Our second day in Florence was all about finding out what encompassed the spirit of the city – it’s art, history, landscape, and of course, it’s food!
Rumour has it that the Uffizi (Florence's equivalent to the Louvre or the National Gallery) gallery's queues were up to two hours long. We decided to arrive at the beginning of the day, and Leonardo Junior recommended we arrive at 7.45 - 30 minutes prior to the gallery opening it's doors to the public. We walked through the early morning mist and the city was surprisingly empty for a Friday morning. When we arrived at the Uffizi, we expected hoards, and found that we were the first to arrive. In fact, even by 8.15am there was only a handful of people to go through the security screening and into the museum.
The Uffizi is huge, and although not exactly my cup of tea - the art work tends to date before the 19th century (which is when I think things in the art world start to get interesting) - there were a couple of highlights: they had a special exhibit on Da Vinci and all about how he married his passion for art with his passion for science; also there was the original painting of a print that Dad used to have when I was growing up and I always found quite creepy. It was funny to see it in person because the print that Dad had was quite huge, and in real life the painting is smaller than an A4 sized piece of paper - so not so creepy after all. We also got a look at Botticelli's Birth of Venus, which is absolutely huge - and pretty impressive!
After several hours wandering the many rooms that encompassed the gallery, we headed out for a well deserved lunch break. Little did we know that we were about to encounter our first important lesson in Italian dining out…
Our first mistake was that we picked a little café that was only 50 metres from the exit doors of the Uffizi. This should have been a sign. We loitered outside the café looking at the various paninis and pastas they were selling in the window. Deciding the food would hit the spot, we wandered in and ordered. I had a ciabatta Panini with prosciutto and fresh mozzarella and a coke. The lady behind the counter asked us whether we wished to take the food away, or instead have a seat in the outside dining area they had at the front of the store. After several hours wandering the Uffizi, we decided to take a seat… big mistake!
My Panini, which started out with a reasonable price of €3.50, automatically had an additional euro added on for the priviledge of being able to sit and eat. Not too bad, right? Well, my coke – just a can, which started life at €2 was hiked up to €5.50. So first lesson, never pick a dining establishment within 50 metres of a world famous tourist attraction. .. second lesson, never agree to sit down, unless you know how much that will increase your bill – in my case 50%!
With fuller stomachs and emptier pockets, we headed for the next destination on our list, Santa Croce Basilica. This rather ornate church is the final resting place of history’s most famous Florentines: Michelangelo Buonarroti, Dante Alighieri, Niccolo Machiavelli, Gioacchino Rossini and Galileo Galilei! As well as checking out the impressive tombs, I also enjoyed the Santa Croce as in one of the adjoining buildings, we discovered a temporary exhibit displaying photos from the 1966 flood which covered much of Florence. Also within the complex was a lovely, peaceful courtyard… totally devoid of people and any sign of the outside world, it was easy for me to convince myself that I had time travelled back 400 years and when I stepped outside the Santa Croce I would be greeted by Renaissance Florence.
Next stop for the day was the Duomo’s Cupola. You may recall several weeks prior to my trip to Florence I went to London and climbed all 311 steps of the Monument Tower… well, another city, another tower (or high building at least!) - this one had 436 steps! The Cupola, which was completed in 1436, was the masterpiece of an architect named Filippo Brunolleschi (apparently the first true Renaissance architect). The view from the top was incredible… I understand that the laws of the city forbid anyone from building anything taller than the Duomo and so you can see for miles in every direction, and truly feel on top of the Florentine world. Red roofs everywhere and Tuscan hills rolling gently along the city borders, Florence is truly beautiful from every angle.
436 steps back to the bottom again and it was time for an afternoon siesta. That evening we decided to try another of Leonardo’s recommendations for dinner – perhaps a wise choice considering what we chose when we were left to our own devices at lunchtime!
We went to a little trattoria, around a 5 minute walk from the Duomo, named Yellow. Fresh Tuscan bread to start, a simple green salad with olive oil and balsamic drizzled over the top, and gnocci della gorgonzola as my main – I was in heaven… and had to be rolled out of the restaurant and back to the hotel! (Mind you, I did manage to fit in a gelato stop – remember there are two stomachs – one from savouries and one for sweets – so even if your savoury tummy is full, you can always fit in dessert!) The gnocci was the highlight of my meal… a beautiful, creamy blue cheese sauce covered the gnocci and the whole dish was garnished with chopped walnuts, which normally I detest, but have now realised perfectly compliment the rich flavour of blue cheese.
So, full on Italian food, and giddy with what felt like the initial stages of love… that is the love of a good city(!)… we headed back to the guest house for a well deserved rest to prepare ourselves for day number three!
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Mama Mia
Several people have told me that when they visited Florence (Firenze), they found it a bit of a nightmare to navigate. We were very fortunate then, as our lovely little pension was just five minutes walk from the main bus and train depot and a further two minutes to all of the central sights of Florence. After settling in at the Leonardo Guesthouse (owned and run by two generations of Leonardos – uncle and nephew), we set out to explore – first stop... LUNCH!
Leonardo Jnr had very kindly given us a map of the inner city and had marked on it various places he recommend we visit and also several places to eat at. We were not disappointed by his first recommendation, a gorgeous little restaurant named Za-za.
Having not eaten since leaving Stansted airport (and let’s be honest, can you really count airport food as real food!?), we were both starving. There were far too many choices on the menu, but after much agonising I narrowed it down to the fresh spinach and ricotta ravioli with creamy truffle sauce and a glass of pinot grigio (yes, I know I don’t drink wine, but when in Florence…)
The wine came quickly, along with a basket of freshly baked bread, which was equally quickly devoured. The bread was quite dense and crusty – but very yummy – especially with olive oil drizzled over the top! Finally, our mains came. The ravioli was delicious! I could tell it was fresh – the spinach in the ravioli was still green, and the pasta had that egg-y flavour that only comes when it is fresh. The sauce wasn’t too bad either… ok, let's be honest, it was fabulous… in fact, when I ran out of pasta I had to use the remaining bread to sop up the last bits of the sauce!
Fully restored, we headed to the Galleria dell'Accademia to check out the world's most famous sculpture - Michelangelo's David. The Accademia almost certainly has the biggest drawcard of the city, however the rest of the gallery really doesn't have anything else worth noting - especially by someone such as myself who has only recently discovered the joys of art appreciation.
However, just going to see David alone is well worth it. At 4.5 metres tall, he is certainly a lot bigger than I had realised he would be - and thus dominates the purpose built room he has been housed in since the late nineteenth century. Michelangelo was just 26 when he finished the sculpture - can you imagine!? The piece was commissioned by the local government to be a symbol of Florence in 1501 - making David over 500 years old - and let me tell you - he is in pretty good shape!
After finishing at the Accademia, we headed back to the guest house for a well-earned siesta (remember we had been up since 3am!) of course along the way we made time for a gelato stop. Gelato is fantastic and perhaps one of Italy's greatest accomplishments. I am amazed that it has failed to become the global phenomenon that much of Italy's other cuisine has done. Over the three days we were in Florence I managed to sample the following flavours: meringue, crema, strachiatella (like a vanilla choc chip), creme caramel, nutella (Italians have a strange obsession with nutella - this suspicion was confirmed when I discovered a book in a local bookstore which was totally devoted to nutella and recipes with it as the main ingredient!), pistachio, chocolate orange, dark chocolate, irish cream, chocolate mousse, profiterole, and licorice. My favourite was the combination of licorice and dark chocolate. To be honest, even if Italy was lacking in every other area (which thankfully, it is not), I would probably go back for the gelato alone!
Waking from our siestas, with tummies ready to partake in yet another Italian gastronomic adventure, we headed to an Italian pizzeria (a cliche in every sense - the music, atmosphere, decor, menu...) situated right next to the Duomo for dinner. The pizza itself was nothing particularly special - a huge serving, with a lovely fresh base - I had a napoli which consisted of anchovies, capers, olives and fresh tomato and mozarella. I have had pizza of a similar quality at home, but the experience of sitting in an Italian restaurant in Florence over pizza and a bottle of wine, sharing the experience with a dear friend, will be hard to top none the less.
Leonardo Jnr had very kindly given us a map of the inner city and had marked on it various places he recommend we visit and also several places to eat at. We were not disappointed by his first recommendation, a gorgeous little restaurant named Za-za.
Having not eaten since leaving Stansted airport (and let’s be honest, can you really count airport food as real food!?), we were both starving. There were far too many choices on the menu, but after much agonising I narrowed it down to the fresh spinach and ricotta ravioli with creamy truffle sauce and a glass of pinot grigio (yes, I know I don’t drink wine, but when in Florence…)
The wine came quickly, along with a basket of freshly baked bread, which was equally quickly devoured. The bread was quite dense and crusty – but very yummy – especially with olive oil drizzled over the top! Finally, our mains came. The ravioli was delicious! I could tell it was fresh – the spinach in the ravioli was still green, and the pasta had that egg-y flavour that only comes when it is fresh. The sauce wasn’t too bad either… ok, let's be honest, it was fabulous… in fact, when I ran out of pasta I had to use the remaining bread to sop up the last bits of the sauce!
Fully restored, we headed to the Galleria dell'Accademia to check out the world's most famous sculpture - Michelangelo's David. The Accademia almost certainly has the biggest drawcard of the city, however the rest of the gallery really doesn't have anything else worth noting - especially by someone such as myself who has only recently discovered the joys of art appreciation.
However, just going to see David alone is well worth it. At 4.5 metres tall, he is certainly a lot bigger than I had realised he would be - and thus dominates the purpose built room he has been housed in since the late nineteenth century. Michelangelo was just 26 when he finished the sculpture - can you imagine!? The piece was commissioned by the local government to be a symbol of Florence in 1501 - making David over 500 years old - and let me tell you - he is in pretty good shape!
After finishing at the Accademia, we headed back to the guest house for a well-earned siesta (remember we had been up since 3am!) of course along the way we made time for a gelato stop. Gelato is fantastic and perhaps one of Italy's greatest accomplishments. I am amazed that it has failed to become the global phenomenon that much of Italy's other cuisine has done. Over the three days we were in Florence I managed to sample the following flavours: meringue, crema, strachiatella (like a vanilla choc chip), creme caramel, nutella (Italians have a strange obsession with nutella - this suspicion was confirmed when I discovered a book in a local bookstore which was totally devoted to nutella and recipes with it as the main ingredient!), pistachio, chocolate orange, dark chocolate, irish cream, chocolate mousse, profiterole, and licorice. My favourite was the combination of licorice and dark chocolate. To be honest, even if Italy was lacking in every other area (which thankfully, it is not), I would probably go back for the gelato alone!
Waking from our siestas, with tummies ready to partake in yet another Italian gastronomic adventure, we headed to an Italian pizzeria (a cliche in every sense - the music, atmosphere, decor, menu...) situated right next to the Duomo for dinner. The pizza itself was nothing particularly special - a huge serving, with a lovely fresh base - I had a napoli which consisted of anchovies, capers, olives and fresh tomato and mozarella. I have had pizza of a similar quality at home, but the experience of sitting in an Italian restaurant in Florence over pizza and a bottle of wine, sharing the experience with a dear friend, will be hard to top none the less.
Monday, November 20, 2006
All roads lead to... Florence
When I was 14 I had a brief (about 2 years) obsession with Italy. After my last few days in Florence, I am happy to say, the obsession is back!
Only three days in Italy was not nearly enough - but it was enough to get a taste of a culture that is so familiar through the cliches that we encounter on tv, the pictures we see, and through the books we read that I felt like I had been there before. It is such a hard thing to explain, every thing I saw and did felt oddly familiar, but at the same time it was such a different world too.
After another atrociously early start and a groggy flight (although sans airport dramas – even missed out on another pat down!), we arrived in Pisa early on the morning of November 9th. It was drizzling as we set out by city bus in search of the Leaning Tower. I took this as a good sign, as when we had arrived in Porto the weather had been fantastic, and then had quickly deteriorated for the rest of our stay, so I figured (read: hoped!) the opposite would happen this time.
Unlike the bus ride into the city which we took when we first arrived in Porto, the city-scape of Pisa did not ‘wow’ me. However, just the idea that I was in Italy: about to see some of the world’s most famous sites; eat some of the most talked about food; indulge in one of the most beloved cultures, was enough that by the time we arrived at ‘The Field of Miracles’, I could barely contain my excitement!
When you arrive at the bus stop outside the Field of Miracles there is nothing obvious to let you know that you have arrived at one of the most famous sites in the world. The bus stops on a busy main road on the edge of a piazza which has a tall old city wall as a boundary on the far side, blocking any view of the wonder beyond. Luckily, we innately knew to get off the bus, and proceeded to the far end of the piazza where there was an opening in the wall.
Walking through to the other side felt like walking into a different world… the field of miracles has three major buildings on the site: the baptistery, the duomo and the campanile (better known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa!). Each of these buildings have been constructed out of grey and white marble. I am sure that they look just incredible against a brilliant blue sky background, but the effect that was created with the drizzly grey sky was almost dream like as the sky and the buildings kind of melded into one.
I could tell already that I was going to enjoy Italy. We decided against splashing out 15 euros(!!!) each to climb the tower – apart from the cost, the idea of climbing a building in the wet which is made of slippery marble did not appeal. And even though it was drizzly and gloomy, we had a lovely time, wandering around the outside of the buildings, admiring the incredible architecture and taking far too many photos, and then indulging in some shopping for some very corny tourist products at the market stalls that were set up along one edge of the piazza.
After a couple of hours of aimless wandering, we caught the bus back to Pisa airport, collected our luggage and then caught another bus to Florence. The one and a half hour bus trip was very interesting: on both sides of the highway were gorgeous traditional farmhouses, with vineyards and olive trees and vege plots. It looked just like you would imagine things would have looked 60 or 70 years ago, with the one difference, being a huge, ugly highway running straight through the middle of it all – progress huh – got to love it!?!
At approximately 2pm we arrived at Florence’s central bus depot… gathered our luggage and headed into the city centre, armed with a map to find our accommodation, get settled quickly and then EXPLORE!
Only three days in Italy was not nearly enough - but it was enough to get a taste of a culture that is so familiar through the cliches that we encounter on tv, the pictures we see, and through the books we read that I felt like I had been there before. It is such a hard thing to explain, every thing I saw and did felt oddly familiar, but at the same time it was such a different world too.
After another atrociously early start and a groggy flight (although sans airport dramas – even missed out on another pat down!), we arrived in Pisa early on the morning of November 9th. It was drizzling as we set out by city bus in search of the Leaning Tower. I took this as a good sign, as when we had arrived in Porto the weather had been fantastic, and then had quickly deteriorated for the rest of our stay, so I figured (read: hoped!) the opposite would happen this time.
Unlike the bus ride into the city which we took when we first arrived in Porto, the city-scape of Pisa did not ‘wow’ me. However, just the idea that I was in Italy: about to see some of the world’s most famous sites; eat some of the most talked about food; indulge in one of the most beloved cultures, was enough that by the time we arrived at ‘The Field of Miracles’, I could barely contain my excitement!
When you arrive at the bus stop outside the Field of Miracles there is nothing obvious to let you know that you have arrived at one of the most famous sites in the world. The bus stops on a busy main road on the edge of a piazza which has a tall old city wall as a boundary on the far side, blocking any view of the wonder beyond. Luckily, we innately knew to get off the bus, and proceeded to the far end of the piazza where there was an opening in the wall.
Walking through to the other side felt like walking into a different world… the field of miracles has three major buildings on the site: the baptistery, the duomo and the campanile (better known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa!). Each of these buildings have been constructed out of grey and white marble. I am sure that they look just incredible against a brilliant blue sky background, but the effect that was created with the drizzly grey sky was almost dream like as the sky and the buildings kind of melded into one.
I could tell already that I was going to enjoy Italy. We decided against splashing out 15 euros(!!!) each to climb the tower – apart from the cost, the idea of climbing a building in the wet which is made of slippery marble did not appeal. And even though it was drizzly and gloomy, we had a lovely time, wandering around the outside of the buildings, admiring the incredible architecture and taking far too many photos, and then indulging in some shopping for some very corny tourist products at the market stalls that were set up along one edge of the piazza.
After a couple of hours of aimless wandering, we caught the bus back to Pisa airport, collected our luggage and then caught another bus to Florence. The one and a half hour bus trip was very interesting: on both sides of the highway were gorgeous traditional farmhouses, with vineyards and olive trees and vege plots. It looked just like you would imagine things would have looked 60 or 70 years ago, with the one difference, being a huge, ugly highway running straight through the middle of it all – progress huh – got to love it!?!
At approximately 2pm we arrived at Florence’s central bus depot… gathered our luggage and headed into the city centre, armed with a map to find our accommodation, get settled quickly and then EXPLORE!
Friday, November 17, 2006
In search of Robin Hood and his Merry Men
Two weekends ago, on a freezing cold saturday morning I left my warm bed and headed to the train station to catch a train to Nottingham to let medieval fantasies capture my imagination.
The trip to Nottingham was lovely. It just so happens that the trains going North are much newer, more comfortable, and cozier than trains going south to London and beyond. Within ten minutes of leaving Cambridge, the train was travelling through frost-covered fields - so thick it looked like snow. The anticipation of my day-trip adventure grew - with a start like this - how could it not deliver!?
After a two hour trip North, I arrived in Nottingham at just after 9am. Manouvering my way out of the train station, I followed the signs into the town centre. Unlike the medieval town walls that I would imagine used to keep transients out and the city folk in, there was a new barrier keeping visitors from the centre of town - a mall! It seemed to go on endlessly in either direction, and the only way to get to the city centre beyond was to go through... so that was what I did.
Being a female, a quick detour through the mall and out to the other side was never going to happen, and I took much longer than I had intended, browsing in the shop windows and even investigating several stores more thoroughly. To be honest, it all went to my head a bit, because England doesn't really do malls, and so to be inside a large building specifically devoted to shopping was a bit of a novelty.
Eventually, I did find my way out, and yet, was confronted by even more stores. In the end I discovered that Nottingham has not one but two malls, a maze of inner city streets devoted to retail therapy and several large department stores.
I did find some reference to Robin Hood eventually, but it took a bit of a hunt... down a couple of side streets, I found myself beside Nottingham Castle, which is perched up on a hill and looks out over the whole of Nottingham. Just outside the Castle gates there is a little park which has a Robin Hood statue... for a figure who's story has been retold all over the world, I was expecting a little more.
While I am not quite up with how the whole Robin Hood story ended, I have always believed that he succeeded in out-smarting his arch enemy, the Sheriff of Notthingham, and carried out his days robbing from the rich and giving to the poor. However, in an ironic twist, that only time can deliver, it seems that Robin may have one the battle, but perhaps the Sheriff did win the war... The Sheriffs legacy is the countless amount of high street chain stores which are now robbing the poor and giving back to the rich.
The trip to Nottingham was lovely. It just so happens that the trains going North are much newer, more comfortable, and cozier than trains going south to London and beyond. Within ten minutes of leaving Cambridge, the train was travelling through frost-covered fields - so thick it looked like snow. The anticipation of my day-trip adventure grew - with a start like this - how could it not deliver!?
After a two hour trip North, I arrived in Nottingham at just after 9am. Manouvering my way out of the train station, I followed the signs into the town centre. Unlike the medieval town walls that I would imagine used to keep transients out and the city folk in, there was a new barrier keeping visitors from the centre of town - a mall! It seemed to go on endlessly in either direction, and the only way to get to the city centre beyond was to go through... so that was what I did.
Being a female, a quick detour through the mall and out to the other side was never going to happen, and I took much longer than I had intended, browsing in the shop windows and even investigating several stores more thoroughly. To be honest, it all went to my head a bit, because England doesn't really do malls, and so to be inside a large building specifically devoted to shopping was a bit of a novelty.
Eventually, I did find my way out, and yet, was confronted by even more stores. In the end I discovered that Nottingham has not one but two malls, a maze of inner city streets devoted to retail therapy and several large department stores.
I did find some reference to Robin Hood eventually, but it took a bit of a hunt... down a couple of side streets, I found myself beside Nottingham Castle, which is perched up on a hill and looks out over the whole of Nottingham. Just outside the Castle gates there is a little park which has a Robin Hood statue... for a figure who's story has been retold all over the world, I was expecting a little more.
While I am not quite up with how the whole Robin Hood story ended, I have always believed that he succeeded in out-smarting his arch enemy, the Sheriff of Notthingham, and carried out his days robbing from the rich and giving to the poor. However, in an ironic twist, that only time can deliver, it seems that Robin may have one the battle, but perhaps the Sheriff did win the war... The Sheriffs legacy is the countless amount of high street chain stores which are now robbing the poor and giving back to the rich.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Sub zero and other matters
So, I can officially start moaning about the bloody awful English weather - we have now entered sub zero temperatures (not all day - but the overnight low)! It is horrid. My nose actually hurt this morning - it was that cold! I had to buy mittens today too... they are lovely though!
Anyway, enough moaning about the weather, and on to more interesting matters. I spent the last weekend in London - with the in-laws(!!) and had a wonderful time. I caught the train (the Cambridge Express!) down on Saturday morning and then the tube to their flat in Clapham North. After seeing their flat, I understand why people choose to live in London... the flat is a lovely two-bedroom apartment in a big old victorian building and is literally a 3 minute walk from the tube station (and therefore Westminster, Trafalgar Square, Picadilly Circus etc are only about 10 - 15 minutes away)... their local pub is 1 minute down the road and they are 5 minutes from the high street which is chocker with interesting shops, cafes, restaurants and bars.
The highlights of my weekend, apart from catching up with the family, were climbing the Monument Tower (311 steps!); visiting Harrods which is all set up for Christmas; star spotting along the River Thames; and passing through Speakers Corner in Hyde Park.
Monument Tower
My friend Hayley advised Monument Tower as a much cheaper answer to the London Eye. It cost £2 per person and took 311 steps up a spiral staircase to get to the top. The tower is 202 feet high and was built to commemorate the Great (!?) fire of 1666... which started in a bakery on Pudding Lane. The spiral staircase was narrow and steep... and just a little scary, but once we got to the top it was fantastic... London goes on as far as the eye can see in every direction... and it really gives you some perspective as to how big that city really is! An added bonus was that once we got to the bottom again we got a certificate to say that we had climbed the tower - so it really must have been hard work!
Christmas Harrods
This visit was my second to Harrods, but it seemed slightly more magical this time - with all the Christmas decorations out... and that 'Christmas rush'-feeling going on (yes - it was still October and the Christmas rush had started already! - I don't actually think I could handle the real Christmas rush when we get into December!).
When you think about it, if you had enough money in the bank you could buy everything you ever needed from Harrods... it is like the ultimate department store, but for the uber-rich... they have everything from golf equipment to handkerchiefs; candles to ice cream...
Both times I have been to Harrods I have been drawn to the food halls... which are like a fantasy-land, they have every type of food you can imagine - a whole hall devoted to chocolates and other sweets, counters that serve all types of ready-to-go-food - pizzas, tapas, ice-cream sundaes... even an oyster bar (with a dozen oysters for 28 pounds)!! In my dreams I imagine walking through and actually buying everything that takes my fancy. It all looks so good. Mind you, if I had enough money to indulge that fantasy, I wouldn't be walking, I'd be waddling, so maybe being poor is good for something!
Star Spotting
On Sunday morning I caught the tube to Waterloo (no Abba please!) to meet my friend Lisa for brunch. We went to a place called Giraffe, right alongside the Thames, and I had delicious blueberry and banana pancakes that I highly recommend!
As we were leaving, I had my first real experience of super celebrity star spotting... I was waiting for Lisa outside the cafe, and admiring a dog that was sitting at one of the tables outside th cafe... then decided to check out the people that owned such a cute dog (as you do)... and who should it be, but Kevin Spacey... how totally surreal! At home, I would get excited if I got to see the Briscoes lady in public - but Kevin Spacey - wow! That's the thing about this place, the people you see in the tabloids actually live here... back in New Zealand I had thought they were from a different planet. Yes they are, and that planet is called London!
Speakers Corner, Hyde Park
We passed through Hyde Park on Sunday afternoon, on our way to the Marble Arch tube station [there are so many cool tube station names - Angel, Marble Arch... my favourite is one called Elephant & Castle - I will have to take a photo when I eventually go there!]. Hyde Park is just a lovely place to wander through, there always seem to be people there lazing about, and it is really an enormous green (although pretty much brown and organge at the moment) space, right smack-bang in the middle of London. On our way through, we went past an area called Speakers Corner... and while the Diana Memorial was my favourite spot in Hyde Park (due to it being a very relaxing place to cool off in the sweltering English summer (yes, yes, somewhat of an oxymoron!)), now that summer is over, Speakers Corner is officially my favourite Hyde Park destination... where else can you go and listen and watch a bunch of crazies on their soap boxes interact with the general public!? - I tell you what, I thought the Cambridge bus system provided some good entertainment - but this, this is truly oscar worthy!
Anyway, enough moaning about the weather, and on to more interesting matters. I spent the last weekend in London - with the in-laws(!!) and had a wonderful time. I caught the train (the Cambridge Express!) down on Saturday morning and then the tube to their flat in Clapham North. After seeing their flat, I understand why people choose to live in London... the flat is a lovely two-bedroom apartment in a big old victorian building and is literally a 3 minute walk from the tube station (and therefore Westminster, Trafalgar Square, Picadilly Circus etc are only about 10 - 15 minutes away)... their local pub is 1 minute down the road and they are 5 minutes from the high street which is chocker with interesting shops, cafes, restaurants and bars.
The highlights of my weekend, apart from catching up with the family, were climbing the Monument Tower (311 steps!); visiting Harrods which is all set up for Christmas; star spotting along the River Thames; and passing through Speakers Corner in Hyde Park.
Monument Tower
My friend Hayley advised Monument Tower as a much cheaper answer to the London Eye. It cost £2 per person and took 311 steps up a spiral staircase to get to the top. The tower is 202 feet high and was built to commemorate the Great (!?) fire of 1666... which started in a bakery on Pudding Lane. The spiral staircase was narrow and steep... and just a little scary, but once we got to the top it was fantastic... London goes on as far as the eye can see in every direction... and it really gives you some perspective as to how big that city really is! An added bonus was that once we got to the bottom again we got a certificate to say that we had climbed the tower - so it really must have been hard work!
Christmas Harrods
This visit was my second to Harrods, but it seemed slightly more magical this time - with all the Christmas decorations out... and that 'Christmas rush'-feeling going on (yes - it was still October and the Christmas rush had started already! - I don't actually think I could handle the real Christmas rush when we get into December!).
When you think about it, if you had enough money in the bank you could buy everything you ever needed from Harrods... it is like the ultimate department store, but for the uber-rich... they have everything from golf equipment to handkerchiefs; candles to ice cream...
Both times I have been to Harrods I have been drawn to the food halls... which are like a fantasy-land, they have every type of food you can imagine - a whole hall devoted to chocolates and other sweets, counters that serve all types of ready-to-go-food - pizzas, tapas, ice-cream sundaes... even an oyster bar (with a dozen oysters for 28 pounds)!! In my dreams I imagine walking through and actually buying everything that takes my fancy. It all looks so good. Mind you, if I had enough money to indulge that fantasy, I wouldn't be walking, I'd be waddling, so maybe being poor is good for something!
Star Spotting
On Sunday morning I caught the tube to Waterloo (no Abba please!) to meet my friend Lisa for brunch. We went to a place called Giraffe, right alongside the Thames, and I had delicious blueberry and banana pancakes that I highly recommend!
As we were leaving, I had my first real experience of super celebrity star spotting... I was waiting for Lisa outside the cafe, and admiring a dog that was sitting at one of the tables outside th cafe... then decided to check out the people that owned such a cute dog (as you do)... and who should it be, but Kevin Spacey... how totally surreal! At home, I would get excited if I got to see the Briscoes lady in public - but Kevin Spacey - wow! That's the thing about this place, the people you see in the tabloids actually live here... back in New Zealand I had thought they were from a different planet. Yes they are, and that planet is called London!
Speakers Corner, Hyde Park
We passed through Hyde Park on Sunday afternoon, on our way to the Marble Arch tube station [there are so many cool tube station names - Angel, Marble Arch... my favourite is one called Elephant & Castle - I will have to take a photo when I eventually go there!]. Hyde Park is just a lovely place to wander through, there always seem to be people there lazing about, and it is really an enormous green (although pretty much brown and organge at the moment) space, right smack-bang in the middle of London. On our way through, we went past an area called Speakers Corner... and while the Diana Memorial was my favourite spot in Hyde Park (due to it being a very relaxing place to cool off in the sweltering English summer (yes, yes, somewhat of an oxymoron!)), now that summer is over, Speakers Corner is officially my favourite Hyde Park destination... where else can you go and listen and watch a bunch of crazies on their soap boxes interact with the general public!? - I tell you what, I thought the Cambridge bus system provided some good entertainment - but this, this is truly oscar worthy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
