Gelato Date!

With my Paris homegirl, H! We were supposed to do this last week, but we kept putting it off. Thursday I was busy, Friday I went to London, and then it rained Monday through Wednesday. It rained today too but it tapered off this evening just before we both off work, so even though it was still grey and cloudy and gross outside, we said Let's go for it!

We met up at a little square in the 5th arrondissement where Rue Mouffetard and Rue Lacépède meet. H hadn't eaten yet so I went with her to a nearby restaurant called La Contrescarpe. We chatted like we always do but I did most of the talking while H ate since I'd already eaten dinner and wasn't in the mood to order anything. H had croque monsieur, which seems to be one of her favorites. Also, props to this place for having the quickest service I've experienced at a brasserie before.

From there we walked directly across the street to Amorino Gelato. There are dozens of these around the city, but H had been to this particular one before and that's why we went there. Both of us ordered a medium-sized cornet, which is a cone with the gelato shaped like a rose. You can get these in two flavors, so H got raspberry and cherry-something, while I got vanilla and mango. As you can see, hers came out much prettier than mine even though they were made by the same person (she even joked, "Yours looks like an egg!"). But hey, it tasted delicious and that's what matters most.

After getting our gelato we walked around the neighborhood a little bit eating and talking. Rue Mouffetard and its surrounding streets are really cool because they're cobblestone, and you can walk directly in the street since not many cars pass through. In that way it was similar to walking in the Jewish quarter in le Marais.

Our little meetup only lasted for an hour and a half before we took the metro to our respective "homes", but it was just what I needed. I got out of the house, I visited a new neighborhood, and I tried gelato for the first time, all while hanging out with H. Before I left I had a splitting headache but now that I'm back I feel so at ease. I guess good company can do that.


Bread and Butter [Paris] photos - JULY
Bread and Butter [Paris] photos - JUNE
Bread and Butter [Paris] photos - MAY

45 Hours in LONDON (Sunday pt. 2)

After having our picture taken and admiring the bridge from the riverside, Anna and I walked across Tower Bridge. I decided to be a daredevil and stand right in the middle, where the two sides of the bridges sometimes lift  to make room for ships. 

We got to the other side and passed through Hay's Galleria and wandered for a little bit before stopping for lunch at The Old Thameside Inn near London Bridge. The table we sat at overlooked the River Thames, and we ordered one traditional British dish each. While Anna had their Sunday roast, I got fish and chips, which was the one dish that was on my London to-do list. It came with "mushy peas", which I guess is how it's traditionally served. Normally I can't stand peas, but these weren't bad. More importantly, the fish and chips were sooo good! I was so full and happy when we left! Anna really enjoyed her roast too. Just a note that probably goes without saying: if you're going to eat riverside when there's a breeze, eat quickly so you can enjoy your food while it's still warm.

 

After lunch we continued on down-river to The Globe Theatre, the famous theater most often associated with the great playwright Shakespeare. Directly across the river from the Globe Theater is St. Paul's Cathedral,which stands at the highest point in London and is the second largest church building in the UK.

After spending some time chatting and seeing what there was to see there, we headed back to Anna's place. I got all my stuff together and then we rode atop a double-decker bus to St. Pancras International. Check-in wasn't open for my train yet, so Anna sat and waited with me for a little while before she had to leave to get some work done and prepare for another trip the next day. We hugged and wished each other well before she left. I only had to go through border patrol once this time (turns out it's easier to go from Britain to France than the other way around), and I got back to the apartment in Paris around 11pm that evening.

As you might have guessed from the numerous places we passed by and the few places we actually visited, my goal in London was just to see the city rather than to spend a lot of time doing anything specific. Walking around for two days was exhausting, but it was also loads of fun and I saw so much more of the city than I'd expected. This was no doubt thanks to my old friend/tour guide Anna. She even surprised herself by how well she knew her way around!

Also, I thought I was cheap, but Anna REALLY knows how to cut corners. Which is necessary because as expensive as I thought Paris was, London is even more so. Anna knew this and took care to not have me spend more than was necessary for food, transportation, and souvenirs. All in all I ended up spending 70 pounds (about $120 USD), which isn't bad at all for a weekend in London

Thanks to Anna for being such a gracious host! My short trip to London was one of the best
times in my life, thanks to you. I hope to see you again when we're both back stateside!

 45 Hours in LONDON photos

45 Hours in LONDON (Sunday pt. 1)

Anna and I hit the grown running, getting up extra early to attend service at Westminster Abbey. That was the free way in, so of course I wanted to go for it!

Our journey there started off alright. But then we couldn't change lines on the tube where we'd planned to because of construction, so we ended up walking the rest of the way. We passed through Green Park and by Buckingham Palace again, witnessing a procession of horsemen on the mall.

Time was slipping by quickly and we tried to walk as fast as we could, but we didn't think we were going to make it. When we finally arrived at Westminster Abbey there were guards lined up at the main entrance, and attendants at the gate were keeping the crowd of onlookers out. Apparently today wasn't just any regular service; it was their Civic Service, where important members of city government . These government officials started filing into the church in a line of red, burgundy and blue robes just after we got there. The attendants were adamant about keeping people in the crowd out of the way, and I heard someone near me say something about needing a special ticket to enter. So I thought it was a lost cause. But thank God for Anna being willing to ask, just to be sure! She asked an attendant right at the gate if we could go in for service, and he was replied nonchalantly, "Sure. There should still be seats left." And he let us through. We walked down the red carpet and everything!

That right there reminded me of a valuable reoccurring lesson that I've been learning during my time here. You have to ask for what you want. Especially in Europe; you can't expect people to do things without being asked or give you information freely as you might in the States. But I digress.

The point is... we sat for Sunday service IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY! I was so relieved that we made it in and humbled by the opportunity that I almost cried. I just couldn't believe it. I've noticed that I often feel this way when I visit historic places of worship. I had the same reaction watching Buddhist rites in Osaka, marveling at the daibutsu in Nara, and walking around Notre Dame in Paris, and now I was experiencing the same thing in London. Even though I'm neither Buddhist, nor Catholic, nor Anglican. I know a lot of people don't believe in "all paths to God", and I'm not sure how I feel about that idea either. But there's just something overwhelming about being in a place of worship, where you can feel the earnest faith of the people around you and those who have passed on. Being in Westminster Abbey was also fascinating for me because I'd never been to an Anglican service before.

While everyone who comes is made to feel welcome for worship, the staff wastes no time showing you the way out once service is over. So we left with the quickness and hopped on the tube to get to Tower of London. Basically, we went from holy to gruesome in about 10 minutes, haha. The Tower of London (actually a castle) has served many purposes during its existence, but it is known mainly for being a fortress and dungeon where many people were imprisoned, tortured, and executed. Anne Boleyn was beheaded here. The Tower also currently houses a chapel and the Crown Jewels. All of this information was given to me by Anna, who'd toured the castle a few weeks ago.

This place is enormous, y'all! And there were tons of people there gathered to look at it, or waiting in line to enter. I'd just wanted to see it though, and once I had my fill we walked down the hill and turned the corner to reach the bank of the Thames and... catch full sight of the Tower Bridge! I don't have much info or history on this one other than that though this is the London's iconic bridge, this is not THE London Bridge. That bridge is further down-river and is much less remarkable. Tower Bridge however, is huge, with grey brick beautifully arranged with dark and light blue paint, with the occasional red and white to mark the colors of the English flag. Anna and I took our first and only picture together in London here. Once gain Ma, this was for you so I hope you're happy.

Find out what we did next by reading part 2! 

45 Hours in LONDON photos

45 Hours in LONDON (Saturday pt. 2)

As I'd mentioned, we were going to  go see Big Ben after leaving Traflagar square, but as we were walking Anna realized we were in close enough proximity to make a detour toward... Buckingham Palace! So we went there instead.

We took a nice stroll through St. James's Park to get there. We walked along the lake, admiring the beautiful scenery and observing the ducks, geese, and various other birds as they went about their business.

There were even a couple incredibly gorgeous swans! One of whom was watching over his/her cygnets as people approached to feed them and get a closer look. Everything was just so green and serene and picturesque, with so many waterfowl. Being there reminded me very much of walking along Avon River in Stratford, Ontario.



After taking our time passing through St. James's Park we arrived at Buckingham Palace at the other end. In case you were wondering, no, we did not catch a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth II. In fact, the palace isn't the Queen's official residence and she's often not there. So for the most part, it's safe to say that unless it's been announced or otherwise indicated, the people who stand outside the gates expecting to see her or someone else who's really important are wasting their time.

From there we passed through Green Park and hopped on the tube, getting off at Westminster. We came up the steps from underground and there he was! Big Ben! Right across the street! I was busy taking it all in when Anna casually mentioned that I hadn't posed for a picture in London yet... and this would be a great spot to take one... I explained to her that I prefer being behind the camera, but she wasn't having it. Uggh. So I reluctantly handed her my camera and made the first pose that came to my head. This picture only exists because I knew Ma would want to see it. So there you go Ma. I hope this makes you happy.



Next we walked around the adjoining square to pay respects to the Nelson Mandela statue before crossing the next street over to get an up-close look at Westminster Abbey. For those of you not familiar, this is the church where Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge (William and Kate) got married. It's also over 1,000 years old (founded in 960) and is the coronation and burial site of numerous English and British monarchs. It was closed when we got there, so we just stood in front of it for a few minutes taking pictures and standing in awe of its magnificence.

Then we walked back the way we came and crossed Westminster Bridge, taking in spectacular views of the River Thames, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, and the London Aquarium all at the same time. We took a break to sit and enjoy all that was going on around us as the sun was setting.

From the bridge we continued along the Thames passing the Eye, Jubilee Gardens, and the Udderbelly Festival before climbing the steps of Hungerford Bridge to start making our way back to Anna's place. We crossed this bridge slowly, taking one last long look at all the wonderful sites we'd just passed by. Lights on the bridges and along the water flickered on, and Big Ben lit up just as we left.

45 Hours in LONDON photos

45 Hours in LONDON (Saturday pt. 1)

Saturday was a busybusy day!

First thing in the morning we got a bite to eat at a nearby bakery, stopped at an ATM to get myself some pounds, and then got myself a day pass for the tube and buses. Then our first stop of the day was The British Museum!

The British Museum is one of the most comprehensive human history and culture museum's in the world. It's also free to enter! Anna and I visited the following permanent collections: Ancient Egypt, Africa, China/South Asia/Southeast Asia, and Korea. Would've visited Japan too, but we had to get a move on.

The display that left the biggest impression on me was Cradle to Grave by Pharmacopoeia. The lives of one man and one woman are laid out through the pills and other medications they took throughout their lifetimes. The meds are laid out on an extremely long table and are marked by age. The purpose of the display is to make people think about the British approach to health care and also about how great a part medication has in their lives. (The way I saw it, it also prompts visitors to consider the extent of their own reliance on pills/meds, and question whether their dependance on it is really for the better.) It was simple, yet thorough and so eye-opening! I wish people had access to a display like this in the States.

From the British Museum we made a quick detour for Anna to show me the building she works in (Birkbeck College - University of London). Then we made our way to Chinatown! We spent some time resting and while enjoying lunch at LongJi. It offers a menu of HK-style food, has two floors, and has a lot of lightly-colored decor that makes it feel peaceful, playful, and modern. We didn't get too adventurous with our selections (sweet and sour chicken for Anna, egg and shrimp over rice for me), but we were very much pleased with the food.

From there we walked through Chinatown just to see what was there. I was especially delighted when we happened upon a Chinese bakery/Tayaki shop. They make the tayaki right in the front window for all to see! Such delicious smells were coming from that place and we even popped in to take a quick look around. But we were both too full from lunch to want to buy anything, so we left without getting any sweets. I know. I'm kicking myself right now just thinking about it.

After walking through the rest of Chinatown we passed through Piccadilly Circus before reaching Trafalgar Square. When we arrived we caught the last couple minutes of a concert that was going on in honor of Tour de France starting up. Other than the concert and all the people hanging out or passing through, I was also pleased to see this blue chicken. Anna explained to me why it was there but I forgot.

From Trafalgar Square we'd originally planned to go see Big Ben, but we made a little detour instead...




Find out where we went by checking out part 2! 

45 Hours in LONDON photos

45 Hours in LONDON (Friday)

I spent my Fourth of July traveling to England, of all places!

Straight from work I headed to the train station Gare du Nord. I'd never ridden a train by myself before, so I was nervous thinking about it all day. But one of my fellow interns was going to the same station after work for a different reason, and going there together helped me feel a lot calmer about everything.

Check-in, border patrol, and security went without a hitch. I had to pass through French border patrol first, which consisted of them taking my passport, glancing at me to make sure I was the same person, stamping it and sending me on my way. Then I passed through a set of doors and saw "This is GREAT Britain" plastered over the floor. Apparently I was on British territory now. Meanwhile I look out the window and Paris is clearly outside. Odd, but whatever. I then passed through another set of doors to British border patrol, where I had to fill out a card and answer an agent's questions before getting my passport stamped.

Once I'd gone through all the procedures I still had about an hour until my train came, so I joined a crowd of people gathered around a TV to watch the France v. Germany football match. France lost, but it was exciting being amongst all that lively and expectant energy during the game.




When the time came, I boarded my train and was off to London with only my purse, my jacket, and a backpack.

I arrived at St. Pancras International at 10pm and my friend Anna was there to meet me. Anna and I have been
friends since high school, and she's doing an internship abroad like I am. Seeing as how she was willing to let me stay with her and show me around the city, Anna was also the main reason I was able to go to London.We made a quick stop across the street at Platform 9 3/4 in King's Cross Station before taking a bus to her place. We were supposed to get started planning out the weekend right away, but we ended up chatting and catching up for two hours instead. After making a rough plan for Saturday, we called it a night. My bed consisted of two pillows and a blanket on the floor, and I didn't mind that at all. Sleeping on floors can actually be very comfortable, especially when you appreciate the fact that you're being sheltered by a friend.





45 Hours in LONDON photos

Paris Q&A (VLOG)

I'll be off the grid in London from this evening until Sunday, so here are all three parts of a vlog I did this past weekend. Special thanks to my friends who gave me questions to answer! Enjoy!

Part 1:

 

Part 2:

  

Part 3: