Taking over England (or wherever): Photo Blog I

Our quarters...

View out our back windows

Taking over England (or wherever): Part I

Cheerio!  So we arrived safe and sound in jolly old Cambridge at around 3:00 pm (that’s British Time for all of you rubes still stuck on crappy East Coast Time) yesterday afternoon.  The trip from Dublin to Cambridge was quite smooth…overall, the entire trip was surprisingly easy.

We touched down at Heathrow in London around 11:00 am or so.  Wrangled our bags onto the luggage carts relatively quickly…in fact, the luggage almost beat us to the terminal…quite efficient.  From there we made our way towards the train station downstairs.  This was as far as we had gotten with our advanced planning.  So, we were trying to decipher the self-service kiosk and I guess we looked sufficiently bewildered, because a friendly airport worker asked if we needed help.  Luckily, I put my ego aside for a brief moment and asked how to get to Cambridge.  She told us to take the bus (or coach as they like to call it…I think to distinguish it from the public transport that operates within cities) and pointed us in the right direction…which turned out to be a good call.  In retrospect, not sure where we would have ended up had that lady not happened by. 

Anyway, we made our way to the bus terminal in the airport and purchased 2 one-way coach tickets to Cambridge on the good old 787.  I paid with British pounds and everything…because I’m super prepared like that.  The bus left about 15 minutes or so after we got there…perfect timing.  The trip took about 3 hours because there were several stops along the way.  I missed most of it as I was sleeping off my hangover from the ridiculous amount of mini-cocktails I imbibed on the flights (not really).  At the last stop before Cambridge, one passenger shouted out to the bus driver, “is this the Cambridge stop?”  I yelled out “newb!” and heckled him relentlessly. 

After that bit of fun…we off loaded in the middle of Cambridge…complete with our 7 bags.  We were greeted by a nice young lady from the Cambridge Christian Student Society (or something) at the bus stop (I didn’t get a chance to ask her if she knew that there was room on the cross).  All kidding aside, she was very nice and helpful in pointing us toward the taxi stand.  Everyone we’ve come across in our short time so far has been very nice and helpful but…I guess I would say…not too hands on.  This is a great improvement over a university I went to briefly in the U.S. (not UCF), where the people were friendly, but also liked to get all up in your business. 

The taxi dropped us off at our college and we went about getting our apartment keys from the Porter’s Lodge (love that term) and taking care of some paperwork with the student liason person…who was awesome.  After that, we made our way…with 7 suitcases in tow to our new home just up the street (about 200 meters or so).  Of course, it had started to rain by this point, which was ideal.  I have to say…the World’s Strongest Man Competition might consider adding the long distance suitcase pull/push as real test of dexterity, strength, and stamina.  If they did…I’m quite confident I could finish in last place…at best.  But alas, we did finally make it and lugged all our possessions up to our second floor apartment. 

After settling in (and napping), we managed to spruce up and head back down to the college for a Fresher’s week pizza social for new grad students.  This turned out to be rubbish as it lacked any semblance of organization…but we managed to throw down a few quid (or something) and cut to the front of the pizza line and grab our allotment…because that’s how Americans roll.  Didn’t really talk to anyone as many seemed to have their little groups…or they were at least faking it…but I did make one very promising connection with a young Asian lad.  He asked me if the party had started yet and I gave him directions to the person in charge (I think) and told him how much it cost.  I think we really hit it off…though I’m not at all sure he was in the right place.

Anyhow, that’s how we spent our first night.  Today we’re just working on getting some more administrative issues taken care of…for example, I apparently have to register with the police office because it says so on my visa.  Can’t blame them really…I’d want to keep a good eye on me too.  Hopefully we’ll get to check out the city a bit as well and purchase a few essentials…like tofu.

Stay tuned for some photo blogs…the first one will give you a look at our quarters.

The Dublin Report

Happy to report that we reached our layover point (Dublin, Ireland) with ease and way ahead of schedule.

A couple of notes from the first leg of our journey…

-  First impressions of Ireland…a lot less red hair than I anticipated, a decent amount of large families with lots of kids as expected, and really good muffins.  One of the first things we passed by upon entering the commercial area of the airport was a big Bailey’s display on one side and a big Guinness display on the other.  Rather cliché if I do say so myself.

-  Our departure was a delayed by a bit for some additional mechanical checks/repairs on our plane.  The gate attendant that announced the delay was highly apologetic, but said it was best to be “safe rather than sorry.”  Fair enough…I would have to agree.

-  As we were taxiing in Orlando, a firetruck sprayed us its hose as we passed by.  This was a bit alarming…especially considering the “mechanical problems.”  I was certainly hoping that the mechanical problems weren’t wings engulfed in flames.  That would certainly have been a bad omen.  Turns out our captain (Gareth) was flying his final voyage before retirement.  While I was happy to learn that the plane wasn’t on fire…the captain retirement news left me a little unsettled.  I could almost read the heartbreaking news story…”Aer Lingus pilot crashes to his death on final flight.”  Also turns out that the Irish don’t mind a little adulation…as a member of the flight crew gave a touching professional eulogy to dear Gareth.  Unfortunately, we weren’t able to meet the man himself at the end of the flight…my suspicion is their might have been a fair amount of cocktails flowing in the old cockpit on this occasion…they are Irish after all.

-  Speaking of adulation…Michelle missed out on a great opportunity for some recognition.  Apparently there was a medical issue during the flight with a passenger and some Irish lady (Emma) offered her professional consultation.  The flight crew announcer recognized Emma over the P.A…right after the Gareth eulogy.  And get this…he also gave a shout out to her husband!  Needless to say I was quite miffed by the missed opportunity.

-  Tried out a little electronic gaming during the flight on the plane entertainment system.  Played what is undoubtedly the most difficult golf course in the world.  It was a par 60 and all the par 3’s were like 300+ yards.  Par 4’s were 500+ yards.  Also tried out what turned out to be the most bewildering version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire ever.  Must have been an Irish version or something, but it was ridiculously difficult.

-  One of the male flight attendants was simply gorgeous and charming.  Honestly, if Michelle left me for him I probably couldn’t have blamed her.

-  There was an in flight duty free offer of 2 cartons of cigarettes for $34.  Seemed like a good deal…

-  Dinner was actually quite decent.  Curried tofu with mixed veggies and rice for me.  I was surprised by the lack of potatoes on an Irish airline.  I figured maybe the potato blight was wreaking havoc again.  (I couldn’t wait to use this joke here.  I tried it on Michelle, but she didn’t seem to enjoy it as much as I did.  I can’t see why…nothing beats historical humor).  

T-Minus 24 hours and counting edition

Just a couple of quick notes because our flight is tomorrow (well…maybe it is and maybe it isn’t…just in case there are any cyberstalkers out there).

-  Just found out some highly awesome, yet highly depressing news today.  Billie Joe Armstrong will be making his Broadway debut this week in the Green Day-inspired show American Idiot.  If we weren’t headed abroad…I would seriously consider flying to NY to this weekend to catch it because he’s only appearing for one week.  So, any readers in the NYC area…try to catch the show this week…and if you do, please light a candle for St. Jimmy in my honor.

-  Another disappointing tidbit.  Lady Gaga is taking her Monster Ball tour to the new Amway Center in Orlando on April 15, 2011.  We’ll still be gone.  Strangely enough…the concert date just missed by one week my nuclear scenario that I mentioned in my “Are you a sports fanatic?” post!

-  That’s it for tonight and will probably be my last posting before we make our way to the old country.  Blog you on the other side.  Until then...take it away MIA...

Weekend Wrap-Up

-  Aside from any type of major personal life and death catastrophe…it’s hard to imagine a more painful confluence of events than those that befell me on Saturday. 

First, I invested 5 hours in my day (including a one and a half hour lightning delay) watching UCF football…just to have my heart ripped out and stomped on once again in the last 30 seconds.  Not that this is surprising…there is little doubt that UCF leads every sport program (any and all sports included) in “tear your heart out and stomp on it” losses.  The type of losses that compel you to attack the nearest recliner chair with your bare hands.  I’ve been privileged enough to experience a countless number of these in person and on television in the past 10 plus years.  Today was certainly no different and followed the blueprint to a tee.  Take an early lead…check.  Dominate all statistical categories…check.  Blow numerous scoring opportunities throughout the game often in bizarre ways (I mean, one of our players was literally running down the sideline headed for a sure touchdown and went down like he was shot in the leg…inexplicable, except for witchcraft or some sort of curse)…check.  Hold a late lead…check.  Lose late in breathtakingly painful fashion…check.   Yeah…I’m not over it yet.  Why do I like sports again?  It really can’t be explained aside from a ridiculously vibrant masochistic streak.

Second, while I was driving down to Melbourne for some anonymous guy’s birthday celebration…I literally could not find a single decent song on the radio the entire 40 minute trip.  I kept switching stations and all I got was Nickelback, California Gurls, OMG, California Gurls, Nickelback, Maroon 5, 3 Doors Down, California Gurls, new crap Daughtry song, Nickelhack, California Gurls.  It was hell.

Third, while the birthday event was pretty cool and I was able to get pretty much wasted off of a very tasty alcoholic cupcake…I embarrassed myself once again with horrendous losses at pretty much every board game known to man.  I really used to be good at life…I think.

Fourth, on the drive home I was stuck listening to Saturday night party-dance club-mash-up night, which is now a staple of pretty much every station on the FM dial.  I avoid driving on Saturday nights like the plague…that’s how much I hate this format.  I really can’t imagine anyone not under the influence of some mind altering substance enjoying this (I should have had a couple more cupcakes).  The thumping beats…the random song mixes…finally getting into a song you like and having it cut off after one verse…horrendous.  I think adult contemporary stations even have their own versions with Michael Bolton, Celine Dion remix mash-ups…or something.  My personal favorite though is the urban stations that blow an airhorn to indicate a song change.  I was really laying into a hot Drake joint tonight and the airhorn startled me so badly I almost swerved off of 95.  I would’ve sued for sure.  I think I should anyway for mental pain and suffering.

-  Sunday turned out to be much less emotionally painful.  Played some tennis (for probably the last time in the States for a while) in the morning…almost threw up, which is always a good sign.  Then headed over to the west coast for our second straight birthday celebration.  Had dinner at a very nice restaurant that also happened to be conveniently located next to a tattoo and piercing shop that was delightfully named “Pleasure Points” (no further comment necessary).  Luckily, we got there a bit early and I had time to swing by and get a nose piercing and a killer tattoo running vertically down the side of my torso with some Japanese characters that say…something. 

-  On the drive over, saw a message board sign outside a church that said something like, “There’s room for you on the cross.”  Who knew?  And, I wonder why?? 

-  On the drive home, we took the opportunity to improve our awesomeness by attempting to identify the artist for each song that came on the radio.  See…that’s an important lesson to all my readers out there…even as awesome as I am…I don’t rest on my laurels.  While many would see a two hour car ride as a chore…I embraced it as an opportunity.  An opportunity to boost my hipness quotient even more. 

-  By the way…Nelly is back…’nuff said!

-  Anyone else heard the new Linkin Park song?  It’s pretty wicked…but beware, it might compel you to grab the nearest crow bar and start pummeling some sort of large metal object.