The End.

The gates at Hyde Park



Christmas markets in the park




Big Ben, of course



Kinda spooky to me....



I love the mix of old and new world here.




Egad!!! They really are everywhere!



Mmmm, Christmastime in London. Oxford Street, of course.

No, London Bridge is not falling down, my friend has a crush on Big Ben (not you Robyn), the Westminster Abbey Choir is as regal as it sounds, and Buckingham palace, well... it leaves a little to be desired. But the shopping is ridiculous, the crowds are stupidly large, and it feels like a cuter British version of New York City. London is at once blithesome and suffocating. Granted, it was holiday season while I was there, so the intensity of shoppers doling out their ripe recession pounds was really a sight to behold. Never at any given moment were you alone on any street. Never is there a moment of repose. Or a voice in your head repeating "Please MIND THE GAP between the platform edge and the train" Mind the gap people, mind the gap. Mind the gap!!

Thames, London Eye, Big Ben. Check.


Pretty carousels, and the London Eye, oh my!


The gates at Buckingham Palace

My best friend Robyn, and hey, my very first friend since the ripe ol' age of 3 (?) or 4, up and moved to this fantastical place about a month ago. So it was only right that I come visit her, since clearly I won't be seeing her in Vancouver anytime soon. Lazy mornings, crisp cold days gallavanting around London together, sightseeing, shopping, ogling at more sights, whilst doing more shopping...and repeat.

An evening at Camden Market


The jungle that is Camden

To top it off, I was reunited yet again with my little dutchie Maren who came over for a few days to catch up with a myriad of her friends as well. So cool when you can just meet up with friends all over Europe for a weekend in London. I could get used to this!

What I loved about London most were the people. Time and again, I find the Brits really have the best sense of humour. And certainly in London, despite its size, people still went out of their way to help me. To offer a friendly word or two and a jolly laugh. Not to mention the style watching is unmatched. Anything goes in this city and the weirder the better, in my books. In a city of over 20 million people how do you possibly stand out? Well, I guess that's what everyone is trying to do and it makes for some good eye candy! Reflecting back on Vancouver and there's just no way some of the fashions would translate to much here. If it ain't gore tex and umbrellas then what are you doing??

As most of you know by now, I am back home. So yes, my plans of telling you via the pictures online were delayed until now, considering that all I have wanted to do since being home after ten long months is see every one of my friends and relish in the joy of talking to them face to face now!!

Anyway, the past year has been really good to me, for me. What's always interesting after a lengthy trip like this is, well, I cant lay out on paper all that I have learned on this journey. But that's not to say I haven't grown leaps and bounds out of every experience I had. But maybe living with myself every day, I notice these changes less than the rest of you might. But I am grateful for the circumstances in my life that permit me to live the life I do, and I won't let it stop anytime soon. The school of life is at once hard and enjoyable, and my teachers along the way are some of the most diverse, entertaining, humbling bunch. Thank you to EVERY SINGLE person in my life.

I hope to see all of you sooner than later now that I am back in Vancouver. Europe has managed to happily steal all of my money, but I'll get back on the job train soon enough. Until then, I am indebted to my very supportive parents for all they put up with.

Love and (real!) hugs,

Allie

I heart B.C....Lions Bay snow, only a few days after arriving home. Love all around!

We will be old grannies sitting on a bench together. Reunited with the lovliest of lovlies, my Lisa.

Welcome home!!