This Day in History v.39: Harrods

What's more well known in the world as one of the top London landmark than Harrods?  I ran across a blog the other day about little known facts about Harrods and it made me remember all the times I walked the streets outside of Harrods and how much anxiety I had when I actually entered the doors.  To say it is "busy" is an under statement....SO MANY PEOPLE.  Anyways, Charles Henry Harrod opened Harrods in 1834 in Knightsbridge when he was only 25 years old...holy cow, what a feat!


Here are some of the facts that blew me away:

• All the customers: On an average day, approximately 100,000 people come to shop at Harrods. On peak days, especially during the Christmas season, this number can jump up to 300,000.
• Everything you want: The store has 330 departments and is 5 acres in size!
• Bright lights: At night, Harrods is lit up by 12,000 light bulbs on the store’s façade and 300 bulbs have to be changed every day. This began with its Christmas lights in 1959 when 1,100 bulbs were used for the decorations.
• It's motto: The Harrods motto is Omnia Omnibus Ubique—All Things for All People, Everywhere

Reasons to live in London

I met up with a sorority sister whom I haven't seen since college last week, whose name is Dawn. But I always feel so funny calling her that, because she's always been "Peanut" to me.  No really, she went by Peanut in college.  I feel its a time to call her by her grown up name, but I also feel like a farce using it! But anyways, I met her up at my fav brunch place, Butler and Chef. Are you tired of me talking about that place yet?!  I bring everyone here who is out of town.  Its just too good to pass up!

Anyways, I was telling her how much I miss living in London and HOW AMAZING IT IS.  Then I came across this article, and it was too convenient not to share!

(source)

Here is a short list of those that I totally agreed with!

4. When you understand the tube map you'll realise how painfully simple it is

7. No matter what you want to do with your career, you can do it in London

14. There are 4500 pubs & bars

20. It's one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world

22. Your commute will take you past some of the most famous landmarks in the world

32. Once you know you way around there is no greater feeling than a tourist asking you for directions and you actually knowing the answer

54. Getting angry at tourists who are getting in your way is weirdly liberating

75. People back home will think you're really tough for living in London

97. In the summer it's always hotter in London than anywhere else in the country

AAAAHHHHHH TAKE ME BACK PLEASE!!!!!!

FIVE HUNDRED...SAY WHAT?!?!?!

HOLY COW!!! 500 posts! I've written FIVE HUNDRED BLOG POSTS....saaaayy WHHHAAATTT?!?!?!?

This blog has been through a lot, from moving home from London, trials and tribulations of living in a small(er) town again, moving to D.C. and finally resting in my current city of San Francisco.  I don't do it for money or fame, its just fun to write everything down and see where my travels have taken me over the years!  I talk about my sorority, Junior League, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, volunteering, vacations and everything in between.

Hope you enjoy my travels as much as I do!

This Day in History v.37

I was watching an episode of House Hunters International and they were in Stuttgart, Germany and they featured this bridge with locks all over it. It reminded me of the time I was traveling through Cinque Terre, Italy I came across this path with locks and at the time I didn't know what they were. Come to find out, they are love padlocks. This is when locks are affixed to a fence, gate, bridge or similar public fixture by sweethearts at an increasing number of locations in the world to symbolize their everlasting love. Pretty neat!

There were hundreds of them!

Of course I have to pose for a ridiculous picture!

Here are the past blogs I have written:

This Day in History v.1: Oxford Street Christmas Lights

This Day in History v.2: Beginning of This Day in History

This Day in History v.3: Paris, France

This Day in History v.4: Chinese New Year

This Day in History v.5: Pancake Day

This Day in History v.6: Berlin, Germany

This Day in History v.7: Ireland

This Day in History v.8: Platform 9 3/4

This Day in History v.9: Croatia

This Day in History v.10: Rome, Italy

This Day in History v.11: Scotland

This Day in History v.12: Stockholm, Sweden

This Day in History v.13: Cinque Terre, Italy

This Day in History v.14: A Look Back at the Beginning

This Day in History v.15: Notting Hill Carnival

This Day in History v.16: The Breakfast Club

This Day in History v.17: Australia Day

This Day in History v.18: Trafalgar Square

This Day in History v.19: Red Telephone Box

This Day in History v.20: Primrose Hill

This Day in History v.21: Look Both Ways

This Day in History v.22: Kings Head Theater

This Day in History v.23: Tower of London

This Day in History v.24: Cambridge, England

This Day in History v.25: Mountbatten

This Day in History v.26: Dorset, England

This Day in History v.27: Canada Gates

This Day in History v.28: Piccadilly Circus

This Day in History v.29: Stonehenge

This Day in History v.30: Guy Fawkes Day

This Day in History v.31: Cultural Sunday
This Day in History v.32: Bath, England
This Day in History v.33: Greenich, England
This Day in History v.34 Portbobello Market
This Day in History v.35: Big Ben
This Day in History v.36: Bristol, England

This Day in History v.36

In the summer of 2006, I did a study abroad in Bristol, England. Through ODU, I was able to do a month and a half program with 2 other ODU undergrads and about 20 other students from various universities at the University of the West of England. Even though I was the only grad students amongst many many undergrads, I still had a great experience. One of my roommates, Teresa, is actually still a really great friend who lives down the street! I've kept in contact with her since, she was even my roommate in my Mountbatten programme. I told her about the program and told her she just HAD to apply :)

Bristol is a BEAUTIFUL quaint town. Too bad we had a HORRIBLE host mother and she was a complete bitch, BUT Teresa and I still laugh about the family and the daughter's WEIRD obsession with Weezer. So weird. Wish I still had the pictures from the experience but they are burried on my other computer and are linked to an old facebook account.

Funnily enough, my great ancestor, George Clymer, one of only 6 to sign both the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, came from Bristol.

Here are the past blogs I have written:

This Day in History v.1: Oxford Street Christmas Lights

This Day in History v.2: Beginning of This Day in History

This Day in History v.3: Paris, France

This Day in History v.4: Chinese New Year

This Day in History v.5: Pancake Day

This Day in History v.6: Berlin, Germany

This Day in History v.7: Ireland

This Day in History v.8: Platform 9 3/4

This Day in History v.9: Croatia

This Day in History v.10: Rome, Italy

This Day in History v.11: Scotland

This Day in History v.12: Stockholm, Sweden

This Day in History v.13: Cinque Terre, Italy

This Day in History v.14: A Look Back at the Beginning

This Day in History v.15: Notting Hill Carnival

This Day in History v.16: The Breakfast Club

This Day in History v.17: Australia Day

This Day in History v.18: Trafalgar Square

This Day in History v.19: Red Telephone Box

This Day in History v.20: Primrose Hill

This Day in History v.21: Look Both Ways

This Day in History v.22: Kings Head Theater

This Day in History v.23: Tower of London

This Day in History v.24: Cambridge, England

This Day in History v.25: Mountbatten

This Day in History v.26: Dorset, England

This Day in History v.27: Canada Gates

This Day in History v.28: Piccadilly Circus

This Day in History v.29: Stonehenge

This Day in History v.30: Guy Fawkes Day

This Day in History v.31: Cultural Sunday
This Day in History v.32: Bath, England
This Day in History v.33: Greenich, England
This Day in History v.34 Portbobello Market
This Day in History v.35: Big Ben

This Day in History v.35

 One of the most iconic sites of London is Big Ben! You may not know that the name "Big Ben" only references the bell in the tower, not the actual clock tower. The clock tower is next to the Parliament and was built in 1858. You can see the London Eye in the background as well!

I just figured out that I could have climbed to the top of the tower and I'm sad I never did this. *Sigh*, the things you wish you would have known! Big Ben has its own website!

 Me in front of the clock

The clock at night! Hannah and I in front of it, along with a double-decker red bus!

Here are the past blogs I have written:

This Day in History v.1: Oxford Street Christmas Lights

This Day in History v.2: Beginning of This Day in History

This Day in History v.3: Paris, France

This Day in History v.4: Chinese New Year

This Day in History v.5: Pancake Day

This Day in History v.6: Berlin, Germany

This Day in History v.7: Ireland

This Day in History v.8: Platform 9 3/4

This Day in History v.9: Croatia

This Day in History v.10: Rome, Italy

This Day in History v.11: Scotland

This Day in History v.12: Stockholm, Sweden

This Day in History v.13: Cinque Terre, Italy

This Day in History v.14: A Look Back at the Beginning

This Day in History v.15: Notting Hill Carnival

This Day in History v.16: The Breakfast Club

This Day in History v.17: Australia Day

This Day in History v.18: Trafalgar Square

This Day in History v.19: Red Telephone Box

This Day in History v.20: Primrose Hill

This Day in History v.21: Look Both Ways

This Day in History v.22: Kings Head Theater

This Day in History v.23: Tower of London

This Day in History v.24: Cambridge, England

This Day in History v.25: Mountbatten

This Day in History v.26: Dorset, England

This Day in History v.27: Canada Gates

This Day in History v.28: Piccadilly Circus

This Day in History v.29: Stonehenge

This Day in History v.30: Guy Fawkes Day

This Day in History v.31: Cultural Sunday
This Day in History v.32: Bath, England
This Day in History v.33: Greenwich, England
This Day in History v.34: Portobello Road

This Day in History v.34

I only visited Portobello Road Market once while I was in London. Too many tourists and it was too hard to get to West London. There were so many different little stalls along Portobello Road and you really can get just about anything you need. I'm not big on sifting through stalls and stuff, so mostly I just wanted to 'check the box' off that I was able to see this historic site. Though I did walk the Notting Hill area when I went to Carnival two years in a row! Now THAT was a completely different experience than the weekly market!

Here are the past blogs I have written:

This Day in History v.1: Oxford Street Christmas Lights

This Day in History v.2: Beginning of This Day in History

This Day in History v.3: Paris, France

This Day in History v.4: Chinese New Year

This Day in History v.5: Pancake Day

This Day in History v.6: Berlin, Germany

This Day in History v.7: Ireland

This Day in History v.8: Platform 9 3/4

This Day in History v.9: Croatia

This Day in History v.10: Rome, Italy

This Day in History v.11: Scotland

This Day in History v.12: Stockholm, Sweden

This Day in History v.13: Cinque Terre, Italy

This Day in History v.14: A Look Back at the Beginning

This Day in History v.15: Notting Hill Carnival

This Day in History v.16: The Breakfast Club

This Day in History v.17: Australia Day

This Day in History v.18: Trafalgar Square

This Day in History v.19: Red Telephone Box

This Day in History v.20: Primrose Hill

This Day in History v.21: Look Both Ways

This Day in History v.22: Kings Head Theater

This Day in History v.23: Tower of London

This Day in History v.24: Cambridge, England

This Day in History v.25: Mountbatten

This Day in History v.26: Dorset, England

This Day in History v.27: Canada Gates

This Day in History v.28: Piccadilly Circus

This Day in History v.29: Stonehenge

This Day in History v.30: Guy Fawkes Day

This Day in History v.31: Cultural Sunday
This Day in History v.32: Bath, England
This Day in History v.33: Greenwich, England

This Day in History v.33

One of the times my mom came to visit, I took her to Greenwich. Now this is a big deal because its SO hard to get to! You have to take the Jubilee line to Canary Warf then the DLR to Greenwich. Quite a pain. Mostly Greenwich is known as the location of the Prime Meridian line (this line divides the world into two hemispheres). It was pretty neat to learn about the history of telling time and learning how people got the time. From my rusty memory, someone had to come from Greenwich into the city yelling the time at certain intervals so people could tell what time it was. Cray-cray.

My mom came on her last visit to London in the summer of 2008. One of our outings, I took her out to Greenwich. I am SO mad that I can't find my pictures from here :/ Maybe they are on my parent's computer or maybe they got lost. Which would be a tragedy, but honestly, my memories are in my head.


While I don't have pictures to prove it, I did straddle this line and actually bent over it!

(source)

Here are the past blogs I have written:

This Day in History v.1: Oxford Street Christmas Lights

This Day in History v.2: Beginning of This Day in History

This Day in History v.3: Paris, France

This Day in History v.4: Chinese New Year

This Day in History v.5: Pancake Day

This Day in History v.6: Berlin, Germany

This Day in History v.7: Ireland

This Day in History v.8: Platform 9 3/4

This Day in History v.9: Croatia

This Day in History v.10: Rome, Italy

This Day in History v.11: Scotland

This Day in History v.12: Stockholm, Sweden

This Day in History v.13: Cinque Terre, Italy

This Day in History v.14: A Look Back at the Beginning

This Day in History v.15: Notting Hill Carnival

This Day in History v.16: The Breakfast Club

This Day in History v.17: Australia Day

This Day in History v.18: Trafalgar Square

This Day in History v.19: Red Telephone Box

This Day in History v.20: Primrose Hill

This Day in History v.21: Look Both Ways

This Day in History v.22: Kings Head Theater

This Day in History v.23: Tower of London

This Day in History v.24: Cambridge, England

This Day in History v.25: Mountbatten

This Day in History v.26: Dorset, England

This Day in History v.27: Canada Gates

This Day in History v.28: Piccadilly Circus

This Day in History v.29: Stonehenge

This Day in History v.30: Guy Fawkes Day

This Day in History v.31: Cultural Sunday
This Day in History v.32: Bath, England

This Day in History v.32

Back in 2007 (and even earlier in 2005) I visited Bath, England. In the South West of England, Bath is mostly known for the Roman Baths that were originally built in 60-70 AD (holy shitznit, right?)

From Wikipedia:

The Roman Baths themselves are below the modern street level. There are four main features: the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman Bath House and the Museum holding finds from Roman Bath. The buildings above street level date from the 19th century.

The Baths are a major tourist attraction and, together with the Grand Pump Room, receive more than one million visitors a year, with 1,037,518 people during 2009. Visitors can see the Baths and Museum but cannot enter the water.

A quaint little town, I could see the charm in living here.

Beautiful view from a hill. 

Liz and I with our flask purchases in a fun little local town.

Here are the past blogs I have written:

This Day in History v.1: Oxford Street Christmas Lights

This Day in History v.2: Beginning of This Day in History

This Day in History v.3: Paris, France

This Day in History v.4: Chinese New Year

This Day in History v.5: Pancake Day

This Day in History v.6: Berlin, Germany

This Day in History v.7: Ireland

This Day in History v.8: Platform 9 3/4

This Day in History v.9: Croatia

This Day in History v.10: Rome, Italy

This Day in History v.11: Scotland

This Day in History v.12: Stockholm, Sweden

This Day in History v.13: Cinque Terre, Italy

This Day in History v.14: A Look Back at the Beginning

This Day in History v.15: Notting Hill Carnival

This Day in History v.16: The Breakfast Club

This Day in History v.17: Australia Day

This Day in History v.18: Trafalgar Square

This Day in History v.19: Red Telephone Box

This Day in History v.20: Primrose Hill

This Day in History v.21: Look Both Ways

This Day in History v.22: Kings Head Theater

This Day in History v.23: Tower of London

This Day in History v.24: Cambridge, England

This Day in History v.25: Mountbatten

This Day in History v.26: Dorset, England

This Day in History v.27: Canada Gates

This Day in History v.28: Piccadilly Circus

This Day in History v.29: Stonehenge

This Day in History v.30: Guy Fawkes Day
This Day in History v.31: Cultural Sunday

This Day in History v.31

One of my favourite things to do in London was walking with Hannah in the city, on what we called "Cultural Sundays". We really did our best to take advantage of living in the city and not be complacent. We pushed our usually hungover bodies out of bed and got in the crisp London air and enjoyed living around the city. We spotted a few interesting things along the way. We usually walked in one direction and would see where it took us. I always carried around my London A to Z maps so just in case we got lost, we could refer to that. That map book was the best 10 pounds I've ever spent in my life. I didn't have enough money for a smart phone back then, so paper map book it was! Here are a few of the pictures of our walks:

A castle in the middle of the city?

London is so pretty in the spring time!

Hannah's straight 'outta Compton!

HAHAHAHAH I had to giggle every time we passed this place!!

Of course we had to play with the red phonebooths!

Strike a pose!

I hope one day this will be me!

Cool clock tower near the park that Hannah envisioned she will get married in one day!

We joked that this was Mary, Mary, and Martha watching over us in Lion form :)

And I'm going to start updating my list with every 5 posts I write about London :) Without much ado, here is the list:
This Day in History v.1: Oxford Street Christmas Lights
This Day in History v.2: Beginning of This Day in History
This Day in History v.3: Paris, France
This Day in History v.4: Chinese New Year
This Day in History v.5: Pancake Day
This Day in History v.6: Berlin, Germany
This Day in History v.7: Ireland
This Day in History v.8: Platform 9 3/4
This Day in History v.9: Croatia
This Day in History v.10: Rome, Italy
This Day in History v.11: Scotland
This Day in History v.12: Stockholm, Sweden
This Day in History v.13: Cinque Terre, Italy
This Day in History v.14: A Look Back at the Beginning
This Day in History v.15: Notting Hill Carnival
This Day in History v.16: The Breakfast Club
This Day in History v.17: Australia Day
This Day in History v.18: Trafalgar Square
This Day in History v.19: Red Telephone Box
This Day in History v.20: Primrose Hill
This Day in History v.21: Look Both Ways
This Day in History v.22: Kings Head Theater
This Day in History v.23: Tower of London
This Day in History v.24: Cambridge, England
This Day in History v.25: Mountbatten
This Day in History v.26: Dorset, England
This Day in History v.27: Canada Gates
This Day in History v.28: Piccadilly Circus
This Day in History v.29: Stonehenge
This Day in History v.30: Guy Fawkes Day

This Day in History v.29

 

Back in 2007 on my first study abroad trip, my group and I went to Stonehenge in England. It was the middle of summer but I remember it being rainy, cold, and extremely windy!!! I guess that's what you get for standing in an open field with nothing but a few stones in a circle! There were a few people doing an archeology dig around one of the stones. Wonder if they ever found anything?

  

Musicals & Shows

My friend Teresa and I are going to see the Addams Family musical tomorrow tonight at the Kennedy Center! I love the Kennedy Center and I loved the movie that came out in the 90s. I'm excited to see how this is turned into a musical! I've seen at least two shows with Teresa (Hairspray in London and Rock of Ages in NYC) and I love that she's so passionate about musicals and love them as much as I do!


Here's a list of the musicals I've seen (I swear there's more but I can't remember):

1. Wicked (4 times!)
2. Billy Elliot
3. Rock of Ages
4. Mamma Mia
5. Radio City Music Hall Rockettes
6. STOMP
7. Hairspray
8. Grease
9. Les Miserables
10. Sweeny Todd
11. Spamalot
12. Avenue Q
13. The Addams Family 
14. Motown

Not necessarily musicals but shows I've seen:

1. Much Ado about Nothing
2. Afrika! Afrika!
3. Riverdance

This Day in History v.28

Piccadilly Circus is CRAY-CRAY. So full of people, life, neon signs, and colors. Its the hustle and bustle that gets me every time. I love being a part of that feeling like I am such a local that I have to rush to get home or work or wherever life is taking me. I don't have time for silly tourists. Ha! There's a big open space in the middle of the jumble of cars. The picture above was taken on the top of a double-decker bus with Hannah while we rode a bus to see the city. Honestly, if you're in London, try to take a bus if you have to go anywhere. Its neat to see the city and you really understand how close some of the tube stations are and how its probably easier to walk!!

According to Wikipedia, Piccadilly Circus was built in 1819 to connect Regent street with Piccadilly. Near Piccadilly Circus are a lot of West End theaters, major shopping areas, and of course high end restaurants.

Pimms & Lemonade

(source)

Now that its officially summertime (not really, its still spring for a few days but this heat makes it feel like summer), let's talk about a quintessentially British summer drink: Pimms and Lemonade.  I first tried this yummy drink while I was visiting Megan while she studied at Oxford. I remember thinking OMG this is soooooo yummy!!! Its a perfect drink to sip at a polo match or at the horse races. Whilst wearing your facinator...duh.

According to its website, here is the history of the famous drink:

London's dandiest city gents loved to partake in oysters and gin. But with its bitter tang, gin was knocked back, not savoured. Enter shellfish-monger James Pimm and his famous central London 'Oyster Bar' in 1823. Patrons soon swallowed oysters with the PIMM'S 'house cup'. Flavoured with liqueurs and fruit extract, this more palatable long drink 'gin-sling' kick-started the great British PIMM'S story.

According to Wikipedia, there were several variations over the years:

Historically, there have been 6 types of Pimm's, each given a number corresponding to a different alcoholic base (gin, scotch whiskey, brandy, rum, rye whiskey and vodka respectively). Only Pimm's Number 1, 3 and 6 are still available.

This Day in History v.27

Me in front of one of my future houses when I marry Prince Harry.

I love doing something or going somewhere and then later finding out how cool it is or some sort of history. Such as here when I snapped this picture of a call box in DC then later found out what it was. Well I took this picture back in 2007 or 2008 when I lived in London and my mom had come to visit. I was reading one of my favourite blogs today, Tired of London, Tired of Life, and found out the significance!  The Canada Gates were given to London by Canada in 1905 and is at the entrance of Green Park. I was inside the park and took this picture.

Right near the gate is the Canada Memorial, erected in 1992, which is a tribute to the 113,663 members of the Canadian Forces killed during World Wars I and II. Thank you Wikipedia!

 The Canada Memorial. Interesting its not called the Canadian Memorial...but what do I know?

So True, Thank You Pintrest

I saw this on pintrest, this is SO SO SO true. That's one of the things I loved about London the most and miss it terribly, British men KNOW.HOW.TO.DRESS. Like OMG I wanted to drool over everyone. Tight fitting, well tailored suits. Not just suits but suspenders (hot), bow ties (super hot), vests (omfg take me home NOW hot). They just get it. They can mix fabrics, patterns, and accessories unlike anything I've ever seen. Unlike (most) American men in their schlumpy suits that are way too big and wtf is up with having a baggy dress shirt?

This Day in History v.26

As part of my Mountbatten programme when I lived in London was taking occasional trips around England. One of our trips was out to Dorset, England. The purpose of the event was to learn about working with different people and personalities via a classroom setting and also do a whole bunch of team building events. We stayed in cabins and did fun things such as singing by the campfire and hiking/sight seeing. What I remember was that it was freaking cold and windy since it was right by the coast. The highlight was really rock climbing along the coast!

Dorset, England is a county in South West England along the English Channel coast. We took a train out to Dorset and took a bus to our cottage out in the country. We saw old castles, old villages, and lots of cows.

The main cottage where we ate

Sitting on the train with my roomie, Nayeli

An old village

We did a bunch of team building events, this one we climbed up a
bunch of logs up a rope having to use each other for help. It was scary
as shit at the top!

Team event. Our team was called "Team Proper"

Maura helped gather twigs for our campfire!

Beginning of a campfire!

Roomies! Beth and Nayeli

Rock climbing! Haleigh helped me out and held my ropes!

Finally reached the top! My hands hurt so badly by the end!

Such pretty landscapes

Cows!!!

An old castle!

Don't let all of these pictures fool you, we did a lot of this too!