Famous Dead People's Houses and other English Things

Yesterday was the last day in my brief phase of unemployment so I packed it full of super touristy, extremely gratifying adventures. (By the way, I've been referring to things here as "British" which, a true Brit informed me today, is incorrect. The correct term is "English.") Here is a rundown:

I started my morning in China Town. It only covers a few blocks and there are hardly any vendors, but it reminded me of San Francisco which made me think of California, which made me really happy. Someday though I need to actually go to China though, so I think of China when I go to China Town and not California...

Yum, chicken! But WHAT is that ORANGE THING???

Chinese bakery. SO good. I haven't had a real pork bun in years so I had to treat myself to some of that yummy goodness (candied bbq pork stuffed inside a big sweet roll for those who don't know).

I was in the theatre district and there are so many used bookshops lining the streets! I browsed through a few of them (I love old books) but this one was my favorite because it reminded me of Beauty and the Beast...

This is "Apple Market," a subsection of Covent Garden market/Jubilee market. It's very different from Camden and Borough market - all well organized stalls between pricey boutiques. Which makes it no fun in my opinion. I feel like a market should include as swarming mass of noisy people, crowded, over-flowing stalls of picked-over merchandise, lots of color and yummy smells, and the need to hug one's purse just a little closer.

Somewhere near the Muffin Man's house...

According to the map, The Old Curiosity Shop was supposed to be on this street. I hated the movie and would probably hate the book (the story depresses me) but still, it would have been cool to see the shop. So...I took a picture of the street instead.

London has an amazing surplus of fantastic buildings. Example? This beautiful structure holds the glamorous office of Land Registry.

Royal Courts of Justice.

Fleet St. Home to the Demon Barber of course.

Dragon on the Temple Bar on Fleet St. I think even without the history of Sweeny Todd this would be a really creepy street...

Yummy Cornish pasties which I ate...

...sitting up on a bench looking out at the Thames :)

Tower of London. I took a million pictures of this, but that would make this already long blog post even more ridiculously long...Suffice it to say that it was sufficiently intimidating and I would not be surprised if it actually is the most haunted building in London.

Tower Bridge.
Favorite gargoyle I've seen so far.

221B Bakers St. Home of the greatest detective all time. Especially if he actually did look like Robert Downey Jr.

Regent's Park

Ducklings! So cute!

Tourists narrowly avoiding peak traffic as they jump out onto Abbey Road, trying to take pictures like the Beatles. Perfect tourist moment and completely worth the pilgrimage out into the middle of nowhere.

Home of Charles Dickens. The plaque says "Home of Charles Dickens. Novelist." Novelist??? That's all the title he got?!?! Sorry...this guy is pretty much my favorite author of all time. Along with Robert Lewis Stevenson, C. S. Lewis, Tolkein... Sigh. I really need to branch out and read something that was written in the last 50 years...

Foodie Heaven and Dining Alfresco

Last weekend I ventured forth to explore a few of London's famous markets. From my experiences with markets in California, I expected a few locals with carts hawking their wares - little did I know what a giant, swarming PARTY markets can be! At Borough Market (located just south of London Bridge), I spotted girls walking around shopping for exotic condiments with glasses of champagne in their hands! Not to mention the live bands and (at Camden Market - to be covered in a later post) an actual DJ!

I visited Borough Market midmorning on Saturday. My goal was to pick up some bread and cheese and maybe a peach to take and eat out in St. James's park for lunch. This I accomplished, but it took all of my will power not to spend my entire day and budget wandering around and trying everything! Definitely coming back.

(assortment of sugars...I want to try cooking with these!)

(Cheeeeeeese!)

(Yes, these are ALL olives. I sampled a few and they were so delicious I wanted to try them all but I don't think the vendor would have been thrilled with that...)

(Nuts and dried fruit)

(Turkish delight. Since reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, I've been dying to try Turkish delight so I practically jumped at the vendor when he started offering samples. I had an almond flavored one and, while it was good, if I were Edmund I would have asked for something chocolate instead.)

(Raw fish. Un-sushified raw fish. Apparently it looks tasty to this guy.)

(Buns, baps, loaves, muffins, croissants, chocolate pastries...have I proved this is heaven yet?)

(In addition to ingredients, there's also a ton of vendors selling already prepared yummies. Stands like this one with giant bubbling vats of chicken curry are all over the place.)

And if the food wasn't enough, the Southwark Cathedral towers in the background to give the place even more character.



(My lunch: peach, wholegrain bap, soft cheese - I couldn't for the life of me understand what the lady said this cheese was called, but it was on sale...not my favorite, but I usually prefer hard cheeses or blues anyway.)

(It was the first sunny day since I'd arrived in London and the parks were packed with families, young couples, old couples, singles, backpackers...really a very cool vibe, something I wish California did.)

A sound track including Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap and Orange Sky by Alexi Murdoch completed the perfection of my afternoon. (Totally random side note, Drive it like you stole it by The Glitch Mob is another amazing song though more appropriate for walking down Regent Street to my internship than relaxing in the park - thanks Maddie!)