started typing while on the long flight headed home as it occurred to me I will have far more sitting-time here than back at home. feeling very ready to pick up each of my four babies and squeeze them. and a huge thank you to the grandparents (and aunts, uncles, neighbors, and sitters) for filling in for us for the last 10 days!
So our exact 10 year anniversary was April 7th, but we waited to travel until June. We left for London on my actual 35th birthday, which made for an extra sweet day. Isaac and I have been talking/dreaming about this trip for years. He had gone to Europe twice in college, and his many great stories and pictures left me longing to experience some of the same....Minus the hostels.
The couple that plays together AND dreams together stays together, right? The planning and dreaming part was really fun. Reading travel blogs, following French and British foodies on Instagram, reading travel mags-- it's been a lovely way to gear up for and dream up some plans for the big trip. I found an iPhone app called Glimpse Guides super helpful. The girl who created it is actually from little rock and has fab taste. A college friend of mine, Lauren, has a blog and Instagram account called Aspiring Kennedy that I also referenced for ideas/places to see.
So while it's obvious I'm a huge dreamer type (I could literally brainstorm and dream an entire day away), I am not a good task planner and am teeerible with logistics. Enter Poe Travel agency. They helped us with our bookings and itineraries and made sure I wasn't in charge of important things like dates and Airline info.
The London (and Paris) weather was unusually sunny and warm. 90s! Which was nice in some ways, but sweaty in others.
Flew to Dallas, then to London.
we slept a lot of the way on 9 hour flight to london. but were still tired for the first few days.
We landed and then had lunch at our hotel. This was one of my fav spots in London. I think I had three meals right here in this yellow room.
That afternoon we went to evensong, the evening service at Westminster Abbey.
My phone went off during the very quiet service. Embarrassing!! Yet I was glad to hear the incredible voices and harmony of the choir.
We ate dinner at the Ivy Chelsea Garden. It was the coolest atmosphere we saw on the whole trip, I'd say. And one of my favorite dishes.
The names were on the dishes at every restaurant we went to. I get excited over little details.
We came back to the back porch of The Goring each night. Had cheese and dessert and glass of wine. Many British people all around us, all in sports coats and long pants. Not us:) We loved listening to their accents and phrases.
We had an English breakfast complete with black and white pudding. I liked the white one, then I heard that pudding is made out of blood somehow?? I stopped asking questions. The yolks were bright orange every place we went. The Goring had the best latte I've ever had. I just started enjoying coffee, good timing.
We timed our trip to see the Trouping of the Colours annual parade celebrating the que en's birthday.
HUGE HIT!!! It wasn't even really crowded until about 1 when the family came out onto the balcony. So from 9:30 to about 11, we watched the family including KATE and William roll down the street in their carriages. My kind of activity!!!!!
we were so close i could have thrown a paper airplane at them. i got some good videos of her waving to us. posted the one of kate on instagram.
it was much harder to get a good view of the balcony. we were literally squinting between people's legs, ha. you can see in the pic below.
we ate at the savoy hotel this evening. great pork chops and their chocolate truffles win my fav dessert of the trip award.
then we saw school of rock show in one of the west end theaters. the show was very very good. the kid actors literally made me cry they were so talented. if i did this again, i would have picked an older theater, but seen the same show. this theater was more american looking than old with lots of character.
next day, we went to notting hill for breakfast and to get a pretty walk in. and i shopped while isaac had some time to run/read/work.
we ate breakfast at granger and co.
and ordered several sides to top our eggs. we looked very american as we could barely fit all our plates in front of us.
don't mind the constant pics, ike
loved this preppy gorgeous neighborhood and the doors
more goring goods as a pre dinner snack
i loved all the wallpapers and art we saw in the hotels and restaurants
we ate at sketch. this place is ultra creative which i adored.
dessert back at the goring, overlooking their garden space.
if i could go back to one of the three places again, i think i'd pick london. it's the kind of place i could keep enjoying over and over.
next up, paris......
