A total paradox

That's what visiting Botanical Gardens on a cold, windy rainy day is. Sadly, my visit to Kew Gardens was cut short, b/c I was getting seriously soaked and cold. But I did wander around a small section of this huge place and went into some of the greenhouses which were awesome. It's a shame I couldn't fully enjoy it, even cold and overcast would be fine, but walking in a huge garden in the rain is not the most fun.  

The Palm House

Water lily house :)

Wind blown and a little soggy, but happy.

Princess of Wales Conservation House

Two whole rooms full of orchids! 

I love these

So cute!

And now I'm doing laundry and packing, what a glamorous day :) Tomorrow: Off to Warwick Castle with the promise of seeing real Jousting!

This should Brighton your day

Well, well, lets see. What is there to do in London? Unsure? You could always go see a musical! Which would be what we did on Monday night. We went and saw Spring Awakening which rocked my world. SUCH and awesome show, great music, fantastic acting, it was ah-maz-ing.

The theatre

Getting ready to go inside

The stage, which was cool b/c you could sit on it! By the end we were wishing we were these people.

Yesterday the girls and I took a bus down to the coast to Brighton. It was overcast when we got there,  but in an hour or so the sun come out and it was beeeeaaautiful. Didn't hold a candle to california beaches of course, but it was still awesome. (At least the water was cleaner! hahaha)

Aubs and I fighting the wind yet again on the Brighton Pier

I am a HARDCORE scuba man.

What I call the Brighton Taj Mahal, but have been informed is the Brighton Pavillion.

Sunshine! But damn that wind still and I was totally wishing I had my sunglasses.

The world famous Brighton Pier

Looks so fake, but actually is Brighton.

We were going to do our usual head shot, but some girl walking by offered to take the photo, so why not!

Mushy peas!

Awkward shadow people. No I did not become a hunchback over night, that would be my bag.

And today I'm off to go see Kew Gardens, which are the royal botanical gardens... however the sun is not out and that is NOT making me a happy camper. I. Want. SUNSHINE! Then I get to do my favorite thing, laundry. Last time paying out the wazoo to do this crap. I don't want to pack home a bunch of stinky clothes, that's just dirty. :)

Shalom.

Off like a turd of hurdles

So, what have I been up to you may be asking yourselves, since I said I've been busy. Mostly, just walking around the city... a lot. And laying in parks.... a lot.  Aubs and I did a citywalk starting with Harrods and then around that area, then we wandered into Hyde Park and over to Kensington Gardens to find the Peter Pan statue and then we laid in the grass for about 2 hours before getting some dinner. 

Harrods

Walking around the super ritzy area near Harrods

Peter Pan! It only took 2 attempts of looking in the park to find this sucker.

Lovely Kensington Gardens, which looks much better now than it did in February.

Then.... the girls and I took a day and went out to Greenwich to check out the Royal Observatory and see the area.

View from in front of the Maritime Museum in Greenwhich

View from the Royal Observatory overlooking Greenwhich park and out into the city.

Straddling the Prime Meridian.

Last Saturday Emily and Melissa came up from Gipsy Hill in South London to hang out with me for a day. We decided to wander around and hang out in a part of Regent's Park I'd never been to before.

Hanging out in the roses

Emily, me and Melissa

Gorgeous waterfall

These roses were called "Invincible". Emily looks convinced of her invincibility, Mel... not so much.

After the park we met up with Aubrey and Alexis and checked out the oldest pub in London just off of Fleet Street.

Last, but certainly not least, we were toured around the Spitalfields and Brick Lane areas by two amazing Londoners and then shown where they are building the 2012 Olympic Park!

This is the pub where Jack the Ripper used to pick his victims.

They made the Liberty Bell and Big Ben here!

Olympic Park!

And there you have it. I also went to see another play tonight, and I'll post the few photos I took later, but it was awesome! And tomorrow the girls and I are taking a bus down to the coast to Brighton.

Peace out ya'll