Berthillon ice cream
Eiffel Tower
Continuing with the Paris theme (pure coincidence, by the way), this week's pix come from our trip in 2006.
Click on the photos to see larger versions on flickr.
Monday, 31 May 2010
Pic of the Week: 31 May - 6 June
Berthillon ice cream
Eiffel Tower
Continuing with the Paris theme (pure coincidence, by the way), this week's pix come from our trip in 2006.
Click on the photos to see larger versions on flickr.
Saturday, 29 May 2010
sunny paris
S and I spent a sunny weekend in Paris last week. We started in Montmartre at Sacré Coeur.
Then made our way to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Dinner with V, who was my au pair when I was 11. The last time we saw each other, I was 14 - 23 years ago! It was lovely to catch up with her (and stay in her flat near the Champs-Elysées. Merci, V!)
On Sunday, they turned the Champs-Elysées into a farm...
Just for comparison, the last time we were there it looked like this:
Finally, lunch al fresco in the Tuileries.
C'etait si bon!
Then made our way to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Dinner with V, who was my au pair when I was 11. The last time we saw each other, I was 14 - 23 years ago! It was lovely to catch up with her (and stay in her flat near the Champs-Elysées. Merci, V!)
On Sunday, they turned the Champs-Elysées into a farm...
Just for comparison, the last time we were there it looked like this:
Finally, lunch al fresco in the Tuileries.
C'etait si bon!
Monday, 24 May 2010
Pic of the Week: 24-30 May
Two pics from France this week:
Bird sculpture in Lille
Paris Metro
Speaking of Paris, S and I spent a lovely, sunny weekend there so stay tuned for more pix soon...
Bird sculpture in Lille
Paris Metro
Speaking of Paris, S and I spent a lovely, sunny weekend there so stay tuned for more pix soon...
Monday, 17 May 2010
Sunday, 16 May 2010
canal walk
S's sister came to spend the weekend with us. Annoyingly I had to work yesterday but we wandered around Wimbledon Common and Cannizaro Park in the late afternoon.
Today we strolled along Regent's Canal until it started to rain. Luckily we had just stopped for lunch so we missed the downpour.
Shame that our walk was cut short - more to explore next time!
Monday, 10 May 2010
Pic of the Week: 10-16 May
Today's Pic of the Week features Bob the goldfish. Click on the photo to see a larger version on flickr.
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Voted.
I exercised my right to vote in the UK for the first time today - in the general election, no less. I have found the campaign quite fascinating.
It's short - it was only announced a few weeks ago. Compare that to the American presidential campaigns which now last over one year.
There are three viable parties this time, not only two. The Lib Dems have gained traction and credibility, and the polls are fairly evenly split between Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem.
All three parties pledge 'fairness'. You rarely hear the word 'fair' in American elections.
There are not as many emotive issues in British politics as you see in the States. Immigration and Europe are probably the most sensitive ideological issues. Abortion and religion are barely mentioned. Socialised health care is a given - even the Conservatives want to protect the National Health Service.
Votes are for your local Member of Parliament, not for the Prime Minister, but the party leaders are the ones in the spotlight.
The 'American-style' debates were fascinating to watch, but it was not the first time they had faced each other. They spar every week during Prime Minister's Questions.
The result this time is not a foregone conclusion. We are all biting our nails waiting for the results to start pouring in a few hours from now. How will it turn out? I'm excited/nervous to find out.
It's short - it was only announced a few weeks ago. Compare that to the American presidential campaigns which now last over one year.
There are three viable parties this time, not only two. The Lib Dems have gained traction and credibility, and the polls are fairly evenly split between Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem.
All three parties pledge 'fairness'. You rarely hear the word 'fair' in American elections.
There are not as many emotive issues in British politics as you see in the States. Immigration and Europe are probably the most sensitive ideological issues. Abortion and religion are barely mentioned. Socialised health care is a given - even the Conservatives want to protect the National Health Service.
Votes are for your local Member of Parliament, not for the Prime Minister, but the party leaders are the ones in the spotlight.
The 'American-style' debates were fascinating to watch, but it was not the first time they had faced each other. They spar every week during Prime Minister's Questions.
The result this time is not a foregone conclusion. We are all biting our nails waiting for the results to start pouring in a few hours from now. How will it turn out? I'm excited/nervous to find out.
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
tourists at home
Wimbledon
My sister and brother-in-law came to spend a few days with us in London over the first May bank holiday weekend. Although they have been here before, it gave us an excuse to explore some favorite (and some new) tourist spots. We began at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden.
London has a long history of double-decker vehicles
70s styles on the Metropolitan Line
Southern extension of the Northern Line
Colliers Wood? Collier's Wood? Colliers' Wood?
Camera games on the real Northern Line - having topped up our Oyster cards for the week, we spent lots of time on the Tube
On Saturday, we headed to London's foodie heaven: Borough Market.
Brindisa
Utobeer
Konditor & Cook
sausage rolls • burger • smoked toulouse • chips • cider • pressed apple juice • latte • spiced chocolate tea
We strolled around the Tate Modern; enjoyed the maps at the British Library; and visited the mummies at the British Museum.
Andy Warhol room at the Tate Modern
We also walked around the gorgeous homes in Wimbledon Village and hopped on the District Line to Brompton Cemetery.
The weather was predictably unpredictable - 'changeable,' as they call it here - some sun, some rain, and colder temperatures than any of us wanted to accept for May.
Saturday, 4:15 PM, South Bank near Shakespeare's Globe
Monday, 5:25 PM, South Bank outside Royal Festival Hall
It was good fun to spend a few days together. Thanks for coming! Miss you already...
Monday, 3 May 2010
Monday, 26 April 2010
Thursday, 22 April 2010
Anniversary Road Trip
By now you know that our trip to Istanbul was scuppered by the volcanic ash. We still wanted to go away for our anniversary, so we rented (hired) a car and drove to Stonehenge on Tuesday.
Our tiny Toyota Aygo, barely bigger than a Smart car - life size photo
The weather was beautiful (part of the reason why the volcanic ash has not been spreading, apparently. Incidentally, according to the weather widget, it has been raining in Turkey, so maybe we lucked out by not going?!)
If you have not been to Stonehenge, it is close and familiar yet distant and mysterious all at the same time. The stones sit mere meters away from a main road; they look just like the photos. But the path keeps tourists from getting too close (unlike the pyramids where people can sit - and write graffiti - directly on the monuments); and the only interactive experience is listening to the audio tour. At some level, they are just rocks sitting in a field. Very beautiful, mysterious rocks that look different from every angle, but not exactly entertaining.
Perhaps that is why they let sheep roam around just outside the site.
S thought of lamb chops... I thought of wooly jumpers...
In the evening, we checked into the Spire House B&B in Salisbury. On our kind hostess' recommendation, we stopped by Evensong at Salisbury Cathedral and wandered around the lovely houses in The Close.
This was followed by dinner at Anokaa. We were a bit cynical of all the accolades, but the restaurant deserves all the credit and awards it gets. Our meal was unusual, well-presented and delicious.
Goan beef starter
Modu Murg
Minced lamb filled naan bread
Narangee
On Wednesday morning, we went back to the cathedral to look around a bit further.
Altar reflected in the font
Video of the medieval clock
Walking around Salisbury, we saw local water fowl (i.e ducks, swans and moorhens).
In the afternoon, we drove to New Forest and stopped in Brockenhurst for pub lunch.
New Forest is famous for its ponies, which roam pretty much wherever they please.
pony version of the local kebab shop
Driving on, our guidebook suggested a visit to Bucklers Hard, which was, ahem, closed when we got there. So we proceeded to picturesque Beaulieu.
pony procession
We drove home in the evening and returned the car. It was a nice change from public transport (and indeed, we would have had trouble going to some of these places without a car) but I'm still happy not to drive around London on a daily basis.
Happy anniversary, S! Thank you for a nice getaway...
Our tiny Toyota Aygo, barely bigger than a Smart car - life size photo
The weather was beautiful (part of the reason why the volcanic ash has not been spreading, apparently. Incidentally, according to the weather widget, it has been raining in Turkey, so maybe we lucked out by not going?!)
If you have not been to Stonehenge, it is close and familiar yet distant and mysterious all at the same time. The stones sit mere meters away from a main road; they look just like the photos. But the path keeps tourists from getting too close (unlike the pyramids where people can sit - and write graffiti - directly on the monuments); and the only interactive experience is listening to the audio tour. At some level, they are just rocks sitting in a field. Very beautiful, mysterious rocks that look different from every angle, but not exactly entertaining.
Perhaps that is why they let sheep roam around just outside the site.
S thought of lamb chops... I thought of wooly jumpers...
In the evening, we checked into the Spire House B&B in Salisbury. On our kind hostess' recommendation, we stopped by Evensong at Salisbury Cathedral and wandered around the lovely houses in The Close.
This was followed by dinner at Anokaa. We were a bit cynical of all the accolades, but the restaurant deserves all the credit and awards it gets. Our meal was unusual, well-presented and delicious.
Goan beef starter
Modu Murg
Minced lamb filled naan bread
Narangee
On Wednesday morning, we went back to the cathedral to look around a bit further.
Altar reflected in the font
Video of the medieval clock
Walking around Salisbury, we saw local water fowl (i.e ducks, swans and moorhens).
In the afternoon, we drove to New Forest and stopped in Brockenhurst for pub lunch.
New Forest is famous for its ponies, which roam pretty much wherever they please.
pony version of the local kebab shop
Driving on, our guidebook suggested a visit to Bucklers Hard, which was, ahem, closed when we got there. So we proceeded to picturesque Beaulieu.
pony procession
We drove home in the evening and returned the car. It was a nice change from public transport (and indeed, we would have had trouble going to some of these places without a car) but I'm still happy not to drive around London on a daily basis.
Happy anniversary, S! Thank you for a nice getaway...
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