Mer above the clouds: February 2012

DAY 54: Alone again

My mother came back to Valladolid this morning.
We had a great time, except for the 5 times I lost her in Candem Market, but that´s a long story...

This afternoon we visit one of the most beatiful green areas of London: Pimrose Hill (thanks Maria for the tip!) and Regent´s Park.

Primrose Hill

Before getting to the park, we ound some nice cafes and shops.
The Park is so nice, even now, one month away from Spring yet. People walking their dogs. An amazing view of London from the hill.
Very nice.

Central London from the Hill

Regent´s canal

Regent´s Park and Queen Mary´s Gardens

Crossing the canal, we entered Regents park. We went to the Queen Mary´s Gardens. I remembered them as a place where your senses can be alive again, in the summer, the perfume of the English roses, every type more beatuful than the other..., and with the most curious names.
Now, 2 weeks after the snow, the gardens are still beatiful, but I miss the roses, and the colours.

Luckily, it was sunny, and the blooming cherry trees reminded us Spring is close.

Gate at Queen Mary´s Gardens

I miss the English roses!

Marylebone

We walked some blocks to see St. Marylebone church. And the house where General San Martin stayed where he visited London (23 Park Road).
After the London Central Mosque we went back to the canal.

St. Marylebone Parish Church

House where San Martin stayed in London, 23 Park Road

Regent´s Canal

You can find peace in London. Try walking along the canal one afternoon. The reflecting water, the silence, some ducks, beatiful!

Boats at the canal

Little Venice

After a long walk we found Little Venice. again, in the summer, it´s more colourful and funny, full of people. Now, it´s still curious.
If you visit, try not to get lost after the last tunnell, where you lose sight of the canal and have to walk a few blocks at the street level (it´s the tricky part of this road!).

Since I was in School, and studied with my English books with these boats pictures I wanted to see them, and maybe to live in one of them. Now time has turned me a little more claustrofobic, and these boats seem really small to live in. My mother though, thinks is a great idea.

DAY 53: Smithfield Market

Try getting up at 5.30 in the morning to go and see the London Central Meat Market (AKA Smithfield Market) and feeling dissapointed by it. I don´t know what I expected, well, yes, I know. I expected some market like the one in Tokio (Map of the sounds of Tokio), but I found just a market.

I´dissapointed and sleepy.

DAY 51: Hampstead Sunday

Weather is great these days. My mother thinks I was overreacting over the freezing cold past days.

And, it´s not raining! (thanks God!)

We decided to stay in Hampstead (we were so tired from the day before...).

Started on the Heath, and went to the Well Walk and to the Hampstead Museum in Burgh House.

The neighbourhood is so cozy, so beatiful (I love it, and I love living here!).

The Burgh House, has a nice garden with a Cafe where you can have some tea seated in hidden tables along the garden. the museum shows you the story of this area. In the shop I bought some organic tea, but has very nice mugs too.

Continued walking to Spaniards Road, the park is full of trees and hidden houses, and from some spots in the road you can see the London skyline.

The old Spaniards Inn (with Romantics such as Keats, or Byron among its clients) stands in a corner of the street.

I liked this house on Well Walk

Well walk

Burgh House (Museum of Hampstead)

Spaniards Inn

Kenwood House

I love parks and gardens. But these gardens are so beatiful, specially in this sunny Sunday afternoon!
It was full of families and children playing.

Kenwood House, from 1.616 and remodeled in 1764 where you can visit its rooms, some with original wall coverings. In the first floor a miniature collection with gorgeous brouches and women shoes buckles.

If you´re a fan of Notthin Hill movie, you can see where Julia and Hugh filmed.

But my favorite part was imagining I was wearing one of those incredible dreeses and walking through the park or painting under the trees, like in XVIII century.

Great place, you should visit it.

The view fron Kendwood House

Skyline

Way back home by Parliament Hill

We were tired, I tried to take a shortcut through the heath, ended up in Parliament Hill park.

I mean it: English parks are amazing!

DAY 50: Sightseeing Combo

For this Saturday I´ve planned a Sightseeing Combo for me and my Mom.

The itinerary: Candem Town Market- lunch at the Borough Market- Bankside and Shad Thames- Tower Bridge-St. Katherine´s Docks- Victoria Embankment-Covent Garden-Southbank-Tate Modern

If your feet hurt only with reading the itinerary, their so right! It was a long Saturday. But full of great locations, places, people, and the most important: chatting with my mother.