I’m obsessed with calling London “London-town”…well, actually, I’m kind of just obsessed with London…well, actually I’m truly fascinated with ALL of England! The 3 days I had in London went by way too quickly. It was my third time there, but I still have so much I want to see and do. Most of my time on this trip was spent with friends, which was fantastic. I stayed in High Gate at my friend Jen’s adorable “flat.” My British bestie Ali drove all the way down from Nottingham to pick me up from Heathrow, drove me through the CENTER of London (no one in their right mind does this, but I gave her terrible directions), and then we went to a pub for some beer and catch-up time. Luckily, I get to see Ali at least twice a year, but we still always have so much to talk about. Jen was having a house-warming party that night, so I met lots of interesting Brits and drank some delish caprihinas that I brought from Brazil. The next day, after bacon sandwiches (a British speciality), Jen, Ali, our other friend Sam, and I strolled through a gorgeous park called Hempstead Heath- we did some government sponsored bird-watching, drank some tea (obligitory in England) and had a proper Sunday lunch at a pub called The Flask. I had vegetarian toad in the hole- which is sausages (mine were veg), over mashed potatoes with gravy all in a giant yorkshire pudding. I’m a vegetarian now, p.s. We’ll see how long it takes before the smell of a juicy steak wins me back to the dark side. I LOVE all things English- seriously, I really think I need to live there at one point. It was wonderful to have a bit of cold weather too- it wasn’t freezing or anything- just perfect. After not having a winter this year, those 3 days in 50 degree weather was heavenly. Surprisingly, it didn’t even rain! That night, I went to the cinema with Jen, her bro Jamie, & my friend Dylan (from my Australia travels) to see Sweeney Todd- which I’d been dying to see. Pretty cool to see it in the town where it’s set. The sightseeing highlight from this trip was going to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and “acting” on the stage! I’d been before when I was 18, but as a tourist, you are NEVER allowed to go on the stage. Luckily, my friend Susie from the Inca Trail works there and let us go up. It was FANTASTIC!!! It really made me want to go back into theatre- ah, I miss it!
After London, we flew to The Kingdom of Bahrain for a long-ass 16 hour layover where we couldn’t leave the airport! The internet was entirely too expensive, as was eating lunch and dinner in the CHILI’S RESTAURANT (!!!!) they had at the airport! I was in heaven eating my beloved broccoli cheese soup though. The women wore burkhas that covered everything but their eyes, while carrying Coach or Gucci purses and bejeweled cell-phones. The men wore long “dresses” and had red and white checked scarves covering their heads, which honestly looked like tableclothes. I would have loved to have been able to explore this small country in the Middle East outside the confines of the airport gates, but I guess my Middle East adventures will have to come at another time…HOPEFULLY Americans will be safe there at some point in the future.
