Tokyo: A local's view

Canadian Jean Snow moved to Asia to study Chinese in Tianjin, China, but departed for Tokyo after falling for a Japanese woman, who is now his wife. Since 2002, Jean's excellent blog Jeansnow.net has been keeping tabs on design and pop culture in Tokyo.

"When I get asked why I started blogging about Tokyo, and why I've been doing it for so long, I always have the same simple response: the city made me do it. I don't think you can live in this city as an expat for an extended period of time without developing a strong attachment -- maybe even an attraction.

"For me, it was Japanese design that first grabbed a hold of me, and gave me such a sense of enjoyment and wonder that I felt like I needed to report on it. I found it everywhere I looked, from the amazing design and cultural magazines on the racks, to the stylish shops and interiors. You can't really leave your home without encountering a cool spot that makes you want to take a photo and then report on it as soon as you get home to your computer.

"How can you not find something to like in this city? Try to find a trendier spot to shop for clothes than Harajuku or Daikanyama. Like things a bit more upscale? Meet me at one of Aoyama's many great cafes. How about record shopping in Shibuya?

"If a tour of flagship brand stores designed by architectural superstars is more your thing, Omotesando and Ginza have got that covered. And of course, there's no better place to get your electronic and video gaming fix than in Akihabara, Tokyo's "Electric Town." It doesn't matter what your tastes tend towards, there's a district for everyone in Tokyo, as well as a shop that will cater to the most obscure and underground of desires.

"But the thing I probably love the most about this city is that it's constantly changing. You can't really expect things to stay the same for very long, which turns every outing into an exploration. Shops come and go, and same goes for architectural marvels, or even entire city blocks.

"New 'cities' -- in the form of entertainment complexes like Roppongi Hills or Tokyo Midtown -- continue to pop up. It's always worth taking a look down every side street since you never know what you'll find there, waiting to be discovered. I'm constantly amazed at how much change happens in this city.

"Is it a perfect city? No -- there are certainly things that could be improved, but then again, the same could be said for any city. For some it may be the language barrier, for others, the relatively tiny apartments that most people tend to live in.

"Some of these frustrations will drive people away, but those who stay are the ones who have found ways to deal with, and overcome, whatever is thrown their way. Sometimes, the city itself even provides the solutions. Small apartment? No worries, since I can meet friends and spend time in every cafe, bar or "izakaya" (Japanese pub). I don't even have to worry about food storage, what with convenience stores -- and in Japan, they truly are convenient -- at pretty much every corner.

"Tokyo is a city that offers a constant stream of discovery and wonder. Could there be a better place to find yourself as a blogger?"

Shopping With Design Bloggers - Fall Picks From Those Who’ve Seen It All

Josh Rubin, the editor of the five-year-old blog Cool Hunting, describes the mission of his site as “an aggressive seeking of stuff.” It’s a phrase that could be applied to innumerable design blogs, which have been breeding like mosquitoes since the beginning of the decade. “We are constantly scouring the Web, magazines and television for fresh new ideas and inspiration,” said Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, who runs the four-year-old Apartment Therapy blog; on top of that, his offices are awash in an endless flood of submissions from designers and manufacturers. (And of fans: “People show up all the time,” he said. “A few weeks ago, an organizer from Germany” — an organizer of the clutter-busting variety — “brought us a bag of madeleines.”)

Stephen Drucker, the editor in chief of House Beautiful magazine, calls the best design bloggers “guerrilla editors, constantly taking the temperature of the design world.” Deborah Needleman, his counterpart at Domino, is publishing a blog guide in her November issue, a primer on the styles and sensibilities of various sites. “There are so many of them that you can find one that matches your style and point of view,” she said. “That’s what you want from a blog: a voice and point of view you want to check in with.”

Because design bloggers are expert sifters and seekers, as well as tireless sorters and linkers, spending more time online than is perhaps ocularly prudent, they make the keenest guides to all that is urgent, odd and delightful in the design world at any given moment.

The eyes behind seven sites shared their favorite new things for fall.

Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, 42, New York City

Soothing, prescriptive and communal, four-year-old Apartment Therapy reflects the personality of the man who co-founded and runs it, Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, a Waldorf school teacher turned design therapist, author, and Internet entrepreneur. It is focused on urban life and is quitely evangelical on topics like slow food, tiny offices, and green homes. It is also huge ― the Apartment Therapy banner waves over four other blogs, like the ecologically minded Re-Nest ― and claims more than 2 million unique visitors monthly. "We believe the home is the most important space any of us have," said Mr. Gillingham-Ryan, who moves among a barn, a yurt and a small Manhattan apartment with his wife, Safa, a food writer, and their daughter, Ursula, age 2. "We support regular folks who want to make it beautiful, organized, and healthy, day in, day out."

$12,500, Jennifer Levin Atocha. "Solves a storage problem and honos the desire to collect."

Tim Yu, 27; Josh Rubin, 34; Ami Kealoha, 30; Evan Orensten, 42; New York

Despite the geekiness of its 90s name, Cool Hunting shows off some pretty cool stuff, like a body-temperature-regulating jacket from Helly Hansen; the faux-naïve paintings of Michael Swaney, a Barcelona-based Canadian; and a "saddle stool" made from an actual saddle by Fernando Akasaka, a Brazilian furniture designer. Josh Rubin, who has been a Web and CD-ROM designer, started the site as a design-source archive for his own use (he used blogging software, he said, because it was well-suited to making an archive). Five years later, Cool Hunting has been redesigned for advertising and, as of Wednesday, has amassed 5,152 entries. Its general theme, said Mr. Rubin, who lives in Chelsea with Mr. Orensten, two dogs and some Jean Prouvé chairs, "is the obsessive-compulsive process." Last month, he added, it had more than 330,000 unique visitors.

$300, Hulger. "Natural materials used for cutting-edge technology."

Grace Bonney, 27, Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Design Sponge is the indie girl band of the design blogosphere. Devoted to crafty, handmade things like felted sculptures, letterpress stationery and hand-drawn wallpapers, it has a girly sensibility with an edge, and a particular interest in the work of independent designers working in its creator's neighborhood. Maintaining the blog is the full-time job of Grace Bonney, who is also a contributing editor at Domino and Craft magazines. There are contests, podcasts, and design guides to cities beyond New York, like Portland, Me., all sweetly laid out on an endless linen runner with a lacy border, giving the site the feeling of a Martha Stewart Living for millennials ― 30,000 of them each day, Ms. Bonney said.

About $16 a yard, Alan the Gallant. "A welcome change from all of the damask."

$1,400, Paul Loebach. "A great way to play around with bright shades without taking a huge risk."

$12 to $52, Up in the Air Somewhere. "Feels beautiful and solid, not thin and precious."

Hollister Hovey, 29, Brooklyn

Ms. Hovey's aesthetic is an eccentric version of decaying WASP-y, Teddy Roosevelt by way of John Derian. (Ms. Hovey's apartment, she said, "may be the least PETA-friendly home in Brooklyn," because she has embellished it with a herd of vintage animal heads ― a sheep, a springbok, an antelope, and more ― and a zebra skin rug.) The blog's mandate, she said, "is to help the classices have a place in the cyber-world filled with ubiquitousmodern design. "Diaristic and appealingly personal, recent posts include photos of old stock certificates, thoughts on the Ralph Lauren fashion show, and a "yard sale" at Chatsworth. The blog receives about 500 visitors a day, Ms. Hovey said, with 84 subscribed to her newsfeed, a number that includes her father. "He seems to think that I'm e-mailing these all to him directly," said Ms. Hovey, "like little missives about my life. He responds accordingly, 'Thanks for the update. Love, Dad.'"

$750, Coleen & Company. "Can't all indoor furniture go outside?"

$1,800, Darr. "Looks like Thomas Edison may have fiddled with it."

Harry Wakefield, 47, Montreal

More like a traditional magazine than a blog, MoCo Loco (MoCo is short for modern and contemporary) is slick and adult, and focused squarely on modern architecture design and art, a Dwell-ish site of pre-fab housing and high-design objects from around the world. Now five years old, it has 28,000 subscribers to its daily news feed, said Harry Wakefield, its editor and creator, and gets up to a million pages views a month. "In 2003 I couldn't find a design blog I wanted to read, so I started one," said Mr. Wakefield, who has worked in magazines and advertising. "I live in a tiny house with my wife and two people I affectionately call 'the destroyers,'" he said, "which is why most of my favorite MoCo objects are on the blog, not at home."

$429, Designfenzider. Focuses the eye on "the mystery and beauty of the flame."

$350, CGF Group Design Italia. "The essence of the cuckoo."

$1,200, Sherwood Forlee. "Functional architecture for our night table."

Jennifer Boles Dwyer, 36, Atlanta

Jennifer Boles Dwyer is an admirer of Charlotte Moss, Sybil Connolly and Parish-Hadley, and a booster for classic English decorating and its effluence: demilune tables, good lighting, books by Bunny Williams, Brunschwig fabrics. Here is a personal blog ― in other words, no advertising ― with about 2,000 daily subscribers, she said, and 1,500 additional "readers." (One of them, Stephen Drucker, the editor of House Beautiful, hired her as a contributing editor.) Ms. Dwyer, who has been helping run the family business (which makes printing presses), turned to the blog as an outlet for her interest in design history. "My goal," she said, "is to encourage people to look to the past while embracing the new and modern. You can find a lot of inspiration in the past. It's how you present it that makes it new."

$1,300, Currey & Company. "The classic waterfall shape and rich parchment finish make this work in contemporary and more traditional homes. And it costs a lot less than an original Jean-Michel Frank."

Stephanie Murg, 28, New York City and Steve Delahoyde, 29, Chicago

According to its founding editor, Jen Bekman, UnBeige was named in honor of the late graphic designer Tibor Kalman, who dismissed off-white and beige as the color choces of those afraid to offend. "By definition," Kalman once said, "when you make something no one hates, no one loves it." Part of the Mediabistro group of blogs, the three-year-old UnBeige is on its fourth and fifth editors, Steve Delahoyde and Stephanie Murg. They were hired, Ms. Murg said, because of their interest in what she described as "imperfections, quirkiness, insanity, unpredictability."

The blog is an arch, pop culture-oriented Web magazine, a Gawker for those who are as comfortable discussing Charles Gwathmey's addition to the Art and Architecture Building at Yale as they are deconstructing Metallica album covers.

$129, CB2. "Shattering reflections into multiple views, for the lazy Cubist."

$9,900, EcoSmart Inc.. "The design world loves a good juxtaposition."

$4,000 to $5,800, Kayiwa. "A Museum of Natural History meets the Container Store aesthetic."

My Marrakech Is Better Than Yours by Maryam Montague

I'm an American, but for my whole life I've been a nomad. It started in Cairo, where I was born. (My dad, a New Yorker, was on assignment in Egypt.) My travels have continued through more than 70 countries--Cambodia to Colombia, Iran to Italy, Namibia to Nepal--and my work as a specialist in human rights and democracy means the list keeps growing.

Every place I've visited has been compelling in its own way, but I never found a city that made me want to settle down until I came to Marrakech. Its appeal comes from so much more than the snake charmers, the fortune-tellers, and the souks--though they help, too. The hospitable people, the delicious food, the mysterious architecture, and the fascinating Moroccan culture all add up to make Marrakech a city like no other. Borrowing the words of little Goldilocks, Marrakech felt "just right" somehow.

So two years ago, my husband (an American architect), our two children, and I traded in our nomadic existence for a nine-acre olive grove on the outskirts of Marrakech. We then set out to open The Peacock Nest, an online shop selling beautiful Moroccan things, and to design and build a stylish, ecofriendly boutique hotel called Peacock Pavilions; both are named after the peacocks that roam the property.

Somewhere along the way, I decided to start writing a blog, My Marrakesh, a great big love letter to my new home. I enjoy sharing my passion for Marrakech with anyone who will pay attention. And they do: I'm not exactly sure why, but thousands of people read My Marrakesh every day. Either my mother is paying them all--she always wanted me to be popular in high school--or people are genuinely interested in the enchanting city that I'm lucky enough to call home.

EAT

Morocco is famous for its food, and no wonder. It's mouthwatering and eclectic, and there's something for everyone. The best-known dish is the tagine, a filling stew slow cooked in an earthenware pot with a conical lid. In addition to chicken, beef, lamb, fish, or vegetables, tagines often include stewed fruit, olives, onions, or almonds. Many restaurants also serve couscous, particularly as a traditional family lunch on Fridays. The seven-veggie couscous royale, topped with a raisin/onion concoction, is not to be missed.

Brochettes (skewers of meat or chicken) are always a safe bet and are especially popular with the junior set. Harira, a soup made with tomatoes and chickpeas and served with bread and dates, is a warming and often vegetarian alternative. If the food strikes you as a touch blah--you chili fiend!--request harissa, a hot sauce that'll send your taste buds into overdrive.

There's a wide variety of places to nibble and dine in Marrakech, from street stalls to opulent restaurants out of The Arabian Nights. And café culture is omnipresent--thanks, no doubt, to the country's history as a French colony. I provide a range of food choices below, from the super cheap to the save-up-your-pennies splurge. Also included are some non-Moroccan options for those who want to mix it up a little.

Marrakech's bountiful tangerine and orange trees make for fresh juice everywhere. Yay! By day, head to the orange-juice stalls on the Jemaa el-Fna, the city's famous central square. There are dozens of juice stalls, all of which are numbered. I haven't ever really noticed a difference between the juice at No. 1 and the juice at No. 23. So pick the stand with your lucky number and make a beeline. A smile usually gets you a free half refill.

By night, the juice stalls are wheeled away and dozens of open-air kitchens are set up in tidy rows, with communal bench seating. I'm partial to the stall where a chef with a handlebar moustache makes harira. Be sure to check out the stands that specialize in exotica like sheep's head or snails (you slurp them from a cup). Sadly, no beer is on offer at any of the stalls.

On the sidelines of the Jemaa el-Fna is Ice Legend (52 ave. Bab Agnaou), an ice cream shop. It's particularly enticing for the little ones in the group, but adults too will appreciate a scoop of one of the 50 homemade flavors. Café des Épices (75 Rahba Lakdima, place des Épices), in the medina's spice market, is a charming and aromatic spot for breakfast or a glass of hot mint tea. Further down the medina's serpentine alleys is La Terrasse des Épices (Souk Cherifia, Dar el Bacha) in Souk Cherifia. (It's owned by the same guy who owns Café des Épices.) Salads start at just $6.50, and you can bask in the sun on the huge terrace.

There are four upscale restaurants in the Old City that I happily recommend. The stylish Kosybar (47 place des Fer­blantiers, Médina, 011-212/24-38-03-24, entrées from $19), on the place des Ferblantiers, has a mix of Moroccan and continental offerings, as well as inventive cocktails. By day, you can watch huge storks in their nests from the upstairs terrace.

Swanky Le Tanjia (14 Derb J'did Hay Essalam, Médina, 011-212/24-38-38-36, monkfish $14), a restaurant with rose-filled fountains, is nearby. The Sunday brunch is excellent, as is the tender monkfish available at lunch or dinner.

Another chic spot in the Mouassine district is Café Arabe (184 rue el Mouassine, Médina, 011-212/24-42-97-28). This Italian-owned riad (courtyard home) boasts not only a restaurant serving homemade pastas from $9, but also a hip rooftop bar. And in the Kasbah area is Tatchibana (38 Bab Ksiba, Kasbah, 011-212/24-38-71-71, sushi plate $20), you can break out of the norm with sushi and other Japanese delicacies. Tatchibana is open only for dinner except on Sunday, when it offers lunch, too.

Some of Marrakech's coolest eating spots are in the newer parts of the city. In Guéliz, Kechmara (3 rue de la Liberté, Guéliz, 011-212/24-42-25-32) has mid-century modern decor with ever-changing art, and a sunny terrace that's a good choice for breakfast and lunch; the restaurant does a fine mixed grill for $12.

Café du Livre (44 rue Tarik ben Ziyad, Guéliz, 011-212/24-43-21-49), also in Guéliz, has free Wi-Fi and a selection of English-language books for you to peruse while ordering coffee, lunch, or an early dinner (entrées from $8). Sushi is served during the evening from Thursday to Saturday, but the café is open only until 9 p.m.

And the colonial atmosphere at Grand Café de la Poste (blvd. el Mansour Eddahbi at ave. Imam Malik, Guéliz, 011-212/24-43-30-38) provides a nice backdrop for excellent salads, starting at $10, as well as hot meals. Enjoy a Casablanca beer on the covered veranda.

In the majorly upscale category is Le Bis-Jardin des Arts (6-7 rue Sakia el Hamra, Semlalia, 011-212/24-44-66-34), a new restaurant with gorgeous decor. The delicious entrées start at $17. For other überglamorous experiences, hop in a car and head to the city's outskirts. Restaurant L'Abbysin (Km 4, rte. de Fes, 011-212/24-32-85-84, entrées from $19) is at the stunning Palais Rhoul, a luxurious palace hotel. The sleek, white outdoor venue is photo-shoot worthy, even if the nouvelle cuisine is more passable than memorable.

The Crystal Restaurant Lounge (blvd. Mohamed VI, Zone Hôtelière de l'Aguedal, 011-212/24-38-84-00, entrées from $10), in the trendy Pacha complex, has artful food arrangements almost too pretty to eat. Make reservations for Friday or Saturday night to listen to jazz.

SHOP

To my husband's dismay, I'm a decidedly enthusiastic shopper. And luckily--for me, anyway--Marrakech is known for its amazing shopping.

Cradled within the medina's high fortresslike walls are the traditional markets, or souks. The majority of the souks are located to the north of the Jemaa el-Fna square. Picture a winding labyrinth with hundreds of shoebox-size stores overflowing with ornate lanterns, embroidered caftans, hammered teapots, leather poufs (a kind of ottoman that can also be made with carpet or fabric), and so much more. There's a method to the madness, as the souks are divided into areas of specialty, including metalwork, slippers, carpets, spices, and so on.

Bargaining is the name of the game, and despite what vendors say, they do have different prices for tourists and locals. Start by offering one third of the vendor's price (offer even less for carpets), and then gradually work your way to a happy compromise.

For the best prices, skip the shops on the outskirts of the Jemaa el-Fna and venture into the heart of the souks. Make a pit stop at the place des Ferblantiers to visit Najib La Joie (44 place des Ferblantiers, Médina, 011-212/41-19-09-50). You can get tiny lanterns with panes of colored glass for $3 or less; they're so cheap, it's practically criminal not to buy several. For jersey caftans starting at $120--and gorgeous vintage ones--try Kasbek (216 rue Riad Zitoun J'did, Médina, 011-212/63-77-56-90). They're perfect for when you host a Moroccan dinner party.

In the Mouassine district, Cadeaux Berberes (31 Moissine, Médina, 011-212/64-01-32-20) has some fantastic Moroccan pottery at prices so fair that wholesalers shop there. Take a look at the painted pottery sinks for around $30. Down the road, on the wall of the Mouassine Mosque, you'll find a make­shift gallery of black-and-white photography. You can pick up a copy of a wonderful photo of old Morocco for about $10.

If you're interested in Moroccan carpets, Bazar Jouti (28 Souk des Tapis, 011-212/66-08-89-80), in the carpet souk, has a very nice selection. Offer a quarter of the price listed on the tag, and let the bargaining begin! Miloud Art Gallery (Souk Cheratine, Talaa 48, Médina, 011-212/24-42-67-16), in Souk Cheratine, has a well-edited collection of poufs, pillows, clothes, lanterns, and bags. I'll say it again: Bargain!

Most of the shops at the Ensemble Artisanal, in the Kasbah district, aren't worth your time. Maison du Cuivre (Ensemble Artisanal, ave. Mohamed V, Kasbah, 011-212/61-50-98-24) is an exception, with its fine lanterns, mirrors, and bowls.

Also in the Kasbah is Light Gallery (2 Derb Chtouka, Kasbah, 011-212/24-38-45-65), which has a reliably hip collection of art.

On Thursday and Sunday mornings, you'll find Bab el Khemis market at the gate of the same name. Amid the broken clocks and TV remote controls are genuine treasures, such as vintage teapots and tea trays. I've been known to scout there for The Peacock Nest.

In the New City, the shopping is less atmospheric, but there are fewer hassles, as fixed prices are the norm. Elbow your way through the throngs who come to buy designer-inspired leather shoes at Atika Boutique (34 rue de la Liberté, Guéliz, 011-212/24-43-64-09). The $70 pebble-soled driving loafers are particularly coveted. And although the stylish leather goods at Place Vendôme (141 ave. Mohamed V, Guéliz, 011-212/24-43-52-63), a well-known shop in Guéliz, aren't as cheap as they are at the souks, the quality is significantly better.

Maison Rouge Décoration (6 rue de la Liberté, Guéliz, 011-212/24-44-81-30) is a Belgian-run shop with streamlined North African designs. The linens and painted glass plates are pricey but worth a look.

About 10 minutes out of the city center is the industrial zone, Sidi Ghanem. Akkal (322 Z.I. Sidi Ghanem, 011-212/24-33-59-38) stocks minimalist pottery in striking colors and shapes. To rock the casbah back home, pay a visit to Maison Méditerranéenne (230 Z.I. Sidi Ghanem, 011-212/24-33-60-00), a showroom with everything from ornately carved beds to armchairs that cost less than $150.

Go to award-winning Zid Zid Kids (338 BI. 71, Unit 2, Daoudiate, 011-212/63-47-72-92, by appointment only), in the Daoudiate district, for embroidered animal-shaped pillows and other perfectly crafted children's stuff. Prices at this, the warehouse, are far less than what you'd pay at fancy stores back home in the U.S.

PLAY

When we first moved here, my husband would throw open the curtains every morning and say jokingly, "Another lousy day." It's almost always sunny and, with the exception of July (hot) and August (scorching), there's never a bad time to visit. Not surprisingly, outdoor activities abound, day and night.

I always recommend that people take a calèche--a horse and buggy--for a trip around the medina walls. A one-hour ride for up to four people should run less than $20; the calèche operators tend to be found between Koutoubia Mosque and Jemaa el-Fna, across from the Club Med.

For those who want more adrenaline-pumping entertainment--or to work off residual work frustrations--go-karting and quad biking are readily available in the surrounding desert. Dunes & Désert Exploration (Hôtel Club Palmariva, Km 6, rte. de Fes, 011-212/61-24-69-48, quad biking $89) is the group to bring out your inner speed demon. And no North African trip is complete without a camel ride. Book one through Dunes & Désert, or look for a guide near La Palmeraie, on the city's eastern side. A two-hour ride with tea in a village costs $30 or so.
If your idea of vacation is lounging by the pool with a cocktail in hand, La Plage Rouge (Km 10, rte. de L'Ourika, 011-212/24-37-80-86), approximately five miles outside the city, is going to be your idea of heaven. The dramatic pool complex with restaurant and bar has a $26 entrance fee, but you might just spot a movie star or a model.

Marrakech is filled with palm groves and gardens. Named after Jacques Majorelle, the artist who created it, the Jardin Majorelle (ave. Yacoub el Mansour, Guéliz, 011-212/24-30-18-52, $4)was later bought by Yves Saint Laurent. With more than 350 types of plants, the small but exquisite garden is a cool respite from the excitement and bustle of the city.

The gardens around Koutoubia Mosque are also a lovely (and free) place for an afternoon stroll.

If lounging by the pool and walking in gardens leaves you insufficiently relaxed, you may require some spa time. At one of the many hammams, or steam baths, around the city, you can literally be steeped in Moroccan tradition. Les Bains de Marrakech (2 Derb Sedra, Bab Agnaou, Kasbah, 011-212/24-38-14-28) is one of the most picturesque. Luxuriate in a hammam for 45 minutes for $20, or have a 60-minute massage with rose-petal oil for $45. Afterward, loll for a while on the daybeds in the gorgeous central courtyard and you will never want to leave.

When the sun goes down, no place says Marrakech like the city's main square, Jemaa el-Fna. It's teeming with life, including an unusual cast of characters who are guaranteed to amaze. Herbalists promise to cure ills with potions made from dried lizards and other strange ingredients. Snake charmers lure sleepy cobras out of baskets. Traditional dentists armed with enormous pliers deal with troublesome molars on the spot. Veiled henna artists paint hands or feet in intricate patterns for the price of a Big Mac. Fortune-tellers read tarot cards. The carnivalesque atmosphere intensifies as the night goes on, with impromptu performances by acrobats, cross-dressing dancers, and trance-inducing musicians. Come with plenty of change in your pocket, as you'll be expected to contribute small amounts to enjoy the shows or take pictures.

Anyone craving still more exotica should make a trip to Chez Ali (La Palmeraie, 011-212/24-30-77-30, show without dinner $13). Although the show, held outside and featuring dozens of performers, is a bit cheesy, the singing and dancing will give you a good feeling for traditional Moroccan culture, and the horsemanship is spectacular. (Save some money by skipping the dinner and just going for the show.)

London: A local's view

Patricia Neal is a 29-year-old American living in London. She documents her experiences in her blog "London a la Mode" and here she writes about life in the English capital.

"I moved to London in 2004 after my fiancé, now husband, was transferred from New York back to London with his job. I went to business school in London and starting working in the City in 2005. Moving to London was meant to be a one-year stint abroad, but four years later, we still call London home.

I started my blog as a way to keep me focused on getting out and exploring the city. London has so much to offer, from the famed landmarks to outdoor markets, quaint restaurants and stylish boutiques.

It is important to me to make the most of my time in London, so when I am not working I am looking for new shops, exploring new neighborhoods and planning weekend excursions.

London is a culturally vibrant city, where charm, history and tradition collide with cutting-edge fashion, music, films and food. Despite a recorded history that dates back over 2,000 years, the city is has a youthful vibe and is constantly changing and re-inventing itself.

More than anything, London is a diverse city of contradictions between old and new. St. Paul's Cathedral and Big Ben, two of London's oldest and most well known landmarks, are now juxtaposed against The Gherkin, the newest landmark in the city skyline.

I love that you can spend the morning at the Tower of London exploring medieval London, walk in the foot steps of Charles Dickens in the afternoon and launch into the 21st century with a ride on the London Eye in the evening.

Londoners take life seriously, but not too seriously. Work is important but it isn't everything. It is not uncommon for co-workers to meet for a pint of beer in a pub after work and on warm, sunny days, the crowds spill out onto the pavement and into the streets.

Weekends are spent exploring the city and relaxing with family and friends. On Fridays and Saturday mornings, food lovers can indulge in an array of culinary delights as they shop and eat their way through Borough Market. If that's not enough, there are specialty food shops and superb restaurants dotted all over the city.

As a major destination for theatre lovers, and with over 240 museums in London, art, history and culture lovers are spoiled for choice. Club goers can party into the early hours of the morning in the West End and Shoreditch clubs, while outdoor enthusiasts seek refuge on Hampstead Heath, cycle around Richmond Park, stroll along the Thames or take advantage of London's many parks.

London does have its pitfalls; living in London is expensive, it can take a long time to get around and the weather is often less than desirable. The London Underground makes getting around easier and it is possible to enjoy London on even the tightest of budgets.

Many museums, including the Tate Modern and British Museum, do not charge an entry fee and cash-strapped locals and visitors can also enjoy the street theatre in Covent Garden or lunch time concerts at St. Martins-in-the-Fields for free."