So. Here it is. The one you’ve all been waiting for. What DID I get up to with my family here in Europe? What DID they think of my host family? What did my host family think of them? What did they think of Max? Of Germany? These questions, and more, answered in this post.
So on the 20th of December I got up WAY too early, said goodbye to Gritta, was driven to the airport (thanks Max!), flew to London, took the bus, and then another bus to my aunts house and met Dad and Daniel. Then we headed to Camden to meet Sarah and Mum. All soppy family reunions aside (no there were not [too many] tears), we spent the next few days catching up with Sharon and Alyce (my aunt and cousin, for those lame enough not to know) and checking out London. Highlights include the Twinings Tea Shop (potentially my favourite place in London), the Eye, and the Tower.
Also managed time for a super quick catch-up with everyones favourites Tom the Bomb and Will the Kill…..er (yeah I panicked and couldn’t think of a rhyme. A special prize to the person who comments this blog with the best rhyming nicknames for Tom and Will). We went to Winter Wonderland and went on the giant ferris wheel and someone (no names) was scared but thats because there was a GIANT GAP IN THE DOORS so I totally understand.
On the 22nd we got in the car and drove up to York (wanted to visit the Grand Old Duke but he had a doctors appointment. He’s pretty old these days, you know) where we stayed in a fabulous guest house with delicious food and a waiter who comes from Egypt, lived in Finland for 3 years (also speaks Finnish – this confirmed by eavesdropping on his conversation with the next table), also lived in Germany for about 6 months, doesn’t speak that much German, and now lives and works in Yorkshire, England. Now there’s an accent you don’t hear every day!
Went on a fabulous tour of York Minster, the guide being my new adoptive grandmother (not that my existing two grandmothers aren’t good enough – YOU TWO ARE SUPER AMAZING – but she was just so hilarious that I had to keep her) and then drove on up to South Shields, where we stayed in a 2 bedroom flat a couple of blocks from the house where Sharon was born, and a couple more blocks from where Dad was born.
The day after that Sharon and Alyce came and joined us in our (very cosy) flat and we went to visit Val (Dad’s cousin) and her hubby for tea. This was exciting because I met Val in July and Dad hadn’t seen her since he was 13 so I won at that.
After a wonderful Christmas at home with Sharon and Alyce we spent the next couple days looking around Shields where Dad and Sharon were little. Then we had a mega family reunion at the local pub (where else?!) where it was really amazing to meet all of Dad’s family – cousins, even an uncle! It was super fantastic and I can’t wait to go back and see them all again!
However, all too soon it was over and I had to take a 6 hour bus trip back to London, sleep at Sharons and then take a horrendously early bus to the airport and a plane home, to be met my the wonderful Max. Went back to his first and ate some delicious food, then when I went home I was greeted by 3 excited children – they were all trying to get out the door to see “if Rachel’s finally there!” I called out “Rachel’s here now!” and Johanna yelled back “Rachel I’ve been waiting for you!!!!” Afraid much? We’ll see.
Stay tuned for the next exciting episode of Rachel’s Adventures in Europe (Accompanied by her Family).
In which Silvester is Celebrated, church is attend, cake is eaten, games are played and a surprise is announced.
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