I'm a firm believer in setting goals in ones marriage. And my favorite goal/plan that we've set is that every 5 years of marriage we'll go somewhere big-like outside of the country basically. Every 5 years cause we put a little (and it really is a little) aside every month and by five years it's easy to travel cause we've been saving up so it's not a financial burden (plus we got a delta AMEX card and by 5 years we'll have enough points for the both of us to fly anywhere with just our points).
In all the years between we still try to go somewhere-even if it's just one night locally. I think it's really important to make time, just the two of us, a priority even in the middle of having little ones at home that are still very much dependent on us. Not only is it great for us to be together and outside of our mommy/daddy roles for a few days (which we love btw), but it's also good for the kids too-they get to have some serious bonding time with their grandparents plus it's like our relationship gets even stronger somehow when we get back. Everyone realizes how much they love each other/we don't take each other for granted etc.
So this Aug was our 5th Anniversary (it's absolutely crazy how fast time flies-5 years really doesn't feel long at all which is prolly a good thing-that I'm not tired of him etc ;)
We decided we'd start easy-somewhere that speaks English and I've always wanted to go to London. I was mainly excited for all of the great musicals/shows and museums while Code was most excited for the food. It's been so long that I've already forgotten every detail of the trip but let's just say we had a blast and i'll rely on the pics to show all that we did:
So fun fact, I can't sleep on airplanes...at least, not when I'm not tired. Jet Lag is REAL y'all!
First order of business while we're waiting for our train to take us to Stratford upon Avon? Pic with a Telephone booth-why this is a thing? I dunno, but check!
A rainy English countryside
This is the, "Oh wow, it's kind of chilly" face-what the heck people it's late Aug!
Jet-lagged and a lil travel-worn but happy to have made it to our B&B
We walked around town-SO quaint/pretty!
Got some yummy tai food
After walking around town we took a river boat tour and promptly started to nod off- I'm sure people were staring and wondering if we were ok.
We want SLEEP!
The Royal Shakespeare Theatre where we saw Othello the next night
The next day, after a blessed night sleep, we went to all of the Shakespeare museums around town (it's where he was born/grew up)
His house:
The church where he was buried:
Later we saw Othello-way good!
Bye Stratford!
The next day we headed back into London and dropped our bags at our airbnb which was nice, in London, and way cheaper than any hotel we could have gotten.
An Indian restaurant that's a chain there:
Our flat:
Trafalgar Square:
National Gallery: It was awesome but we couldn't see half of the art because the staff was on an on-going strike. It made me mad. Selfish. Oh well, I'll catch the other half the next time I happen to be in London *grumble grumble*
Five Guys! Hurrah for America :)
Big Ben...obviously
Parliament
The London Eye
Fish & Chips
The first night we went to this real cool interactive theatre experience called Alice's Adventure Underground. A theatre company basically used some unused tube stations/etc and created an interactive play. It was SO cool and very epic but sadly, no photography. We got split into suits of cards and then were lead on an adventure where we tried to figure out who ate the Queen's tarts. We met the rabbit, the mock turtle, the mad hatter etc, the baker and his wife, humpty dumpty, and the queen. It was fun! There's more info/pics here:
http://www.alice-underground.com/
The next day here's some AMAZING Caribbean food we found in a hamlet of London-the cod fritters were SO GOOD! I'm craving them right now just thinking about them....
Later this night we saw wicked-SO good!
We saw a really cool museum of Handel's house- where he lived the last few years of his life. It kind of pops up out of no-where and you wouldn't know it was there but way cool to think of who lived and walked around there.
riding a double decker bus!
The British Museum:
Rosetta Stone:
This was a really cool installation from Africa-I forget which country now, but these people whose country had been torn apart by civil/tribal war forever were finally starting to enjoy peace and they built what they called the tree of life all out of ammo/guns/gun parts that had been real/used in those wars-was pretty powerful
On Sunday we went to a ward that was nearest our flat, I think their ward was newly-formed and I can't remember the name but it was fun.
After church we went to King's Cross Station to platform 9 3/4 and when I saw the line to take a pic I just snapped one of the sign and called it good :)
Later that day we went on a self-guided tour with the Detour App around WestMinster Abby area. It was REALLY cool cause it kind of takes you off the beaten path a bit and makes you feel like you're seeing some of the real parts of where you are. Highly recommend it! It's on your phone so it tracks you with your GPS and will give you directions/ start the next part once you arrive, pretty cool.
we were walking down this street where a lot of government officials lived in the past and their mistresses lived across the street.
stamped on the buildings were signs for bomb shelters from WWII- so crazy how close history feels in places like this:
we got to step inside the courtyard corridors of Westminster College a lil bit-reminded me of harry potter.
we happened to be walking by Sunday evening when they were lining up for a free organ recital that they hold every Sunday-a chance to get into the Abbey and enjoy some amazing music and some amazing acoustics? Yes please!
Where the Prime Minister Lives:
The Red Lion-a historical pub (let's face it, they all are) that had some yummy meat/savory pies.
Our last full day we went to Buckingham Palace to tour the state rooms. It was your typical London weather :)
St. Paul's
I especially liked the crypt underneath-found Gilbert of Gilbert & Sullivan's grave...or was it Sullivan? either way, one of them was down there.
Mind the Gap
Les Mis!
Bye London!
It was so much fun and we can't wait for our next big trip (Seoul)! Thanks to Facetime we didn't miss the kids TOO much, but it was nice to be home again. Thanks Gpa Gary and Gma Kathy for watching the boys! Happy 5th Babe!
