Carlisle etc

 Saturday Emma and I went to the butterfly house. To get to it you have to go through this really pretty park that is the perfect place for a picnic when it gets nicer outside. The butterfly house had turtles and fish and it was awesome. There was also a bird house and a "mini beasts" house with spiders and snakes and really gross things.

After the butterfly house and lunch we went into town and watched football/ rugby with Brian & Jon. I really liked it it filled a bit of the hole in my heart left from not being able to go watch hockey at Hudsons or something.

Monday Elise and I went to see the Vagina Monologues.. It was really funny but just outrageous in some parts. That night I went to Elements with some friends and it was soo much fun the club reminds me of something out of gossip girl. I love the free buses that take us back to campus! 

Tuesday was Vday! So I tried to give all my friends their valentines.. most Europeans had never had one like the one I gave them but I know they loved them ;)

So Wednesday I did larping. Except the UK people didn't like it when I called it larping. I had a shield and wooden sword and everything, it was awesome. It was really funny and so much fun even though I have some major bruises now.

FRIDAY I LEFT FOR CARLISLE! I got on the train at 7:30 and got to Carlisle at 8:20 ish. I met up with  Andy and we walked to his car and I walked around to the drivers side by accident. We drove to town and what did we get for dinner? Fish & chips of course. We got to his house which is out in some farmland and down a bunch of narrow windy roads and the first thing I see when we park are the stables right beside his house. I must have died and gone to heaven. We went inside and I met his parents, siblings dogs and cats and was soooo happy. I stayed in his sisters room and the duvet felt amazing compared to the one the Lancaster gave me. We went to the Lanercost cathedral which is half ruins and it was really really pretty.

It was noticeably colder in Carlisle then in Lancaster.. I know I really shouldn't be complaining about being cold all but it was really chilly! We went to different parts of Hadrians Wall and to a few Royal Army museums. They were cool but there is only so much time you can spend looking at rocks that used to be a wash house or a tower. Most of the rocks from the wall were scavenged so there's not much left.

We went to Carlisle castle and I'm really glad I have good insulation in my flat. Andys house is so nice and the area around it is beautiful. His house in on a hill and in the back is a creak.

 When we got back from doing touristy things on Saturday his dad was watching rugby. I was so happy to sit there with them watching (not necessarily understanding) rugby and cricket.  His parents were so nice and they said it was because they were "paying back everyone who was hospitable to Andy when he was in Canada". I wasn't going to complain! I hope they adopt me... =)

Sunday we drove up to Newcastle Upon-Tyne. We went and saw the Angel of the North which is the largest angel statue in the UK... It was different looking.

We went to the Life Center which was this really cool science place.

That night I had dinner with his whole family and just hung out. It was really good to have some sort of family time. 

<3