Who needs a flying umbrella?

Hubby and I were in London this past weekend.

I had to be there on business this Monday so we figured we’d leave the Saturday morning before and spend the weekend there. As it usually happens when I’m travelling, I had one of “those moments”.

But first, a little about our trip.

As you probably know by now, Hubby and I are walkers. The worst thing you can do to us on a trip is put us on one of those “sight-seeing” double-decker buses. We usually like to get our sight-seeing done on foot. No taxis or buses for us thank you very much, and limited amount of subway use will do for us just fine.

Coming out of the "tube" - one of the few times we used it. Photo: Hubby

So Saturday morning, after checking into the nice and convenient Premier Inn hotel near Tower Bridge (very clean, excellent location, reasonably priced – totally recommend it!), Hubby and I set out to explore the city. This isn’t my first time in London, but it sure as heck always feels like it to me. I just love the city, the vibe, the people, the feel of it. So different to Paris. But we’ll get back to this in a little while.

Hubby and I set off towards Westminster Abbey. I’d never been inside before and it was really amazing. As a side note, I’d like to say that I find it really great that the audio guides are free. Had we had to spend an additional pound or two on top of the entrance fee (as is usually the case at high touristy places in most countries) we would have certainly not have used them and would have thus missed out on a lot of what makes the Abbey so incredible and unique.

I also like to think that had I visited Westminster on my first trip to London back in 2002 when I was freshly arrived in Europe (only 4 months earlier!) a lot of the history and the grandness of the place would have certainly been lost on me. This time around however I knew my ABCs on the Edward's, Henry’s, Elizabeth’s and Mary’s, among many other names in the British Monarchy’s (somewhat complicated) Family Tree. And granted, my poetry knowledge is not as precise as my European Monarchy’s gossip’s knowledge, but still, I stood in awe at the memorial sites of the likes of Chaucer and Kipling and Shakespeare and Austen.

But even if I had been as ignorant on the History of Europe’s Monarchy and Literature and Poetry as I was back in 2002, I’m sure I would have still been able to appreciate the sheer beauty of the Lady Chapel’s ceiling and the solemnity of King Edward’s Chair (the Coronation Throne for the British family since 1308!) and the harmony of the Cloisters.

You get the idea, Westminster Abbey rocks.


By the time we came out of the Abbey it was time to grab some quick lunch (Halloumi cheese, I am now and forever IN LOVE with you!!) before going out to visit with our good friends the Graham’s. A quick tube ride (couldn’t be helped) later and we were coming out in the awesomeness that is Camden Town. Away were the pretty Victorian buildings and posh quarters near the Abbey, Camden Town was all about the spiky hair, colourful tattoos and ethnic mix of culture, clothing and food stands. By the time we arrived at the Albert pub near Primerose Hill and met up with our friends, Hubby and I were ready for a nice pint of something refreshing!

Sadly, not the Albert Pub, but one of many we crossed on our road, equally amazing and tantalizing. Photo: Hubby

Primerose Hill (not to mention, the super duper delicious CUPCAKES that Lucy’s dad treated us to!!) it was time for Hubby and I to head down back to the centre of London. We had seats to The Phantom of the Opera musical and factoring in the walk from Primerose Hill down to the theatre, we had barely enough time to make it. But we did and the show was amazing. I had never been to a Musical before and although it took a little while to adjust to the lines being sang out (as opposed to belted out like in a regular play) it was quite impressive. The set, the costumes, the music, the entire production left you razzeled dazzeled. No wonder it’s the longest running Broadway musical of all times.

After the show, Hubby and I decided that there was no point in coming to London if you didn’t sit down somewhere to have some really good, really spicy, Indian food… the kind you simply can’t find in Paris. The real stuff. It was funny, because when the waiter came to take my finished plate of Vindaloo away he asked me how I’d liked it (for some reason my clean plate didn’t seem to clue him in) and if I’d thought it wasn’t too spicy…. Uhm… heeello??? Mexican here! After that he laughed and told me next time I should try the XXX dish (can't &@#ç%! remember the name of the dish!)… spicier still!!!!

Sunday morning, Hubby and I lazily got up and decided it was time to go out and visit the West End of the city. We took the tube to Notting Hill Gate and came out right on the edge of Portobello Road (Bed knobs and Broomsticks anyone?) It was really fun checking out all the old antique shops and stands in both the newer and the older parts of that long winding street.

Portobello Road. Photos: Hubby

When we reached the end we walked all the way back to Notting Hill and strolled around the neighbourhood enjoying view after view of the gorgeous Victorian houses and prim pretty private parks (can you say that three times in a row?) that make this part of town so très chic. Several times I had to pinch myself and remind myself that I wasn’t in a Mary Poppins scene.

Notting Hill. Photo: Hubby

By noon we were bordering on the Kensington High street and decided to stop and have lunch near the pretty Holland Park. Afterwards, it was back on our feet to explore the neighbourhoods and little boutiques near High Kensington, Gloucester Road and Knightsbridge. By mid afternoon we walked into the amazing Victoria & Albert Museum for some tea in one of the amazing cafés within the building. I also had a fun learning experience while peeking in the “Fashion” “Shoes” and “Hats” exhibitions while Hubby explored the “photography” and “futuristic furniture” expos. And people say museums are stuffy and boring!!

Ceiling of Tea Room inside the Victoria and Albert Museum. Photo: Hubby

After the museum, we continued our walk, window-shopping along the fabulously chic street that is Sloan Street down to Sloan square where we hoped on the metro to get us closer to the centre of the city as we wanted to explore a little more around the SOHO district. By the time we arrived near the Seven Dial landmark we were famished. More Indian. More Spice. More Happy faces after our meal.

By then it was getting dark and we decided we should head back to our hotel since it’d been a long day for us. We started out walking and talking and some more walking and some more talking and suddenly we realized that the subway stations were passing us by and we had still to go into one. By this time we were nearing St Paul Cathedral and decided we might as well just walk the rest of the way back to Tower Hill (and our Hotel).

In total, Hubby and I calculated we must have walked over 15 km that day although we didn’t really realize it. We did figure out however that getting Day Passes for the Subway wasn’t such a bright idea.

Needless to say, that night we crashed.

Monday was more laid back as I had to go downtown for my workshop so we took it easy and just hung around the area until the time of my meeting came up. Then Hubby headed on over to the British Museum and we met up afterwards for a quick stroll around Covent Garden before we had to go pick up our stuff at the hotel and head on out towards the St Pancras train station.

All in all, it was a fun weekend and we were both glad to get out of Paris for a little while.

Now, if I could only write a trip report for work as thorough as this one …... :s


Fned.

P.S. As for my “travelling moment”… I guess I should leave that for my next post, since this one has gone for too long already.