Julie Feb.1

The last two days have been amazing! We started off yesterday with a full English breakfast, then we decided to wander over to Hyde Park. It's just beautiful there and there are TONS of people out running, walking with their familes, just hanging out, and there are many many dogs all running around happy about no leash law. We walked to the fountain area and took some pictures. After that we went on a mission to find Becks some earmuffs because it is C-O-L-D here! They say it's the coldest weekend London's had in 13 years, so I'm pretty sure that gives us bragging rights.

We met up with a friend of mine for a night at the pub and some dinner and we got the lowdown on all the slang and handy hand gestures. For example, calling someone a wanker and a tosser is the same thing, but if you really want to add emphasis, there's a hand gesture you'll want to throw in. It was quite the education. Then Becks & I headed back to our room and had our first really early night...the rest was nice.

This morning we got up and while walking to breakfast, it began to snow....beautiful! Then after breakfast it began to snow much heavier, but it didn't last long. We got back on the bus and headed to Trafalgar Square and we joined in all the Chinese New Year festivities! We had great timing. Trafaglar Square sits at the base of the National Museum, so we had to wander around in there for awhile to thaw out a bit. I got to stand two feet away from an original Monet!!

We had some Chinese food and got our pictures taken with some bobbies, they were very nice. While we were waiting for fireworks to start, we went and rode the Eye (the giant ferris wheel) and crossed a bridge, I think it was the Westminster Bridge but I'm not positive. We watched the sun set over the Houses of Parliament. While we were at the top of the Eye, a huge snow flurry came in and got some nice weather. Becks is shooting video of everything so the snow is showing up much better for her versus my still pictures. While we were trying to find a garbage can, we kept seeing these large, shiny black things on the sidewalks, er I mean on the pavement, and Becks asked a guy if that was a garbage...he looked at her like she was crazy and said, "That's an electrical housing!" Then she tried to get a taxi to take us back to Trafalgar and he just looked at her like she was crazy and said, "No!" As is she had asked him if he was a woman or something....hehe. Lots of crusty old men over here....

The fireworks ended up not lasting long at all, about a minute. We walked back to a restaurant we had been eying for dinner and had a traditional Sunday roast dinner. It was delicious. We're trying lots of new drinks and desserts and so far we have not come across anything we didn't like. After dinner we took a cab to Soho...that's where all the table dancing happens ;) After I got Becky off the table, we walked over to Chinatown and the snow REALLY started to come down....it looked like a blizzard. Everyone was running in the streets having snowball fights, it was fabulous.

Then we took a cab back to the Hyde Park area so we could come write this just for you! I think after this we'll go wander around Queensway a bit. Apparently I snore when I've had a couple drinks, so Becks wants me to get pissed so she can videotape me later....see what kind of person I'm traveling with?? For tomorrow we're debating on taking a train out to York to see some snowy countryside and a castle, or if we want to stay local and visit the Chelsea and Camden areas, which we're heard are wonderful....we'll keep you updated!

Oh and Sue, we've decided to put together an outfit for you...you're going to LOVE it! Hehe....