If it's sunny can it be London?

I flew into London yesterday and it was -- SUNNY! And today it was, SUNNY. Something I don't think I have witnessed in all my trips over, two absolutely beautiful sun filled days that could have been sent over from Santa Monica. To walk through London on a sunny, but balmy day is such a treat. You could walk forever. People were smiling, Hyde Park was full of men, women and children relishing the glorious Indian summer. An ice cream truck ambled down Hadley Road in North London and children went out in droves to buy popsicles.

There is so much to see as you go from block to block. In Kentish Town, where I'm in residence with my friends, Luke and Alex -- in a truly beatiful town house (a renovated grocer's) I pass the Bengal Tiger, a curry house with divine green curry chicken, a vast array of chutneys, vegetarian dishes that would make any carnivore forsake meat, and next the that is an Ehtiopian spot, two doors down a Turkish sandwich shop, a Mediterranean Food Hall, two great charity shops and the usual smattering of Tesco's, Superdrugs and Somerfield's. And every nationality seems to buzz about in this multi-ethnic neighborhood -- and the thing they have in common -- getting around in one of the most truly cramped cities on the face of this earth. Five days to France and I'm still bungling about with French -- it didn't help that I left my i-Pod, loaded with Michel Thomas CD's at home in L.A. Don't ask. Or that I've been so busy getting packed and unpacked -- also don't ask, that the days before leaving were a blur of Fed-Ex Labels, correspondence, laundry and errands to get everything in the U.S. -- if you've seen the exchange rates of the Euro and Pound, you'll understand. It is hard to pay 15L for a bottle of shampoo that costs $15 in the U.S. and realized you've just paid $28.00 for the same bottle of shampoo.

Despite all the last minute bits and pieces, I made LAX with time to spare. Where, of course the sneakers I wore set off the xray technicians screen (seems Nike put batteries in the sole of this model) and they took my shoes away to test for explosives. Oh for the days when you just sauntered to the gate and waited for your plane. Needless to say, said offending shoes were not lethal weapons and I was allowed to proceed.

After that I needed a drink.

But right now, I need some sleep so I can practice counting from one to ten in French without having a meltdown.

More sun predicted for tomorrow.