Astrid's Week in London

Hey All,

Astrid here! I just wanted to provide an update on the brief week I spent in Ldn (July 11 - 16). It was fabulous! I think the weather was on my side too b/c even though I carried an umbrella around everyday I hardly used it as there was a mix of sun and cloud most days. I definitely didn't bring enough 'warm' clothes though b/c I packed for Toronto summers...silly.



Anyhoo, it was quite a challenge to take the different subway lines and lug heavy suitcases up flights of stairs to get to Syd's the first day(with subways being so old here it means they are rarely wheelchair accessible). But once I got to his neighbourhood in West Hampstead I was so happy because it is so quaint and beautiful there! So homey that you forget you are only 5 tube stops from central london!



During my stay I went to multiple pubs and restaurants with Syd in the area after work. I also went to the British museum on my own to check out the Egypt floor and the Living/Dying exhibit. They were so neat, especially the mummies! I'm so pumped that its free so I can go back again and again to see the rest of it. I also went to the Freud museum in West Hampstead (how convenient eh?) and it was 10X better than the museum in Vienna. Freud lived the last year of his life in London after the Nazis forced him out of his home/practice in Vienna. His entire collection of greek, roman and egyptian antiquities came with him so his entire house was laden with them so it gave a much more personal feel than the flat in Vienna. The 'psychoanalysis couch' was also set up in the study so that was really neat. Otherwise I spent my days enjoying lunches in squares (parks) with sainsbury meals (it is this wicked grocery chain that has meals to go for pretty cheap).



On the weekend, Syd took me to Borough Market, which is in the oldest part of the city so the market was very historical...and packed! It was just enough to buy homemade apple juice and a pork burger with stilton cheese and a block of lovely irish cheese before we decided to escape the crowds. We went to a brewery beside the market to try some local ales. Very fun to sit in the sun and enjoy fine english brew. Of course I liked the most expensive one! Syd then surprised me by taking me to the Globe Theatre, the place where all of the Shakespearean plays were performed since the niddle ages. It was absolutely fantastic! They still have plays there for 5 pound each and I want to go see EVERY one! The two shows that day were sold out so we vow to come back. I was so excited to be there. The big wooden doors were so medieval looking and I can't WAIT to come back. We bought a cute souvenir or two to mark our passing.



Syd has been doing really great at learning how to play the acoustic guitar, so he decided he wanted to buy one. We went to Denmark street off Tottenham Court Road that is all guitar shops and looked through each one with Syd's roommate before Syd found the one he wanted. I'm looking forward to learning to play myself once I move over there. woo hoo! How did he know that I have ALWAYS wanted to learn? Karma I tell ya. Then Syd thought it might be nice to buy a bottle of wine so that we could enjoy our cheese in a park. He used the GPS system on his new blackberry and found a cute little square nearby. It was packed with people having picnics, so we found a spot on the grass and enjoyed a baguette with syrah and cheese! It is so amazing that you can just walk around with open alcohol here. A polka band started playing in the square as well so we had some entertainment to match the ambience. Very neat. At the end of the day we saw the new Harry Potter, which was really great btw!



On Sunday we grabbed a bus to Oxford. It rained pretty much all day but it didn't matter because the town was so cute! I loved it! Syd was excited to show me his old haunts and we tried cider and ale in a couple of his favourite pubs (the Turf Tavern -- also a favourite of JRR Tolkein). He showed me where he used to live and then we walked along the river for a bit and took some great pics. That night we met up with his friends for chinese food and then watched them play a gig with their rock band at a pub before grabbing the 10:30 bus home. I really got along with both Mark's and Alex's wives and really look forward to going back to Oxford soon.



That's the extent of my trip. I hope you enjoyed my first blog. BYE! Astrid