Sightseeing Days with Grandma and Mum

Saturday:
Twas a bit of a later start after all that delicious food and wine and events of the day before. However we managed to make it to Borough Market before the major crowds arrived, though of course it was still over crowded for Grandma. We wandered the stalls and saw the delicious foods. Mum and I tasted the fried bacon and scallops, warm cider and a duck sandwich. As the weather was cool and drizzling we made our way to the Tate Modern. I let grandma and mum use my membership card to go visit the Yayoi Kusama exhibition. I felt grandma would relate more to her since she had seen Kusama's pumpkin in Naoshima, rather than seeing the Damien Hirst retrospective filled with spots, dead cows, and floating sharks.

Next we strolled to Southwark and saw the London Eye, crossed the Westminster Bridge to Big Ben. By that time our bellies were starting to rumble. Nellie and I had found a fantastic little street near Euston full of Indian restaurants, and the key word is that they are quality places, unlike Brick Lane which pushes out the food for cheap eats this place is decent and quiet which always helps when wanting to discuss the days events with loved ones. We dined on Onion Bhaji's for starters and mains we had Lamb Madras, Butter Chicken and Sag Paneer, with Pilau Rice and Garlic Naan. It was fun because it was something new for grandma to try!!




Sunday:
We got a good start to the morning and headed east to the Columbia Flower Market. I think grandma enjoyed seeing all the pretty blossoms but of course complained that everything was so expensive… I keep telling her that of course it is… it is London after all. However her face lit up when I took her into the quilt store that is along the side street! There she found a spot of fabric. We wandered around the area peeking in the antiques stalls had some coffee and shared a Nossage Roll (no sausage roll) and a sausage roll. YUMMO.




Next we took a bus down to Monument and
hopped on to a tour bus that mum had bought. It took us around the city so Grandma could see and hear all about all the big sites. It was a good chance to relax and let grandma have a rest from all that walking.

After the tour grandma and mum took a nap at the hotel before heading out to South Kensington for some Polish food at Cafe Daquise. Then mum had seen a pamphlet for a charity event at Royal Albert Hall for a night of musical numbers sung by famous theatre singers to sing all the big hits of the West End. It was a magical night. The singers were backed by a 400 person choir and the London City Philharmonic and a really great Organist who played during the intermission. Grandma was so happy because there were songs from South Pacific, Oklahoma and Jesus Christ Superstar. Mum was happy with songs from Le Miserables and Evita… I, just loved it all! Instead of seeing one musical or performance we basically got to see 10 with some of the stars who originated parts in the West End. The best part for me was that Hugh Bonneville (Lord Grantham) hosted the evening, he is so dashing and his accent just takes me back to Downton Abbey. I kept picturing him berating Mary or chatting with Carson. Blissful dreams followed.

Monday:

Flowers at St. Paul's Cathedral

Another dreary morning but we still had use of the tour bus so we hopped on and travelled through Marylebone and down Regent Street. We picked up a few omiage before jumping on a boat cruise which unfortunately was not great do to the rain and noisy people. We got out at the Tower of London and walked through the quiet City (because it was a holidayeverything was closed and eery like a ghost town).  Next we headed to St. Paul's Cathedral to meet Amanda (my bff) where I had earlier purchased coupons for entry and afternoon tea. This was my first time inside St. Paul's and it is beautiful. Of course they do not allow photography but it was a fantastic afternoon. Grandma was happy to listen to the audio guide (she is a pro at working ipods/iphones/ipads now you know). Mum, Amanda and I climbed up the spiral staircase to the Whisper and Stone Galleries before we all headed down to the crypt to see all the interesting people buried there. Afternoon tea was delightful and a nice way to catch up with Amanda. I got to introduce clotted cream to grandma and mum to have on their scones.

Then we made our way back to the hotel for a little rest before dinner. Grandma claimed she was still full but came with us to the Norfolk Arms a British/Spanish tapas pub just down the road from the hotel. We had a Spanish cheese platter, babaganousch, rocket and parm salad with balsamic reduction vinaigrette, chorizo cooked in cider and ham croquettes. YUM YUM.  Mum even got to have her favourite dessert of crème brûlée, although it we all agreed it was not as good as hers.

The two of them left early for Paris today, as I am not able to leave to country due to my lack of visa situation… I have no passport… I am quite literally stuck in a foreign country. They have been wandering the racks at Printemps and grandma found some fat quarters on sale at Gallerie Lafayette. Mum found out that Grandma's Aunt's Grandson is on honeymoon in Paris and they were able to arrange a dinner with them this evening. I am sure they are having a wonderful time… I am very sad to be missing out on the special occasion. :(

Hope everyone is doing well

Lots of love
Alyssa