It’s not fair.
I just said goodbye to Paris and today I had to prepare to say goodbye to London. I chose to spend my last afternoon walking around Oxford Circus/Carnaby area. Shopping for cheesy souvenirs for family, friends and yes, for me too, for I can’t resist the thought of drinking my tea out of an ‘Underground’ or ‘Mind the Gap’ black coffee mug. And those tacky coin banks in the shape of a red telephone box? It’ll be on my shelf, housing all my unused pound sterling and Euros, thank you very much.
I spared Chris the doldrums of being dragged around with me souvenir shopping and met up with him at Leicester Square in the late afternoon. We walked around my favourite areas: Chinatown, Soho, West End and Piccadilly Circus.
It sunk in today that we’re back from Paris. The contrast of both cities; each one loved but for different reasons. One thing we gotten used to in Paris was the multitudes of brasseries and patisseries on any street. But that’s because Paris is a cafe culture vs London being pub culture.
Since we were back up to Oxford area, I introduced to Chris an indulgence I picked up from New York. That being, Japan’s Beards Papa. They make the best cream puffs ever. After sharing erm, 4, I think I just created another fan for papa. If anyone should come across one, go in and try it. You’ll be thanking me. It’s a little piece of pastry heaven.
Also, we had become used to fairly light meals in Paris, due to the heat. Luckily we came across this awesome little eatery in Soho, called Hummus Bros, specializing in chickpeas and hummus dishes. I ordered the hummus/guacamole dish (love avocado!) with pita bread and it was delish!
You’d think that I would be tired from the constant walking, but I wouldn’t have it any other way for my last day in London. After dinner, we walked through Covent Garden, down through Embankment, Charring’s Cross and toward the Southbank. I never been down this way before, so I was taking everything in. We walked across the Jubilee Bridge over the Thames, with a great view of the London Eye, the OXO Tower Wharf and walked along the pier. A slightly out of the way area of London, but busy tonight with skater boys doing jumps and tricks at their make shift skate park, and diners in and around the National Film Theatre.
That’s another thing about the difference between Paris and London. The sunsets are vastly different, as noticed while walking back on the Jubilee Bridge towards Trafalgar Square. London’s bridges are not nearly as striking and the city doesn’t have the skyline that Paris has. But despite the differences, I still appreciated it – my last London sunset (under overcast skies) for a while.
I kept thinking, how could a Londoner not partake in all the wonderful things this city offers? It would be sad to think that the city would be taken for granted. Having been here for 2 weeks, I leave with still so many things I didn’t get to see or experience. I wish I could’ve seen the Viktor and Rolf exhibition at the Barbican which opened up right before the Paris trip and I wish I could’ve caught the psycho buildings: artists and architecture exhibit at the Hayward Gallery.
Chris and I sat on the steps at Trafalgar Square, taking in the view while devouring Sainsbury’s shortbread round cookies (less crumbly and sweeter than the fingers variety)
This being friday night, it was uber-difficult to find a pub with any outdoor seating. After a couple attempts, we grabbed some seats at what we dubbed, ‘old man’s pub’, kiddy corner across the Palace Theatre playing Monty Python’s Spamalot. The pub was a mixed bag clientele, but then that’s how it is in London. And it’s great people watching this way.
As the bell tolled at 1130 and the house lights came on, it was also a signal that my last night in London was drawing to a close.
London has become my favourite city: the style, the fashions, the people, the events. from now on, Every time I’ll fly to Europe, I’ll use London as my gateway stopover.
Then the bittersweet set in as I had to say goodbye to yet another friend.
Why have we not figured out a way to prolong time? Why must good times come to an end? Why isn’t there more time to see everything?
I’m easily sentimental but optimistic as well. For when I said goodbye to London tonight, I know that every day that passes, brings me another day closer to my next trip. To my next adventure.
View more photos of my trip on my Flickr album.
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