Hot Off The Press

I should just be upfront: I'm behind and it's because my nights have ended with a drink in my hand and my feet sore from dancing.

What can I say? When in London...

Added on though, it's also tough to stay updated when I can't even keep up with my journal! Vacation is about putting down your devices and taking a look at the world around you, free from obligation and worry. This time though, I've found some spare time (and a glass of sherry to keep me on track), so let's catch up.

Monday started with a spook.

Upon my reccomendation, we made our way to the London Bridge and experienced a rather historical fright at the London Bridge Experience. Quite a way to start the day!

With the entire day ahead of us, I led the group through Borough Market (stopping of course for Pimm's), along the bank, and across to Embankment. They purchased Oyster cards and because it was already so close, we walked over to Covent Garden to find some lunch.

We did, and it was at a most perfect pub, complete with fancy bar, old time decor, music, and costume, and classic English food (fish and chips).

From there, we popped into Kate Spade (and popped out, with bags, of course) and returned to the hotel to get ourselves dolled up for the evening.

Showtime at the Savoy!

We were seeing "Dreamgirls."

Tears, laughter, goosebumps, and shivers, the show was nothing less of sensational.

So you'd think the night would end there, right? Well, Kate wanted to experience the London night life and seeing as how I had once lived here, I knew of a few places.

We ended up going to the Roxy, a student club where we danced the night (and most of the morning) away.

Lots of moves on Monday, yeah?

Cheers!

Pimm's O'Clock?

A fine pub indeed: Mr. Fogg's Tavern!

Kate has been enjoying all the wine-ing since arriving...

For me? Fancy cocktail.

Classic fish 'n chips..

Let the show begin!

The day began with an excellent reccomendation from the rest of the crew: care to sleep in an hour longer?

Well, if you insist!

After an enormous English style breakfast, complete with beans on toast, we hit the streets of London. Course, we had to move at a snail's pace across the Westminster Bridge due to all the tourists, but once we made it safely to the other side, it was onward to the National Gallery.

Situated proudly in Tralfalgar Square, this was a place I had not visited whilst living here, so I was more than excited to tour the many rooms of art.

Camera in hand, art eyes on, I proceeded to walk with Kate and explore the various galleries.

While not exactly stingy art purveyors, Kate and I did observe said works of art as the curious young women we were, appreciating what we liked, and having an inner chuckle at those that didn't quite meet our fancy. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Nevertheless, we both learned quite a bit and had ourselves a grand time.

Lunch came immediately after, and I took them to the cafe in the iconic Harrods. We dined on afternoon tea, scones, and a lite bite.

It sure gave us enough power to move on though because the next thing I knew, we were walking out of Ted Baker with big bags in our arms. Looks like I converTED another one....

So much to do and see in one day!

Naturally, all that observing, walking, talking, shopping, and eating had us quite tired, and so we took a late nap before a final dinner at Las Iguanas, once again located on Southank.

And the night is not yet over, so who knows what we'll do in the remaining hours....

Oh, and did I mention the sensational weather we had today?

Having to meander through this was no easy task, let me tell you!

You would find me staring at the cat painting..

Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" were a favorite of Kate's...

This particular exhibit was recommended to us by one of the museum guards, upon hearing our somewhat... Feminist chatter. We were discussing the beauty of the woman in the above photo (and subsequent talk of "beauty" through the ages) and how she wasn't looking at herself in the mirror, but the viewer, and the man told us to head to the Sunley Room.

The below depictions represent "beauty" and in this particular culture, women were portrayed as having mustaches and chest hair. Just goes to show how beauty is all interpretive!