It’s the weekend! Thank GOD. Finally, after the remainder of the week busting my ass to get Boss ready for the China trip that I should be taking, I can finally tap out more of the incredible trip that I just took.
sigh
I left you last on the very first leg of the trip. I was still in Paris…and would be heading to London after the Maison et Objet show - which is the huge furniture and home decor show.
Show was spectacular, of course. These shows at the massive exposition center are always huge - I’ve been to several for apparel and I’ve attended this show before when I worked for a company that would SEND me here for work (yes, I’m bitter and need to change that). Anyway, walked the show for hours and hours until I got tired and could walk no more. Took hundreds of photos and became very inspired!
It took me a while to name this vacation. Do you remember the Champagne Campaign? That was when I went to the Champagne region in France and did tastings and then took a bunch of cooking classes?
Well, in the end I named this particular vacation my Inspiration Vacation, because that’s what it ended up being…very, VERY inspiring.
So, show done, I needed to get to the airport. And though there were free shuttles, the timing didn’t seem to be working out, so I got out my trusty Uber app and a Russian guy named Zaal picked me up. I tell you all of these details because we had such a fun ride - he spoke ZERO English, so my French was pulled out of every fiber and cell in my being and by the time he got me to the airport, we were laughing and telling each other we loved each other! He was charming and funny and the experience was just another little piece of joy on this trip that I want to remember - especially because I don’t really like Uber in the US. Where I live, the Uber drivers are not very professional and seem to have trouble getting you where you’re going…like, EVERY time. In fact, the last Uber I was in here in the US, the driver went the wrong way down a major road that wasn’t even a one-way street! It’s as if he was trying to kill us!
Anyway. Got to CDG and got to London quite easily. It just took the LONGEST time to get through customs once I got to Heathrow. And then by the time I took the tube to the hotel (which was beautiful, by the way), it was probably around 9pm and I was EXHAUSTED from walking all day. I checked into the hotel, ate popcorn and cookies and drank bubbly water from the free minibar (alas, no champagne!) and went to bed.
Popped up the next morning for a full day of wandering London.
And the day turned out to be sunny, warm and gorgeous! Remember I was a bit nervous about the forecast saying it was going to be rainy and cold for much of my vacay? Turned out that the weather was on my side!! I truly got lucky. It was as if some magical energy was watching over me.
I walked what felt like all of London on this day - going to the old familiar places - walked through Hyde Park and then along Oxford Street, taking in all of the high street shopping. Of course, I barely scratched the surface, and I also had no agenda like I normally would while I’m in London because I wasn’t there for work.
I’ve been to London many, many times and there’s only one other time I was there strictly for pleasure and it was 25 years ago! I just let my mind wander back to that time…
I was living in Belgium for a few months (long story) and I took a quick jaunt to London with a friend who was married to a guy my dad was working with on a project. During this weekend getaway, my friend and I took in the sights and the shows…and we met guys at a pub…and we brought them back to our hotel room! It was only for a little snog. I think! Because my married friend left for a good long while with the other guy…and came back looking very guilty! I don’t think I asked her much about her departure because I really didn’t want to know. I just remember it being cold and rainy and a wild, lost weekend in my 20s. For my friend, she ended up losing her marriage. I know that it wasn’t THAT particular weekend, but I do believe it was the catalyst.
Wow. That memory was pretty vivid. I kind of love how tapping this out brings out all of the stuff from my brain - not only the sparkle, but the sludge!
OK. I’m going to get up now and start my day. Rainy and dreary here, but the dog needs to somehow get out to go potty and then I have my workout and then Brunch Club!! So excited about brunch and seeing all of my girls!
Next entry…getting to SCOTLAND!!
xox,
GS
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