Moments of Happiness: Le Weekend + Lundi+ A Bientot
Ooof, has it been muggy here these past few days! Saturday and Monday were both cloudy enough to allow for some frolicking around the city. Both days were spent with my dear Audrey, as she's returned to her native France today. It wasn't easy to let her to, but we know we'll have plenty of opportunities to visit each other in the future; it's not like France is terribly far from the UK or anything! She'll be coming up to stay with Husband and me for a visit in Edinburgh after we move there this Autumn.
On Saturday, Mr. Husband and I went with Audrey to the East End. We had a yummy lunch at Giraffe in Spitalfields Market, rummaged through some shops in and around Brick Lane, and generally just explored. The East End is definitely one of my favourite parts of London. There's loads of Jewish history, the horrific and ever-fascinating murders of Jack the Ripper, and the best curry I've ever eaten.
After packing her bags late Monday morning, Audrey and I headed up to Camden for an afternoon of eccentric over-stimulation. After shopping for body jewelry and Gothy sundresses (they DO exist), we shared three scoops of vegan ice cream at inSpiral: lavender, strawberry, and maple pecan. Saying farewell-for-now to each other was difficult, but we've been blessed to have met this year. It's only the beginning of a long friendship. Ah, life.
Pip's gorgeous strawberry-lime cider from Giraffe.
Audrey and her 'Bronte Beach' salad. It featured roasted pumpkin, avocado, and soy beans. Tres delish.
Me with my dish from Giraffe. It was brown sushi rice on dried seaweed, with assorted leafy greens and smoked salmon.
This pub, the Ten Bells, was used as a base (to pick up Johnnies) by the Ripper's victims. It's still running today.
East End street life. That classic London bus in the background has been converted into a vegan restaurant. Both decks now have tables and booths.
Pip and Audrey let hipster-with-a-messenger-bag pass by.
Skelly mannequin in front of a shop.
More colourful East End street life.
A street leading off of Brick Lane with some beautiful graffiti.
Graffiti in the ladies' room of a Brick Lane bar called EXIT.
A straight shot down Brick Lane itself.
Some of the surviving Jewish culture on Brick Lane. The butcher's shop has a beigel bakery on either side.
Graffiti in Shoreditch. A London Overground train rumbling by at the top of the image.
Glossy modern buildings tower like giants over smaller Victorian ones near Liverpool Street. The Gherkin looms ahead like a planet.
A menacing-looking gate in Shoreditch.
Back at home Saturday evening and in my pajamas, savouring a bowl of fresh red and black cherries.
Extravagantly lush areas in Camden to sit, eat, smoke hookah (shisha, as they call it here), have tea, and just people-watch. Audrey leads the way into Camden lock.
Audrey takes her dosage of hedonism straight up.
On Saturday, Mr. Husband and I went with Audrey to the East End. We had a yummy lunch at Giraffe in Spitalfields Market, rummaged through some shops in and around Brick Lane, and generally just explored. The East End is definitely one of my favourite parts of London. There's loads of Jewish history, the horrific and ever-fascinating murders of Jack the Ripper, and the best curry I've ever eaten.
After packing her bags late Monday morning, Audrey and I headed up to Camden for an afternoon of eccentric over-stimulation. After shopping for body jewelry and Gothy sundresses (they DO exist), we shared three scoops of vegan ice cream at inSpiral: lavender, strawberry, and maple pecan. Saying farewell-for-now to each other was difficult, but we've been blessed to have met this year. It's only the beginning of a long friendship. Ah, life.
Pip's gorgeous strawberry-lime cider from Giraffe.
Audrey and her 'Bronte Beach' salad. It featured roasted pumpkin, avocado, and soy beans. Tres delish.
Me with my dish from Giraffe. It was brown sushi rice on dried seaweed, with assorted leafy greens and smoked salmon.
This pub, the Ten Bells, was used as a base (to pick up Johnnies) by the Ripper's victims. It's still running today.
East End street life. That classic London bus in the background has been converted into a vegan restaurant. Both decks now have tables and booths.
Pip and Audrey let hipster-with-a-messenger-bag pass by.
Skelly mannequin in front of a shop.
More colourful East End street life.
A street leading off of Brick Lane with some beautiful graffiti.
Graffiti in the ladies' room of a Brick Lane bar called EXIT.
A straight shot down Brick Lane itself.
Some of the surviving Jewish culture on Brick Lane. The butcher's shop has a beigel bakery on either side.
Graffiti in Shoreditch. A London Overground train rumbling by at the top of the image.
Glossy modern buildings tower like giants over smaller Victorian ones near Liverpool Street. The Gherkin looms ahead like a planet.
A menacing-looking gate in Shoreditch.
Back at home Saturday evening and in my pajamas, savouring a bowl of fresh red and black cherries.
Extravagantly lush areas in Camden to sit, eat, smoke hookah (shisha, as they call it here), have tea, and just people-watch. Audrey leads the way into Camden lock.
Audrey takes her dosage of hedonism straight up.