London: Pas Paris, mais pas mal...

French for Paris weather is much better than yours

For the Parisian aficionado, London will always remain the drab, stuffy stepsister who was invited to the ball of world cities by chance, certainly not by wit or beauty. Before last year I had visited London during summer vacations, thus the London I knew was bright and cheery with red phone booths and long sunny days, untainted by the snotty French bias. During my semester in Paris, I frequented London often and learned firsthand why jokes about London weather abound. A European Seattle, the city lives in a brown and gray wardrobe. On a side note, in a rare ironic justice, just after my arrival in Paris on May 19th, the French experienced a very Londonesque spell; for two weeks I carried my umbrella everywhere and debated buying a winter coat.

But before long, Paris weather turned and I scheduled a weekend trip in June to London, figuring at least I wouldn't be exchanging the best of Paris weather for a dreary weekend. However, my roommate and I had luck with the weather karma gods-it rained in Paris all weekend while London couldn't have been better with upper seventies and sunshine.

Now when traveling in London, the weather isn't the only thing to discuss. Always one to prefer dessert before dinner, London shopping should be discussed first. The specialty store, Harrods, is a London staple and food lover's paradise. But what would Britain be without tea? If you envision sipping tea from fine porcelain cups while perched on plush embroidered chairs beneath crystal chandeliers, book at least four weeks in advance for tea at the Ritz. If like most, the signs of your future craving for a spot of tea occur less than a month away, there are still plenty of other enjoyable options at fine food stores like Fortnum & Mason or restaurants like the Wolsley. As one of London's best spots to "see and be seen", (the magnificent open space houses impressive columns, Chinese lacquered wall panels, and London's attractive power scene), beyond highly recommending the tea at the Wolsley, go for delicious drinks and a satisfying dinner. Soho is a fun area to go out in and Old Compton Street serves as its artery of action. Cafe Boheme, near the end, skillfully combines the liveliness of happening bars with a chill enough attitude that actually allows patrons to hear what each other speak.

While shopping is really the crux of any true holiday, eventually you run out of money and need to find something more to sustain your time. At this point I opted for the educational side of London. The six-year-old Tate Modern on the South Bank is a work of art in and of itself. The sloped hallway to the museum past one of the entrances is lined with recordings of people speaking (imagine walking through the sound waves of many different telephone calls), and both the permanent and temporary exhibits are always fascinating. If you want to be original in your sight-seeing, then frequent the lesser-known place to see modern art: the Royal Academy of Art near Piccadilly Circus. A prestigious art school and society, it boasts a valuable permanent collection and its summer collection showcases the for sale artwork of academics and students.

As for the other traditional stops in London to see-watching the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and visiting Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, or St. Paul's Cathedral-one time, in my humble opinion, is enough because they don't change. If the weather is agreeable, take advantage of one of the lovely parks: Regent Park, Hyde Park or Kensington Gardens, which houses the entertaining Speaker's Corner (traditional soap-box ranting spot) on Sundays. In order to gain a sense of the city, try the double decker bus system instead of taking the tube, which is not only less expensive, but also gives you a tour of the city for free. Hope for an extremely clear day and ride the London Eye for a bird's eye view.

No trip to London would be complete without a show. This past time I went to the architecturally significant Prince Albert Hall to see "Showboat", a Rodgers and Jerome production and the oldest musical, debuting in 1927. London is the New York of Europe, so whether you prefer plays, musicals, live jazz or a concert, there's something for you. Thus, regardless of the temperature, I highly recommend a quick trip to London. During the off-season, airlines often offer round-trip tickets from New York for as low as $300. Just in case, be sure to remember an umbrella!

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