London Called

Tori’s European Escapade

Summer 2012

July

21/7 – 25/7

London, United Kingdom

After close to three weeks with Mum and Dad, it was time to strike off on my own! Not sure when I would see them again, it should have been quite a sad moment, but I was just too excited about the future! Jaime met me at the airport, and Mum's friend Sarah met her, and no-one met Dad. We were all going our separate ways - Dad was hanging around Heathrow for a few hours and then going back to NZ, Mum was staying in the UK before heading home and I was spending a few days at Jaime's and exploring London!

For those who know me well, they will know that I despise heat and enjoy a winter temperatures and a good rainstorm. The weather so far had been humid and scalding, even in the far north of Russia, so I was looking forward to the fabled weather of Londontown.

So, of course, the city put on the finest stretch of weather seen in years - 4 days of phenomenal skies and hot, hot sun. Even Jaime left her umbrella at home once, though it made her distinctly uncomfortable!

Heathrow Airport - Let the shenanigans BEGIN!

Jaime lives right by an old graveyard. You walk through it to get to the Underground and her kitchen looks out onto the old, overgrown gravestones. It has an ethereal macabre beauty to it which I adored, especially when we sat around and hand fed the squirrels! (squee!)

We went out to dinner in Soho, to an awesome place called Prix Fixe, and had New Zealand wine. YUS.

Piccadilly Circus at night

The London Eye!

Couldn't imagine a more perfect day for it...

The Tower Bridge from the Thames.

A real classic double decker!

The Eye and Big Ben at night.

Camden Markets!

We made the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. I barely recognised the palace as it was just so much smaller than it seems in pictures, but once I realised, it of course was very familiar.

I met the dashing young "Officer Rob" a bobby on crowd control who got told off for being too handsome. His partner was like: "Go off and patrol, Rob, you are not here to take photos with girls."

To fast for you, Officer Rob's partner!

I had lunch with Joshua in a fab little garden restaurant somewhere near the Kensigton Palace. It was awesome to see him, especially since he has now returned to the Homeland. Uncharacteristically, neither of us took a photo, so you will just have to take my word for it!

I did take this picture just around the corner though. Can't get much more British than a flower covered pub called the Churchill Arms, with Union Jacks and a London Taxi parked outside!

Once day, Jaime took me to Church. My friend from Doha, Tenneille, was in London visiting her sister and told me to meet her "at Church". I was a bit taken aback; church is not really my thing.

Well, Church in London is done a bit differently:

All ready for Church

We based our poses on the photo below, which was about the funniest thing I had seen for quite a while (esp after a wine or two)