London: First Weekend

After all sorts of delays, we touched down at Heathrow Saturday midday. "Two months is a long time," said the unsmiling immigration agent in a monotone. "Could I see your return ticket please?"

Two months!

Saturday was spent napping and then walking to Borough Market, where we had a surprisingly mediocre meal. Yesterday was altogether more exciting. We walked first down to the Barbican and wandered through its Brutalist plazas. Not for everyone, clearly, but I find the entire complex very compelling. From there we made our way to Spitalfields Market, where we had brunch at Giraffe. (I recognized Canteen next door from its copious media coverage but its turnover seemed much slower and we were very hungry. Next time, though.) Giraffe's full brunch plate hit the spot remarkably well. After eating we strolled over to Brick Lane, which was absolutely packed and buzzing. I'll need to return on a weekday.

Then we took the Tube to Tottenham Court Road, where we bought mobile phones from cheerful Orange staff enthusing over Jay-Z ("Is that my track? It is! Now that is a choooon!")  From there, it was on to Flat White, an Aussie/Kiwi hang-out, for top-notch flat whites. The total came to £5.40 and I handed the woman working the register a £20 bill. She asked me if had 40 cents to make the transaction easier. Not pence. Cents. Ahh, those irresistible Antipodeans.

From Soho we then walked a ridiculous distance, down to Green Park, through the Wellington Arch, alongside Hyde Park, and then through Kensington Gardens to Bayswater. At the end of our hike was Hereford Road, a sleek newish restaurant I recently read about in Condé Nast Traveler. Apparently, lots of of other Americans read the same listing; of the six tables in the downstairs area, four were occupied completely or partially by Americans. My meal was very good: smoked sprats and pickled cucumbers, pork belly with lentils and spring greens, and an unreasonably tasty apple and raspberry crumble for dessert. Matt's meal was also good, though not quite as fantastic as mine. At £27 per person after tip, the meal was by no means a shoestring event, though it also wasn't outrageously expensive.

A little warning is in order. I fear that London will be exploiting my spendthrift side over my shoestring core. I hope my low-budget warrior readers will keep reading over the next many weeks.

Comments

[poet with a day job]

I can't believe I missed Argentina AND the London sendoff....hope you are well...