Another Great Weekend

Almost immediately after we found out we were moving to London, our friends and family began making their plans to visit. I just have to interject here that I feel so loved and grateful that those closest to us would make the journey.  I really do appreciate M&B and J&G for coming to visit and those that will make the trip in the future.  It is beyond fun for me to show-off our adopted city.

I had been looking forward to this late October-November when we would expect a houseguest triple-threat: three groups, three weekends. Well, two down, one to go!  J&G arrived on Friday (during which time M&B toured Rome) and we packed as much into the weekend as possible. They gave me a perfect excuse to be a complete tourist and take a Thames River cruise.  We also went to Borough Market, Buckingham Palace, Harrods, Portobello Road and Covent Garden.  They even agreed to eat Gavin's spicy veggie chili!  What great guests ;)

at Borough Market

olives for J!

our "tinies" from Harrods

getting ready for the cruise

walking Portobello Road

I made her take this ;)

"where's the way out?"

Glasgow

Following our whirlwind sight-seeing around central London, we boarded the train to Scotland for a few days in Glasgow and few days in the country.  However, I wasn't able to enjoy Glasgow as the group pretty much grounded me to the hotel the first full day there.  It's no fun to go on vacation and then not be able see what you came to see!  I had planned a full day of city centre tours, walks through the botanical garden and visiting museums.  Mostly, Chewie and I spent our time in the hotel room, trying desperately to shake this cold.  But we did get out for a short walk along a beautiful creek that runs through Glasgow.  I'm not too sure what Gavin, M&B did ;) 

I pulled it together for the next day's activities of Rosslyn Chapel and castle ruins, a proper British lunch (with tea.. for my throat...) in Edinburgh and a gorgeous country drive to our hotel.. until I had a great hot toddy at the hotel bar that put me to sleep.  What can I say?  Nellie and liquor usually just means nap time.

I rallied the following day as well and I'm so glad I did because we took a hike around a small portion of Loch Lomand.  The trees were at their autumn peak, the air was brisk; it was a perfect activity for a day out in Scotland.  We found a super cozy lunch spot that reminded us of the Northwoods (shout out to MN!) and rounded out the afternoon at Stirling Castle.  It looked a lot like Edinburgh Castle being that it was high up in the middle of the town which made our tour quite windy but very worthwhile.  Oh, and we stopped by a distillery on the way back to the hotel.  Gavin loves his single-malt.

Despite the cold (both mine and the temp) we thoroughly enjoyed our time away from London.  I would definitely go back to Glasgow- if only to see all the art I missed!

my walk through Glasgow

on our way to Rosslyn Castle ruins

beginning our Loch Lomond hike

it was absolutely beautiful when the sun came out 

i'd go back to this cozy bar!

just a portion of Stirling Castle

Our First Visitors

A LOT has happened in the past week or so.  My bad for not posting sooner.  In between trying to organize and clean for the few days we had until M&B came, I just couldn't get to the blog.  But now that they are here (yay!) and I have a free moment, I can post a few pictures from our London sightseeing days. They arrived Wednesday and after settling in, we mostly stuck close to home. 

We had a packed schedule for Thursday and Friday.  On the former, we saw Green Park, Buckingham Palace, St. James' Park, Westminster, Parliament, Big Ben, The London Eye (from across the Thames), strolled along Victoria Embankment, the Millennium Bridge, St. Paul's Cathedral, Bank of England, the Royal Exchange, the Monument, the Tower of London, AND the Tower Bridge.  Did I mention we walked the entire route? I'm exhausted just reliving it! Somehow we even managed to squeeze in dinner at Gavin's favorite pizza place as well.

Friday flew by, especially since we spent time at both the British Museum and the National Gallery.  We also walked through Covent Garden (where we had a thoroughly British lunch of bangers, mash and pies) and Trafalgar Square.  It's been a great couple of days of being a tourist in my home city. Now, if I could only kick this horrible cough and cold I've got going on.  Currently, I'm taking a break while Gavin shows M&B Borough Market and then we're off to Glasgow for a long weekend.

The current Fourth Plinth! For S ;)

And for a little Halloween fun, a few scary gargoyles from our walks :)

Settling In

Sorry for the radio silence.  FINALLY, our US shipment came.  I really couldn't be happier: I get to wear my contacts again, sit on a couch and read all my travel books! The best part about getting our stuff was this:

Literally two minutes after taking it out of the box, Chewie sat in his bed.  So cute.  I was worried things would smell or be broken, but the fact that he took to HIS bedding right away, made me relax. 

Then I realized that I had to actually put everything away.  Oh, who am I kidding?  I love to organize!

The kitchen in progress.  All of the paper you see came from that one box!  But, no broken wine glasses. I think by next week, I'll be able to post a few pics of the interior of the home.  FINALLY!