Bristol & Bath in a weekend

Hello again. Sorry I haven't updated in so long, I finally had my last exam yesterday. 

Last bank holiday weekend, my friend from Bournemouth came to visit me. On Saturday, I showed her around Bristol and on Sunday we went to Bath. The weather was amazing!! 

I picked her up at the railway station and we went into the centre - to the port.

We walked up Park Street and went to the Cathedral.

Banksy on Park Street

Then we walked up Cabot Tower (I hate the stairs in there, make me feel ill).

To finish it off, we took the bus to Clifton Suspension Bridge. 

I've never been on the bridge when it wasn't raining, snowing or hailing (or night time) so we took some touristy photos.

The weather was incredible! I showed her most of the attractions in town, except maybe The Matthew and the SS Great Britain.

On Sunday, we went to Bath. Sadly, I don't know Bath as well (none of my British friends ever go to Bath as it is so much more expensive to get there) but I still know the most famous bits.. and we found some new ones as well.

When we got off the bus (amazing view on the way!) we went straight to the Abbey. It wasn't open for tourists at that point due to a church service...

 ... so we went on to Pulteney Bridge.

I've never actually crossed the bridge before so that day, we did. There's some boat trips from the other side but the River Avon flows in a weird U shape, which makes it hard to get around town. 

Then we walked across town to get to the Circus (not an actual circus... it's just a famous roundabout). Lara taught me how to use the panorama setting on my phone!!! So here you go:)

From the Circus we walked down Gay Street, which is also quite well-known.

I think that's the street Jane Austen once lived on...

It also hosts the Jane Austen Centre. That guy in the old-fashioned clothing was in a documentary about Bath on the telly a few weeks ago, which my host mum called me down for (It's called Perfect View, and a bloke goes to different cities all over the country to search for the perfect view in each city, while going to different attractions...). So he basically is famous and I've got a photo with him now!! I acted as though I took a picture with the statue next to him and he noticed and almost looked into the camera:) Still a horrible photo though.

He also said "Jolly sauce." when I passed him. Not sure what that's supposed to mean.. too posh for my brain.

Then I showed her the Royal Crescent and used my panorama thingy again:D. There was a couple getting their wedding pictures taken in front of it ... I really want to get married in Bath now!

After a short break, we walked along a road I've never been to and ended up in Royal Victoria Park, which is lovely:). 

 And then we went to the Botanical Gardens.

In the end, we were able to go into the Abbey - so we did.

I'm really chuffed with living in between Bristol and Bath. They're very different cities but both lovely. Sadly, I haven't been spending a lot of time in Bath as no one from school ever goes. The first time I went to Bath was in January/February this year, so I spent half of my exchange year without even going to Bath once, which really bugs me. I'd love to go to Jane Austen's house and do the tour of the Roman Baths but I don't know many exchange students and the English people I know don't really like doing touristy (educational) things. I'm sure I'll be back soon though:)

Have a good week xxx

Bournemouth

Hiya. Last bank holiday weekend I went to Bournemouth to visit my friend from our college back in Switzerland. I took the train from Bath this time (because I wanted to see a different railway station than last time). The taxi into Bath was even more expensive than the one I normally get into Bristol, although it is a shorter distance. My host mum says it's because Bath is a bit more posh but that's no excuse to raise the price!! Anyway.. I was there half an hour early and had Bath for myself, which doesn't happen often (loads of tourists all the time), so here are a few photos:

and that's the train station (not as nice as Bristol Temple Meads)

I had to take the train to Paddington Station but got off at Southampton Central and took the train down South to Bournemouth. All in all it takes about two hours (plus half an hour waiting in Southampton). The coach journey would've taken six bloody hours!! Bristol - Bournemouth isn't actually that far apart, there's just nothing direct.

I first bought my tickets on thetrainline.com (I even have the app) but then I read, that you need to have the credit card you bought them with to pick them up. I had to cancel everything as I'd used my dad's card (they kept £20 anyway), so I went to Temple Meads the night before and went to the counter. A man there told me it's rubbish to order tickets online anyway because they're trying to trick you - I payed about half as much as I would have if I bought it online - and he had an Irish accent, which is always a plus;).

there was a white horse on a hill... 

That's Bournemouth's railway station:). 

I met up with my friend and her host sister from Spain (I got an invite to go to Mallorca!)and we went to the centre:).

Bournemouth has the most beautiful park!
It has a hot-air ballon and an enormous bird cage!!

Then we went down to the beach:D. I also got to go to the oldest Shakeaway!

Overlooking the centre from a car park

We went out for Greek food and then I slept at her place. The next day, we took the bus into the centre (Shakeaway again). From there, we took the bus to Sandbanks.

Sandbanks:)

Then we got on the bus again, which went on to Swanage. It even got on a ferry once!

In Swanage, we had a small picnic.

If you look closely, you should be able to see the hot-air balloon - there's the centre.

Then I had to get the train back to Keynsham. Bournemouth gets swamped with tourists on bank holidays, so I went home on Sunday already. It was lovely, more ... peaceful than Bristol, I'd say, but also a bit more boring:P. 

When I got home, there were more hot-air ballons waiting for me:)

This weekend, I've been ill and in bed 24/7. I hate being ill in a different environment...

Tomorrow and the day after, I have my French and psychology exam and then, finally, half term until the 10th of June, although I have another psychology exam on the 5th. We're officially on study leave now, which means you only have to go to the lessons you haven't had your exams in - but they don't really mind if you don't go to the other ones either as it's only revision anyway;). 

The plans on Paris aren't working out, probably, which I'm fine with - I should be focusing on the UK anyway. I've plans with loads of girls from school to go to London (I know, again!) after all the exams, which will be nice. There are also some plans on Oxford (unis!) and Salisbury including Stonehenge. 

I'll update you on all of that xx