Camden

Met up with Mikey around 2pm at King's Cross today.  I def underestimated my jet lag, or whatever you want to call it.  After getting off chat with him at 12, I ended up taking almost a 2 hour nap.  We saved tube money and walked about 30 minutes to Camden, an area that used to be punk-rock induced, but since maybe 10 years ago has cleaned up a bit.  We still spotted the mohawks, and straight-jacket-esque hardcore apparel however.  It reminded me a lot of Haight & Ashbury, with it's ornate shop decorations- oversized objects comin out the buildings.

King's Cross Station

sweet paint job

walking into Camden

After taking a quick, self-controlled walk through the markets, grabbed a couple beers (£1.40/each), and a bag of chips (£1.29) for lunch down by the canal.  Shortly followed, by some live music that was actually very fitting and pleasing to the ears on this warm afternoon.  Mikey couldn't help but sing along too ;)

Because real men roll their own 

It was a very easy-going relaxing day, and after that we made our way back to Islington, grabbing some groceries on the way for me (loaf of fresh bread £.45, cheese £1.84, fruit £1.40)to get through at least the next 2 days breaky & lunch. And agua too of course, cause otherwise I'll dry up and die(£.49/1 litre).  Then, snagged a couple postcards, postage & shotglass for my lil collection back home £6.10.

a really hideous distressed looking pigeon

excerpts from a book on display

Mikey looking at the excerpts on display

leggy

dinner

Came home to Tina doing some ironing for some draping project, stressing a bit nonetheless haha. Therefore, coping by attempting to dye her hair purple.

Tina's beeyootiful hands

me driving Tina crazy

purps :]

Well, the purple didn't quite come out.  But Tina made some delicious pasta and gave me the leftovers! Mmmmmm. And, now here we are.  Full, but craving a drink (Buy one get one free down the street whaaa TINA) Tina's sketchin and I'm scoping out exhibitions for later this week.  Cheers!

Total spent today: £12.97, but lets round that to £14, cause life is unfair. = $20 USD

KL

C.R.E.A.M.

So, a couple people have been asking how I'm affording this trip... like I said earlier I opened a "Holiday checking Account" with my bank back in 2012; almost a year and a half ago. I could only deposit, and withdraw/transfer it over to my checking come Black Friday- the universal day of spending-chaos. Anyhow, that account really helped.  I was working part time at a vintage retail store July-Jan 2013 ($10/hr), and coaching volleyball part time Jan 2012-July($10/hr) at the time; and depositing roughly $200-300 a month into it, keeping about $150 to myself.  I am fortunate enough to not have to pay rent living with the parentals, but do still pay for any other luxuries I may have the need for (such as going out, portfolio website, facial products, art supplies, film, etc).  By December 2012 I had saved about $1100 - not too bad starting from June 2012, but I definitely could have done better. 

Pictured above (under the weird Shamu-looking airplane) is a lil list of what I have spent some bones on already, while some prices were good (seeing that I am going during the On-Season). This is not the full order of where I'm going just yet- It's only what I've been able to solidify so far* I checked multiple sites such as ryanair.com, easyjet, spiritair etc...after much comparison I booked these. Being the paranoid person that I am - I wanted to make sure that I'd have some destinations ready.  That I'd have a plane to catch going somewhere.  Anywhere.

I purchased my London ticket (One Way) in December - $532.70 USD 
- statravel.com / Air New Zealand

Stockholm (One Way) in Feb - $125.84 USD 
- statravel.com / British Airways

Brussels ticket (One Way) in Feb - $124.06 USD 
- flysas.com.en / Scandinavian Airlines

Toulon Train ticket from Paris (One Way) in May - €80 ~ $105 USD
- voyages-sncf.com

Barcelona ticket from Madrid (Roundtrip) in May - $139.76 USD 
- vueling.com / Vueling
* service fees here hiked it up a good $30

All that so far = $1027.36

You're probably wondering, wait, what about your return flight home? Well, that was up for debate for a while- back in December 2012 I didn't know if I would have a job or anything by the time I graduated, but this trip was something I had to do.  Let me say that again.  This trip IS something I have to do and I could only wait so much longer and this summer was the summer to do it.  In January 2013 I landed a suh-weeet internship at Reef and have been there part time since. However, at this point any money I was making went straight to the savings- even though I plan on living off bread and cheese (not complaining), that shit ain't cheap either.  Then in early May, I received graduation letters in the mail from much of my family, and to them I have to thank for helping me purchase a ticket home to LAX from Brussels (why Brussels? it's one of my best friend's birthday :D) Purchased in May through statravel.com it cost me $598.24 USD

In total for TRANSPORTATION so far: $1625.60 USD

yikes