It's crystal clear: I had to visit Crystal Palace Park

It was a bright sunny morning, this morning, so I took advantage of it and left my hole to go to visit something new: Crystal Palace Park.

Lovely.

Full of different areas that make you feel in a different place from every side of it. I'll try to map it for you:

a- You will start your tour from the Italian Terraces, ancient atmosphere and huge view on London surrounding hills... so relaxing, you will feel like having a real italian "reggia" at your shoulders, with an upper and lower level linked by stairs and sculptures.

b- take one direction or the other and you'll find the egyptian sphinxes, which will bring you on the other side of mediterranean sea, even if you won't feel that hot (it was freezing this morning... lucky me I have my fur!)

c- moving on, go over the concert bowl and enjoy the wide view of the grass surrounded by trees and ponds shining at the sunlight.

d- you'll arrive at the park cafè after a good walk, just to enjoy a whole meal (such fish and chips plates!) or just a hot drink. I opted for the Parma ham and mozzarella panino. Do you think it's good enough for a bear? I appreciated a lot anyway.

e- once ready you can start your tour among the dinosaurs theme park. It's an amazing area full of ponds and falls and plants and flowers, where dinosaurs statues stand for an interesting prehistoric adventure. Jumping in the past you can also listen to Darwin's audio trail to know more about these animals. In case you have forgotten your mobile or don't have an internet connection you can listen here: http://www.audiotrails.co.uk/dinosaurs/

f- at the end of it, pass by the children's farm, go through the sport centre (just in the middle of the park) and Crystal Palace stadium, to find yourself back to the grand central walk Here you'll find the I WW bell.

g- the tour is actually complete, I can say (crystal clear!) Crystal Palace is a fantastic park, can't wait to visit it in other seasons to see different colors and shadows.

Once the musical

Once I knew I was off I decided to book the ticket for Once.

Once I got the ticket I couldn't wait to see the cast playing and singing in Once.

Once I arrived at the Theatre I realized I had also an upgrade to the stalls... for once!

Once I took my seat I could go on the stage as... there's a surprise to discover... at least once!

Once I sat down I could order my cocktail to be delivered "sur place", during the interval, to drink once.

Once the lights went down and the show started I could finally hear "Falling slowly" live for once (or twice).

Once the interval arrived I could receive my Piña Colada at my seat, without drinking it all at once.

Once the show finished I was melancholic but happy as it's been so sweet and emotional, glad I could see it once...

Holidays memories

Holidays are over. I should have written what I did and saw as London was glittering, as usual, but I had my bear-family here and I did everything but ignoring them writing on this blog.

I had such a lovely time, eating out with them, trying new restaurants (oh they are all so cozy in this magic city with a little bear like me!), showing them new sides of London.
So here I am now, with the best moments of Christmas period:

1. Paddington movie: well, it's so sweet you can't stop loving him. Of course I adored it as bear-colleague but even more as the film starts showing an earthquake in Peru that make Paddington take the decision to move to London. Maybe you don't know but I came to London as well after and earthquake and Paddington made me feel again the same emotions of moving on, getting used to a new city, learning a lot of new habits, of course without forgetting some marmelade: let's make life easy!

2. New Year's Eve, we went to see the fireworks at the London Eye. It was simply amazing. First of all when the countdown begins on the Shard, midnight comes, the Big Ben bells start as well as the first fireworks: that's such an emotional moment!
I won't forget this!

3. Christmas lights all over London: just beautiful and warm

Southbank Christmas Market from London Eye

4. Shopping centers windows: always full of fantasy and creative touch

5. Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park: it's so funny when it opens as it's sad when it ends up... waiting for another Christmas to come, next year, and it will be unforgettable as always.

Let's make this 2015 fantastic then!