Pic of the Week: 31 May - 6 June

Berthillon ice cream




Eiffel Tower


Continuing with the Paris theme (pure coincidence, by the way), this week's pix come from our trip in 2006.


Click on the photos to see larger versions on flickr.

sunny paris

S and I spent a sunny weekend in Paris last week. We started in Montmartre at Sacré Coeur.








Then made our way to the top of the Eiffel Tower.











Dinner with V, who was my au pair when I was 11. The last time we saw each other, I was 14 - 23 years ago! It was lovely to catch up with her (and stay in her flat near the Champs-Elysées. Merci, V!)








On Sunday, they turned the Champs-Elysées into a farm...





Just for comparison, the last time we were there it looked like this:





Finally, lunch al fresco in the Tuileries.





C'etait si bon!

Pic of the Week: 24-30 May

Two pics from France this week:




Bird sculpture in Lille





Paris Metro


Speaking of Paris, S and I spent a lovely, sunny weekend there so stay tuned for more pix soon...

Pic of the Week: 17-23 May

View of the Alhambra from the Generalife in Spain. Click on the photo to see a larger version on fickr.

canal walk

S's sister came to spend the weekend with us. Annoyingly I had to work yesterday but we wandered around Wimbledon Common and Cannizaro Park in the late afternoon.


Today we strolled along Regent's Canal until it started to rain. Luckily we had just stopped for lunch so we missed the downpour.








Shame that our walk was cut short - more to explore next time!

Pic of the Week: 10-16 May

Today's Pic of the Week features Bob the goldfish. Click on the photo to see a larger version on flickr.

Voted.

I exercised my right to vote in the UK for the first time today - in the general election, no less. I have found the campaign quite fascinating.

It's short - it was only announced a few weeks ago. Compare that to the American presidential campaigns which now last over one year.

There are three viable parties this time, not only two. The Lib Dems have gained traction and credibility, and the polls are fairly evenly split between Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem.

All three parties pledge 'fairness'. You rarely hear the word 'fair' in American elections.

There are not as many emotive issues in British politics as you see in the States. Immigration and Europe are probably the most sensitive ideological issues. Abortion and religion are barely mentioned. Socialised health care is a given - even the Conservatives want to protect the National Health Service.

Votes are for your local Member of Parliament, not for the Prime Minister, but the party leaders are the ones in the spotlight.

The 'American-style' debates were fascinating to watch, but it was not the first time they had faced each other. They spar every week during Prime Minister's Questions.

The result this time is not a foregone conclusion. We are all biting our nails waiting for the results to start pouring in a few hours from now. How will it turn out? I'm excited/nervous to find out.

tourists at home

Wimbledon


My sister and brother-in-law came to spend a few days with us in London over the first May bank holiday weekend. Although they have been here before, it gave us an excuse to explore some favorite (and some new) tourist spots. We began at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden.



London has a long history of double-decker vehicles



70s styles on the Metropolitan Line






Southern extension of the Northern Line



Colliers Wood? Collier's Wood? Colliers' Wood?



Camera games on the real Northern Line - having topped up our Oyster cards for the week, we spent lots of time on the Tube





On Saturday, we headed to London's foodie heaven: Borough Market.






Brindisa



Utobeer



Konditor & Cook


sausage rolls • burger • smoked toulouse • chips • cider • pressed apple juice • latte • spiced chocolate tea


We strolled around the Tate Modern; enjoyed the maps at the British Library; and visited the mummies at the British Museum.



Andy Warhol room at the Tate Modern


We also walked around the gorgeous homes in Wimbledon Village and hopped on the District Line to Brompton Cemetery.











The weather was predictably unpredictable - 'changeable,' as they call it here - some sun, some rain, and colder temperatures than any of us wanted to accept for May.



Saturday, 4:15 PM, South Bank near Shakespeare's Globe



Monday, 5:25 PM, South Bank outside Royal Festival Hall


It was good fun to spend a few days together. Thanks for coming! Miss you already...

Pic of the Week: 3-9 May

This week's pics come from our trip to Stockholm last year.


Click on the photos to see larger versions on flickr.