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

The National History Museum, London

HIYA. So, that's probably going to be the last London post for a while :(. In April, some girls from my college class came to London and I took the train into London, slept at theirs, and went back to Bristol on Sunday because I had school on Monday. Sadly, the holidays in the UK don't match the ones in Switzerland most of the time. 

This time, I went by train. I just wanted to try it once - it is more expensive than going by coach but it only takes 1h45 instead of 3h, plus it's so much fun! I payed about £30 for each of the journeys - Bristol to Paddington and back - (tube and bus pass for London included though), but I didn't take an open return, which would have been have the price. Now I know. 

Bristol Temple Meads Station is beautiful!! 

Paddington

I've developed a bit of an obsession with train stations here. Maybe it's because I never really use the train at home except for going into Zurich, which takes about 16 minutes but the stations here are all so much more beautiful and old, which also makes them more inconvenient.. but oh well.

First, we went to Camden town to visit the Camden markets, which started in 1973 :D. 

Lovely place!

I saw on time out offers that there were celebrations at Trafalgar Square for the Saint George's Day, so we went there. Massive amounts of people.

In the evening, we went out for tea and then went to the cinema:) Spring Breakers. I quite liked it but some others were a bit... shocked. Afterwards, we went back to their youth hostel , which was really comfortable. I was a bit worried at first as it was the weekend right after Margaret Thatcher's funeral. The service was at St. Paul's Cathedral and there was loads of coverage of 'celebrations' on the news the whole time. I know there was some rioting going on in Easton, Bristol as well, and there was loads in London. When I got there, it was all finished though.

On Sunday we went to the National History Museum. Finally! I've wanted to go for such a long time. I keep passing it when I get into the city by coach and when I was younger and came here with my family, I noticed it a couple of times. I was always a bit intimidated by the enormous queues but it actually doesn't take long at all to get in. And it's completely free!! The weather was lovely too:).

strange escalator

and a lovely building

Then, one of my friends and I were done earlier, so we went to the 'Sensational Butterflies' exhibition right outside the museum:). That part isn't free, it costs 4.50 but I reckon it's worth it. It was lovely!!

Then we had some ice cream and I had to catch the train home. 

xxx

Tired of London, Tired of Life

"Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford."
— Samuel Johnson
just change that to 'person' or something more .. neutral.



Hello again. My last post is really long already so I'll continue here. The next time I went to London, I met up with a friend from my college class back home, who is doing an exchange year (well, half a year) in Bournemouth.

We went to Victoria's Secret (New Bond Street 111.. sad that I know that by heart.) Reeeeally posh place!

I don't want to always ask people to take pictures but selfies don't come out right either:P

China Town!!:D

I really want these!

Tube fun;) 

 In the afternoon we went to see 'Potted Potter' at the Garrick Theatre near Leicester Square. I've always wanted to go see something that is advertised when using the escalators for the tube, and I made it:D.

I randomly came across it on the web some time and told my friend about it. I read that the show did a world tour and just came back from Broadway .. plus I'll do anything Potter related anyway. The show used to be around £22 but I found it on Time Out Offers for 15 quid each, so we got them. It was quite good - really funny - although it wasn't a big production whatsoever. There were only two actors, a coffin, a closet and loads of soft toys.. but it worked:).

xxx