I started with several days in Oxford, attending a big social entrepreneurship conference. I felt so lucky to be there - the World Forum is the biggest, most prestigious event in my field. There were about 800 people there and it's a veritable who's who of government, for-profit, nonprofit and academic leaders. I was amongst my own personal rock stars the whole week - and was seriously geeking out the whole time :)
I didn't take many pics but here is one of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. His accomplishments speak for themselves, but he was also the cutest man with this ridiculously infectious laugh. So cool.
I didn't take many pics but here is one of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. His accomplishments speak for themselves, but he was also the cutest man with this ridiculously infectious laugh. So cool.
After the conference ended, Brad flew out and met me for what I lovingly termed "vacation/torture". We took the train from Oxford to London, spent 2 days in London, took the train from London to Paris (the chunnel!), then 2.5 days in Paris, then the long flights home. It was chaos. We did so much that it was a total blur and I was literally in pain at the end of the day from all the walking and running around. Here's a quick recap ...
London
Spending some quality time with Kate and Wills before their wedding :)
Chilling with the lions in Trafalgar Square. Unfortunately, the fountains in the Square were not running - Brad was not pleased!
and I'm sure there were more things (the Royal Palace, gardens, a night out to see a play...), but for the life of me, I cannot remember them all!
Then on to Paris...
Of course, we spent a bunch of time at the Louvre, spectacular building and some amazing works of art. We also went to Musee d'Orsay but no pictures from there
Basilica Sacre Coeur - amazing views of all of Paris, after another hefty climb that is!
A trek out to Versailles, which was totally worth it to see the over the top opulence (and make fun of the crazy tourists!)
Can't talk about Paris without some pics of the Eiffel Tower - by day and night
Multiple visits to the Arc d'Triomph to get the perfect photo
Rodin museum including "the Thinker"
And a final stop at Notre Dame the morning that we left the country.
Phew! I seriously needed a vacation recover from that vacation!
Chilling with the lions in Trafalgar Square. Unfortunately, the fountains in the Square were not running - Brad was not pleased!
View from the Tower of London - we liked the juxtaposition of the old vs new architecture
Westminster Abbey
The London Eye - which we rode on the first night we got to town, and someone proposed to his girlfriend in our car! I still think he should have sprung for a private car, rather than propose in front of 10 random strangers, but I guess it was still cute.
Tower Bridge (commonly mistaken to be the London Bridge which is slightly down river)
St. Paul's Cathedral - including a crazy climb all the way to the top for a view of the city. Then a walk across the bridge to take pics from the other side.
The British Museum and the National Gallery
Westminster Abbey
The London Eye - which we rode on the first night we got to town, and someone proposed to his girlfriend in our car! I still think he should have sprung for a private car, rather than propose in front of 10 random strangers, but I guess it was still cute.
Tower Bridge (commonly mistaken to be the London Bridge which is slightly down river)
St. Paul's Cathedral - including a crazy climb all the way to the top for a view of the city. Then a walk across the bridge to take pics from the other side.
The British Museum and the National Gallery
and I'm sure there were more things (the Royal Palace, gardens, a night out to see a play...), but for the life of me, I cannot remember them all!
Then on to Paris...
Of course, we spent a bunch of time at the Louvre, spectacular building and some amazing works of art. We also went to Musee d'Orsay but no pictures from there
Basilica Sacre Coeur - amazing views of all of Paris, after another hefty climb that is!
A trek out to Versailles, which was totally worth it to see the over the top opulence (and make fun of the crazy tourists!)
Can't talk about Paris without some pics of the Eiffel Tower - by day and night
Multiple visits to the Arc d'Triomph to get the perfect photo
Rodin museum including "the Thinker"
And a final stop at Notre Dame the morning that we left the country.
Phew! I seriously needed a vacation recover from that vacation!
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