Week 1 of 52 - London!

I have officially been in London for 1 week now and this is the first I've had a bit of time to sit and write an update. I apologize for lack of detail in some cases. There is just too much to say for 1 entry. I will update with some photos when I get the chance.

I arrived in London on Monday morning without any sort of plan at all. I just figured I'd show up at the hostel and take it from there, which in a country with the same language and generally the same customs is pretty easy to do. I met a few people in the hostel when I arrived...a group of Canadian girls, a Student from California who was on his way back home after doing a semester in Milan, and another solo traveller from Afghanistan. The week was spent roaming through London, checking out the most obvious touristy stuff, ie: Knights Bridge (not to be confused with London Bridge), Millenium Bridge, National Gallery, London Eye, Camden Town, Covent Gardens, Tate Modern Museum, Picadilly Circus, Liecester Square, strolled along the Thames and a few of London's gigantic parks etc. I'm glad I can say I've seen all those things, but by the end of the week I was ready to move on.

I stayed with Clare (whom I met in Spain) and her roomates Tom and Nick, on Sunday and Monday night. It was great to see a bit of the 'real London' in Battersea. It's an up and comming area for the yonger generations. It was nice to get away from the hustle and bustle and see the tree lined streets, not so crowded parts and a lot of independent clothing stores and cafes. We had dinner on Monday evening with Clare's mom who was also in Spain for the Reiki retreat, and it was fantastic to see her again. I will be heading back to say for a few more days once I return from Scottland.

At the moment I'm in Brighton, on the Southern coast of England. It's absolutely beautiful here. I arrived yesterday to sun, a beach and water that stretches out as far as the eye can see. There isn't a whole lot to do here other than to relax. There's lots of people from other areas in England that come down here to get away for a day or so. I sat in a cafe this morning and watched four old ladies trying to flirt with a French waiter named Hubert. I do have to say it made my day.

I spent last night hanging out with another traveller from Winnipeg, Canada and two guys that work at the bar below the hostel. It's not usually my thing, but I was convinced to go to the club downstairs for £1 drinks and drum and bass. It was fantastic! No hip hop or R&B...pure drum and bass so we danced until about 2am and hung out with the staff after they kicked everyone else out. Oh...the manager of the hostel nicknamed 'Canada' is from the Broadveiw and Danforth area...small world.

Tomorrow I'm heading up to Scottland and doing a 3 day tour of Edinburgh and Isle of Skye...It was highly recommended to me by a few people, so I'm hoping for the best! I will keep you posted!! Love and miss you all!