slides, markets, and wax

its hard to believe i've already been in london for 2 weeks - time is going by really quickly! more unbelievable is that its been almost a month since i was in Ghana - it seems like another life ago now being in London - such a different world.

So this past week started with stonehenge, which was really impressive to see as well as other historical sites I didn't know very much about. we did a classic morning tea in Lescesiter square and some shopping - which i find almost impossible when i convert our little weak canadian dollar from the pound - ouch! I managed to get out for a run along the thames and definitly felt my lack of exercise the past few weeks... but found a great route to take. friday we went to the tate modern to check out the "slides" which start from the 2nd 3rd and 4th floors... twirling the whole way down. they were pretty cool - and fun. you sitck your legs in a potatoe sack and go for it!

































we did another round at borough market - the food there is so delicious... Then Saturday we made our way to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. It was cool to see - but really crowded and with a 25 pound child and backpack makes it a bit of a challenge! But there were a lot of really impressive celeberty and historical figures that were cool to see, and we stumbled apon the Sherlock Holmes house on our way out.




















































Sunday we strolled through Hyde Park after checking out the Victoria & Albert Museum. Went by Kensington palace (which the tour we had done the previous week was really dissapointing) and sand mary poppins "lets go fly a kite" as jenna got her first crack and flying her Dora Kite.

st patricks in london

so this past week in london was fantastic - in just 7 days i have seen and done so much! st patricks day here was slightly dissapointing... not quite as big a deal as i had anticipated, but still had a good time going out for a beer with the boss! (who is awesome) today we took a tour up to stonehenge which was really cool to see - but so cold that took away from the enjoyment.

Stonehenge...


































picadilly circus on st. patty's sunday for the parade

poppins

so my first week in London England really coudln't have gone much better. the flat is really nice and in a fantastic location - 15 minute walk to the thames, 5 to the waterloo tube station. the family im living with/working for is great; the mom Nicole is so easy going and fun, and the kids are sweet and really cute. they are really active and every day we take off in the morning to explore a new part of the city... London Eye, St. Pauls Cathedral, Princess Diana Park, James Park, Camden Market, & Borough Market...

the only glitch with pictures is this computer is a mac, and well - its like learning how to use a computer all over again! haha but here are some to peak at..

st. pauls...















at the top of st pauls with jenna on my back...

















mr. gavin...

















Ghanaian and English Flags blowing side by side - for the celebration of Ghana's 50th anniversary of independance.. from them!

















Jenna and I in the London Eye - getting a birds eye view of the city!

London Calling!

SO... I'm finally in London, After a quick 6 days, yes thats it 6, to convert from developing world Ghana to upper class expensive London. I was desperate to get off the plane, after 3 8 hour flights in under a week i was so tired of airports and plane food! haha, but i'm here and so happy with how things are going so far.

the flat is small, but very cute. and after a recent flood was totally refinished so quite new and clean! i get my own room which is nice, but only has a blow up bed until march 28th... but compared to sleeping in hot weather with a bug net it feels deluxe! the location is amazing.. 10 minute walk from waterloo station and 15 to the water. the family is so welcoming and fun... the kids are full of energy and always entertaining!

Today we went on the London Eye to get a birds eye view of the city... perfect weather made for a fantastic view and great pictures. Then we went up to trafalgar quare and up to James park where the streets were filled with ghanaian flags! there had been recent celebrations for the 50th anniversary - it was so nice to see the flags everywhere, but made me miss ghana.

Either way, great first day and looking forward to many more! I will get pictures up soon - the computer is a mac, and well its like learning computers all over again,

home for a rest...

I arrived back in Canada today after a 22 hour long 2 plane trip from Accra, Lagos, Frankfurt and finally Vancouver. I have never been so happy to see the rainy clouds of the west coast... it definitly felt like home. But I am also noticing that home doesn't feel the same as it did when i left, and that after my experience in Ghana it never will. The past 2 months have been both incredible and eye opening experience... I can't wait to go back, because as cheezy as I thought it sounded when someone first said it to me "Africa takes a piece of your heart," and now it has a part of mine,

many pictures to come soon... now to my first non-bug net sleep in 2 months!