Elisa's Daily Scoop London Throwback & 10 Free ThingsHey folks! How are you doing today? As you may have noticed, Tanya is settled into the great city of London! I'm a bit jealous - lol - I won't lie. But, oh, so happy for my little cuz! She had an interesting flight yesterday on her way across the pond, but happily, although a little hungry and having to deal with some rude individuals, she and Dave arrived in one piece. If you didn't catch it, CLICK HERE.  Just a few details about my day yesterday...we headed out to the barn for the second day in a row this week and although we left about 15 minutes, late, we made good time! What a difference a day makes - today was about eight degrees cooler and the humidity was much less and there was even a breeze in the air!! I can honestly say, it was a delightful day. Had my camera in hand and managed to get a few great shots of the girls riding today. You know, it's amazing - they get so excited when I'm merely hanging out there watching them. So, since it was at least bearable in the riding arena, I hung out for a little bit and snapped and filmed away. A few of the girls from the barn placed high this past weekend in the riding show. Gianna told me that the other barns hate when riders from Dream Come True Farm are at the shows because they always win!!  Happy in his stall (c)travelincousins.com  Gianna getting ready to jump (c)travelincousins.com  Kelsey riding Tigger (c)travelincousins.com I hope you take the time to peruse our site now and then. We have tried to make it chock full of interesting and useful information. We are also proud of the many guest writers who have contributed to the wealth of information on Travelin' Cousins. One of those writers happens to be Jason Biondo. Jason is a travel junkie who loves to share insightful tips to his fellow travellers and backpackers and previously shared with us, back in December of 2015, his insights about 10 Awesome Free Things to do in London. If you read my blog yesterday, you noted that London is, in addition to being the most visited city in the world, also ranks as the 6th most expensive city to live in. Clearly, not an inexpensive proposition when traveling. However, Jason cleverly points out numerous ways to enjoy this great destination without spending a dollar- or I should say, a pound.  Absolutely click on the link above and read the full article, but here are my Top 3 from Jason's list that will afford any tourist the feel of London without digging deep in their pockets: 1. Get a walking tour for free  Sandeman London (credit: www.visitlondon.com) I have traveled to many world cities and have to tell you, I LOVE Free Walking tours. In my opinion they are the best because they are so casual and the tour guides are usually quite passionate about what they do. Accoridng to Jason,"...get a free walking tour in London from Sandemans New Europe. Not only is it a free way to learn more about the city’s culture and beautiful history, but it also lets you take in mesmerizing sights, such as the Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament and Trafalgar Square." 2. Tour museums with free admission  Natural History Museum (credit: www.visitlondon.com) Taking tours of museums are the surest way to get a full overview of a cultures history through through art. Jason notes, "London has a number of museums that offer free access to the public, including Bank of England Museum, Museum of London Docklands, Museum of London, William Morris gallery, Queen’s House and National Maritime Museum. My personal favorite in London, however, is the Natural History Museum – a magnificent treasure trove where you can take a selfie or come face-to-face with a mighty T-Rex." 3. Watch the changing of the guard  (Credit: Changingtheguard.com) There is nothing more quintessential than the iconic changing of the guard at Buckinham Palace. It would almost be a crime to visit London withough experiencing this military tradition. "As one of the tradition’s spectators, you will get to see the Royal guards dressed elaborately in ceremonial uniform wonderfully perform the switch in sync. By the way, it takes place every day during summer, and every second day in winter," says Jason. And there you have it folks, three things that I'm hopeful Tanya will be enjoying during this, her second visit to London!! I've visited this historic city twice as well! At the tender age of 21, I took a trip to London with my family, during which my sister and our friend, Cheryl were intent on getting the guards at Buckingham Palace to laugh by making silly faces! I guess at 17 years old, they found this very amusing. Then in 2010, I went again, my second visit. Here I am in front of the London Eye!  In London with London Eye in the background (circa July 2010) Well I can tell you one thing, I cannot wait to go back to London with my girls and have another Travelin' Cousins good time! Much to do today. Hope you have a good one! -E xoxo | Tanya's Daily Scoop |
