The Week that Was Discovery

The name for our blog was inspired by a London-based Gypsy Punk Band we LOVE: Molotov Jukebox. Thanks to them!!

Monday, August 8, 2011

Bethnal Green, London U.K.

The parents left today. Slow morning, with ample cups of coffee (yirgacheffe from Real Food Festival Ethiopian coffee company), smoked salmon, cream cheese and gluten-free bread from London Fields Farmer’s Market Astons’ Bakery. We then accompanied the parents to Paddington Station, where they caught their train to Oxford.

From the train station, we headed out south west on foot, towards Nottinghill. The sun was shining, intermittent with rain, but we happened upon Kensington Gardens… it was enticing from the road: a fountain, beautiful trees, free toilets… so we headed into the park and wandered past the Peter Pan statue, to the Albert memorial, Kensington Palace, and finally found a quiet, opulent route through Kensington Palace Gardens. This took us along a private walk past Ambassadorial residences…we did not know at the time, but apparently, it is the most expensive real estate in all London…

We hit the high street at Nottinghill Gate (doesn’t every neighbourhood claim to be the “trendiest in London”? We will let you know what we think when the two weeks are through!), where we ate frozen yogurt (yes… it has sugar which is contrary to Omega’s dietary restrictions, but they do a good sell of how “healthy” it is J) and watched the neighbourhood pass by. Then we were getting a bit antsy because Julia Roberts wasn’t around, so we caught a bus at the nearest bus stop that took us to High Street Kensington – clean bathrooms and grapes on sale at Whole Foods! From there we wandered up to Earls Court Road, where we caught a bus (through posh-land) to South Kensington.

Spinach and Feta quiche and cappuccino at Pan Quotidien caught our attention before we made it into the museum. But with food and caffeine to boost our way, we made it to the V & A (too many kids around the Natural History Museum), where we raced through, literally laughing out loud, the 15^th to 20^th century British/ European history, iron works, sculptures, China and Asia, and jewellery… then had grapes in the V & A courtyard gardens until they closed the museum and imagine! we were told we had to leave.

Bused and Tube-d back to meet M at the Harp, where we sampled four different local ciders (scrumpy, rum-barrel cider, aged Somerset cider, plus something else that tasted like cider vinegar and honey…not our favorite). But cider has quickly become Omega’s favourite London drink and she is quickly becoming an expert cider-drinker! In this case, the rum-barrel cider was a winner!

Then, seeing as it was Monday Aug. 8^th in London, while Omega and Alpha waited for the 388 bus at Embankment station, we began to see the build-up of police caddies racing by and tensions were growing at the bus stop with tube closures being announced. When we finally boarded the bus the driver informed us that our stop was the last stop before all buses were being recalled for the night… we were so lucky that we caught that one… It was on diversion, and we were nervous because M was biking home! But thankfully, we all arrived home safely and spent the evening watching BBC news and listening to the sirens and helicopters outside our window. Thankful, as ever, that our flat is not on the main road between Bethanal Green and Hackney.

August 9, 2011

First full day sans-parents!! Did we sleep? Did we wake? Jet lag is catching up… or Omega is normalising back to her sleepless nights. But suffice to say Alpha was moving incredibly slowly all morning! But we got ourselves out the door and on the 26 bus that dropped us off at the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral… impromtu tourist urge took over Omega and she was intent on going inside – so we paid the fee, got our audio personal tours and toured the seventeeth century cathedral AND made it all the way up to the Stone Gallery!!!! Plus, this was all without Omega’ usual soundtrack, only the occasional Mary Poppins song which made the fellow tourists either smile or look incredibly uncomfortable as they squeezed pass us in the excruciatingly narrow spiral staircase! Having said that, maybe we should mention that we are listening and loving the sights and sounds of London without the iPod that Omega carries around with her in case things get uncomfortable… we are laughing, running, listening… having an incredible, (pretty surreal) time.

After St. Paul’s, we crossed Millenium Bridge to the Tate Modern. Wonderful, clean bathrooms and gift shop was about all we had patience for because the sun was shining outside and we were eager to walk by the Thames. Once we were walking Omega firmly made it clear that we had (again) missed lunch time and she walked no-nonsense into a riverside pub and lunged for the nearest plate of fish and chips! So, we found a table in the sunshine, on the banks of the Thames, with a plate of fish and chips.

Next was Southbank Centre. Here we met up with M, who took us to a Photography alley between the buildings in Southbank. The photos were different representations of contemporary Britonians – representing what it means to be “British” in 2011. Very cool, accessible and free!

Then we walked across the Southbank Pedestrian Bridge to a place M and Alpha have been meaning to try: Gordon’s Wine Bar! It felt like genuine luxurious summer to be sitting outside in the oldest wine bar in London, sharing feta stuffed peppers, a kir, a Stellenbosch white, and a “Chateau Grand Desir”… made us desire more! We liked this place!

Once home, past boarded up shops but thankfully no more diversions and rioting in our area, M made delicious pasta and we watched MI5.

August 10, 2011

M was home this morning! Breakfast: gluten/sugar free cereal from Borough Market, “Mini Magoos” and Espresso from the beloved Ethiopian coffee company! Then, Omega and Alpha left M to work in peace, with the idea of “going out for a couple of hours”. Well, a couple of hours turned into six! Tube to Pimlico, then opted for walking outside rather than going into Tate Britain. We walked west-wards (a bit difficult for us Londoners living in the East… felt like a foreign land!) in the sunshine along the Thames to Chelsea Bridge, and then into Battersea Park. Again, the hope for beautifully clean toilets lured us further into the park, and then we enjoyed a picnic by the fountains in the sunshine.

Afterwards, we walked through Battersea, (and Alpha was convinced that that was where she would live if she had to move) to find a bus (much to Omega’s relief) across the historic Battersea Bridge towards posh Chelsea and King’s Road.

On King’s Road, which was once a street reserved only for royalty (hence the name), we window shopped: ie. gaulked at mannicans, “tested” moisturizers etc at Neal’s Yard, watched impeccably dressed people walk by, and then after stopping for groceries at Waitrose, we ended up at the Saatchi Gallery. Omega was not so impressed by the contemporary art, so it was a quick run through and then caught the bus to Green Park. After a smoothie (no, I will not hyperlink to a national London coffee chain) and a bit of reading, we were refreshed and walked a little bit more along Picadilly. Then caught the tube home to Bethnal Green, and with newspaper in hand, made our way past the Camel, (making note to visit soon) and came home to M.

Beautiful day but after a long day’s walk, it was time to go to the local shop for some cider and beer, and join M for a dinner of leftovers, which are always incredibly delicious with Leffe Brun (and English cider for Omega!)

August 11, 2011

M was home today. We had a very early morning due to sleeplessness, but no matter. Breakfast was a lovely coffee and granola, and then M headed to work and we caught the Central, then Metropolitan line to Paddington Station… destination: Oxford!

We arrived at the Oxford Rail station, and walked to St. Mary the Virgin to meet our parents for cappicino. We met my friend Tango and then had a personalised guided tour of Oxford from the parents, who had attended a few tours in the days before our arrival! After a stop at the “oldest pub in Oxford” we walked past colleges (Christ Church; Mary Magdalene etc etc) until we reached the beloved tourist destination – the pub that was a favourite of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien: the Eagle and Child. Perhaps the highlight of being in Oxford for the day though, in addition to walking and talking, was literally running into Rowan Williams in the street, whom we all, but especially our father, truly admires.

Train ride home to London was perfect with an on-train picnic of wine, fruit… and then we arrived home to M, and more wine… it’s a rough life… J

August 12, 2011

Friday early early morning the parents were off to Athens, leaving us a little sleep deprived, but happy. An all-afternoon walk took us along Regent’s Canal to posh Earl Grey tea at Gail’s at Exmouth Market, and then to meet M (and a friend, Charlie) for the late-night opening at the National Portrait Gallery. We had some food at a Spanish place near Leicester Square, which Alpha was not impressed by, and therefore does not want to advertise. Then we caught our favourite bus, 388, home with Kinks Waterloo Sunset as our soundtrack.

August 13, 2011

Saturday morning in hip-East London would not be complete without a visit to Broadway Market! Omega and M left in the morning to walk to Bethnal Green and Broadway, and then after dropping off fruit and bread at home (plus, FREE brownies from our favourite bread vendor!), we all three took the bus to Millenium Bridge and walked to Borough Market.

It quickly became a market day. One of the best places in London, we LOVE Borough market, even on a busy busy Saturday afternoon. Wine, cheese, cider (New Forest Cider, the Kingston Black, is top of our list these days…) And once we were on the market theme, we continued down the Southbank Thames Path to Southbank Centre, to the Real Food Festival, where we ate Bath blue cheese from Borough with Somerset Cider, and read the book we are reading together: The Princess Bride.

The 388 bus once again brought us home to a cozy evening of watching MI5 before sleep.

August 14, 2011

Slow morning now that the lack of sleep is catching up… But once we got organised, we headed out to London Bridge pier, onto the Thames Clipper, eastward to Greenwich. What a beautiful day, and perfect weather!! We wandered the buildings of the Royal Naval College (the site which prior to the age of British Colonial Empire was the birthplace of King Henry VIII in 1491, and then his two daughters Mary I and Elizabeth I), walked through the Maritime Museum, picnicked in the Royal Park, and then visited the Greenwich Market and met friends (Romeo, Oscar and Dave).

The day was truly beautiful – relaxed, full of sunshine, little stress and few worries…

Once home, we had delicious pasta with capers and sundried tomatoes and a salad… then Omega was beside herself with laugher listening to Mary Poppins and we were able to get a bit organised for the coming week.