Made it to Madrid

This has all been suspiciously easy -- what are the gods up to?  Even though traveling stand by I got on both flights (Portland to NYC, then on to Madrid).  Total luxe as they tossed me up to first class for the second flight!  I watched a soon-to-be-forgotten-movie, had a lovely multi course dinner, and stretched out under an actual comforter!!!  But never did manage to sleep.

I was first off the plane in Madrid and it was, without question, the FASTEST passport control ever -- I'm not sure I even stopped walking!  Ditto luggage.
Out to taxi, handed him my hotel info and - . whoosh -- here I am!  They let me check in early THANKGOD as it's not yet 10 am.  The friendly front desk women quickly figured out that I can understand and speak Spanish so no . . . more . . . . English . . . .  for . . .  me!  

It turns out I rented a  one -bedroom apartment rather than a hotel room!  Great location (can hike to the Prado Museum)   and very comfortable, if not luxurious.  And it has a washing machine -- got a load going already!  (Though I think I may have put in dishwasher soap -- hope it works.)

It's a beautiful sunny day here -- but I really . . . I mean really  . . need a nap zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Good Luck Start

Aha!  I made it on the second to the last seat on the flight to NYC.  They even gave Ulysses a pass so that he could accompany me to the gate!  Lovely.  So  here I am, against all odds, flying to JFK!
Thank you, John!  THank you, Mamie!!

Crossed fingers that there's room for me on the flight to Madrid tonight!

And how am I enjoying my last day stateside? . . . . . .

Yes, it's time to hit the road again . . . 



Kind of a circular trip . . . heading back in time . . .

Where this time? 

When?

WHY??

To be a Peace Corps Medical Officer
. . . . .  of course . . .

Stockholm!

Visiting with Good Friends -- Stockhomites  (The lovely lady in the middle lived with us in Portland one summer long ago.)

Ut FART!

Still have so much to write about London, yet find myself in Sweden!  Am writing from our hotel overlooking a large downtown square.  Ulys and the kids were just down there at the farmer's market (4 large stalls all selling exactly the same thing).  He bargained and got the strawberries and cherries down from $10/lb to $7/lb -- though he thinks he wasn't given a full lb.  

The man asked him,  "where are you from?"
-- US
"OH!  Welcome to Sweden!"
-- Thank you, where are you from?
"Bulgaria."
-- OH!  Welcome to Sweden!

When we landed at Arlanda International airport, I said,  "Hey!  We're back in Oregon."  On the way from airport to downtown, Tai, "This is just like Portland, except for the buildings."

Ulysses started taking photos while we were still in the airport --  "Look at this real wood floors and minimalist decor!  Amazing!"

We've been here about an hour and the kids are STILL laughing hysterically after saying "Ut Fart"  over and over again.  They are under the impression that that means "Exit" -- so are saying things (well gasping things, given their laughter), such as "Ut fart my bed-en!"   "Ut fart the couch-en!"  "Ut-fart the bathroom!""

Maybe I'm too provincial . .

BUT  I never heard of a Fish Pedicure until today --- so I had one!
Apparently diminutive fish -- piranha cousins -- like to eat dead skin.  They love, love, love to chew away dead skin and callouses.  Very strange, but not painful, sensation.  10 minutes wasn't long enough . . .

I should buy my own.

As you can imagine it is QUEEN O RAMA around here -- with the Diamond Jubilee (60 years as Queen!) and yesterday's celebration of her birthday -- the Trooping of the Colour.  We could have gone, but couldn't face the crowds -- might have stood for hours to stare at the back of a British head, rather than to gaze upon the Royal Family in person -- though I would have like to.  I actually have a great deal of admiration for the Queen; and Kate and William seem pretty darn cool.  I would also have liked to see the horses  (Windsor Whites and Cleveland Browns).

All the museums have special Queen exhibits (in addition to their regular Queen exhibits).  My favorite is a wall of large photos showing families with Queen stuff at home -- and a wall where visitors can write about Queen stuff they have in their homes.  I'll put the photos to the left (click to see them all) and my favorite comments:

London is FANTASTIC!!!!

We are actually having sunny warm days and a wonderful time.  I feel completely at home here -- I remember that that's how I felt when I lived here so many years ago.  At age 22 I went back to the states to go to college -- but would have put it off even longer had the weather been like this!

Here's some photos of London from the London Eye:

While walking near Parliament

. . . we saw a car, open,with its contents scattered over the street, loads of police and blocked off roads.  The next morning, it all became clear:

Been Busy . .

Sorry for the silence -- but we've been busy:

Monday:  arrived afternoon.

• Driver met us and took us "home."
• Ooed and awed about our digs.
• Housekeeper showed us around.
• Unpacked.
• Went out for coffee, tea, hot cocoa and pastries.
• Grocery Store.
• Crashed.

Tuesday:

• Ooed and awed over our digs.
• London Undergrown -- i.e. The Tube
• Museum of London.
• Saw a sign that pointed to a Roman Wall we couldn't see.
• St Paul's Cathedral -- Ulys and kids walked to the top
• Skirted the edge of Trafalgar Square & Kids made Brass Rubbings in crypt of St. Martin in the Fields.
• Glanced longingly at the entrance to the National Portrait Gallery (me)
• Saw West End play "The Mousetrap" -- Agatha Christie x 52 years
• Ate traditional fish and chips at renowned "Mr. Fish."
• Crashed.

Wednesday:

• The London Eye
• Walked across bridge -- admired Boudica statue
• Walked around Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Horse Guards
• Saw car that had just been blown up (see above)
• Walked through St James Park -- saw unusual water fowl
• Revisited Trafalgar -- kids climbed on the famous lions 
• Gawked at gorgeous Harrod's food halls -- balked at gorgeous prices
• Toured the Mews (stables) at Buckingham Palace 
• Did not tour Buckingham Palace (Queen is in residence)
• Light tea at French Brasserie
• Walked many many many miles
• Ooed and Awed over our digs -- now Home

Thursday:

• Imperial War Museum 
• Tour of London
• Greek restaurant for dinner ("Greek Affair")
• Digs appreciation

Today:

• Finally adjusted to local time, I awoke at 3 am and have been up ever since:
• laundry, ironed all sorts of things (Tai's t shirts?!), cleaned kitchen, watched TV shows, documentaries, and things immediately forgotten, looked up opening times for all museums and bookstores in central London, checked email a lot, recharged electrical objects
• Everyone else finally got up 6 hours later

. . . So I've got a lot to tell . . . but Gotta Go!

PS.  We never did make it to the Changing of the Guards -- and good thing, too!!!  Looks like it is not age-appropriate!

Special Weather Event

The last 2 days we've been doing our planned
"Outdoor Activities" -- GOOD THING, TOO!



UK Weather: Met Office Warns Of Rain And 55mph Winds

"Once in a 50 years storm."  

So . . . we win???


(Actually the flooding is in the north . . . still . . )

Museum Weather

10 June 21012

In the Air:  Somewhere over Atlantic Frozen Parts

(- 67 degrees outside, better inside)


It's that crucial hour -- do I go to sleep now or just watch movies, bleary eyed, for the next 6 hours?   There are plenty of movies -- just finished "The Iron Lady,"  very appropriately as it is about Margaret Thatcher.  And have been glancing over for bits of "The Help"  (Zahra's screen), and "Cars Two"  (Tai's screen)  -- and on a screen up-two-seats-an-just-across-the-aisle, I finally saw the end of the last H. Potter -- guess who won?!  

We were right to avoid American airline companies, and to take a one-hour jaunt to Vancouver, Canada, then connect with a direct Vancouver-London Heathrow flight.  Imagine this:  a comfortable airline (and we are in the cheap seats this time so it must be paradise in front -- in fact, I think I can see flickers from a disco ball), with a friendly staff and free stuff. Yeah, Free Stuff!!!!  You are allowed to take your luggage with you!  And the ear plugs are free, meals, drinks (it IS in their interest to quell the masses with some mild inebriation, after all.)  Even the bathrooms can be used -- as many times as you like -- without financial penalty!  And did I mention movies, TV shows, blankets and pillows?  AND AIR!!!!  We can breathe AS MUCH AS WE WANT!!!!!  No BYO O2 canisters required!!!  (Ours are in a locker at PDX.)  GO AIR CANADA!!!     


As for the friendly staff -- it appears that this crew has not been shanghaid in a Vegas alley after the bars close!  They actually seem to have agreed to be airline hosts!  It's as if they chose their jobs and so come to work, like many of us,  of their own free will!  US based airlines should look into this voluntary workforce business!   
 . . . just a thought . . 


But enough too-much-Folgers-crystals-fueled-chatter. Back to the issue at HAND  To sleep or not to sleep?


. . . .  anticipatory drum roll . . . . 

TIME FOR A LIST:

Sleeping:

Advantages:               Disadvantages:

It is biologically         I'll feel like
necessary                   hell when I wake
                            up

It keeps insanity at bay    My breath will            
                            smell of dog 
                            carcass                                                                                                                                                     

The time will pass quickly  My neck will be
                            permanently
                            tweaked to the
                            left                                                             
                            

Might not get a headache    Might get a
                            headache no
                            matter what I do

Missing CSI &The Help     Missing CSI & 
                            The Help 

Not Sleeping:

Advantages:          Disadvantages:

I won't be groggy        I'll be catatonic
with customs            with customs and   
                         they'll let me in, 
                         then hospitalize me

                                     

Everyone else will       I'll be lonely and
be asleep and can        won't have to pee
take full advantage
of the free bathroom 

option

My breath won't smell    Who am I kidding?
like dog carcass

Ponder: what would I do were I British?

Ah, bloody 'ell, I forgot about the time change!!!!

I  must re-evaluate.

June 11, 2012
Notting Hill, London

We made it.  The trip was smooth and easy, except for the Red-Eye part.  Harsh.
However, as you can see, we are having a blast in London -- so good to be sharing this together.

Junuary --  The Weather in Portland is DISMAL:

 so we're headin' out.  Going far far far away.  Where the weather is . .. hold on . .. let me check:

London -- now.




Never mind we'll only be there for a week, then we will head north to:

Sweden -- now.


Um -- I guess I'll just pack what I'm already wearing.

IN THE MEANTIME . . . 


We must be culturally sensitive:

And prepare to be Temporarily British:

I have been educating our feral children so that they don't embarrass us by doing this:

Or, this!