Day 2 of Laura's adventures in London! Our first stop of the day was Portobello Market in Notting Hill. Then it was over to see Michael and everyone else's building near there since I hadn't been to visit yet. After than we walked through Kensington Gardens in Hyde Park and took all sorts of silly fun pictures. We also stopped at Kensington Palace where Princess Diana use to live. Next was the CSB/SJU study abroad area of Kensington. We saw Hyde Park Gate apartments, Metrogate, Gloucester Road, the pubs (which have been redone!!!,) tube stop, and Foundation House. Next was the museums of South Kensington: Natural History Museum and V&A. Of course she had to go into Harrod's which was crazy busy cause of the January Sales. Then we went through Wellington Arch and Green Park on the way to Buckingham Palace. We just sat around the statue out front for a while relaxing and reflecting. We were sitting in front of Buckingham Palace on New Year's Eve! We saw a royal guard outside of St. James Palace and went to the Ritz Hotel. On the way home we went through Piccadilly Circus, along Shaftsbury Avenue and through Soho. We had the most amazing shrimp and veggie curry for dinner. A bunch of us decided to just drink in the hostel before heading down to Trafalgar Square for midnight. I completed the Strongbow challenge! We had the most amazing view in Trafalgar Square right in front of the National Gallery. We actually ran into some other BUNACers that I knew from catering. Kisses all around at midnight and then mass exodus after midnight. Trafalgar Square on New Year's Eve is a lot like Time Square in New York but no dropping ball, but we did have fireworks. When we finally got home water and toast all around before watching TV. Best New Year's Eve Yet!

I finally got my present from Mom & Dad today. It was long underwear, which suprisingly I don't own as a Minnesotan. I think it will come in handy even though it's not that cold here, but it is wet! In reality it's like crew spandex, which I'm use to from rowing for 3 years in college. Laura and I headed out into one of the rainiest days I've seen. We saw the Royal Exchange, Lloyd's of London, Leadenhall Market, pubs, a timeline of London, Roman City Wall, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Southbank, Lord Mayor's office, HMS Belfast, London Bridge, Old Billingsgate Market, the Monument, Golden Hinde, Vinopolis, Globe Theatre, Tate Modern, Millennium Bridge, and St. Paul's Cathedral. It's great having Laura in London because it gives me a great excuse to act like a tourist as well. When we got home we dried off, head dinner, and got ready to go out. We were all headed to Heaven again since it was time for the Chris & Christine vs. Michael & Virginia dance-off. We got there, got in for free, got a few shots of tequila and we were ready to start the dance floor, as Virginia and myself did. We had such an amazing time, but no dance-off, oh well, it'll happen sometime. Laura told me it was one of her best nights out ever! Glad to see she's enjoying her time in London. We got home around 4 or so before drinking water and chatting before bed around 5!

Laura's coming into town today, yeah! I was dumb and thought that her flight came in at noon but really it's midnight, so I had the whole day to keep working on job stuff and taking care of things around the flat. We watched the Most Requested Videos of 2005, of which we only knew a few which is really weird since we watch videos here all the time! Anyway, after that I attempted cooking again by making quesadillas. They actually turned out really well for once! Chris and I did some more Morocco research before a bunch of us headed to the pub down the street, the Rising Sun, for a round. Michael and I left from there to walk to Victoria to get Laura off of the bus. On our walk we went through/past Trafalgar Square, Constitution, and Buckingham Palace. We ended up waiting and wandering between the two bus stations and the train station looking for Laura until nearly 2:30 am! Just as we were about to give up I saw her walk past an opening and ran for it! We were reunited once again! Loads of hugging and almost crying before we caught the bus home along route 24 which passes by Westminster Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Whitehall, Downing Street, and Trafalgar Square. She got a great, very late, introduction to London. We got back to the hostel after 3 and crashed!

Virginia went to Camden Town to find her a belt and get a watch for me! We found them and more! Then I went to BUNAC to work on job search stuff and find people to call about jobs. Then Chris came home from Paris, yeah! We spent the rest of the day together getting Subway for dinner, swapping stories, sharing pictures from our trips, and started planning our 'honeymoon' to Morocco at the end of January. Before bed we watched Boogie Nights, which I didn't like.

Hungarian Christmas! 23/12 - Michael and I woke-up way too early to get to London City Airport (my fifth and final London airport) to fly to Dusseldorf, Germany, for a six hour layover on the way to Budapest, Hungary. Jo greeted us at the airport with a sign that read "£3 pizza and Big Michael." Those are our nicknames around the hostel. Once we got into the city we found our apartment/guest house which was in the building that was used as the Jewish Ghetto during World War II. It was a cute apartment with three big rooms, kitchen, lounge, and bathroom. It was really nice for £7 a night! We went out in search of food and ended up eating sausages, bread, and spicy mustard from a stand at the Christmas Market. We went down by the Danube River and saw the sights of Budapest for the first time.

24/12 - Everything closed around 2 pm on Christmas Eve so we found a grocery store before that to buy stuff for dinner. Sightseeing and activities today included street pastries for breakfast, the Christmas Market again, pedestrianized shopping street, and over the Chain Bridge to the Buda side of the river. Budapest was once Buda and Pest each on one side of the Danube River and were united in 1111. At the Christmas Market we bought this really good doughy dessert thing covered in caramel. I cooked Christmas Eve dinner, since that's the biggest part of Christmas in Hungary. I made this strange Hungarian sauce thing with chicken, dehydrated onion, and this thick gravy sauce. Don't worry there are photos to document the whole process! After dinner we went for a walk down by the Danube River again and had good quality sharing time on the Chain Bridge. Kind of like group therapy without the third party. Then we went to Midnight Mass at St. Stephen's Basilica which was facilitated by the Cardinal of Hungary.

25/12 - Major sightseeing in Buda today! We started with Opera House, which is beautiful and on the Pest side, and then headed over the Danube. We had Hungarian food for lunch at this beer hall/restaurant near the Central Market and the river. After lunch we headed up to the Citadell which is the highest point in Budapest with great views. On the way back down we stopped by a memorial to St. Gellert. Next was Buda Castle which use to be the Imperial Palace. After the castle we needed a break from the weather so we went into a cool building from the 1600s for some amazing hot chocolate. Then it was on to Mathias Church and the Fisherman's Bastion. My parents, grandparents, and sister called me to wish me a Merry Christmas while I was on the Bastion overlooking the entire city, very cool! Also while on the Bastion we had chestnuts which had been roasted on an open fire. Then we attempted to find a restaurant for dinner but it was closed, so we ended up in a dodgy pizza place. It was suprisingly good! I had salami, bacon, paprika, red peppers, and something else on mine. When we finally got back we went out for some drinks at the bar down the street with the Aussies who were in the next room in the apartment. It was kind of weird to be at a bar on Christmas but with Australians it seemed alright. As a prank we pushed their beds together when we got home, they thought it was really funny!

26/12 - Today was Pest day! We went into the synagogue down the street which is the largest in Europe and the second largest in the world next to New York. It was so cold that morning! It was -4 Celsiuscius and 20 Fahrenheit, which was cold for us. Our next stop was Parliament. There was an ice rink in front of it, but it was overrun with kids. We had another two of the toasted doughy desserts for lunch. Then we moved onto Hero's Square and the city park. In the park there was a moat skating rink, castle, and thermal baths. We went to a really nice restaurant for an early dinner. We had a three course meal of all Hungarian food for really cheap, mine was about £7! We went down to the Danube one last time before bed and played Uno.

27/12 - Up really early to finally go buy things i.e. Hungarian goodies at the grocery store. This was good since everything had been closed for the last few days. Off to the Central Market to explore and find lunch before heading for the airport again. It was snowing which Jo had never experienced before! We actually ended up at the wrong airport terminal but easily fixed by a quick bus ride. Delayed flight back to Dusseldorf in the snow and onwards to London, where it was snowing as well! So I returned to London with 7 new stamps in my passport and was snowed on in 3 countries in one day! Back in London we went out for a walk in the snow although it didn't stay on the ground. Everyone else was starting to come back from their Christmas trips as well so we were all sharing stories.

Slept very well considering I had a 1/3 of a bottle of Malibu rum in me when I went to bed. Then I finally tried to find a job by saving applications to my jump drive to print out once I get back from Christmas holiday. Jo & Michael moved out to Notting Hill tonight, so it was interesting having them move while a bunch of us were trying to pack! Then once I was packed I made chocolate chip cookies again, which everyone raved about! Too bad everyone ate almost all of them!

Strange day. I baked cinnamon scones in the morning, which turned out really good! Put more pictures up on shutterfly and facebook. I can't believe I've been here for 7 weeks already! I also cooked for dinner as well, teriyaki potatoes. After dinner some of us went the College Arms to shoot pool, but the basement was closed for a private Christmas party, boo. After the bar we went to Tesco and bought a bottle of Malibu which we drank on the curb outside of the hostel. The cops stopped us because they thought we were loitering but since we lived right here they said carry on. Then we went to 101 Bar and attempted to get into Ghetto, but went home since we were tired and came home again.

Better day today complete with loads of proper London stuff! Lynn, King, the new guy Evan, and myself went to the British Museum for a few hours. We played with some old British stuff, saw Bog Man, skeletons, mummies, and the Rosetta Stone! We also did some creative photography in the Americas gallery. After that we headed for Starbucks since we were all caffeine deprived. Then we decided to go the Chinatown to have a look around. Ended up in a market and I finally found Teriyaki sauce! I've been looking all over London and I finally found it in a dodgy Chinese market! Then onto Leicester Square were there was a carnival! Evan and I went on the flying swings, which were the best ones I have ever been on. Worth all £2.50. It was a very Christmasy London thing to do. Next we breezed through Piccadilly Circus on the way out to Knightsbridge, on foot, to go to Harrods. In Harrods we used the finest bathrooms I have ever seen, wandered around the expensive women's section, bought Christmas ornaments, played with and got lost in the toy department, drooled in the Food Halls, and bought Belgian chocolate praline shells, my favorite! We also sawMuhammad Al Fayed, the owner of Harrods in the Meat Hall. A not so quick bus ride home and some £3 pizza for dinner while we watched the end of The Princess Bride. Then David came back from two weeks holiday in Greece and Italy. Music videos and then Love Actually!

Today started poorly with me finding out that I didn't get the library position. :`( Then I posted my Christmas present home for only £1.75! But as I was in queue for the post office I got really thoughtful and started questioning who I was, what I was doing in London, what I was doing with my life, etc. Not good, considering I nearly started crying in queue! Then off to work for Esprit yet again, boo! I'm really starting to hate catering! When I got home (early) I talked with Chris for a few hours, to try to get me felling better, before watching The 40 Year Old Virgin.

Today I volunteered at the Foundling Museum for the Victorian Christmas party for children. We dressed them up, painted their faces, made optical toys, peg dolls, and sugar mice. There was also a reading by the author from his book about Charles Dickens inventing Christmas. Then I decided to cook and bake, so I spent hours in the kitchen cooking chicken tetrazzini and chocolate chip cookies for Chris and myself. Both were really good, much to my surprise! Good Name Twin time was had! Then we watched Saving Grace before Chris and I chatted in the kitchen for over an hour before heading to bed around 2.

I went Christmas shopping, which is horrifying in London bye the way! Then I went to the Frost Festival on the Southbank before going to work. Then catering for 9 hours! Time for West Side Story before bed!

I had an interview today for an assistant librarian position(s) with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and I should hear before the end of the day! I think the interview went well, I even wore my suit! After that I catered an event at the Trocodaro in Piccadilly Circus. Instead of spending my money and going out with everyone, a few of us stayed home and watched Black Hawk Down until the wee hours of the morning. Ewan McGregor, Orlando Bloom, Josh Hartnett, Eric Banna, and Jeremy Piven all in the same movie, what more could a girl want on a Friday night?

We got a Christmas Tree today, a real live smelly one! But before that I woke up and couldn't move, got to love that old cheerleading injury coming back to haunt me. So I decided that today would be my 'snow day' for the year. I did manage to get a lot down around the hostel and on the computer considering I couldn't bend or twist much. We watched a lot of reality TV before we finally decorated the tree at 11! We have the most ghetto fabulous tree you have ever seen complete with a 2+ foot Lance Armstrong angel on top! It's so nice to have the new TV and the Christmas Tree, Santa came early this year!

So today was pretty much all about the new TV! Our TV was been broken for nearly a week now and today we got a new one! I think it's about a 30" widescreen! We were going nuts without it! There was nothing to do besides eat, go out, and drink! Now we can return to movies and music videos. There was also a BUNAC pub meet at The Champion which is really close to here through these really cool passageways! This pub was one of those that was sectioned off by dividers back in the day, cool but the cider wasn't good and we were all tired! Yeah for the new TV!

Sorry I waited so long again!

Thursday the 9th I volunteered at the Foundling Museum for the entire afternoon and found out that I got to use the laptop there when I was 'working.' Then a quiet night at home while others went and saw The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, which I'll see later since I'm poor and couldn't be bothered to go buy my ticket.

Friday I worked in Vauxhall again serving tea, coffee, and lunch. Since I got paid today I went grocery shopping for the first time in weeks! That night a bunch of us decided to go to The Roxy club here in Bloomsbury to cheesy pop night. We finished whatever alcohol we had left in the hostel before drinking a bottle of wine on the street on they way to the club a few blocks away. Loads of fun were had by all which was assisted by a few tequila shots at the club!

We all slept in on Saturday before I got ready to work another event for Esprit working coat check. Pretty much we got paid to eat sugar and drink Red Bull and Coke, as well as a taxi home! Working catering is getting much better and easier the more I do, the people really make the difference!

Sunday brought me back to Hampstead with Chris. We went to get him Hersey's chocolate and explore the Heath. Normally you can see all of London from Hampstead Heath but there was this weird smog covering the city, very 18th century and not good! When we got home we found out that there was a very large oil fire northwest of London that was engulfing the city with a large black cloud! Then Mom & Dad called and we talked for over an hour, yeah!

Yesterday I was awoken by my temp agency telling me to get to a job within an hour, so of course I went, I need £££! I rearranged x-rays at The Wellington Hospital in St. John's Wood for 6 hours. I also have an interview for an assistant librarian position with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. £3 pizza for dinner. Then Chris had asked me to go out with him on Friday, so we pre-gamed and headed to Heaven, the gay club near Trafalgar Square. We left around 10:30 and returned around 3:00. Great music and dancing, so much fun that the two of us have together! Yeah for Will & Grace in London!

Today was more sleeping in and recovering from last night/this morning. Then time to get ready to cater the Chelsea Football Club Centary (Centennial 1905-2005) Legends Dinner. I got to serve the footballers themselves, including John Terry! When I got home King was making chocolate chip cookies, mmm baked goods!

Tuesday was boring again, slept in after I found out that I am going to work Wednesday and Friday. Then I went to BUNAC again! I also wandered around London for a few hours before vegging out the rest of the day. Never Been Kissed was on TV so a bunch of us watched it and wouldn't let the boys, except Chris touch the remote.

Yesterday was my first real day of work. I am being paid £7 an hour to get tea and coffee ready all day. Although they call my position a receptionist, I'm really Natalie from Love Actually! Whenever I wasn't getting stuff ready I got to read or do whatever and still get paid for it. Then after I got home and made dinner we all got ready for the BUNAC Christmas Cruise on the River Thames. Much fun and loads of dancing were had by all! We have got some good dancers here at the BUNAC hostel. I was real smart and wore silly girl shoes, so my feet were still hurting this morning.

This one is going to be long since I've been bad and haven't written since last week!

On Sunday the 27th I went to the British Museum and got to play with some things. I also got an e-mail from my best friend Kristen which really helped since I'm getting bummed out since I am out of money. Later Chris and I went for a walk down and around Cambridge Circus, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Banqueting House, War Memorial, Downing Street, Westminster Abbey, Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Bridge, London Eye, Southbank Walk, National Theatre, Waterloo Bridge and the Strand at night. We had a really sweet moment on the Southbank where we stopped to listen to a street performer play Ain't No Sunshine from Notting Hill (Chris's favorite movie,) leaning over the railing over the River Thames and under the lights. Late start to the day, but it turned out to be alright.

Monday took me out to Kingston-upon-Thames for an interview at a pub. Kingston is a really cute town, I definitely have to come back here sometime soon! When I returned to central London a bunch of us went to the National Gallery. I finished up everything that I had not seen a few weeks ago. Then we went for Vietnamese food for dinner. I had spring rolls, shredded pork, a crab cake, and fish sauce which was all really good. Jo is Vietnamese so she was able to talk to the staff and verify authenticity of all the food we were eating since they served other types as well. Jo, Chris, and I went and played pool at the College Arms in our PJs, who said I graduated from college?

Tuesday brought me one step closer to actually being British. I had my appointment/interview for my National Insurance number (similar to Social Security in the States.) I also found out that I didn't get jobs at either the Cutty Sark or the pub in Kingston. People won't hire me just because I'm going to be gone for a few days over Christmas, I don't get it! I did manage to book a bunch of events with Esprit, my catering company, so that's good. I was unable to make it to my event that night because I got locked out! Also managed another interview at a pub in Northwest London. Once I was let back into my room I went to the College Arms with Dave and Owen to shoot some pool. When we got home Matt was there and drunk but I was in charge of watching over his tiny little Powerbook. I want to get a Mac laptop ASAP!

Wednesday I missed volunteering because I was sick. Then I headed out to my interview in Harlesden, which is right next to the McVities factory (for those of you who have been to London.) The problem was that it was a live-in position over Christmas, boo! So I was out of Dodgy McDodgersonville ASAP! I swear I was the only white person for miles. This was probably my low point thus far since no one will hire me for a real job and I am out of money! I was down to my last 50p and went to Tesco (the grocery store) and bought a whole loaf of bread with my last 50p. You know you're poor when you're living off of bread in London, slightly Dickens isn't it? Then some of the girls decided to pre-game before the BUNAC pub meet. So we got cheap vodka, cranberry juice, and Sprite. We had a few before going to the Cittie of Yorke pub in Holborn, which was within walking distance from the hostel. This pub has been there since 1430! It's really cool with many different floors. The basement looks like a German beer hall and the main floor looked like the inside of a cathedral. At the pub meet Chris and I discovered that we really are name twins! Christopher Louis and Christine Louise, how weird is that? After the pub meet Jo, Michael, Chris, and myself headed to the original Wagamama blocks away from the hostel. Chris taught me how to use chopsticks for the first time! We had really good food. I had Chicken Katsu Curry which was really tasty, especially when slightly intoxicated.

Thursday I finally worked for money in London, exactly 4 weeks after arriving in this fabulous city! Didn't do much besides errands during the day and then headed off the work. I was working the bar and clearing for the Bank of America Christmas Party held at Old Billingsgate Market. It was a bowl party, which are THE rage for parties in London this season. There are 4 main courses served in little bowls with Lobster forks and some sort of dessert, so no seated table service just a lot of walking around with trays. The portage guys were really nice and snuck us all desserts to try for ourselves, since we are not suppose to eat the food without permission. I actually got tipped £5 for bringing some guys some beers, so on the way home I stopped by Tesco to by some groceries since I had a little bit of money again! The necessities: milk, McVities, Sprite, a Cadbury Dairy Milk Mint Chip bar, and a Bounty bar with over £2 change!

Friday brought me back to the Foundling Museum to volunteer again. I just worked the front of house today. So I pretty much drank tea, answered the phone, stuffed envelopes, talked with a co-worker, and ate leftovers from the Christmas party the night before. I had another event for Esprit at Old Billingsgate Market for Royal Bank of Scotland again tonight. This one was a reception and buffet service, so again no plated service for me! This group was a lot more civilized than the party the night before. I finally called Kristen when I got home to let her know I wasn't starving on the street. Then Jo and I tried to wait up for the drunkies to come home from partying without me, but we didn't make it past 3:15!

Yeah for the weekend! Saturday I slept in and then went up to Hampstead with Lindsey. Hampstead was somewhere that I've always meant to go to but have never managed to get to. It is a really nice neighborhood/town in North London where Jude Law allegedly lives. We found this amazing store that carries all sorts specialty foods and has a back room entirely dedicated to American products! We are talking A&W Root Beer, Jif Extra Chunky Peanut Butter, Reese Peanut Butter Cups, Hot Tamales, Mac & Cheese, Betty Crocker mixes, Hamburger Helper, chocolate chips and all sorts of wonderful other things! Then we intentionally got lost on these tiny alleys and passageways before finding our way to Hampstead Heath, which is the biggest park in London. This park really made you feel like you were out in the country even though you were still in the city. The Heath boasts Parliament Hill which provides an excellent view of the entire span of London. We had to sit up there and enjoy the view for a long time, because it was such an amazing sight! I will be returning to Hampstead and the Heath whenever I don't have anything else to do. More £3 pizza for dinner during Pearl Harbor. Then when Chris finally got home from work we decided to stay in for the night. We hadn't seen each other since Wednesday and were completely silly as a result! We decided to play cribbage at 1 in the morning!

Sunday was my first trip out of London since I got here and boy did I need it! We went to Leeds Castle and the Dickens Christmas Festival in Rochester both in Kent, which is in the Southeast of England. Leeds Castle is called the most lovely castle in the world; it was really nice and well preserved. It was traditionally the home of widowed queens of England. There was an brilliant hedge maze that had a lookout and grotto at the middle of it! This one was way better than the one at Hampton Court Palace that I went to February of 2004. Then it was on to Rochester where we ran into all sorts of people dressed up in Dickens costumes. They had a huge fair, High Street was packed with people and food vendors, there was a cool castle and cathedral. Cute town but not as cool as Canterbury or York in my opinion. Right before we left there was a torchlight character parade. More £3 pizza for dinner before heading to the Rising Sun pub just down the street for Emily's last night in London. It was really funny because Chris and were acting kinda like a couple even though straightight and he's gay. Will & Grace in London. The rest of the night we were on the couch in the lounge listening to my iPod and watching videos before bed.

Yesterday boring day of BUNAC office, laundry, grocery shopping, uploading photos, journalling, and Grey's Anatomy. I have eaten 2 1/2 loaves of bread in a little over a week!