London Towne

It was even cooler than I remembered it to be. London just radiates such a great energy. So historic, while still modern, growing and bustling. Mike and I met up with my parents there last week, and we all had such a great time. We explored Piccadilly Circus and the shops of Regent Street. We made a stop into the over-the-top Harrods, spent 40 minutes racing through the amazing British Museum, scored play tickets at Leicester Square and watched an awesome punk classical string quartet (no joke!) play at Covent Garden Market while eating fresh waffles with chocolate. We explored vintage book stores and even saw Charles Dickens's quill. We took a day trip out to Hampton Court Palace, Henry the 8th's pad, and enjoyed burgers and beer at a pub. We ate up the city's amazing history at the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's and, of course, couldn't get enough of Big Ben. It's something you just don't expect to be as beautiful as it is, and we found it hard to take our eyes off of it. And, of course, we ate our way through the city! One of everyone's favorite vacation moments was a sunny Sunday morning brunch at "Inn the Park," an amazing little open-air restaurant in the middle of St. James Park. Tea and toast and jam while people-watching in London. It doesn't get much better than that.

La Bon Vie

For three and a half days, I lived on bread, coffee, more bread and wine. It...was...fantastic. I had cried when I left Paris after seeing it for the first time 8 years ago. It was so beautiful...historic...with so much to do. This was Mike's first time in the city, and I loved sharing it with him. We were all impressed with Place des Invalides ...it proved to be a photographers playground...the dome is so complex and beautiful...and the connected war museum was huge and interesting. We toured the Louvre at night, which added to its mystery and grandeur. We had beautiful weather and enjoyed long walks from the Latin Quarter and St. Germaine, down along the Seine to the Champs Elysees and then to the Eiffel Tower. We just couldn't get enough of Le Tour, as evidenced by the dozens of pictures we snapped of it from every imaginable angle. It's just so iconic. And, not to mention, it sparkles every hour on the hour. With hope, we'll get back to La Ville-Lumiere some day soon.