Stockholm with the Parents

It was nice, last week, to find my parents huddled under a shop awning in Canterbury city center. Their arrival was such a funny reminder of home: my mom in three layers of fleece, Dad griping about wearing the fanny pack. My parents in the UK.

 We did fun "Canterbury Things"-- walked around the Cathedral, ate at Tiny Tim's, took the boat tour in the canal.

And once departing that sweet hamlet, Canters, we took a more ambitious trip....

 to Stockholm Sweden.

Unfortunately we were doused with a good bit of rain and cold, and we even had to withdraw the first night and settle for hot chocolate and James Bond (Sean Connery) on T.V.

That being said we saw some pretty amazing museums, the Drink and Spirits one had countless peices just on Vodka... and they were really really good.

forgive the glare

taking pictures of pictures, so bad, so guilty

I can't say exactly what Stockholm is like. London and Paris are unmistakably themselves. But Stockholm? It sort of reminded me of London, but there was definitely the Scandanavian/nautical/troll element to it, and perhaps because of the rich yellow red buildings and exotic curvy spires, I also saw more Eastern Europe in it, like Bulgaria.

love those guys

And luckily I got to spend a couple days in London before returning to school. We saw some big shows,

 but the real star apart from the West End, was The Club Lounge.

 I knew staying at the Marriot could be luxurious-- but this? Complimentary food, drink, JACK DANIELS. I suggested making a vacation of just the lounge but Mum and Papa somehow wanted to see London.

And it's a good thing we did! Our first day back we wandered over to Portabello Road. And no it hasn't changed much since Bed Knobs and Broomsticks.

It was really fun to explore the street, look for that stinking Notting Hill book shop (never found it!) and duck into a gorgeous thai restaurant for lunch. It was also my first chance to walk around posh London neighborhoods. Who doesn't want to live here?

In keeping with our love of boat tours, one of the last things I got to do in London was ferry down the foggy River Thames. Everything about and along the Thames gives me goosebumps.

The eventful four days quickly passed, and I finally had to say goodbye to Mom and Dad at the bus station and return back to my home of sorts.

I never imagined Canterbury would be a place familiar enough to feel like "going home" but there it is.

For now I need to remember I have actual school work to do (say whhhhat?) and what the heck is Halloween going to be like here????

Thanks for the great time together Mom and Dad!