London Town to watch the World Cup with David Webb!

So I popped over to meet one of my best friends, David Webb, in London while he was there mid-European World Cup tour. Him and some college buddies (who I also used to hang with back in the day) were visiting London, Paris, Rome and Barcelona while the World Cup played so I thought I'd catch him in my favorite European city.

View from the hotel room off High Street Kensington.

Self explanatory.

Checking out Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.

When you're this close to Big Ben you have to.

We headed over to a pub across the street called Archangel to catch a game and meet up with his friends.

Having his first Ribena!

While the others took a bus tour, we decided to tour London the old fashioned way; tube and bus map only. We had a list of things we needed to cross off.

FIRST, Dave insisted we get a REAL English breakfast, so we did. Complete with beans, tomatoes, fried eggs, a sausage, bacon, toast and tea (oh, and a bloody mary ;)

Then we ventured off to the infamous Camden Town. I was sort of disappointed since it wasn't quite as bohemian and punk rock as I'd remembered it. The tourism monster took it's quirky uniqueness and exploited it :[

We did find this HILARIOUS shirt. Note the "Dave" on the shirt sitting cocky and smoking a cigarette. I couldn't stop laughing.

Dave and I share a deep love of music, especially classic rock, so naturally Abbey Road was on our list! Here's us listening to Abbey Road ON Abbey Road. (I know, I know we're those kids)

Dave shamelessly crossing Abbey Road (notice the boot? He has a bum ankle and limped all over London, but he was a sport).

On our way back we saw quite the camp site pitched outside of the Houses of Parliament protesting the war in Afghanistan.

You could smell the hippies from here.

Now it was game time, well Argentina vs. Nigeria to be exact. So we headed to another pub to take it and some local brews in.

Everyone was obviously SO pumped and full of anticipation for the England vs. USA game!

Dave and his Concordia buddies (they all played soccer there) Ryan Hopkins, Jesse Brewer, Erin and Amy Ross.

Shout out to Sarah (Dave's mother) at home in Lake Forest babysitting Ollie! She insisted that Dave and I see Abbey Road, she loves the Beatles as much as we do!

Then it was go-time. We had an hour before kick off of the much anticipated USA vs England game and we needed to get to Trafalgar Square where we had heard thousands of fans would be congregating!

Trafalgar Square was crowded and a little rowdy but there were no jumbo screens as promised!!

So we booked back to Archangel to catch the game where Dave rousted Brits over who was going to win. Here's him rock, paper and scissoring I don't remember why, but I think it was for a beer. This guy was none too pleased that David was talking to his girlfriend and he hahaha.

So the game is loud and rowdy, and obviously we end up tying 1-1. It's about 9pm and we decide we have just enough time to see one last site before we retire.

Buckingham Palace. AHAHA this is Dave in front of the statue outside the palace.

After this we headed back and fell asleep, Dave had to leave at 6:30am the next morning to jump on the Chunnel to Paris! I had short but awesome weekend with him in my Dad's home country! We had loads of fun as usual and I can't wait to see yet another country with him! (This marks our second). Cherrio David, I had a jolly good time.

Luisen Park

Such great kids!

Let's play Where's the Cates kids? Can you spot all three?

The boys made a friend!

...then he was terrified

They didn't want to leave the fountain!

Cuteness overload!

Ew vomit! These fish that swam up to the boat were disgusting! This is why I don't like swimming in lakes.

Luisen park was so lovely! We could have spent days there and still not see everything! We rode in boats, played in fountains and water parks, had a picnic in a meadow of flowers by the water, fed ducks and played with birds, played on MULTIPLE playgrounds, saw a castle, a mini zoo and got to go inside a butterfly house! It was a perfect day to spend at this HUGE gorgeous park!

Valencia, Spain to see lovely Lauren

Ryanair was a little terrifying but it was cheap. It's basically a bus in the air, but that works for me.

Lauren met me at the airport and here she's showing me what part of Valencia she lives in.

Perfect weather (high 80s)+ beautiful architecture=:D

Local drink: HORCHATA! But not the Mexican kind, this is pure sweetened nut milk and it is AMAZING.

A talented local artist. Lauren bought one of the exact view she had from her place! Had I say because these were her final days living in Valencia. She has now up and moved to Barcelona!

Mas Horchata

Refreshing Amstel in a can on the way to the beach!

Pretty playa

Everyone walks everwhere and carries these carts with them! So we headed to THE MOST AMAZING open market I have ever seen! All of the local farmers , butchers and cheese artisans sell their goods here six days a week. This place was HUGE and had EVERYTHING, fresh fruits, vegetables, cheese, meat, seafood, you name it! It was loud and bustling and wonderful. We stocked up on a little of everything and ate all of our very Spanish meals home cooked by Lauren at her penthouse apartment!

Lauren made the most delicious mussels I have ever tasted!! We found them at the market, I guess these special Mediterranean mussels are only available in June and July so we lucked out!

Animal rights activists picketing outside the city building with their dogs :] I love it.

Ahaha, Lauren reenacting a scene we witnessed when we opened her door to see two dirty men leaping up from sitting on her stoop with an array of needles and well, we're guessing something illegal.

Plaza de Toros (Valencia's famous bull fighting ring)

Museo de Bellas Artes

:]

So many pretty streets and buildings! Valencia is Spain's second largest city.

Behind Lauren is Valencia Cathedral built in the 13th century and home to the Holy Grail! Valencia is a busy city but the nightlife is only mediocre. Nothing really "starts" before midnight so we spent a couple evenings out walking around to experience the nightlife. We went to a couple bars and clubs but truly we had more fun just walking the pretty streets and taking in the interesting folk roaming around!

I had a such a lovely time visiting Lauren and Valencia! It was SO good to catch up with one of my favorite and most interesting people I know! Lauren is truly the eternal traveler. I wish her the best in Barcelona and wherever next her travels and life take her! I will surely be there to visit. Besos.