the boys in london

We rolled in to London town Wednesday morning, and were collapsed on my dorm bed by 11 a.m. We lazed around, did a bit of grocery shopping, wrote some postcards, and then got ourselves ready to go out for sushi off Piccadilly Circus around eight. I had been to the sushi place before with friends, and brought Cam and Bret there to try and recreate our 'Tako' sushi love in Berkeley. Ironically this place is named 'Taro sushi'.

After sushi we stayed near Piccadilly, and wandered around Soho, in and out of a few bars until we found one that was just right and stayed just long enough to catch the last bus home.

On Thursday I woke up with a headache. And a paper to write. So I sent the boys out with my trusty miniature street map of London (complete with landmarks) and powered through nine pages of literary analysis. The boys saw the Thames, Westminster Abbey, Parliament and Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, St. James' Park and MI6 (where James Bond 'works'.) By the time they got home I had (almost) finished my paper, but it was too stormy to go outside. We ran behind my building to the mew with my favourite pub on it - The Queen's Arms - for some drinks and edamame.

By now you've probably realized I don't have any accompanying pictures. I must have used up my photographic energy in Scotland because I didn't bring my camera with me on any of our London adventures.

On Friday I woke up early and trudged to class. I got out at 1 pm and came home to find the boys still in bed watching Smallville. We finished the episode, then wandered through Kensington Gardens across to Notting Hill. I took them to Churchill Arms (I've been there before...) and we got Thai food for lunch. (Green curry for Cam, fried rice for me, and pad thai for Bret). After lunch we hopped on the tube to Tower Hill, where we saw the Tower of London, walked across the Tower Bridge, and then wandered along the Southbank to Borough Market. I finished my Christmas shopping, and indulged in some Turkish Delight. After the market we continued our trek along the Thames, past Sir Francis Drake's Golden Hinde, past the Globe theatre and then over the water on the Millenium footbridge to St. Paul's Cathedral.

We hadn't had enough of London yet, so we stopped off at Winter Wonderland before heading home. Just as magical as the first time I went. I felt like such a native, navigating us around the city, spouting out the few facts that have managed to stick with me from our orientation lectures and field trips.

The boys left before the sun came up on Saturday, and made it safely home to Granada. Thank you guys, for a great vacation!!

To see Cam's version of their stay in London (and Scotland too!), look at his blog El Americano Perdido (the lost american).

Baby Spice and a pomegranate

Today I saw Baby Spice! As in Emma from the Spice Girls! My sister and I had all five Spice Girl Barbies (though we fought over who would play Baby) and the movie Spice World.... and I saw her! After work I met with Mary at Piccadilly on Regent Street for the lighting of the Christmas lights. Surrounded by Gucci and Prada, I stood and watched Kelly Clarkson perform, Baby Spice host, and Bill Nighy (the rocker from Love Actually) flip the switch to turn on the Christmas lights! It's officially Christmas! And seeing Bill was soooo cool! He's actually pretty politically involved here in the UK, you know, when he's not playing Davy Jones in Pirates of the Caribbean...


Also today: I had an allergic reaction to a pomegranate. I thought about taking a picture of my face but decided against it. It's red, and itchy, and bumpy, and hot. Just imagine. My tongue swelled up a bit as well. And the only thing I can think that I did out of the ordinary was eat half a pomegranate. I've eaten them before - strange. I'm staying away from those from now on. (Except for that two week stint in December where I'll be living in Granada... the city is named after the pomegranate.)

sightseeing with the lens, part II

Remember my sightseeing Sunday from a few weeks ago with Jason and Bonnie Len? (If not you can read about it here...) Well Jason forwarded me some pictures he took throughout the day with his awesome camera and I thought I would share some of them! Such a nice surprise to get to see more pictures from that day and remember everything we got the opportunity to see!

Lauryn, Bonnie and me in front of Parliament.

On a river cruise in front of Big Ben!

The London Eye!!

Watching a storm pass over the city while in our little glass bubble on the Eye!

In front of number 10 Downing Street!!! (where the Prime Minister
David Cameron lives)

With an elaborately dressed soldier of some sort - he started walking out
from the archway directly behind us, and came all the way to the sidewalk,
did some soldier-thing with his sword, and then stood like this without moving!!
So of course we got as close as possible and took a picture!

Dinner in Chinatown

Saying goodbye to the Lens at Piccadilly Circus after an amazing day!