Thus the weekend commenced! We experienced some typical London weather (rainy, foggy, misty), but as usual, everyone promised it was "most unusual," and really the past two months had been very sunny and beautiful. I find that whenever I go to London and, of course, it rains the whole trip, all the Londoners make a huge effort to convince us that it really isn't always like that but on the contrary, it's quite sunny and warm most of the time. I'm sorry but, I've been to London on two separate occasions now, stayed for long periods of time, and on each visit it rains non-stop. Literally on this long weekend, we had four days of straight rain. And I know it's not unusual because while walking around, I noticed people don't even use umbrellas. They are already so used to the constant mist of the city that they just pull up the hoods of their cute trench coats and go about their day. No need for rain boots--a true Londoner is either immune to wet feet, or all their shoes are waterproof.
Yet even though I was forced to sport my rain boots (Hunter, of course--if it weren't for the camera hanging off my shoulder, maybe I would've blended in), London took me by surprise. I was not ready for how much I was going to fall in love with this foggy city. It lacks the grand, old city look of Paris (which, Bruce pointed out, Paris only has because they were "surrender monkeys"), but I found that everything I missed about home...London has. And everything I don't like about Paris...London doesn't have. For example, I know it's futile, but I really miss Splenda. And I simply don't understand why Paris is still stuck in the 15th century with their sugar cubes! It doesn't make sense. Also the service in Parisian restaurants is abominable. I don't know if it's the pushy New Yorker in me, or because I'm the product of two restauranteurs, but when I ask for the check I expect to get it within five minutes. Not twenty. But of course, learning to function on "French time" is one of the beauties of Paris. So I won't fight it. Then in true Franco-style, there's the constant striking in France and as a result, the unreliable transportation. Again, "la grève" (the strike) is part of French culture. And of all the cultures in the world, I respect and adore that of France the most. But when I'm packed like a sardine in Europe's dirtiest metro system because only 1/5 conductors haven't taken to the streets, I dream of a Paris sans grève.
Another facet of London that reminded me of home were the abundance of diverse neighborhoods. If you want the best Indian food in town, go to Brick Lane. Then there's the street with all the hookah bars (or shisha, as they call it). Then there are the tiny neighborhoods lined with Irish pubs and sweet shops. London may be too big for some people, but I like how there's enough space to house a little bit of everything.
So what did we do in London? Well, my friend Sarah from college is studying in London this semester so she took us around to all her favorite spots and of course, the major sites. What a relief to travel and sightsee without looking at a map. Westminster Abbey, the Big Ben, Green Park, Hyde Park, the London Bridge--we walked it all. It was also Remembrance Day when we visited, so Westminster Abbey was especially moving because of all the red poppies sprinkled about the grass.
The highlight of the trip however (and he will love to hear this) was hanging out with Uncle Craig. Craig's not really my uncle, but he's known me since I was six years old and has since been a very close friend of my family, so an uncle is what he's come to be. He's the kind of person though I just can't describe with words, although I will attempt. Craig is the crazy one. The type of person who would do or say anything for a laugh, who has party tricks with his "bullocks," and who starts the evening drinking at three o'clock in the afternoon. He had only just met my friends, but that did not stop him from asking inappropriate questions and making everyone feel generally uncomfortable (and also hysterical with laughter). Essentially, Craig is a 19 year old frat boy--in much better clothes--trapped in the body of a forty year old man. If it weren't for him and Bruce and Dixon (the couple brave enough to put us up), we would not have even come close to having such a good time. To them, thank you so much, you've shown me London in a fresh new light and the verdict? I LOVED it.
The Big Ben and the London fog
Courtney (aka Coco) in the Westminster tube station
Westminster Abbey
Green Park
Buckingham Palace...
Usually it's open but the Queen was in town that weekend. So her royal quarters were closed.
The fountain outside Buckingham Palace
Walking around in Green Park...
Such an adorable cupcake shop! They also served "high tea" (still trying to figure out what that is)
Being everyone's entertainment on the Tube
Telephone booth pictures: cheesy but necessary
Pogson and Davis
Mid-afternoon stop at Craig's suit shop! We thought we would only stay for an hour or so and say hello...five hours later it was dinner time. After this I couldn't look at a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc for a week.
Happy Christmas! Aw...so English.
The London Bridge
View from the Bridge
Borough Market
