[London] Just a taste.
For our anniversary yesterday, Andy and I had wine, dinner, and dessert at Tas Ev in Southwark. The restaurant was quiet and the Turkish food was splendid. Afterwards we walked to the South Bank, to the new cafe/bar behind the Royal Festival Hall. We each ordered a mojito and sat outside. I think we made a bit of a scene when Andy began talking about Major Dad and I couldn't stop laughing. It feels a bit strange to think that we've been together only nine months. We remarked over our drinks last night that it feels more like we should be celebrating years together -- in the good way, of course.
Over the past week, we've been to see a few productions (Market Boy and The Life of Galileo at the NT, Chicago in the West End, and Swan Lake by the Bolshoi Ballet in the Royal Opera House). Tonight we're returning to the ROH to see the Bolshoi do Cinderella, which should be good since we have better seats and this production really is the Talk of the Town. We've eaten cannelloni and pizza, Dutch pancakes at My Old Dutch, ice cream in Leicester Square (a couple of times), Chinese food in Chinatown, chips, fish and chips, and sweets galore. We spent a day in Greenwich, chatting with an employee on the deck of the Cutty Sark and buying Andy a variety of nautical instruments for his office. We went to the Natural History Museum and V&A last week, and today we're going back to the V&A and the Science Museum. It's pretty clear that the V&A has the very best gift shop in all of London. I think I've prepared myself to spend a rather large chunk of money there today. We've gone to art galleries and spent time shopping. We've been to Regent's Park and Kew Gardens.
In short, we've done a lot of things, and we've got another week to do just as much. I've been thinking about me and London again. When I show people around the city, especially for more than just an afternoon, I remember just how well I know this city. I imagine I know it better than I know Austin or Houston (I've certainly known it for longer), although I'm not quite sure how one would measure that. Anyway, it's a good feeling, and I'm sure it's easy on my visitors, who don't have to look at maps or ask directions or realize they're lost. It's just a matter of deciding what we want to do each day and then, well, doing it. Part of me thinks it's funny whenever I point to a place and say in my American accent, "I used to go there all the time when I was little!" Or, "I've been coming here for as long as I can remember." Perhaps it shouldn't seem funny, since it's my own life, but it does.
At any rate, we're having a fantastic time. And now I should get back to having a fantastic time.
Over the past week, we've been to see a few productions (Market Boy and The Life of Galileo at the NT, Chicago in the West End, and Swan Lake by the Bolshoi Ballet in the Royal Opera House). Tonight we're returning to the ROH to see the Bolshoi do Cinderella, which should be good since we have better seats and this production really is the Talk of the Town. We've eaten cannelloni and pizza, Dutch pancakes at My Old Dutch, ice cream in Leicester Square (a couple of times), Chinese food in Chinatown, chips, fish and chips, and sweets galore. We spent a day in Greenwich, chatting with an employee on the deck of the Cutty Sark and buying Andy a variety of nautical instruments for his office. We went to the Natural History Museum and V&A last week, and today we're going back to the V&A and the Science Museum. It's pretty clear that the V&A has the very best gift shop in all of London. I think I've prepared myself to spend a rather large chunk of money there today. We've gone to art galleries and spent time shopping. We've been to Regent's Park and Kew Gardens.
In short, we've done a lot of things, and we've got another week to do just as much. I've been thinking about me and London again. When I show people around the city, especially for more than just an afternoon, I remember just how well I know this city. I imagine I know it better than I know Austin or Houston (I've certainly known it for longer), although I'm not quite sure how one would measure that. Anyway, it's a good feeling, and I'm sure it's easy on my visitors, who don't have to look at maps or ask directions or realize they're lost. It's just a matter of deciding what we want to do each day and then, well, doing it. Part of me thinks it's funny whenever I point to a place and say in my American accent, "I used to go there all the time when I was little!" Or, "I've been coming here for as long as I can remember." Perhaps it shouldn't seem funny, since it's my own life, but it does.
At any rate, we're having a fantastic time. And now I should get back to having a fantastic time.