I’m here! A bit tired, as you can see in the above photo (2 hours of plane sleep does not make me happy), but so excited. The ride on the Tube took forever, but I had the Daily Telegraph to keep me company.
I just got to Parisa’s place, and am unpacking while she runs to the market for lunch stuff.
In my carry-on:
- Cleaving by Julie Powell (I scored an advance copy…but am not sure I’m loving it)
- Eyeglasses
- Sunglasses (I’m arriving at 9AM)
My number-one travel beauty tip? Hydration.
When I fly, I try to avoid wearing any makeup at all (sometimes I’ll cave and put on a little mascara, but that’s it). As evidence: here I am an hour before departing for the airport. Glamorous, no?
Moisturizing is the key to arriving at your destination looking like you’ve just returned home from a vacation, rather than looking like you’re in desperate need of one. I load as much oil-free moisturizer as possible onto my face, neck, and hands, and make sure to drink water every time the beverage cart comes around (and, OK, maybe the occasional Bloody Mary as well…because passing out for a couple of hours is also key to arriving looking refreshed, and I find some in-flight alcohol facilitates that process).
For some more travel beauty tips, check out this article from Suite101.
From one great city to another.
I’m flying to London tonight to visit Parisa and Tim, and am…strangely nervous. Given that I actually lived in London for six months back in 2002 and am not exactly a newbie traveler, that’s a little weird. But I think it’s partly because I’m going to miss Kendrick and Lucy, partly because I haven’t traveled very extensively since my college years (save for our honeymoon in Thailand and Indonesia), and partly because being a houseguest always makes me a little anxious: I really, really, really don’t want to get in the way. I’m bringing some nice housewarming gifts along with me (they just bought a new flat), and am planning on cooking them a couple of good meals while I’m there, but mostly I just want to wander the streets with Parisa and get in some good catch-up time.
Since it’s been years since I stepped foot in London, I’m planning on doing lots of touristy stuff while I’m there. Top on my list are visiting Camden Market (the dorm where Parisa and I lived when we studied abroad was right next to the market) and Portobello Market, checking out the Tate Modern, and maybe buying a dress or twenty at TopShop (I know there’s one in NYC now…that’s not the point). TimeOut London also advises me to “munch on whelks” (although I just googled “whelk” and think I might skip it) and visit the Horniman Anthropological Museum, which is “dominated by a bizarre, overstuffed walrus.”
OK, I’m excited. If you have any more suggestions for things I should do while in London, please email me at jordan@nonsociety.com!
