Reflections

I'm sitting here in my final hotel, watching yet another European sunset. This time, however, it's over a Heathrow runway rather than some ancient site, port city, or modern marvel. Sad day.

Anyhoo, here's just a few reflections from off the top of my head. No doubt more will be coming once I'm no longer limited by the 15 min time limit of the lounge's free computers.

• I'm currently sitting here sipping peppermint tea. I'm definitely going to miss the masses of tea. Everywhere. All the time. In every flavor imaginable. Served with lots of good treats like scones and whatever this piece of chocolate-y wonderfulness I'm eating right now is.

• I've realized it's probably good that I won't be spending more time on Oxford Street. I think I've given H&M their annual profit already. I LOVE LOVE LOVE London fashion. Walking down the street... it's just incredible. I've already bought things that I'm thinking.... will I really dare wear this in Lincoln, Nebraska? If I stayed here I'd join the ranks of lace, leggings, and colorful hair. I'm already tempted to chop it all off again once I'm home...

• I've probably gained 10 pounds on this trip, despite quite literally wearing out my brand new shoes walking everywhere. However, the good news is, I'll probably lose it immediately upon coming home, seeing as how I'm going to be cooking for myself. A dangerous prospect, but the second bit of good news is that I'll probably be too broke to afford food. I'll bake masses of cookies to whomever will come cook me a steak.

• I've loved not having a cellphone. I just took out my Blackberry to charge it for the flight home, and it felt so... foreign. It's also been nice not compulsively checking facebook/email/twitter since I've been laptop-less for 3 weeks.

• The tube! Oh, public transport. What a love/hate relationship we have!

• Theater has been a huge part of this trip. I love love love live theater. Phantom of the Opera has been the highpoint of my trip, and I can't wait to see it again next time I'm in town. The soundtrack on my iPod has been on 24/7 since the show, I think. I also attended Chicago (I wasn't impressed), and Wicked (I WAS impressed). I only regret that I wasn't able to go to a proper opera, but the only tickets I could find started at 160 pounds! I'll definitely be taking better advantage of the Lied back home. Who wants to come with?

• I'll miss British cursing! Bloody wankers! ;-)

• I've discovered I'm an excellent city-walker. I weave, dodge, and duck like a pro. I even kept finding myself getting mad at the "tourists" who didn't know how to walk right. And I must have looked like I knew what I was doing even if I didn't! I got asked for directions at least twice a day, and could almost always answer them! Even in Spanish once down in the tube!

Well, my fifteen minutes are up. And seeing as my bus leaves at 4:23 tomorrow morning, I should probably get to bed. I learned my lesson in Greece... I'll be getting more than 15 minutes of sleep before this next set of flights. ;-)

Cheers, and see you all soon.