Dinos and a Deli

I turned 33 in London; I think that's awesome enough on it's own, but add to that the Natural History Museum and Ottolenghi's, and it's just almost too good. The museum had more than just dinosaurs of course; I have more photos of taxidermy than I thought I would ever have.

To call Ottolenghi's a deli is to oversimplify, and maybe even do it a disservice. Fresh salads and proteins with mediterranean flavours, delectable pastries, and a very personable staff. I have 3 of their cookbooks, and knew that I wanted to go to one of their locations while I was here. I'm so glad I did!

The only thing that would have made it better is if my favourite people were there too. You all would have loved it, and I missed you.

The Sadness of Living out of a Suitcase

I indulged my book geekness today. I don't think I have ever walked more.

Daunt Books, Foyle's, Forbidden Planet, various secondhand bookshops, and the British Library. There's a certain kind of sadness about being a reader and knowing that you cannot buy books.

Daunt is a classic bookshop, all beautiful wooden built-ins and railings. They have an interesting way of organizing their international books: the middle photo shows Mexico, with the non-fiction(travel, history, art, etc.) on the top shelves, and fiction written by Mexican authors or taking place in Mexico underneath. Needless to say, very different from Chapters!

Foyle's is the Chapters of London, with this store being like the late Robson & Howe. Forbidden Planet is a Sci-Fi and Fantasy geek's dream; figurines, clothes, memorabilia, and lots and lots of books. There's a stretch of Charing Cross Road between Oxford St. and Leicester Square which has quite a few bookshops, more if you go down some side streets.

My requisite salute to HP followed my first tube trip. King's Cross and the way to the Express, then the British Library, which while beautiful, was too much a research library for me.

Regent's Canal and Camden Lock: very nice walk, although I wish I'd gone in the morning when I was fresh. By the time I got there, my feet and legs were burning and my phone was at 20% --

Note to self: don't forget the battery pack.

Camden Lock is like Pike Place Market in the summer, on the weekend.

I kinda wish I had a river boat though...

My generous hosts shared their dinner with me, and their special cheesecake, as an early birthday supper. I feel very lucky to have met these lovely people.

The Question of Culture and The Ultimate Vacuum of Time

Jet lag ate half my day.

I have no functional experience with jet lag; the last time I was in Europe, I was 11 and mostly on a train. I slept when I was tired and that was that. 

I had hoped that my "overnight" flight (which I nearly slept right through) would flip me over. Unfortunately, after 4 hours, I woke up at 1am and couldn't get back to sleep for a couple of hours. When next I woke, it was 1130. I have never slept until 1130, ever.

So, breakfast at 2, dinner/supper at 7, and 1/3 of Regent's Park in between. With a stop at the Doctor and the Detective's flat.

Also, Is there such a thing as "The Shock of No Shock"? What I mean is this: I am 7 time zones and 7500km away from home -- and yet, everyone speaks the same language, eats the same food, wears the same clothes, is experiencing the same weather...It very much feels like I stepped sideways into alternate version of home...there's a bit of waiting for the other cultural shoe to drop.

About to fly

1st post is short and sweet, from YVR, waiting to board my flight to London. I'm hoping to sleep through most of it and end up on the right time zone schedule.

We'll see how that goes.

The Repurposed Blog

So years ago, my friends and I decided that it would be a great idea to have a book club blog. We managed it for one or two months(some more successfully than others), and then it went quietly into the night. Que sera sera.

Fast forward to now: I have kicked everyone off. Sorry, not sorry.

I'm going to the UK. I get to spend my birthday in London, then three weeks in Ireland. Here is where I will be sharing my experiences. I hope those of you who read it, enjoy, but to be perfectly blunt, this is more for me than you. I want to have a record of my trip, because I've been waiting to do this for years.

Now I have to go get stuff done. I leave in 5 days!!!