25,000

WOW! I totally missed the 25,000th viewing of the blog! Thanks to all of you who check back on a regular basis...much appreciated. Photos of Iceland coming soon along with photos of Waxahachie friends stopping through London.

Final scenes from Dubrovnik

Finally, I am getting around to posting the last of the Croatia pictures....the final day was spent at Lokrum Island.

Also known as the island of kings, Lokrum has its first writing mention in 1023 as the site of a Benedictine abbey and monastery. According to legend, Richard the Lion-heart shipwrecked in 1192 after returning home from the crusades and found himself cast ashore, safe on Lokrum. Here he pledged to build a church on the island, indebted for the salvation, but at the plea of Dubrovnik citizens, the church was not built on Lokrum but in Dubrovnik itself.

Centuries later, with the rule of the Maximilian Ferdinand of Hapsburg, he built a mansion on the island in 1859 with magnificent gardens. Today, it is the site of the Dubrovnik Botanical Gardens.

The abandoned monastery and mansion.













Buddy enjoys a break from hiking.



Views of Dubrovnik from Lokrum Island.





The fort on Lokrum Island....site of the sprained ankle.



Swimming and hiking on Lokrum Island.

Taking a break from....

Well, we still continue to see lots of West End shows but we ahve taken a bit of break, given we are pretty caught up with the various productions. Lots of fun, new stuff headed this way over Christmas and early 2010, though.

Lately, we have been checking out all the FAB concerts this city has to offer. OK, so some will remember I actually took in a ZZ Top concert a few weeks back. Yes, the Hachie Gal. While not my favorite group, an icon in the music biz.

The last two weeks have seen something a bit more "my cup of tea". Two weeks ago, had the pleasure of seeing PINK MARTINI....at the Apollo Hammersmith. This theater was the largest Art Deco movie theater ever built in London, and now serves as a concert venue. In itself, pretty impressive...seats about 5000 or so???? Anyway, Pink Martini was everything I thought they would be...I could listen to them for hours. Even played my fav tune, "Hang on Little Tomato". I truly wished the evening would never have ended.

This week, even amidst some illness, checked out SNOW PATROL at the Royal Albert Hall. Different sound, of course, but played over 2 1/2 hours....equally enjoyable.

Next up? Well, kinda embarassed to admit it, but hey-ho, it is their Christmas concert. We are "Il Divo" bound in a couple of weeks.

Yep, eclectic.

Happy Thanksgiving, one and all

Well, the official UK Turkey Day celebration for the London Young clan is slated for this coming Saturday! Still, I can celebrate the spirit of Thanksgiving....giving thanks for the blessings received....even over a meal of fish and chips at the local pub.

Yep...that's how I spent my Thanksgiving with the Budman.

All the best to you and yours on this day!

Crouch, touch, pause, engage

OK...I finally experienced one of the quintessential English sports experiences...RUGBY!

Took in my first match last Saturday, on a rainy fall day at Twickenham stadium. Not the best of efforts from "the man", Johnny Wilkinson, but a win is a win.

England 16, Argentina 9.

And why dos the English fans sing "Swing low, sweet chariot" at the game?

Cats of Croatia

I could not help myself...around every little corner, there were felines scampering through the corridors of Dubrovnik's Old Town. After the fifth or sixth pair of eyes and wet noses, and lots of furry bodies weaving in and out of my legs, I could no longer resist....

and with this, I bring you the CATS OF CROATIA!

Dubrovnik by night

No vacation is complete without the obligatory scouting of the night shots...Dubrovnik had the lighting of their public buildings down to an art form which made the job of the amateur photographer much easier.

UK Remembrance Day

Today is a national holiday in the UK: Remembrance Day. November 11th is the date set aside in memory of those who have given their lives or suffered in all wars and conflicts.

In the days leading up to the holiday, all Brits take to wearing a red poppy on their lapels to honor the day and those who have lost their lives.

Dubrovnik's Old Town

The entrance to Dubrovnik's very compact old town holds the keys to a charming sets of winding streets...polished to a high gloss from centuries of foot traffic. Lots of white buildings, meandering cobblestone streets, fabulous architecture, picturesque shops...

It was a hot one while we were in Croatia...so we did plenty of reclining at outdoor restaurants conveniently located in the shade of the buildings of the old town.