London Triangle and Beyond

Ok if you're ready this will probably be the longest blog post there ever was. Sorry haven't written but our hostel which, I have been waiting forever to visit and was written up in a new York times article 4 years ago ( yes I've been planning that long and dreaming about it for so long) charged us for Internet which is why I have been so far behind.
So to start out Katie and I did what we refer to as the London triangle and successfully did it. So what does the London triangle consist of you might ask well all of this in a day on May 31....
Edinburgh--> London: Megabus (10:30 pm --> 7:30 am)
London --> Chesterfield: Megatrain (9:00-11 am) Chesterfield -->London: Megatrain (7pm-10pm) London --> Salzbury; RailEurope (11-1am)
Salzbury-->London: Megatrain (7-10pm June 1st)
Yes we were crazy but got everything we wanted out of it. The bus ride was about 8 hrs and probably not the most comfortable ride you would want but I got around 5-6 hours. Once we got to London we took the tube stop to King Cross/St. Pancras (their connected) so we did platform 9 3/4 which was actually between platforms 8-9 which upset Katie and probably any die hard Harry Potter fan.
Then we went to chesterfield because it was the closest town to Chatsworth hose. When we got to chesterfield,although I had bus instruction but was confused how to use them we decided to take a cab.
But ended getting stuck in traffic due to it being a bank holiday and a Tudor festival on the grounds. Anyways we took the tour of the house which had the most beautiful entrance and artwork. Many of you might know this house as Pemberly from the new Pride and Prejustice or if you've seen the Dutchess both with Kiera Knightly and shows the inside of the house. The house was just amazing you couldn't believe it was real and that people still live in it. So the house had the veiled woman (if you seen P&P you know what im talking about when shes in the hall with all the statues which by the way that hall really does exisit). The house also had modern artwork which was cool except they had a Andy Warhol type of pic that just kept changing colors of a daughter in law. We explored the grounds which had beautiful flowers and of course the beautiful fountain. Then we also visited the farmhouse which was like a mini zoo with no joke chickens and hens walking amoung the people and the biggest pigs you will ever see.
Currently this chickens have given the current dutchess prize winning eggs. Katie and I also had a pasty which I wasn't a huge fan of but it tasted like chicken noodle soup in a pastry. Then when it was time to leave we saw we had missed our bus by 15 mins so we asked for an alternative root to see our bus pulling away. No worries folks it was for the better. We walked through the sheep poo grounds till we found a path which led us to the new bus station where we met a nice old couple who take walks every Sunday around the grounds and showed us to our train which we had to wait for an hour since we were early and everything closed at 6. Oh almost forgot to tell u the best part on the way to chesterfield a family was stopping at Derby to pick blueberies however this cute little kind in an English accent kept saying over and over "I don't want to go to Derby I don't want to go"
however when the dad said don't you want to pick blueberries he said I want to pick blueberries bur not go to Derby. Ok maybe it was a had to be there moment
Finally get into London and are taking the train to Salzbury where we had an adventure. We got in at 1am and took a taxi since it wasn't walking distance. We get to our hostel and we were locked out. So now it's 1:20 2 girls now walk the lone streets on Salzbury til we run into a car which points us in the right direction of a hotel which was 3 minutes in front of us. We get to the citylodge and ask if they have a room which they do. Thank God!! Wait it gets better; we got the discounted deal since it was a holiday and we get a full breakfast with ceral, toast, tea and fruit plus it's the first time we have a shower to ourselves. We slept like babies which is why the next day they had to knock and sound 2 alarms.
We checked out and went on a tour bus for Stonehedge which felt so weird to finally see it in person. Thankfully they had an audio guide because I would have been just staring at rocks for an hour. We learned how the rocks that are standing are at least 5 feet in the ground and have groves on the top of them so they fit like a jigsaw puzzel. It also acts as a calendar where each month the sun shines through each pillar and how on the summer soltice it hits the middle one perfectly. Although it is an amazing structure the reason for it is still unknown. What is known is around the structure and throughout Salzbury there are burial grounds that look like hills.
After Stonehenge we went to Old Serum which was included in our ticket and where there used to be a castle of one of the Kings but William the conquerer took over it and destroyed it. It was a fun place to see however the most enjoyable part were two groups of children. One group was just brothers playing hide and seek which the others had army gun, army hats, and swords. Seriously felt like you were back in a messed- up middle ages with Army men surrounding you. Was to funny.
After old serum we went to Salzbury Cathedral where we caught the last tour however it was given by an old lady who talk. e. D. Like. T. H.
I. S.... Although the cathedral was interesting like how they painted over everthing and knocked down all the saint statues and how the spire is somewhat on the verge of falling on the catedral if our tour guide spoke faster we would have gotten the opportunity to see 5 magna cartas. Oh well till another time or another museum that had it. I thought it was at the British library too but I can't remember plus we didn't go there on this trip. Then we got our bags and went to the train station where we thought there would be a waiting area but no.
So we sat on grocery bags and had our dinners(I had mediterranean Chicken with cous cous from tesco!!! --> I was excited about the grocery stores cuz of watching xfactor uk and other british things. ) We finally got to London to our hostel however our room was a sauna/ penitentiary because we had white walls and no windows. Here we met Heath, Ashley, and Brittany. We all bonded over the hotness of the room and since we were all from the states-weird I know. But Heath Katie and I bonded over the other girls after they left because they rushed through London and wanted to see the zoo. Really, hello there are zoos back home haha.
So I'm gonna summarize London the best way possible by telling you everything we did. Katie and I became masters of the tube thanks to the lovely touch application. Well when we arrived we went to the Bloody Tower of London where we had a beefeater tour where the guy was very funny. (In order to become a beefeater you need to have served for your country and depending on your rank you had a different uniform at the tower. )He asked where we were from and we told him Chicago and he said I love Lsd which we replied we did too and everyone looked confused. So he told them the Chicago secret of Lake Shore Drive.
We then saw the crowned jewels which were spectacular and then went to the white tower. The white tower used to house kings and queens and this time when I was there, there was an exhibit. It housed some of the same things but added more content. We also went to the bloody tower where bloody Mary stayed when she was in the prison. Inside the tower they had a mystery who done it exhibit which talked about 2 princes who were found in the tower who were in line to the throne before king Richard took over. Both Katie and I guessed him and to treat ourselves we had delicious macaroons. After the tower we went to St. Paul's which we couldn't tour fully because they were having evening song. Katie and I both had a little tiger snooze there but the ceiling was beautiful. For those who don't know, st Paul's is where Diana and Charles got married. From there Katie and I went to Trafalgar square and Piccadilly circus where we just stood and looked at it. We were both tired and it was approaching 7 so I suggested let's see a play which we chose well I guess I chose Hair since we were supposed to see it for my 21st birthday but it was sold out cuz it was free. That's another story. Anyways we got cheap tickets £39 each and were in row L at the aisle which ended up being Katie's seat where she got her hair stroked multiple times and the main character tried to get her on stage with all the other audience members bur we denied him which made him do the awkward smile/ok laugh like he's never been denied. Anyways the show was so upbeat, brilliant, and covered the 60s. I loved it.
The next day we did a split day. Katie saw the cabinet war rooms while I went to Stamford Bridge where my football team Chelsea plays and where I want to work in the future. (skip this paragraph if you don't want to hear footy or my obsession with the team/the sport)We saw where the WAGS (Wives and Girlfriends) sit during matches. The away locker room/ loser room( called loser room because not that many people win at Stamford) where they have the lockers below the seats, dry erase board behind the door which has to stay open during matches and crappy madage chairs. Then we went to the home locker room where everyone's jersey was out and displayed by what language you spoke meaning you'd sit by your friends. All the English players were together and Jt and Lampsys lockers were next to each other :D. German speaking African speaking etc. Then we saw Jts personal massage chair which is next to Lampsy where the hold hands while getting their messages. We went to the press room where I got a picture from behind the desk and then we walked down to the pitch which we couldn't walk on because they are putting down new grass. Finally we sat where the Chelsea players sit and where the crazy fans sit. Then we went to the megastore where I was overwhelmed and spent about an hour. During which my suntan lotion exploded in my purse, my picture taken with the Premier league trophy, Fa cup trophy, and Community shield broke the printer that when I finally went around the stadium and did the museum I finally got my pictures And received 3 copies.
After the stadium met up with Katie where we did 10 downing street, although you couldn't see anything, and Buckingham palace to get good pictures because with the changing of the guard you see very little.
The next day we did Westminster Abbey and Kensington Palace.
Westminster was awesome as always. Loved the writers corner and Henry VI chapel. Then we did Kensington Palace but 1st we went to whole foods to get some food and had a lovely mini picnic which involved strawberries, a salad, brownies, and a tart/pasty. Then we went to Kensington Palace thinking it would have stuff of Diana's and previous princesses but unread found a creepy child like museum. So after that Katie and I wandered around the park to find the Peter pan statue and the Diana memorial fountain which is a fountain that everyone can play in; very cute. Then Katie and I made it to Harrods where the French Connection collection sucked us in and although we resisted at first by not trying things on. We eventually did and bought ourselves dresses.
Finally our last day in London we went to Buckingham Palace to see what we thought would be changing of the guard but was in fact practice for the queens birthday next week. It was a blast to see all the different uniforms and horses but after standing for an hr and a half with no action we left because we heard it was going to be the same things we just saw. So we went to Portabello Road which was like a mile long and
where we had paella for lunch homemade bruscetta and I had a crepe.
After walking for so long and being in the sun we thought let's go to covent gardens to relax thinking it was a garden. But no it's a huge shopping area and we took 198 steps to get there because we didn't want to take the lifts since the lines were long. Although we didn't do much here we ate at Nandos :D (a sneakybplot to go there because it's a certain british boybands fav eating spot.) The food was delicious. I had a chicken breast pita with pineapple and cheese. Yes sounds gross but delicious.
After nandos went to see the globe theatre and then went home to pack and have a glass of wine because it took us an hour to get home due to construction work.
It was up early to catch the Chunnel to Paris. We got in around 12 but didn't leave the station til 1. One things for sure everything we wanted to do in Paris didn't happen, but that's ok. We got our tickets to go to Versailles but got on the wrong train so a French man in his 50s helped us get on the right train and our transfer train plus he looked out for us. Told us to stand rather than sit because the pickpocketers get you better. Made sure we had our purses in front of us. Was very nice which was odd since the French hate us and everyone we were in contact with thus far had been rude to us. Besides this man and Versailles Katie and I believe France doesn't like us that much.
When we transferred trains Katie somewhat slipped in the gap and lost her shoe. So for about 5 minutes she was walking in the French station with 1 shoe on and 1 foot barefoot until I gave her 1 of my socks.
Then we got her Eiffel Tower flip flops before heading to Versailles which honestly is a golden palace since gold is everywhere. It was a beautiful palace and the grounds were too. We didn't get to explore much because I had to catch a train to Salzburg. But we did see a fountain show set to music however I couldn't capture it because my camera broke :'(.
Once back in Paris Katie and I had our last supper together before taking a taxi to the station I had to go to while Katie went to the EiffelTower.
So now I'm exploring on my own and going to make more mistakes without my other half near by. So to get to Salzburg I took a sleeper train which was suppose to fit 6 people but it was just to me and an older German Lady. So I got to sleep in a bed and got a decent amount of sleep but the train tracks and refueling stops woke me up sometimes.
However it was definitely the way to travel for me since got a good amount of sleep and it cost only €39.
That's about it. On the way to Salzburg in a commuter train that's going all the way to Budapest crazy. Well til next time and if you read this all in one sitting Bravo !