Prague Here We Come...

Tomorrow is Leap Day and Mike has decided that he's taking the day off because it's an extra day in the work-year and he's not giving them more time than he needs to! So bright and early, we're headed to Prague, Czech Republic. We've got a Pub Crawl Tour planned for tomorrow night and an 8 hour walking tour planned for Saturday. Sunday will just be a day to double back and see anything else we want in more detail. My friend Kim has been to Prague, and I keep thinking of stories that she's told me about it. One that is my favorite is that she and her two friends (on a college budget, mind you) stayed in a hotel with one bed and no heat in the middle of winter. The three of them slept in the same bed wearing all of the clothes they had brought with them! While I have no doubt that the Hilton will have heat, I'll be thinking of her while I'm there. I'm also excited to have a nice pint of Pilsner Urquell in Kimmie's honor! When we get back I'll be sure to try and post a picture or two on here...It's a little hard because with our new camera the files are so big that it usually crashes the blogger.com connection when I try to upload them!

Sir Winston Churchill and the Cabinet War Rooms

Today we thought we'd take in some tourist sites and hit up the Winston Churchill Museum and the Cabinet War Rooms. It was really interesting to see the Cabinet War Rooms and we were surprised to see that they weren't very far underground and they were only fortified with 6 feet of concrete and reinforced steel. Apparently, Churchill only ever spent 2 or 3 nights there and during air raids spent alot of time on the roof watching them first hand. It's interesting to see how many people worked in the dank, dark, underground tunnels and how the war was really planned from this particiular place. It was also hard to believe that nearly 80% of the people smoked either cigarettes or cigars and smoked in the underground areas where there was no ventilation! And I complain when I'm in a bar and smell like smoke--Imagine if you were locked in an unventilated underground bunker!

Sorry folks no pics from the Cabinet War Rooms! We decided to leave the camera home.

Mike & Tara's Spring/Summer 2008 Travel Plan

Feb 29-Mar2--Prague, Czech Republic
Mar 21-24--Western Ireland (Limerick, Kerry, Galway, etc.) for Easter
Mar 25-30 (Mike)--USA**
Mar 25-Apr 3(Tara)--USA
Possibly May 2-4--Cairo, Egypt
First week in June (Tara)--USA
June 21--Royal Ascot (UK's Kentucky Derby)
June 27-July 10--Northern Europe Cruise (8 countries in 13 days!)
Aug 25-Sep 5--Mauritius (ahhh....beach holiday!)
Sep 19-22--Oktoberfest in Munich!

We'll also have 2 trips in there for Mike's client work (April and July, I think)! We really are so spoiled here! Our first guests, Drew and Cat will be visiting some time in May. They are still trying to iron out dates, so I'll update this when they do!

So as much as we bitch, moan, and complain about living here, don't feel sorry for us! The only way we could see all of these things and visit all of these place from NJ would be through the Travel Channel!!

**Mike just wanted me to clarify that, unfortunately, when he's home for his March leave, he will be working the entire time--Morning, Noon, and Nite and it will be very hard to see people. I, on the other hand, have nothing but time on my hands!

And All That Jazz...

Last night we went to see Chicago in the West End. I suppose neither of us really knew the premise of the show and both thought it was just "alright". It wasn't as good as some of the other shows we've seen, but still an entertaining night out. The cast members were all dressed in black with a minimalist set. The acting was really good which made it worthwhile. We met our friend Casie beforehand to pick her brain about Prague as we've planned a weekend jaunt there for the "Leap Weekend". Mike is refusing to work on Leap Day, since it's an extra day, so we're going to the Czech Republic, thus expanding out trips into Eastern Europe. We're also planning on a weekend in Cairo to see the pyramids. We're still working on those dates--it's a little further than most of our trips so it's going to take a longer flight,etc. Last night we were actually trying to find a date to do a "Circle Line Pub Crawl" with the expats. The Circle Line is the underground like that literally goes in a circle around central London. The idea is to get off at every of the 24 stops and have a 1/2 pint. You start at noon and finish by midnight when most pubs close. Casie and I were trying to figure a date in the summer, but sadly our summer is pretty much booked up and once we go to Prague, we're pretty full this Spring too--a few weekends here and there are still available at Chateau Racano and weekdays are always available! LOL! It's tough to be an expat!!!

Camdentown Ain't Burnin' Down

Well, if you listen to Amy WInehouse it ain't, but in all actuality it pretty much did. From what we hear it was all over the news in the US that there was a giant fire in London--Camden to be exact. Truthfully, it wasn't really on the news very much here at all. Amy Winehouse made a pretty big deal of it on the Grammys in between her drunken acceptance speeches, but really it wasn't much to talk about.

Nothing really to report here. Mike's been working like a madman, getting in after 11:00 every night. I on the other hand have turned my job search to volunteer opportunities. One that I'm really "keen" on is an organization called "Walkwell" stationed right around the corner from us in the Sands End section of Fulham. They bring the elderly on walks around the borough and create programs for them. I have a call in to the girl in charge. Hopefully the take me a couple days a week!

Tonight we took advantage of American Express' concierge services and got a reservation at Il Convivio, an Italian restaurant that was the best meal we've had since being in London---except for TGI Fridays when we were craving chicken fingers!!!!! But the food was great, the wine was great, and the service was superb! I even made it through the whole night in my 4 inch heels without a peep of complaint!

Alright it's getting late, and off to bed we go! Tomorrow I'm off to the TKTS booth to get us some West End Tickets and then I'm going to a Bridal Expo with my friend Kialee then meeting Mike and Co. for Happy Hour and then off the the show!!! I'm tired just thinking of it! At least we can relax on Saturday! Mike even has a 60 min massage (his v'day present).

More soon I promise! Love from London!

Why the English Drive on the Left...

This has been one of the sticking points here that annoy Mike to no end. Why can't they just conform with the rest of the world? Well, a few days ago, Mike got his answer. The reason why the English drive on the left has to do with JOUSTING! When you jousted an opponent, you were always on the left of him. Also, it is considered more "gentlemanly" to pass someone on the left. Mike says he still doesn't buy it. They jousted all over Europe and everywhere else they drive on the right! LOL!

Can You Smell What the Giants Are Cooking?

What a night! I had to take a nap in order to ensure that I would be able to stay up for the game! Good thing too! By the time all was said and done, we didn't go to sleep until 4AM, and Mike was up at 6:45 for work. I'm not 100% sure that he ever REALLY went to sleep! The Superbowl Party was a success, not because of the food, beverage or company--although all of that was wonderful too, but because the GIANTS WON! They beat the Patriots, and crushed their ideas of grandeur being another "Undefeated Team". It was a nail-biter at the end, and I had to keep Mike and Marygrace under control a little bit! Mike was screaming for most of the 4th quarter while Marygrace had a "Rainman"-esque sway going on! We popped the champagne (yes, we got champagne for this auspicious occasion) at 3:30AM! What a night, and what a game! I always believed in Eli from the start, all of the fair weather fans out there wrote him off at the beginning of the season, but I knew he was destined for greatness! We even got to watch the US commercials thanks to Chris and Kialee and their slingbox. Their laptop is somehow connected to a TV at Chris' mom's house in Ohio, so we got to see everything. All of us huddled around the laptop during commercial breaks as if we'd never seen an advertisement before!

All in all it was a wonderful night with the end result that I hoped for, but wasn't really expecting, so it was really a pleasant surprise! Today I'm dragging a little bit, and unfortunately, with Mike in the middle of busy season, he's thinking he'll be home late tonight. Poor guy didn't get home before 11 all last week, and thought he was getting a little reprieve this week--guess not!

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL!?!?!

American Football that is! We are certainly ready for some football! The house is clean, the Giants blue is out, and we're ready to go! Mike made me make all the food last night so I would be able to relax today since it's going to be such a late night. I just hope everything stays well in the fridge! Our guest list is growing--some of our guests have asked to bring guests, so you know in our house, the more the merrier! With the crowd coming over, we decided to inform the neighbors about the party. Actually it was more of an invitation. We figure if they are INVITED they would be less likely to complain if Mike starts yelling at the refs around 2AM! So this morning we're off to the pub for a proper English Breakfast, then to pick up our laundry and then we're just chilling out until the guests start arriving at 8!

So, Happy Superbowl Sunday, and with any luck, and possibly a Brady broken leg, the Giants will be victorious!