I'M BACK!

Vacation was so much fun! We left on Thursday, 8/23 from John Wayne with a stop in Dallas before arriving in Gatwick. We have decided this is a good way to go because the plane isn't full, as it would be if you went direct from LAX to Heathrow, so you can spread your stuff out and have plenty of luggage storage space.

When we arrived in London, it was cold and raining. When we got to the hotel, the rain had stopped but it was still cloudy. By the time we were on the London Eye for our "flight," the sky was clearing up. We were lucky for the remainder of our stay because it was beautiful, absolutely gorgeous weather! That's right! Sunny and 85 in London. Who'd have thunk it?

Friday before our London Eye excursion, we walked all around and managed to hit a pub, where we met a couple of guys. A couple of OLD guys. Vuong picked them up while we were at the bar getting drinks. They were really nice, told us to go out dancing and meet some nice young boys. hehe.

Saturday we went to Buckingham Palace for a tour, which you can only do during limited time periods, as the queen generally resides there, so we were lucky she was away on vacation. We also hit Harrods to window shop, tea at La Duree in Harrods, a tour of Kensington Palace, the last home of Princess Diana, and dinner at an Indian restaurant called The Red Fort. That place was awesome. (pricey, but awesome). After The Red Fort, we got conned into going to a club called Anon, which you are better off skipping, if ever in the area.

On Sunday, we went for a run around St. James Park, Gina and I walked over to Buckingham Palace again, then through Regents Park (or at least I think that was Regents Park). Afterwards, we got cleaned up, and went over to Notting Hill to checking out the big Carnival. It was alright. It is nice to say I've seen it, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back. If you go, be sure to watch out for the giant piles of horse poo that the horse patrol leave behind.

Anyhow, I don't think Gina and Vuong were crazy about London. I myself could do without that feeling like you've a layer of dirt on your face from when you were out walking on the street, but I love all the history in the place. So many cool old buildings to go to.

Pictures from London: http://picasaweb.google.com/kejercito/LONDON