So other than my super exciting adventure of seeing the monarch (who as Robin so accurately pointed out doesnt serve much of a purpose other than tourism) I have been quite remiss in updating this little thing. Sorry about that! I guess i've just been too busy having fun!!!!
I guess I will start by telling you about my trip to manchester/salford: home to the lovely David Leith!!

I left my flat quite early in the morning on not a lot of sleep to go and sort out all my train business. Everything worked out hunky dory and I got myself a paper (how english of me!) and a water and settled in for the lovely 2.5 hour train ride. I got to see quite a bit of the English country side and listen to a group of women who were apparently secret shoppers going to work/spying on costumer service! Thats a job I want!

I got off the train and right there was david with much longer hair than i'm used to (like an inch-inch and a half, not really much) and his friend Sophia....good times. My first experience in Manchester was trying to wade through the crowds and clothes at Primark....which is an experience, let me tell you. Its cheap clothes galore and crowds!!! And I had a big back pack which resulted in me getting knocked around by the masses. I had my first experience with getting looked at like i was an alien. I was talking to David and this little girl looked at me in amazement at my accent....manchester's not exactly as touristy/non english as London.
After that lovely experience I went all around Manchester, to david's university, the Lowry (the theatre that david works at and I now envy!!), I rode on my first tram (a street car basically), i saw the stadium where Manchester United plays as well the Salford Quays which were fun to walk around and what not. We took a bus to David's house and the little bakery where his mom works....so much fun. I got to relax AND partake in Music Videos!!!! David has satellite which equalled at least 20 music channels!!! HEAVEN!!!!! Then David made me a complete dinner, which crackers and cheese and jam as an appetizer....i got to see quite the domestic side of him.

We then decided to go to his nana's where we were staying for the night. There was quite a bit of confusion in regards to his nana's allowance of us to both stay there (we had to explain that we were sleeping in separate beds and that we were just friends, and get permission from his mom!!!) Good times. After that it was back into Manchester Proper where we went to the Royal Exchange to see Romeo and Juliet. It was an all right production, but someone needs to explain to me how swordplay and swashbuckling were still in vogue in 1950s italy. The theatre itself was really cool, it had the appearance of as if the lunar module landed in the middle of an old stock exchange. It was good to see some theatre in the round though. After that we went to the Oyster Bar, quite the historic pub where I had myself my first Mancunian pint AND learned that I can take black and white pictures on my camera!!!
David's dad came and picked us up and I got to drive in a car in Manchester...the whole driving on the other side still gets me, I always feel like we're going to hit the oncoming cars....I'm sure it goes the same way when they come to America.
1 day down. Next day, next entry