Brooke Townsend: Blog: London: May 2012

I live to travel. Anywhere! Just to explore & document my journey. I really do. To open myself up to an entire culture that is different than my own. I want to be able to visit more places that challenge my comfort zone to an even greater depth than England ever could. After all, there are MANY similarities between our cultures! To see places like Iceland, New Zealand, Australia, Europe, even Africa. Trek through South America, Mexico, Easter Island. See Cambodia, Japan, China, Indonesia. I hope to be able to visit all of such places instead of just dreaming about them. But, I don't see it to be entirely impossible as free as my spirit needs to fly.

But speaking of traveling... during my recent trip to England, the hubby and I were lucky enough to visit one of the world's best cities.

London! Such a magnificent place. And how much it has improved since I was there last! Their streets are cleaner. Air healthier. Trains and underground all on time (that I experienced) if not a few minutes early. Things being rebuilt, added on, and such a deep liveliness that didn't exist quite as much before. I suppose it's all in good time for the Olympics. ;) Walking around, I had to keep my bags light since we were 2 hours away from home. Last thing I needed was to be pick-pocketed on an train! So, I only brought my 50D, and my main lens (72mm 3.4) Here are some of my favorites from the day.

Got to see one of my favorite artists, Vincent Van Gogh, displayed here at the National Gallery. Seeing his paintings up close as well as Monet and some other impressionists was truly breath-taking.

Got to see the Phantom of the Opera play here at Her Majesty's theatre.

Paul and I often like to pretend we are pirates sailing the 7 seas. My favorite part of this photo is the random Englishman who looks unhappy in the bottom right corner lol.