London

After finally getting enough rest and relaxation after over 24 hours of "travel mode", I finally have the strength and time to make this report.

First, London is a VERY large city, filled with many spots to see and full of many nationalities and ethnic groups. Just walking down a street you might spot people from dozens of different countries. It truly is a testament to London's multicultural character.

The public transportation system is very advanced and very fascinating. This series of tunnels and subterranean caverns quickly fills with hundreds of people every day; being able to actually sit on the subway, affectionately nicknamed "the Tube" by Londoners, is a privilge and a treat, not something to be expected.

But with every large city, there are bound to be problems, and in London, one word sums it up... PIGEONS! The birds have become so acclimated to human existance that they often don't care how close they come to people so long as they get to eat, and while the birds aren't harmful, it certainly gets annoying worrying about fowl diving in around me.

But in the end, London is a wonderful place to visit, filled with history, shopping, and museums, and it provides a fulfilling experience to all stripes of people (especially when the weather isn't the usual gloomy, doomy cloud and rain combo). And although I don't necessarily enjoy the constrictions that come along with tour packages, this trip has, so far at least, been fun and exciting. Let's hope it stays that way.

The World Cup (and How It Pertains to Our Trip)

It's soccer fever around the world as the 2010 World Cup in South Africa begins!!! The top 32 national teams in the world are currently battling it out as we speak for total athletic domination. Naturally, Europe is THE hub of soccer (or should I say football from here on out) fanaticism and excitement. The tied 1-1 match between the US and the UK yesterday will certainly be all over the news in London, and any further matches for France (who tied 0-0 against Uruguay) and Italy (the reigning world champs) will no doubt be all over their media as well. And, if we're lucky, we may even stay up all night due to any racket outside during game time! Fasten your seatbelts, we're heading into "The Football Zone"!

A London Tale

A few summers ago, I had the privilege of traveling to Europe for the first time in my life, London to be exact. It was a wonderful trip, filled with fun, learning, and a little bit of binge eating. But one experience stands above all others in my mind. One afternoon, while waiting for a double-decker bus to arrive (I mean, c'mon, you have to ride a double-decker bus in LONDON), a mysterious whining sound pierced the air. Unfazed at first, I soon began to realize that the sound was getting louder and louder. Then, out of nowhere, a man ran right in front of us into the street, only to be intercepted by some constables! Imagine, an arrest happening right before my very eyes! Whether or not it was a dangerous situation or an unusual way to pass the time, I never got to stay long soon thereafter, as my bus arrived right as the arrest was commencing. Weary and slightly confused, my family and I boarded the vehicle, took our seats on the second floor of the red behemoth, and went along our merry way.

Fin