My farewell to London

First of all, I've been slacking on my blogging. But I've been doing the same stuff with my family that I did during my program so there was nothing new to report. We ate a lot and laughed a lot.

Anyway, I've spent the last few hours watching the Tony awards and subsequently the Olivier awards which somehow led to a lot of random David Tennant YouTube videos. I finally realized it was 1:30 in the morning which meant that my last night in London is technically over. I'll be on a plane in ten hours back to my beloved Las Vegas. It would be an outright lie to say that I'm not overjoyed to be going home. But at the same time, I'm horribly sad because London has become another home for me and I have no idea if or when I'll be back. I'm a walking contradiction: one moment I'm dying to leave and the next I'm willing to do anything to stay. I feel like Gollum/Smeagol arguing with myself.

Rather than do the usual and wailing on for five paragraphs about how amazing my time in London was, how great the city is, and how sad I am to leave, I'm going to list some of the things I observed/learned/experienced during my two months here.

1. I am absolutely not trying to belittle JK Rowling's genius. But the fact is that she did not need to stretch her imagination even a tiny fraction in order to come up with the idea for the Knight Bus. The Knight Bus exists. I've ridden the Knight Bus many times. Every single bus in London is the Knight Bus. These buses go WAY too fast, jerk around WAY too much, and fit into places that they absolutely should not be able to fit into. I am amazed that there aren't deaths every single day; both of people inside and outside the bus.

2. Everyone talks about Cadbury like it's the last word in chocolate. False. Galaxy beats Cadbury  any day of the week. Believe me. I ate a lot of it.

3. Primark is the most ridiculous store in the world. For my American friends, Primark is like a giant, really cheap TJ Maxx. I half expect my purchases to disintegrate before I get home. But the most expensive item I've ever seen in Primark was 20 pounds so the place can be a little intoxicating.

4. Since I was a very small child I have always had a difficult time distinguishing between fantasy and reality when it comes to my books, movies, and television shows. And I'll tell you what- my trips to Leavesden Studios and the Doctor Who Experience in addition to spending two months in Sherlock Holmes' stomping grounds have not helped in that regard. But they have helped in every other regard. I still believe in 398.2!

 5. There are like four trash cans in the whole of England. Seriously, finding a bin is the most impossible task which is frustrating because it forces you to carry your garbage around for days (OK maybe I'm exaggerating but not by much).

6. As rare as bins are, ice is even more difficult to find. And this girl loves herself some ice. I'm truly looking forward to my glorious ice machine at home.

7. People here are much more comfortable with making eye contact with complete strangers than I'm used to. At home when you get caught staring at someone, whether unintentionally or on purpose, you usually change your gaze quickly. Nope. Not here. People stare unashamedly even if you stare back in an attempt to make them feel uncomfortable. FYI- It doesn't work.

8. When an American guy calls you love, it's creepy. When a British guy calls you love, it's acceptable and kind of sweet. Or even shock-inducing. Like when Daniel Radcliffe said it. To me. Daniel Radcliffe called me "love." Just in case anyone forgot.

9. Getting a seat on the tube is like playing a smelly grown-up version of musical chairs. I've almost sat on strangers' laps trying to get a seat.

10. Digestive cookies. First of all, who wants to eat something called a "digestive cookie?" They sound like something you eat with a side of prune juice right? The answer is that everyone does. Everyone wants to eat all the digestive cookies. I'm sure there are no health benefits to these chocolate-coated cookies despite their misleading title. They are, however, delicious. But beware- once you've eaten four sleeves of them in a week (another exaggeration but that's what it felt like) you will hate yourself and never touch them again due to the serious illness you experience.

11. This is somewhat related to the eye contact. People are SO COOL with picking their noses in public here! I have no idea why. I'll spare you the details but I have seen both men and women perform this disgusting act very blatantly in public places.

12. The Evening Standard is free here so nearly everyone reads newspapers. I read the newspapers. And once you are done with your newspaper you leave it on the tube or in the bus or on a public table and someone else will pick it up to read. I like this little sense of community between newspaper readers for some reason. And the coolest part is that, as people have taken to leaving them, the papers are everywhere! But once you get back on the tube or whatever the next morning, they are all gone. I think there are newspaper fairies that collect them overnight.

13. Made in Italy is the absolute best Italian food in the entire world. I don't care that it's not in Italy. It is the best. I had my very last pizza from there for who knows how long last night. Everyone in that restaurant knows who I am and what I'm studying and what I'm going to order. The owner gave me a big hug goodbye. It was more emotional than I care to admit.

14. Maybe it's because I've only seen one show on Broadway but I don't think anywhere in the world can hold a candle to London as far as theatre goes. I have seen some of the most beautiful, heart-wrenching, hilarious, thought-provoking shows here. And then I saw Thriller Live. Regardless of that atrocious mistake, one of the things I'm going to miss most about London is its unbelievable theatre district.

15. I love London. I guess I didn't really learn that on this trip but it was definitely solidified. I love it so much. I felt so welcomed by the people here and I'm so grateful that I was able to completely immerse myself in the culture and feel like a native for a couple months.

I kid you not, they are reporting a story about Las Vegas on the news right now... something about record breaking temperatures. Is it time to go to the airport yet?! I love London so very much but nothing can replace my Vegas. I'll meet the 117 degree weather with a smile and the hope that, one day, I'll be able to visit my other home in London again.

"Cankle bits"

We were a little more ambitious today. We saw all the things!

The weather was pretty wet and cold this morning. Wanna know how to stop the rain? Buy an umbrella. So because we didn't want to stand in the outside line for Notre Dame in the rain, we went to grab something to eat at a little cafe nearby. There we met the single grumpiest man ever to walk the face of the planet. He did not like us Americans one bit. I politely asked for the glass of water that he forgot to bring me and you would have thought I'd asked him to donate a kidney or something.

This is him. If Michael were here he would draw a caricature.

Once we left the seventh circle of hell and omelettes we went back to Notre Dame. Because, as previously noted, the rain stops once you purchase umbrellas. I may have broken out in a little "Got Help the Outcasts" but I cannot be held accountable. You don't get that chance very often.

 The choir was wonderful. I'm so jealous that they get to sing in this magnificent church.

And then we went across the street to the Shakespeare and Company bookstore where the likes of Hemingway, Joyce, and Pound hung out. It was everything you could ever want from a secondhand bookstore. I could easily spend an entire day in there.

And then we went to the San-Sulpice church. This is where the first prime meridian was located. It is a lovely church.

We had dinner at an Italian place on Champs-Elysees and then we walked around a bit. Then we decided to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower because we thought the view would be beautiful at night. We were right.

Here is something that cracks me up every time. These "beware of pickpocketers" signs are everywhere. But the pickpocketer is just nonchalantly sticking his hand right in the guy's man purse like "Oh hey buddy. Hope you don't mind if I take this."

And this was unplanned. I just happen to wear grandma nightgowns that match my grandma perfectly.

 We're heading back to London tomorrow and I have to say I'm really excited. I miss it already!

"Look Mother! NUUUbians!"

Greetings from Paris! I had a bit of a slow start this morning because I stayed up way too late reading the new Dan Brown book. To be honest, it'll probably happen again tonight. I haven't read a book for fun in seven weeks and it is just marvelous to have a new novel.

We went to the Louvre today! I'd been there before three years ago but it's pretty impossible to see and appreciate everything in one visit. We saw wings today that I didn't even know existed. I love art but I wish I knew more about it. The frustrating thing is that I took an art history class about two years ago so I recognized quite a few pieces but I couldn't remember anything about them. Plus all the explanation signs were in French so I barely got the gist of what it was trying to say. So I started playing a game where I tried to guess the subject of the painting since a lot of them depicted mythology or traditional Christian stories. I got pretty good at it near the end.

 Grandma and Aunti Sari

Daddio

 Napoleon III apartments

Mona Lisa

 My favorite thing about French/British architecture is the beautiful ceilings.

The Winged Victory of Samothrace

 Madonna of the Rocks

We came back to the hotel and took a wee nap. And I may have read some more. And then Dad and I went over to the Champs-Elysees avenue. We found some yummy treats and looked through some of the shops. It's amazing how late people stay up over here.

Arc de Triomphe

The end! It was a fun day. I love being with the fam bam.

'All the French I know I learned from "Da Vinci Code"'

Well I'm in Paris!! I said goodbye to my roommates and my flat on Monday morning and met my dad, grandma, and Aunti Sari at St. Pancras (one of the train stations in London). Then I had to wait for about eight hours until our train. We took the chunnel to Paris which took about two hours and then a cab to the hotel for another hour. It was a very waity day.

Goodbye to my home for 6 weeks... 37 Hyde Park Gate!

 On the chunnel. Very sleepy.

Because we did nothing but travel yesterday, I decided not to blog. But we did enough today to make up for it. We went to Disneyland Paris today!!!!! It was beyond magical.

To be honest I was a little worried. I wasn't the biggest fan of Disneyworld in Florida. I felt like it just didn't live up to Disneyland in Anaheim. But I really think they did it right with Disneyland Paris. While the place was smaller and there weren't as many rides, the atmosphere was just pure Disney magic. They clearly went to extreme lengths to ensure that every square inch of the park had a purpose. For example, when you walk through the castle, there are stained glass windows and a balcony that you can see the entire park from. Not only that. There is a dungeon beneath the castle where this dragon hangs out and breathes smoke. I really liked this park because it was familiar enough that you get your Disney fix but it's different enough that it feels like a new experience. It was so much fun!

 The castle was probably my favorite part of the entire park. It was beautiful!

 The dragon

 Pirate ship

 The Cave of Wonders

 The Beauty and the Beast miniature

 Adventureland was Agrabah!!

 Not Haunted Mansion.... Phantom Manor. But essentially the same thing

 Daddy hates pictures

 But I do not care.

It was a long day. And we missed Michael a lot. Disney is a family thing and it didn't feel quite right without Migo but we still had a really good time. 

We got back to the hotel at around 8 and went to this cute crepe place down the street. I had an egg and cheese crepe and it was delicious although trying to place our order was quite the ordeal.

I miss London and can't wait to go back on Monday. But I'm very happy to be here with my family. It's always 24/7 laughing with the Costello's :)