Too often tourists get caught up “seeing the sights” that they don’t see anything at all. Strangers tell me about their travels to New York all the time and sometimes I feel like they missed the point. Granted, tourists should see the things they’ve read or heard about and have always wanted to see with their own eyes, but the real flavor of each place is its culture and vibe.
I didn’t make it to London until two days after I had arrived. And I went into the city late because I had to try a CrossFit box in another country. (Shout out to CrossFit Huntsman in Hertford, England!!!) I’m pretty happy I waited actually because the weather was absolutely perfect each day I spent in London. Spring has sprung over here and it makes me cringe to think what I’ll be returning to when I go home.
Day one I met up with Zan at Hyde Park and we walked around there in the afternoon. I learned the chaos of Primark on Oxford Street and was introduced to M&S. We tried to see some of the British Museum, but it closed shortly after we arrived. I managed to see a killer piece by a textile artist that powerfully displayed the life (from birth) and medications taken by a single human being over their lifetime. That and, of course, the Rosetta Stone.
I left from there to meet up with one of my friends from Lake George, Steve. Steve is actually from Northern Ireland and he has been living in London a while now. We went to a killer gastro pub and had quite a bit of red wine (yum!). We both had one of my favorites to start–squid in ink–and he had some delicious melt-in-your-mouth lamb while I had the duck. Definitely the best meal I ate out in London.
Day two was filled with the traditional sights. We started at Buckingham Palace:
Walked down the Mao, past St. James Park:
Through Trafalgar Square and down to Big Ben:
Over the bridge near the London Eye and the aquarium:
And we followed the embankment all the way down to Millennium Bridge. From Millennium we saw St. Paul’s Cathedral, as well as Tower Bridge down a ways:
Near St. Paul’s I took Zan for her first fish-n-chips (not the amazing salted vinegar fish-n-chips wrapped in newspaper–we couldn’t find one in the area) in a dark corner pub. Aren’t we adorable???
That night (Thursday) Jenny and I went out for some drinks in Hertford. We had one drink at The Snug where a girl who had just returned from New York told me all about the weirdos from New Jersey she encountered at the Justin Timberlake concert that we “Jersey Turnpiking” all over the place. Of course I found this hysterical as I grew up in New Jersey, no where near the Jersey Turnpike. The amount of times I was asked in Hertford (just north of London) why I was there and not in London proper were many. It’s because I love and miss my Jenny!! But then you all already know that.
Jenny and I ended up at the Dog & Whistle where a great band was playing. We stayed until they stopped playing and then headed home to bed. A little drinking and a little dancing in a great little place. Perfect, albeit short, night.
Friday I met up with a new friend I had made. I love making new friends. As my tour guide, he took me down to Brick Lane and the market nearby, and then down to Portobello Road. Having a local at your side is so easy because it involves very little work on my part. No worry about getting lost or turned around or finding myself in the wrong neighborhood…so I had a few pints of cider. Obviously.
The next morning we were to leave (by 6am) for Ireland…again. Our friend Jaye came over that night and we watched PS I Love you to get us into the right frame of mind. The one that allows me to believe Gerard Butler in all his sexy, confident glory was waiting for me in Galway. (Spoiler: he wasn’t.)
So we got up and made our way back out to the Emerald Isle. Check back for that update! The pictures are killer!!
Also, obviously:
Juice The Squeeze 