It's spring!

Sakura

There is a bulgarian tradition on March 1st, where 'martenitsi' are exchanged with friends and family. Martenitsi are bracelets or ornaments made of white and red string, and are a symbol of health and happiness. They have to be worn until spring comes, or until you come across a stork or blooming tree. In the latter case, you have to tie your martenitsa to the tree. Here are my martenitsi tied to perhaps a cherry blossom (sakura) tree or maybe a plum tree....in any case, a blossoming tree :) It's spring in the UK!

More info on this tradition here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martenitsa

My collection of 3 martenitsi tied together

London Love

Umbrellas at Picadilly Circus

There's something about London...it makes me happy. The city has soul. Behind the old buildings and rainy weather, life is vibrant.
Everything seems to be moving at a frantic pace: people walk fast, taxis and double deckers pass you by in lightning speed. In the middle of all this chaos, there's even room for mounted police (with their own traffic lights depicting horses).
There are people everywhere. Lots of people and all kinds of people. From pretty yuppie boys to punks, the city has it all covered.
There is always something happening, wherever you look: while waiting to cross the street, a rollerblader 'flash mob' passes you by in a flash second (some even brought their dogs with them!). Walk by Trafalgar Square, and more than likely, there'll be a gathering or manifestation of some sort (sometimes it's hard to tell what it is for, as everyone seems to be supporting different causes). With so much going on, and so much to see, I don't think I could ever be bored in this city.

Double deckers rushing by

Big Ben and the London Eye

Fashion victims?

When I arrived in England, the temperature was about 0C. I was wearing a winter coat, a hat, and mittens. But when a guy on the street asked me if I was cold, I soon realized that I was overdressed compared to the locals. I arrived on a Saturday, when everyone was going out. The 'going-out outfit' consists of: a short dress, sandals, and no coat. Why not wear a coat in the winter? Is it  because of fashion, because they're resistent to the cold weather, or because they do not want to forget/lose their coat at the bar? (there are coat checks in clubs, and they're fairly unexpensive- and empty).

While I thought it might be an 'England' thing, there was recently an article written in a UK publication about the phenomenon. So I guess not everyone agrees with this type of attire! Click on the link below to read the article and see the pictures of freezing girls (at the bottom right corner of each picture, it is indicated where the pic was taken, and what was the temperature at the time). P.S. I really hope someone helped the girl sleeping in the snow after the picture was taken...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1242198/Youre-going-dressed-like-Snow-joke-did-.html