Day 1 & 2

Today is day two of our stay in Europe but I wasn't able to put a blog together fast enough to explain day one before day two...if that made sense. I am now sitting in my little dorm in Cleaves Hall, in Nottingham, England. Nottingham is what a local said was the place to come for bachelor/ette parties and to just have a great time. We went out to a place called "The Yates's" last night which was a bar similar to something you see on mill but filled with a bunch of British speaking folks (total culture shock for me)! We then went to this tequila bar which was called "Cucamara" and was also fairly packed and similar to Canteen/Dos Gringos...somewhere in between the two. I can't really explain how people were dressed but I swear there were girls who actually drew on mustaches, looked similar to Lady Gaga, and even people in Halloween costumes. Not everyone was like this but enough for me to be like...WTF? I sat on the plane with two very nice people from Germany named Simone and Philip who were extremely amazing to talk to and towards the end of the flight I learned they both had horses which immediately hit a switch with me because I used to ride and Simone has reining quarter horses which are beautiful (she showed me pictures). They told me about the surrounding countries around me and let me know a little about everything. Oh, did I mention they just went from Germany to get married in Vegas?! These two had the right idea and it just shows how popular Vegas is! Megan, Erica, and I have been walking around town today in Nottingham and did some shopping in a store called M&S similar to a clothing department store and a Fresh&Easy combined. I did some grocery shopping because it is expensive here. I also ate a kangaroo burger for lunch which was QUITE interesting if you ask me...a little ketchup and mayo made that baby taste just right! The airplane ride yesterday was pretty long and annoying (9 hours and 45 minutes) and then we had to stand at the UK border to get into the UK for about fourty-five minutes...ew! We then took a three hour bus ride to Nottingham where I slept the ENTIRE time. This morning we did some coffee at Costa Coffee shop and walked Nottingham but by three pm (my time) we were all wiped out and passed out. I woke up at sevenish but Erica and Megan are still sleeping and it is now eight here. We are living right next to a church which is quite interesting to listen to on a Sunday...haha. They also have a church down the street with some bells that chime all afternoon while you are walking the town. There is also a clock too that dings a lot. I'll get used to it I'm sure. For my lovely sisters Evyn and Amanda, I am seriously a one minute walk from H&M...ha! It's a mad house in that place on a Sunday btw...yikes! I'm trying to think of anything else that is of importance...I tried some absinthe! EW that stuff is nasty. Didn't really do much either. We also ate at this Italian Restaurant called Frankie & Benny's where I had my first pint of English beer called Carling. I start class tomorrow at 8:45am at New College Nottingham which will be interesting. I guess for now that is all and I'll be sure to figure something else to write later in the day. Sorry my blog is all over the place but I assume you will get the picture!

LOVE YOU ALL AND MISS YOU(kinda)!
Ashlee

The dreaded border

More city center

H&M that is so close!

Some food festival...

Nottingham's city center

My first English pint!

Frankie & Benny's...I didn't have a coke float...just wanted the name!

Megz and I

Absinthe

Megz & E-roc

Erica Megan and two of the girls on our trip