Mom's Visit

After our whirlwind weekend Parisian getaway, I was ready for a relaxing week in London. Debra had other plans. It being her first trip to Europe, this meant we had to make the most out of our limited amount of days. Between my insane work schedule and her trip to Bath, we squeezed in a couple wonderful dinners before she left.

On Monday after my Advertising class, we tubed it to the Tower of London. I had heard rave reviews, and I was not disappointed. Our tour, led by an actual Beefeater in the Tower was incredible. In order to become a beefeater, you must fulfill a long list of requirements dictated by the Queen, including serving in the Army for at least ten years. Our guide was not only a master storyteller, but an expert historian on the Tower. Created as a fortress, the Tower has served many roles throughout Britain's history, most notably acting as a prison and torture chamber for the condemned at the hands of the monarchy. We saw the very spot where Anne Boylen was decapitated, as well as where they house the Royal Jewels. The Beefeaters live in the Tower year round to protect the jewels, and I understand why after seeing the biggest diamond in the world housed in the main tower. After seeing such amazing monuments in Paris, Italy and Madrid, I was proud of the Tower's history and the fact that I live here!

No visit to London would be complete without tea, so I made a reservation for tea at the Wolseley after our Tower tour. The Wolseley is an upscale tearoom recommended by a colleague at work. We decided on mint tea (with actual mint leaves, Moroccan style) and pumpkin soup as it was especially chilly out. I am going to have to adjust to a real "fall" in London...with a stop on the way home in Harrods, our British excursion was complete.

Quite possibly my best experience in London so far (it will be pretty difficult to top): LES MISERABLES. When I say there aren't any words to describe the feeling in the audience, I mean it. After years of listening to the music with Dad, I finally had the opportunity to experience it live. I think I cried for the majority of the three hour show. Seeing shows here in London has furthered my belief that theater is such a cathartic experience that we all should be lucky to experience often. An absolutely flawless performance.