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.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="576" caption="Statue of Queen Victoria in front of Buckingham Palace"]<a title="Statue of Queen Victoria in front of Buckingham Palace by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6658442579/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6658442579_496508a1a3_z.jpg" alt="Statue of Queen Victoria in front of Buckingham Palace" width="576" height="384" /></a>[/caption]

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.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="576" caption="Buckingham Palace"]<a title="Buckingham Palace by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6658436575/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7027/6658436575_bd90d96081_z.jpg" alt="Buckingham Palace" width="576" height="384" /></a>[/caption]

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.<!--more-->

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="576" caption="In the distance the London Eye"]<a title="In the distance the London Eye  by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6658452131/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6658452131_ff2a722112_z.jpg" alt="In the distance the London Eye " width="576" height="384" /></a>[/caption]

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.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="576" caption="Men on horses"]<a title="Men on horses by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6658450213/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7149/6658450213_0a7b04b77c_z.jpg" alt="Men on horses" width="576" height="384" /></a>[/caption]

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.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="576" caption="Buckingham Palace and Statue nearby"]<a title="Buckingham Palace Statue by karolinka.sofia, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29050866@N06/6658445767/"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6658445767_971662b868_z.jpg" alt="Buckingham Palace Statue" width="576" height="384" /></a>[/caption]

That's enough for me. I printed them out and off I went.

My goals for the week: explore, walk through the city, take in some museums and go to a show. I am happy to report that I did all of these things and then some.