A Weekend of Training (TGV and Eurostar)!

This is my 100th post! cool!

It's Monday and I don't work until 4pm...yippee! I got home late last night from a weekend in London. It was really great.
But first...
Friday I went to Bordeaux on the TGV...about 4 hours...1st CLASS! My bosses sent me so all expense paid! It was really relaxing and nice to read, sleep, etc. THEN I waited in the train station for 2 hours...had myself a nice lunch and wine...then the kids' grandma came and dropped off the 2 little munchkins...so Tiphaine, Matt, and I got BACK on the train...to return to Paris! So I spent all day in the train...and thankfully there were 2 little girls sitting right in front of us, so they all played together, making it less 'work' for me to entertain the kids...it was a little challenging to keep the kids calm, quiet, etc...but we got up a couple times to use the restroom and buy drinks at the 'bar'...so that was okay. Don't worry, just fruit juice!

Saturday morning Ashley and I met at the station at 6 a.m. and made our way to Gare du Nord...where we caught the train to London! It was a bit chilly, and cloudy...and drizzled off and on. But we had fun taking the "orginal red bus tour" around the city. We saw Big Ben, Westminister Abbey, The London Eye, Trafalgar Square, The London Tower, London Bridge, and Buckingham Palace. I had fun taking pictures!
Later that night I met up with my two Delta Gamma sisters, Ashley and Breanne. We got ready for the night and then went to a great little Mexican restaurant in Leicester square. After great food and 2 pitchers of margaritas, we were ready for the club! We were on the guest list into a cool place called "ChinaWhite" in Picadilly square. The club was all decorated and styled in an Asian theme, and there were two separate areas with techno-type music and then hip-hop. It was SO MUCH FUN to be in a place that had good music and dancing (my type) and to be with some of my friends and dance.

Sunday I ventured back to Buckingham Palace to get a better view and be right there in the front by the black and gold gates. It was really pretty! It was kind of surreal to be standing there....with the guards in front of the palace. There was a pretty rainbow in the sky...so I got some neat photos. I met a nice girl from New Zealand that was also by herself, so we started chatting.
Then I went to Notting Hill, and I OFFICIALLY LOVE IT AND WANT TO LIVE THERE WHEN I'M WEALTHY! It was soooo adorable. I loved the neighborhood. There were adorable little colorful houses...cute little cars...and then bigger, cream colored houses that were so English looking. Some of it reminded me of San Francisco too. There was a great market street on Portobello Road. GREAT little shops and markets...antiques, funky clothes, shoes, jewelry, coffee and tea houses. People were all around walking and shopping. I tried to find the "Travelbook Shop" from the movie, Notting Hill, but no luck. (I know it was there somewhere, but I must have overlooked it). Walking around the area I could definitely see the movie in my head...so now I want to watch it again!
If I ever go back to London (which I know I will one day) I will want to go back to Notting Hill.

By the end of Notting Hill my feet were tired so I headed to the train station to relax for about 90 minutes before my train back to Paris.

So now I'm here....looking at the calendar and realizing how few work weeks I have left. I have quite a bit of free time as well so I'll be planning something else (whether in Paris, or elsewhere). I can't wait to see my Dad and Carolyn!
Knowing that I'm coming home in 2 months makes work a little bit easier....no need for frustration or feeling tired...it's all about staying positive with everyone and making the most of my remaining time here!