Are you a fan of the Pride and Prejudice BBC miniseries from the 90s? The one when Colin Firth first stepped into our lives and made us swoon as Mr. Darcy, long before anyone knew who Bridget Jones was? Well, this weekend, I went to see one of its filming locations: Lyme Park in Cheshire, England. […]
Lyme Park: Home of Mr. Darcy Read More »
I had never heard of the Birmingham Christmas Market until fairly recently — and soon learned that it was the largest Christmas market in the UK. That was enough of a reason for me to go! Birmingham, in the West Midlands region of England, is the second largest city in the UK, and you’ll find
A Day at the Birmingham Christmas Market Read More »
This weekend, I saw the UK’s Strictly Come Dancing for the first time — also known as the original Dancing with the Stars — and found it nearly identical to the American version. Same exact show format, same set, same theme music, same costume styles, similar array of D-list celebrities, some of the same judges (Len Goodman
In Britain, It’s NOT Okay To Be Obese Read More »
Despite all the stereotypes about British food, don’t be fooled — the Brits do comfort food spectacularly well. It’s all about the weather. On the Northumbria coast and country, far up in chilly, wind-swept northeastern England, do you really think the Geordies crave ahi tuna and avocado salads? Again, it’s Northumbria, not southern California. Of
British Culinary Adventures: Making a Steak and Kidney Pie Read More »
I’m in London and riding the tube from one end of the city to the other with my friend Chris, as we’ve done each day that I’ve been here. And each time, I find myself drawn into the map of the London Underground, reading the name of each station. And so I ask Chris the
Would You Name Your Kid After a Subway Station? Read More »
I’m about to air a pet peeve of mine – or pet hate, as the English say. When I come home from England, my close friends ask me, “So, how was London?” After I’ve been back for a while, it turns into, “When are you going back to London?” And after Dave visited me
Surprise! England is NOT the same as London. Read More »
In my quest to immerse myself in all things English, I found myself enjoying a quintessential English activity – betting on the horses at the Chester Races! The city of Chester is perhaps best known for the Chester Races. The Chester Racecourse is the oldest racecourse in Britain, dating back to the 1600s! And while
Winning Big at the Chester Races Read More »
Since my Germany-Austria-Liechtenstein adventure, I’ve returned to the closest thing I have to a home in Europe: my pretty little northern city of Chester, England. It’s been a welcome break. I learned the hard way that I planned WAY too much into too short a time period. I had no idea I would be going
October Travel Plans: Explore the UK! Read More »
Despite my many trips to London, I had never been to the neighborhood of Camden before. It was always high on my list, based on the following factors: 1) It was cool (so I had heard). And 2) Amy Winehouse lived there (RIP). That was enough for me! After arriving in Camden, I was struck
Camden: London’s Most Colorful Neighborhood Read More »
I don’t really geek out over anything, but Harry Potter…if there’s anything over which to geek out, it’s Harry! So when Chris asked me if I had anything I wanted to see in London, from museums to beautiful parks to famous London hotels, I somewhat sheepishly asked, “Can we go to King’s Cross station and
Harry Potter Travel in London: Platform 9 3/4 Read More »