Happy New Year!

The ball dropped here in London two hours ago...(actually that honor's reserved for New York) but they rang in the New Year with a huge fireworks display over the Thames River by the London Eye (Ferris wheel) - It was spectacular! Truly worth the £1 million price tag and the crazy mob of people that packed central London for the festivities. It was definitely a cold night, my legs are still de-thawing, but walking a few miles helped stay warm. The Bobbies were out in full force, and the sheer number of people was overwhelming - they actually closed down most of the major streets in central London to car traffic (like Piccadilly, Oxford Street, Shaftesbury Ave, etc) and the tube was free.

My New Year's Eve began rather unassuming, but ended with a bang! I walked to Trafalgar Square and spent most of the afternoon getting lost around Soho...it was lovely. I didn't brave the National Gallery - will save that for another day...but I could see Big Ben from the steps where the fountains were, and it was a grand sight. (Pictures to come!) I also found Chinatown - and had a laugh over the fact that I'd never seen it 8 years ago, even though it was right in the middle of the city. As I wandered around Soho...I happened to run into a very traditional English Pub named Coach and Horses. It was totally storybook perfect and even had a fireplace in the upstairs - dark wooden tables an chairs, mahogany bar...and I sampled a Strongbow while I snacked on pistachios, and then had a marinated vegetable sandwich with chips...quite nice.

After walking around Theaterland for a long time, I caught the 7:30pm performance of Les Miserables - the longest running show in London. It was fantastic. And afterwards, I followed the already amassed crowd into Piccadilly Circus. There were so many people flooding the area I was sure something was happening...but two really nice police officers indicated that it was normal chaos. I met a nice young woman who needed to borrow a pen, her name is Claire, and she invited me to walk with her and her friend towards the river for the firework show. And after 2 miles to get back to my hotel...It's 2:11am here and I'd say it was a lovely eve...a lovely New Year's in London indeed.

My best wishes to all of you for a lovely New Year and happiness in 2010!
~Peace & Love

Royal Walk

So although my evening has not gone as planned, things are not as they seem, and life lessons have come too many too soon...I had a lovely day. Started my day again in the Palm Court with tea and pastries, read some Jane Austen, and then braved the mist for a walk around Royalty. My 'Mary Poppins' umbrella in hand, I wound my way through Green Park to Buckingham Palace and all the glory it holds. No changing of the guard, but I watched them walk back and forth for awhile, and witnessed a couple Bobbies posing for pictures inside the gate. It's sort of mind-boggling that the Queen's Official Residence is directly in the middle of the city, and that people mill around outside of it all day long. Tourists were plenty, and I found myself bobbing and weaving on the sidewalks to avoid collisions with people and umbrellas - it was like a human frogger match. I decided to walk around the entire compound and even visited the Royal Shop -(A.A., you may be pleased to know that the Queen's tree in the shop of the Palace is decorated quite similarly to yours with red and gold decorations and a bit of silver thrown in too!). If my Palace viewing wasn't exciting enough, I was even lucky enough to experience a bonafide 'Bridget Jones' moment, when a black cabbie sped by my precarious position on the edge of the sidewalk...and I became the landing zone of a spray of dirty water! I was dripping and laughing like an idiot...what a sight.

I came back through Green Park and realized that the last time I was here - I had mistakenly thought it was St. James Park...and they have a Canadian Monument with leaves cut out of the sculpture...it was really cool and said ~In two world wars, one million Canadians came to join the fight for freedom.~

I stopped to dry off at Pret A Manger - basically a lovely cafe with sandwhiches and soups (it appears to be a chain here) - and I tried Carrot and Coriander Soup with a French Baguette. So far, my food excursions have been so much better than anticipated; a great surprise.

So - I'm off to the Hilton London Green Park - just down the road - for a few nights while my accomodations get sorted out...positive energy being sent to the Universe.

All Things British

There is something completely intoxicating about British culture...it may have something to do with the stately buildings of royalty in the middle of a metropolitan city, the Queen's emblem everywhere, or the picturesque green and lavish parks in the middle of a city square; or perhaps it's the accent - the way that everyone sounds entirely intelligent and only slightly snobbish and you just want to stop and listen, fervently wishing the words coming out of your mouth sounded nearly as endearing; or it might be the wonderful phrases that are used - like 'sticky wicket', as in my cab driver saying 'Hold on love, turning about, in a bit of a sticky wicket here.' Whatever it is about the culture here - which I'm positive there are so many things - I find myself grinning as I walk down the streets, even if it is misty outside.

Foggy Bottom London Style

I know I'm not in D.C., but I love the Foggy Bottom area and today brought that name to mind. And besides, D.C.'s Foggy Bottom area is also referred to as the West End and is one of the oldest neighborhoods dating back to the 18th century. I'm quite close to London's West End too - but we've got D.C. topped with 2,000 years of history.

Today, it's a perfect shade of gray outside and the rain is misty. I had tea and croissants in the regal lounge of my hotel for breakfast, and took a stroll through the neighborhood. There are so many nooks and crannies - it's unbelievable what you find down every street. Found Nobu London - wonder if that's the famed Nobu restaurant from the States (New York or LA). Now - I am waiting to be settled into my flat, so I can finally unpack. Cheers.

Simply the Best...

London definitely is...better than all the rest. I made it. I'm here. And tomorrow I will be settled into my flat. But for now, I'm enjoying staying in a luxury hotel on Park Lane and realizing yet again why I love this city. After the concierge loaded my room full of my four suitcases (hehe), I really couldn't move around, so I decided some fresh air and a walk would be good. I walked the mile from the hotel ino Picadilly Circus and it was just as I expected it to be...maybe even better.

There is nowhere like London...and I've truly seen my share of the world. There is nothing like it - where you walk down busy crowded streets, lined with huge gothic buildings of ridiculous proportion dating back to a year that seems almost fantastical, while there's a Starbucks on every block, a red Crown phone booth on every corner, and literally out of nowhere, you're left gazing at a huge Itailian-inspired piazza leading the way to the Royal Academy of Arts museum. It's a complete contradiction everywhere you look and it's wonderful. City parks in the middle of what feels like Times Square, double decker buses, and corner markets and grocery stores. It's perfectly London.

No snowflakes on the streets - rather Old Bond street has ginormous dragonflies lit up and hanging across the streets, Oxford Street has huge lit up wrapped presents, and in Picadilly, there are stars. It's lovely.

I'll be home for Christmas...

Love that song - actually I love all Christmas songs. Christmas in general may be one of my most favorite times of the year. I'm heading "home" for the holiday - one final family-filled weekend before my flight. I remember London at Christmas time, 8 years ago...Picadilly was lit up with huge white snowflakes hanging off of lampposts and strung across the middle of streets. It was quite a sight. The shops were so busy, and Harrod's - all 7 floors of Harrod's - was completely decked out. Quite definitely putting Macy's and their 8th floor display to shame (although this year's viewing of Macy's was spectacular, as was the Holidazzle Parade and the whole Christmas in the Cities evening!).

I think that there's something magical that happens to people around the holidays...it's like their inner spirit softens, their perspective widens, and their heart expands. I love that people become more generous - with themselves and with others, remember to be thankful, and celebrate the festivities regardless of age. I think that at Christmas time, unlike other moments throughout the year, we are given opportunities to find our grace. This Christmas, may you see yourself as truly blessed - I certainly do.

London Bridge was calling...

No, not falling...rather, it was calling...my name. And so I'm on my way. One of many grand adventures that this lifetime has offered. I feel blessed, more grateful than words can find, to be standing at this crossroads - remarkable moments filled with love and exponential personal growth shining in the rearview mirror; and down the road ahead, sparkling shades of joy and a soul's spirit dancing that inevitable dance of happiness. I've lived a lot of life, danced a lot of songs, and felt the whole rainbow of feelings in my young years, and for that I am thankful. Someone famous once said "That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet." And so life is about living - utterly and completely confident that the jungles of time and space hold only miracles and we are meant to experience those dreams that set our soul on fire.

London sets my soul on fire and my spirit dancing. I have five days until I find myself on a jet-plane - headed into the heart of England. My "Holiday"-esque adventure evokes a kaleidoscope of exhilaration, fear, gratitude, excitement, and joy. And while I am absolutely certain of my successes, I find myself filled with curious anticipation for the adventures ahead. As there are so many important people who get to share this experience with me, somewhat vicariously, I thought it a brilliant idea to create this journal. It's here if you want to read my story, or see my photos. And as honored as I will be if you decide to take this journey with me, I promise no offense if you choose not to. This is my story...of my life's adventure...and I intend to enjoy the ride.