Bilan 2017

Cela a pris du temps mais enfin...

Le bilan, Londres 2017

Ce fut toute une expérience!  Positive.  Je recommencerais à tous les étés.  J’ai aimé vivre dans une maison, dans un secteur résidentiel et prétendre être Londonienne. 

La maison était parfaite pour nos besoins.  Voici la revue que j’en ai fait sur Tripadvisor : https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g186338-d10642878-r513708711-Your_Family_Home_In_London-London_England.html#SHOW_USER_REVIEW

Je ne savais pas vraiment à quoi m’attendre en recevant à tour de rôle des amis dans cette maison. Certes,  je savais que j’aimerais m’y retrouver.  Aucun doute.  Mais y recevoir des amis, c’était une nouvelle formule.  J’ai adoré jouer à l’auberge espagnole. 

Chaque groupe était bien différent :

Les trois premières arrivées : José D., Irene et Julie, en étaient à leur premier voyage à Londres.  Alors avec elles, j’ai joué au guide touristique.  Un grand plaisir de présenter ma ville préférée.  Quelques jours après l’arrivée du premier groupe, Josée L, une amie, est venue se joindre à nous.  Ce n’était pas sa première visite à Londres, mais elle en a profité pour voir les attractions principales qu’elle n’avait pas vues les fois précédentes.  Quand le premier groupe est parti, le deuxième groupe est arrivé : Chantal et Raymond.  Ils en étaient à leur deuxième visite et avaient une bonne idée de ce qu’ils souhaitaient faire.  Donc pas besoin de guide pour eux.  J’ai donc fait des visites avec Josée L.  Josée L est partie le jour de l’arrivée du troisième groupe : Josée D., Pierrette et Guylaine.  Pour Josée D. et Pierrette, il s’agissait du deuxième visite et pour Guylaine d’une première fois.  Elles étaient déjà bien organisées.  Ce qui m’a laissé du temps juste à moi avant l’arrivée de Marcel quelques jours plus tard.  Marcel en était à sa sixième visite.  On en a profité pour faire des choses différentes et visiter Winchester. 

Voici des questions que l’on m’a posées :

As-tu eu assez de temps pour toi?  Mais oui!  J’ai eu beaucoup de temps pour moi.  Et juste le fait d’être à Londres me rend heureuse.

Tu n’as pas eu l’impression d’être envahie par tout ce monde?  Pas du tout.  J’ai trouvé que tout le monde était agréable.  Ça coulait.

As-tu fait tout ce que tu avais prévu? Non!  Et c’est tant mieux…  Je devrai y retourner.  ;-)

Est-ce qu’il y a quelque chose que tu as trouvé moins agréable?  Pas vraiment.  Seulement, peut-être un petit stress pour m’assurer du confort de tous.  C’était vraiment important pour moi.

En résumé…

J’ai des moments forts qui reviennent me faire sourire.  J’y vais dans le désordre comme ça se présente :

Au Cavern, à Liverpool avec Julie, José et Irene

L’exposition de Pink Floyd avec Josée D.

Le Red Lion pub avec Marcel.

Le souper au Duchess Pub avec Chantal, Raymond et Josée L.

Et deux autres lunchs avec Josée L : au Formosa Dining room et à Neal Yard.  Yummy! Et j’oubliais celui de Camden qui n’était pas mauvais non plus.

Le verre de vin sur les rives de la Tamise avec Josée D, Pierrette, Guylaine et Marcel : un moment magique!

Une visite vraiment intéressante : Churchill War Room, avec Josée L.

Les 32000 pas d’une super-belle journée avec José D, Irene et Julie.

Le dernier souper à la maison avec Chantal, Raymond et Marcel.

Le violoniste à Trafalgar Square avec Josée L.

L’apéro sur notre petite terrasse avec ceux qui étaient là au fil des jours; ce moment où  l’on se racontait nos journées. 

Voilà!  

jour 22

Well, this is it.  Last day.

This morning we went to Borough market to buy our last dinner in London.  We choose to go with the bus because it drove us by roads we haven't saw before.  

First we enjoyed a delicious latte at Monmouth.

At the market, we bought sausage, cheese, bread and some vegetables. It is always a pleasure to visit the market even if it was limited market on Monday and Tuesday.  That mean a small part of the kiosks are closed.  

We then came back at home to wait for Chantal and Raymond.  They arrived around 14h30.  It was very interesting to hear the review of their stay in Brighton, Bath and Stratford-Upon-Avon.  I am happy they enjoyed every places.  

At the end of the afternoon, Marcel and me went at Red Lion pub on Parliament Square, for a last goodbye to London.  It's been a long time since I wanted to go visit that pub.  The building is beautiful and the atmosphere very lively. 

   

Our last dinner was pleasant and cosy with our friends Chantal and Raymond.  

Bye London!  It's only a good bye...  I will be back.  

Cheers!

jour 21

I had a good night of sleep so I was ready to go to Winchester today.

We took the train at Waterloo Station.  It was easy and we got lucky we didn't had to wait too long, the train was ready to go as we entered in.  The journey is about a 70 minutes pleasant ride.

Winchester is the Hampshire capital, situated south of England.
On Sunday, there was a big street market.  We walked and looked at the kiosks on High Street, while admiring the architecture.
 

  

Then we went to see the magnificent cathedral.  Since I have read The Pillars of the Earth, I am fascinated by the cathedrals.  Founded in 642, it is one of the largest cathedrals in Europe, with the longest nave  and greatest overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe.
  



As we were on our way to return to the train station, we saw the Winchester Castle.  We didn't visit it tho.


We came back at the end of the afternoon and stopped to have a look at the Sunday market near our place.  It was almost closed but what we saw didn't impress us.

Tonigh we went in a area I having visit yet this time: Sloane Square.  Some may call it a posh neiberhood. It is certainly not a working class neighborhood. We had dinner at Cote Brasserie on Sloane Square.   The service was exceptional and the food delicious.  We completed our meal with an excellent St-Emilion red wine.

We finished the evening with a last drink on our terrace.  What a perfect night in London!!

Jour 20

As expected I didn't sleep a lot and was miserable in the morning.
Today, Josée, Pierrette and Guylaine left London for Bath.

After the departure of Pierrette, Guylaine and Josée we went in Covent Garden area. Hopefully my "colocs" are nurses and they help me found what would be a good medicine for me.
With the information, I went to the drugstore and they gave me what I need.

We walked on Neal St and the rain started. We gone for lunch on Neal Yard.  After the lunch, the rain stop for a while so we went to the Jubilee Market at Covent Garden.  We found what we were looking for: a souvenir for the baby Jessica and Gabriel expected for next September.

We came back home because I need a rest.  We sat in our cute little back yard, enjoying the sunny afternoon.


At night, we went near Victoria Station for a drink in a pub called: The Phoenix, just behind Cardinal Place.


We had dinner at Jamie Italian.  It was a first time for Marcel.

Jour 19

The end is near....

Marcel got a good night of sleep.  He slept for eleven hours straight.  I woke up with a cold, probably a consequence of having had feet wet last Wednesday.

This morning Josée, Pierrette and Guylaine went to Notting Hill as we went to Churchill War Room.

After the visit we walk to Trafalgar Square through St James Park, using a path I never walked before, along the Horse Guards Road.  We saw a beautiful garden.  
  

Arriving at Trafalgar Square, it was lunch time.  We saw a PRET, but it was full of customers.  With nostalgia, we passed in front the Sherlock Holmes Pub where Marcel had asked me to marry a second time. It was seven years ago.  We have been through an arch.  At the end of the arch, there was another PRET, but this one was for take out only.


We got on the Strand and it took about two minutes to found another PRET.  That is where we had lunch.

We stop at a drugstore to buy cold medicine and we got back at the house after a short stop at Sainsburys.

By then, it was mid afternoon and we had a rendez-vous with our friends at 16h for the apero at Oxo Tower.

We took the bus to Waterloo and walked on the South path, enjoying the lively ambiance. We arrived first a Oxo and sat inside, with a beautiful view.


Josée Pierrette and Guylaine joined us five minutes later.  They had a blast in Notting Hill.  They shopped and found treasures in small original shops.  They have seen many unknown designer pieces.

After our apero we walked about ten minutes to find The Founder Arms Pub.  It was a very noisy environment.  We would had preferred the restaurant section, but there was no more availability, so we sit in the bar.
  
No matter, after the lunch we got out with our glass and finish it looking at the Thames river.  Not bad at all.
 

We crossed via the Millennium Bridge to came back with Black Friars Tube.
What a beautiful last evening in London for Josée, Pierrette and Guylaine!


At that point my cold was at its peak.  It was time we arrived.  We all got to sleep early.

jour 18

Marcel arrived today.

Pierrette, Guylaine and Josée had a very pleasant program for the day: British Museum, Harry Potter at King Cross and Regent Park.

For my part, I work on the blogue and did some shopping in the morning.  In the afternoon, I had a pleasant walk in the neighborhood and got back at 14h15 to check the information about Marcel landing.

His plane land at 14h30.  I calculated 30 minutes for passport check + 15 minutes to clam the luggage. Then he had to take the tube from the airport.  According to the website of TFL (transport for London), it is a journey of 55 minutes.  So I expected seeing him between 16h and 16h30.

I went at exit 4 of Vauxhall Station and wait for about 30 minutes before seeing Marcel arrived.
We walked to our home together.  Of course, he was tired of all the travelling, bvut we didn't stayed home long before going for a walk before dinner.

As we were on our way, we met Josée, Pierrette and Guylaine coming back from their day of visiting.
We came back, had a very pleasant apero in the back yard and a good meal of pizza.  Marcel went to bed a little bit before 21h30.  I think he was tough enough this time.

Good night!

jour 17

Pierrette and Guylaine went to Tower of London and St-Paul today. Because Josée D. had already visit both, we went together just to explore less touristy neighborhoods.  We saw some interesting street art on our way.


We took the tube to Russel Square and walked in the streets around.  I showed Josée a building where I rent a flat in 2010.  We then arrived inn front of St-Pancras Station.  What a beautiful architecture!!  It look more like a castle than a train station.  We decided to visit the British Library.
It is so impressive!!  All those books!


There was an exhibition about the life of homosexuals in London of the past until now, called: Gay UK:Love, Law and Liberty.  Since the arrest of Oscar Wilde in 1895, things have change, but very slowly.


After touring some rooms in the Library, we walk toward Tottenham Court Road to find a place call Ahi Poke for lunch.  We walked for about two minutes and it started pouring rain.  It wasn't very pleasant to walk with my sandals in such a deluge.  We never found the restaurant we were looking for.  We entered a PRET and it was perfect as always.

After the lunch, we went to see the Pink Floyd exhibition at Victoria and Albert Museum.  There was a crowd on the tube at South Kensington.  We could barely advance towards the exit.  And there was a crowd at the museum to see Pink Floyd.  We had to wait 45 minutes before accessing the exhibition. But it worth it. Pink Floyd were the precursors of what was done in underground and psychedelic music since then. They had a unique sound. The soundtrack that could be heard throughout the show was excellent.  It was interesting to heard the interview with Roger Walter and David Gilmore.

We were supposed to go out for dinner but with the rain always falling we choose to eat in the comfort of our sweet home in London.  It is fun to sit together after a day of sightseeing and tell each other that we have seen.  Pierrette and Guylaine were please to heard a choral in St-Paul.  They were at the right place on the right moment.

Josée make me notice something today about a particular mode in London. Women put a lot of make up on  their eyebrows so it is very wide and dark.  Is it a mode in Montreal?  I didn't notice.

jour 16

Today, we leave Liverpool.  Sigh...

Before leaving, we toured the Albert Dock and bought some souvenirs.



We arrived fairly right for the train. Approximately ten minutes before the boarding time.
José had difficulty following us with her suitcase.

The ride on the train was nice and easy. At Euston we took different paths. They went to Piccadilly line, toward Heathrow and I got back home in London.

I went to the grocery and worked on the blogue of the last two days.

At the end of the afternoon, my fellow travelers arrived with a meal of Indian food. What a great idea!!! Indian food is very popular in London.

jour 15

This morning, Chantal and Raymond left for Brighton and I took the train to Liverpool, where I went to meet Julie, Jose and Irene who was returning from Edinburgh.

We met at Lime Station.  My train arrive about ten minutes before theirs.  It was cool seeing them arrived to meet me in Liverpool.


We walked to the hotel: Premier Inn on Albert Dock, where we left our bags because it was too early for check-in.  We went immediately to Beatles Museum.  Everybody enjoyed the visit.  Julie learned a lot about the Beatles.  She wasn't born when the Beatlemania was on.


After the visit, we went at PRET for lunch and got back to the hotel to check-in.

Then we walked along the harbor on the edge of the Mersey River.  What a beautiful walk!  On our way, we met four cool lad of Liverpool.  I notice that there is many new buildings.  Since 2000, the city has changed a lot.



We went at Hard days Night Hotel.  And of course, a visit to Liverpool would be incomplete without a walk on Mathew Street, so there we went.  We walked all the way down this little street, up to the statue of Eleonor Rigby, then we came back down to the Cavern.
    

We have been very lucky: first we managed to find a place to sit and second, the performer was excellent.  We sang along for about an hour.  We had a blast, feeling the energy from the past in this mythic place.


To end this marvelous day, we have been at Jamie Italian.  I ate one of the best meal of my life.

For the weather, we also got lucky: sunny all day, with a few cloud.  It was not too warm, not to cold, just perfect.  What else can you ask for?

Jour 14

As my fellow travelers were going to Greenwich today, I just pretended I am a real Londoners.  So I went shopping on Oxford Street!  It was nice just to walk on the street and look at the shops windows.
 

I entered at Selfridge, John Lewis, House of Fraser and Debenham.  I didn't bought much though...  Only a set of four small containers displaying some tube stations on the lid.  And a cute little t-shirt for Mila.  Couldn't resist.

I had lunch at Selfridge Kitchen.  I had a plate of two delicious salads.  It make me have a thought for Josée L.  She would have appreciate the meal.



Tonight, the dinner was made by Chantal and Raymond.  They have been at Borough Market yesterday and they bought everything to cook a perfect meal.  They served a starter: mix of salamis with artichoke.  Then the main meal was : raviolis with tomato sauce.  All that with a green salad.  Raymond, who loves good wine, bought two great wine at Vinopolis.  It was a very pleasant moment with all the gang.

Today, is a proper summer day, just like it should always be: sunny with cloudy periods, but no rain.  The weather is around 22C with no humidity.  It is absolutely the perfect weather to be in London... or anywhere else I guess.

Jour 13

Today was a day of departure and arrival. Josée L. quit and Josée D., Pierrette and Guylaine arrived.

But in the morning, we have made our time profitable, visiting a part of Battersea park.  The park is near our place, about 20 minutes walk.  We notice that Battersea park is family and animal friendly.  Many families were enjoying a picnic and we crossed many dogs on our way.  It seem normal to let the dog unattached.
  

  

On our way back we saw a peculiar truck.  You can read on the truck: le camion gourmand.


We came back for the lunch and to welcome our friends who arrive. We had lunch before going for a first round of iconic London.  Today, the traffic is somewhat disturbed because of Prudential RideLondon : The world's biggest cycling event.  Many roads were closed; several bus schedules are disturbed.  But everything is very well organized, as always in London.
All the fuzz didn't stop a manifestation at Trafalgar Square.



We came back home around 6hpm.  It was a very lively meeting between Chantal and Pierrette.  We had a nice apero with several dynamic conversations.  It was, somewhat, a lively ambiance.

We ate pizzas and green salad, all accompanied by good Italian red wine.
The news comers had more energy that I would thing.

It is fun to be reunited here in London: Chantal, Josée and me.  Only Anne is missing.


Today the weather treated us nice in the morning but in the afternoon normal is returned with rainy sky.

Jour 12

This morning we went to the kingdom of punks: Camden.  Marcel would be jealous.  One of his favorite place in London.


We took the waterbus at Little Venice, for a ride on the canals, to Camden.  It is a nice 50 minutes tour.

We arrived just in time for the lunch.  The boat stop is at the entrance of a food fair.  It smell so good!  Impossible to resist while you start to feel hungry. There are several small ethnic food kiosks, looking like food trucks we can see in Montreal.  We had falafels, halloumi fries, hummus, cabbage and lettuce.  So good!!


We then walk on Camden High and saw some punks on the way.  We stop to buy souvenirs (mini bus and postal card for Mila) and we jump on the tube to Charing Cross.
Trafalgar was crowded with tourists.  People seem happy to see a little bit of sunshine.  There was a very good violonist on Trafalgar Square.  We stopped for a few minutes to enjoy his music.


We entered National Gallery.  Our primary goal was to go to the toilets, but inside we decided to visit some rooms.  We saw the rooms of the impressionists.  Josée really enjoy the museum and she said she will have to come back to see more.  Well, just ask me Josée, I will accompany you for sure!

We had a proper afternoon tea with a view on Trafalgar Square.

For the last supper of Josée in London, our first plan was to go to Tom Kitchen, in Chelsea.  But we opted for a nearly place: La Toca, a Portuguese restaurant, very popular in Lambeth.  Lambeth is a Portuguese borough so it make sense to taste local food.  It is not only popular, il is loud and lively. We hardly found a place, even if we had a reservation.   The plate were so big!  Nobody was able to finish is plate.  Thank you Raymond for the wine.
  

P.S Dont miss Josée's blog