Waiting Game

My (hopeful) tube stop!

I don't have much of an update today. Unfortunately I'm still waiting for confirmation on my flat in South Kensington. Last week I got stressed out over it but I think it'll all work out in the end. I just hope it works out the way I want it to! The flat in South Kensington is so conveinent for work and play, and there are a few friends located nearby. I'm working on getting my interviews setup so fingers crossed that it all comes together!

I guess right now I'm really just playing the waiting game - waiting for confirmation on the flat, dates to setup for interviews, and to get over there in general.

Soon enough I'll be there and quicker than I want I'll be back and planning my next trip! Maybe a job will be involved next time...one can dream!

Bachelorette Weekend

Last weekend was one of my best friend's bachelorette weekend at Lake Norman. McKinsey and I have been good friends since high school but we've known each other almost our entire lives. It was a great weekend to celebrate her upcoming wedding and to spend with the girls! I love trips with friends and this weekend getaway was perfect. The weather while we laid on the dock was perfect and we all had a great time together. I'm so thankful I was able to go! I can't wait for her wedding in a mere 2 weeks - it'll be a blast!

Grocery Stores

I know this seems like a random post, but I love going grocery shopping and it's a different experience in London than in the US! I'm headed to Trader Joes later today, and it got me thinking of the transitions I'll have to make in a month while I'm in London. Where I'm (hopefully) staying in London, I'll have easy access to a Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury's. All three of these grocery stores are within a five minute walk from my flat. In the past, I've spent most of my time and money at Waitrose and Tesco. Waitrose is rather nice and carries a good variety of food. Tesco is a cheaper, quicker grocery store - something I would equate to Wal-Mart but on a MUCH smaller scale and only selling food. In the past I've gone to Tesco for things like cereal, snacks, and sodas. I also like Sainbury's but I'll be honest - two summers ago I had a problem finding the store that was supposedly located near by flat! I guess I'll try again this summer as I've shopped at Sainbury's before and liked their selection.

A bit further out, I've got access to a Whole Foods and Marks & Spencer. I LOVE both of these grocery stores. Whole Foods, as many of you know, is pretty amazing. (And I'm thrilled that we're getting one next year in Charlotte). While amazing, it's also pretty pricey so I try not to go there too often. However, they carry fuji apples, my favorite apple, and they're virtually nonexistent elsewhere in London!

One thing I've had to get used to in the past is the increased frequency of grocery store visits. In the US, we're so used to going to the grocery store and making huge trips. Filling up an entire cart (and sometimes more) with food that will last weeks. In the UK, and in Italy when I lived there, we would go to the grocery store almost daily. This is mostly because refrigerator's are often smaller overseas - I usually have one the size of a mini-fridge. Oddly enough, going to the grocery store so often doesn't bother me. Within a 5 minute walk, I'm at the store. Living in a big city with fantastic transportation and things within walking distance is a great experience.

I must admit - I love going to the grocery store in the US as well. I think I just like food!

25 days!

View from St. James Park

In 25 days I will be boarding my flight to London. I know these next few weeks will pass by incredibly quickly; I've got my best friends wedding to be in, a trip to Atlanta/Athens with my friend Kristin to see Mumford & Sons LIVE, and time to spend with family/friends. I know I'll only be in London for 4 weeks (a little less) but it's still feeling like a big chunk of my summer; this is actually the shortest trip I've taken overseas! I'm still working on getting my housing arrangements together which is starting to raise my stress levels a bit. I thought I had it all worked out but have been waiting on confirmation for awhile so I'm starting to look at alternative options. I hope it works out that I can live where I had originally planned because I found out a little while ago that a friend of Kristin's will be living on the exact same street I'm supposed to live on - what are the odds?? So fingers crossed that it all goes according to the (original) plan.

I think I'll head to the mall this weekend to get a few things for work/interviews. I may also have an iPad to borrow for my trip which would be amazing for the plane rides/days at work.

So far things are moving along and I'm getting excited about my trip. Let's just keep our fingers crossed that this housing gets taken care of - and soon!!

Ultimate Wish List: Carry On

I've never had a really good piece of carry on luggage. Usually I'll use my backpack and a handbag but I think it's time to find a better solution. The problem is, I can't. I want my carry on to be practical, efficient, but in style also. So far all I can find that semi fits these requirements is the Longchamp Le Pilage large tote ($145). In the past I've used a Longchamp Le Pilage tote (small) when I was traveling abroad because it zipped all the way closed, which helped against pick-pocketing. I was happy with the bag, despite the wear and tear it received. I think this time around I'd go for a darker color to combat any markings appearing (which happened on my old bag). Now that my computer is more light-weight than the one I took overseas previously, I think the Longchamp would do it's job. I'd also be able to use it around the city while I'm there.

Does anyone know of a better bag that would be good as a carry on? I'm always looking for suggestions!

One Month!

As of today, there's one month left before I leave for London! I'm really looking forward to getting over there and getting settled. I know it's a quick trip but I hope to fit in some fun things while I'm there. So far I've got my flight scheduled and am finalizing my housing arrangement so things are moving along! I need to work on scheduling the interviews for my thesis research but I'm not too worried about that - I know being at the V&A on a daily basis will help me schedule interviews with curators who work there. I'm hoping the weather will be as nice as it was two years ago - I only had one day of rain!

Now that I'm at the one month mark, I need to start thinking of what I'm packing and pick up some last minute items.

What are your travel favorites? Any suggestions on must-have items?

Guide Books

Even though this will be my third long trip to London, I still feel the need to go over prepared with a few guide books. Through the years I've come to find a few authors/companies that I really like in regards to guide books. On my trip to London two years ago I bought Rick Steves' London 2009 and Time Out  Shortlist London 2009. These books were definitely used to find important information and suggestions. I recently placed an order on Amazon for the 2011 versions of these books because I thought they were great the first time around.

In 2008 when I traveled to Italy for nearly 3 months, Rick Steves' became my group's "travel bible" - Rick told us everything we needed to know and we loved him dearly for it. He told us the best restaurants in town (a restaurant in Siena is still one of my best memories and greatest recommendation), when museums opened/closed, how to sneak into the Murano glass blowing center in Venice, and other extremely useful information. Trusting the knowledge of Rick Steves, I found his book useful again in 2009. While I had been to London before, I still needed access to information Rick had! So I'm sure this time around he won't disappoint and I'm already looking forward to scanning the pages when the book arrives.

The second guide book I've purchased is Time Out Shortlist London 2011. This smaller version of Time Out London gives time specific information for a trip. There are sections on music events, museum exhibits and special events occurring each year. The book also includes sections on dining, shopping, the nightlife, and hotels. Each chapter centers around a certain "section" of London - so if I'm staying in South Kensington (which I am), I can go to that chapter and see what restaurants or bars are nearby that are recommended. There is also a calendar which lays out all the events occuring in 2011. In 2009 I found this book very useful and easy to carry around so I'm excited to use it again!

Rick Steves' website

Time Out London

What guide books do you use on trips? Do you go blind or use recommendations from friends?

In case you need a laugh today...

Kate Middleton for the Win

A friend sent me this blog and I just had to share - it's hilarious!!

Future Trip: Prague

Between the end of the semester and dealing with being sick once getting home, I sort of fell off the blogging bandwagon. But I'm back and hopefully nothing will deter me! Today I wanted to post about a city I've been longing to visit - Prague. Almost every time I've been overseas, I've tried to make it to Prague for a long weekend. The first time I was in London I already had my long weekend trips planned (Barcelona and Paris) so I didn't try to go to Prague. When I was in Italy, there was so much to explore and see and the trip to Prague was difficult and expensive so I never made it. Two summers ago in London I only travelled to Ireland to visit family. This summer I tried to find a way to get to Prague from London but with my limited time overseas it didn't work out. However, I really hope to make it there one day!

Because I've wanted to go to Prague for awhile, I've read up a little on the city. As the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic, Prague has become a major tourist attraction within the past few years. A few things I would love to see are:
- Prague Castle - this is the largest castle in the world (hello!) and consists of palaces, a church, a monastery, museums and art galleries, viewing towers and the St. Vitus Cathedral
- Charles Bridge - on the bridge, which crosses the Vltava River, one can see great views of Prague Castle and the nearby attractions; the bridge connects the Old Town to the Lesser Town
- Klementinum - this attraction was founded in 1232 and boasts a tower with a 360 view of Prague and the Mirror Chapel, which hosts classical concerts
- Lesser Town (Mala Strana) - this area of Prague is centered around the foothills of Prague Castle - I would love to just walk the streets and enjoy the sights!
- Lesser Town Square
- National Theater
- Old Town Square - this square is one of the most historically significant squares in Prague - and beautiful too!
- Prague State Opera
- Vyserhard Park - a large, beautiful park with many areas to explore
- Wenceslas Square - this is Prague's main boulevard and the center of shops, bars, casinos and hotels - this is probably the area I would try to find a hotel in since it's centrally located to all the great sights in Prague

With a list like this, I think I could occupy myself in Prague for a few days! It's definitely at the top of my list of places to go - if anyone has any suggestions please offer them!

To read more about Prague, check out this website: Prague Experience

Past Trips: Bermuda

During the summer of 2005, my parents, sister, Grandfather and step-Grandmother took a trip to Bermuda and it was gorgeous! Bermuda was my first (and best) tropical island experience and one I will never forget. Knowing I was on an island with nothing around for miles and miles was amazing. Our hotel was beautiful, the private beach was perfect, and having my family around made it all better. I can't imagine a better tropical island experience and I'm so thankful for the trip and I'd love to go back one day! Since Bermuda I've been to the Bahamas but there was no comparison - Bermuda definitely wins! With the weather warming up I've definitely been hit with beach fever so hopefully I can make it to a beach soon - although it won't be as good as Bermuda!