LonDONE.

Okay, not really. Like, I'm actually still here within two hours of London for the next two months and in fact, am heading into the city tomorrow for the weekend. But this post marks the end of the week I spent with my family traipsing through three beautiful, wonderful European cities. Words can't describe how much fun I had with them, and how much I miss them already!
The morning after Versailles, we hopped on a Eurostar train that took us from Paris, through the French countryside, the Chunnel, and then dropped us off at St. Pancras. Nothing can beat watching the sun rise from somewhere in between England and France, nothing at all, except maybe ice cream in bed because that's the ultimate.

After checking into our hotel which was very conveniently located smack-dab in the middle of Piccadilly Circus, we procured day passes for the Tube and quite literally rode as many trains as we could to see as much of London as we could.
First, we went to Covent Garden.

Then, we went over to the British Museum and admired all of the ancient artifacts, including the Rosetta Stone. Fun fact about me: I'm a Chinese history nerd. So of course, I scoped out the rooms with all of the Chinese relics and ooh'ed and ahh'ed over all the vibrant colors:

At this point, I asked my sister - "do you think one day my toothbrush will be put on display at a museum of the future?" I'll let you guess what she said, but the answer wasn't yes.
We made our way over to Harrod's because you can't really say you've been to London without saying hi to the big H. It was right in the middle of sales season though, and I felt like I was in The Hunger Games, right when they enter the arena. I'm not cut out for this, man.

Finally, we found a little ramen shop by our hotel and slurped up the noodles happily. Nothing's better than a big bowl of steaming soup when it's downpouring outside, nothing at all except watching the sun rise somewhere in between England and France and also eating ice cream in bed because yes, that's still the ultimate.

The next morning, my sister went on her merry way to Heathrow to head back home, and the parental units dropped me off at Oxford before leaving as well. And so, one adventure ends as another begins.
Thank you so much, family, for making this the most memorable and amazing vacation of all time.

Since then, I've been back to London twice. I've explored Westminster Abbey, the National Gallery, and then Kensington Gardens, as well as Borough Market, the Tate Modern, the Globe Theater, Millennium Bridge, other famous bridges, and St. Paul's. This weekend, I'm checking out West End, the Victoria & Albert Museum, and Portobello Road Market. I find myself falling in love with this city more and more every visit, and am excited to show you all of the fun things I've been up to in the past three weeks!
Have the happiest of weekends, lovedoves! 

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Two Year Blogiversary // Why I Blog

Two years ago, I started a blog with a really silly name, and didn't even expect it to last two months. Alas, it did. And then some.

because on your baby's second birthday,  only two giant, cake-like monstrosities aka Ben's Cookies will do.
Why do I blog? By no means has this been a question that I've been asking myself only recently. It's one that I constantly ponder over, along with what am I having for my next meal? When is my next meal? When's nap time? But in a fit of deep introspection, most likely because I'm temporarily situated in a really scholarly, English town (we get it, Caroline. You're in Europe. Shut up about it.), I've given even more thought to it. Because yes, academics spend their days questioning the merits of blogging. Duh.
Why do I read blogs? This one's easy. I'm too nosy for my own good. I want to see what you eat, what you wear, who you hang out with. I'm also delusional. After a while, I think we're friends. And I like to hear my friends' thoughts and revelations, I want to hurt with you when you're sad, and celebrate with you as you reap in accomplishments and have babies and get married and get degrees. I want to be inspired by you. I want to know your story. When I'm in your hometown, or when I'm traveling somewhere that you've previously traveled to, I want to go to all the places you've talked about and experience the same delicious food and wild, crazy notions that you did. 
Why do I write a blog? Now, we're treading through murkier waters. I blog for many reasons. I enjoy meeting and connecting with like-minded (and nice!) individuals, yes. I like that a 16-year-old and a 40-year-old can both read what I'm saying and understand. It helps me understand several universal truths. I like that it helps me improve my writing (actually, LOL on this one - my writing has not improved. In fact, my high school English teachers will be heartbroken to know that I write blogposts in hashtags and abbreviations way more than I should). It helps me improve my photography and get some cost-per-use out of that expensive camera, yes. But those are all cherries on top of the cake. What is the actual cake? (Carrot or red velvet, undoubtedly. Or triple chocolate.)
One of my favorite teachers of all time said something that I very much related to. She said, "I write to make sense of the world." And I think, for me, that's a huge part of it. Many moments and perplexities and concepts in this world, I simply don't get unless I put my thoughts on paper. I also blog to see how much I've grown and to assure myself that I do learn and evolve. Although my blog name implies that I don't like or don't find myself changing, I, like everyone else, am ever-evolving... I just hope that my essence and core never does. 2012 Caroline is a stranger to 2014 Caroline, and yet... they're one and the same. 2012 Caroline is like a little sister - I listen to her chatter on, and I think - wow, you're really stupid. But you're learning. It's amazing to get to witness that in myself through this blog. 
The other day, I was going through and editing my Paris photos and I told my friend Lauren, "you know, it's strange to think that, barring a universal Internet wipeout or something of the like, this blog will be a very detailed account of my life for my kids and grandkids." Not only will they be able to see what I was up to back in the day, they'll be able to know my thoughts as my life happens. I'm not sharing lessons in hindsight or purely memories. I'm sharing life events and emotions and revelations as they occur to me. And that's pretty mindblowing and special to me. Because not only do my spawn get to experience my life (this is assuming they even want to know... so hey grandkids, your grandmother's a nerd. It's in the genes. Live with it.), but also if I'm blessed enough to be wrinkled and white-haired one day, I'll get to relive the highlights and the lowlights and the everydaylights again. So, come at me, Alzheimer's, I OUTSMARTED YOU.
Why do you blog? 

15

Paris Is Always A Good Idea || Part III

A few nights ago, I watched the Kirsten Dunst/Sofia Coppola version of Marie Antoinette, and it brought me right back to the day we spent in Versailles. Really though, show me a better example of opulence or extravagance elsewhere, and I'll say "okay, but North West's nursery doesn't count. Show me another one."  

After a mellow morning spent meandering around Marie Antoinette's backyard, we headed back into the city. With time to spare before dinner and most of our "Must-See" list checked off, we (my sister, the leader of the pack) ultimately decided on Pompideu, the contemporary arts museum in Paris. Firstly, we checked out the most beautiful piece of art of all: a gorgeous nighttime panoramic starring the Eiffel Tower. Then, we roamed the halls and found lovely, interesting, inspired pieces of artwork and exhibitions by artists new and historical.

Finding our stomachs rumbling, we made our way over to Ar Poul Gwen, a creperie with a Brazilian vibe. AMAZING, folks. Amazing. We ordered six huge crepes for the four of us (four savoury and two sweet - the sweet ones were gone in a millisecond), and were all stuffed by the time we demolished all six. They were paper-thin, extremely flavorful, but incredibly filling at the same time. It was a crepe experience well worth the wait and the miles on miles of walking.

To help us digest all that scrumptiousness, we walked all the way back to the hotel - we passed by all the major attractions - the Louvre, Jardin du Tuileries, that random ferris wheel, along all the charming Christmas markets on Champs-Elysees (obviously, I snagged myself a beignet), and then past Arc du Triomphe. The stroll was the most perfect way to bid adieu to the most enchanting of cities.

Paris, je'taime, mon amour.
--
One big Paris tip: my sister was the smartest cookie in the cookie jar and bought us Paris Museum 2-day passes. I think they were something like 60 euros per person, but they have a list of 50+ museums and attractions that you have access to for two whole days, including the Louvre and Versailles. So worth it, and you'll feel like a BAMF when you get to skip all the lines. It's like Disney, FastPass style. 
This weekend passed by in a fancy outfits, slow roasted pork belly and caramelized apples, philharmonic orchestra at the Sheldonian theater with Oxford's entire above-70 population, and roadtrip to Bath blur. More on that in the near future, but as of right now - I'm all cultured out, dude.

19

Paris Is Always A Good Idea || Part II

- I finally bit the proverbial bullet and made it official. This corner of the cyberspace is now officially 

www.perpetuallycaroline.com 

& I would be ever so grateful if you save that URL or whatever fancypants tech-speak you need to do! Bisou bisou! -

Fancy meeting you here, friend! Will you allow me to share one, quick irrelevant anecdote? I really just want to make note of it, for posterity's sake. This morning, bestie Lauren and I went across the street to get a Nutella baguette panini and a latte. The panini was every bit as gluttonously sinful as you can imagine, but we got them and were two minutes into our morning stroll when it started pouring, even as the sun shone bright and mockingly. We're clutching the Nutella paninis and getting soaked, and I look up - and against the prettiest blue sky and statuesque, ancient buildings was a most vivid rainbow. There are stranger things than fiction, y'all.

I digress. Without further ado... PARIS, OUI OUI!

{ Angelina hot chocolate & a Mont Blanc. }

{ Jardin des Tuileries || and also, why is this guy sniffing his armpits? Rude. }

{ naptime at the Louvre after being goggled at by Mona Lisa. I heard she's a champ at the staring contest. }

{ naptime at the Musee d'Orsay. Can IKEA please please please do something about selling something similar? }

{ checking out several of the famous Pont locales }

{ a happy, happy place }

{ Eric Kayser pastries, nibbled on like the French chomped on like the Americans }

{ the stunning Notre Dame }

{ herring, foie gras, steak frites, and duck ... s'il vous plait MORE }
Happy Friday.
Go rest your eyes.

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