pilates

we should find a good pilates class to go to...

london (final day of vacation)

the winston churchill war rooms
big ben
westminster abbey

We started the day seeing sights such as Big Ben, Parliament and Westminster Abbey. We ended this segment of our trek at the fabulous churchill/war room museum. Both of us had a fantastic time but our opinions may be biased because we are both history buffs. i wanted to get adam a churchill tie but he declined my offer. adam's response: "I am not worthy enough to bear Winston on my chest."

we then walked towards trafalgor square (no pigeons because of the rain) and the national gallery museum. the national gallery museum is quite fantastic. we saw all the paintings we studied in high school: tryptics of the middle ages, the dutch arnolfini and his wife, an extensive display of the renaissance work of raphael, el greco's neon biblical scenes, several self portraits by rembrandt, and the usual suspects from the 19th and early 20th century: van gogh's sunflowers, monet, seurat.

Adam says he was impressed by "the sheer constancy and magnitude of the representation of art en vogue between 1400 and 1900."

my chocolate pound cake and latte from the Churchill Musuem

Adam's quiche and coffee

waiting for the tube

our mostly gloomy day..


postscript: this entry was partially edited by Adam.

guess where we spend our evenings?

this is the front entrance to our hotel. i think everyone that stays at our hotel is american. the hotel is quaint but i dislike their breakfast. i'm in england and i want an full english breakfast with beans, mushrooms, tomatos!
eating out in london is quite expensive. our snack at the tate modern was about $50 and our mid-day lunch at the pub was about $60! that's two beers, a salad, and fish/chips!

we have a whole foods here in kensington at about 5 minute walk( it has three levels and it is quite a sight) and the place caters to americans (cashiers and customers). so it is easy to bring take-out back to the hotel with us.



adam discovered a refillable wine dispenser at whole foods

my $18 chicken curry "take-away"

London

a happy adam at the tate modern restuarant. it has a wonderful view of the thames river.

hot chocolate(the drink of choice for parisians and english)
butternut squash/pesto penne pasta... i can say i make this dish better
adam's open-faced roast beef sandwich
adam enjoying the tate
taking a break at a pub/cafe
adam and his chocolate cupcake from hummingbird bakery

sayaka and vanilla cupcake

cupcake
we're back in london to take in the sights... sorry london, but after paris you are a bit drab.

did i mention i love paris?

mid-afternoon snack (canale and duex cafe creme)

adam found the "american" section at the super marche hilarious

us after the eiffel tower (tired and hungry).

louvre, notre dame, champ elysee, arc de triumphe, eiffel tower

Paris is so awesome.



here's adam in front of venus de milo






we went to some random cafe after the louvre. I ordered the hamburger with egg because it was on many menu's in paris. It wasn't anything spectacular. Adam order some raw beef.. It looks like uncooked hamburger.<
adam and i in front of the notre dame


adam in front of the arc de triumphe

this is me on top of the arc de triumphe. there are 284 steps to get up to the top. It was very taxing. The way don't was scary for me (i have a fear of heights).

mona lisa

Chataeu de Versailles

Adam and I visited the Palace of Versailles today. It was such a marvelous and wonderful place. It is super huge and we were there for seven hours! i call it the disneyland for adults. It truly is an amazing sight.

i'll have to update later because we have a big day ahead of us tomorrow. It is our last full day in Paris :(