There’s a culture behind absolutely everything in life.

It serves the people who are involved in the industry or those who just like a particular hobby or subject. Though some things in life have a much bigger culture than others, like coffee.

These days, coffee is way more than just a perk-up drink. Some may say it always was, but it’s definitely become more popular and attracted more followers worldwide in the last 15 years than ever. In fact, I’d dare to say that the coffee and cafe culture that exists today might be even bigger than that off wine.

I love that everything has a culture and a following. One of my favorite activities is seeing where events lead me and ending up at some random place with people who are completely dedicated to something.

Following the trails of events dedicated to a particular subject has allowed me to be taught by one of the world’s most popular belly dancers, it’s led me to abandoned warehouses in North Philadelphia with epic parties and this weekend it brought me to The London Coffee Festival.

Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Because of my love for getting involved in different cultures and the fact that my dad is a metal salesman and almost every industry needs that, I’ve been to a lot of trade shows, which is basically what London Coffee Festival is, but better because it involves food, drink and is set in a very trendy Shoreditch warehouse.

Basically, it was my Woodstock.

I think I drank a total of six cups of coffee during my six-hour visit. I swear they were only little. I was so wired by the time I reached the last barista, I’m surprised he didn’t turn me away.

Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

I learned a million new ways to make a cuppa and saw just as many devices used to do so. Am I the only person who didn’t know what an Aeropress was? I saw beans being roasted, pouring techniques, coffee art and learned about coffee harvesting around the world. Plus, like any trade show, visitors received loads of free samples and tastings.

Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

It started as soon as I entered Old Truman Brewery and was handed a bag filled with the 2012 edition of The London Coffee Guide, mints, chips and more. During the event I got to try ice cream, cheeses, chai and chocolate. Google Local London gave me a free bag Union hand-roasted coffee beans for filling out reviews of London cafes on Google+.

Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

It’s the first time I’ve ever been to a barista competition, which are quite intense. It’s kind of funny to watch people make coffee in front of an audience and judges while dance music plays in the background for people, like me, who have never seen it before.

It is an art though and great to see the best in action.

The UK Aeropress Championship took place at the London Coffee Festival. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Further, there were some very innovative ideas and products on display that visitors of the event are often the first to see and can purchase usually at a discount. A few things amazed me.

The first was the Grower’s Cup Coffeebrewer, which is basically a French press in a bag. This appealed to me especially as a traveler, because your guaranteed to have good coffee on you and the tools to make it, no matter where you go.  I had visions of road trips when I saw it.

I sampled coffee from the Grower’s Cup Coffeebrewer upon arrival. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

I also liked BlankBox’s coffee subscription program. Basically, people subscribe to BlankBox as they would a magazine and for ￡10 a month receive a box with two bags of coffee beans from a variety of roasters to try. What’s interesting is that the bags are unmarked and only have a small red or blue colored box on each. You try the blend first and can check online to see where it was roasted and learn more about the blend.

The last thing I liked was Rok Kitchen Tools’ Espresso Maker. If you haven’t noticed, there has been an increase in at-home coffee machines lately that claim to make artisan coffees from little pods and tastes ‘just like the cafe’. It’s a cool idea, but I’ve yet to find one that actually accomplishes that. I thought Rok’s tool was really fun, because you get to play barista and be hands on, but it’s really straight forward and produces a great shot of espresso. Plus, you can use coffee beans from wherever you like. It requires no electricity other than to boil your water or heat your milk and even comes with a milk frother. Look at the video below to see how it works.

There were also endless educational talks and demonstrations offered throughout the festival, including a Lindt chocolate and coffee pairing. I’m sure everyone wanted to volunteer for that one. They even had parties, coffee-inspired cocktails and live music performances throughout the festival. Coffee martini anyone?

The only problem with going to any festival of experts in a certain area, especially one as hip as coffee, is that some of the people can be quite pretentious. It was rare, but it was definitely there.

Overall I had such a good time and the value of samples, advice and coffee was worth much more than the prices of admission. I can’t encourage travelers enough to visit one of these shows no matter what the focus. They’re so much fun, a great learning experience and include some really interesting products. The Coffee Festival was especially good, but you can’t really go wrong with good coffee though can you?

The London Coffee Festival granted me press admission to cover this event.

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What makes a good cabaret?

Is it the sex appeal of the performers, their acrobatic or dance ability? Is it the costumes and personality the people on stage? Or does the venue and crowd set it apart from every other show in town?

The Black Cat Cabaret’s answer to this: all of the above.

With acts ranging from a jump-roping tap dancer to a fire-breathing goddess, and a bold and hilarious MC to bring it all together, this is truly a cabaret that will entertain everyone.

Missy Macabre performs her pyro act at The Black Cat Cabaret. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

In a city that has endless cabaret options, maybe The Black Cat got it right by basing their show on the original. The first modern cabaret opened in 1881 in Montmartre Paris, France called Le Chat Noir, which translates of course to ‘the black cat’. The show featured a variety of performances to indulge the Bohemian society of its time.

Dusty Limits, Black Cat’s presenter and one of its creators, explains the show’s history quickly at the start of the night. Dawning a feathered blazer and paling make up, he spends the rest of the night getting the audience involved (even sitting on a few laps), singing, dancing and having everyone in stitches with his quick comebacks and perfectly-timed jokes.

Dusty Limits kicks off The Black Cat Cabaret. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Throughout the two-hour show, Dusty introduces over ten acts. It’s hard to pick a favorite at a show like this, where everyone is amazing for different reasons. Jesse Love’s jump-rope, tap dance routine was adorable, but the Cabaret Rouge trio really made me feel like I was in a club in Paris rather than London with their can-can performance and menage a trois, interpretive dance. I usually enjoy aerial-hoop performances like Bret Pfister’s and pyro acts like Missy Macabre’s the most, but I didn’t want the hilarious Eastend Cabaret duo to end either.

Cabaret Rouge in the middle of their three-some dance routine. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Bret Pfister stuns people from above. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Made up of an accordion-playing, she-man and spotlight-stealing sphinx, Eastend Cabaret had the audience roaring as the wandered through it and sang a song on stage with the refrain, “It was still hard.”. I’ll left you interpret that one.

Eastend Cabaret competes for the spotlight. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

The duo point and yell “pretentious stalker” at an audience member. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Every act is memorable for a different reason and unique to the core. On top of an original performance, their choice of music was always carried out by Michael Roulston; the show’s piano player on the side of the stage, their own instruments (including a musical saw) or other means. But no matter the song, they always stick to the time period of cabaret’s origins, even turning Beyonce’s hip hop “Crazy in Love” into a fast-paced 1900′s hit version of the song.

While the show would be good just about anywhere, the venue for The Black Cabaret plays a leading role as well.

Champagne comes with sparklers at Cafe de Paris. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

It takes place in Cafe de Paris’s Titanic Room. The French-inspired club is an obvious fit for a show of Parisian origins. Walking into this famous London club, you’re actually on the upper level. Once going through a dimly-lit hallway with red decor, the club opens up in a sort of theater in the round way. The cheap seats (£12-15), at the upper level, line a balcony looking down to a small stage with Cafe de Paris in gold across the top. Two grand staircases line the stage and lead people to a dining area with massive circular tables and crisp white cloths. To sit in this area during the show you must pay for a two or three course dinner (£47.50-52.50). The VIP three-course dinner is £75.00.

The performers make use of every area Cafe de Paris has to offer them. They parade around the top level at the start of the show. They descend to the stage on open staircases. They sing from a small balcony just above the stage. And of course, they wander through the audience throughout the night.

Sammy Dinneen makes handstands look sexy. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Overall, it’s everything you would expect of a cabaret in perfect proportion: excess.

The resurgence of cabaret in modern times has allowed for different spins on an old show, but there’s a reason that old show has come to popularity again. People want to see what the Bohemians were partying about, why cabaret was so entertaining and to have a little escape from the current state of the world. The Black Cabaret does just that, presenting cabaret exactly as it was intended.

See The Black Cat Cabaret every Friday at Cafe de Paris. Doors open at 7pm and show starts at 8:30pm. If you’re purchasing general admission, arrive early as seats are first come, first serve and it’s very hard to see from certain spots. The show is known to sell out, especially dinner options, so book in advance.

The Black Cat Cabaret granted me press admission to cover this show.

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La Belle Epoque or “The Beautiful Era” was a period in French history, between the end of the Franco-Prussian War (1871) and outbreak of World War I (1914).  During this period, world fairs were opening, music, art and theater were thriving, people were prosperous and happy.

It was one of those times we all refer to as the ‘good ol’ days’. An era many wish they could be apart of and a party life that would be hard to recreate, until now.

Belle Epoque Circus Party aims to take the people of London away to another place and time at their celebrations happening once every couple of months in locations around the city. (The next is June 15 at Bloomsbury Ballroom.)

Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

I attended their April 13th Belle Epoque Party at the Village Underground in Shoreditch. I’ve been to themed parties in the past, but none ever this detailed and dedicated to accuracy. Belle Epoque is not just another night out, it’s an experience and everyone gets involved.

The present disappeared as I walked into the Village Underground and guests walking in with me shed their coats to reveal bustiers, bow ties and thigh-high stockings. Part of the reason this party works so well is because the people who attend are so into it.

Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

If you feel a bit under-dressed or out of place, the party has makeup artists on site doing complimentary vintage make overs. Lauren of The Beauty Queens added some sparkle around my eyes to go with my look. After putting on my best turn-of-the-20th-century face, it was time to get into the right mindset. The bar at Belle Epoque sells time-inspired cocktails, like The Gatsby, for about ￡8 each.

Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Red drink in hand, red skirt above, the first acrobat to perform during the night took to the middle of the dance floor at 9:30pm. Slinging herself back and fourth on a rope, the crowd stopped their dancing for a few minutes, all eyes gazing to the sky.

Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

This area and part of the Belle Epoque party is definitely its biggest draw. An open dance floor at ground level, the limits set by a balcony above it where onlookers have the chance to take in the party completely. At one point, I looked from above at the crowd below who could’ve been dancing to “Tha-Ma-Ra-Boum-Di-He” by Polaire , rather than “You’ve got the love,” by Florence and the Machine, which the DJ on stage was spinning at the moment. I’ve watched a lot of circus and cabaret shows in the past, but I’ve never felt so much apart of one.

Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Five more acrobats performed throughout the night, which went on until 2am. The party succeeds so well in taking people away, that you feel sort of nervous to leave. It almost feels like coming home from an exotic holiday.

Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

The next Belle Epoque party will be on Saturday, June 15 at Bloomsbury Ballroom. You can purchase tickets, which cost £20 each, online. The whole point of the party is to follow the theme of the night, so wear your best time-inspired get up, but at least get dressed up. They take the dress code very seriously, Ric was turned away for wearing sneakers and jeans, and with good reason. The fact that everyone was involved and dressed to the nines is what makes this experience so special.

Belle Epoque granted me press admission to review this exhibit. All opinions are my own.

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We all know the usual London itinerary: Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Shakespeare’s Globe and Abbey Road if you care about Rock ‘n’ Roll. But in a city as large and historical as London, these items give only a glimpse of what the city has to offer.

One of London’s best qualities is its surprise factor. You never know what you’re going to find here when you lose yourself to the city. Even born and bred Londoners will admit that they often find alley ways full of shops they never knew about until stumbling upon it by accident. So in a city of endless things to offer, here are a few more activities you might not have known about, but should definitely add to the list of things to do on your next visit.

Churchill War Rooms

Considering how heavily bombed London was during World War II, it’s always good to see things that were unaffected by the war, especially the bunker that protected England’s prime minister at the time, Winston Churchill. Left just as they were the day the war ended, a trip down to the Cabinet War Rooms is a trip back in time.

On the self-guided tour, you’ll see where Churchill slept as well as one of his cigars, where him and his advisers discussed the war and set out plans for their attack and much more. The underground activity also has a museum dedicated to the prime minister’s life.

Where Churchill slept on late nights in the War Rooms during the war. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

The Courtauld Gallery

A professor took me to this gallery while studying abroad in London in 2007 and I’ve been agonizing over finding it until I stumbled upon it recently. Located in the Somerset House, the Courtauld Gallery houses one of the best collections of Impressionist paintings I’ve seen in the world. Home to Van Gough’s Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear and religious paneling dating back to the 1300s, it’s an incredible spot for art lovers.

Ben Franklin’s House

Known as the first American embassy in London, Ben Franklin lived at what is now 36 Craven Street from 1757 to 1775, 18 very important years in US/English history.

The tour of this house is like no other I’ve been on before. It starts with a brief video about Franklin and his contributions to the world. Then an actress playing one of the house’s inhabitants greets the room and takes visitors on a tour of the hose. The rooms are bare, besides a few objects, but between the actress/guide, videos projected on the wall and sounds, visitors learn the story of Franklin’s time in England and how it came to an end.

Between an actress playing Polly, daughter to the owner of the house and friend to Franklin, and videos projected on the walls, visitors learn about Franklin’s time in London. Photo by Bobbi Lee Hitchon

Museum of London

I’ve visited a lot of museums in London, mainly because I’m usually poor when I’m here and they’re free, and the Museum of London is my absolute favorite. Learn about the city’s origins, it’s Roman and medieval history and experience its more recent history. The museum is very hands on and even allows visitors to walk through London in previous times. Plus it’s free!

Holland Park

Don’t get me started on parks in this city. They’re the best in the world. Some are very well organized with rose gardens and fountains, others are wild, but all are well-maintained. Holland Park has a bit of everything, but the reason it’s on this list is because it has peacocks (look at banner photo). They just wander around the grounds and you’ll even see them on top of certain buildings in the gardens. Another great free thing to do in the city, on warm days of course. Plus, the park is home to Belvedere, one of Marco Pierre White’s restaurants.

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The 2012 Olympics are well underway and if you’re in London for the big event chances are you’ll want to take some time away to check out local sights and culture. Unfortunately, attending an event as big as as the Olympics, not to mention staying in an already expensive city during it, will leave visitors with very little spare change to spend on touring.

Not to worry. The city’s free activities and affordable food spots will allow you to have a full day of exploring for under £50. So when you have a day off between women’s skeet shooting and men’s artistic gymnastics, here’s how to see London on a budget.

8 a.m.

First things first, purchase a Day Anytime Travelcard for London’s extensive transportation system. At £8.40, this card will allow you to travel around zones 1 and 2 by Tube, bus and more. If you’re staying in the city and moving about for a longer period of time, look into their 7-day and monthly travel cards or even consider purchasing an Oyster Card. You can purchase cards online and at various tube stations.

Now that transportation is covered for the day, let’s get moving. First stop is the St. James’s Park Tube Station. You’ll exit at a roundabout, head left down Petty France toward Buckingham Gate (these are street names). At the very end of Petty France, on the right corner, you’ll see Bon Gusto, our first stop, a small cafe with blue awnings.

This Italian cafe serves Full English Breakfasts, a staple in any Brit’s diet, at £4.50, which is a great price for the meal anywhere in England, let alone one of its most tourist areas.

So what exactly is a Full English Breakfast?

Photo by JohnEWootton (Flikr)

Bacon, sausage, hash browns, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, baked beans, toast and fried eggs. While black pudding is the final ingredient to a full, Full English, you won’t find the pig’s blood delicacy included in every cafe’s breakfast. With or without the black pudding, it’s a hearty meal, perfect for a full day of sightseeing. The total for this meal along with a drink: £6

Total for the day: £14.40

9:30 AM

Whether rolling away or walking, it might be a good idea to get just a little bit of exercise after such a massive breakfast. After your meal head over to St. James’s Park for a quick browse around.

If there’s one thing the English know how to do right, it’s parks, and with this one being pretty much in Queen Elizabeth’s front yard, minutes away from Buckingham Palace, you can bet it’ll be in top form. While an hour isn’t nearly enough time to explore this park to the fullest, here are a few spots to start with: The Blue Bridge, Pelicans (fed daily 2:30-3 p.m.) and Horseguards Parade.

Hyde Park is nearby, but a bit too far to reach in the time allowed. It’s well-worth a visit and a great way to spend a few hours in London in the Summer.

Total for the day: £14.40

To reach St. James’s Park from Bon Gusto, turn right on Buckingham Gate and another right on Birdcage Walk and you’ll see St. James’s Park to the left.

10:30 a.m.

Don’t get too lost in St. James’s Park as you’ll need to head back to Buckingham Palace for its famous Changing of the Guard.

The ceremony kicks off at 11:15/11:30 a.m., but it would be a good idea to arrive somewhat early to find a good viewing spot. This is one of London’s most notable activities. The event will give you time to check out one of the UK’s many castles and watch a royal tradition.

Who knows, maybe Liz will even give a wave from her window.

Note: Changing of the Guard does not happen every day, so check the link above to make sure it is scheduled the day you wish to visit Buckingham Palace.

Total for the day: £14.40

To reach Buckingham Palace from St. James’s Park just head down The Mall in the direction of the Palace. It’s hard to miss.

12 p.m.

After viewing one of the country’s most famous royal traditions, it’s time to take in its political and religious icons. Only a 15-minute walk from Buckingham Palace down Birdcage Walk and right on Abingdon Street is Westminster Abbey, Parliament and of course, Big Ben. (Fun fact: Big Ben is actually the name of the bell in the tower.) All these attractions are worth a proper visit and tour, but since we’re on a tight time and money budget, a walk around the area and a few photos will suffice.

Marked on this map is all the stops mentioned above in order from A to F.

1 p.m.

One thing you’ll notice about travel in London is that almost everything you do is a cultural, even public transit. Instead of taking the tube again, let’s grab one of England’s red double-decker buses and travel from London’s political Westminster to its old-world and artistic South Bank.

The route will be from where we left off in the Westminster area (ex. Westminster Station) to Borough Market. To avoid getting too technical now, we’ll leave planning of this route up to you on the day and hour you choose to take it. There are a few options available and you can always plan your journey online.

Photo by Danny McLaughlin (Flikr)

Borough Market is not only a great foodie experience, but a serious historical experience. A food market in the Borough area dates back as far as 1014. The current market location on Borough High Street near London Bridge has been there since the 13th Century.

It really feels like you’re visiting another century when walking through the packed market. Traders from all over go there to sell an array of goodies from specialty meats to artisan breads. The market has so much to offer and the best thing about it: free samples! You could literally fill yourself with food just sampling the goods here, but the market also sells affordable food and drinks.

The only drawback is that this place isn’t 24 hours. Closed on Sundays, only open for lunch Monday to Wednesday and offering the full market Thursday to Saturday. Check their website before visiting for updates times and events.

You could spend your whole day as well as all your money here. But since time and money are of the essence, we’re going to say £10 is enough for a decent lunch in the area, whether you buy a savory pie and coffee or a baguette and dips.

Total for the day: £24

2:30 p.m.

South Bank offers two parallels in arts and entertainment. Dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries people can learn about one of the country’s greatest writers by visiting Shakespeare’s Globe. Not far away, people can view some of the country’s most recent treasured masterpieces at the Tate Modern.

While this is a reconstructed version of Shakespeare’s Globe, the real one was located nearby and you can see an outline of its layout there, it will give you an idea of what it was like to be in London during the English Renaissance. The theater is still very active. It features several Shakespearean plays a year as well as tours. Unfortunately, both these things are costly so a quick look around is all for now.

Photo of the Globe by Stephskimo (Flikr)

However, our next stop, Tate Modern, is free. The museum features modern and contemporary art from 1900 to today, including works by Damien Hirst, Salvador Dali and Henri Matisse. Plus, the gallery is always featuring new, exciting and even playful exhibitions. This massive building once hosted three massive silver slides by Carsten Holler, as high as 5 story’s. Now that’s art I think everyone will enjoy. Check their website before visiting to find out what’s on now, or just be surprised upon arrival.

If the modern and contemporary art isn’t your cup of tea, the city has a plethora of museums to visit, most of which are free to enter.

To reach the Shakespeare’s Globe from Borough Market (Southwark/Borough High Street), head northwest on Bedale Street, this becomes Cathedral Street (slight right) and than Winchester Square (slight left). Turn right toward Clink Street and left onto Clink Street. Turn right onto Bank End which becomes Bankside with a left at the Thames. Continue straight until you reach the theater on your left.

Tate Modern is pretty much next door. Continue on Bankside to The Queen’s Walk and you’ll see the museum located in an old power station to the left.

The route from Borough Market to Shakespeare's Globe. Tate Modern is next door.

Total for the day: £24

4:30 p.m.

Complete your tour of South Bank with a stroll across the Tower Bridge. You might want to call it London Bridge, but the one we’re looking for is called Tower Bridge. Built in 1894, this is the city’s most symbolic bridge, which will feature the five-colored rings on it throughout the Olympic games. While walking across check out the Thames even have a look at the Tower of London when you reach the other side.

Check out this tour by London Toolkit. For this section of our tour take the route from marker 14 (Tate Modern) to the Tower Hill Tube Station.

The walk above provided by London Toolkit offers the most scenic route which will keep you along the Thames as much as possible. Follow markers 14 (Tate Modern) to Tower Hill Station across the Thames. From Tower Hill take the Tube back to your accommodation for a quick rest and shower to get ready for the night.

7 p.m.

While there is much debate over what is England’s national dish these days, chicken tikka masala is definitely a national favorite. For this reason, instead of heading to a chippy for fish and chips or a pub for bangers and mash (you’ll have plenty of chances to do both while in London), you’ll be heading to Brick Lane for curry.

While so much of London is idyllically British, these days the city offers strong influences from all over the world, including Asia. You can sample an array of curries here and for a bargain, literally. Shop workers stand outside their restaurants throwing out deals to passer-bys.

“Free poppadoms.”

“I’ll throw in a bottle of wine.”

Test your haggling skills before sitting down for a serious feast.

We’re going to recommend spending about £20 here for food and drink, maybe less. Regardless, you’ll have enough for a pint at a bar on Brick Lane or at one of the many pubs you passed by during this day of touring London. No recommendations for this item on the agenda. London has plenty of pubs to offer. Whether it be the classic pub look or people singing inside, one is sure to lure you in.

To reach Brick Lane in East London, take the tube to Aldgate East Station. Exit on Whitechapel High Street and head northeast toward Commercial Street. Take a right at Osborn Street, which turns into Brick Lane.

Hope you enjoyed this one-day tour of London. Note that this is only scratching the surface of the British city. There is so much left to see, taste and drink, of course. You might have to stay much longer than just the Olympics.

This photo of Tower Bridge decorated for the 2012 Olympics is by roger.w800 (Flikr)

Visit anywhere in the world and it’s almost a guarantee that the people there will know of Queen Elizabeth II. The  most recognizable face on earth, which has been used on 33 different foreign currencies, the Queen of England isn’t just known everywhere, she’s also visited just about everywhere.

As people around the world celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee this weekend-a 60-year reign-I’m more interested in her travels around the world. And boy has she traveled. Wikipedia has compiled a list of all Queen Elizabeth’s travels, which includes Australia, Canada, Thailand and more.

To celebrate 60 years of Queenship-Heels and Wheels is looking back on Queen Liz’s 60 years of travel. 

India (1961)

The Queen visited the sub continent of India to meet Indira Gandhi, visit the presidential palace and even ride an elephant. The Old Indian Photos has compiled several Life photos of her visit, including the one featured below.

OldIndianPhotos.in.

New Zealand (1958)

Visiting this tiny Commonwealth country more than once, on this trip the Queen visited Marlborough, New Zealand’s largest wine-producing region. Below you can see her giving a speech in Blenheim.

HistoryPin.com

Nigeria (1956)

Fulfilling military duties in white gloves?

Only Liz could pull that off. In this photo she inspects the Queen’s Own Nigeria Regiment during a Commonwealth tour, which included the African country.

TrendCouncil.Wordpress.com

Australia (2011)

While the land down under may laugh at POME’s (prisoners of mother England), they always welcome the Queen who has visited the country several times during her reign. Here she meets one of the Australia’s most recognizable figures, a koala, in Brisbane.

BrisbaneTimes.com.au

South Africa (1947)

It was only a few weeks ago that people were celebrating the Queen’s 86th birthday. But how did she celebrate her 21st? In South Africa of course! She was still a princess then, but here she is at Natal National Park.

AZStarNet.com

Canada (2010)

Sporting red attire for Canada Day, Queen Elizabeth visited the country for eight days two years ago. Still standing out amongst a sea of red, she inspects the guards outside the Parliament buildings in Ottawa.

TheStar.com

USA (2007)

While the US is not a part of the Commonwealth, it was originally an English settlement. The Queen visited the country in 2007 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Jamestown. At the end of her trip this photo was captured of her at Andrews Air Force Base boarding a plane back to England.

Time.com

China (1986)

While Queen Elizabeth travels a lot different than most people, she still visits major tourist attractions. Here she is at the Great Wall of China with Prince Phillip.

TNRCommunications.co.uk

Thailand (1996)

While 60 years may be a long monarchy, Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej has the British Queen beat by six years. The Queen visited Thailand to celebrate the king’s 50th anniversary in 1996.

TheTelegraph.co.uk

England (1960)

When home is Buckingham Palace, there really is no place like it. Here she is riding out of her palace.

MySanAntonio.com

And what about the cover photo?

Queen Elizabeth has been in motion since the first day of her reign. In this photo from Jaunted, she steps off her British Oversea Airways Corporation (now known as British Airways) plane from Kenya at London-Heathrow Airport. On February 7, 1952, a day after King George VI, Elizabeth’s father, died, the princess was proclaimed Queen.

Since her coronation ceremony, the official crowning, did not take place until June 2 of that year, the Jubilee is not celebrated until then.

Out of all the holidays I’ve celebrated while traveling, Easter has always turned out to be the best.

It might be because I don’t expect as much out of Easter as say Christmas or Thanksgiving. It could also be because I’ve spent most of my Easters abroad on a beach, in a cool city or somewhere else amazing interacting with cuddly animals.

I’ll go back to my furthest memory of traveling Easter Sundays past all the way to London in 2007. I got dressed up in my Easter Sunday best, only not quite on Easter Sunday. A friend I met studying there and I decided to spend Easter eve celebrating our three month anniversary playing around London town.

Sunday Best in London Town.

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After all the tassels are flipped and diplomas handed out, college graduates usually return to the towns they grew up, stick around the area they attended  school or chase after job opportunities. Whether out of comfort or choice, most graduates look for jobs, relationships and housing in places familiar to them.

But 25-year-old Stephanie Yoder wasn’t looking to stay within her comfort zone when she graduated from Emory University in 2007. In fact, the creator of 20-Something Travel was planning to move over 3,000 miles away from that zone.

After falling in love with London during a semester abroad in Fall 2006, Yoder moved back to her favorite city to live and work. Traveling solo, she had to form relationships, find housing and more without family and friends at hand. But Yoder says meeting new people is one of the things she loves about travel.

In an interview, she talks about how she prepared for her move to London, the experience, traveling independently and plans for her next trip to Oceania, Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. Continue Reading