Our European Tour (Part 1)

Thursday (May 5th): Our last real day in London....really sad. The morning was quintessential British weather with rain and overcast. We had breakfast at the Serpentine with Sue. I then met up with Zoe at the British Museum and had lunch at Wagamama. Afterwards met at Westminster Abbey for Eve and Song and saw all the wedding decorations still up! There were the trees lining the aisle, flowers in nooks and crannies and her bouquet on the tomb of the unknown solider. Finally went to a final hot chocolate at the Lanesborough's Library bar (also with Lena!) and then onto the Horgan's to sleep.

Vienna (May 6th): Arrived in Vienna where we met up with cousin Sarah, walked around a lot and saw all the major buildings and a really big church...In the evening we went to a film connected with Sarah's internship and then to a coffee house with piano music and a lovely ambiance.

Vienna (May 7th): Started the day with a visit to the Spanish Riding School of Vienna's performance. The fancy horses pranced around as if they were in a ballet. For lunch we round our way around a farmer's market before heading to Sissi's palace for a walk and a nap on the grass. In the evening we went to a food festival with lots of samples and then sat at a cafe. We got to the train station insanely early and then set off the stressful and scary "adventure" that was our overnight train experience....basically it was very confusing as to were we needed to be, very busy and very hectic (lots of jostling and running up and down platform). We finally found our way to our sleeping car and turned in for the night. Our cramped little room had three beds stacked right on top of each other like a submarine.

Krakow Day 1 (May 8th): The conductor woke us up as we approached Krakow and we entered the city to a gray morning. We arrived at our Hotel (Copernicus) and took a swim, sauna break and showers. Next we toured the concentration camps, Auschwitz and Birkenau. I have been to lots of museums about the Holocaust so it was very moving to actually see the camps. It makes me really appreciate all of my blessings and want to stop such atrocities that still occur in the world! Our tour bus dropped us off in the Old City, where we had lunch on the main square and walked around. In the evening we walked up to this old castle and there was a man dressed as a knight at its base. Daddy started goofing of with him and they started a "sword" fight. Little did Daddy know but as he continued to step backwards he reached a step and fell completely on his back! It was really really funny. We then rounded off our day with ice cream for dinner and a classical music concert in a grand old church!

I rather Kate day

So my day was rather creepily Kate Middleton themed....First, I got my hair cut today by James Pryce (her hairdresser) at a salon off Sloane Square. My Mom met me at the salon and we meandered around the King's Road before going to a KCWC Fashion Fayre and then to Jak's for lunch with Sue. After lunch we went back to the Fayre for a comedic routine about the history of "Knickers" aka pants aka drawers aka panties aka underwear....so that was strange....anyhow then she and I began walking around town and 1) went into the Phillip Tracey milliner shop (think the crazy British hats at the Royal Wedding) and tried them on, 2) walked past the Goring Hotel and 3) went into the Buckingham Palace shop in pursuit of commemorative tea towels.

I then proceeded to continue packing our ludicrously big new suitcase (it could fit probably three of me....) and hung out with Lena. This evening we went for coco at a restaurant in Maida Vaie over the canal with Mrs. Honey.

The Land of Harry Potter

Went to Oxford to visit Maria where I attended a lecture on something classical and Greek...Afterwards met up with the madre and (it's a small small world) Zoe Kaslow (from Girl Scouts and who just happened to run into my mom). Next Gregory showed us around and then took us to his college, Lincoln. There we had a cup of tea in the fellows room, very English and very fun. Last but definitely not least (in fact the best!) we went to "formal" dinner at Oriel aka The Great Hall from Harry Potter. The dining room was all dark oak, portraits and history. The students had to wear their academic robes and food magically appeared a la the house elves. Dinner was three courses and a very cool experience.

May Day

Happy May Day!

Church and then to Jaks with the Moe's and the Honey's for a delicious brunch. Plein air painting in Hyde Park followed (I did a pointillism poppy where Georgia O'Keefe and Seurat kind of met..) Rounded off the day with a healthy helping of ice cream. YUM!


Yesterday we met up with these really really sweet elderly couple who we met on Mothering Sunday at the club. They took the train all the way to London to visit with us-so nice! Joan and Peter Newey.