Next on the European Tour- Prague

My friend Rupali came to visit me a few weeks ago on her way back from India. She was my last visitor for 2008! So, per my tradition here she is at my front door.

Instead of staying in London for the weekend we decided it would be fun to go somewhere in Europe neither one of us had ever been to. Prague was on the list for both of us, so off we went. I wasn't sure what to expect from Prague except that it would be freezing! It was a nice short flight to Prague from London- only 1 1/2 hours. Mind you or flight was at 7 am in the morning, so it felt much longer!!!! Our first experience in Prague was the crazy cab driver who drove us from the airport to the hotel. I think he thought we were on the autobahn. I couldn't understand where the fire was.. this guy was driving like a maniac, cutting people off , driving in the wrong lane. I thought we were going to die!

After checking into our hotel which was really cute and in a great part of the city we signed up for a walking tour of prague. So far, in all the trip I've been on I've never done a guided tour. In hindsight I wish I had done them for my other trips. This tour was great. It took us to all the best spots in Prague and it came with very funny tour guide. I can't remember his name now, but I do remember he was quite entertaining. He spoke what he called Chienglish. A phrase he had coined which was a mixture of Czech and English. It was pretty classic!

The sights in Prague were spectacular! The architecure was amazing, every time we turned the corner it felt like we were on a movie set. The buildings were so picturesque and each one was different from the other. Now, I can't say the same for the food. Prague is all about the meat- specifically beef or pork! People were eating these giant hot dogs at 10:30 in the morning or kebabs. Our first meal was corn on the cob and a chicken panini. Not really Czech fare but that was fine by us! However, we were huge fans of this dessert that we found. We ate one everyday we were there. They were called Trindlek. Don't know exactly how to describe them but they were bread covered in sugar, honey, toffee and nuts. They were freshly baked and were delicious!! The other thing Prague is famous for is beer. When you see a girl being put into a cab at 10:30 in the morning because she's so wasted you gotta think the beer is good! Unfortunately I cant drink beer so wasn't able to partake in that bit of culture. I did have hot wine though, they were serving that all day to people to keep them toasty. I guess it's their version of hot chocolate. Not bad, I guess I'll drink wine if its cold, hot, red or white!!!

The best thing about Prague was how cheap everything was. The exchange rate was awesome. But it was weird because we felt like we were dropping tons of money because their currency, called crowns, was only available in high denominations. So, we would buy a souvenir and it would be 200 crowns. It was so strange giving them these big bills but once you translated it back to Sterling, in my case, it was only like 3 dollars.

Prague is the best place I've been to so far. I absolutely loved it. There was something enchanting and magical about it. Hard to describe if you haven't been there. I would definitely go back!

Now the question is where to next... I have a few ideas in mind but thought it would be fun if you guys helped me choose. I have put a poll on the blog, so put in your vote!! I'm planning my next trip for January.

A little photo collage of our trip.. enjoy!

Roma!!

No that's not a spelling error that is actually what Rome is called here in Europe. That was one of the many things I learned while in Rome. The city is so full of history, every time I turned the corner their was ruins or a magnificent sight like the Colleseum. I just couldn't get over how magical the city was. My mom and I arrived Friday night and stayed till Sunday evening. We were sightseeing maniacs on Saturday by taking a hop on hop off bus tour. Then we walked around most of the city till the evening. Instead of taking you through our entire iteniary thought it would better to list the things i loved about rome and things i could have done with out.

Loved..

- The Food: i've never eaten so much pizza and pasta in a 48 hour period before. no matter what restaurant we went to the food was always so good. turned out the hole in the wall places were better than the fancy ones.

- Gelato: i don't count this as food, cause it's heaven. i ate it everyday, almost after every meal of the day. couldn't get enough of this stuff, and since it's on every street corner it makes it quite accessible.

- Colleseum: by far my favorite momentum in all of the city. i couldn't get over the magnittude of the place, how old it was, how it stood the test of time and was filled with so much history. I was in awe when I stepped inside. I felt transported back to another era.

- The Men: my god, ive never seen so many good looking men in my life. it was like seeing models walking around the streets.

Didn't Love....

- Smokers: I thought London was bad, not even close. No matter where we were or what time of day it was people were smoking like chimneys all over the city. In Rome you can smoke in restaurants, in taxis, and the stench was everywhere. I felt like I had been in Vegas when I opened my suitcase at the end of our trip and my clothes reaked.

- Shopping: I was expecting to be blown away by the fashion in Rome but that was not the case. Yes, the clothes were cute but it seemed to be the same stuff I could find in London. Maybe my expectations were too high. They did had lots of cute leather boots and bags, but again nothing that made me feel like I had to buy something.

As you can see there was a lot more I loved than didn't. I'm so grateful that I got to share this adventure with my Mom. It will be one of those trips I always remember.

Here are some of my favorite photos from the trip.

Mommy Dearest

It's been awhile since my last visitor, although Shawn and Joe were here for less than 10 hours last weekend, so they don't really count :) Now, this is no ordinary visitor, it's my mom!!! She is coming to visit for almost two weeks starting today!! I am really looking forward to showing her my new home, literally and figuratively. Last time she was here, which also happened to be her first time, it was more about getting me settled into my new life and finding a place to live. She really didn't get to experience this city in it's all glory. Back then I was a rookie, barely willing to venture far from my flat, refusing to go on the tube, complaining about the food. Now I'm pro, well sort of, I know exactly where to take her, what to show her. I want this trip to be really memorable for the both of us.

On top of visiting London, my mom and I are going to Rome next weekend!! Woo hoo!!!!! I can't even begin to describe how excited I am to go to Italy. Rome has been at the top of my list in terms of places to visit while living in Europe and I finally get to go. I can cross that one of the list.

So, there will be lots to report back in the next few weeks.

These are a Few of My Favorite Things

When I first got here their were so many things I missed back home especially in terms of food. For example Pria Chocolate Bars, Bean and Cheese Burrito from El Ranchito, the fries at Islands, Diet Coke (for some reason I didn't think I could get here), The Tuna Special at Gary's Deli, string cheese, Mint Milano cookies, the list goes on and on. Nothing here seemed to fill the hole nor did I think it ever could. Twelve months later I have found things that have become part of daily repertoire and have become my favorites.

At least twice a week I go to Pret a Manger. It's nothing fancy, just your everyday sandwich shop with multiple locations all over London. I always get the same thing; a Avocado Salad Wrap and a bag of Vegetable Root crisps. It's like my Gary's Deli just more convenient and unfortunately more expensive!

Now that I can't drink Diet Coke (stomach issues) I had to find a suitable replacement. A girl can only survive on water so long. Along comes Ribena. Ribena is a brand of juice like Ocean Spray and comes in several flavours. My favourite is the Pomegranate and Raspberry version, but it has to be the light version, which they call Really Light. It's like the nectar of the gods.

Next comes Digestives. I know weird name! I didn't get it either. These things are like crack. They are cookies that people here drink with their afternoon tea. I eat them morning, noon, and night. They come in milk chocolate, chocolate, caramel, ginger, plain. They are so good. You can't eat just one. I need to bring a case home with me next time.

Last, but not least is Fruitella. You know when you eat Starburst or Skittles and you only pick out the best flavours? In my case that would be the strawberry pieces in Starburst and the red and purple Skittles. Fruitella is like having a strawberry starburst everytime. They are real fruit chews made from real fruit, I swear. At least that's how I justify having an entire pack in one sitting. I eat these things almost everyday. I have a problem, I can't stop

My Bridget Jones Diary Moment

If my roommate had been walking on the other side of the road last night on her way home she would missed have the sign that read premiere of "Then She Found Me" following a special Q&A with Colin Firth tonight... few tickets left. Lucky for she was in the right place at the right time,k so she snapped up two tickets for her and I and the next thing I know I'm sitting in a theatre with Colin Firth standing in the front row. You would have thought the Beatles had been on stage. What is about this man that just makes girls swoon? Including myself! Before the film began he told us a little about the making of the movie, the fact that he did not get paid for it, it was Helen Hunt's dream project that she had been working on for 10 years. The women wrote the screenplay, directed the film, and starred in it. It was a pretty all star cast; Matthew Broderick, Bette Milder, to a name a few. The movie was really good, I highly recommend it!

After the film was over we all got gift bags full of makeup, hair products, DVD's, basically all girlie things. I guess they knew their target audience :) Colin then re appeared for a Q&A with the audience. Peoples questions were the kind we are all dying to ask but don't dare: Are you married? Do you like playing the gay guy? What did you think of Pierce's singing in Mamma Mia? He was really eloquent and very funny!

Afterwards all the girls made a mad rush to get his autograph and picture. Sima and I stood in the corner both trying to work up the nerve to talk to him. We didn't have to wait long, because he ended up walking right by us and smiled and I knew it was now or never. I reached out my hand and said, "Hi, it's so nice to meet you. I loved the movie and really enjoy all your films." What I really wanted to say was, "Mr. Darcy I presume." I'm pretty sure that would have me sound like an obssessed fan not to mention a retard. I then asked if we could take a photo with him, and he said YES!!! He was so nice and tall!!!

Definitely one of my top three star sightings!

Best Week Ever!

This past week, while exhausting, was also the best week I've spent since living in this city. Most of the time I recognize that London has so much to offer but I'm not so good about taking advantage of it. What made this week so great and so memorable was experiencing the different aspects of the city, which just happens to be right outside my doorstep.

Saturday - The O2

Two Americans and one Brit attending the first qualifying match in basketball for the 2012 Olympics. It was Great Britain vs. the Czesk Republic. Not only did I get to see some great basketball but I got to see the sight of where the 2012 Olympics will be held. The O2 arena is amazing. Quite vast, glitzy, and in a great part of the city called Greenwich. Taking an English person to a US sporting event was quite comical. My friend Jane kept asking where all the big foam fingers were, why the uniforms were so shiny, and in particular why the shorts were so long. She didn't fancy the shorts at all!

Sunday- Viewing of Buckingham Palace

Most people, including myself, have had the opportunity to see the outside of Buckingham Palace. Not everyone however, gets the chance to go inside. My friend Suzanne bought us tickets for the whole dog and pony show and we spent the entire day Sunday touring the castle, the mews, and the galleries. In word it was STUNNING! It's hard to believe that someone actually lives in the palace. The palace was so grand and so elegant. I couldn't get over the grandeur of all the different rooms. The state rooms were so beautifully decorated, the banquet hall where the queen hosts here dinners with all the dignitaries was out of this world, I even got to see her throne. Unfortunately, she didn't swing by to say hi, I was so offended :). You weren't allowed to take any photos inside the palace, so the only pics I got were the backyard and the mews. So the mews, which is basically her servant quarters and where she keeps her ride, or should I say rides was quite the spectacle! The women has a million carriages and limousines. It was unreal.




Monday Evening- Wine Tasting at the London Wall

One of my suppliers invited me to go wine tasting a couple months ago since we both shared a passion for wine. He belongs to a wine society that holds tastings about once a month and had suggested we wait until September to attend an event. I know understand why we waited so long! The night's theme was Chilean wines and we tried 24 different varieties of wine from Chile. The wine was great but what was even better was the setting. We were inside a building called the London Wall. For you non history buffs, the London wall was a defensive wall built by the Romans made entirely of stone. Remnants of the wall still remain and there I was sipping my Chilean red in this historic site.

Tuesday Evening - Blind Date

Ok so every night can't be perfect but it can at least be adventurous. I was set up by a friend of mine who in all fairness did not know much about the guy I had agreed to go on a date with. All she told me was that he was a doctor, was Indian, and was single. Trying to be the open minded person I am (yeah right, just making sure you're all paying attention) I decided to give it a shot, even without seeing a photograph. Big mistake!! This guy was such a tool. Sorry to be so judgemental, but the guy drank his beer like he was holding a sippie cup, stil lived at home where his mom cooked his every meal, and the second sentence out of his mouth was that he fancied infectious diseases thus his decision to become an STD doctor. Can we say conversation killer? Needless to say I will not be going out with this guy again.

Wednesday Evening - Dinner at Christopher's in Covent Garden

Covent Garden is one of the coolest areas in London, at least I think it is... It's mini Italy basically, with a piazza, fabulous restaurants, street performers, cobble stone streets, and great shopping. I had the pleasure of attending a work dinner at an amazing restaurant called Christopher's, where we got to dine in the private dining room underneath the main part of the venue. The food was delicious, the wine even better, and the company was a blast. I have finally gotten to a place where I feel so at ease with my co-workers and really enjoy their company. It was all around a good night in a fantastic area of London.

Now Thursday could have been the culmination of a great week had I decided to go see Madonna in concert. I was offered tickets at the last minute but choose instead to spend a quiet evening at home. I know many of you are reading this cursing me, but turns out I made the right choice. The next day I found out her concert was fraught with issues. The speakers blew out at one point so the sound sucked, she came on an hour late therefore when the show finished all the public transportation had shut down by the time everyone left the stadium, leaving tons of people stranded. My boss (who I gave my ticket too) ended up getting home well after 1 am. Oops. She was still thrilled to have gone though, cause Madonna is her all time favorite artist, so I scored some major brownie points with her.

So as you can see, it was quite the week! A week that made me fall in love with this city and all it has to offer. A week that I won't forget for awhile and will motivate me to have many more just like it.

Full Circle

Today, I landed in London after a great visit home. The irony is a year ago I landed in London this very same day for the first time. I can't believe a year has passed since I moved. Crazy! So much has changed, so much has happened...

As I look back on the last year I have some great memories and a couple of not so good ones :) I remember arriving here and thinking people looked so European, how the city was so big, how the food was so different, it was all so new. Everything was novel, and so British. I thought the fashion was so strange, and now I've started to adopt it. I went from being scared to take the subway to not even giving it a second thought. I know many of you didn't think I had an accent but the scary thing is I kind of do. It comes out here and there. I've made some really great friends, including my Trishna, Leona, Jane, Jen, and my great roomie Sima.

Most importantly, I have learned so much about me. One of the main reasons I made this move was for personal growth. I really think I've begun to accomplish that, but I still have a way to go. I feel comfortable with who I am, I know what I like, what I don't. I'm learning how to be happy, independent and do it all without worrying about my career for the first time in my life.

My biggest concern living so far away from home was being so far from my friends. I was worried I would lose touch with them and they would become part of my past rather than my present. Luckily, that hasn't really happened. I still feel close to most of my friends (thank god for facebook and skype) and in fact, I have become even closer to some. I appreciate my friendships so much more than I did before. I guess absence does make the heart grow fonder. There are a few people who I am no longer close with but I think that comes with the territory. It makes me sad but I hope when I move back home things will go back to normal.

I am so excited to see what the next year has in store for me. I hope it's filled with lots of travel, fun, and who knows maybe a boy :)