View from the apartment this morning.
Sunday dinner was home cooked brilliance by Toni (a friend of Angela's now living here with husband Gordon), slow cooked lamb purchased earlier in the day at the farmers market we all visited. A great rice salad accompanied multiple bottles of French and Spanish wine (thanks Gord!) finished with amazing dessert we purchased from Ottolinghi - the BEST cake / pastry cafe in the world!
Monday morning started a busy day visiting the London eye. Clear sky's and low crowds meant it was perfect experience. We then walked to Big Ben, Westminster and the Abbey, through the upper class areas of Knightsbridge dotted with numerous embassies and on to Oxford st and Harrods. What a department store!
Fifteen restaurant for dinner was much more relaxed than expected. A great dining experience that was very "Jamie Oliver". Rustic wholesome dishes, efficient service in a casual atmosphere. No pompous attitude or feeling of marketing that made any part touristy. In fact if you were none the wiser, you wouldn't have know about the celebrity chef.
Tuesday was unplanned prior to arriving where we decided to hire a car and head out to the country side. Stopping by Windsor Castle where Prince William had arrived to host a charity function - unfortunately we had plans, and headed to Stonehenge and onwards to Bath. We got the amazing sights of the English country side and they were more amazing than expected.
After driving and looking at Bath in the pouring rain we moved on to a small town call Bradford on Avon. A gorgeous little town where we booked into the quaint pub we had wished for. It was called The Barge Inn - again like the apartment in London, it was right on the edge of a canal that the House Boats used.
Good old English hospitality, a fine pub dinner and a amazing spread at breakfast that couldn't be finished.
Tuesday saw us head to Lacock (Lay cock), another amazing small village were parts of Harry Potter had been filmed and it was easy to see why.
More country driving and awesome sights. We made it back to tick Abbey Rd of the list which coincidentally is just around the corner from Lords cricket ground. So we popped in to watch Lancershisre playing Middlesex. A beer in hand (Cold!) with the sun beaming down. Another bucket list tick.
Off then to half ticks to buy tickets for the stage show 'Matilda', which was great. Dinner in another pub in Covent Garden also showed us many buskers and part of the arts scene of London. A long day getting home at 11pm.
Today we had a early breakfast at the brilliant cafe - Ottolinghi, with Toni and Gordon. Lovely people who we've enjoy spending a short but valuable time with. Back to pack and on to the Train Station to Paris, where I am watching the country side whisk past.
A week in and all is going to plan!
The Happy Traveller.
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