Brighton, a seaside town about an hour south of London, is a quick getaway from the city and offers a "beach" escape from the bustling, city life. Brighton has a pier with carnival rides, food, and games, which attracts tourists and those who like shiny, loud, glittery objects {like me!}. This pier is what brought me down memory lane to Daytona, Florida.
As a Dayton graduate, I have a soft spot in my heart for Daytona Beach, as it was a yearly trip {Dayton 2 Daytona} we ventured on to celebrate the end of a great year and to kick off the summer. So when I found a Daytona right in England, I was thrilled! Brighton, a seaside town about an hour south of London, is a quick getaway from the city and offers a "beach" escape from the bustling, city life. Brighton has a pier with carnival rides, food, and games, which attracts tourists and those who like shiny, loud, glittery objects {like me!}. This pier is what brought me down memory lane to Daytona, Florida. #awkwardfamilyphoto with the pier in the background! View from the pier However, unlike Daytona, and much to my surprise, the beach was comprised of rocks, rather than sand. And although I was a bit perturbed by this {I really miss a sandy beach!}, the rocks, much to my surprise {again!} weren't all that bad to lay on. I'd prefer sand, but hey, beggars can't be choosers, right? Of course I had to snap some pics while walking to the beach. The colorful exteriors get me every time! Finally, the beach! Wait until you see pictures of the rocks up close + personal. Yikes! The little pup loved the rocks {you can see her in the background of the chairs above!}. Oddly enough, the only place with sand was the volleyball court. Good think about rocks? You don't have to worry about dragging sand into the stores + restaurants lining the beach... {#glasshalffull}. The other astonishing part about Brighton {one that I can't make a connection to Daytona for being similar or different, as let's be honest, we never went to Daytona for the food ;)} is their food scene. Unexpectedly, Brighton has trendy restaurants in their winding and narrow passageways, also known as "The Lanes." From fresh seafood to many vegetarian and vegan-friendly options, to hipster and bohemian decor, the restaurants are a hidden gem in this small town. Heading to The Lanes! Besides restaurants + pubs, The Lanes had unique boutiques + vendors lining the narrow streets. An eclectic pub, Neighborhood, pictured above. So much seafood in Brighton that we had to try it! We found a great seafood restaurant, Riddle and Finns, which had a warm ambience and long, farm tables for sharing meals. Snails on snails {and no, we did not try them!} Unlike Daytona, Brighton also boasted beautiful + oddly placed architecture in one, concentrated section of the small city. This is where its museums + gardens were located. All in all, while our staycation was a fun adventure, much like Daytona, I've had my fill and don't see myself visiting again. I like my sandy beaches + tropical weather, which is why I cannot wait for our big, relaxing vacation in a few short weeks to Florida!
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Well, summer seems to have officially graced us with her presence in England. And it's only mid-July {surely, she must have been waiting for the British schools to let out at the end of July...}. And what does summer exactly mean to the British? Luckily, Ross and I have plenty of time to find out this year. We ventured over to a new garden {I'm a sucker for anything with the word "garden" in its title}, and truly saw what summer was about: shirts off, suits on, picnic blankets rolled out on the grass, people sunning lazily for hours in the parks + gardens {I guess when you don't have a beach or pool, grass is the next best thing!}, prosecco and rosè flowing like water, and "nibbles" from the local grocery store shared among friends. We've seen this in numerous parks over the last few 80-degree days {I didn't know London had it in her to get this hot!}, but the one pictured below is of Holland Park + Kyoto Garden. The best part of Holland Park were the rows + rows of flowers {I'm also a sucker for any flower ;)}. Not pictured: the benches lining this garden with people just soaking in the sunshine. Unlike some of the other parks {Battersea, Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Hampstead Heath...}, Holland Park has a woodsy path that offers respite from the sun. And when Brits need to cool off and trade in the greenery for some blue water to beat the heat? They head off to exotic places or take an hour-plus train ride to the seaside, which is where you can find us the next of couple days! We are jetting off {more like, training off?} to the English beach town, Brighton.
I find a lot of my hidden gems while traveling and living in London from The Londoner blog. If you haven't checked her out, Rosie's posts are informative, fun, chic, and always gives you a bit of wanderlust. Lucky for me, she had just traveled to Santorini right before our trip there, and she had great recommendations regarding what to see and do, particularly in Oia. Thanks to Rosie's blog, we found this delicious gelato place! And we had devoured everything before I had the chance to snap you a pic ;)! Oia is a charming village {and by charming, I mean, straight out of a postcard} in Santorini, consisting mainly of teeny, tiny boutiques, hotels, and restaurants {and just the cutest pups hanging out!}. For real, does it get any better than this? Oia is everything I had hoped it would be: the clean, white facades, the bright blue accents, and of course, the vibrant bougainvillea flowers that decorate the buildings. And although Oia is impressive, it's so crowded {I'm talking' body-to-body packed}, it can be difficult to maneuver and find a secluded spot to watch the sun setting. People on people on people. Side note: Do you ever wonder how many pictures you are featured in as a random backgrounder? When Rosie recommended "Sunsets" restaurant, and we happened to stumble upon it, we immediately asked for a seat. And I'm glad we did, because we had some great views of the highly sought after Oia sunset. If you find yourself in Santorini, at this exact restaurant, watching this perfect sunset, order the moussaka {not pictured} oh, and a glass {or bottle!} of the rosé ;). You will not be disappointed! And with that, sadly, the sun finally sets on our Greek adventure {insert weeping emoji}.
Greece has always been one of those places I dreamed of visiting; every picture I've ever seen from the Greek Islands are postcard perfect, the colors are vibrant, everyone is always smiling, and the food looks delicious. And from the pictures you are going to see in the next couples posts, my dream of the Greek Islands is truly a reality. Most days we remained poolside, soaking in the sunshine we don't see in London and catching up with family we don't see often now that we are no longer living blocks away {insert crying emoji}. We even enjoyed lazy lunches by the pool {like this Greek salad....!}. However, we made it our goal to at least go on one big excursion to really experience the small island {it's so small, it only has roughly 38 cabs!}. So we chose a sunset catamaran tour to enjoy the water and chase the infamous Santorini sunset. The semi-private catamaran tour was 5-6 hours, starting mid-afternoon. There were about 6-7 other couples from all over the world. Besides stopping to swim near the Red Beach, take pictures of the White Beach, and swim in the hot springs, the crew also cooked us a delicious dinner, performed some songs for us, and informed us of the history of the island. You can't see the name of the catamaran, but it was appropriately named "Freedom" ;). The Red Beach, which reminded me of the Sedona Red Rocks in Arizona. The White Beach Christina, Kevin, and Ross swimming in the Aegean Sea. I was too much of a chicken to swim with the monstrous, little fishies. However, I did swim in the hot springs {right or wrong, I figured fish couldn't survive in that water}. Hot springs, where the water wasn't as warm as I had anticipated, but it was still a cool experience! The best part of the water excursion was definitely the sunset, which as you can see below, made for some stunningly beautiful pictures. I just couldn't stop taking pictures! We heard from several people the sunset is beautiful to see anywhere on the island, and we were lucky enough to watch it a couple times from a couple different locations. Next up on tomorrow's post: chasing the sunset in Oia {pronounced: ee-ya}.
So, as you may know, I took a month off from blogging; the last month of school was rather dreadful + boring {I'll spare you the deets}, so I was mainly just counting down the days until we were leaving for our big Greece trip, which I'm extremely excited to tell you about! Our trip started in Athens, where we met my cousin + her husband. We were advised to only stay in Athens for a day, as the only real attraction there was the Acropolis. And to be honest, one day was truly enough {we would've even been alright with only a few hours in Athens}. Upon arriving, I was surprised the city was littered with graffiti and appeared to be run down. I was also taken aback by the heat, as, well...you know...I'm lucky to see the sun + feel a warm breeze in London. The Athens heat was suffocating, similar to a Florida humidity in the dead of August {but, hey, I'll take that over the incessant chill + rain in London!}. As with London's graffiti, the street art seemed to reflect the social + political climate of the city. Despite the grunge, there were still picturesque moments {and a lot of stray cats!} leading up to the Acropolis. Further, walking around the Acropolis + the Parthenon was amazing--amazing that these historic ruins, dating from mid-to late 400 BC, are still standing and amazing that we had the opportunity to visit the site. That's how high we had to climb...it wasn't pretty in the heat... But after a full-on sweat 'stache + minimal complaints, we made it to the top. And oh.my.goodness was it worth it! I mean these views {amiright?}. After walking around the historic site, we relaxed at a rooftop bar overlooking the ruins {pictured below}. By the end of our day in Athens and 10+ miles later of walking, we were exhausted + sweaty. Needless to say, we were ready to be poolside/beachside in Santorini. Be on the lookout for our Santorini adventure {sneak peekage below ;)}!
...to London's most unique chocolate shop + cafe! Because Ross loves chocolate so much, I planned a date to the quirky Choccywoccydoodah {yes, that's the real name!}, hidden inside Carnaby Street {right off the bustling Oxford/Regent Street}. One step into the store and we were immediately inside what seemed to be Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. From the bright colored candies, to the creative + detailed wedding cakes, to edible signs that are too pretty to eat, I was in some magical kingdom where chocolate fairies live and smiles never fade. They taste as good as they look, too! If you can't read the little note above, this is a real, edible sign on the side of a cake. Above the chocolate store is a cafe where they only serve chocolate or various forms of chocolate mixed together. I mean, just have a look at the menu, below. They have a chocolate sundae, drizzled with chocolate, topped with pieces of chocolate atop a chocolate brownie; the mere sight of it makes my mouth water and my stomach hurt. After a morning run, Ross + I decided to cancel everything out with a hot chocolate + a chocolate brownie sundae {hey, when in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory...right?}. This shop is what chocolate dreams are made of, so if you have a golden ticket {to London} and a twinkle in your eye, its definitely worth a visit!
...And the men and women, merely players. Any Shakespearean geeks out there? If you can see me, you'd see me waving my arms around like a crazy person. I love his plays, love teaching his works {can't say my kiddos enjoy it as much ;)}, and I absolutely love seeing the productions, especially when they are at The Globe. So, when we got tickets, I was ecstatic. And I was even more thrilled to experience Shakespeare as if I lived in the Elizabethan Era, since we were ground level, standing room only. We watched my favorite Shakespearean comedy, Midsummer Nights Dream {I love those darn fairies!}. Not only was it true to text, minus some fantastic modern adaptations {Helena was made into a gay man, Helenus!}, it was interactive and simply put, just pure magic. Standing on the ground floor allowed us to engage with the actors and be a part of the show. Those white tables you see are tables that the actors would jump onto from the stage. Needless to say, we were up close + personal with some of the characters! The Globe, like the original, has an open ceiling, so we were able to enjoy the {surprisingly} warm day, turned into night. The best part? £5 tickets for 3 hours of entertainment! And I barely even noticed my achy legs at the end of the play!
While there are many wonderful things about Italy, the most obvious one is the food + wine. And what's not to like? Homemade pizza + pasta, gelato, antipasti, cheese... the list can go on + on. I would be content being a plump, pretend Italian woman, indulging in the Italian life while in Florence for the rest of my life. Everything is just to.die.for. This deli sammy is what we are missing in London :(. We enjoyed some bruschetta in a Florence piazza. We may {or may not} have had gelato every day at our favorite place across the river from our Airbnb... A typical mid-day happy hour ;). Il Porcospino, a restaurant recommended by a friend of ours in Columbus, was hands down, my favorite meal in Florence. We didn't have to order anything; instead, the waiter brought us their chef specials {some not even on the menu!}. If you are ever in Florence, this should be on your list to try! Our waiter started us off with fried zucchini, then for our second course we had a bit of wild boar ragu and cheese + spinach tortelloni {pictured above}, followed by almond cake + cannolis {below}. A very typical Italian breakfast we enjoyed each day: mini sandwiches filled with delicious cheese + meats. Yellow Bar is a 10-year favorite of mine that I had the pleasure of taking Ross to. I ate here when I studied in Florence and 10 years later, it is still as yummy good as I remember! They specialize in homemade pasta {you can actually watch them make the noodles!}; however, their pizza, baked in a brick-oven, is just as tasty! And of course, we had to indulge in a nutella-filled donut.
Oh.em.gee. That's what I thought every minute we were in Como. She is a beauty, like movie star, absolutely stunning. Everything in the town of Como and around Lake Como simply *sparkles*. It's no wonder Mr. and Mrs. Clooney have a home here. The best part of Como is the water, the mountainside, the grand houses, and the views. It seems that most things surround the water: restaurants, activities, and people {walking and relaxing}. And while we had just enough time to take in the views during lunch, see an aerial view of the town, and walk around the lake, I need to go back to enjoy a boat ride {sadly, we didn't have enough time}. I loved how lush + colorful this little town was. It was just breathtaking! We took the funicular to see Lake Como from above. The views were spectacular! Just see below... From here, you can see the Swiss Alps covered in snow. Once at the top, there is a little town, Brunate, to stroll around , shop, and have a bite to eat. We decided, however, to lunch next to the lake! Move over royals, I'm coming for the George, Amal, and Lake Como, instead, now ;)!
I mentioned in my previous Italy blog post that I could live in Italy for a year before moving home. If I had to choose, I would live in Florence. Unlike Milan, it's more of a village, rather than a city. There truly isn't one thing I dislike about this once quiet town that I studied in 10 years ago, and is now bustling with tourists from all over the world trying to capture its magic. I love how I can walk from one end of Florence to another without having to drive or take public transportation. I love the antiquated, yellow, orange, and pink, picturesque buildings. I love the colorful window shutters {that I took too many pictures of!} and the well-groomed trees. I love the curving, narrow, and charming streets that you could get lost in. I love relaxing with a glass {or bottle} of wine by the Arno Rover and people watching. I love the locals who are proud of their growing town. I love Florence because it's everything you envision an Italian village being, with its piazzas {squares}, lined with cafes + music + people + lively energy. I love listening to the mesmerizing, beautiful, Italian language that exudes so much emotion. I love the history that is present in each street and the rich art + architecture. Most of all, I love it because part of me just feels home and at ease there, something I have yet to find in England. And even these pictures truly don't do this village justice, but it's certainly a peek into understanding my passion for Florence. The view from our Airbnb above and the cute door below. It was perfectly situated just walking distance from the Arno River. I would happily get lost in these streets for hours. Warning: many street pics to come below! The Ponte Vecchio, Florence's oldest bridge, lined with shops and buzzing with tourists. Watching the sunset, while enjoying wine with Ross on one of the Arno's bridges was one of my favorite things we did in Florence! The bronze boar in Florence's marketplace that is supposed to bring good luck if you rub its snout. I mean, how cute is this shop above? Florence's Duomo is simply spectacular. I, very obviously, couldn't stop snapping pics ;). And the ones you see posted aren't even all of them! One of the other must dos in Florence: running up to the Piazzale Michelangelo. Warning: the steps are a killer, but the view is unbelievable.
Those who know me and my journey abroad, know that the transition was difficult and my homesickness gets the best of me, even though I know + understand the immense benefits and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities we've been given. I would happily move home to Chicago - like now. However, I would be willing to sacrifice another year {or two} if that year gave us the chance to live in Italy. I cannot even begin to describe my love for this country + its people. 5 days was not enough to enjoy each city we visited, and frankly, I'm unsure if a lifetime is enough time to really appreciate the Italian culture. The Italian lifestyle is one filled with incredible scenery, astoundingly beautiful + friendly people, homemade, delectable food, beautiful language, and contagious energy. In fact, in 5 days, we befriended a couple Italians who actually had conversations with us, who wanted to get to know us and even offered to take us out; in comparison, we have yet to befriend a local Londoner or Englander, and we've lived here now for 16 months {yikes!}. Top that off by the beauty all around, where everything looks like a postcard and is oh, so instagrammable, you have yourself a dream life! Our first stop was Milan, as that was where we flew into. Since it had more of a city feel, Ross and I only wanted to spend a night there as we needed a city break from our every day lives. While we didn't see any of Leonardo Da Vinci's work {"The Last Supper" is housed in Milan}, we did walk around the city enjoying its architecture + vibe. From the quaint side streets to charming canals, we enjoyed Milan {though maybe not as much as the other Italian cities}. The absolute best part of Milan that separated it from other towns in Italy was the fashion {I wish I creepily took pictures of random people for you guys!}. Everyone was impeccably dressed, even in the downpour, so it was fun to sit outside a cafe and gawk at those walking by. Further, it didn't feel as touristy as the other cities we visited. Even the train station in Milan is stunning! Look at that architecture! Milan's public transportation looks so charming. Galleria Vittoria Emanuele II is the shopping mall pictured above. It is the world's oldest {and grandest, from what I saw!} mall. Above, is Milan's Duomo {aka Italian cathedral}. Milan's most romantic + charming neighborhood is Navigli, which consists of 5 canals. Ross + I walked around here before heading to Florence, but I wish we had more time to explore this area at night, as it's lined with cute cafes + bars.
I'm not quite sure what took me so long to write a post about The Eye, as it has to be one of the biggest attractions in London and one of my favorite things to do with visitors. But it’s about darn time {and better late than never!}. I’ve been on this observation wheel twice now, and each time, I absolutely love it, even though it's a bit overpriced + crowded. There is no other way to describe it, other than to just show the pictures of the amazing views of the city. Each capsule on The Eye can hold up to 25 people {crazy right?!}. You can also rent out the capsules for private events {such as a proposal or small party!} #learnsomethingneweveryday. As I mentioned to my friend, my three favorite things to do in a new city are the following: try a local dish, experience a night out on the town, and get a bird’s eye view of the city to get a lay of the land {I should also add to the list: take a boat ride, if it's available}. There is no better way to get a feel for all of London than a 20-30 minute ride on The Eye.
I never understood the hype surrounding Guinness. It was too dark, appeared to have a curd-like texture, and seemed to be extremely filling. After going on the Guinness Factory Tour, I now understand the hype: it’s flavorful and not very heavy. It's also smooth and enjoyable to sip on {in other words, it’s not a shotgun-type-of-beer}. The outside of the Guinness Factory takes you back to the horse-and-buggy days. And not because they actually have horse carriages outside to add to its charm, but because it's this very prominent, brick building that has so much character and takes up a large portion of Dublin. You could get lost {or at least I can!} walking just around the exterior. Inside the factory, there are 7 {yes, SEVEN}, giant + spacious floors, starting with the Guinness family's 9,000 year lease of the building: First floor: This is where you learn about the high-quality ingredients that go into making Guinness. Second floor: This is where you learn how they actually make the beer and the machines {or pieces of art} that aid in the process. Third floor: This is where you become a taste-tester. You get to smell the various ingredients {the hops smelled the best!}, and you get a mini-Guinness to learn how to properly taste. To properly taste, you must breathe in, take a “generous mouthful” of Guinness, and breathe out. That is how you are able to taste all the flavors. Fourth floor: This is where they show you the various Guinness advertisements throughout the years. From print ads to commercials, you can see how Guinness has been marketed to the masses. Fifth Floor: This is the holy grail of the tour! You get to partake in Guinness Academy by learning how to pour a Guinness properly. Once you have “graduated” by correctly pouring yourself a glass, you get a cute, little certificate. I wonder how I become a teacher in this kind of academy…;). First, the spout must touch the harp and you tilt the glass. Next, when the beer is filled about halfway, then you move the glass upright. About three-fourths of the way full, you let the glass settle, and finally, you top it off. Sixth Floor: They have various restaurants to enjoy food and some more Guinness. This is where we tried the traditional Irish stew and soda bread, which was out.of.this.world. Seventh Floor: This is not only the most crowded area of the entire factory, but also the one with the best views of Dublin. So grab a drink, snap a pic of the view, and head to the sixth floor for food and more seating :). This is one of the world’s leading tourist attractions and it’s easy to see why. It’s informative + interactive, which makes for an entertaining day out in Dublin with good friends.
Over spring break {which seems like forever ago now}, we visited Dublin, Ireland. Before traveling to The Emerald Isle, many people suggested we drive out to the countryside, as that is where the most stunning views of the country will be; however, because we only had two full days in the city, we opted just to stay in Dublin and explore. To be honest, Dublin is like most large cities, particularly London, with similar architecture and activities. Two days was definitely plenty to see all of Dublin, so if we do happen to travel back to Ireland, I would like to skip the city and see the rolling hills + the cliffs. That being said, if you have two days in Dublin, there is plenty to do + see: Dublin Castle: While we didn’t go inside the castle to view the rooms, just seeing the castle and its architecture is pretty amazing. The fact that this giant structure still exists in the middle of their city is unbelievable. The castle has a beautiful garden to walk through {or to use as a backdrop during a proposal to the girl of your dreams ;)}. The happiest couple who got engaged in the castle gardens {and who happen to be our great friends!}. Talk about a trip of a lifetime! Trinity College: Much like our trip to Cambridge, you can’t go inside the actual buildings, but walking around the campus and its courtyards are fun. St. Stephen’s Green Park: Besides markets, if there is another part of Europe I really enjoy, it’s the parks. The large, open spaces with blossoming flowers definitely make for a nice place to gather with family + friends on a sunny, spring day. We're the four best friends that anyone could have ;). St. Patrick’s Cathedral: The burial site of Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels, is one that should not be missed. Further, the church, in comparison to other cathedrals we’ve visited, is interactive with a coloring + building area for children. The cathedral gardens above. Irish Pubs: This is one of the top reasons to visit! In all seriousness though, the Irish know how to drink and have a good time. With lively music {at times, live bands}, colorful inner + outer décor, and friendly people, the Irish pubs are fun. I think because I’ve been able to experience the quiet English pubs so frequently, this was a nice, more energetic change of pace. The pubs we visited and really enjoyed are the following two: The Brazen Head {Ireland’s oldest bar} and Temple Bar. Even during the day, there was so much energy around the Temple Bar area! There are so many pubs to choose from while walking around! There was so much character inside Brazen Head, with many references to America with its decor {which I loved!}. Jameson Distillery: We didn’t take the actual tour, but this is worth checking out for a quick drink. I loved the warehouse feel, with the exposed brick and piping. It reminded me a little of Chicago. My absolute favorite part of the trip was going on the Guinness Factory Tour. And because we spent hours there, it deserves its own post, so stay tuned for the condensed version of the tour! Overall, the city of Dublin was easy to navigate + extremely walkable {we walked to most places you see posted here}. While it wasn't a city-escape, it was a bit livelier than what we typically experience in London, and for that, it was a worthwhile trip!
Between noteworthy coffee shops, like a Victorian-toilet-turned-caffeine-selling-cafe to weekend coffee festivals, London takes the cake in the coffee + tea market. While I can't say I'm a coffee connoisseur {I tend to pick convenience over quality at times}, I do appreciate an independently-owned, unique oasis from the city hustle + daily grind. And that's exactly what I found in Hackney Coffee Co.: a book-lover's dream, a warm + welcoming cafe, and a peaceful respite. I was thrilled to be invited by the co-founder to pop in for a "cuppa" and "nibbles" {when in London ;)}, since I mainly stick to one of the hundreds of Starbucks I pass by on my way to work. Unlike the generic coffee shops, Hackney Coffee Co. has a lot of character + charm. From its exposed brick, to its playful light fixtures decorated with hats, to its upstairs reading nooks, this cafe is comfortable + inviting. Just take a look at those couches! I think I can sit there for hours and grade {or read or nap!}. Further, Hackney Coffee Co. knows it's coffee, cake, and sandwiches {aka toasties}. The apple, earl gray cake is to.die.for. And their salt beef toastie was the perfect after-school snack on a chilly, rainy day {I mean the melted cheese + pickles are perfection!}. And if you want my professional opinion, you should eat it in that order ;). To the team at Hackney Coffee Co., thanks a latte for inviting me to experience your charming cafe. I will definitely be seeing you again soon!
This past weekend, we had our first visitors of the year: two former colleagues of mine from Winnetka. It's always nice to have friendly faces in London and catch up about home, so I can't wait for our two other upcoming visitors this coming weekend and then the weekend after. What was particularly nice about having our first two friends visit was the fact that they had come to visit last year, so they didn't need to see all the tourist attractions. Instead, they wanted to venture into the countryside to a town that has been on my list of places to explore: Dover, England {White cliffs country}. About a two hour long train-ride away from London, Dover is a friendly, but sleepy coastal town reminiscent of Ramsgate, where Ross + I mini-mooned. We went on a Sunday so almost everything was closed for the day {I mean everything except for a couple pubs + McDonald's}. So there wasn't much to do besides grab a quick bite to eat, briefly walk through the historic, but closed town, and see the white cliffs of Dover. We initially thought we could walk from the train station to the cliffs, but there weren't any footpaths and it was a pretty far walk {the reviews we had read didn't really explain that important detail}. In any case, we quickly learned from incredibly friendly locals to hail a cab to the cliff side and from there, hike along some of the trails. Except for the bustling port, which I'm assuming contributes to most of this small town's employment + economy, the entire view was serene + breathtaking. Just have a look at our pictures: Looking down from the walking path is slightly dizzying. Word to the wise: Don't get too close to the edge. Can't get enough pictures of the white cliffs! We also had some great views of the Dover Castle from afar {photos above}. Taking in the scenery, while listening to the White Cliffs of Dover song ;). The giant port {above + below}. Overall, the day trip was a bit of a hike, but it was so nice to get out of the bustling city, enjoy nature, and meet some welcoming locals.
Some people visit cities to learn about its architecture or art or fashion. I go for the food {and drinks!}. I think you can tell a lot about a city's culture + people simply by tasting its local dishes, the places off the beaten path. So, needless to say, I was excited to take Ross on his second date of my Valentine's Day gift: the East End London Food Tour. The East End of London, particularly Shoreditch, reminds me of the West Loop {or what the West Loop was 5 years ago}; it's slowly becoming gentrified but still fighting to maintain its unique character. There are independent owners + local shops that you can't typically find anywhere else in London; likewise, you can't find the big restaurant chains in Shoreditch. Because of this, they tend to have unique + tastier restaurants. So our tour was in the Shoreditch-area and we tried the most popular cuisines of London: 1. Indian {I have come to the conclusion that I'm just not a fan} 2. Fish + chips {despite popular belief this is not the country's national dish, as its curry} 3. Salt Beef Bagel 4. Chocolate + Donuts Our first stop was an Indian bakery, where we tried samosas. I'm not a fan of the curry flavor, so I was not a fan of the chicken curry samosa, but the spinach samosa was good {I mean it had cheese + fried dough, so what do you expect?} Next, we headed to a renowned fish + chips restaurant, which I was excited about because I have yet to find a good place to take visitors. While this restaurant had more succulent fish than fried crust around the fish, I was still not pleased to see the fish was fried with the skin on it. Yuck. Then, we headed to my favorite place of all: a Jewish deli, opened 24 hours, 7 days a week, where you can get a famous salt beef bagel. The spicy mustard + the pickle + the juicy beef {which I typically don't like} is un {pause} real. Ross said the one at Borough Market is better; however, I liked this one way more than the market sandwich, so I'm interested to hear what upcoming visitors think! Lastly, we stopped for some dessert. First, we went to an unbelievably rich chocolate place that had the most decadent + interesting flavors. This little guy was right around the corner from the chocolate shop and seemed like an appropriate mascot for the day ;). And we also visited a donut shop that claimed to have the "best" donuts and cronuts. To be honest, Glazed + Infused in Chicago still takes the cake, but I'm glad we paid a visit to The Dum Dum Donutterie. Not only did I learn that cronuts are better for you because they are baked and not fried, but we got to visit a notable building: BoxPark, a market place made out of shipping containers. I would highly recommend the tour; it was a fun day out with some "frouples" {I love this term, which I learned from a new friend!} on a rare, beautiful spring day in London. AND, the best part is that the tour is *free* {technically, you just tip} and all the food is surprisingly cheap. Ross + I split all the meals and we spent less than 30GBP trying all the different dishes.
Happy eating, friends! There are about a handful of things I absolutely love about London {shocking, right?}: 1. Markets of any kind {duh} 2. The flowers 3. Public transportation + walking, although I miss wearing heels {I've slowly stopped since it's not conducive to walking or train/bus riding} 4. The quaint side streets + mews 5. Picnics in the charming parks I've written a lot about the markets, and I've taken many pictures of the flowers here, but I'm surprised I have yet to write about the flowers. At any point in the year, you can find the most beautiful bouquets-- whether sold at a local, street stand, a floral market or shop, outside a tube stop, or even at a cafe. And because there seems to be an abundance of floral shops, you will always find someone carrying a colorful bunch walking down the street. Truth be told, I was never a flower a person until after our wedding {in fact, I told my amazing florist I wanted white flowers of any kind as long as it didn't exceed X amount of dollars}. It's only until recently that I started paying close attention to these pops of color everywhere {could also be me desperately grasping for any sign of spring}. Needless to say, I hope the photos below show you exactly why London's flowers are creeping their way onto the short list of "my favorite things about living in Europe." Flower stand outside the South Kensington tube stop. Definitely creates some curbside appeal to the dirty train station ;). Columbia Road Flower Market {pictured above + below}: a whole market dedicated to flowers and is lined with the most charming, little cafes + boutiques. This little pup even loved watching flower-market-goers pick their bunches of happiness! Local, flower store. Just how cute is this place? One of the many flower stands on a street corner. The flowers above are sold at a cafe right down the street from my school. So you can pop in for a "cuppa", a slice of cake or some delicious salad, and a bouquet of flowers ;). What could be better than that?
I'm sure by now you know I love any kind of market. I love seeing small businesses working hard, the trinkets, the food, the people, and most importantly, I love experiencing the vibrant, community atmosphere. Most markets we've found that are close to us {within walking distance} only pop-up on the weekend. And while I love Borough Market, it is incredibly crowded any time we venture out there {whether that's during the week or on the weekend}. That's why I was so happy to find the Southbank Centre Market, a food market that is just over the Thames River from the Embankment tube stop {so about a 20-minute ride from our flat} and a market that is open Friday through Monday {YES! Even on a Sunday, when most markets are closed!}. We went to go check it out last weekend, sadly after we had already eaten {poor decision}, and I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't body-to-body packed and the variety of food looked absolutely delicious. We will definitely be coming back to try this market {maybe even this coming weekend ;)}. I will be back for some mac + cheese and those tasty paninis below...Hopefully, not on the same day ;). Oops, I did forget I tried a mini-oreo cronut...
I also like a good pun ;)... So this post is a couple weeks overdue, but better late than never, right? As I've mentioned in a few other posts, if you've been following along, I feel that Ross and I have seen a lot of the major London attractions, where at times I don't know what to do in my free time anymore. Enter in Pinterest and Valentine's Day. I wanted to give Ross something that he can experience, something we can enjoy together. So after some searching, I came up with 12 dates we can do together or with a group {thank you, Pinterest!} each month. While Pinterest laid the foundation for the gift, Google really worked its magic in helping me determine the date ideas. When searching for non-touristy activities or attractions, I learned a search for the city name + "date nights" {i.e. "London Date Nights"} yields the hidden gems of a city. So through the search, I got some unique ideas, like our golfing expedition in the heart of London. Since Ross has his clubs in London but hasn't had the opportunity to use them, I decided to take him to Urban Golf for our February date and for our first Valentine's Day married {insert giddy school girl smile}. Urban Golf is an indoor golfing facility with simulators + classes. Ross got to experience taking his golf clubs on the tube and hauling them through the crowded streets of Soho to a nondescript building {you'd never know this place was in Soho if you weren't looking!}. Anyway, he enjoyed the session and I got to sit, relax, and watch him have some fun :). March's date takes us on an East End London food tour, so stay tuned for some yummy pics! I had to keep myself occupied somehow while watching ;).
We've been here for about 13 months and in my mind, I feel like we're about half way through our stint here in London {could be wishful thinking, but hey, whatever makes me sleep at night, ya know?}. Sure, the days have definitely gotten brighter here {figuratively speaking of course, as the days lit-ra-ley {how the Brits say it, one of my favorite words in their language} couldn't be more gloomy} and there's endless opportunity for travel, but there are just some "bits" to London that still irk me and I simply just don't understand.
That being said, I'm trying to maintain a glass-is-half-full attitude, after all, where else would I be able to perfect my British accent or eat chips {fries} with every meal or be able to bring a baby into a bar {if I wanted to, of course, or had one or knew of someone here who had one}? See, for every 5 things that drive me crazy, there's always one positive ;). And that, my friends, brings me to the 11 things I've learned the last few weeks that bother me, and yet also intrigue me: 1. They love mayo. I knew from the minute we moved here how much Brits loved their mayonnaise, as it was served with everything from sandwiches to fries to tacos. But I just recently learned how obsessed they are with it when I saw a woman drinking it and another man scooping spoonfuls into his mouth. Are you grossed out yet? 2. They {or at least the people I've encountered} don't say "Bless You" after sneezing and if you say it to them, they either stare in confusion or glare at you for talking. They also don't respond to "excuse me." In fact, I've gotten an "you're excused" response back when trying to push my way through a crowd of people. So much for those proper manners... 3. Winters are mild here. Last winter was extremely cold for them {I had to wear two pairs of pants on some days while out and about}, but I guess that's abnormal. This winter is much more bearable with temps in the 40-50s, so I've only had to wear one pair of pants ;). It just rains. A lot. 4. Mardi Gras/ Fat Tuesday doesn't exist here. Instead, they celebrate National Pancake Day. 5. Their pancakes are not thick + fluffy. Instead, they're thin + sticky. They are more like crepes than pancakes. 6. Men {and I'm talking middle-aged to old men} love Hollister here. They love wearing the Hollister logo plastered all over their shirts like teenage boys in The States. 7. Sorted means "figured out" or "organized." However, it never quite comes out as sorted with the "t" sounded out. Instead, with the British accent, it comes out as "sohd'd". 8. It takes forever and a day to fix anything that breaks in a flat. I've commented on the lack of communication and effort here in the past, but this is the icing on top: our washer and drier was broken for a month before anything was done. And they claimed to have "fixed" it, yet it still doesn't work. 9. Because we're American, we're supposed to answer for all Americans, the country, and our political system. Did you know that my opinion was also your opinion? Doesn't seem right, or even logical for that matter. 10. I used to think the American school system was all about testing and teaching to the test. Boy, was I wrong. I have never felt more pressure by the testing + inspections + audits than I do teaching here. It's absurd how much testing goes on in England, and it saddens me to see students only care about the assessments. 11. I'll end on a positive note: British schools + international schools, like the one I work in, have a week or longer break every 6 weeks. My mid-term, weeklong break is this week. Then in another 6 weeks, we have a two week spring break. While we get out a bit later {June 24} than schools at home, I am loving the fact that I have long breaks built into the school year. Ross + I have been consumed with TV lately. While it's nice to finally feel comfortable in our flat, I'm actually embarrassed to admit just how much TV we've watched. It's addictive and so easy to get lost on the Upper East Side of Manhattan {xoxo, Gossip Girl} for hours or trying to solve the murder mystery after 6 seasons following Arya + co {Pretty Little Liars}. Anyway, my point is, there are days when it's hard to get going because we get sucked in by the TV. So I've been trying to find various things to do + attractions to see around London to get us out of the house. And although sometimes I feel that we have seen it all, there are reminders like The Sky Garden to give us a different view of the city. I spy the Shard poking into the sunny, but very chilly + windy sky ;). Can you see the London Eye above? Located 31 floors in the Walkie Talkie building, it's definitely no John Hancock or Sears Tower, but it was a nice, relaxing way to get out of the house on a Saturday afternoon.
As I mentioned in my previous post, I attended an educational conference in Doha, to gain a better understanding of the International Baccalaureate program. I could go on + on about the conference + its content; however, I think that would bore half of my audience {especially those who are not teachers}.
What I want to focus on is what I said in my previous post: this trip opened up a whole new world to me, because to be honest, while I learned some new teaching strategies, I came for the entire experience-- to push myself out of my comfort zone, and to learn about a region I knew absolutely nothing about. And after attending this conference, where I met teachers from Ethiopia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, America, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt {the list goes on...}, all of whom teach in an IB program, my biggest take away is this: All over the world, we face the same educational struggles. We all use the same educational strategies. We all care about the students. However, education aside, as HUMAN BEINGS, no matter where we come from, people face similar challenges, have similar fears and hopes + dreams, share similar interests, and take pride + joy in the same things. And so the most eye-opening revelation is something that is so basic, yet needs to be said as a gentle reminder {mainly to myself}: we are all human, despite appearances, beliefs, and geographical location. So simply put, I learned something so basic from Doha + its people, yet something so unforgettable {ok, now I'm off my soapbox!}. And for that {along with the camel-riding adventure!}, I am incredibly grateful for this experience. Last week, we visited Doha, Qatar, because I attended an educational conference for my school {more on that later!}. To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect and because I was unfamiliar, I was a quite nervous. Upon landing, here were my initial thoughts: 1. Helllooooo sun! Haven't seen you in a while. 2, Ahhhh, fresh unpolluted air. 3. Ohhh it's so clean here. 4. Oh my, there is so much construction {literally, the town is getting an entire make over to prepare for the World Cup}. 5. It's so sunny and warm and sunny and warm! After spending a few days there, my initial thoughts remain the same, but I also had the opportunity to understand the culture a bit more and gain an appreciation for the city and its people. Here is what I learned: 1. The juxtaposition of desert + skyscrapers is astounding and unlike anything I've ever seen or experienced. We spent half the day playing in the desert with camels and dune bashing, while the next day, we admired Doha's glittering skyline. Dune bashing is where the driver rides the sand dunes, going up and down the mounds like a roller coaster. The picture above are tracks from the tire when we slid down the dune. It seemed a lot steeper than the picture shows! In the pictures above, we are at the Inland Sea, where you can see Saudi Arabia across the Persian Gulf. Dipping our toes in the Gulf {don't mind my pasty legs}... We had the chance to watch the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen. How crazy is it, then, the next day, we got to see the views below?! The city appears to be foggy, but in actuality, it's dust from the surrounding desert. Ross had the chance to check out the buildings up close, while I was at my conference, and said that some of these buildings aren't even completely finished yet. The above is a called a dhow {rhymes with cow} and can take you on a lunch or dinner cruise, with the skyline as a beautiful background. 2. Their nightlife is lively. The market, Souq Waqif, where they sell anything and everything you can think of, also has many restaurants and provides weekend entertainment. It seemed to be a nighttime culture, where people went out late + stayed out late. From selling bunnies, to birds, to Qatar's revered falcon, to household goods, to beauty products, to food, and to artwork, this market has it all! 3. The country is very wealthy, which you can see in their new builds {which, like I said are everywhere}. The entire city is brand new, so much so that some buildings are not open yet, even if they are shown on a map, or they are open but not entirely finished. Typically, you see this in cities that are driving out current residents, knocking down the old buildings, and building new ones. However, in Doha, they are taking unused land, which seems to be abundant, and just building new structures: museums, mosques, stadiums, restaurants, hotels, housing, compounds, etc. And, again, it's everywhere. This is how almost every road looked like, and because of the construction, walking is not the best mode of transportation. We usually got around the city by Uber or the turquoise cabs {their train system is still in the works}. 4. In each building, there is strict security: security outside the building, checking in those entering and exiting, as well as scanners to scan those who are entering and their belongings. 5. Their structures are pristine, beautiful, and huge. Everything is clean + well kept. From gold, sparkling mosques to the bathrooms, everything is stunning. Seriously, their bathrooms are beautiful. Do you see how the mosque sparkles and shines? 6. There are so many Filipinos here {felt right at home ;)}. There are so many Filipinos, in fact, working the service jobs, that there is a Filipino market and Filipino restaurants/fast food chains, like the one below. The party spaghetti really is the tastiest, despite how it looks below. Don't knock it till you try it! 7. The food. Oh my. The food! Rice + meat are a typical cuisine here and its healthy + delicious. I tried lamb {below} for the very first time in 30 years. While it was good, I am so grossed out I actually enjoyed it. Arabic tea {pictured below} is much sweeter than English breakfast tea and a whole lot more delicious! 8. We didn't find it difficult to communicate with locals and most signs + menus were translated in English. Further, we saw some surprising references to America + England. Just look below at the Illinois license plates that we found in Katara Village, and take a look at the popular London department store we found! Overall, this trip is one of the most exotic, unique, and memorable "vacations" {remember, I was attending a conference for most of the time I was here} that we've been on. And to be honest, I have to say it opened my eyes to a whole new world: new people, a new culture, and definitely new perspectives.
I was just telling Ross the other day that in the last year, I felt as if I had explored all London had to offer. And that while I don't feel my time is done traveling in Europe, I could leave London, happily knowing I've seen everything. Well, truth be told, I was wrong. Last weekend, we participated in a free walking tour, the Graffiti + Street Art Tour. Because of this tour, I feel that I haven't seen London at all! The tour took us through the Eastside of London, the parts of London that seem to have more culture, art, and food. And I couldn't have been any happier with the tour, because now I know that there is much more to see in my "home" and much more to explore. Tagging {writing your name or your trademark, like the one above} is how most people get started in graffiti + street art. Despite popular beliefs, this was not originally gang related; it was a way for one European artist's way of making his name known. Not all graffiti is illegal; sometimes an artist is commissioned to paint a wall. Some street art, like the yellow telephone box above, is painted multiple times throughout the city. For instance, I've seen quotes, like the one below by WRDSMTH, all over London. After doing some research, I've learned his quotes are all over the world now. This "hidden" alleyway was fascinating, as it was all painted with graffiti + art. The colors, words, and art made it an Instagrammers heaven and a photographer hotspot ;). By far my favorite art that I saw during the tour. This is what is called helium graffiti. Looks real, right? Nope, all paint. Some of the artwork reflects the political and social climate of the borough. So the one above in particular was above the mistreatment of Muslims in the East-end, and the street art was encouraging for peace and equality. More WRDSMTH and helium graffiti. Needless to say, this tour opened up a whole new world to us, and there is a lot more exploring that we need to do, especially to the Eastside of London!
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Danielle MarieChicago native. Proud teacher. Wannabe yoga instructor. Life-long learner. Royal & celebrity enthusiast. Foodie. Animal lover. London implant trying to understand a new culture and lifestyle. Follow me and my journey abroad, by subscribing below with your email address. xoxo @pdathleisureArchives
May 2017
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