Burn, Baby, Burn Disco Inferno! - Day 63

Didn't do much today. Laundry. Cleaned my apartment. Hit the market. Blah blah blah. Pretty much rested up for my friend, James's, house party that I've been looking forward to for weeks! Unfortunately, I stumbled upon some tube malfunctions that made a 30 minute trip into a 1h 45 minute trip. So SIX tubes later and after sweating my ass off transferring to and fro, I was ready to start drinkin' when I arrived. I was introduced to a ton of people (name tags should be mandatory at drinking events!) and then James decided that we should teach the Brits how to play flipcup. And I thought, "YOU PEOPLE DON'T KNOW FLIPCUP!?!" Even worse? When questioned, they told me they've never played Beer Pong! Whaaat?!? Just insane. 

                                     

                                                              We taught them flip cup and they taught us... 

BOAT RACES!
(Basically, the game is to sit on the floor, in a line, and relay-style chug your drink and when you finish,
 to cue the next person to go you have to flip your empty cup on top of your head. Whaaaat kind of game is this?!?)

Joe, Me and Brian gettin ready to race!

Then a bunch of us headed to Clapham to go dancing at Inferno. And I thought Roadhouse was crazy. This was BANANAS! Two stories of total dancing chaos. Great music. TONS of people. Drinks-a-flowin'. It was awesome! 

Check out the face on the guy in the blue shirt. Good times.  

Cheers! Alex's face here cracks me up! 

Alex, Fari, and Me dancin' our faces off!

Me and the boys (Jonathan, James, Brian and Jeremy) whoopin it up til dawn!
(Literally! Thank you daylight saving for an extra hour of party time!)

Don't so much remember the cab ride home - it's a little hazy - a boozy blur of falafel and french fries.  Went back to Elephant & Castle and crashed at Fari's (cause she's awesome!) and then made my way home this morning. That was one hell of a night! Can't wait for another!

Lunch in Lovely Richmond - Day 61

Against my better judgement I tried "clotted cream" which I swore not to do because the name is downright disgusting! (I have a sensitivity to gross names. They conjure heinous mental pictures and "clotted cream" was just not sitting well with me.) But after much provocation, I folded and went for it! AND IT WAS FRIGGIN DELICIOUS! Holy. Cow. Scone + Jam + Clotted Cream = best breakfast ever! I am a fan and I kinda want to eat it every day. And maybe I will!

A "proper" English breakfast - tea and all!

After breakfast, I made my way out to Richmond to meet Aileen for lunch and explore the town during the daytime when the shops are open. We visited a bookstore and I must say, I love me sisters, but they can't be in a bookstore for more than 10 minutes without acting like someone's lit a fire in their pants! But Aileen, like me, is a writer and could stay all day in the bookstore! We perused all of the new releases and talked about books we've recently read and liked and disliked. So much fun. Maybe not everyone's idea of fun, but so glad that Aileen and I have that in common! Then we went to Jamie Oliver's Trattoria for lunch. Every one of his restaurants that I've been to has been SUPER DELISH and this time was no exception!
      Then we took a stroll up to her flat, which is right across from one of the most beautiful views I've seen in awhile! She lives across from a lovely park in which we took a brief stroll and then we sat outside and have a drink at the pub.

This is a statue of Aphrodite, which is nicknamed "Bulbous Betty"... aww, poor girl. 

Check out the Thames in the distance. 

Doesn't this look fake!?!?

Gin and tonic and Aspalls by the park! 

     Another wonderful day with my wonderful friend!

God Save the Queen - Day 60

      I will admit that it is a bit odd to be sitting in your apartment at the end of the day, all alone, with a grin on your face. I can't stop smiling like an idiot.

And I think because...
I'm in love!
IN LOVE WITH THIS FRIGGIN' CITY!
(Ooh, gotcha there. That one was for my mom.)
     No, but seriously, this city becomes more amazing every day and the feeling of knowing it is bittersweet. I have mentioned many times how lucky I feel and how blessed I am to be here. But everyday I fall deeper in love with this city is another day closer to me having to leave it. And it's breaking my heart a little bit.
    Ok, I'll stop whining and tell you why I am in my room smiling like an idiot.
    I had such a great day today! Truly, a freakin' amazing day. And I can't really tell you what made it so magical. Well, for one, it probably had something to do with the perfect weather. Blue skies. Crisp autumn air. Sun shinning. I know I probably won't have many more days like this before the weather turns cold and ugly, so I'm glad I took full advantage of it.
    My initial plan was to take the ferry from Westminster Pier to Hampton Court (which was originally built for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey in 1514 and then taken by Henry VIII in 1529... ahh, Tudor Reign, so fascinating!). Unfortunately, unbeknownst to me, that particular ferry only runs on certain days and today was not one of'em. Instead, I decided to go to Westminster Abbey since the last time I had walked around that area and thought about going to it, it was too late and was already closed. So bright and early (uhh... around 11:00), I went to the Abbey and was UTTERLY AMAZED at the history of it. You can't even imagine how many people are buried there and how much history is housed in that one place. So many coronations. So many royal weddings and funerals. So many famous writers in the Poets' Corner. (Poets' Corner particularly blew me away. I've never felt to inspired to write in all my life. I was just in awe of all of the talent and the number of years between them writing and me sitting there ogling their burial sites. Totally wild.)
     I actually sat in for church service at Westminster at noon and it was really beautiful. You see, I'm an equal-opportunity-religious-ceremony-attendee. (If you don't get that joke, then check out my post here about The Sunday Assembly.) The service was presided by Cannon Jane, second to only the Dean in the order at the Abbey. One, she was a woman, which shocked the junk out of me. And second, to learn that she was second in command was just awesome. GO HER! Plus, the service was beautiful. Technically, I wasn't supposed to take pictures inside the Abbey, but I kinda couldn't help myself. I REALLY wanted to take a picture of Poets' Corner, but alas, too many eyes watching.

Me walking from Westminster Pier over to the Abbey. LOOK AT THIS VIEW!

The Abbey and the bluest skies I've seen a while!

The Lady's Chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Burial site of Mary Queen of Scots. (HO. LY. COW!) I don't know if you know this about me, but I am fascinated with Tutor England and the whole Henry the VIII drama. Talk about family shenanigans! Whew!

And just across the way, the burial site of Elizabeth I,  Mary's rival.  (Ooooh!)

The Cloisters.

Self in the courtyard - not that you can tell with the sun in the background.

Courtyard of the Cloisters.

Toward the gardens of the monastery! How gorgeous is this!

Last stop on the Abbey tour was a special installation to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's coronation back in 1953. There were panels of pictures of her being crowned and the celebrations in the streets. And then ended with a current portrait of her, which was beautiful. It was pretty cool to see the progression of her reign. In addition, her coronation was hosted in the Abbey! 

      I then decided to take a walk up to Harrods since my mom asked me to pick something up for a friend of hers. Before I began walking, I thought I should probably ask the guard if I was heading in the right direction and he kept insisting that it was too far to walk and that I should just take the tube. I literally had to ask him four times before the other guard on duty jumped in to give me directions. I told the man that it's a beautiful day, I don't mind the walk, blah blah blah and he was acting like Harrods was on the other side of planet Earth.

      The walk included a stroll by St. James's Park up past Buckingham Palace, up along Hyde Park and then down Knightsbridge St. (A couple of miles... no biggie! It was my exercise for the day! - I clocked it and walked about a total of 6.5 miles today. Not bad!)

 

Here's for the most amazing part of the day. Before I tell you, please understand that as an American, I NEVER thought I'd get this excited about this... like ever. But, I SAW THE QUEEN TODAY. Like for real. In person. There she was in her motorcade rockin' and rollin' out of the castle. I don't even think I'd be as excited if I saw our own President! It's funny, while it was happening I was like "Eh, there's the Queen, that's cool." But after the fact, I was like a giddy little school-girl about it (and clearly, still am!). It was just kinda cool that through a series of unexpected detours throughout my day, I serendipitously ran into the Queen. Whaaaaaat?!?  

Just walking along past the castle, minding my own business...

AND BOOM - THE QUEEN'S MOTORCADE.
Clearly, I couldn't snap the picture quickly enough, but she passed RIGHT by me.
Like I could see her cute little face! Totally awesome!

       I continued my adventure and made my way to Harrods which is beginning to decorate for Christmas and they really know how to do it up right!  Finally, I went across the street back to Zia Theresa for a late lunch (actually the first thing I've really eaten all day!) for delicious pizza before I made my way back home. 

        Once home, I kicked backed and relaxed while watching The Help on Netflix (which is unbelievably brilliant for a book to film adaptation!). If you haven't seen it, SEE IT. But bring your kleenex. I don't know what's happening to me, but I cried through the whole thing. 

     Maybe it's exhaustion, I mean, I did walk ALL DAY! 

Will Work(out) For Food - Day 58

I realized, as I was sweating my ass off at the gym today during a particularly grueling workout, that I only workout because I LOVE FOOD. I do. And clearly, I wasn't blessed with a high functioning metabolism, so the only solution if I want to eat cheese all day (and I do!) is to work my ass off (literally) at the gym.
It isn't fun.
I don't like it.
I wish I did. Truly.
It would make my life a shit-ton easier.
But I just don't.
However, I have to think of it as a small sacrifice. A tiny percent of my day that then allows me to enjoy the yummy treats that I eat on the reg.

On second thought, I will admit that I do love the way my body can exercise now as opposed to before. I appreciate watching my body change and seeing how much farther I can push myself every single day. So I guess there's that too.

Since living here in London and not having to work a full-time job and a second job on top of my grad school work, I have way more free time on my hands (which I know I've mentioned in previous posts). Due to that free time, I force myself to workout five days a week. Weekends are my play time (aka hangover recovery time - see my previous post for details on that!) But I have to say that I am feeling pretty damn great! I just wish I loved it more and it didn't take such painstaking effort for me to get out of bed to go to the gym.

I think this EVERY SINGLE MORNING! No bueno. 

I want to wake up.
Spring out of bed.
And skip on over to the gym.
Yeah, it'll never happen.
But I go anyway!

You Know You're Almost 30 When... - Day 57

    I met up with Eric tonight for drinks at Blackfriars. It was supposed to be a few drinks! Long story short, 3am - dancing - shots of Jagger. Sweet Jesus, apparently I'm not 21 anymore, which is indicated by my two day hangover.

    What has happened to me?!? I used to drink like a champ in college. My group of friends is like 80% dudes, who I can keep up with during any drinking match. And now, I drink only a margin of what I used to and want to die for the next week! I think I say it every time but, I think I'm giving up drinking.

    P.S. - Roadhouse is insanity. It is an absolute shitshow. So fun. So ridiculous. Best bar ever. 

Blackfriars. Started out strong. Damn you Aspalls!

Still going strong. 

And THIS is where things got messy.

Yup, game over. 

I kinda wish I took an "after picture" of me the next day.

But I'm pretty sure that a photo of such a caliber should not be allowed in a public forum.

Update: We went out Friday. It's now Sunday - and I'm still in bed. Pathetic.

Au Revoir, Paris - Day 55

My flight is at 6:20 at night so I have all day to enjoy the city. What should I do? I thought about heading up to Montmartre and strolling around there for awhile, but there is seriously NO easy way to get to the Pignalle metro station from where I was in Le Marais. It would take me like three transfers and a crap ton of time to get up there. I mean, I like Monmartre, but I find it to be a little shady in certain spots. It would have been fine during the day, but it just wasn't the best way to spend what little time I had left in the city. Instead, I decided to stroll around Le Marais a bit a visit the Centre Georges Pompidou area. I love the fountain there. Very cool. Very modern.

I then made my way back through the Latin Quarter to head over to Saint Germaine des Pres. 

Le Fountaine de Saint Michael

I stumbled into a Literary Exhibit hosted by Livre de Poche.
Pretty neat to see all these famous works translated into French. 

Another famous literary haunt by some of the greatest writers and artists of the 1920s -
Intellectuals such as Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Sartre, Hemingway, Camus, Picasso and Joyce. 

And across the street is Le Cafe de Flore, the main rival of Les Deux Magots.
It is one of the oldest and most prestigious coffeehouses in Paris and
 it too is celebrated for hosting most of the French intellectuals during the post- war years. 

I looked at dining at both of them, but neither has creme brulee! Can you believe that!?! Yeah, me either! So I strolled a few more blocks down the road in search of one of my favorite French treats. 

Last stop was a cute cafe where I sat outside and ate a creme brulee before heading back to the flat.
It was JUST as delicious as it looked! My favorite is cracking the sugar on top. I'm such a kid. 

     Finally, I went back to my flat, gathered my belongings and headed to the Rambuteau metro to take it to Les Halles to catch the RER to Charles de Gaulle Airport. 

     Sadly, my trip had to come to a close, but I had such a fantastic time, it's almost hard to describe. I don't know when I'll have the opportunity to get back, but I certainly hope that it's not another 10 years before I do. 

     Au revoir, Paris. Et a bientot!