to drive the point home that i was not back on the soil of the red, white, and blue, kristen and i arrived to the beautiful, cozy flat of my cousin gemma, her husband matt, and charming fiona. after settling in, catching up and feeling more "at home" than ever, we headed off to a true cultural experience--an arsenal football match. as an avid football (soccer) fan, it was something out of a fairy-tale--sitting 15th row, seeing the players expressions, chanting alongside the die-hard englishman decked out in arsenal gear, and feeling the powerful energy of such passion for the sacred game :)
how do i come close to summing up our four wonderful, jam packed days in this truly fascinating city? i will give you the sparknotes version. i must say, that my favorite part of each day was getting up in the morning, hanging in my pj's and chatting with 'the girls' (gemma, kristen, and fiona) over morning coffee and toast. there is truly nothing quite like family love.
each day was spent exploring another facet of the massive city. kristen and i tackled the tube (underground) to discover the many museums, markets, and diverse neighborhoods.
the british museum
walking across the river to get to the Tate Modern museum
undoubtedly my favorite market that i visited was Borough market--gemma gave us the insider scoop to a food market that made me literally giddy. not only was it festively decorated for christmas and in quite the picturesque brick covered location, but it teased my tastebuds with every type of food imaginable. let's just say my desire to truly learn how to cook was reignited with extra umph.
and this is only the tip of the iceburg...i could talk about the food delicous-ness for days, but i shall spare you.
the adventures go on:
walking along the canal literally running right by gemma's flat.
flower market--imagine tons of crazy accented men and women with bundles of beautiful of flowers yelling out prices. another one of my favorite markets.
live music in the brisk morning outside the flower market.
outside spittlefields market--i love all the different shapes and textures of the buildings.
adorable neighborhood where the whole gang ate incredible indian food (discovered Korma for the first time...divine!) and discussed future travel possibilities. it still catches me off guard when various countries are suggested for weekend trips. what unique lives we lead.
on my bucket list once stood an unchecked box followed by "seeing Billy Elliot in London"...now there is a big fat red 'X' through that box and incredible memories made. i love live theater. plus, this performance goes up there to the top of my favorites list. if you haven't seen the movie Billy Elliot, rent it! if it at all appeals, go to the live theater (soon playing in SF)--a completely different interpretation, but with such charm and undeniable positive energy.
london was the most relaxing excursion i have had these past 5 months. being in gemma and matt's home with their open hearts and such generosity was more than i could have ever asked for. plus, fiona officially captured my heart. being with these amazing people in a city decorated for the holidays was exactly what i needed to get me pumped for the holidays abroad.
needless to say it was difficult to say 'goodbye' and in reality, it was more of a 'see you in a couple months.' we are making a trip happen! so as kristen and i boarded the plane back towards spain, little did me know that our trip would be extended a bit...due to a late plane, kristen and i had the pleasure of spending the night in the malaga airport. traveling is always an adventure! as i've learned, with a positive outlook and lovely friends to pass the time, any situation can be a memorable, good one.
good night!!!
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