Crafting Hiatus

This picture was taken in San Telmo, a neighborhood in Buenos Aires. On Sundays, crafters line Defensa Avenue to sell their creations. This crafter's name is Daniel Bobadilla. I purchased one of these bags. LOVE it. My laptop fits in it perfectly. He actually had to finish the bag I picked out ...I saw it behind him on a table and asked him if I could have it and he told me to come back in 15 minutes after he had finished it. He gave me his card with his Flickr URL: http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielbobadilla/sets Appears he is also quite a photographer.

This is the longest I have gone without a post since starting this blog in May of 2007. Since March I have been traveling for work and I've been keeping everybody updated via Facebook (you can find me here). My travels have taken me to London, Paris, Calcutta, Hyderabad, Uruguay, and now Buenos Aires. I've been taking advantage of any free time by going to see all of the sites--the pics are on Facebook. I should be back in the U.S. on 7/3. I am looking forward to getting back into my craft room, I do miss it! But I miss my little girl even more as you can probably imagine!

New Friends in Kolkata

Mohan and Aditi own a tea and coffee business and live in Kolkata. I met them at the hotel last night and they were kind enough to call me up today to see if I wanted to get out and see some of Kolkata with them. They took me to Swabhumi, a very nice shopping area where you can buy handicrafts like this purse.

They also took me out for a nice lunch which is where we saw the dancers in this video. I leave for home in three more days. I've met some very nice people in Kolkata. It's amazing how that happens when you leave your hotel room.

Indian Drivers are Crazy!

Since I posted last, Bows and I have been to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Oxford. We are now in Hyderabad, India. So far I have been very entertained with my drives in a cab to and from work each day. The approach to driving here is completely chaotic. It's just crazy. I almost had 4 heart attacks in the cab today. Horns are used as signals, constantly. Everybody drives every which way, pulling out in front of each other, coming within inches of smashing each other, yet I haven't seen one accident yet. I can't put anything into words that would describe the chaos. It's amazing.


In Hyderabad I've learned that this city is well known for it's Pearls. I would like to go shopping for some. I'm also told by several Indians that the food in India is spiciest in Hyderabad. They have one mixture of ingredient they use and it's call gun powder. I like Mexican food and that is spicy but I can't hardly eat the Indian food here. I cough after each bite.

I taught my first 8 hour class today and it went well considering it was my first presentation to a large group of people in a looonnng time.

London - Days 2 and 3

I have to say the internet connection I have at the Easy Hotel is horrible. It sucks actually. I am not posting as much as I'd like because of it. Maybe I'll have a better connection at the hotel in Paris or India. I've just spent several hours trying to upload photos and more than half failed. I need to get to bed now because I am getting picked up for my trip to Paris at 4:45 a.m. tomorrow. I'll be staying over night in Paris, getting back late Saturday night. I don't know when the next time is that I'll be able to post.

Yesterday I toured the British Museum and took several pictures there (that I haven't been able to show yet). I also toured the West End of London which includes the theater and Soho districts. This is my favorite area in London. After a really nice supper at the Criterion at Piccadilly Circus I attended Mamma Mia at the Prince of Whales Theatre. ABBA is one of my favorite bands so I really enjoyed the performance.



Don't know what these horses are but this photo is only one of a few that I am in so I thought I would share it. Some stranger was kind enough to take it for me.

Today I did the Westminster walk and then went back to Soho and did some shopping. Picked up some really cute things at the Octopus which does not have a website yet but when they do I will be sure to share the link because they have the coolest stuff!!! The person who worked there told me that there would be online shopping.

I have posted more pictures on facebook.

And just so you know, Lydia, Bows is having a great time too. Here she is at Big Ben...
...and at Parliament...

...and at the London Eye on the Thames River...
...and finally relaxing after a long day.

I love you Lydia!

London Day 1

It is 2 a.m. London time. It's been a long but fun day. The flight wasn't so bad because there was an empty seat next to me so I was able to lay down and sleep for 4 or 5 hours. I found my way to my hotel pretty easily via the Underground (tube). Today I saw the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge. I didn't take the tour of the Tower of London though because I arrived 30 minutes before closing. I may go back to do the tour. I also took a 2 hour London by Night sightseeing tour which was worth the 15 p.

Some things I noticed today:
1. People in London walk really fast and there are lots of steps everywhere! I'm a fast walker, or so I thought, and had a hard time keeping up.
2. Pop comes in 2 Liter bottles vs. 1
3. They hand out free newspapers all over the place
4. No washcloths??

I took 111 pictures today. Too many to post here. I will get them up on Flickr or something like that soon. I'm here and safe and hitting the rack! Good day for now...cheerio.