Christmas

Winter Wonderland 2014

10:21 PM

Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park occurs annually from November to the beginning of January. One amazing, lovely thing about not being in America is that there is nothing holding back the acceptable time to break out the Christmas stuff. Reigning it in until after Thanksgiving weekend doesn't exist. 

It was hard to miss once the rides were set up. The usually dark park transformed for a couple of months.

Entry is free but the tickets are steep. Most rides were 6 tokens at £1 per token. The night we went, we planned to arrive around 6 so as to beat the crowds. We succeeded in having to wait only about a minute in line. (They stagger the public entry to achieve some sort of crowd control but there are fast passes available when you register online and print your ticket before arrival)

So many people.... But a German market?! Can't blame them. 

Loads of great stuff. 

And loads of food! German sausage. Yum
He makes weird faces for me but at least his face was on this adventure with me :)

Rides, rides, rides. Taylor's favourite part. 



We have decided that the mouse rides in Europe are 20 times better than in the states. Usually it constitutes the worst ride at any theme park but we have dubbed them the best at Brighton and at Winter Wonderland! 

German everything. Even the tickets to get on the mouse ride. 

Willkommen=Welcome


Throwing in some Christmas lights from around the City. 

The tree in Trafalgar Square. The National Gallery is one of my favourite art museums and the National Portrait Gallery is right behind it. I have been reading loads of books about London secrets and two have boasted that the National Portrait Gallery is the most interesting gallery in England. I have to go ASAP. I have never made it a priority. 

This was near Leicester Square (pronounced Lester) on the same street as Bubba Gump and around the corner from M&M world. 
 
The carousel at Leicester Square

I dearly miss the magical lights that have all been taken down. Spending Christmas in London with Taylor was something we will always cherish. We missed our family but called them via FaceTime every day. It was definitely a holiday season to remember. Our first alone and hopefully the last!

Alaskan cruise

London Update

5:10 PM

I realize that people don't know anything about our most recent announcement other than the fact that we're moving to Europe. We made the exciting announcement via every social media network we could and then left you hanging!


Our big move to London, England is still several months away. Taylor will take part of the global Goldman training starting in July in New York. That's the beginning of our move eastward. After corporate training, Taylor will spend time with the group with which he was hired to work. We don't know how long that part of his training will take since they haven't had an analyst go solo to the London office before. 

We don't anticipate getting to London before August 2014, although we are both extremely anxious to get there! Our favorite hobby right now is LONDON. Learning about the city, seeing one of the coolest Instagram accounts about London (seriously, check out @london account. You'll cry), looking at flats to rent, and for me, planning outings to make the most of our time in what will be our home for a while. 

About how long we'll be there....hard to say. We're thinking at least a year and legally we can't be there more than 6 years without applying for permanent residency. So do not fret. We should be back...should be. 😉

We have connected with some wonderfully helpful people that try to answer all of our random questions that crop up as we prepare to move. We are so grateful for them and their patience. 

We have narrowed our apartment search to Zone One for transportation ease as we will not have a car over there. We have these high hopes to cycle to work. If we can brave the near-constant rain. I hope my time in Juneau, Alaska has prepared me this. 

We hope to live very near Hyde Park. Northwest, to be exact. 
 
Can you imagine this being our Sunday walk? Yes, please!
It's just too good to be true. I can hardly wait to be posting pictures I take personally of this beautiful place. 


Some of our dreams and goals for London are to go see what we can see and do lots of it. 

1. Get a view of London and the Thames river from the London Eye

2. Visit the LDS Temple in Surrey once a month. (That's about an hour and a half drive from central London)

3. Visit York! So pretty!

4. People watch in Trafalgar Square. 

5. Visit every single museum they've got! I might do most of this alone but I'm sure I could convince Taylor to come to a couple. Plus, they're free. Hello?! 

6. See where the Queen lives. And perhaps sneak a peek of the royal baby. Keira and Jilian will be extremely jealous. 

Many, many, many more adventures to be had. 

I can't be sure but I think this is part of the financial district that Taylor's office will be near. It really does look like Fleet Street. If you look down the street, above the woman's head, it looks like a sky ride connecting the buildings? I believe that to be two of three Goldman buildings in the area. 

We are very excited to see it in person. But there is so much to do before we get there! 

Taylor and I will graduate within a week of each other and then head off on a cruise (compliments of my grueling and difficult work as a tour bus driver for two consecutive summers in Juneau). 

Where shall the Princess cruise take us? Alaska, of course. Round trip from San Francisco. :) 

Bless you for making it all the way to the end of this long-winded post. If you have any questions, comments or requests for occupying our couch (that we might have to get with a pull out bed) in London, leave those below 😄




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