3. "take away" Vs "to stay", and the strongest coffee of my life.

September 13, 2009
11:54pm

...and I think I'm finally caught up to my actual posting days!

When Ian picked me up from the airport, he told me to enjoy the beautiful warm day because the remainder of the week would be poor conditions. EVERY DAY HAS BEEN BEAUTIFUL! I was actually hot yesterday, and while  can't say the same of today (at times I FROZE in my shorts, T'shirt and blazer), it was still blue sky, puffy clouds and sunshine.

This weekend was "Heritage Days" in Guildford meaning most historical buildings, even ones normally not open to the public, were open, free and had guided tours all weekend long. What lucky timing! Yesterday I was out from 10am til 7pm-
- visiting the bell tower in St. Mary's church
-the local community theatre, the Electric, where I learned a few of my GSA shows will be held            - touring Abbot's Hospital (open to public only once a year) which isn't a hospital at all but an elderly person's home, equipt for housing 8 single and 4 couples, founded by Archbishop of Canterbury, George Abbot in 1619, and complete with actors in costume, delivering speeches as Abbot himself (and a house servant/ nurse).
- having tea and cake in Guildhall, Guildford's original courthouse.
- seeing the crypt of the Angel Hotel- the last remaining travelers inn and widely rumored to be haunted.
.... and much much more!

Today I met a tour group at the Tunsgate Arch (which is the former market square) for 2 guided walks- Hidden Guildford and Historical Guildford. I was v. taken with the Historical Guildford walk and particularly our guide, Gill. (Jill, in America). She seemed eager to tell me of special things to do while I'm here and shared with me a little of her life story- born and raised in town, left when she was 22 with her teaching certification, and traveled the world- Asia, Africa...!- for the next 30 yrs. I was in awe of her knowledge and bravery. And the tour was fascinating.

On the tour I made my first 2 friends here. (sorry Roger, roommates don't count because you have to like me! *wink*). Lieke from Holland and Josifina from the Netherlands- both not quite 20yrs. old and here for the year as au pairs. I immediately liked them, they've only just arrived themselves, and we spent much of the tour together- laughing and talking like old friends. At the end of our tour, Gill told us that London's having similar festivities next weekend, "Open House," and I think the girls and I are going to take the train there together on Sunday. We also agreed to do the "Haunted Guildford" walk on night soon and eventually make a trip to Bath. I am glad to have met nice girls to spend some time with doing tourist activities.  Lieke is even taking GSA's Saturday school- and she's excited because she's only ever dance ballet and is not much of a singer (but studying voice and tap!). We exchanged numbers and facebook info, and I hope to hear from them soon.

One disappointing discovery I made today, while I was freezing and trying to escape the harsh winds for an hour, was that every little coffee shop or bakery or cafe here charges exorbanat rates for staying in with your food. For example, I walked into a little french bakery, hoping to have a coffee and pastery, and immediately saw that coffee to "take away" was only a bit over a pound. However, that same coffee "to stay" was nearly TWO pounds! I ordered it to take away, of course, on principle if nothing else, and walked to find another place for my pastery and to sit. But several shops later, I realised that EVERY PLACE is the same- including Starbucks. RIP OFF!!!!! And I refuse to pay almost 4bucks for coffee (coversion rate inconsideration).

I didn't get a pastery at all. I wandered into a "Pastery shop" which turned out to be puff pasterys with various fillings. I chose the smallest, "traditional," which was beef, potato and onion and took it and my coffee to Quakers Arch (even the pastery shop had ridiculous "to stay" fees!) and sat in the v. back on a bench under a little wooden covering- hoping it would sheil some wind. It did. I still froze. My coffee heated me up again, but it was- this is an understatement- so unbelievably almost undrinkably strong (suited only for my dad and Ivan, really), even with cream, that I had to take it in small doses. It had me wired for the 2:30 walk, for sure!

Tonight I met Tom. And his grandmother who dropped him off. He seems as great as Roger, and we are having food and drink tomorrow night to learn a little more about each other.

It's late. I'm beat. Despite the Ambien I took on my flight here to avoid jetlag, I think I'm still fighting it a little.

Tomorrow I'm walking the river!

With Love,
Juliana