Kerching...

Shopping frenzy - the shops here are incredible and everything is so cheap...it is worth getting on the flight just to go shopping! I have some cool new Ecko Red trainers and some funky new Adidas runners, as the others were pretty much worn out. I never normally like shopping, but here you just can't help it, every possible kind of shop, it's fab (I sound incredibly girlie, but not sure what has come over me!)

The Old Town was an interesting experience, very creepy. Even though we were safe in a tourist attraction, the people w0rking in the shops were all quite odd, slightly hick to say the least. In fact, most people that I have come across that work in these gift shops, diners etc are all slightly odd.

Yesterday, at the petrol station, I was laughed at for asking for stamps! How rude, the cashier lady and her friend mimmicked my voice and told me that only 'stairmps' were available, not 'stamps' and had a little chuckle to themsleves. I reveresed the insult and mimmicked them by saying, 'ya all have a nice day now!' in a deep southern accent, it was cool as they both laughed and saw the funny side!

I had my first short stack of pancakes since arriving and boy was it good. I love American pancakes with syrup, so nice, a rare treat as they contain about 4 million calories! The 'all you can eat' buffets are really disgusting. The idea that people go out to eat with the view of stuffing their face until they literally can't eat, well move actually is foul. It seems to have caught on in England now, but I am not a fan. The quality of what you can gorge yourself with is pretty crap compared to ordering something from the menu. Unfortunately, everywhere seems to be like this over here, so eating out is not as good as I thought it would be. :>(

In fact since being here, I have noticed loads of differences in the culture that I did not last time I visited. Just because we speak the same language, we presume that culturally we are the same, but far from it. I am enjoying picking up on these differences and everyday seems to throw up something different which changes my initial perception.

I do love England and I do love Europe, so much culture, history, beautiful scenery. America is really something completely different and a hell of a lot to take in; vast spaces and large everything! The Americans are sweet and very sincere, which makes me realise just how cynical us English really are, taking every single opportunity to take the piss or make a joke. Same language, but poles apart! :>)