Here is some narrative for you advanced learners to read and gossip!

Before last Christmas had started I decided it was time I visited that amazing city again. Many of you may have been there and spent a hectic week trying to see as much of it as possible. Others have stayed there long enough to make friends and enjoy the city. Not all agree that it's that amazing or interesting, but we all know that the ideas we form about the places we've been to, are often related to the experiences and people we've encountered there. Well, of all the places I've visited, London is always the one I never get enough of. But that doesn't mean that it's the most beautiful or the one that offers the most interesting cultural expressions, it only means that it's the place from which I bring and hold the dearest memories. It's difficult to explain why these experiences are so important, but I'm not trying to express my feelings here, I can only make a summary of what I did and who I met.

I arrived on Friday afternoon. The flight was on time, the trains adjusted to schedules, everything was fine, which is always a good beginning, isn't it? I was staying with a friend, Alastair, and I have to say that he has been a lovely host (in spite of the coffee he makes) and a wonderful guide in the places we've visited. That evening I had a typical English dish for dinner, shepherd's pie, and we just stayed having an interesting conversation about the English language. You may find this totally absurd, but discussing how a language works with a native speaker that uses it in the best ways (he's a songwriter), is the most exciting conversation an English teacher can have…We even used the dictionary!!

On Saturday morning we visited the British museum. We took it easy and knew that we wouldn't have time for everything. So I chose Greece, Egypt and Japan, and their great treasure, of course, the Rosetta Stone. It's an amazing museum. The building is in itself a nice place to wander into and the exhibitions are great, not only because of the valuable objects you can see, but also because they are arranged in a most comfortable and appropriate way, which is not always the case in other museums. I loved it and I guess I'll go there again if I have the chance.

We went back home and soon we were getting ready for the big event of the weekend: The triple gig! Alastair, Edwina Hayes and Rich Barnard had arranged a gig in a Nashville style. Edwina has lived there and apparently it's common to have concerts in which songwriters take turns on stage. I love the three artists' music, so this can be defined as my 'dream gig'.

When we arrived at the venue I met Annabel and Sal, two lovely women I had the pleasure to meet last year at my first Alastair's gig. We had been told that the best fish and chip restaurant in the city was at the end of that street, so while the artists were preparing the sound, I went with the girls to have dinner and verify that it was a great restaurant.

When we arrived at the venue, there was a table in front of Alastair's microphone with the following sign:

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The lovely Edwina was giving out tickets for a draw with mini prizes (biscuits, cava (Spanish champagne) and chocolates). I don't know why in the end I got five or six tickets! More strangely, I didn't get any prize!

Well, the show was absolutely fantastic! The three of them sang beautifully. I was specially amazed at Edwina's voice and talent. That was also the first time I had seen Rich singing his songs live and I have to say that he's just as talented as he sounds in his CD (STFU). Alastair counted on the lovely voice of Delagh, who was sitting in the audience, for 'Barefoot on Glass'. Later, Edwina, Delagh and Astrid Brook (another songwriter, also sitting in the audience) helped him with 'Not for the Faint Hearted'. Beautiful! At the end of the show the three of them (Alastair, Edwina and Rich) sang a cover of some 60s song, I think, whose title I can't remember. I know I'm repetitive, but really, it a great show.

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So, the lovely music together with the pleasure to see Annabel, Sal and Nicky and meet lots of lovely people (Edwina, Delagh, Astrid, Bo …) made that evening become one of those details that makes London my favourite city in the world, after the one I live in.

On Sunday morning we visited the National Gallery. I've said that Alastair was a great guide, though 'guide' is not the best word, as we got a little lost, because some of the paintings had been put in other places since his last visit to the gallery. However, I was glad that I could be with a person who can be moved by art and understands the artists and paintings much better than I could. I definitely recommend everybody to visit that gallery.

We got home and my host prepared a typical English dinner that we ate with his flatmates, Jody and Bruno. It was another lovely evening with funny and interesting conversations and some giggles. I really enjoyed the food and the company.

On Monday morning I had to leave very early to get my flight back home. It was sad to leave, but I was also extremely happy because I had that great feeling of having had an amazingly good time.

So, that was it: My weekend away, full of highlights, interesting places and lovely people.