Recap.

I'm not very good at giving daily play-by-plays. Maybe that's why I take so many photos, because I prefer the way that they tell the story. But, for the sake of posterity, I'll recap (briefly).

• Day 1: We left New York Friday evening & arrived in London Saturday morning. We each slept a bit, thanks to 50mg of Benadryl. We took a taxi to our hotel, took a nap & then set out to see the sights. We walked through the Portabello Road market, took a bus tour through the city (it was comprehensive), grabbed hot chocolate at Hyde Park & wandered. It was a beautiful day. By the time we got back to our hotel, we were so exhausted that we sat on the bed & watched a full episode of The Hills. Together. I had never seen it, & I don't think I'll ever watch it again (it was dumb). Observation from Day 1: The tubes were clean, fast, quiet & cushioned. We loved them.
• Day 2: We went to the Hyde Park ward for church in the morning (& saw a few couples we knew in our old Union Square ward in Manhattan), went to the nearby museums (Victor & Albert, Natural History Museum), wandered through Hyde Park (spectacular), took a quick break at The Orangery (loved it), went to Harrods (sort of like Macy's- overwhelming & crowded), ate macaroons at Lauderee (I tried to take photos & they snapped at me), wandered in circles for an hour (on accident) while my comfortable shoes gave me the mother of all blisters, walked down Sloan Street (the London equivalent of 5th Avenue), walked around the Tower of London & ate dinner at Wagamama's for dinner (it was good, although maybe not worth seeking out). We crashed at our hotel & watched Mike's new favorite show: America's Best Dance Crew, hosted by Mario Lopez. I'm so glad we don't have MTV & never have to watch it again. Day 2 observations: The city is more spread out in New York, which possibly explains the lessened intensity of the city (i.e. it doesn't feel like it's going to squish your brains out like New York oftentimes does). The people are more friendly, smile more, & are not averse to making eye contact. The buildings are lower (& older, obviously), & the streets are impeccably clean. People walk more slowly, & that's okay.
• Day 3: We went on a full-day tour outside of the city visiting Warwick Castle (we liked the view from the top), Stratford Upon Avon (we got the most delicious Belgian chocolate milk from Marks & Spencer- & saw the birthplace of Shakespeare), The Cotswolds (we'd like to raise sheep there) & Oxford (Mike studied there one summer, & it was fun for him to go back- & I loved all of the bikes). After our tour, we dragged all of our luggage onto the tube (just like we've done post-Costco trips so many times in New York- always the spectacle) & went to Hotel #2. We were so tired that we ordered room service & ate on our bed.
• Day 4: Mike had a full-day event, so I was on my own. I met Lindsey for breakfast, & then went to the park. It was wonderful. Did I mention she's even prettier in person? She is. And Isobel was great & Oliver is the most handsome brown-eyed baby I've ever seen. We had fun. The weather was perfect. After we said goodbye, I was truly solo. Have I mentioned I'm not so great with maps? I'm not. Until now. I guess it was just a confidence thing. I wandered for hours. I never got lost. I took the tube, & transferred without error. I went to Buckingham Palace & the surrounding sights (loved St. James Park), Parliament Square, Westminster Abbey, The National Gallery Museum & ate lunch on a stoop (Pret A Manger was a daily quick fix- it's good, & it's different in London than it is in New York). I walked up to Trafalgar Square, through Leicester Square & towards Covent Garden - where the roads are the squiggliest I've ever encountered. I found Ben's Cookies (which I think were also at University Mall when I was at BYU- oh well), & the Orla Kiely boutique I had wanted to find (& I did! with just the address!). By the time I got back to the hotel I could barely walk (although my flats proved more comfortable than my comfortable shoes- I don't think any shoes are comfortable for 9 hours of walking). Once again- Mike got back from his meetings & we ordered room service. Boring perhaps, but oh so necessary.
• Day 5: Mike had a morning of meetings, so I took off early & went to the Tower of London solo. It had started to drizzle, but there was no need for an umbrella. I took the audio tour (interesting), & explored a bit. Is it silly if I think that having read The Other Boleyn Girl helped me to understand the tour a bit better? It did. I went back to the hotel. We packed, & then left. Sigh.

Did I mention that I wore only black the whole time? Literally, I only packed black clothing. It's easy, right?

And- I made a mental list of things that are just better in London (i.e. just make more sense):

• The machines that take tickets for The Tube are just common sense. In New York, tourists just can't figure out how to swipe their Metro cards. Too fast, too slow, wrong way, & nothing is worse than being in a rush when someone can't figure out how to use their Metro Card. It's a disaster. The turn wheels are also a mess for anyone carrying anything other than a purse. You just can't fit, & it's a hassle. I prefer London's entrances to the tube.
• Portable credit card machines at restaurants so that waiter isn't running around the restaurant to swipe your card & then have you sign. I mean, obviously.
• Public toilets. They're everywhere, & oftentimes clean. In New York, you have to find a bookstore or a Starbucks or just hold it.
• People are nice. And polite.

That was our trip. It was lovely. I can't wait to go back. Or maybe move there.