Wednesday, May 13, 2015

My Week in London - The Sequel

 
 
 


10 things I've learned on my London holiday:

1. The British are the masters of design.
We've seen so many designs that were fun and cool.

2. Londoners love the sun! The parks on sunny days 
were so crowded you could hardly see the grass.

3. You should never ever go to a Farmers' Markets after lunch.
There are so many delicious things to try, if you bring an appetite.

4. The British Museum is fuddy duddy no more!
They have cool tours and let you touch almost every exhibit. Just ask.

5. For a fab bookstore look no further than Waterstone on Gower St.
Who knew that a chain-store could be so whimsical and welcoming?

6. You couldn't get lost on a London bus if you tried.
Their info system is great. And it is more fun on the top floor.

7. Plenty of rain = amazing gardens. The Queen's garden in Regent Park 
is a masterpiece but we liked the intimacy of smaller gardens even more.

8. If you're looking for a funky neighborhood - try Shoreditch;
for an ethnic experience with wonderful energy - Brixton Village Market.

9. Even a visitor can feel British for a day. We messed about in boats.
We had picnic on a train. We had to hurry to get out of the rain.

10. The people who invented the Tardis now have phone booths
with wi-fi on every street. Beat that if you can.


Tomorrow and for the whole of next week I'll be in France
I'll miss you all

79 comments:

Butterfly 8)(8 Bungalow said...

I loved your off the beaten path tour of London, and the names of the cupcakes were so cute. xoxo Su

Pura Vida said...

Love your photos. I know you had a blast

Nancy Chan said...

I can see that you had a wonderful tour of London. I love the park and every photo is lovely.

KC'sCourt! said...

Love the photos
Julie xxxxxx

Anna said...

The flower pot cake, now there is baking if ever I saw it! I have spent many happy hours in Waterstone Picadilly. Massive bookstore in a beautiful art deco building and full of great books. Anyhow seeing your great pictures makes me want to go to London soon! Enjoy La France! Anna x

Enara Girl said...

Very nice pictures. I didn't know that the British were the masters of the design. I didn't know that you could touch things in the British museum either. It seems a great place to visit. xoxo

mamasmercantile said...

A great tour of London, you obviously enjoyed it.

Maya Kuzman said...

Oh my Gosh! Now you are in France?!! Lucky you! Have a fantastic time!
I love your selection of photos and must make a mental note of the things you recommended!! Thank you so much for sharing!

Tanna said...

Sooo enjoyed this little tour of London and will look forward to seeing some of your adventures in France!! Enjoy, Amalia!! blessings ~ tanna

Gloria Baker said...

Aww love your pictures Amalia look amazing!
I always enjoy London's pictures !!
Love the cupcskes and this cake in a pot!
xo

Gumbo Lily said...

I have a photo of an elderly couple in a London park, enjoying a sunny nap. You found some fun and funky treasures there. Thank you for the sequel. JOY be yours in France!

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed the tour of London through your eyes! You have an eye for artistic detail, that brings out the heart of the moment! Each little scene tells a story, and I was glad to "follow' along with you! Certainly love seeing the fun memories you were making as you made your way through London. Now... can't wait to see France! Have fun!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Oh my! What's not to love! The bookstore with children's books and toys is fabulous. Makes me want to curl up on the window seat. Have fun this week too my friend! Hugs, Diane

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

Wonderful tour - I enjoyed your photos very much! That little cake in the garden is enchanting....xo Karen

Unknown said...

Oh my goodness! I dream of visiting London some day! Gorgeous photos...and the flowers, and the cupcakes! :) Thank you for your visit on my blog! xoxo Jen

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

I love your fun photos, Amalia...looking forward to seeing your views of France! Have fun!

Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse said...

Thank you for taking us to London with you through your pictures!

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

I was hoping that you'd show more photos; fun to see! :)

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

I was hoping that you'd show more photos; fun to see! :)

Vee said...

Well I'm a very traditional sort of person so some of the whimsy was lost on me; however, that piece of cake was wonderful. I thought how miserably crowded the park looked. Looking forward to seeing France via your lens. Have a splendid time! (That list was an inspired way of getting a lot of fun information on the page.)

Lowcarb team member said...

What a great selection of photo's, ... enjoy your time in France.

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

What a great selection of photo's, ... enjoy your time in France.

All the best Jan

AnnMarie aka Vintage Junkie aka NaNa said...

Great insight and info on a great country. Not sure I will ever get there but it is great to see and know these great facts.

Julie's Lifestyle said...

Wow Amalia I loved looking at your pretty photos and sounds like you had an amazing time there! Have a wonderful time in France!
Julie co

Ljubinka said...

Beautiful photos!
Want to follow on pinterest?:)

DD's Cottage said...

Great photos and I love reading about what you learned. The potted plant cake is a neat idea!

La Table De Nana said...

You are a little Travelista~
I love seeing people's takes on their visits..So much pretty and cool here Amalia..Have Le Fun In Frace:)

TexWisGirl said...

beautiful blooming trees. the cake! wow!

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Amalia, what wonderful pics from your London holiday. Love reading your tips too. That cake is incredible.
Thank you for sharing.
Hugs, CM

Anna said...

Cakes, flowers and books !!! Paradise !!!
Enjoy the day or evening !
Anna

Quilting Stories said...

Unbeatable English peopleI I am absolutely in love with London and so pleased to see your pictures and read your text! I would add among thousands of wonderful places to visit the Victoria & Albert Museum and its fantastic tea room. Now I am waiting to see what will be your opinion about France and French people...

The House with the Blue Door said...

London is a treasure-trove of interesting places, and it looks like you've had a fascinating visit. Glad you had fun!
Cathy x

Conniecrafter said...

Sounds like you are having a fabulous time, I really enjoyed England when we lived there for 4 years, even more than Paris, enjoy the rest of your trip :-)

Parsimonious Décor Darling said...

How fun! I bet the gardens were gorgeous!!

Toni said...

Oh, have a wonderful time!!!!!!!!!!!!! And take lots of pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Carla from The River said...

I love number 10!! So fun. My boys love Dr. Who.
I would enjoy the gardens. I will be looking forward to France. :-)
Carla
P.S. This was a great post. :-) I loved it.

Lorrie said...

What a wonderful collection of unique London vistas. Fun, fun, fun.

Stephanie said...

Oh Amalia, what a delightful time! It is a dream of mine to someday visit London :) I loved the flower post cake - how unique!

Hugs to you!

Mereknits said...

I have always wanted to visit London and now I want to even more. It looks like you had a wonderful time.
Hugs,
Meredith

Little Wandering Wren said...

We have one of those old school desks at home! I love reading your list of 10 things you learned, you're right as soon as the sun comes out people hit the parks! I am going to look out for those wifi tardis...
I'm following you around the world as will be in France next week too!
Wren x

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

London must be such a fun place to visit! I really enjoyed seeing your photos. Have a wonderful time in France!

Carolina G. Ticala said...

Very nice pics! Kisses

susan said...

Lovely photos. Those cupcakes look scrumptious. What a beautiful visit!
Have a wonderful weekend.

EG CameraGirl said...

You make me want to visit London again!

Magia da Inês said...

♬♪ه° ·.

Boa semana!
Beijinhos.

╰╮✿
✿✿ه° ·.

Enara Girl said...

I wish you a great week. I am not sure what is Tardis. xoxo

Amy at Ms. Toody Goo Shoes said...

I haven't been to London in years, but truly enjoyed your photos, as well as your list on what you've learned!

Red Rose Alley said...

Amalia, these pictures are so cool and just wonderful. That flower pot cake is too funny. I loved the children's book section and those cupcakes, oh my! Thank you for sharing a bit of London with us. I can't wait to see France.

~Sheri

Helen Philipps said...

Lovely pictures and such an interesting post! Enjoy your time in France!
Helen xox

Fiona said...

I loved your photos, especially Mr Darcy with what looks like a Rothmans kingsize dangling from his lips! Hilarious!
Londoners love the sun because they rarely see it! So envious of you having a trip to France and can't wait to see those photos, although not long now till I go. x

Carolina G. Ticala said...

Very nice pics!!kiss

Stacey said...

Wow! Your photos are beautiful. Thank you for sharing those.

Thimbleanna said...

Ohmygosh. I love London. I'm going to have a 3-day stopover in September and your photos are already making me sorry that the trip won't be longer!!!

Tricia @ Saving room for dessert said...

Another fabulous post with amazing photos. Glad you had a great time - I could travel for a living but have never been to London - looks like I am missing out!

handmade by amalia said...

If you look closely at the photo, the wall behind it is made entirely out of cake :-)

handmade by amalia said...

They let me hold a delicate china cup from the 17th century. I was a bit nervous.

handmade by amalia said...

Thank you, Maya! I came home, did the laundry and left again. At least that's what it felt like.

handmade by amalia said...

There is something special about a park bench. You make it your own for as long as you like.

handmade by amalia said...

What a lovely comment! Thank you so much dear Mountain Top :-)

handmade by amalia said...

I can report that we spent a very cozy hour there, but brought books over from another department :-)

handmade by amalia said...

The cake was part of a special presentation. I have more photos, I think I should do a post on it.

handmade by amalia said...

Thank you for visiting me, Jen. Your blog is lovely.

handmade by amalia said...

Thank you Jan!

handmade by amalia said...

Indeed I do!

handmade by amalia said...

Of course! With pleasure!

handmade by amalia said...

Absolutely! The Victoria & Albert is one of my favorite places. Their tea room is so elegant and they have the best scones. I adore scones.

handmade by amalia said...

Thank you Carla. I love the good doctor myself.

handmade by amalia said...

It is the space ship of Dr. Who (a TV series) and it looks like a public phone booth but is bigger on the inside.

handmade by amalia said...

Thanks Stacey!

handmade by amalia said...

What a nice comment! But now I'm a bit envious because there were a few more things on my list and three days would do me nicely :-)

handmade by amalia said...

I love traveling, but there is also nothing like that moment when you open the door and you are home :-)

Wonky Patchwork said...

What gorgeous photos again, love those blossoms and the cakes are making my mouth water. It sounds, and looks, like you picked perfect, interesting places to visit.

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

My dream place to visit, Amalia! Your pictures look wonderful. It looks like May is a good time to visit. One day I'll get there!

Wainwright and Wright.Co said...

Another super set of photos. Waterstones is hard to beat, we took our children on their visit to Oxford about 2 years ago and we couldn't get them out of Waterstones!!
Caz xx

Sarah said...

Your post brings to mind that it has been far too long since I was in London! Love this list too!

Dewena said...

I love that I get to visit places I'll never see through the eyes of a blogger. You are a good tour guide! Some things you showed were what I would expect to find in London and others were a surprise. The display of objects from a Madonna picture to a quaint bust to decorative tin that appear to be on the street, high on a shelf, is a curiosity, isn't it? And I love the classic book decked out as pulp fiction--"Lock up your daughters, Darcy's in town." So campy!

handmade by amalia said...

I spotted that colorful shelf in the African-Caribbean market in Brixton. That was a new experience for me and completely wonderful, full of color and energy. The campy Mr. Darcy just made me laugh.

handmade by amalia said...

It was quite difficult to tear me away as well, especially when they have a coffee shop in-house :-)

handmade by amalia said...

I hope you do! It is a great city at any season but even more so in the spring.