I braved the rather shady neighborhood our flat is located in for a 3.0 mile run this afternoon.  The best part was I kept seeing people stumbling out of nightclubs at 2:30 PM!  I know people in London party hard, but that’s ridiculous (OK, not going to lie, the last time I was in London, I stayed at a club until 6 AM…. but 2:30 PM!? Yikes!).

 

I did 3.0 miles in 29:00 minutes.  It was COLD – about 35 degrees – but fun! 

 

Once I returned to the flat, the Husband suggested we go to the Natural History Museum.  I’m not a fan of art museums, but I just love natural history and science museums.  Grabbed a banana on the way out the door:

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And once we arrived at the Underground, I bought a vegetable-stuffed pastry… which I’m sure wasn’t very healthy, but tasted amazing.

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We also shared this candy bar – how come the Brits get such good chocolate, and we get stuff that doesn’t even contain cocoa?

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We didn’t go to the museums last time we were in London, so I was really looking forward to the experience.  I gasped when we came up on the building – it was SO beautiful!  The museum is a giant work of art in itself!

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Dinosaurs, mammals, insects, OH MY!

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My favorite part of the museum was the Minerals display area, which housed tons of rocks, meteors, gemstones, and other pretty, sparkling things.  🙂

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“The Vault” held all the very, very precious stones (think big $$$!), like this meteorite from Mars!

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After the museum staff literally kicked us out, we walked down the road until we found an Indian restaurant that looked appealing. 

 

I was craving red wine (odd – you guys know I usually opt for beer!).  I asked the Husband to order me something; he knows what I like better than I know what I like!  🙂

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We ordered Vegetable Korma and Misti Kodu, which was a curry made with PUMPKIN!  We split both, as well as garlic nan and rice.

 

My portion (sorry for the slightly blurry picture; the restaurant was cramped and part of the problem with the lens I use is you have to be able to step back to get good food pictures – grr):

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We’re calling it an early night.  The Husband doesn’t feel quite recovered from the excitement of last night, and I could use a good night sleep, too.  I’m currently sipping hot peppermint tea and enjoying being inside.

 

Although England is awesome, here is a list of things I miss about home:

 

  • Maggie and James (I’m getting to the point where I start to get weepy if I think about them too long!)
  • Talking to my parents on the phone
  • Talking to my BFFs Sarah and Lauren on the phone
  • Running in warm weather with Megan
  • My own bed
  • A dishwasher
  • Working… I know it’s strange to say that I miss working, but I’m really excited to get home and tackle the revisions to the Operation Beautiful book and the newest freelance project I’ll be working on.

 

Good night!

{ 52 comments }

 

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is January 1, 2010, 3:56 pm

    What a fun day! I never wanted to travel to England but after tihs trip I really want to! I would miss talking to my parents, too.

  • Kristin (runningsongs) January 1, 2010, 4:00 pm

    The rocks and minerals are ALWAYS the best part!

    Signed, A Geologist 🙂

  • Paige (Running Around Normal) January 1, 2010, 4:06 pm

    Aww, such a fun day! That’s crazy you saw people coming out of bars in the afternoon from NYE! Craziness!
    That museum sounds awesome.

  • KatieF January 1, 2010, 4:10 pm

    I lovvvvvve Crunchie bars! We have family friends from England and when I was a kid whenever they visited home they used to bring some back for me because I liked them so much. Huge wave of nostalgia there for me! 🙂

  • RJ January 1, 2010, 4:14 pm

    I love the Natural History museum! I was in London at the start of December and its looked even better than usual with all the Xmas decor. So glad you are having a good time. We arranged the particularly cold and snowy weather just for you!

  • Danielle (Coffee Run) January 1, 2010, 4:17 pm

    2:30 pm?? That’s…insane lol. I love museums! (I’m a dork). Looks like a good time 🙂

  • Leena January 1, 2010, 4:25 pm

    Crunchie bars are my absolute FAVORITE chocolate bars! Real Cadbury chocolate is so much better than the “fake” Hershey brand we’ve got over here! I wish the Brits would share the US!

  • Madeline @ GreensAndJeans January 1, 2010, 4:27 pm

    No matter how wonderful your trip is, it’s always great to get back home! Crunchie bars are SO good and they are impossible to find here in the states!

  • Lauren January 1, 2010, 4:41 pm

    I just ran two miles in 14 degree weather! with the windchill, it felt like only 1 degree, though. 35 degrees sounds nice! hehe.

    so why did you guys get kicked out of the museum? it looks amazing!

    • caitlin January 1, 2010, 5:10 pm

      it closed 🙂

  • Heather @ The Joyful Kitchen January 1, 2010, 5:08 pm

    What a beautiful museum! I actually enjoy running in cold weather; for some reason if I don’t sweat too much it makes me feel like I can go for longer…? Have a lovely rest of the evening!

  • Sana January 1, 2010, 5:15 pm

    I hope you enjoy your vacy! You will be back to the “normal” life in noo time :)!

  • Laura January 1, 2010, 5:21 pm

    I love the Natural History Museum, I always used to go there when I was little, and the Science museum next door. In the winter they have an ice rink outside! The uni I used to work at is just next to the museum too, so I love that area of London. If you walked further, in a few minutes you would have reached Kensington Gardens and the palace where Princess Diana used to live.. and the only Whole Foods in the entire country! The pasty you bought is a Cornish pasty, very traditional! Don’t forget to try a proper flapjack before you leave, I think you’ll like them if you like oats, syrup and butter! I love being around my own things, my own bed, my own space, although travelling is great. I used to miss my cats sooo much when they were alive and I went on holiday, but think how great it will be to see them again after so long!

  • Jordan @ Salt Sweat Sugar January 1, 2010, 5:23 pm

    I loveeee those Cadbury bars. Mmmmm! I miss England. Lucky duck!

  • Katie January 1, 2010, 5:59 pm

    Sounds like a fun day! British chocolate is way better!

    http://katiechangesforkatie.blogspot.com/

  • Lee January 1, 2010, 6:11 pm

    I love Crunchies!!!

  • MegaNerd January 1, 2010, 6:22 pm

    Awwwwww…. I miss running with you toooooooo.

    Are we going to run together at all this week? We have some catching up to do!!!!

  • Kristine January 1, 2010, 6:27 pm

    I just wanted to stop by to say Happy New Year, Caitlin!!

  • Jenny January 1, 2010, 6:41 pm

    haha Oh gosh I’m glad I’ve never stayed at a bar until the next afternoon…don’t wanna even think about how those people are feeling right now! 😉

    Museums are such amazing places, and that is such a cool way to spend January 1st! Hope you guys have a restful night.

  • Sagan January 1, 2010, 6:43 pm

    The museum looks like tons of fun. And mmmmm I adore curry SO much.

  • Cynthia (It All Changes) January 1, 2010, 6:48 pm

    I love British Chocolate. I tend to buy a bunch when I see it because it is delicious.

    History Museums are Hunni’s favorite and loves to visit the ones in DC.

    You’ll see James and Maggie soon. I’m sure they are full of puppy kisses for you 🙂

  • Jocelyn January 1, 2010, 6:49 pm

    ah yes..Brits get the best chocolate. but if you are lucky there will be british goods stores somewhere around your area at home 🙂 Here I’m able to get anything! I got a cadbury+galaxy chocolate selection bar for christmas in Canada 🙂

  • Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg January 1, 2010, 6:53 pm

    Mmmmm…British chocolate is definitely the best! That museum is beautiful! Love the lights!

  • Angela (Oh She Glows) January 1, 2010, 7:33 pm

    Crunchie’s are so big here in canada too!!! I used to always have them!

  • Laura Georgina January 1, 2010, 7:38 pm

    The Natural History Museum is great, isn’t it? There’s a similar, smaller one in Oxford that I used to go to all the time back when I lived in England…. I miss Crunchies, but my favorite chocolates back in England were the chocolate-covered cherry bonbons from Marks and Spencer and the gazillion varieties of Green and Black’s chocolate–and I’m not even a chocolate kind of girl!

  • Shirley @ gfe January 1, 2010, 7:41 pm

    How wonderful that you are in London!! We just got back from Key West ourselves. Such fun! Still, it’s nice to be home and getting back in the groove, so I know what you are saying about what you miss.

    Happy New Year! Hugsss,
    Shirley

  • Erin January 1, 2010, 7:51 pm

    Yum — you were eating a pasty, which isn’t *super* healthy but isn’t terrible either. It’s basically an entire meal that you can hold in your hand — great on cold days. 😉

  • Lindsay Perrone (goodiesgalore) January 1, 2010, 8:33 pm

    Love those honeycomb crunchies! I don’t know how people can possibly stay out so late and even into the next AFTERNOON! I could barely make it till 12 last night. So sad. I’m sure your pups miss you too.

  • Evan Thomas January 1, 2010, 8:51 pm

    That museum looks like my nerdy heaven

  • Penny January 1, 2010, 9:08 pm

    I know how you feel abot missing your dogs. About 2 years ago, we went on a small 3 day trip. (Not a pleasure trip, we had to drive across 4 states to buy something.) The first day I just tried not to think about them too much. By the 2nd day, I would get teary-eyed. By the 3rd I was shedding major tears. When we got home I layed in the floor with them and bawled my head off. 🙂 I vowed never to leave them again, and I haven’t. 🙂
    Yeah, I love them way too much.

  • emily January 1, 2010, 9:42 pm

    Your museum day sounds fun, the gemstones room is always my favorite too!

  • Christy January 1, 2010, 10:35 pm

    Peppermint tea sounds great right now! And I know what ya mean about missing your own bed… no place like home!

  • Morgan @ Life After Bagels January 1, 2010, 11:04 pm

    glad to hear the museum was so cool, my bf says it’s supposed to be awesome, he’s very jealous of you right now.

  • Jenna January 1, 2010, 11:16 pm

    Glad you had a great day but are ready to come home!!

  • Nicole January 1, 2010, 11:51 pm

    I went to the natural history museum in New York today! Also, I studied in London for a semester and you’re right about the chocolate, but that’s because it’s also fresh and sans the preservatives we use in the states!! Take advantage of the free museums, the Tate Modern is pretty amazing 🙂

  • Karla January 2, 2010, 12:12 am

    How fun! I love museums!!

  • Jess January 2, 2010, 12:46 am

    I’m an Aussie and we have all the same Cadbury chocolates as the Brits. Lovvve Crunchies! And Flakes, which I think I saw in another post. 😀

    Today when I was in the video store I noticed they had some American chocolate bars. When I saw Reeses Peanut Butter cups I knew I had to see what the fuss is about – but I wasn’t all that impressed? So I think English/Aussie chocolates win out. 😀

    • Gab* January 2, 2010, 6:09 am

      Go the Aussie choccies! Mmmm, cherry ripes 🙂

  • Nicole - Geek Turned Athlete January 2, 2010, 3:45 am

    One of the big thing that sucks about living in Europe and my family living in the states is that if something happens to me in the morning, and I want to call my fam to tell them about it, I have to wait until 4 or 5pm (they are west coast). I know how you feel!

  • Gab* January 2, 2010, 6:12 am

    Hehe, Londoners are definitely known for their partying!

    The pastry is a pasty, yeah, not the healthiest… At least they’re full of veggies!

  • Susan January 2, 2010, 8:38 am

    I just clicked on your camera link and found out I got the same camera as you for Christmas! I had a Kodak Easy Share before, so the difference with the SLR is HUGE. I’m having fun learning how to use it too. Would you recommend the 50mm lens? So far I’m happy with the 18-55 and thinking I may splurge on a strobe flash before another lens.

    Anyways, that was a tangent, sorry 🙂

    • caitlin January 2, 2010, 12:24 pm

      i am happy with my lens for my purposes – i like how it blurs the background – but i dont know if i would purchase it again. it has some disadvantages (like it doesnt zoom).

  • Julie January 2, 2010, 8:42 am

    Love your jacket! It is so cute!

  • rungirlrunn January 2, 2010, 9:02 am

    I’m excited to hear about your new freelance project!

  • Alicia January 2, 2010, 10:06 am

    I think that the Natural History Museum was the ONLY museum we didn’t get to when my husband and I went to London last May! Your blog posts while in the UK are making me long to be back on vacation there!

  • skinnyrunner January 2, 2010, 10:50 am

    i love all your pictures! you honestly make me want to go book a flight somewhere to europe right now!

  • jane January 2, 2010, 11:25 am

    Yaaay, glad you are having a good time in London – so fun to see my city through your eyes! It sure is cold here right now, I love it though, we often miss out on real proper weather like this so I”m even enjoying the frozen fingers and toes! Ooh, you should check out Mildreds in Soho before you leave – best veggie restaurant in town! Also from your previous posts it looks like you’re staying near the Kingsland Road – the place with the best Vietnamese food in London, some of them do veggie pho and it’s SO GOOD and very healthy. Have fun!

  • diana(mymarblerye) January 2, 2010, 6:00 pm

    fyi cadbury england chocolates are the best chocolates EVER. Whenever I go to candy “speciality” shops I always run towards their english candy area…I knock down bins of HERSHEY chocolates on the way.

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) January 3, 2010, 9:55 am

    I love Crunchie bars!! We have those in Canada, and they are one of my favourite kinds of chocolate bar!

  • Bridget January 3, 2010, 1:30 pm

    Crunchie bars are my fav!! And luckily we have them in Canada!

  • Mikael January 5, 2010, 5:07 pm

    I believe the word is “pasty”, isn’t it? 😉
    Can’t help but think that I want to be back in England after reading about your vacation there. I’m so jealous! Gorgeous pictures, especially the one of the museum with the tree lights. I remember seeing that dinosaur head, the cat, and the hippo… *sigh*

  • Jaime January 7, 2010, 7:36 pm

    Ha, so many beautiful things you’ve posted from your trip and we all focus in on the bloody chocolate bars.

    Americans are always super excited to find English candy bars are available in Canada. Crunchie is one of my faves!!

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