Hedgehogs are one of the fascinating creatures that live here in England.
While I have not yet seen one in person, I couldn’t pass up the one made of broom fibre at the V&A. Momma graciously sent him a little friend to hang in my room.
It is Thanksgiving. Everyone is working; the shops are all open and Christmas decorations are in full force. Very weird. This and 4th of July are the two hardest holidays (with President’s Day coming in a close third).
Kyle flew in from Raleigh today. We celebrated in Paddington Station at Paul.
Hung out by the Ebay Christmas tree:
and then she was off
to return on Sunday.
Today at 11:05am Tower Bridge went up. Having never seen this before, I fought howling winds and cold to see this in action as the HMS Westminster sailed back to sea after a weekend docked by the HMS Belfast.
Going:
Going:
Movie (can you hear the wind??)
Up!!
And more Up
The Ship sailing by the Tower of London
Going down:
Yesterday, I went on an walk to Borough Market. It is closed on Sunday so I took advantage of the nice light and investigated more of the neighborhood.
Tennis Courts on Tanner Street:
Southwark Bridge towards St. Paul’s
Southwark Cathedral founded on this site in 606 AD
Statuary
View East
Saturday night I met up with Andrea and Fraser to join Chantel and friends watch the All Blacks and Wales Rugby match. We met up in the Kiwi put, the Southerner, just off the Strand on Essex Street.
The place was packed!!
Chantel, Karin, me
Andrea and Fraser
Afterwards we headed over to Andrea’s house where her cousin Susanna had made a feast of a meal for us to eat. Pork roast and veggies…yum!!! It was perfect end to a very long day.
Ready for Christmas at Victoria Station..this lady obviously taking advantage of the WH Smith 3 for 2 on wrapping paper.
Someone hung an owl on the grove of trees on Charing Cross Rd.
Somerset House opens for skaters
On the ice:
Saturday morning, I popped up bright and early to make it over to Shepherd’s Bush for a regeneration walking tour. Everything worked out fine to get me there on a bright but cold morning. After 20 minutes of waiting for a tour guide and/or anyone, I gave up and explored on my own.
Sheperd’s Bush is undergoing a change from the aussi flop house reputation that it held a few years ago. The new underground station, mixed with the redevelopment for the 2012 games and a new Westfield shopping mall claiming to be the next wave of shopping in Europe is all there. Mixed in is a large ethnic community serving up great food and great market finds.
Sheperd’s Bush Market Station (with the new Westfield)
Sheperd’s Bush Market:
Stalls:
Okra!
Meat (halal of course)
Haven’t seen one of these sellers yet except in Whitechapel
Sheperd Bush Green has a lady clearly not understanding the DO NOT FEED sign for the birds:
The new Westfield sits behind the green, rising up above the houses. It would be easy to miss if you were not looking down the street.
Welcome to the mall (after a flight of 50 stairs!)
Living wall with fountain outlines the outdoor eating area (and masks the sounds from the trains and houses below)
The view on the other side of the wall:
Loving the phonetic spelling concept for Oaxaca
Welcome to Westfield
Lots of sunlight and interior eating cafes
More cafes and wine bars:
Stores have the ability to be two stories high within one floor:
Hollister is coming:
Deluxe Shopping Area with champagne bar and oh la la shops from around Europe
First impressions are that the mall offers a wide open space for shopping that upon reflection feel almost airport course like. It would be interesting to see the ratio of restaurants to shops as it felt like you could get a drink every few steps (though you needed to sit down rather than purchase a buy and go option).
The Horse Guards are one of my favorite parts of London. When I lived on Craven Hill, every morning there would be a procession of horses going by to the park to head for the Palace.
This guard stands watch along Whitehall just behind the new Household Cavalry Museum opened in 2007
This past Thursday, Bond Street threw open it’s doors, turned on the snow machines and lit up the street with Christmas lights and fireworks. I found out about this through meetup. While totally random, it started with a fun, behind the scenes in Mayfair walk to Bond Street stopping at art galleries along the way.
Tour Guide Phelim with his friend of 15 years Panos in Shepherd Market (W1)
Partying with the General Manager of Thai Airways and lots of champers & satay
Hanging with the big brass band:
Mrs. Christmas and Tiffany’s:
Waiting for the lights to come on at 6pm:
Welcome Christmas 2008
Photo of Kelly Brook, the honorary MC of the event
Asprey Jewelers decked out for Christmas
This event was a lot of fun and all donations supported the Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital.
Let it Snow
Originally uploaded by snoosh.
it’s been snowing on and off all day. No sticking, but it is
definitely reinforcing the arrival of Winter.
This week I have been staying close to the flat, trying to find the interesting bits of SE 1.
View of the Bermondsey Spa View construction from the window:
Antiques shops around the famous Bermondsey Antique Market (now held underneath the Premier Inn from 5am to 9am every Friday)
Small things:
Larger things:
Wild Boar Rug?
Who knew Monmouth Coffee was just across the street? Sadly they do not sell coffee but are a training facility for the roasters. The kind instructor kindly explained why they are not selling the Cuban Coffee anymore (b/c it is diluted rather than being from a specific region).
Loving the fact that the Thames is tidal…this is the “Dockhead” between Shad Thames and St. Savior’s Wharf. Not sure if you jumped into this if it would suck you down like quicksand???
Tried a new bookclub last night I found on Meetup.com. It really had 40 + girls show up, all from North America (Canada and the US), who discussed the book for close to an hour and a half.
Learned about UK culture such as the need for fascinators and was the social care facility for the illustrious Baby P really failing….
Missing all my Naptown girls & guys at their bookclub as People factors in a little more at this one.
Love it for
1) Beer that actually tastes nothing like beer (so I like it)
2) Fun trams and great transport options (from walking, biking, tram and river)
3) Easy going vibe where everyone speaks English if your Dutch isn’t so good
4) Random groups of preteens and teens wandering the streets in packs of Girl Guides and Boy Scouts
5) Promotion of the Seniors lifestyles
6) Great bakeries and patisseries
7)Frites with insane sauces like curry tomato sauce and garlic sauce
8) Hema store socks
Missing the mark:
1) Sometimes it feels like an extension of Holland rather than being Belgian
2) The weather is a little grey
This past weekend I hopped the Eurostar to go over and visit my college roommate, Allie, who is doing an executive leadership course for her employer in Antwerp. The Eurostar makes traveling to Belgium very easy with the opening of the new high speed rail line from St. Pancras International station to Brussells. Then it is a quick 40 minute ride over to Antwerp.
Allie met me at Centraal station and after dropping off my bags, we went out for a drink and some sightseeing. The Pilgrim (on Pilgrimstraat) was the first stop. The interior was lit only with candles and the cave like room had high arching vaults.
We then decided to go and get some food. Allie took me to her favorite snack shop, where we feasted on pita and schwarma.
The views of the cathedral were breathtaking from the 4th floor window
The next morning, Allie had breakfast “forseen” with lots of rolls, cheeses, meats and even some chocolate washed down with tea. We then set off to discover Antwerp. Allie lives in the Diamond district, so we saw lots of Hassidic families on their way to Synagogue.
Allie said the height and the size of the fur hat indicates stature in the community. There is also some thought that the women shave their heads at a certain age and wear a wig. Not sure about this one but it might be true.
We then cut through the Stadspark, which had a pretty pedestrian bridge.
On the bridge:
We then wandered through Theatreplein, where a fun market was in full swing.
Massive Cheese!
Shopping on the high street:
Hanging with Black Pete (Sinter Claas’s helper)
Embracing the origins of the hand in Antwerpen
Bustling shopping on the Mier
Every good purchase deserves a drink…having a drink at Desire de Lille
Enjoying the apple biegnets at Desiree De Lille
Guys with some great hats & shoes:
More shopping in the city:
Finding Phillips Biscuits to buy some Antwerpen Hands cookies for Andrea & Fraser:
Modern Flats along the River Scheldt
Drinking at Hanger 41 which had an amazing wood floor
Detail of the floor:
After more shopping and exploring ‘Zuid, we found the Kulminator and some fun Finnish guys who were celebrating a birthday by drinking all of the Trappist beers in the world possible. Here is their checklist:
Sunday, we headed back over to the Cathedral to see the castle and river Scheldt
The River:
Town from the River:
The Castle:
After at least thirty minutes of hunting for Stadswaag, we found it by giving up.
The sign:
The Waagstuk
Trying the local brew and Bananna Beer:
Visiting an installation art (that reminded Allie of the Manson Family)
Waiting for the Green Man:
Riding the Tram…the sign counts down your wait so you can decide which way to travel
The Tram running above and underground (reminding me of the SF Muni)
Rooftop views of the Candy Picnic:
Thanks Allie for a fun weekend!!
