Crunchy Thoughts

[A continuation of the travel diary I kept during the summer of 1999 when I took a European trip with members of my high school French class. Thankfully, Steven took French as well. — Present-day Carrie]

Sitting in Canterbury, as in the Canterbury Tales. Stupid black pen leaked*. Went through the Cathedral. On our way to Dover to get on a ferry to Calais to get on a bus to go to Paris. No more London. Darn, just as I was getting used to it. But I’ve got to shut up now so I can throw away this pen mess I’ve made.

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*later that day*

I’m on a boat! I’m on a boat! I’m on a boat!!! This is so fun, there’s sea spray and we’re leaving a double screw wake behind us**, & its windy & cold, & we ate at a McDonalds on the boat, & its ever so nice. We’re crossing the English Channel on our way to Calais don’t ya know. Wow, this is too spiffy! I’ve never been on a boat this big before, and where I can’t see the land anywhere around us. Total ocean, or channel, whatever. This is mostly a travel day, but I’m loving this boat! Steven did that black pen mark, I didn’t do it.^

This is so very nice. I’m going to have to go on a cruise someday. Fantastic! Steven said he’d take me. I’ll have to hold him to that, ha.^^ Wonder how long it’ll be before we get there. Hopefully it’ll take quite a while. I like the boat. Someday I’m going to sail to Europe on a boat I am.

Tell you what though. I must be losing a ton of hair. Everywhere I go I’m picking it off of my bookbag or my shirt or Steven or my hairbrush. It gets annoying. Maybe I’m going bald.

How can people get seasick on a boat anyway. Yeah, its going up & down & up & down, but it’s rather relaxing and very fun trying to balance yourself. Fun just sitting here and moving along w/ the boat’s jostles & such.

Ken hams it up (bigger)

Laughs like a duck; sleeps like a fish (bigger)

Canterbury Cathedral (bigger)

Canterbury Stained Glass Windows (bigger)

Thomas Becket (bigger)

The Purple Cliffs of Dover (bigger)

I’m on a boat! (bigger)

The White Cliffs of Dover (bigger)

Nerd. (bigger)

*My pen busted and there’s ink splotches and fingerprints all over the page.

**Nerd

^He wrote on my book

^^He hasn’t yet, but his grandparents have. And it was bloody fantastic.

And for the record, that boat crossing across the Channel ended all too soon for me.

[This is a continuation of the travel diary I kept in the summer of 1999 when I ran amok all over Europe, barely 19, towing an 18-year-old Steven with me. Good times. — Present-day Carrie]

I’m in Bath. No no no, not the bath, Bath, England of all places. Like in the Canterbury Tales, the Wife of Bath. I suppose.

For lunch I had a big baked “jacket” potato, which I assumed came from Ireland. Quite good.

Earlier we were at Stonehenge. Wow, it was so nifty. Got some great pictures (I hope). We’ve got about 20 minutes before we have to get on that cramped little bus. Boogers.

Oh, & we barely made it to the changing of the guards yesterday, & also ran by Buckingham Palace. Literally. I think then we had some free time. Walked over London Tower, then had supper, at a chinese food store of all places, then more free time. I think today when we get back to London we’re gonna eat supper, then I don’t know what.

Heading Toward the changing of the guard (bigger)

Running by Buckingham Palace (bigger)

Westminster Abbey (bigger)

Eating, Memorials, Bill Clinton?! (bigger)

Notes From the Underground (bigger)

Things that go hoo wah (bigger)

Looking Up (bigger)

The many faces of Big Ben (bigger)

Umm, Stonehenge (bigger)

More Stonehenge. (bigger)

Could it be more Stonehenge? (bigger)

Rocks. (bigger)

More rocks. (bigger)

Last of the rocks, I swear. (bigger)

The Beginning of Bath (bigger)

The End of Bath (bigger)

[A further continuation of my travel diary from the summer of 1999, when I had the pleasure of touring Europe. I did a lot of stream-of-consciousness writing because that’s how I wanted to remember it. — Present-day Carrie]

Very glad I found my camera! Thought I lost it yesterday, how nerveracking. Anyhoo, we’re on a bus, just walked around the Dockyards I think. Got like half a roll of film of London Bridge. Speaking of rolls, Mrs. Byram* got some of the British toliet paper. Rather like wax paper. Shaky roads. We saw the store that makes the Queen’s underwear.

Seen a lot actually. Trying to get to Westminster Palace in time to see the changing of the guards, but I don’t think we’re gonna make it. Oh well. Wish I could remmber what some of the stuff we’ve seen was. Quite interesting.

Getting situated in London (bigger)

London Driveabout (bigger)

London Walkabout (bigger)

London London London Tower Tower Tower Bridge Bridge Bridge (bigger)

More London Walkabout (bigger)

*Our French teacher

[This is a continuation of my travel diary from the summer of 1999, when Steven and I had the opportunity to go to Europe. In case y’all are wondering (since my 19 year old self was wondering) the plane we flew on was a Boeing 777. It felt safe enough. I still don’t like planes. — Present-day Carrie]

On a bus going to who-knows-where. Neat little houses everywhere, very quaint. Okies are also on this bus (from Oklahoma). Haven’t met up w/ Ganstas (L.A.) & Taters (Idaho) yet.* Didn’t sleep at all on the plane. Stupid jet lag. Theres a guy in the middle of the street selling flowers. Odd trees. Saw some English cows. Got a 2 pound coin, which is like a 2 dollar bill, therefore I’m not gonna spend it.**

The plane was really nice. Had individual TVs in the back of the seat in front of us, w/ different channels and headphones. Really really spiffy. I’m going nuts ’cause I can’t say ‘boogers,’ ’cause its too close to the british ‘bugger,’ which translates into “f***.” Ah well. Good grief, a McDonalds.

The Dr. Pepper tastes fruity, like it’s got cough syrup in it. Instead of ‘speed bump’ the signs say ‘hump.’ Got a picture of it. Not to mention we’re on the wrong side of the road.

Whoa, going over river. Cool boat.

Whoa, a castle-looking thing. Thing its a cathedral.

Mac^ keeps pointing out cars of all things. Britons seem to like flowers and trees. And hanging their laundry out on the balcony for all the world to see. I wanna live here someday just so I can say that I did.

When we got off the plane, we didn’t have one of those walkways; we went down those metal steps like you see in old movies. Too nifty. Straight to the outside.

Right outside Holland Park.

Hey, we’re in Notting Hill, like in the movie. Going to be out our hotel soon says the guide.

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Now we’re in some park — biggest park in London. Just Steven and I; everybody else went thataway —->^^ Don’t have to be anywhere ’till 2, and it’s only 10:44 now (London time, of course). Really nice park, fountains and huge grassy areas. Big fly on my foot. Went away. Lots of pigeons too. Supposedly they’re famous. Uh huh.

Really nice weather. Sunny, no humidity at all (so used to Alabama’s liquid air) & a nice breeze. Didn’t expect to get this much free time, even if just this once.

Airplane and Hyde Park (bigger)

Hyde Park and Steven (bigger)

More Hyde Park (bigger)

*We were part of a group of four different classes. Us Alabamians were all from my high school French class (I signed up when I was a Senior). The others were from the three states mentioned. I’m sure we were the ‘Rednecks’ to them.

**I still have this coin.

^Arrow actually drawn to point NE, if one assumes the top of the page is N.

^^Mac is from our group, but we don’t like to claim him. You’ll hear more about him later.

[This is a continuation of the travel diary I kept during a European vacation during the summer of 1999. I figured I’d best type it up . . . you know, in case of fire, alien invasion, etc. — Present-day Carrie]

While I’m thinking about it (& cause Steven reminded me) here’s a tenative Present List:

Mom — I dunno, something English
Dad — a Frenchman punching bag, prefferably a politician (seriously, as long as its not from France, he’s happy)
Cathy — I haven’t a clue
Grandmother — too easy
Jennifer* — she’d get a kick out of a naked statuette (can you tell I’m in a car?)
Joey — the Blarney stone or something naughty

That’s all I can think of.

We’re in a car (duh, look at my handwriting) heading toward Atlanta. To get in a plane. I don’t like planes.

Me, Paul, & Steven are in this car with Mrs. Williams, and Mrs. Byram is driving the rest. I don’t like planes. I also don’t like writing in a car, so I’ll continue this when I’m less shaken.

[later, and in a different ink color]

Yes! I survived the plane!

Ohh, guess its day 2 . . .

*Jennifer was my college roommate. Joey was a good friend of both mine and Steven’s.

[In part to keep my mind off things, and also in lieu of other ideas, I present to you the travel diary I kept during a span of two weeks in the summer of 1999 when I went on a trip to Europe. I was 19 years old, a newly-minted college sophomore, and Steven and I had been dating for an entire month. He was with me on this trip. We were in that ‘new couple’ stage and drove everyone crazy with all the hand-holding and such. Nothing like a little European adventure to start off a relationship. — Present-day Carrie]

Yes, today is packing day, that day in which you discover just how much clothes you own and just how much medication you’re on.

For the most part I’m packed; I’m just hiding in my room to avoid doing chores. Shame on me,bad bad. Surprisingly, I still have ample room in my suitcase, which I suppose is better than vice versa. Yay, more room for souvenirs.

Earlier today I went to British Airway’s web site. I wish I knew that kind of plane we’ll be riding. I hope it’s not a DC-10. Their average age is older than I would prefer it to be. Most of the planes’ seating charts showed rows of 3 seats, isle, 4 seats, isle, then 3 more seats. Not many 2-seaters. Probably be w/* Paul, or KenandAngie**. Rather have 3 than 4 I suppose. Heck, I just want the plane to get from point A to point B w/o any problems. I really don’t like planes. Hmm, what was it that Calvin said? Oh yeah, w/ the way our appliances break all the time, it’s a wonder that anybody gets on an airplane. Bad handwriting today.

* I’m electing to keep all the shorthand and grammatical errors I wrote. Thankfully, there are few errors, just shorthand and horrible handwriting in general

** Ken was dating a girl by the name of Angie at this time. She was also along for the trip. Ken, don’t say what happens!!!