I've never been to England before. So when I realized that I was going to be in Europe for Christmas, I thought: why not? So I bought tickets and made hostel reservations. Then I got busy and promptly stopped planning. I have a tendency to do this. I think: phew the hard part is over.

Then I forget that I should probably have some idea of what I want to see and do. This usually strikes me about three days before I am set to leave and then I scramble around to make sure I know the three or four must dos of the city I am visiting. I generally figure that anything else is just extra.

I realized long ago that I can't do everything when I am traveling. I've just got to make sure that I am doing and seeing what I love and the rest is just icing on the cake.

London. Well travel guides make whole books for this city. <em>Of course</em>. So I knew I wasn't going to be board but I also didn't know where to start.

I ended up emailing my sister C. who lived in London for a semester in college. Lucky girl. She wrote back with a list of suggestions of museums and other noteworthy things.

Then I messaged my college friend and roommate S. who has spent a couple of summers in London. Jealous. Jealous. She sent me a great list of to-dos, to-sees and to-eats.