London

Our trip to London was split into two parts: four nights on our way into Europe, and two nights after Spain on our way out.

Here are all my posts:

Somehow we lucked into beautiful weather on our first and second trips. Since the weather was good, I loved the pub culture of grabbing a beer and hanging outside.

For our first trip, we stayed at an Airbnb which was fine while we were there, but incredibly sketchy after we checked out (asking us how we reviewed them before leaving their review). Bethnal Green was a cute neighborhood and we loved the coffee place nearby.

On our return trip, Hugo and I stayed at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House. It was a real treat to stay in a hotel after 32 days in Airbnb’s.

Six days is obviously not enough time to do even a fraction of what’s available in London. It was really expensive, so I’m not excited to go back on my own dime, but I’d love to revel in the city again.

Corner café on Jersey Street with a black-painted façade, a pixel-style sign reading “F*ckoffee,” and a mosaic “Bethnal Green” sign above, with a bench, window display of mugs, and pedestrians passing by on the pavement.Close-up of pale stone statues with draped robes and carved faces, including a bearded figure seated in the foreground and others standing behind, their weathered surfaces and calm expressions giving a solemn, monumental feel against a grey sky.The Shard rising sharply above surrounding buildings, its glass surface reflecting daylight, with crowds gathered along the riverfront below and boats and rooftops filling the lower frame.Row of richly carved stone columns on a red-brick façade, each column wrapped with detailed relief figures and decorative patterns, creating a dense, ornate rhythm along the museum exterior.Street-level view of a shuttered storefront covered in posters and graffiti, topped by an orange banner reading “Shoreditch wasn’t gentrified for you to microwave your dinner,” with taped boxes and layered textures adding to the gritty scene.Wide view of a long brick building painted with the words “Let’s adore and endure,” large illustrated posters in the windows, bicycles parked outside, and traffic passing along the road.View across the River Thames showing modern glass skyscrapers on one side and the historic Tower of London on the other, with boats on the water and people lining the riverside path.City skyline seen through a train window, with tall modern towers clustered near the river, cranes in the distance, and blurred tracks and railings in the foreground suggesting motion.The Albert Memorial standing tall with gilded details and Gothic arches, surrounded by a patterned stone platform, green lawns, and a few people walking nearby under an overcast sky.Close-up of vivid pink tulips with softly curved petals and visible stamens, filling the frame with saturated color against a blurred garden background.

2025-12-29

Virgin Atlantic

We loved our flights between LAX and London on Virgin Atlantic. Hugo scored a great deal (with points and cash for taxes/fees) between the two cities.

We got off to a great start on our flight to London. Before the flight, we went to the clubhouse at LAX, and then enjoyed our business-class seats on the way to London.

Leaving London was a different ballgame entirely, in the best way possible.

Our ride took us to a private entrance for Virgin. We rubbed shoulders with some celebs on our way in through private security.

While waiting for our flight, the waiters in the lounge took care of us, including bringing us a little desert because I had mentioned that it was Hugo’s birthday month.

The flight back home was fun too. We departed at 2pm-ish London time so staying awake was our primary goal. We hung out in the shared lounge area in business class and made friends with other locals coming back to LA.

If you’re going to Europe, I think it’s such a treat to find a points deal for a business-class flight and really enjoy yourself. Of course we would’ve been fine in economy seats, but it was a real joy to know that we hadn’t paid much cash to get upgraded into a premium experience.

A flight map showing the transatlantic route from London to Los Angeles, with a curved path across the North Atlantic and a boarding pass graphic labeled LHR to LAX. Overlaid, text reads “So long, London.”A large woven metal sphere sculpture suspended by cables in an open-air terminal courtyard, casting intricate shadows on the ground beneath a bright blue sky with billowing white clouds.A hearty breakfast plate with toasted brown bread, a thick grilled mushroom, baked beans, wilted spinach, a slice of tomato, and a softly poached egg with a glossy white.A generous berry dessert layered with pink meringue, cream, and fresh strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries, topped with mint and a chocolate plaque, lightly dusted with powdered sugar.A white card reading “VIP*” with a red enamel pin labeled “they them,” resting on a dark stone surface, with small text noting “very important pronouns.”Hugo and I smiling while seated side by side in business class under soft purple cabin lighting, with other passengers settling in behind them.An elegant starter featuring golden shrimp arranged with bright yellow garnish, microgreens, a lime wedge, and a smooth pink sauce, served alongside rustic bread and butter.A colorful bowl of fragrant yellow rice topped with spiced curry, toasted cashews, dried cranberries, creamy puree, and crisp flatbread tucked on top.A refined dessert plate with a glossy dark berry parfait resting on sponge, paired with whipped cream, berry sauce, and a glass of red wine.An afternoon tea spread with finger sandwiches, a warm scone with jam and clotted cream, a lemon macaron, a Battenberg-style cake, and a small tart, served with tea.

2025-12-29

Europe

Hugo and I were really fortunate to spend five weeks in Europe this year.

We got to:

I can’t wait for our next European adventure.

Hugo and I smiling for a close selfie on a sandy beach, with calm Mediterranean water, distant mountains, and scattered umbrellas and sunbathers stretching along the shore behind us.Hugo and I smiling at the camera from an elevated viewpoint overlooking Plaza de España, with its sweeping brick buildings, tiled bridges, canal, and central fountain filled with visitors.Hugo and I posing in front of the Torres de Serranos, the twin stone towers rising behind us as cars and pedestrians pass through the open city gate.Me reclining and grinning in a spacious business class airplane seat under purple cabin lighting, pointing at the seat controls with personal storage and another passenger visible nearby.A playful action shot of Hugo and me near a roaring waterfall, Hugo crouching and laughing while I appear midair in a dramatic leap as water crashes down behind us.Hugo and I smiling closely together inside a busy bar, one holding a glass of amber beer, with warm indoor lighting and other patrons crowded in the background.Hugo and I taking a close selfie on a walkway beside the City of Arts and Sciences, with sweeping white modern architecture curving behind us under an overcast sky.Hugo and I smiling at night with a brightly lit fair behind us, featuring a glowing Ferris wheel, colorful rides, and crowds moving through the illuminated grounds.Hugo and I standing arm in arm on a stone terrace surrounded by tall trees, with historic fortress walls and towers rising behind us in bright daylight.

2025-12-29