A couple of years ago my husband and I, along with another couple, took a summer vacation to London, Paris, and Rome. With all of the Olympics on TV it makes me think of the fun we had while in London. So, I thought I might share with you some of the sights & tastes that we experienced while there. Maybe it will inspire you to plan a trip across the pond!
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London at night….a beautiful sight!
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image via Ruby Jewel Studio, PLLC
The Tower Bridge. Not to be confused with the London Bridge….two different bridges.
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Beautiful, huge trees in the parks throughout London.
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Our view out our hotel window. I surprised to find out that it stays light really late during the summer there. Had never heard that before.
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image via Ruby Jewel Studio, PLLC
Buckingham Palace.
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If you make it to London, you should definitely check out Windsor Palace that is only a short distance away.
image via Ruby Jewel Studio, PLLC
image via Ruby Jewel Studio, PLLC
Another must is Bath, England. Again, just a short distance but such a beautiful little town. It almost has an Italian feel to it. One of the most interesting sites was the Roman Baths that are located there. It’s now a museum and extremely interesting. Just don’t touch the water!
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Stonehenge. Not far and definitely worth seeing. There’s nothing else out there, just the big rocks. But they are BIG! And it really does make you wonder how they got that way…and quite amazing that they are still there. A great piece of history to rest your eyes on.
Now onto the tastes….
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St. John was a restaurant that is listed on Anthony Bourdain’s 13 Places to Eat Before You Die list. So, we figured we had better try it out. This is a “nose to tail” restaurant….nothing goes to waste here. So you can imagine the interesting menu items. I stuck with the fish and it was delish!
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The real kicker is the dish that Anthony Bourdain says would be his “death row” meal……Roasted Bone Marrow. Yup, you read correctly…..and we tried it. The guys had to get it simply based on the recommendation. I could have skipped it, BUT I didn’t want to be shown up. So I tasted it. Definitely not my favorite, but it wasn’t horrible. You actually spread it on bread to eat it. My “spread” was on the light side I must admit!
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All through London you will find pub after pub after pub. They all have pretty similar menu items with these next two being high on their lists. Shepherds Pie and Fish and Chips. Both were great! Oh, and you will find lots of peas and mushy peas around.
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Add a little kick with Colman’s Mustard. Do not be fooled…it is not like american mustard!
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And finally we decided to try something completely random. Pasha is a turkish restaurant. And it was fabulous! The food was great, but the atmosphere was outstanding! Complete with belly dancers even!
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It would be worth just stopping by for a fabulous drink if you don’t have time for a full meal.
image via Ruby Jewel Studio, PLLC
image via Ruby Jewel Studio, PLLC
So, while you enjoy watching the Olympics take note of all the different attractions and locations. That way when you visit you can see them all in person.
London was a great city to visit. It would especially be good for someone who has never been out of the United States. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. My personal take is that it feels like a big US city with a whole lot of history and people that have great accents!
AlaynaB
Alayna is a lifestyle photographer who also practices commercial and residential interior design. She loves utilizing vibrant color in both her designs and her photography. She also has a passion for travel, seeking out new experiences, places and cultures to capture with her camera and to influence her designs. Alayna married her high school sweetheart and loves to cook, finding joy in family favorites as well as her own creations. A bargain hunter by nature, she thinks that good design can come in all mediums, price points and styles and should be available to everyone.
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