UK-trip, Day 1: Amsterdam-Bristol-Cardiff
Originally Tan and I had wanted to travel to the UK as usual: by Eurostar train to London. Due to a national strike in Belgium, we had to find another way to cross the channel. Luckily we managed to buy cheap plane tickets from Amsterdam straight to our destination Bristol, where Panic! at the Disco would perform on Tuesday, January 31.
But I'll start my travel story on Monday, when I caught the bus from my house to the station for the 7.16 a.m. train to Schiphol airport. Despite the snow (!) my journey went according to schedule and I met Tan as planned around 8.45.
Here's what we did on the first day of our five day trip to the UK...


After checking in, passport + baggage control and a lot of waiting we finally boarded the 10.40 EasyJet flight from Schiphol to Bristol. It left about fifteen minutes late.


I had a window seat, yay! I so love watching the clouds:)


At Bristol airport we got on a bus that brought us close to the hotel; we only had to walk around the St. Mary Redcliff Church. Very impressive, couldn't get it in one photo:)


Our hotelroom exceeded our expectations: it was HUGE. Two double beds, a fancy sitting area, a closet full of fluffy towels and tea with flapjacks. \o/


We left our luggage at the hotel, walked to Bristol Temple Meads trainstation and...


... got on the train to Cardiff. We didn't even have to wait!


About an hour later we arrived at Cardiff Central Station. Welsh is a funny "language". :-D


To start our Torchwood fangirling touristy tour, we got on a bus to Cardiff Bay. See the fountain on the right? That's the elevator-exit of Torchwood! For realz!
(When I was here in July 2008 it was covered with strawberries, I'm so glad I finally got to make a clean picture:)


Close up of the Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru (Wales Millennium Centre;)


Tan standing on the Torchwood exit \o/


Both of us fangirling on the elevator (stupid bulky wintercoat)


Eep! We found the Torchwood entrance (former tourist-information centre) covered in crazy fangirl messages; a shrine to coffeeboy Ianto. Oh dear.
(Also: check out the beerlogo on the top building and say it with me: B-R-A-I-N-S!)


Wave of lettering on the pavement surrounding the Norwegian Church in the bay. Couldn't make out what it was saying. There were also inprints of fishes and other sea-creatures all along the walkway. Cool design.

We had wanted to visit the Doctor Who Exhibition/Experience, but as it turned out that was moved to London. So we ended our fangirling and went back into Cardiff Town to visit the Castle!


The history of Cardiff Castle stretches over 2000 years. (Click to read more;)


Before going on a guided tour inside, we walked around the grounds. This is The Black Tower.


Stained glass windows in one of the towerrooms represent all the days of the week, this is Wodan. (Wednesday)


Love conquers all. Or something. :-p


Very impressive mural.


Ceiling of dining hall.


A glorious indoor pool in the top of the tower.


After the wonderful tour, we went into town to find a place to eat. I had to take a photo of the bollards (Is this the correct word? It's what the Dutch equivalent, an 'Amsterdammertje' is called on Wikipedia).


A very helpful* Welshman saw us looking for a cafe, and gave us directions to the best restaurant EVER: Harvester. We shared a starter (potatoes with cheese and bacon, mmm) and chose different maincourses: peas and chicken for Tan, boneless ribs and potato for me (I gave my corn to T.;) Dessert was even better: strawberry sunday for T. and I got a Lemon Blizzard. (Size matters *grins*. De-lic-ious.


Completely satisfied and warmed up we walked back to the station and managed to get on a (delayed) train back to Bristol and our marvelous hotel, where I made a display of my souvenirs:)

Day 2: Walking through Bristol

*All the people today were supersweet! Our cynical hearts melted a little (despite the cold;)

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Vacation! London! Cardiff!
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July 12
DAY 1: From Zwolle to London

8.23, the busstop in front of my apartment


8.45, it's too fucking early to be catching a train to Rotterdam


Quite an amusing warning sign, until you realise people may actually be *that* stupid :-)


Pretty bug. Sadly I may have injured it when it crawled onto my pants and I flicked it away. Sorry. I thought it was going after my lunch.


It was very hot inside the Eurostar-waiting area, so I found a bench outside until boarding for the Eurostar commenced.


All aboard for the 14.59 (2.59 pm) to Londen St. Pancras


I love this building fence - close to my hotel, across from the Northside of Kensington Gardens


My hotel... (affordable, but not recommended)


At least the bathroom was clean,


but the floor and bed were not. (Bring your own sheet is my advice for budget travelers - I used a silk sleepingsack;)


Summary of day 1: traveling (train), walking (thanks to construction work on Underground) and finally checking in in hotel.
At night I went to see 'Hancock' in Vue Cinema on Leicester Sq. and I bought a pair of big bitching blue sunglasses:)

July 13
DAY 2: London - Camden & Brief Encounter

This is what they call a continental breakfast. I only drink tea when traveling. I prefer it the English way: lots of sugar, lots of milk;)


I love the new animated type of advertisements in the Underground. I also love the Underground.


Camden: even if you don't like shopping (like me) you can still enjoy the awesome buildings.
Plus if you are looking for funky stuff, this is the place to go.
It's best to plan your visit in the morning. In the afternoon the market gets hellishly crowded.


I totally resisted the lure of the donuts, but I had to get a glass of real lemonade though. They don't sell the sour stuff in the Netherlands.


Camden Lock


Back on Leicester Square, I saw the arrival of Wall-E on the red carpet.
Except the carpet was blue. And I didn't see any celebrities, only a lot of unknown journalists.


Close up of Wall-E


An artistic point of view of Piccadilly Circus *g*


There are not a lot of shows on Sunday, I got a ticket for Brief Encounter, a stage performance of an old film by Noel Coward.
The actors were also part of the audience plus they stepped in and out the movie, it was fascinating.
The cinema in which they performed was very pretty: an old style theatre with all the staff dressed up like we were in the 30s. Awesome.


My home away from home: 24 hour access to the internet, best place in town:)


Summary of day 2: Scored vinyl in Camden: a special edition Yellow Greenday LP and a PatD single.
I also spent some time in Hamley's, but I only bought a cuddly toy and candy. In the afternoon a visit to the theatre:)

July 14
DAY 3: London - Oxfordstreet + Avenue Q

My big blue bitchglasses on Oxfordstreet:)


To get away from the shoppingcrowd I went to Embankment and crossed the bridge to relax on the South Bank.


St. Paul's Cathedral among other buildings;)


Good food: more lemon drinkie, a Marsmuffin (yeah, I know, never heard of it either, it's evil!) and honey-yoghurt. Mmmm.


In the distance: Big Ben, Westminster Hall and the Houses of Parliament, behind the tree: London Eye.


Avenue Q


Awesome show. Go see it. I already knew two songs (The Internet Is For Porn + If You Were Gay) but every single one of them is worth it.


Summary of day 3: Shopping in Oxfordstreet: books, music (more vinyl!) and dvd's. Avenue Q!

July 15
DAY 4: Cardiff & Chem


Train from Paddington Station. It's a LOT cheaper to travel after nine am. (FYI: 57 in stead of 128 pounds for a return)


Fancy that: a reserved seat:)


Welsh. Apparently. I'm glad they offer an translation in English.


At exactly noon I met Chem and Stef. \o/


We had pasties for lunch. Mmmm.


And then we visited Cardiff Castle.


I especially liked all the cool details.


This is the original castle (from around 1200), it's enclosed by newer buildings.


A great view from the top: the surrounding newer castle ground and in the background the Millenium Stadium.


The symbol of Wales.


That must be the best brandname for a beer.


Well, if they don't offer a translation, I'm not sure if I can follow all these rules *g*


Tadaah: the Millenium Centre. You might recognize this from a little series called Torchwood. I understand it also features in something called 'Doctor Who'.


The citycouncil thought it was a good idea to celebrate the summer by decorating the fountain with strawberries. I cried a little.
Also: because of all the construction work we weren't allowed near it. But the very nice foreman hinted that we might sneak in after the work was done....
In the mean time we walked to the bay-area.


The pier. Ah, I remember it well: were Ianto tried to convince Jack he could make coffee (Fragments)


... and also were Owen jumped into the water (and climbed out dripping wet;)


The entrance of the Torchwood office! Eeeeeeeeeee!11!!!!


Freaking Fangirls :-D


Art.


Where Tosh had a good time with Tommie.


If you look closer, you can see faces on the back of the statue.


I recommend going to the tourist-office first (the official one in the bay;) for a list of locations. And maybe some lessons in Welsh.


Fun: the Who Exhibition; lots of good stuff...


Doctor Ten's and Martha's clothes: the Lazarus Experiment


Yep. That's me and the Tardis. It was spinning!


Don't worry, Chem and Stef had their eyes on it. Still: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaargh.


I love the Ood.


We had a pretty dinner. With lovely waiters as well *g*


And then we sneaked to the fountain for some fangirly-pics. Fucking strawberries.






Summary of day 4: Cardiff! Chem! Awesome!

On the last day I wrote postcards in Kensington Gardens and traveled home. I left London at 14.34 and got home around 22.30.