Monday, June 11, 2007
Back in London
We had a couple days in London before we left and though I swore I wouldn’t do any shopping since the US dollar is in pathetic shape and the exchange rate was the worst I had ever experienced. With that said I still couldn’t resist a quick troll through the huge Oxford Circus Topshop. Kate Moss had released a line of clothing that I couldn't care less about, but that seemed to be enough to convince my husband that I needed to go in. Oh and it was raining and he didn't want to get wet. Nate was sufficiently annoyed and traumatized by the sheer size of it all. After that experience we needed a quieter stroll than the Oxford Street hustle and bustle, so Nate ducked down a side street with Lotus in the stroller and ended up right in front of Vivienne Westwood (see I couldn’t have planned it better if I tried) I popped in quickly and though I could never in my wildest dreams afford anything there for myself these adorable shirts for Lotus and Logan fit into my budget.
We met up with Andrea, Glen and Logan a bit later by Buckingham Palace. I wanted to make sure I got some photos of Lotus in front of touristy places, since a) she will never remember this trip and b) if the US dollar keeps tanking this might be her only visit to the UK. I now have proof that she has been to England.
After our photo op The Stanton-Pearls and Covington-Burrows spent some time wandering around galleries until both children had enough. As we headed back to the tube I saw a woman walking towards us that looked remarkably like Chelsea Clinton and then I looked at the man she was talking to and he looked like Bill Clinton. Yup, we walked past Bill and Chelsea Clinton and I even got to say hello. I am not ashamed to say that I screamed so loud for Andrea that she thought something had happened to Lotus. We ran back after them, so she could bask in the glory of the former president. I wished I had been quicker and gotten a photo with Lo, but Chelsea had this universal look on her face that all daughters have towards their fathers, no matter how famous, of can’t we just do what we came to do and stop dawdling.
I have to assume that he was there to be part of the Tony Blair resignation that took place during our visit. Most of the people we talked to seemed mixed about Blair's resignation, that felt he had done great things, but his legacy will be the Iraq War. The English seemed pleased with Gordon Brown as his replacement, but as always when I travel no one in England or Portugal was mixed when it came to US politics and they would have preferred our president was stepping down
It was a great sighting to end a great trip. The next morning we boarded our flight home.
The flight home was not nearly as easy as the flight there. You are chasing the sun, so it's always light and thus Lotus never slept. At hour seven she kept pointing to the door of the plane and saying "Mommy, go." She didn't quite get that we were moving and we weren't just keeping her in this space as some sort of psychological torture. She never broke down, but did jump up and down in her seat for an hour. The Virgin airlines staff was a great help at keeping her entertained.
Needless to say we survived and now we are home.
We met up with Andrea, Glen and Logan a bit later by Buckingham Palace. I wanted to make sure I got some photos of Lotus in front of touristy places, since a) she will never remember this trip and b) if the US dollar keeps tanking this might be her only visit to the UK. I now have proof that she has been to England.
After our photo op The Stanton-Pearls and Covington-Burrows spent some time wandering around galleries until both children had enough. As we headed back to the tube I saw a woman walking towards us that looked remarkably like Chelsea Clinton and then I looked at the man she was talking to and he looked like Bill Clinton. Yup, we walked past Bill and Chelsea Clinton and I even got to say hello. I am not ashamed to say that I screamed so loud for Andrea that she thought something had happened to Lotus. We ran back after them, so she could bask in the glory of the former president. I wished I had been quicker and gotten a photo with Lo, but Chelsea had this universal look on her face that all daughters have towards their fathers, no matter how famous, of can’t we just do what we came to do and stop dawdling.
I have to assume that he was there to be part of the Tony Blair resignation that took place during our visit. Most of the people we talked to seemed mixed about Blair's resignation, that felt he had done great things, but his legacy will be the Iraq War. The English seemed pleased with Gordon Brown as his replacement, but as always when I travel no one in England or Portugal was mixed when it came to US politics and they would have preferred our president was stepping down
It was a great sighting to end a great trip. The next morning we boarded our flight home.
The flight home was not nearly as easy as the flight there. You are chasing the sun, so it's always light and thus Lotus never slept. At hour seven she kept pointing to the door of the plane and saying "Mommy, go." She didn't quite get that we were moving and we weren't just keeping her in this space as some sort of psychological torture. She never broke down, but did jump up and down in her seat for an hour. The Virgin airlines staff was a great help at keeping her entertained.
Needless to say we survived and now we are home.
