The Breakfast Club

Located right off the craziness that is Oxford Street, the Breakfast Club is an unpretentious cafe that is all about serving up the most important meal of the day. 

As I read through some reviews on Time Out London, the words "posh, cozy leather sofas, Victorian-style and French Toast with caramelized plums and pistachio ricotta" kept jumping off the page. None of that sounded particularly appealing, I just wanted a place that would throw together some delicious food and not make a scene.

I knew there had to be something reasonable in the sea of cafes, bistros, brasseries and restaurants, so when I stumbled upon a review for "The Breakfast Club" in Soho, it was clear I had hit breakfast gold.  The reviews weren't full of unanimous praise, and people didn't sugarcoat the possibility of waiting a while for food, but nevertheless it sounded like a brilliant option.

In contrast to the flaming yellow exterior, the interior has a very artsy, down-to-earth vibe.  Polaroids covered the walls, neon signs glowed, mismatched chairs were scattered around the (very small) tables, everything seemed a little disorganized and most of the clientele was unmistakably English.  

The menu is small, but mighty. They offer either a meat or vegetarian English breakfast, some "All American" breakfasts that include American-style pancakes, the usual eggs Benedict and various breakfast sandwiches.

It all sounded tasty, but I was in the mood for a hearty slice of America. 

I ordered the "All-American" breakfast which consisted of pancakes, eggs, bacon and some "hash browns." "Hash browns" really meant diced, roasted potatoes (which were delicious, anyway). Bri had the "Half-Monty" breakfast which was a full English breakfast sans black pudding and mushrooms. Everything was really well-prepared, fresh and served piping hot.  My "breakfast smoothie" consisted of strawberries, banana, oats, honey and yogurt. Let's just say it needed a little more strawberry/banana.  It had the mouth feel of runny strawberry/banana-flavored instant oatmeal.  Not the greatest sensation. To finish, my toast proved to be perfectly browned whole grain bread, bursting with hearty grains and topped with some fresh strawberry jam.

The service (as predicted) was definitely slow, but the place was packed and (as far as I could tell) there were only 3-4 people working the cash register, espresso machine, blender, serving, busing and seating. It became clear we had made a good decision when our waitress got visibly excited when she heard our accents. What?! She was excited about getting the chance to talk to Americans? With this realization, we knew we had finally found a place that didn't cater to tourists! So good.

With our stomachs bursting, we left about an hour and a half after we arrived. A worthwhile adventure and a speedy six minute walk from the Oxford Circus tube stop. 


Check it out!


33 D'Arblay Street
London W1F 8EU

Chinese New Year

In a city with a Chinese population of over 100,000, when there is reason for celebration, you better believe it will be pretty spectacular. This was the case on Sunday, 21 February, 2010. The London Chinatown Chinese Association put on the "Year of the Tiger" celebrations for 2010 in a grand fashion. Trafalgar square, Leicester square and Chinatown were chocked full of people and activities to ring in the Chinese new year.

The festivities began around 11:00 AM in Trafalgar square (the main stage) with some formal introductions, a screen show and thanksgiving ceremony. Zach and I arrived sometime after 11:20, which ended up being just in time to witness some of the craziest "firecrackers" I have ever seen.

As we walked up and out of the charing cross tube stop (which dumps you right into the middle of Trafalgar square), we were greeted by hoards of people. However, it wasn't nearly as congested as we had planned and, as a result, we actually had room to breathe. We wandered around aimlessly for a while, attempting to track down some sort of timetable/program so we could figure what the heck was going on.

After being pointed in 12 different directions by the Metropolitan Police, we snagged a program and realized the supposed "firecracker show" was about to commence.

I have pictures of the madness, but they aren't actually worth posting. The sound was similar to small artillery fire that lasted much longer than everyone's ears would have liked. The daylight prevented any visible "fire" and all I heard was cracking. It was rather mediocre.

In contrast to the mediocrity of the morning firecrackers that shook my ear canals free of wax (gross), the Chen Brothers were set to put on a dragon dancing show that sounded exciting. Basically, two men stand on top of each other with a dragon costume that covers both of them, and they dance on pillars to the beat of some intense, rhythmic drumming.

Photo credit: Zach Westhoven

To bridge the gap between acts, some very enthusiastic, but not well-prepared emcees took the floor. They rambled on about various traditions and tried to get the crowd involved, but they were having none of it. I think it was due to the obvious lack of organization, cold weather and mild confusion as to what they were actually talking about.

Post-dragon dancing, our stomachs were ready for food and we decided to head over to Picher and Piano. A restaurant that looks classy, has reasonable prices and is right off of Trafalgar square is the last place you would expect to be going out of business. However, that was exactly what was happening at P and P. The food was delicious (I went with a classic club sandwich), but it was all served very unenthusiastically by our visibly depressed waiter. It was really sad. I can just hope is that the establishment is merely changing ownership. We'll see.

With our stomachs full, Zach and I said farewell to tired Bri and Rainey, and walked over to the National Portrait Gallery.

What was one of the first portraits I saw? You guessed it...

I snapped this photo (illegally) on my phone's tiny camera. It needed to happen.

The National Portrait Gallery opened in 1896 and, as a result, the collection ranges from the Elizabethan era, to modern works finished just last year. The breadth of the collection is truly incredible. Getting the opportunity to view very famous British dignitaries, writers, philosophers as well as other influential figures on canvas was fascinating.  The gallery isn't so large that you become overwhelmed, but each period in time is given plenty of attention.

After the NPG, we needed a break. Standing (virtually) all day had us pretty worn out.

Despite this fact, we mustered up some energy to wander into the depths of swamped Leicester square. Hoards of people were standing (more like getting in the way), vendors were selling mysterious "buns" of all kinds and kids flew under the radar throwing pop rocks at everyone's feet. It was quite an experience!

Now (quite literally) on our toes, and with Chinatown in the distance, we ventured into the crowd that was dead ahead.

Craving: Dessert. Were in luck. The "Golden Gate Cake Shop" appeared innocent on the outside, but proved to be utter mayhem on the inside.

and inside...

That's me trying to keep my "chocolate/coffee roll" safe..It was madness.

All was not lost, however, because that cake put a pretty big spring in our step. It became clear we had to tough it out and stay for the Fireworks.

The only other noteworthy thing we stumbled upon in Chinatown was a very quiet herbal medicine shop. This was strange because every other shop was packed with people. I had to take a look.

I think this picture sums up my experience haha

Upon exiting the herbal remedy shop, we walked around Soho (which was an experience in itself), found our way back to Piccadilly Circus and looked around the sports store Lilly White's. Six floors of everything and anything sports-related. If you can't find it there, it probably doesn't exist.

As 6:00 PM drew near, it was back to Leicester square to witness the most incredible fireworks display I have ever seen.

Sorry for the poor quality. The photos/video were taken on my phone. Notice the sea of LCD screens in the air... It was such a surreal experiencing seeing fireworks being shot off in such close proximity to buildings, trees and people. Incredible!!!

Long day, lots of walking and a sense I had magically teleported to China.

Cheers!

"Twelfth Night"

After our monumental epicurean adventure on Friday, Saturday was filled with more good food and some culture.  Bri, Rainey and Zach were all dying to see "Twelfth Night" since they were studying it in their theatre class and I just wanted to see the Royal Shakespeare Company in all their glory.  We grabbed some five pound tickets which, after the show, turned out to be really good value for money.  

Before the show, I had breakfast number two.  Not just any breakfast, a traditional full English breakfast complete with baked beans, toast, sausage, bacon, eggs and a grilled tomato.  When the waiter brought out the plates, the food looked almost reflective.  The ridiculous amount of grease gave every glistening bite loads of flavor.  Baked beans, toast and eggs are my new favorite!

How was the show?

I didn't get much humor out of the story (despite it being a comedy) when I studied it in high school, but seeing it live with my own two eyes was incredible.  I was laughing out loud the whole time.  There were so many subtitle mannerisms that really gave the characters some life.  The theatre was gorgeous as you could expect and it definitely turned out to be one of the most enjoyable afternoons I've had in London.

Good times.

Foof adventure!

The Friday morning of 19 February was sunny. Very sunny, in fact, and seeing as though I cannot stand to be cooped up in our flat for very long, it was clear an adventure was imminent.

The previous evening's festivities were full of laughter, merriment, (attempted) sit-ups and the Olympics (ish).  To "celebrate" the completion of the fastest week yet (having Thursday become "Friday" makes it seem the weekend is always arriving), it was clear the only way to mark the occasion was with some proper fun. 

London euphoria continued until my "alarm" became a symphony of jackhammers feverishly obliterating concrete across the street.  With clear skies and curtains that don't actually block out all the light, the probability of sleeping in rapidly shrunk to zero.

However, all was not lost, because getting up early just means there is more day to enjoy! 

The view from our window on the 12th floor (hah)

I felt much better after showering and was ready to take on all of that London sun.  Our little epicurean adventure was to take place at the infamous Borough Market in the south bank.  If you remember anything about my last post that was devoted entirely to the glory of Borough, you probably have a vague idea of how excited I was about the prospect of gracing the foodie paradise with my presence once more.  

After a bit of a tube fail (we got off one stop too early) and a brisk walk through parts of London you don't see on the tourism websites, we arrived somewhat puzzled.  The sign clearly said "Borough Market," but everything looked unfamiliar.  

We took the sign's word and walked into what turned out to be even MORE Borough than we had seen in our previous trip.  Utterly confused, but very excited, we walked passed even more stands (this time with produce, a fish monger, cheeses, wines, curries, and so much more).  

Massive bowls of steaming Malaysian curried chicken stood in front of us.  The smells (despite my somewhat lackluster nose) still managed to penetrate my nostrils and fill my head with pleasure.  It was pretty obnoxious how excited we all were. Not willing to prolong my stomachs cry for sustenance, the massive bowls of steaming curry had my name written all over them.

After (surprisingly) taking some time to savor the flavor of the first few bites, my inevitable fear that the food was getting cold trumped the call of my taste buds to enjoy the deliciousness and I devoured the rest in a matter of minutes.  So good.

Zach, on the other hand, stood strong and passed the steaming bowls of curry in search of Kangaroo.  Yes, that famed marsupial that can be seen harmlessly bouncing around in National Geographic magazines, Discovery Channel specials and throughout the continent of Australia was now in burger form. 

Need I say more?

In case you are wondering, he splurged and paid the 50p for cheese.  I snagged a quick bite before the burger made its way to Zach's stomach, and I've gotta say it was pretty delicious.  Definitely more mild than I was anticipating, but I wouldn't liken it to chicken.  It was really thick and had a distinctive flavor that wasn't unappealing, it just wasn't something I would run out and bring home on a weekly basis. 

After our incredible lunching experience, I grabbed a bowl of Tom Yum soup before wandering back to find the rest of the group.

The Tom Yum broth sets itself apart with loads of fresh herbs and a distinct hot and sour flavor.  It is traditionally made with prawns, but in this instance it was only available with chicken which was just fine with me. To help tone down the spiciness, they poured in some coconut milk (which I think is pretty nontraditional) and it ended up being really well-balanced.  To clarify, I don't randomly know all about the history of Tom Yum, the manager of the stand gave me a really interesting crash course on how they made it.

During my passionate hunt for free samples, here are a few highlights of what I was able to get my hands on: chocolate chili truffles, cinnamon spiced/chocolate almonds, baklava (3 pieces lol), more of that balsamic glaze that was aged for 20920 years, cheese that was aged with red wine, some incredible fresh bread, chorizo and loads of jams/spreads.

Now that we have stumbled upon the real Borough Market, it is even more obvious why it is arguably one of the greatest food markets in the world.

I love London!

Thanks for the two pictures, Zach!

Cheers!!

Bathing in Bath

Well not quite. We didn't exactly take a dip, but we did stick our hand(s) in! The trip began with the obligatory early morning commute to Regent's. We arrived right on time, but the coaches did not.

Navigating a small car through a city can be challenging, but a coach? After we boarded the coaches (which by the way were one level, sans tables), it became apparent that after quite a few turns, we were right back outside the main Regent's park gate. Whhatt?!  Turns out, because of the our inability to make one turn right out of the park, we had to go all the way around making left turns.  Brilliant.

Take one glance at any city map of London and you instantly realize why it takes the "Black Cab" cabbies 2-3 years to master "The Knowledge." The roads names change, they end, twist, turn and loop around.  Grid system?! hah! In order for any cab driver to obtain a license from "Transport for London," they must learn every street, alley and landmark within a six mile radius of Trafalgar Square (roughly the center of the city).  That's over 320 basic routes, not counting road works and points of interest that always change! 

So with that, you can imagine how entertaining it is getting to see the coach drivers navigate through the ever-present congestion.

Upon our arrival, we were to convene in front of the Bath Abbey before heading into the main attraction: the Roman Baths.

 

Bath Abbey: Dead ahead

The infamous Roman Baths..and heads

When we all made our way to the entrance, three things struck me: umm protesters? A bright blue mosaic pig? and I have to pee...

...Sorry there isn't a picture of me doing my business. That took place in the confines of clean, predictable Starbucks.

So about those baths... Well, they date back to 60-70 AD, are one of only a dozen (or so) geothermal hot springs in the UK and are absolutely disgusting.  The water looks very similar to the Maumee, but with one big difference: it's warm! 

Thanks to the main commentators on the audio guide and some great tidbits from author Bill Bryson (Dave, you would have loved it!), the tour up, down and around the baths was great.  Without being too monotonous, "Bryson at the Baths" kept it fresh by candidly admitting when he disliked or didn't understand a particular part of the bath or an artifact on display.  Heck, will I really remember the origin of this random mask that may have been worn by an obscure aristocrat a week from now?

 

I'm a fan of the reflection...

Overall, the experience was definitely worthwhile.  If you do anything, marvel at the incredible Roman engineering.  The scale models that showcased the true beauty, bold colors and lavish accommodations were very impressive.

After our tour de bath, we decided to jump out of our comfort zones and find some unique and interesting food for lunch.  What name screams original, exotic and European? Starbucks, of course.  In truth, we just wanted to save some money so we went in to grab some grilled sandwiches (which were actually delicious). 

Lunching complete, we figured we would slip into the Bath Abbey and see what all the fuss was about.  It IS considered to be the CENTER of town and who doesn't want to be the center of something now and then?

 

I couldn't help but notice the gigantic 50 inch plasma TVs perched on each of the hand-carved pillars that held the roof up.  Although, I don't have a picture, I'm sure you can imagine how much they added to the old world ambiance of the place.

What happened next? I found my future home, we bought some old buns, Zach and Bri got Ben and Jerry's and I took pictures of cool restaurant signs (not in that order).

Old buns, you say? The oldest house in Bath is ironically the home of the oldest bun.  Go figure.  The "Sally Lunn" bun or the "London Bath bun" dates back to 1680ishhh.  It's basically a brioche bun, a really massive one, that you then smother with the delicious jam of your choosing.  This was all well and good, but considering we were all in penny-pinching mode, one would have to do.  After each pitching in a poundishh, we secured our first Sally Lunn bun.. How exciting...

 

With bun in-hand, we stopped by Crisp Cowley realty to see what was up for grabs.  I found my future home. Score!

The ride home wasn't particularly noteworthy as all of us were pretty pooped.  Headphones in, eyes closed, head rested awkwardly against the window, 15 minutes pass andddd still awake.

Here is a picture of Zach and I with the Sally Lunn after it spent some time in the oven getting perfectly toasted:

 Photo credit: Bri

We threw some strawberry jam on the toasted goodness and devoured it in less than three minutes. Definitely worth every penny.

I hope everyone is enjoying all the snow in the States!!

Cheers!

A Swisalian Holiday

When it came time to consider destinations for spring break 2010, the list of possibilities looked pretty much endless.  Every country in Europe looked just as appetizing as the usual spread at Regent's. Countries that I wouldn't dream of visiting if traveling from the U.S. (primarily due to the high cost of traveling across the Atlantic) were suddenly within reach.  Everything from camel-trekking in Morocco, to cruising on the Mediterranean, to just crashing on the beaches of Santorini and calling it a day sounded like fun.  Then reality stopped by to say hello.

Harsh it may be, reality isn't all bad..It's umm, real. All things considered, we have planned (what promises to be) an incredible European adventure, and I am by no means disgruntled that I won't be jumping on a camel to wander through the Sahara.

The planning started when Zach and I somewhat recklessly booked plane tickets.  Being sucked into the airline price war is very easy when you are seeking the best price. If you see (what you think is) a deal, it might not be there in 2, 5, or 45 minutes, so you should probably BOOK NOW! This was our mentality and, although we had obtained two one-way tickets for a very small amount of money, we had restricted ourselves to Geneva and Rome. There was no turning back!! Now we needed to connect the dots...

European trains are famous for their to-the-second arrival times, better-than-average cabins and good service.  What isn't always advertised is the cost.  And for good reason.  They are expensive!!!

We eliminated the possibility of flying because we wanted something more out of the experience.  Sterile airport terminals, long lines and the possibility of delays/cancellations ruining our tight schedule was not appealing.

Planes, trains and...........you guessed it: automobiles!

You aren't....renting a car? Yes, by good fortune and a trip (that started as a joke) to the Europcar UK website, we ended up booking a Seat Ibiza (tiny four door) for the trip from Lausanne to Florence.  It promises to be an adventure in itself as we hope to stop by a few famous sites, cities and drive along the Italian coastline.

Here we go!

3/13: Zach, Dave, Bri, Rainey and I will depart London Gatwick airport for Geneva, Switzerland.  Why Switzerland? Alps Alps Alps!

From Geneva, we will take a train south to Lausanne, Switzerland and spend three nights.  Here is an excerpt from an article on a Swiss tourism website that dubs Lausanne Switzerland's sexiest city:

"Lausanne tends to inspire hyperbole. In a country of spectacular natural beauty it is the most beautiful of cities, Switzerland’s San Francisco, a city of incredibly steep hills that has developed tiered above the lake on a succession of compact, south-facing terraces. Vistas of blue water, glittering sunlight and the purple and grey of the looming, whitecapped Savoy Alps peep through between gaps in buildings or at the ends of steeply dropping alleys. Much of the city is still wooded, there are plenty of parks, and the tree-lined lakefront promenades spill over with lush, beds of vibrantly colourful flowers. Attractive, interesting, worldly, and well aware of how to have a good time, it’s simply Switzerland’s sexiest city."

-Victor Hugo, Switzerlandisyours.com

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3/16: After three nights in Lausanne, we will be bidding farewell to Dave and getting up early to pickup our rental car. Destination: Florence, Italy where we will get to see some fellow Capital friends (Heaven and Josh)!  The best part about driving is the ability to stop and enjoy the magnificent views.

We plan on driving through the Alps, down through Switzerland, through the city of Genoa, along the Italian coastline, stopping to see the Cinque Terre (incredible), Pisa and finally onto the Florence Airport to drop off the car.  Here is a map of our journey:



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 3/16 - 3/17: Florence, Italy 

After spending some time seeing the sights in Florence, we will head to Rome (via national rail) to finish our our adventure.  


3/18: Train to Rome, Italy


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3/18 - 3/20: Rome, Italy

There is SO much to do in both Florence and Rome. Having a less than a week to see everything is impossible, but a few days is absolutely better than no days. Lots of pictures to follow!


"When in Rome..."


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3/21: Depart at 6:55 AM out of Rome CIA to London Stansted Airport

Spontaneity Strikes (again)

This has become the norm on Thursday evenings: we sit around thinking about how much there must be to do, start to go a little stir-crazy (at least I do), someone says something (this week it was Alice with, "Let's go to a piano bar!"), a frenzy of Google-mapping ensues and we jump out off of the couches, into the briskly cold night with only a vague idea of where we are headed. I think it's a brilliant system, although we could definitely stand to do a little planning every now and then.

So on this particular occasion, Alice, Bri, Sonya, Zach and I were heading to a little piano bar called Piano Kensington. Sandwiched between the classiest McDonald's I have ever seen and a really (classy) Adult chain store called Anne Summer's, it definitely isn't much to look at. In fact, you would be forgiven for walking right past as the entrance pretty much redefines inconspicuous (especially at night).

We walked in (actually up a very steep set of stairs) and it was clear that this place was built for medium-sized groups like ours. Dark wood paneling coated the walls, a baby grand piano was stuffed in the corner, votive candles were immaculately centered on each table and there were (strangely) no more than two people at any of the tables. Clearly the perfect place to hang out sans romance.

Alice, Zach, Sonya and Andrew

(Minus photographer Bri!)

The piano man ended up playing a bunch of happy American songs (think Billy Joel) and so the atmosphere (at least for the beginning) was great. The conversation was hilarious and I made the best of the occasion (or so I thought) by ordering a Moroccan Beer called "Casablanca." It was mediocre at best. I feel like if you name something "Casablanca," i.e. equate it to what is arguably one of the best movies of all time, you need to be able to walk the walk. This one, at least in my opinion, fell short.

As we were all finishing our first drinks, the music began to get really sappy. It was making me a little sick as the atmosphere kept climbing up the romance ladder. We all came to our senses and realized it was probably time to peace out and go to McDonald's. Overall, it was a really nice place. 

The End.

Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwick and "Spotted Dick"

The morning of our excursion to the hometown of Bill Shakespeare (Stratford-Upon-Avon) began entirely too early.  The trip to was scheduled to take two and a half hours, so we were to arrive some time between 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM to board the bus.  Having filled up on some delicious maple/brown sugar porridge (yes, porridge!!!) earlier that morning, I was good to go!!  The others were not so lucky and so we made a quick stop in the refectory to grab some food before the bus left without us.

Umm so evidently there are buses, there are coaches and there are double-decker coaches. Our coach was the most top-heavy, gas-guzzling, ostentatious, behemoth of metallic black sheet metal I have ever seen.  It is a miracle we didn't tip over.  I liken the feeling to being on one of those Alaskan King Crab fishing boats (although I haven't actually experienced it) you see on "Deadliest Catch" on the Discovery Channel.  That incessant rocking motion that tries (but ultimately fails) to make you sick.  The interior was pretty typical except for one incredible detail: there were tables scattered about!  Tables that had two rear-facing seats and two forward-facing.  It was great fun and it definitely helped to pass the time.

Rainey, Alice and Steph!

Look at all the fun we're having

Now that fifteen seconds of your life has been wasted by reading about the coach we took to Stratford, I suppose it would be wise to mention some other parts of the journey.

With images of English sheep stuck in our heads, a video introduction to the Real World London complete and stomach cramps from laughing, we got off the bus and went in search of food.

Twelfth Night reference.. Thank you, high school English class....

We stumbled upon a cafe (above) that looked incredible: pastries, crepes, panini and loads of other delicious looking creations.  I settled on some homemade lasagna and couldn't resist a banana chocolate crepe that Steph (graciously) helped me devour in about three minutes.

After lunching, Rainey, Zach and Steph decided they were willing to fork over some Pounds to take a gander at the supposed home of Bill S. With "rental car" replaying over and over in our heads, (due to the rising cost of our Eurotrip 2010), Bri, Dave and I decided to keep our precious Pounds and stroll through the relatively monotonous town of Stratford.  During said stroll, we spotted a rather massive Royal Shakespeare theatre, a shop of witchcraft and wizardology and a farmers market where I purchased some spotted dick!

A delicacy here in the good old U of K, spotted dick is a steamed suet pudding, usually served with currants or other dried fruits.  Besides the brilliant name, I'm not totally against dried fruit and so I thought it would be wise to give it a shot.  The result? Mehhh, at best.  What is Mehh?  Well, when the gracious lady that sold me the SD briefly explained the ingredients, I happily ignored the "suet" part of the equation to focus more on the "pudding" and "dried fruit."

mmm mmmmm goood

After a quick Wikipedia session, I discovered that "suet" is actually: "raw beef or mutton fat, especially the hard fat found around the loins and kidneys. Suet has a melting point of between 45 and 50 degrees C, and congeals between 37 and 40."  The buzzwords: "raw, beef, loins, kidneys and congeals" just made me vom a little. Delish. Awesome.

I boarded the bus with my spotted dick in-hand, ready to see a big, old and cold castle.  This big hunk o' stone, otherwise known as Warwick Castle, was built by William the Conqueror in 1068.  So it's old and considering Wal Mart has yet to decide a Supercenter + parking lot is a better option,it sits peacefully under the control of a lovely nonprofit. We had tickets that allowed us to explore the ins and outs, ups and downs (literally) of the grounds.

My flatmates, Zach and Dave

Ins and outs: The outside of the castle (look up) looks pretty typical.  The walls are just like the ones we studied in 3-4 grade during the medieval unit at MV.  Inside, however, I was really impressed by the attention to detail.  Each room was open to the public, but instead of having very ornately-decorated rooms that were empty, they created life-like scenes with wax figures.  Think Madame Tussaud's wax museum, except 49321 times better. It really helped bring the rooms to life and it gave you a vivid picture of what they were actually used for.

Ups and downs:  What is the coolest part of a castle?  The towers, of course! In order to better appreciate the view of the English countryside and have an excuse to climb 9384938 stairs, we decided it was a good idea to embark on the adventure up the (seemingly) never-ending winding staircase.  Score. Each step was approximately 1/10th the size of my foot and, as a result, I had more than enough room to step safely (not). Thankfully, there was period-specific organic LED white lighting on the handrails to help guide us safely in the right direction.  It was all worth it in the end as the view proved to be (not quite) breathtaking, but pretty impressive.  The semi-gloom, coldish temperatures didn't help the countryside's cause to try and look beautiful for the pictures that I (didn't) take.

As if we couldn't experience anymore excitement, we caught a glimpse of a sign that simply said "peacock gardens." Awhhaaaaa? Peacocks?! Yes, indeedy, that sign was not lying.

Feast your eyes upon this BigMac of birds:

That is one plump peacock...

Post-peacock viewing, it was time for more eating at the Warwick Restaurant. We then jumped back on the bus for the trip home.  To my delight, what came on the bus TV? Did you say Oceans 11? Only one of the greatest movies of all time.  Incredible cast, never-ending humor and Brad Pitt manages to eat food in EVERY scene. Long day and good times. What else can I ask for?

One day trip down, one to go.  This Saturday: Bath.

As always, many thanks to Zach, Bri and Steph for the use of some great pictures!

Cheers!!!!

Experiencing Polyphony

After a great, but expensive night in Covent Garden, I figured it would be healthy to spend Friday with myself.  Everyone needs some alone time now and then, right?  I jumped out of bed hangover free, loving life and FINALLY staring at a beautiful sunrise.  It was going to be a good day.

I grabbed some breakfast, got a shower and headed out into London for a brisk walk.  After realizing truly how nice it was outside, I quickly turned around and went back to throw my running clothes on.  

Running gives me lots of time to think and rock out to obnoxious music in the privacy of my own head.  It is the perfect outlet.  I headed down to Westminster via the bakerloo tube line (my favorite).

The paths were packed with people (most of which were runners training for the London marathon).  There is a great pat that runs the length of the Thames from Westminster Abbey to the Millenium Bridge/Tate Modern gallery on both sides of the water.  I took the advice of a random stranger and took it up and down both sides of the water.  It was long, but much-needed. After releasing a monumental amount of endorphins, I finished by walking across London Bridge to the infamous Borough Market. Nothing like ending a run at food heaven.

The remainder of my day was rather dull.  I didn't do much and it was glorious.  That evening, however, spontaneity struck hard.  I managed to convince myself that there was nothing more appealing at that moment than seeing a concert.  This is London, right?  There must be several to choose from on a random Friday evening in February! I was in luck. The London Philharmonic was playing at the Royal Festival Hall, overlooking the Thames, across from Waterloo station, in 20 MINUTES!

I threw some clothing on (not that I was naked), power walked down to the tube stop, got on, got off, walked the correct direction (towards the hall), purchased a nine pound ticket and slipped in right at 7:30 PM.

The thing about classical music concerts is that you don't actually need to see what is going on.  As a result, I was pretty much at the top, but the acoustics were so good it didn't matter.

Getting a chance to apply some of what I've learned in my classical music class was really great.  It's amazing how something like a classical concert can go from usually putting me into a deep sleep, to keeping me engaged the whole time merely because I knew a little bit about what was actually happening in the piece. Fascinating. I can't wait to go back.

Mexican Fiesta....with Mojitos?

The second week of classes have come and gone and it is beginning to dawn on me how fast these weeks are going to fly by with four day workweeks. Already another three day weekend? Sadly (or not so sadly), yes!

My classical music in London class continues to be phenomenal as my professor (who might as well be a supermodel) is a great teacher.  The bulk of the class is music history (right now we are studying the Renaissance and moving into the Classical period) with some basic theory tossed in for kicks.  To actually apply what we learn, we are going to nine concerts in London.  Everything from the London Philharmonic (which I saw last night) to Emanuel Ax and Yo Yo Ma.  It promises to be incredible.   In the end, I will supposedly be able to better "appreciate" music.  This I do not doubt.

More on that infamous three day weekend.  In honor of Sir Westhoven's birthday (My roommate, Zach), we decided to continue the Thursday evening Mexican theme (think Taco Thursday) and go out for some authentic Mexican grub.  Is there really Mexican food in London, you ask? Look back to our experience attempting to gather the supplies needed for an in-house Mexican feast.  The selection of Mexican restaurants in central London is not unlike the "Mexican section" of the grocery store: dreadful, worthless and a complete joke.  We found a nice place called Cafe Pacifico which was conveniently located near the Covent Garden tube stop.

It being a Thursday evening and us being naive college students, we decided to go in blind without reservations.  Our naivety became apparent when we realized that people in London also enjoy steaming fajitas, mojitos and quesadillas. Due to the mind-blowing fact that there are only a handful of these joints spread across greater London (at least according to Google maps), we were up against a two hour wait.  Excellent news.  All was not lost, however, because we were in Covent Garden.  It's best described as a trendy shopping area with good restaurants, street performers and lots of people.  A little more low key than Piccadilly Circus and not as crowded "Little Lebanon."

After the girls flocked to H&M to look at clothing they could have easily seen/purchased in the U.S., Zach, Dave and I decided it would be wise to get as far away as possible, as quickly as possible. 

We managed to kill some time at a brilliant little bookshop (the name escapes me, but I will come up with it eventually) that had so much more than books! It was an adventurer's paradise.  They had sizable sections devoted to every area of the world (western Europe, Africa, Asia, etc) that were packed with maps, guidebooks and some really unique supplies.  The floor also doubled as the biggest world map I have ever seen.  Brilliant.

After wandering around every inch of the store, we found our way back to the restaurant.  Time check: it hadn't been an hour. This was an issue. My stomach did not seem willing to wait and the idea of going to another restaurant was tossed around, but immediately shot down by Rainey.  After all, it was Taco Thursday and we weren't about to jump off the Mexican fiesta train!

To combat the inevitable irritability, fidgeting and complaining that comes along with starvation, we ordered some chips and salsa.  The subsequent reaction was not unlike pigeons dive bombing for bread in a crowded square.  We dove into the chips and showed the salsa who was boss, passing it around awkwardly until everyone got some.  Then it hit us.  The salsa was HOT! In retrospect, this was probably a good thing because if it was of the mild to medium intensity, I would have ruined my dinner due to my utter lack of self control when my stomach gets grouchy.

Fast-forward to dinner.  Our table was cleared right around the two hour mark (shocking, I know).  Sitting felt pretty good at that moment.  It was clear the only way to properly celebrate Zach's birthday was with a pitcher of margaritas! I believe we ended up ordering passion fruit.  They were good, but a little too sweet for my tastes.  I also had my first mojito and felt like a proper Cuban.  It was the real deal with fresh mint, lime and rum.  Pretty tasty.

Although I can only speak for myself (the others would disagree) the food at Cafe Pacifico was delicious.  I had grilled salmon with a mango chutney, rice and a salad. It was by far the most anti-Mexican thing I could have ordered, but it proved to be tasty. It was also a really strange red color (I assume it was coated in some off-the-wall spices), but nevertheless it looked brilliant.  I (of course) didn't have my camera to document the evening, but Alice saved the day by having Dave snap a quick photo before our food arrived.

Thanks for taking the photo, Dave!

More to come: Running along the Thames, London Philharmonic, Stratford and Warwick Castle.

Cheers!!

Borough Market.......aka paradise...

One nice thing about living in London is that a lot of things are older than me.  In the States, we sometimes forget that after something has reached the 15-20 year mark, it doesn't need to be torn down for a Wal Mart parking lot.

London has not forgotten that some things only get better after they've sat around for a while. As with any human being, fine wine, or cheese, aging can bring out the absolute best qualities in something.  It provides character, depth of knowledge, flavor and a unique history. Back in 1014, Borough Market, sitting at the feet of London Bridge, was an integral trading post for farmers wishing to sell grains, fish, vegetables and livestock.  Today, it is arguably one of the greatest food markets in the world.

On a perfectly clear Saturday morning, Zach, Bri and I decided it would be best to go in search of this supposed foodie paradise. We were not disappointed.  The samples were endless.  Zach and I tried a balsamic vinegar that, judging by the sweetness, had been aged for approximately 20349 years.  Incredible.  Endless pastries, truffles, Turkish Delight, organic veggie burgers, fresh pastas, fish, meats, espresso, WILD BOAR, I could go on forever.  I will be going back for more.

 

  

Wild boar sausage, peppercorn sauce, spring mix and a gigantic roll.. tasty

  

Bri got really excited about the peppercorn sauce.. 

Thanks for taking these ultra flattering shots, Zach.

Pub Hopping

After devouring the tacos, we set out to find a pub that would be not-too-loud, but also not-too-old.. A tall order?  Result: sort of.  After a few failed attempts (each time we gazed in through the glass, the crowd looked far older than we were anticipating), we found the Wargrave Arms.

From the outside, it looked like a nice place that didn't seem too busy. Inside, the atmosphere was glorious.  The dark wood paneling, hand-carved bar, people that looked happy and...music that was straight out of a really terrible American diner.  Perfect.

All of us at the Wargrave Arms

After the Wargrave Arms, we moved onto the Harcourt Arms.  It was a lot busier, actually completely packed with people, and so we didn't end up staying too long.  They had an upstairs which held our group plus another pretty comfortably.  Most of the night was spent at the Victory (which happens to be directly across the street from The Landward). 

With the celebration complete, we ended up getting to bed before 2:00 AM so we could get up and secure those tickets to "The Misanthrope."

A Reason to Celebrate

Celebrations usually need some reasoning behind them.  Good or bad, you need something.  The 28 January, 2010 was cause for much celebration.  A. we had finished our first full week of classes at Regent's and B. it was the first of many three day weekends.  How did we do it?  Taco Thursday, of course!

The inability to procure Mexican food in an area dominated by middle eastern hookah bars, Iraqi/Kurdish diners, and Indian restaurants made it all the more reason to make tacos.  Simple, cheap, and delicious, they cover all the bases without making a scene.  The best part? Being forced to stare blankly at the "Mexican food section" of the local grocery store.  Salsa, tacos, and some enchillada/fajita/taco making kits stole all the glory and didn't leave any room for.....anything else that remotely resembled Mexican food.

The good news was they had all the supplies needed to make a delicious taco feast: tacos, beef, beef seasoning, tomatoes, lettuce, salsa, rice and SHREDDED CHEESE.

Our cooking skills weren't really put through their paces as the only "cooking" was to brown the beef.  Not being able to find anything that resembled "Ground chuck" and Zach/Bri's unwillingness to secretly buy ground lamb and not tell anyone, meant we had to settled for Grade A ground steak.  It was a little over-the-top, but it proved to be that much more delicious (even if it was purely psychological).

Here are some pictures of the momentous occasion that was Taco Thursday (thanks to Bri and Zach for the pictures):

Staring at the strange assortment of dead animal..

Alice and Bri with their tasty tacos

Steaming ground steak...delish

We weren't hungry..

My apologies for posting these entries slightly out of order.. I got really excited about the Keira piece, and thus, it managed to get done before anything else.

The Day of the Big Night

After securing our tickets to the Misanthrope, we figured it would be wise to explore the rest of the theatre district.  The conditions were perfect for this as the skies were gray, there was sporadic rain, wind, and the temperature was hovering around 5 degrees C.

The number of "big name" shows within a very small area is astounding.  With the exception of "Mama Mia," there is everything you'd ever want to see: "Les Miserables," "Phantom of the Opera," "The Lion King," "Twelfth Night" and "Enron The Musical." By everything you'd ever want to see, I must confess, I know absolutely nothing about theatre.  The ones I listed might be a little cliche, but one assumes they are famous for a reason.  Considering theatre tickets (if purchased on the day of the show) are a lot cheaper than seeing a first-run Hollywood movie, it's unwise not to take advantage of all the deals they hand to students.

So we wandered around the streets, got pretty damp, I started to smell like wet dog, and miraculously stumbled upon the National Gallery.   Naturally, we went in to spend the afternoon gazing at some of Europe's finest framed works. I won't spend paragraphs detailing each gallery, but it was most definitely worth the afternoon we spent soaking it all up.

By the time we finished going through what amounted to all of the 66 galleries, our stomachs were getting rather rumbly (again, a technical term).  Pret A Manger, our saving grace, came to the rescue with a delicious (and cheap) lunch.  I actually had spinach and nutmeg soup! Crazy, right? It wasn't mind-blowingly good, but I would definitely order it again!

The combination of a lot of walking and a big lunch at Pret made me want to do anything as long as it was taking a nap.  Our pre-Misanthrope day was exciting, exhausting, and highly entertaining.  The rest of the afternoon was spent in the crypt of St. Martin-in-the-Fields deciding what to do.  We eventually decided to head back to the flat and rest up before the big night.

Cheers!

Ms. Knightley

There are hot tickets and there are hot tickets.  When my cousin John first mentioned that Keira Knightley was starring in Molière's "The Misanthrope," I got excited, but kept myself restrained.  He sent me the link to the show's website and I skimmed through it.  The Comedy Theatre....OK..Ten seconds later I had Google-mapped (a technical term) directions from the flat to the theatre.  In the west end? Brilliant! .....sounds expensive..annnnd that's really as far as it went.

Despite hearing everyone talk about how easy it is to secure inexpensive tickets the day of a show, I never thought the opportunity would arise and we would actually get them after nine days in London.

Well the opportunity did arise as Bri, Rainey, and Zach all agreed to get up early and wait for tickets in front of the theatre.  Great. We arrived with time to kill before the theatre opened and fought a huge line that consisted of one middle-aged man with a newspaper.  Even better, he was going for tickets that were WAY out of our price range. Win! This meant there would (hopefully) be some standing-only seats available in the balcony.  After making some small talk about the death of J.D. Salinger, he told us "The only thing I remember about Columbus, Ohio is that they arrested me for j-walking and almost threw me in jail." What a good guy..

We went for the "Lower balcony, standing-only" seats and celebrated.  From that point on, nothing could phase my euphoria.  I was seeing KEIRA KNIGHTLEY that evening...Ahhh!

This picture is actually from my mobile. It was taken (illegally) at the National Portrait Gallery off Trafalgar square.

Enough about getting the tickets, how was the actual show? To sum it up: she is much more beautiful in person (phenomenal bone structure, Steph), needs to eat about four Ghirardelli Earthquake "Family Favorite" sundaes, has a so-so American accent, and (at least from my point of view), is a great stage actress.  The other theatre majors in our group didn't have great things to say about her performance, but I loved it.  What a showstopper.

Overall, it was worth every pound. Next time, I will confirm that she is playing a role that requires her native tongue. 

Photo Credit: Zach Westhoven

One final note...For those of you that are not familiar with the colossal creation that is the Ghirardelli Earthquake Family Favorite; it consists of eight scoops of ice cream, eight toppings, fresh bananas, whipped cream, chopped almonds, chocolate chips, and cherries. 

Cheers!!!

A Reflection

There is something about living in London that just makes me smile. Every time I attempt to chronicle my daily life here, I find it increasingly impossible to wipe that silly expression off my face.

Living in such a cosmopolitan city where on any given tube ride you could hear 3-4 different languages is brilliant (Think Montreal, Mom and Dad).

Before I left, a lot of people (after I told them I would be studying in London) said "Oh, that's great, you won't have a problem adjusting..It's just like America!!" The truth? It couldn't be more different. The common language (English) in itself is so different, only vague comparisons can be made. The subtleties of day-to-day life and the fact that we live in "Little Lebanon"(Thanks Bri)make each day feel special. There are so many cultures packed into central London, it is crazy to generalize it as "Just like America."

If I sounded a little depressed that my classes are full of Yanks in the last post, pshh those are just classes. The real experiences are outside the classroom.

I love to compare my current stay in London to the trip I made back in 2004 with Roger, Ms. Roshong, ISCA, and everyone from MV. Back then, I was so much more naive. The personal growth I have witnessed in myself has been incredible. I am truly thankful to have the most wonderful parents in the world. Parents that cared enough to give me opportunities to travel outside my comfort zone and really figure out who I am. One percent of American university students take the opportunity to study in a foreign country. ONE PERCENT! What a statistic.

So if I am ever sounding a bit ungrateful (complaining about the mediocre living conditions, terrible organization at Regent's, or about the combination washer/dryer in the flat), take it all with a grain of salt. Those things, to me at least, are what make being a poor college student so great. Not everything is going to be perfect, there will be annoyances, differences, things we absolutely cannot stand, but when it all boils down to it, those are the things we will remember. If life was perfect, we would have nothing to remember.

An Academic Adventure (quite literally)

The morning of my first day of classes began on 25 January, 2010, at sunrise. My alarm started blaring "A Beautiful Day" (again) and (again), much to my dismay, the weather was rather bleak. A quick look at my schedule confirmed that my first class would indeed be Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. Score!

It was set to start at 9:00 AM and since the walk to Regent’s can be completed in less than 20 minutes (depending on your definition of “power walking”), I figured leaving plenty of time to spare would keep my stress level nice and low for the first day.

My initial fears (of course) were a bit overdramatic as we arrived with enough time to grab a hearty breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast (with Nutella), cereal and a coffee. Delicious.

What my OCD tendencies didn’t plan for was the wild goose chase that would soon follow. Although my schedule (or timetable) said that I had “Intro to Cultural Anthropology,” it failed to include the location of said class. This was a problem as I had already burned through most of my free time stuffing my face with a delicious breakfast.

With ten minutes until class, I was forced to stop by the Registrar, wait in line, be told I needed to logon to the computers in the basement (which I had no clue how to do), print my timetable (which is a process in itself), look up the location, hope that it hadn’t been changed, run up to (what hopefully) is the correct room, and not be late. Tall order? I managed to sneak in right behind the professor (who was five minutes late). Brilliant! A happy ending? Yes..Bad planning on my part? Maybe...lol

I went into cult anso with an open mind thinking that it (being a cultural anthropology class) would be comprised of people from many different parts of the world. The fancy pie charts, graphs, and videos Regent’s College shows off to prospective students illustrate a utopian oasis saturated with a highly diverse student body, situated in the greatest, greenest, most extravagant park in London. Unfortunately, they fail to mention that Regent’s American College London (under the Regent’s College umbrella name where I am studying) hosts hundreds of American students ALSO looking for the same experience. What does this equal? A class is comprised of 22 students from the U.S., one from Malawi and one from China. A bit of a downer? Sort of…

I’ve since gotten over the stark realization that Regent’s American College is just that… American.

With that said, all of my classes seem like they will be both interesting and relatively easy. Despite the large majority of Americans, some of my classes have more than others, it isn't a total American invasion.

After taking a good look at my schedule (see below), I’m not worried about a lack of free time. 15 hours will be manageable.

My class schedule:

Monday
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Intro to Cultural Anthropology

Tuesday
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Management Theory and Practice
11:00 AM – 12:20 PM Business Ethics
02:00 PM – 3:30 PM Classical Music in London

Wednesday
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Intro to Cultural Anthropology
06:00 PM – 09:00 PM Business Law

Thursday
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Management Theory and Practice
11:00 AM – 12:20 PM Business Ethics
02:00 PM – 3:30 PM Classical Music in London

Friday
NO CLASSES!!