Archive for the 'travel' Category
Today we got up early (couldn’t sleep) and hit Portobello Market, which is on Portobello Road just about two blocks from our flat. Portobello Road has tons of shops and is famous for antiques. On Saturdays, it becomes a market with tons of food vendors, vegetable and fish sellers and booths with everything from sterling silver teapots to bolts of fabric to doorknobs to little army men figurines. There were leather boxing gloves and old rugby balls and costume jewelry galore. We had read the place starts up at 5:30 am so we were surprised that when we arrived at 8:00 am the place was still in its set-up stage. Still, we had a fun time and by the time we walked the length of it and turned around things were pretty much buzzing and we found some fun gifts.
Today we did a lot. At least that’s what my feet are telling me. Sleeping was rough last night and I didn’t fall asleep hard until around 6 am. That was a bummer, but it was really fun to watch the election results come in. The Brits are so cheeky, even when reporting serious news. So, the Parlaiment is now hung, but life seems to be going on.
We didn’t get going today until almost noon, but we immediately set out on the tube and took it straight from our stop, Notting Hill Gate to Westminster. From there we walked and walked, stopping for a bite and a double espresso at a dumb restaurant outside the Treasury building. We walked around the outside of the Parlaiment building and Westminster Abbey; walked through Victoria Gardens Park; spied on the Thames (saw that crazy London Eye from across the river); walked through St. Margaret’s church, which I loved; strolled on the outskirts of St. James’ park and on up to Trafalgar Square. Then we walked down to Buckingham Palace, through Green Park, down Picadilly to Picadilly Circus, through Leicester Square and walked through Chinatown. Finally, we took a double-decker bus back home, using our beloved Oyster card. I’m wiped out. And it has now started to rain.
I took tons of pics today, but forgot the iPhone so the iPhoto of the day is a view of our flat’s private garden as seen from my spot on the couch in the living room.
So, we leave for London in two days. And for Malta in nine days. Yay!
I was recently informed that about 94% of blogs go idle after six months. While I’ve made it past that mark, I’ve stalled out a bit as of late. I suppose it’s mostly because it’s summer and there’s other stuff to do, it’s been uber-busy at work, and I’ve been uber-busy with the union. Though I think the real reason is that my mind has been scattered and coming up with any coherent thoughts has been rough.
I’m hopeful, though, that this will change shortly. A week from today I will be embarking on a two-week vacation. Hooray! The itinerary? Well, first let me say that it is a road trip. In a new black civic. With an i-pass. Hooray! Ok, we leave Monday for Dayton, OH to visit Papa. Then, Tuesday morning we leave bright & early (maybe) to hit the road for NYC. We’ll be visiting Kristin in Brooklyn (at last!) and the City until Friday afternoon. Friday afternoon we head north for Amenia, NY to partake in Andrea’s wedding festivities. That takes us until Sunday morning when we head out through Canada to reach Presque Isle, WI to relax on the cheerful waters of Presque Isle Lake with lots of family. I think it’ll be a good trip and I’m hoping for lots of fun photographs.
Anyone else have fun, close-to-end-of-summer (can you believe it?) plans?
life and puppies 