Street Market, Palace & Bars

Today was fun and tasty. Eileen's cousin John, who just moved to London, came to the area we are staying to experience one of the most popular street markets in the city.  Eileen met up with him to catch up while Barb and I explored the market on our own. It was really fun and full of street food from around the world. 

Giant meringue

Paella guy

This guy was often playing 4 people st once. 

I skipped the fruit and went for the meat. 

Barb and I chose the most delicious Moroccan for lunch( technically a late breakfast). We followed it with som corn cake with coconut custard found at a Brazilian stand. I could live off of that alone. 

 John & Eileen. 

We all met up at a bar for some afternoon beer and deeply thoughtful discussion on geology and academia. Eileen's cousin, John, is super brainy post doc researcher. 

We headed to the Piccadilly Circus area for a great cheese lunch!

Isle of Mull cheddar, Buffalo blue, driftwood goat cheese with goose salami, smoked duck breast, air dried mutton -shaved thin, Wild boar charizo ...SO GOOD. 

Then, we walked off a bit of our 2nd lunch and strolled over to see Buckingham Palace. 

The queen was spotted hanging out a window waving at us and appearing to flash us.  I shit you not. 

Every palace visit deserves a cocktail on a boat docked along the Thames. The weather in London continued being like paradise and at one point Eileen was shocked that there was a woman in a bikini sunbathing.  

We ended our day with john with dinner at a touristy place called the princess of wales. The food wasn't quite as spectacular as the sign but we enjoyed the company, for sure. 

Markets, Museums & Meals!

We had a great day full of food, art and meandering through various parts of London. 

It started and ended with incredible ethnic food adventures walking about one of the most lively, hot  neighborhoods we're staying in, on Brick Lane.   

Out of curiosity we ducked our heads into an indoor market filled with various ethnic food choices that runs only on weekends. 

Barb and I had a hard time choosing but both couldn't pass up the Venezuelan offerings.  The flavors were wonderful and the price was reasonably priced at 5£. Eileen had an incredibly colorful vegan Ethiopian feast.  We left full and super happy. 

Vegan Ethiopian 

Sri Lankan 

Then we saw some good art by Giuseppe Penone at white Chapel art center(above).   They didn't want me to take photos, but oops I took a few. 

 

Barb in reflection. 

Then we stumbled onto Spittalfield Market. (View from above)

We walked through Hyde Park towards Serpentine Gallery in the most extraordinary sunny weather. Apparently not everyone was jonesin' for some vitamin D:

...but, ya know, whatever. 

Barb & Eileen checking the map by the audience interactive pavilion installation. 

After the park we stopped in at Harrods to ogle over expensive delicious goods for the well dressed and super rich of the world. 

Mmmm, meat and cheese pies that made me salivate and forget the dessert counters. 

Finally after some happy hr drinks, back near our flat, we ended the night with a great dinner at a nearby Syrian restaurant. (Photo completely forgotten - it was that good).  We were not planning to add yet another culture to our meal diversity marathon but restaurants & bars seem to close their kitchens by 10 pm in London. We easily forget how late it is when it's still light out after 9:30 pm this time of year. 

Rainy Museum Day

Tate Modern - Ellen Gallagher an American artist had a solo exhibit that was so good, fun, creative...

Tate Modern View- grey day

We took the Tate to Tate boat ride so we got both museums in today. 

Barb and Eileen unexpected photo along Thames waiting for the boat taxi. 

Chapman brothers African art worshiping MacDonalds. 

Cool looking checkered building on Page st near the Tate Britain. 

Bike rentals are everywhere. 

Big Ben

Piccadilly Circus at night reminds me of Las Vegas ... Or I see where vegas got the idea. 

Vaughnda told me to photograph any Chicago ads if I saw em, since she designed them. Bravo, Barb for spotting it first. 

Good day for seeing SO much. Yay, London. 

1st Walk about

Barb and I explored the city some to get our bearings before Eileen was to arrive in the afternoon. It was great that we are  staying on zone 1, walking distance to city centre. 

Love London's architecture

St. Paul's cathedral with blue trees art installation. 

Eileen arrived completely "knackered" after a long trip from California which she was awarded several extra lay-overs. Regardless, she was up for going out to this artist talk that we enjoyed immensely.  

Artist installation by  Argentinian artist Leandro  Elrich.

Eileen learned about this work up in London, the day before she left for London.  Then soon she found out the artist was scheduled to talk about it nearby,only a few train stops away and a couple hrs after she arrived at the flat.  We managed to see the work and get into the packed artist talk just in time.  He was brilliant (as in really smart, not just some gratuitous British compliment) and funny and I totally suggest everyone look him up.

Our London flat

Barbs flight ended up super delayed and we set out to figure how to get to the city  with simple directions offered to us closer to 2:30 rather than 12:15. We laughed as every train we stepped on at one point or another announced delays, if even for a couple minutes. It was our first day's theme, we agreed. 

After finally meeting the person that let us in and showed us the flat we rented through airbnb.com. We initially resisted collapsing for the need for food - naturally. The area is really artsy and like a very trendy Brooklyn hood.

I love the local graffiti. Barb & I agreed it reminded us of our friend chad, somehow. :)

Arrival!

The flight was fine though it reminded me of a hospital stay. Just as I was falling asleep the crew would wake you to serve a meal or sell duty free goods. 

Customs though was a speedy breeze!  

Landed safe though. That's all that matters.. That and convincing myself its breakfast time. I totally feel like I slept 6 hrs when it's more like 30 mins. 

---—

Ugh.  My 2 hr wait just got closer to 3.5 hrs. I'm at Heathrow waiting for my friend barb to arrive from Atlanta but her Delta flight has been delayed over an hr. she's not gonna be happy, I'm sure. 

Meanwhile I'm sure glad I brought some Lawrenceville Jack reserve and an apple for my emergency snack. 

Now I'm tempted to nap but scared I'll wake with 50 less pounds of luggage. :/

Departure!

from Philadelphia 

To Scotland!

The above photo, of the cones, was something I appreciated when I visited Glasgow in 2005.  Apparently each time the cones are taken down, they reappear by the next day.  I believe it represents the attitude of the city, which I could relate to.  I was pleased to bike along the Schuylkill river in Philadelphia recently to see that yeah, Philly's full of smart asses too.

I depart for the UK via USairways flight 728, 9:50pm to arrive at Heathrow at 10am.

There's my ride:

Dear mom & dad, I love the suit case; it rolls like a luxury car...but apparently the built-in warning if it weighs over 50 lbs didn't work. Taking my hoodie out fixed the problem.