TravelStream™ news feed for member j-eunit on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/j-eunit en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:04:39 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/7/1238731200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/7/1238731200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/7/1238731200/tpod.html Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:04:39 -0400 Love Blooms in London

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London, England, United Kingdom

The grouchies encroached as we rolled our luggage bumpily across the brick sidewalks of London from Victoria Station to our hotel, The Reubens at the Palace, located across the street from the Mews at Buckingham Palace. Luckily, however, the concierge, after relieving us of our load, graciously offered a nearly ready room, and all we had to do was kill a little time at breakfast while waiting.

The spread within the hotel's restaurant beckoned forth...chewy sausage, Earl Grey tea, pan au chocolat, omelets and croissants...mmmm, breakfast never fortified me so much as it did on this day of our arrival to London. After indulging ourselves, we traversed a flight of stairs to our beautiful room decorated in a capital theme. I immediately thrust myself onto the fluffy king sized bed, longing for a snooze, but knowing much better than to give in to the temptation. After unloading our luggage and freshening up, we ventured into the bustling city.

The roar of traffic and clack of footsteps treading the cobbled earth intimidated me at first; every woman wrapped beneath flowing scarves, every man adorned in smart jackets and fine leather boots. Yet it did not take long for us to find our footing, joining in the dance in step with all who were at that moment the people of London.

My first trip on the Underground enthralled me, as it signaled that I was far from home, on foreign soil, yet soil that would not long be foreign to my heart. We arrived near the Tower of London, and followed a female beefeater as she told the tales of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. We gazed at the glass sculpture erected in the memory of those assassinated within the Tower walls, and I pondered in wonderment over the poignancy of this place...it is not just a story that a woman married a man who divorced his wife, and was found wanting by this man, and killed for treason...it is not a fairy tale or horror story. It is true; it is life. It happened, and it happened here in this spot beneath the glass pillow; the blood of the only partially guilty soiled terra firma.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/7/1249570169/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/7/1249570169/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/7/1249570169/tpod.html Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:03:09 -0400 Love Blooms in London

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London, England, United Kingdom

We began our day with a trot across the street to The Mews at Buckingham Palace. What did I learn? Well, a mews is a place for birds, rather than horses, but this mews has become the home to the royal carriage pullers. We saw some of the white gray horses that have been used to pull the queen's carriage, as well as many royal carriages. I enjoyed the fact that the royal color painted on all of the vehicles is a maroon, which almost looks black, but isn't.

I shopped in the gift shop and purchased a little make up bag for my mother, and then we stopped for lunch at a neighboring restaurant. I ate myself into lethargy, which was quite fine because my husband was leaving this afternoon to watch a West Ham football game, so I had plenty of time to snooze.

We intended on taking the Jack, The Ripper walking tour this evening, but since some tube stations were closed, it took Phil quite a while to get back to the hotel, so instead, we walked around the Palace, and admired the Victoria Monument. I pondered over what life she must have lived to be so revered by the people of England to this day.

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/8/1247918559/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/8/1247918559/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/8/1247918559/tpod.html Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:17:36 -0400 To Charleston

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Concord, North Carolina, United States

On the whole this brief weekend getaway was just the antidote to the grief I had been feeling over my grandmother's passing. The bright colors of stucco exteriors, as well as the palm leaves rustling in the summer breeze lifted my spirits, if only for a little while. The low country flavors and historic sites warmed me, and enticed me with an invitation to return as soon as I possibly can.

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/8/1247918572/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/8/1247918572/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/8/1247918572/tpod.html Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:29:15 -0400 To Charleston

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Charleston, South Carolina, United States

We began our morning with a refreshing brunch at 82 Queen. The ambiance of this eatery engulfed us in romance. We were asked whether we would like to dine inside or out, and as the weather was balmy and beautiful, we opted for the courtyard experience. We were seated in a little alcove among trees and shrubbery at a table for two with sea shell backed chairs. I ordered the quiche of the day, while my husband ordered an omelet and we thoroughly enjoyed the low country cuisine. My favorite element of the meal was my delicious pomegranate mimosa.

After filling our bellies, we strolled along the historic downtown of Charleston, eavesdropping on the speeches of the carriage tour guides, as we took pictures of the beautifully quaint architecture and inhaled the fragrance of summer in this historic city.

Finally, we left Charleston to visit Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. This establishment is still owned by the original family, who were benevolent slave holders, as the founder, Reverend Drayton, built a school on his grounds for his slave children, and continued to employ his former slaves even after the Civil War. We toured the plantation home, the farmhouse, as the family calls it, and the gardens surrounding the vintage home. My favorite garden was the Biblical Garden, which grew plants referred to throughout scripture, examples of which are the fig plant and the grapevine.

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/8/1248004983/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/8/1248004983/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/8/1248004983/tpod.html Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:36:31 -0400 To Charleston

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Charleston, South Carolina, United States

We made it to Charleston at about 1 P.M. We checked into the beautiful Marriott Charleston, and ate a nice light lunch at Saffire within the hotel. I ordered the soup of the day and a rosemary parmesan flatbread, which were quite delicious!

From there, we drove into the historic downtown, so that we could board the ferry boat that took us to Fort Sumpter National Monument, the locale upon which the first shots of the Civil War were fired. The Civil War nearly destroyed the fort, but what remains is a memorial to the men who lived there and fought for what they thought was best.

After visiting the national historic site, we returned to the hotel to freshen up for dinner. We at ate a charming Italian restaurant called Mercato. We split a bottle of wine, an Italian vintage, and we ate a pasta dish with ground veal, which satisfied our hungry stomachs. A live jazz band played tunes from the American Songbook, which radiated an ambiance of relaxed culture.

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/8/1248005001/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/8/1248005001/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/8/1248005001/tpod.html Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:36:06 -0400 To Charleston

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Concord, North Carolina, United States

I could not sleep last night. I just got home from a trip to New Orleans to bid my grandmother farewell, as she passed away this past week, and the anxiety surrounding this event inhibited my ability to snooze. My husband originally set our alarm clock for 6:45, so that we could get a nice head start on our road trip, but when I tossed and turned, he adjusted the alarm to give me more sleep, thereby postponing our early arrival in Charleston. During the 4 hour road trip, I slept about 2.5 hours...possibly more. I hope my inability to sleep does not preclude our enjoyment of this romantic American city!

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/1/1245785861/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/1/1245785861/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/1/1245785861/tpod.html Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:44:21 -0400 Ah! Paris, someday we'll meet again!

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Paris, France

I absolutely hate to say goodbye to Paris! I have fallen in love with this city, and I hope with all my heart to return again someday, with Philip at my side once more, to ascend the stairs of the Eiffel Tower, eat a chocolate crepe on a Parisian Street, to watch the sun set from the towers of the Notre Dame Cathedral, and to explore the nooks and crannies of the city that we overlooked this time around.

Ah! Paris. This is not goodbye...this is merely so long, for now, until we meet again!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/1/1245785048/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/1/1245785048/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/1/1245785048/tpod.html Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:36:59 -0400 Ah! Paris, someday we'll meet again!

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Paris, France

Our last day in Paris, and what should we do?

Although we have already climbed the towers of Notre Dame, we have yet to see its interior grace, so that is the very first thing on our list of things to do.

The rose windows, filtering out rainbow colored light, beams peering down upon the checkerboard tile of this medieval cathedral, enclaves with ceilings painted a royal blue, adorned with golden stars, wooden sculptures affixed to religious furnishings, reminders of faith adhered to generation after generation. We lit a candle. We said a prayer, clinging to one another, fortifying one another in affirming faith of this act, this luminescent that would proceed to burn even after our footsteps were wiped away beneath the tread of others.

Then, we spent our final Parisian afternoon sitting in iron seats within the Luxembourg Gardens. Together, we reminisced over the romance and idyllic ambiance of the city, planning an unknown return.

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/7/1238679979/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/7/1238679979/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/7/1238679979/tpod.html Sun, 07 Jun 2009 09:51:34 -0400 Love Blooms in London

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Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Headed to London-town! I am prepared for a night of little sleep and much discomfort, but it will all be worth it in the morning when we arrive at Gatwick Airport. Turbulence?! I can handle it! The light from the passenger behind me who won't even attempt to sleep?! Well, it is a bit annoying, but I can sleep through it! I am going to London, baby, and there is very little that is going to spoil my jubilation!

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/6/1230993394/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/6/1230993394/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/j-eunit/6/1230993394/tpod.html Sun, 07 Jun 2009 09:41:21 -0400 Staycation 2008

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Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

After enjoying some of the attractions offered in our hometown, my husband spent precious time and energy installing wood floors into our guest bedroom. He invested his sweat and brawn morning after morning over the course of this staycation, and I appreciate him so much for this! Now, we can offer a warm abode to family members as they sojourn from Louisiana to North Carolina.

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