London's Calling

It always starts on the plane ride home. Maybe it's the head in the clouds aura that inspires endeavors of higher altitude.

After the trip home from Italy, I wrote my first published post, When In Rome. Coming home from Israel this past Sukkos is what inspired the Rosé Attaché website full throttle. A piece I had submitted to a national magazine had just been accepted for publication, but I knew that feeling of being able to write was something I wanted to pursue regardless of the approval of an official publication.

Now returning from a trip of a lifetime (so they keep telling me ;) a combination of history, culture, growth and plain old girl in a foreign country fun. I am inspired again.

London and Paris I was coming for you.

The first thing I have to say is thank you. Coming home, safe, from a trip abroad - feeling fulfilled nonetheless is something I am immensely grateful for.

The adventure started in London. Big Ben, Buckingham, and Harrods were the classic allures, but I didn't realize quite how charming England can be.

Hats off the Uber drivers right off the bat; if you want to plan a fantastic trip- sans before takeoff plans, hop into an Uber. The locals are more than happy to share their country loves.

In Brit fashion, I was equipped to go to the most smashing pubs and clubs London has to offer; fancy yourself a Guinness?

But in all seriousness, no one knows a country better then it's locals (don't ask me any q’s about New York landmarks though... I've yet to visit many a monument in my hometown. Restaurants not included.) While both the Uber drivers in London and France where tour guides par excellence (the London Uber went around the block so we could drive across the street the Beatles walked past) the discrepancy is this; London Uber's are excellent conversationalist and guide enthusiasts. The French Uber's offered beyond beautiful playlists. Think driving through the Champs-Élysées listening to a mix of classical and fresh music. The French have great taste in American classical music as well, not Beethoven classic like, 1970's- this is how they learn English. Music 1 Duolingo 0- though I won't discount this app- many of the key phrases came in very handy.

In France you can get by on, Merci, Bonjour/Bonsoir, Deux (as in diet coca-cola Deaux, S'il Vous plaît), femme (female) baguette, boulangerie and just knowing the destination of where you want to go. Also, don't get scared off when you say “Merci” and they respond with “Vous êtes le Bienvenu” (your welcome) for some reason this expression was never referenced in all the French-inspired Disney classics. I thought I was being engaged in conversation! Sacré bleu!…more on Paris later.

The most beautiful part of any trip is to be in sync with your travel companion, to both be on the same page in terms of when to hop on/off the bus, leave the exhibit and walk one more block to see that famous monument is a blessing in itself.

Like I said, much wasn't planned, there was a loose itinerary based on must-see landmarks; it's so easy to access information nowadays. I was part of a WhatsApp travel chat that lent exponential insight, as does general conversation with people, you never know who's been where :)

England is Charming. The mannerism with which Brits communicate is indeed more polite and well mannered. We saw "Big Ben" (in construction), the "London Eye' "(it's simply a Ferris wheel, right?) and were fortunate to hop off the bus at the "Tower of London" this is where the royal "Crown Jewels" are housed. I was expecting to see rows of tiaras, ornate brocades, necklaces…very princess diaries 2 the closetesque. It was more formal; there were jewelry jewels, but it was primarily ornaments and ceremonial regalia that have significance merely by being around since the 1100's; the coronation spoon is the oldest artifact housed in the Crown Jewels.

Harrods was a must-see, in all honesty, nothing beats NYC shopping on Madison Ave, and in truth, my budget doesn't change, affording clothes from Harrods is like walking into Saks Fifth Ave #justbrowsing, those dresses though…

I mentioned that London's mannerism is more polite right? Here is a fun fact that depicts that. The station that used to connect London to Paris used to be Waterloo Station. The Brits felt terrible that every time a Parisian should visit, they would be reminded on Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, (1815), so the station was moved to London's St. Pancras Station, that Eurostar connects to Paris Gare du Nord.