Top 10 Reasons to Go to London for Christmas:
1.) The flight was much more affordable than a trip from Finland to Colorado or Ohio; plus Charlie experienced his first (and probably his last) Ryanair flight (truly a cultural experience with the queue, fight for seats, and capitalism on board). 2.) London all dressed, and lit, up for the holidays (even without snow) is a very festive place during Christmas time.
3.) There are multiple Whole Foods stores in London, one of our favorite places to eat a plants-based dream meal and buy good food.
4.) London is famous for the West End theater shows and it just so happened that we both bought each other the same Christmas gift: a ticket to see Les Misérables. (The tickets were located right next to each other...maybe not such a coincidence.) 5.) The Tube (London subway) and all public transportation was closed on Christmas day, thus facilitating a beautiful Christmas walk into Central London (12.7 miles of a beautiful walk).
6.) Where else can you enjoy a Christmas day evensong in an UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates back to 960? In London, of course, at the Westminster Abbey. Okay, I am not a religious person, but I have developed a real love for evensong (ever since living in Oxford)--the sounds of the choir are spiritual and beautiful. It makes me want to break out my yoga mat right there in the middle of praying people and have my own spiritual experience. Namaste.
7.) Eye & Mouth Candy: red payphone booths, fish n chips,Big Ben, red double-decker buses, GOOD Indian food, mince pies, Christmas pudding, affordable cider and beer, Tower bridge, warm scones, and afternoon tea.
8.) The British accent is like 80% dark chocolate with cocoa nibs and a little cinnamon sprinkled on top--it is music to the ears! I want everyone to speak with that beautiful accent. Seriously, I love it!
9.) Where else you walk out of the subway and be fully immersed in a live music sensation? Paddington train station, of course, on Friday nights! The Great Western Paddington Railway Band played Christmas favorites as we sipped on our tea, enjoyed the music and the ambiance of the train station Christmas hustle and bustle. Some travelers would stop for a little blissful sounds to the ears--sometimes just enough to warm their heart and compliment the bad with a smile.
10.) Sunshine...for at least one day!
5 comments:
Truly great that you could spend the holidays in London. Paddington Station, now that is where I met up with Dad after we got separated on the tube. My heart began to beat a little slower after that. I wonder why they say "Happy" and not "Merry". Of course they have a way of saying things. Sounds like you both enjoyed it immensely.
I just watched the video. It was great. The music you chose enhanced it. You continue to amaze me.
I love the pic's of oxford, i have friends there too, i think i have been to many of the places you pictured, the little bridge especially looked familiar. You have really captured the essense of the London Christmas food, cold and father christmas pulling a bin! lovely.
which 'british' accent do you like so much? london has at least 5 different accents, the UK itself has hundreds and some are truly awful... ever heard scouse?! yuk
Sam, good point! In the U.S. we have many accents too (Southern drawl, NY fast talker, Bostonian, Northern nasally, etc.), but honestly for me some of the Brit accents are hard to distinguish from one to the other. They all sound different to the American accents and I guess that is why I like them. Maybe I need to get the five Brit English accents in one room and then I am sure I would be able to hear the difference.
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