Hello! I'm back here, after a great trip, and coming home to one of my favorite places where I love to be...YLF...and I'd like to share a few photos of my time away when I enjoyed four days in London with my brother, Nick, and then a short cruise to Spain, France and Guernsey Island, where my mother joined us.

First off, apologies for the repetitive black trench coat and scarf "look," but it was a bit cold and yet we were able to enjoy a few sunny days, too. I think I earned a few perplexed looks when I told a few London locals that I enjoyed using my umbrella since I didn't get a chance to do so in California very often. Of course, the one day I didn't want to use it was when I was by myself on Regent Street and oh, how I wish I'd had you, my YLF friends, with me that day. I simply looked and didn't buy. I think we need another trip, YLF style.

Okay, briefly, I fell in love with London and shouted on Facebook that "I think I'm falling in love with London." I'd been there in the early '90s, and this time I was awakened to the magic of this city.

We stayed in a lovely boutique hotel in South Kensington and as you'll see from the first photo, I fell in love the the Levi jeans worn by the bell cap (his were the commuter jeans, but they don't come in women's sizes.) In fact, all of the employees at the hotel wear dark-wash denim jeans, the gents and the ladies, and under separate cover, I'm posting a photo of a colorblock shirt I was inspired to buy after seeing one of the managers wearing one with her dark jeans. Looking forward to seeing how you are and what you've been up to lately!

1 Nick, Vicki and Alberto (in his work outfit).
2 Nick and Vicki with Beverly Hills friends who were in town.
3 Vicki looking like a Londoner in Burberry.
4 Vicki and the Queen.
5 With friends at Fortnum and Mason for tea.
6-7 & 20 Bowie photos from Victoria and Albert Museum exhibition. Alexander McQueen co-designed the jacket in 6.
8 My room with a view.
9 Plaid and tartan at Fortnum and Mason
10 My brother, Nick, near our hotel (on the right by flag).
11 Cute street photo in La Coruna, Spain
12 Bilbao Museum in Bilbao, Spain
13 Mustard fields in England on the way to Southampton, England
14 Cocktails with new friends on Princess
15 Bordeaux winery stop
16 Our pretty Bordeaux tour guide striking a Napoleon pose
17 Nick, Vicki and tour guide on a Guernsey bike tour
18 Spa Day in La Coruna, Spain where we had a facial and massage. We were told to wear bathing caps, which we didn't have, so my brother and I sported lovely shower caps.
19 Artist working in V&A Museum
20 Another David Bowie shot
21 More Princess Cruise friends. The two gents in the center were from Northampton, England and the one in the black jacket used to be in a Boy Band and attended the same school as Adele and Amy Winehouse.

This is why I love to travel and I'd love to do it more.