Lancaster Diary
10/17/04
Hey everyone!
Erica
and I have managed to get a few journeys around England under our
belt. This past weekend we were able to travel with Susan to Kendal
on Saturday (a trip sponsored by the school) and then to Southport
on Sunday to go exploring with Donnah and Nicola. Thankfully,
although I was still popping the penicillin, I was much better and
able to go!
Saturday morning we left early and boarded a coach bus, along with a
bunch of other foreign students, that took us to Kendal. Kendal is a
medium sized town quite similar to Lancaster. It is about 45 minutes
north east of Lancaster, but still considered in the North West part
of the country. It lies within a county in the Lakes District known
as Cumbria. On Saturdays there is a town market, which lies
partially inside and partially outside. We had a nice time looking
at the local and vendors and sellers. Upon the suggestion of Donnah
and other English friends, we each bought a Kendal mint cake.
Contrary to popular belief, this “cake” was not a cake at all. It
was a thin bar of an edible mint confection. Erica described it best
when she said it was “like biting into a bar of soap.” We would not
necessarily recommend them. We then walked outside where there were
more vendors, one of which was selling the Harris Tweed wool caps
that this country is notorious for, after a bit of deliberation
Erica bought one for herself. Here you can see her donning the
traditional cap!
We then walked over to where the ruins of the Castle are. It sits
right on top of a large hill and when you get to the top there is a
beautiful view of Kendal, surrounding towns, and countryside. The
Castle is now pretty much in ruins, but a part of the original
structure still stands. It was amazing to be able to touch something
that another person had touched 1000 years ago.
After
the Castle, we headed back to town to do some shopping in the stores
before returning to the bus to come back to campus. All in all it
was a great day.
After a good nights sleep we traveled to Southport, which is about
an hour south of Lancaster, but still in North West England. It lies
in the county of Merseyside (same county that Liverpool is in).
There we met Donnah and Nicola to do a bit of shopping and to visit
the small amusement park (a.k.a fair) that is there. After a lunch
of rather bland and salty food we walked down the boardwalk that
jets out into the North Sea, then proceeded over to the fair. The
park was small but did have some rides worth going on. Nic doesn’t
like to go on the coasters so we took turns hanging out with her and
going on the rides. After Nic’s family came to pick her up, Susan
and Erica went to a popular store called JJB Sports to find some
England “football” gear while Donnah and I went on all the rides
again, (yes its that small) and did the go-carts. (Donnah beat me…in
fact she lapped me. I guess my lead foot doesn’t apply to dodgy tin
dragsters going around sharp “S” curves!)
After all that we crawled home and went straight to bed, as we were
exhausted. Next weekend the four of us are traveling to Conwy,
Wales! Check back! Peace.
Jen and Erica
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