England 11 November 2009

This was a work day - very long, and busy. However, because of the route we drove to client meetings, I had the opportunity to see Stonehege. A picture will be coming.

London 10 November 2009

I had a little time today to spend at the Tate Modern. Awesome art!

The highlight of the day:

London theatre......


.....wait for it....

Phantom of the Opera

Enough said.

London 7 November 2009

I love London. I always find new adventures.

I forgot my umbrella. It didn't start raining until 10 pm, and I was pretty much done for the day. I'm still hopeful for good weather the rest of the trip so I won't need to buy one.

I also forgot my camera, so these blog posts will be sans pictures. Or...I could steal pics from the Internet. I've been known to do that.

Sadly, I didn't get as much done today as I planned. I have been unable to get my BB connected to UK's local mobile phone network. I'm sure I got more frustrated than I should have been, but I am here alone; so it was important to me that I can easily connect with people back home.

The highlight of the day was going to the theatre. I bought the ticket before I left, and because I was a single I got a great seat. I was 5th row - dead center. I saw Breakfast at Tiffany's. I really enjoyed the play. It is different than the movie.

I've had season tickets to the Guthrie for ~ 10 years. I see lots of plays. I've only seen one play at the Guthrie that had any nudity - Six Degrees of separation.

Breakfast at Tiffany's had male and female nudity - and I had a great seat. I think Europeans have a different - more open - attitude toward nudity.

"Life is a moderately good play with a badly written third act" Truman Capote.

Good day, good day! Now I need to try and get to sleep. It is 5 pm at home, but I need to sleep now.

3 weeks and counting

I do still have old trips to blog about, but I haven't really been inspired to do that. However, I am really, really, really looking forward to my next London trip. I still haven't decided on what show I will be seeing, but I do plan to take the train to Brighton and spend some time there.

England has so much history. I really do want to see it all, but I saw lots of castles and cathedrals last summer....so I am looking for different stuff to experience on this trip.

If time permits, I will also be going to to see Cambridge University.

I think knowing that I have this trip coming is helping to keep me sane during a very busy time at work.

That...and lots of energy drinks.

DC 21 September 2009

I went to two building today that I had never been to before. Perhaps I should now start a list of cool DC buildings that I've been in??

My first meeting was at the Securities and Exchange Commission. Their building is near Union Station and the US Capitol. It is nice, and probably fairly new. Their visitor center was big and comfortable.

The picture is of ATF's new headquarters. Their visitor center is small, but the rest of the building is really nice. They have a memorial near the visitor center. No gift shop though.

Planning my next UK trip

I really do enjoy planning almost as much as traveling. I am excited about going back to England. It is a work trip - I will be busting my arse Monday - Friday, but I am leaving a day early and staying an extra day for fun stuff.

I know I want to see at least one show in London. And, I am consulting "the book" to get inspiration on other activities to do or sights to see. Options I am considering....

Brighton
Cambridge University (I've seen Oxford)
Kent
Southampton
York

And....if I had a bit more time I could head North and try to find the Loch Ness monster.

For theatre... this is what I'm considering:

Breakfast at Tiffany's
Chicago
Hairspray
Othello
Phantom

Paris for my 35th birthday

Before getting to Paris, we (DH now, but this was before we were married) went to London first. And....before London, we changed planes in Iceland. I am counting it as a country I've visited even though I never left the airport.

We spent a few days in London, doing the typical touristy stuff. And actually... we didn't see anything that I haven't already blogged about, so now to Paris.

There were three highlights from this trip, all in the "book":

1. Mont-Saint-Michel - we drove to Normandy and spent the night on this little island in a building that was like 400 years old. We first spent the day wandering around the town, and visiting the abbey.

I love the ocean, so this was a huge treat. The views were amazing and I spent a little time in the water checking out the local mussel populations. It was very peaceful - especially at night when the island "closes" and the day tourists leave.

2. Taillevent - this is a restaurant in Paris and it was amazing. It was the best restaurant I had ever been to, and I have to admit I felt a little out of place. I probably wasn't as dressed up as I could be, and my French is not very good. The waiters were nice though - not snotty. It did help tremendously that DH's French is quite good.

3. Chateau de Versailles - don't all girls love an amazing castle? It is incredibly beautiful. The gardens were awesome. Sometimes I am very easily impressed, and this is one example of that.

We also visited the Louvre, Eiffel Tower and some of the other places I have already mentioned in other blog posts.

I did not go to Paris for my 40th birthday - as planned - but I went on a cruise and it was awesome. That will be a future blog post.