Planning Stages

The last few weeks I have been doing a TON of research - trying to figure out where to go, and how best to stretch a dollar... pound... or euro, depending on the country.

I bought my plane ticket from the US to London several months ago - and I'm glad I did, looking at the prices today. And, I booked a hotel there for a couple days (I thought I would be flat -apartment- hunting). Then, I found a flat which fits my budget fairly well. Unfortunately for me, my flat's move-in date is three weeks after I get to London.

So, since then I have been trying to figure out what I am going to do with my time, and all of my belongings that I am taking with me since I can't move in yet.

I have the week in London which will be fun - and a great time to get over any jet-lag. But then what? Well, I started looking all over Europe. A big dream of mine is to travel and really see other places. Unfortunately, my financial aid doesn't kick in until school starts. Which means that it is all coming out of my dwindling savings account (I guess, instead of my future savings account, after I become rich because of my new degree, right? That's how it is supposed to go anyway, haha).

Well, anyway. After a serious amount of research, I have mostly determined a few things:

1. Get the London Pass for 2-3 days - with travel. Take a tour of the Tower of London, various palaces and museums, and of course, a river cruise, and other fun things as desired and I'm awake for. :) - this is still on the needs-to-be-reserved list. 
2. Go see Les Mis in the Queen's Theatre (seat booked!) in the West End
3. Take a high-speed train to Edinburgh from Kings Cross Station (like Harry Potter, yes I'm a nerd) - seat confirmed.
4. Explore Edinburgh, the castle, Arthur's Seat, etc. to my hearts' content. I'll be over jet-lag by then, right? Haha... PS hopefully the rain and cold will hold off... if not, it's all part of an 'authentic' visit to Scotland, right? Airbnb.com confirmed
5. Find Nessie. 
6. Go to York - visit "James Herriot's" town. Party in North Yorkshire - in the rain.
7. Head back to London, move in, and find the best spot in the library where I'll be living for twelve months. And where to get good snacks - those will be important later. Oh. And find a fun ballroom studio or something. I'll need a break, right? Right.
8. Let the games begin.

Anyway, that's what I've got as far as plans right now. Countdown: T-minus 

But who's counting?