If you go to London, take a Walking Tour

Hey I managed not just to survive, but thrive in London these past two days! Off to Naples/Sorrento tomorrow.

Several London highlights:
1. Walking tour! Walk. Tour. Great combo. Lesson learned on tour: I am not good at sneakily trying to take self portrait with notable scene in background (see exhibit A). Had to admit defeat and either take boring scenic shot or ask someone to photograph yours truly (See Exhibits B and C). Which seems totally weird - what do I want? A ton of weirdo pictures of me in front of every major site in Europe?

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Ehxibit C


2. The flute player in this musical troupe brought to mind a girl named Marcie from the 5th grade who beat me in a chair challenge for 3rd chair flute in 5th grade band. I was [guiltily] really mean to her afterwards (Nina told me I was being wrong and selfish.) That defeat at 3rd chair flute + multiple times forgetting to bring my flute to school = I gave up. Our band director, Mr. Swanson had the audacity to tell me to "fake it" in our 1992 5th grade spring concert. I wonder, where Marcie is today?


3. The cupcake shop at Covent Garden! If Lilly Pulitzer all of a sudden got real cool and then decided to open a cupcake shop, I feel this would be it - but this was WAY COOLER than if she opened a shop. I just said her name because of the pink and green color scheme.

4. Francis and Jean! English couple who asked ME for directions - that means I looked local! They were so great I asked if I could just walk with them for a bit. "Yes," they said. Then I managed to invite myself to dinner - shared a bottle of wine, and they bought me dinner! I reeeeeally liked them and Francis is concerned for my safety in Ethiopia. Aww.