Put Down the Blow Dryer: That Time I Ran Away to Europe for a Month.

Felix: "He looks like a dude, Mum"

Rebecca: "What do you mean?"

Felix: "He looks cool."

Day 1

This was apparently the conversation my friend's little guy was having as my friends were greeting me at Heathrow airport early in the morning on that glorious sunny Sunday. Did I look cool? I felt like hell because I had a super wonky travel route but that's what you get when you fly anywhere from a small regional airport like Saint John.

My timing was a little insane, the day I was arriving in London Rebecca's mom was leaving London so we saw each other at the airport long enough for a hug and then Rebecca and I jumped on a train to head to Camden Town.

Camden Town is a very cool area that just serves up the best bohemian vibes. This area is well loved by tourists, teenagers and the OG punk rockers (Amy Winehouse was from there). We immediately started into the markets and shops browsing and grabbing little trinkets here and there before finally sitting down at a outdoor bar for a couple drinks by the canal. It was a gloriously sunny day so we just enjoyed being outside.

After a few Aperol Spritz we headed to the lovely Regent's park and laid in the grass by a group of guys playing football (soccer to Canadians). One of Rebecca's friends joined us for awhile and it was nice to just chill out in the grass before heading to the train to get to my friend and her husband's home so that they could get the kids settled for the night.

I typically don't stay with friends when I'm travelling but it was a nice change because the pressure was off due to my long travel and I just didn't feel like I had to be "on" or rush around to get my bearings of where I was. Mike and Rebecca have a really great house and it was just so nice to chill out with them and the kids.

Day 2

"Are you gonna come downstairs?" is how I was cutely greeted by Felix after I finally opened my bedroom door, which is good because Sadie thought I was dead in there haha. I came downstairs and spent some time with the kids before they went off to school.

Mike then took Rebecca and I to the train station so that we could make our way to the Westminster area. The London Eye, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey... so surreal to finally see these places with my own eyes as we made our way to Buckingham Palace where we stumbled upon the changing of the guard, so that was cool.

We next stumbled upon some Uber Lime electric bikes; I had seen these in other cities but have never tried an electric bike before... those things have some kick! We biked over to the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain and then we hightailed it to our reservation at Westminster Abbey.

After touring the Abbey we decided it was best not to get on those bikes again in the busy area so we just walked until we found this really great Thai place for lunch. Maries Thai Cafe, it had the decor of a dentist's office, but the food was incredible. We then made our way to the train back to Ascot so that Rebecca could do that Mom stuff and I could nap before we watched a Euro Cup Football game.

Day 3

Once the kids were off to school, we were back into London to do more touristy fun things; first stop was Abbey Road. It's really funny watching people try to recreate the famous photograph/album cover. 

After we got our shot we went to The Wolseley for breakfast. I, of course, had to order the full English breakfast so that I could finally try "black pudding" or better know as blood sausage... yeah, no. Gross. Everything else was fabulous but I'll never eat another congealed chunk of blood after that.

Once we finished breakfast, it was time to Lime again. We got  little lost so we ended up on those damn electric bikes for almost an hour until we reached our next destination: Kensington Palace. It's crazy to think royals live there and it's just right out in the open in Hyde Park. It was very touching to then visit the stunning Princess Diana Memorial Gardens, where the statue of her stands over a glorious pond adorned with flowers all around. Once we returned out Lime bikes we made our way to the Tate Modern museum where I very quickly realized how very not into modern art I am. Just not for me... so we got out of there and back to Ascot.

We then went back home, grabbed some groceries and picked up the kids. I liked that we were home in the evenings as my jet lag was really bad and I was wiped. I felt like a martian in my own body.

Day 4, The Last Day

We went to their local gym and had some relaxation time in the hot tub, sauna and pool before heading to Mike's barber so that I could get freshened up for Dubrovnik. 

It was then time to say goodbye and then I won't even discuss my weird travel day but I just relished in the fact I just had such nice quality time in London.

Day 4, Part Two?

After a fiasco of being at the wrong airport in London and forgetting things on a FlixBus (including 90% of my underwear)... I flew from Gatwick airport to Dubrovnik, Croatia. 

How do I always meet the most interesting people? My sister is under the impression it's because I always strive to be the main character in every story... but, I am! I can't help that haha. Once I arrived into the grandiose town where many dragons had been slayed in the famous "Game of Thrones" series (of which I've never seen), I instantly went to my villa where I was renting a suite. I was promptly greeted by the most fabulous woman: Diana. She was a former dancer from San Francisco who essentially retired in Croatia back in the 90's when buying a villa in Dubrovnik was basically cheaper than buying a new couch.

I told Diana I was so excited to be there and that I would be checking into my room, taking a shower and then going to bed... she immediately gave me a stern look and said "No, you're not"... to be continued...