Tuesday, November 11, 2008

London Calling: Part I



My honeymoon was fabulous. I mean truly wonderful. As rough and ready world travelers, we sought the exotic. We knew we had the chops; we met as travelers in the mountains of northern Israel (our first "date" was two weeks in northern Egypt along the waters of the Red Sea). Little did I know we would traipse through Paris, see the Southern Cross descend upon a Saharan night sky and dance on stage in London with my favorite band.

We have camped in the Pyrenees, bartered in the markets of Istanbul, walked the walls of Dubrovnik, partied in Barcelona, explored the castles of Prague, the churches of Italy and the pubs of London, but nothing quite prepared us for the honeymoon.

We never plan. Anything. Even plane tickets. This unnerves most, but we find it exhilarating. There are no hotel reservations, no itineraries, no way home. Adventure on the fly, we call it.

First, we went to London. You can do anything, go anywhere from London. I have always managed to find some sort of last minute deal to London. For very cheap. We stay in the same Bayswater hotel each time and do nothing but walk. I have an extensive collection of London walking tours and historic pub guides. As we walk we look for travel agencies buying tickets to wherever is most inexpensive, interesting or a free place to crash.

So we went to Paris. (To be continued......)

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21 comments:

Hadley Makes said...

I share your travel style, though I do tend to buy the plane tickets in advance ;)

You've always got a free place to crash in Chicago.

What a first date, by the way.

Lastly (in this disjointed comment), I love the colors in the painting you've posted. I especially like her collar.

Mrs.French said...

I really envy you...I am so thrilled to hear about the rest of your trips...oh and I am curious, which band are you talking about...nosey, nosey, that's me...xo

edward and lilly said...

What a fabulous way to travel, I'm looking forward to the next chapter.

Katarina Kühl ~ PencilFashion said...

i really like her outfit!

Elena said...

Sounds amazing - you are brave! I have to appologize. I am the girl in front of you on the line crying because I'm really nervous that the gate marked "TO NEW YORK" maybe is secretly going elsewhere....

heidi said...

you leave me wanting more...

Cindy said...

this journey sounds like it's going to be great. we're terrible about traveling, so i'm looking forward to reading more about yours.

Bonbon Oiseau said...

We are so going on holiday with you....next installment please!!!

LeaKarts said...

You never cease to amaze me. I love the new painting! Now the rest of the story, pretty please? :)

Unknown said...

What an amazing place to meet! It was definitely fate because with all of this traveling you both love you were definitely meant for each other :)

London & Paris are two places I have never been but am really dying to get to. Would love to hear more about your pub recomendations in London and you MUST write about the time in Barcelona sometime (another high on the list will get there vacation spot!).

Its funny, we don't like to plan for what we do while in a location but every detail up to and after is planned. The lack of plane ticket would freak me out lol.

Julz Nally said...

i love everything about this painting. the colors are stunning and so is the woman ;)

Hoi Polloi said...

That is such a lovely story- I hope I can get to the point where I can just fly with it. I tend to, but I still buy my tickets :)

Mary-Laure said...

Your trip sounds heavenly, what extraordinary memories...
Looking forward to more...

Luky said...

thank you for your visit!it's always beautiful here!

Bonbon Oiseau said...

hey...guess who won my giveaway litle missy...mmmhmmm...YOU DID!!!
send your shipping address to me at:
bonbonoiseau at aol dot comand you will get a nice treat!
(also why are you leaving this clifhanger till next season? i can't wait for the rest...)

pve design said...

Oh, easy to do without children, but we too try not to plan too far in advance....when we can. Spontaneity is fun, if you can do it!
Love that illustration.

please sir said...

Wow sounds like an amazing trip - lucky lucky!

Rosebud Collection said...

What an adventure..I have to say, we are kind of that way..Nothing ventured, nothing gained..So glad you had a great time and the memories will be even better..

tangobaby said...

Okay, I want your life. Like right now! Or at least lots and lots of posts about these adventures.

And the image is wonderful. And perfect. ;-)

Di Overton said...

I just realised you were on your honeymoon. Congrats and I would have hated to have been playing gooseberry :)

Anonymous said...

I must say, I love this illustration, I love all your illustrations actually. But the colours on this one are so beautiful.