London and Second Chances

Photo: Edyta Pawlowska/Shutterstock

I've been to London and did not like it.  The weather sucked, the tube workers striked, and I incessantly compared everything to Paris.  Paris, oh Paris. I imagined that I was instead in Paris.  I had visited Paris a year before, and fell in love.  Love.  Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Paris.  Then and now.  Enchanting.

Time passes.  Time passed.  And now, I'm ready to give London a second chance.  Actually, I'm going to London because one of my favorite people in the world, moved there with her husband for a year.  So this trip is a must.  I would never pass up on free European lodging, especially if I also get a nearly free trip with my American Airlines skymiles.  Plus, most importantly, I get to hang out with cool people.  I travel in just over a week.

Before I travel, I must...write a paper, collect data for co-authors, finish statistics assignment, take statistics final, jump in the car right after aforementioned exam, drive 3 hours to the airport, get on a connecting flight, land, wait 3 hours, then catch an overnight flight to London.

Overwhelmed.

But the time will go by quickly.  It often does when there is too much to do in not enough time.  I cope by imagining my future self, relaxing at a London cafe, grubbing on fish n chips, chatting with my friends.  I will be the non-tourist tourist.  I want to feel what this city is all about.  Feel it the way that the natives do.  I will leave the flat without a plan and get lost.  Hopefully, discover the unexpected.  My friend is excited to show me her discoveries and I am excited to see them.  I. am. excited.

Love for Sun

By: Kish

I grew up in the sun - the kind of sun that lasts all year round.  Needless to say, I continually crave the sun and the things that go with perpetual sun.  What things, you ask?  Well, beaches.  Beaches and bikinis and coconut water.  I am most definitely the happiest when on a beach, enjoying a swim or a kayak ride, with a coconut to my lips.

This winter, my family and I took a trip to St. Croix, USVI to visit relatives.  My son - Most Adorable Boy (MAB) got in some bonding time with the granny and his first real caribbean beach experience.  He had been to the beach several times before, but hated it, so we'll just pretend that those times never happened.  No son of mine's will hate the beach.  Anyways, this time, he had a blast, by covering every inch of himself with sand.  This was definitely not his school's sandbox! He did liked the sand more than the water and that, we must fix!  Now that we’re back, he’s told me, “mommy, I lost the shells that I brought from the beach.  We need to go back to the beach to get some more.”  I agree son.  I agree!

Fun in the Sand

Beach for miles - all for me!

Red is MAB's favorite color.  He still talks about the red boat.

Island Sunset

Abandoned Lighthouse

Largest tree on island

:)

The First Post

The introductory post, like any first meeting is usually awkward, so I will just jump right in. This is my humble blog that details my love for travel and life's journeys.  Currently, I am a PhD student, a wife and a mother.  I am a nomad.  For over 8 years, it has been my goal to travel to at least one new country every year.  I have done that.  And when I am not traveling, I am fantasizing about traveling.  I hope you will enjoy my blog.