London, England (Round Two)

My posts are completely out of order at this point. Here are the places I’ve visited in order: Reykjavik, Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Istanbul, Athens, Barcelona, Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, Interlaken, Bern , Milan, Venice, Florence, Siena, Rome, Privas, Paris, London, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, Dublin, Killarney, Galway, London and back to Reykjavik.

My friend Lauren was leaving for Paris as I was arriving, so we were ships passing in the night. So I

spent my limited time in London doing some of the touristy spots and heading back to the wonder that is the Borough Market. Seriously, if you go to London and skip this, you are missing one of the best food markets I’ve ever seen. I repeated my visit this time as my mouth watered from memories of a farm-to-plate hamburger with veined blue cheese, burnt sugar fudge and organic pear cider with nutmeg and cinnamon spices.

While on the subway, post fashion exhibition at Albert & Victoria museum and pre-Twinings tea shop visit, the subway was flooded with people in costume. I happened to be on the subway for Waitangi Day, which is essentially New Zealand day. If you were wondering how Kiwis celebrate this day, and were hypothesizing that it involved a pub crawl on the Metro, wearing costumes, drinking inordinate amounts of alcohol and ultimately gathering on Parliament Square to chant, you would be right.

I was asking one girl what was going on, and she invited me to come with her and her friends. Pre-trip, I would have politely declined. But really in life, if your entire subway car is singing along, then why not join in? If a native Londoner is willing to let you tag along, then join. Plus, as my Kiwi friend Jonathan points out, try to cram in as much living as possible.

So I embarked on a mini adventure with Marie Claire. Everyone seemed to be in costume but me. But! I’m the type of women who carries around a sheep around in her handbag, and was thus prepared for such an occasion.

I pointed out that one of Marie’s friends was not wearing a costume, and asked what kind of Kiwi didn’t show his pride by wearing a costume. He retorted by asking me what kind of American was I, not taking over anyone’s country. Well played, Kiwi. Well played.

A short adventure with new friends. Life is pretty awesome if you let it be.

Important Side Note: My friend Eric mentioned to me that I forgot to mention in my last London post that not only was Blonde Jackie part of my college trip, but Eric, Adam, Brown Jackie and Ryan were part of the madness that was the week in London. Plus, we were visiting the incredible peeps that are Keith, John and Jeanna. Speaking of Ryan, I recently saw his wedding announcement made The New York Times. Congrats!

Tagged as: Borough Market, Kiwis, London, Waitangi Day