I love libraries, and you should too.

I finally found a free source of interwebs! The Cambridge library graciously let me sign up for a membership, which not only was free but allows me to check out books while I'm here as well as use their computers. As if that wasn't enough, I can also bring back my laptop whenever  I want to and use their WiFi, which means that as soon as I can pull myself away from sightseeing long enough, I'll come back with my laptop and post our pictures on picassa. Whew! For a few days there I was worried I would have blog when I get back to the states.

Our trip so far has been wonderful. Here's a quick rundown. I'll likely post more when I bring my laptop with pictures.

Thursday-Friday: Travel from Santa Barbara to Bath via Los Angeles, Atlanta, and London. We took a ride from a friend, a bus, two planes, and another bus. Our travel was as smooth as any transantlantic traveler could hope for.

Saturday:

We got our rental car and Mark drove better than the characters on the Amazing Race. We drove a Leon hatchback which was virtually brand new and quite sporty. It rand on diesal and we used less than 1/2 a tank for ~350 miles. In total we spend about $60 USD on gas. The car was very cool in that the engine stopped when the car stopped, much like a hybrid, and started again when you put the clutch in. At first we thought Mark may have been stalling, but we figured it out.

After getting our car we drove on to Stongehenge, seeing a few small towns on the way. The drive was scenic but terrifying. And by terrifying I don't mean Mark was a bad driver. I mean imagine a two lane tiny highway in the US where the speed limit might be 35mph or maybe 40mph, and then put no shoulder on it, and then put yourself in the left lane, and then everyone drives about 60mph because that's the speed limit. And oh yeah the middle paint is white not yellow so you can never be sure if you're on a two lane one way or a one lane in each direction road. CRAZY. What boggles my Californian mind is that these are the roads kids learn on before tackling the "dangerous" motorway which has nice, wide lanes and decent shoulders and the speed limit is still 60mph or 70mph (though we quickly discovered most people go about 80 or even 90...despite the camera cops.)

Stonehenge was very cool. Even though it was ultimately rocks and grass it was amazing to see it in person. Seeing stonehenge has long been on my bucket list so I crossed another one off. It was slightly disturbing to see the finely manicured grass and touristy turnstiles next to the ancient stones but I've been to enough to US monuments to know that where's there's an oppurtunity to make money, it will be taken. We also saw the set up for the summer soltice crowd, which looked intense. That's one line I can't say I'm sorry to miss.

Sunday:

On Sunday Mark and I went to check out the Roman Baths in Bath. Although expensive these turned out to be better than we anticipated. Although very much a tourist trap (expensive museum) it was very well done and an enjoyable experience. I personally enjoyed that I could pick the kids' version of the audio guide to listen to which I found to be more concise and entertaining. It was just so incredible to be able to experience something so old right up close.

Sunday afternoon brought me my first real castle. Now, in my book, turrets=castle, so pretty much every building ever that I've seen here counts, but there's this whole historical thing about being used for war and royalty and what not. So Sunday afternoon we went to Windsor Castle which was yet again a big tourist trap but we enjoyed it anyways. I got to see the queen's dollhouse including a lot of her doll collection and doll clothes. As a girl who grew up playing with dolls, this was VERY COOL. Definitely one of the highlights for me so far. We also saw real suits of armour and tons of swords and guns and war things, lest anyone think I made Mark go look and princesses and dolls.

After the castle we made it to a little hotel that we expected to be mediocre based on the steal of a price we paid for it. But when we got there it turned out to be a very nice room inside of a mansion. Literally! We were disappointed to only stay briefly because we had to wake up the next morning to get ourselves to Cambridge.

Monday:

Mark and I met up with the lab Mark will be working with and we were given the grand tour. The lab is very cool and unlike many of the buildings here in the town of Cambridge, the lab is in an ultra modern building. Much of the lab is built with wood so as not to affect their experiements, and as a result the lab as a cool rustic feeling with high arched ceilings and wood beams. After the lab we head to check into our flat, which is located right in the centre of town. Mark and I were thrilled to discover that the flat they have put us up in is bigger than our current apartment in Santa Barbara. We dropped of the rental car as much of the center of Cambridge is closed to cars during the day (and the car was expensive) and Mark headed back to the lab while I goofed off.

Last night Mark and I made no less than five trips to the grocery store which is about five doors down (two houses in a U.S. neighborhood). The food at the store is extremely cheap! We bought jam for 40p. That's $0.60USD people. We're not entirely sure what makes the food so cheap. Eating out is very expensive and the food is very heavy and greasy for our California taste buds, so buying groceries was a welcomed chore.

The other interesting thing is that we are finding there to be a bit of a language barrier. What, you say? Yes, even in an English speaking country, the thick accents and the different words for things compounded with jet lag have made for more than a few incidences of Mark and I walking away from someone and he asks "did you get that?" and I say "not a clue".

That's all for now!! Pictures in the next day or two, I promise!!