finally arrived in London about 6:30am Monday 28th... After about 5 times circling before actually landing! Going through customs and getting my bag was pretty cruisy, actually getting to the hotel was really easy to. I just jumped on the underground straight through to Russell Square (where I'm staying). It did take awhile though, about an hour. I had a short walk from the station to my hotel and realised that I've been here before! The hotel is nice, all I cared about this morning was a shower! After face timing with my family I jumped in the shower and got myself ready for the day. I didn't exactly know where I wanted to go except for boots! This actually turned into a necessity because my toiletries bag leaked, grr! 

I decided to get on the underground to Piccadilly Circus. I walked around there for a bit, went into the m and m store and got some goodies and then walked a bit further to Leicester Square. 

 

I then decided I would have a walk down to Trafalgar Square meanwhile looking out for a vodaphone to sort out wifi while I'm out. I started walking the way I thought was Trafalgar Square and got to some steps. As I went down I saw loads of men on horses and assumed I was on the road towards Buckingham Palace. Now I'm not interested in the royal family really and I have been to Buckingham palace before so I didn't plan on going, but it was such a nice day and I was following the men on horses! 

I also used my selfie stick (very subtly of course)

I then decided I wanted to head back to the shops so I walked through Green Park and back up towards Piccadilly Circus. 

As I was walking I saw a vodaphone store and went in to sort out my wifi. The man got it all sorted for me and told me to wait a bit for it to activate. I didn't want to go back to Piccadilly Circus so I cut through and walked down to Oxford Circus and then onto Oxford street - going into numerous shops! I stopped in at a Starbucks to try and sort out my wifi but unfortunately I couldn't so on I went in search of a vodaphone store... Again! I walked all the way down Oxford street and finally found one. This man actually fixed it and changed the settings and I'm now connected! It was nearing 3pm and I'd been out since about 10 so I was getting tired but I decided to walk down to Tottenham Court Road because it was easy to get back to the hotel from that station. Now can I just say it was so busy. I couldn't believe the people... How do people shop like that!?

My bags were starting to weigh a lot and it was getting dark so I decided to head back to the hotel. I got myself some food from M&S because I wouldn't be going back out for dinner, but I forgot to get s fork so it's going to be interesting trying to eat my salad, might just have to have the chips and chocolate! 

So now I'm back in my hotel room planning what I'm doing tomorrow. My plan is to go down to Brighton tomorrow. It's a 2hr train journey, but I think it will be worth it! I've sorted out what trains to get and also what train I need to get back to London. Tomorrow night I get to meet up and have an introduction with all the people I'm going on Contiki with! I'm excited about that! 

Anyway it's about 5:30 here and I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to stay awake, so off for a shower them to eat some dinner and get some rest!

-E

The First Leg

Step 1 complete. I made it to the plane... Thank god. What an experience! Let's start at the start given I'm 1 movie, 2.5 hours down and 11 hours to go! 

So we arrived at Sydney International with a few speed bumps aka couldn't find parking! Eventually found parking and made our way to check in. Stayed in the check in line for nearly 1.5 hours! After finally getting to the desk Jennifer (lovely lady, evidently loved her job... Not) told me that I didn't have a seat and she would have to wait for clearance. Okay... No biggie there is still time. She then proceeds to print out my boarding pass and it says my baggage is only going to Abu Dhabi, incorrect. So we ask what's going to happen and with a 'let me do my job' response continues to ask a colleague. As it was Jennifer's time to go home she then passed me over to Jaz. Within a matter of seconds Jaz had sorted out my baggage and made sure it was on its way to London. During this time she had also informed me that boarding had begun for my flight.. AHH! My one thought was of all the times I've travelled with mum and dad, of course something had to go wrong the first time I'm on my own. Thankfully everything got sorted and I got my boarding pass to Abu Dhabi and Jaz informed me that I'd pick up the other pass at the gate. So after a quick photo and a few tears* I waved bye to mum and dad and proceeded around the corner to start my adventure! Because of all the issues, Jaz gave me an express pass to get through customs and security which was great as I got through within about 5 minutes! So as I grab my belongings from the bag scanner I make my way to gate 61, which can I point out according to the signs is a 10 minute walk! Now, when you're already late for your first solo flight and you've already heard numerous 'final boarding call for Etihad flight to Abu Dhabi', seeing that the gate is a 10 minute walk away nearly gave me heart palpitations! I walked as quick as my damned little legs could go (even added in a little run when I heard yet another final call). After a good 5 minutes I had made it to gate 61 and in half the time the signs had said! I handed over my boarding pass and made it very clear that I needed to pick up my boarding pass for Abu Dhabi to London. After yet another small mishap of the lady telling me that she could not find the connecting flight she eventually found it and I was walking down the corridor towards the plane. Mind you breathing was a little tight and I was sweating like a ... (Finish that line 😂) but I made it to the plane! Hallelujah! Now, Jaz at checkin had informed me that I was sitting in an exit row with extra leg room, sweet! Now I'm not complaining because I have stacks of leg room but there is no where to put anything! So I've sacrificed storage for leg room (which I'm sure the 6ft guy next to me is cheering about!). Thankfully as I'm writing this, I've just had dinner which was wonderful given I had half a bowl of rice bubbles at 8:30 this morning and nothing else due to the minor speedhumps I encountered! 

Anyway, as I said, I am currently 1 movie down - it was called the intern with Robert deNiro and Anne Hathaway, not bad! I also have about 11 hours to go and some very heavy eyelids. I will check back in when our 'time to destination' time has decreased! 

Update! 11hrs down, 2:40 to go! Watched another movie, this one was called the Vacation, mum and dad were telling me about it in the car, very funny! I've managed to have some sleep maybe 2-3 hrs but it's been very broken because of where I'm sitting. I'm hoping that I'll be able to get more sleep on the next leg and that the A380 has more room. It's been quite a good flight though, very little turbulence (touch wood!). 2:35hrs to go now! 

- E

*by a few I think mum has stopped crying now 😉**

** as have I!!

Welcome!

Publishing this post signifies my first offical day of school holidays but more importantly, less than a week until I set off on my European adventure! Nervous? Excited? Overwhelmed? Excited? Anxious? Excited! 

Now, I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little anxious about travelling across the world... ON MY OWN! I am a little anxious, mostly about the flight though because when I arrive it will be straight to my happy place to stock up (AKA the nearest store that sells makeup!). I have flown before and I know the procedures and how it all works but I haven't done it on my own. But, there is a first for everything! 

I am so very excited to be back in the European winter. It just looks so magical (although it's looking like I may be swimming around parts of Ireland - eeek!) But before then I have the most wonderful day of the year to look forward to. It is currently 5 days before Christmas and I can't wait to spend the day eating, sitting by the pool, eating, spending time with family and did I mention eating? Although the European winter is beautiful, I do love having a hot Christmas. I guess it all comes down to what you're used to.

As I near closer to my departure date I may or may not post a few more ramblings. That leads me to what this small space of the big web is. For the most part it is a way for my family to keep in touch with what I am doing while I'm overseas (other than the obvious facebook, whatsapp, facetime etc). But if by any stroke of a chance there is anyone else reading my inner ramblings, here is a basic run down.

My name is Emily (Em) and I am from Sydney Australia and about to embark on a European adventure (well, UK, Ireland and Amsterdam adventure, but an adventure nonetheless). I have just finished my first year of teaching (hence the wandering TEACHER title!). This year I had a beautiful bunch of year 2 students and am looking forward to welcoming another bunch of beautiful year 2s next year! I am an avid lover of makeup and anything beauty, so it is highly likely that if you are going to continuing reading this blog you will see something to do with makeup or beauty, you have been warned! 

So welcome to my small space on the big wide web! 

À bientôt!

Em 

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