Where are all the pubs?

talking to my good friend, i found out that two of my favorite pubs were shut down. in our lovely neighbhorhood of kensington, the black widow and finnigan's was a favorite hangout for me and my friends. and they no longer exist. fond are the memories of karoake, first dates, fisn & chips, 5 guinesses to win a st. patty's hat, etc. it was a shock -- how could they do that us? granted, they have forgotten the american students who made patronage to those pubs almost every night. and so much so we knew the owners by name and they new us by drinks :-) gone...all gone.
i was never really into drinking or the bar scene until i went to london. granted, pubs are a way of life over there. it's not only a place to socialize, it's a place to find yourself. you find one that fits your personality, your mood or one that satisfys your taste buds. you become a regular, you have your own seat and slowly, the rest of the crowd becomes your friends. you relate to the weather, prime minister, that bloody good game of fotbal the night before...and you slowly become a part of that pub, almost as if it's yours. for me, it was the black widow, right off of queen's gate terrace, sandwiched by good ol' starbucks and cafe flo. with a gothic interior/exterior, spooky sounds in the bathroom and oddly shapen seating arrangement, it was an adventure. with the best snake bites and fries - i found it to be an escape from my day of working in the city. my friends and i, it was a given, go there almost every night to enjoy the different characters that walked through the door, oogle at the hot bartender/owner and enjoy a show of karoake every now and then. good times...
it's interesting how one place, one building can make such an impact on your life.

The sense of smell

it's interesting how certain smells bring back certain memories. all of a sudden i think i am back somewhere just cause my nose picks up something it used to know. when i was in london, i wore 2 perfumes and everytime i wear them, i think i'm back there...my friend alyshia wore jlo's still and i can distinctly remember every time i was with her whenever i smell it -- her in my "dorm room" after a night at the black widow...dinner at wagamamma's...night at the theatre watching 'thoroughly magnificent millie', 'gershwin' or 'tonight's the night.' and so, out of weakness, i had to go buy my own bottle - so i can go back to london whenever i wanted. so today i am wearing still and thinking of all those great memories the smell brings to mind. and wishing with all my heart that i could go back.
i never realized how much you could lust for a city - wanting to be there so badly you ache inside, coveting the lives of every englishman/woman that are living there right now, not being able to tell yourself the reasons why you aren't there right this moment. it's sad -- and the only way i can explain it is that i truly left a part of my heart there...and i can only be whole again once i return.

London Calling

so this is how desperate i am to keep in touch with london -- i but anything i see that is associated with london. was in my college bookstore the other day and they have desk calendars themed london -- yup, i went and bought it - not even caring that it cost oh around $15. yeah -- rip off, but they have some great pics of the city.
still bummed out that i will be not going to london next year, but there's always a bright side to bad things, just haven't figured it out yet. just hoping that i will have an opportunity -- one day.

So sad

kind of bummed as i just found out that my hopes of going back to london next year have been dashed -- so quickly and quietly. sigh. my school offers a study abroad program in london and as a grad student, i was looking to go as a graduate assistant. to my dismay and horror (how dare they), another grad student was chosen. and that's all i was told. well, i shouldn't feel that bad cause 1 - i hadn't even applied and 2 - it would mean i would graduate a semester behind schedule. so, everything works out in the end. but london is still calling!!!!
everytime i see something and anything that says london, i go crazy. my heart starts beating really quickly and i am taken back to my happiest moments. oh to be british.

Big Ben 

London Eye 

Eros @ Piccadilly Circus 

Tower Bridge 

Stonehenge 

London Obsession

So here is my blog devoted completely to my favorite place in the whole world -- London, England!!! After spending 4 beautiful months in the most chic, cosmopolitan city in the world, I totally fell in love with it and cannot stop obsessing over it. It's been about 2 years now, but I left a part of myself there and I just can't get over it. It's as if London was my first love, stealing a part of my heart, and I will never be complete...