NY/DC Hybrid

To tell you the truth I didn't know what to expect from London. People rant and rave about New York and I don't like it. But when we arrived at 9.30pm the city was really alive with people walking this way and that. We arrived at the Liverpool Street bus stop after arriving at Stansted airport. Young people making their way to bars and clubs. Massive lines for the ATMs. People laughing and carrying on. This city does not know the financial crisis like all of Italy is experiencing now. We headed to the tube (which was completely filled with people) and headed to our friend's house in Uxbridge...about an hour from the city center.

The next few days I fell absolutely in love with this city and had that royal song on a constant hum between R and I. It is big but very accessible with the Underground. Apart from the beautiful Westminster Abbey (in which I imagined Kate Middleton entering on her wedding day), Big Ben, the Thames river that meets your acquaintance at every bridge, and various museums, this city craves people of all different races and ages.

At Camden Town there were rows of outside markets whose smells tickled my nose with cooking spices from Mexican, Chinese, and Indian food stands. This city is reminding me more and more of a New York/DC hybrid! There were row houses that had steps leading up to the entrance just like Georgetown, Piccadilly Circus that Times Square was modeled after, Chinatown which is essential for any big city, Trafalgar's Square which could have easily been a Dupont Circle of sorts, and not to mention entertainment everywhere...at the tube station, on the streets and the vast choices of musicals!

We saw Chicago! I had seen this musical when I was young with my grandma, and I have seen the movie, but seeing the musical again with my husband was so much more exciting than ever before. Slinky, sexy, jazzy fun.

At the end I could easily see myself moving to London...it reminds me so much of home...but as R reminded me...we have a store! Of course I didn't forget! I was even able to see a home design trade show called Top Drawer and got some new ideas. That day I had to wizz through the rows of trade show stands because it was our last day and I still had to get to Hamley's toy store on Regent Street in order to buy my nieces the story of Paddington Bear...such a classic.

Well, London, I am sure to return back to you since we didn't get to see everything in only 4 days. But I leave you with some pictures of our trip.

Big Ben

Chinatown

Garrick Theater

a store window

Hamley's of London

Buckingham Palace

Camden Town

Tower of London

Piccadilly Circus