Liverpool

These past couple days have been crazy. 

I mean, very hectic, unorganized (how shocking!...not), and filled with activities. Despite the frustrating ways of the Uni, I am still in love with all things English and Chester.

Yesterday, we went to Liverpool for the day while the campus accommodations were being cleaned. We had to be moved out of our temporary housing by 8 am and have everything across campus in a gymnasium. After all of this moving and changing where I am living, I am really regretting packing so much. Ya live and ya learn, right? Next time I study abroad I will remember to follow the blogs' advice that "If you can't carry your luggage up a flight of stairs by yourself, you are packing too much." Since I had to carry my luggage up and down a flight of stairs, I can attest I definitely did not follow the advice I read before leaving. Oops! `

We walked about a mile to the train station in the City Centre, and bought an all access pass to the public transportation for the day, which was really great for later on in the day. We arrived and headed straight for Albert Dock, so we could see the water and grab a bite to eat. Quick tip: a cheeseburger is not like the cheeseburgers at Freddy's or Red Robin. Let's just say I learned my lesson and should've ordered the fish and chips like my smart sis.

Such a tourist! 

My mate Julia! #supermodel

Our group of American friends!

Down on Albert Dock

Stopped by the anchor for Kate! Love you!

We were cheap and didn't actually go inside the Beatles Story, but we took pictures from outside. Mind you, we arrived shortly before 11 and had to be done by 3:45 to get back and move into our rooms, so our time constraints made us pass over the museum. Good thing its only a short train ride into Liverpool, so we can go another time.

We used our all access pass and rode a bus over to Anfield to see the Liverpool Football stadium. We got there 30 minutes before a game was starting, and the whole thing was just insane. I have never seen so much red in my life, or felt such excitement for a sporting game since my time on the front row of the Final Four in Atlanta! (Shout out to my Shockers...LOVE YOU!)

I will be coming back, Anfield! 

After snapping pictures and pretending we were going inside for the game, we took the advice of a sweet English policeman and rode in an English taxi back to the city center where we quickly found a gelato shop to rest from walking 802854 miles in the past few days. Once we left Liverpool, it was time to get moved into our new accommodation. Remember my regretting packing so much? Yeah, it really sunk in moving our bags up a hill, off campus. But PRAISE THE LORD we got everything to our place, with some help, and have a really great house. Here is the view of the sun setting over Wales from our window as we got to our new place:

They only fed us breakfast on campus this day, so after all of us girls got settled into our new places, we met up to find somewhere for dinner. Things in Chester close by 6 pm, except for a few restaurants, so it took us over an hour to find a place to eat. At one point, near 9:30 when out stomachs were rumbling for food, we were refused at a restaurant by a snobby Brit, most likely because of our big, loud, American group. But we eventually found Nando's and stopped for a delicious chicken meal while sipping bottomless Diet Coke (that cost $4 in American money..expensive, but so worth it!)

Walking home from our very late dinner, I was thinking to myself, 'how on Earth do the English look so good and eat chips all the time?' But now I know. They walk everywhere. And so do I, now. Today alone, I had to have covered 5 or more miles, easily. I have never walked so much in my life...but am loving it. My toes are taking a beating, but they'll get used to it. Taking time to slow down and actually see things is refreshing and unlike our fast paced lives in America.

Got another post coming about my afternoon tea today! Thanks for your reading, and look for my next post.

xoxo - Cath