Saturday, 12 March 2022

Le bilan

 Première chose qui me vient, c’est qu’acheter un billet d’avion pour Londres a été la meilleure décision que j’ai prise depuis le début de cette pandémie.  Cela a redonné un « boost » à ma vie.  Je ne suis pas rassasiée mais certainement apaisée.  Cela m’a redonné l’espoir.  

Maintenant, qu’est-ce que je peux dire que je n’ai pas déjà dit au sujet de Londres ? 

D’abord, je commencerai en disant que je l’ai trouvé différent, mon Londres.  Est-ce la saison ? Le quartier ? La pandémie ?   Un peu tout ça je crois. 

La pandémie, c’est certain qu’où on soit, ça laisse des traces.  Elle est encore là.  Si on la voit moins à Londres que chez nous, on sent qu’elle est encore sous-jacente.  On la voit moins parce que les mesures sanitaires sont levées.  Il y a encore des bouteilles de désinfectant pour les mains à l’entrée de plusieurs édifices et malgré la liberté de le mettre ou non, le couvre visage est encore porté par environ 20% à 30% des personnes dans les moyens de transport.  Dans les commerces ou autres endroits publiques, c’est variable, mais c’est plus autour de 10% des personnes qui le portent.  Mais on la voit moins la pandémie, aussi et surtout, parce que ce qui se passe en Ukraine est beaucoup plus important présentement.

Ce n’était pas la saison touristique et cela se voyait car je n’ai pas vu de foules ou de fils interminables pour entrer dans les musées ou galeries.  La circulation était fluide partout.  (Sauf dans les rues les jours de la grève du métro, bien évidemment!)  C’est bizarre de voir Londres ainsi dénudé.  Malgré que le printemps s'installe peu à peu, ce n’était pas encore la température idéale pour les attroupements à la porte des pubs, ce qui change beaucoup le décor mythique de Londres.

Et le quartier était aussi différent.  Little Venice n’est pas si loin du centre, mais cela reste un quartier plus résidentiel et le transport en commun n’est pas aussi simple que dans d’autres secteurs de Londres.  Pour accéder aux différents quartiers, je devais prendre soit deux autobus ou le métro et un autobus.  Mais je n’étais pas pressée, alors…  Le quartier est différent aussi parce qu’on y trouve plusieurs petits commerces indépendants : boucherie, fleuriste, marchand de vin, fruiterie, boulangerie…  Ce qui est charmant, mais ce n’est pas là que vous allez croiser les beaux anglais en complet. 

Mon coup de cœur est sans hésitation le concert au Royal Albert Hall.  C’est là que j’ai réalisé l’ampleur de la chance que j’avais de vivre une tranche de vie aussi intense.  Après les deux années de restrictions de contact humain, c’était très émouvant de voir tout ce monde profiter ensemble de ce magnifique concert de musique.   « Time of my life » était vraiment approprié à mon feeling.

J’ai aussi aimé découvrir tous ces endroits que je n’avais pas encore visités.  J’ai surtout apprécié la Saatchi Gallery et le Design Museum.  Quand on va à Londres pour la première fois, le choix de ce qu’on fera est assez évident : Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, British Museum, National Gallery, St-Paul, Covent Garden, Hyde Park, St-James Park et Abbey Road si on est un fan.  Mais si on y retourne encore et encore, il y a tout le reste à voir, les quartiers, les marchés, les petits squares, les autres musées, les autres galeries…  Et c’est sans nommer toutes les petites escapades d’un jour qu’on peut faire à moins de deux heures de train.    Il y en a tant et tellement que je vis de la frustration d’avoir à faire des choix.  Je ne me plaindrai pas.  Je sais la chance que j’ai. 

Alors voilà, je suis revenue et j’en ai pour un moment à flotter sur le bonheur d’y être allée ...  Et à rêver d'y retourner!

Saturday, 5 March 2022

Jour 7

 It is my last day in London for this time.  My first goal today was to have my COVID test.  It's still a little stressful even though I don't have any symptoms and I've been careful enough.  I arrived at my appointment a little early and less than five minutes later I was out. Impressive.  As I had to count between 1h30 and 1h for the result, I decided to think about something else and take advantage of this last day. It's a cloudy day but no rain yet. I chose to go for a walk in a neighborhood that I like: Bloomsbury.




I first went for a walk in Russell Square. What a beautiful park! A haven of peace. There is a nice café in the park, so I stopped there for my second coffee of the day while reading La Presse +.  



Then I walked a bit and found myself on Neal Street. I of course made a small detour by Neal Yard. Coming back to the street, I saw a large group of people waiting for the Seven Sister Market to open. First time I noticed this place. I decided to join the group and wait for the opening at noon.  Inside, it's a food court. In fact, it looks more like a series of food trucks, but on the inside. It was just in time for lunch, so I had a slice of pizza.  


As time was running out and my test result was soon due, I went back to my flat.  Negative!!  Cool!  Now I can complete the ArriveCan form and relax.  

Weird to say, I'm staying a few minutes walk from Abbey Road and haven't been there yet. So, as I had a little time before doing my boarding pass and getting ready for the evening, I went.  It's always moving to be there. Of course people of Abbey Road are also Ukraine supporters.


My biggest challenge today was to understand how Verifly works in order to be able to issue my boarding pass.  It worked great for the first wing of the travel, but when I tried to add the return it didn't work. Which delayed the ability to get my boarding pass online.  but you all know me. I am extremely patient and persevering in the face of a computer problem. I finally made it! So I went to dinner with peace of mind.

For my last evening, I had planned a French restaurant, but as it is a bit far and the weather is uncertain, I changed my plan and opted for an English restaurant on the edge of the Regent canal at fifteen. minutes from my flat.  I'm so glad I changed my plans. It was a perfect atmosphere for a last evening en London. 

The next post on the blog will be the bilan. I don't know when I will write it, but it will certainly be in the next few days.  Goodnight!




Friday, 4 March 2022

Jour 6

 Only two dodos left! Woah!!  Time fly !  Today was an improvised day.  I did not expect to visit the Bob Marley exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery. But I did.  My first goal was to walk around Sloane Square. So I took the bus and went there. I walked down King's Road for a while and passing in front of the famous Gallery, I thought it might be cool to visit it since I've never been there before on my previous visits to London.  

I first visited a room in the permanent collection. I was immediately charmed by the modern art canvases that were there. I then saw that there was this exhibition dedicated to Bob Marley. Since I had nothing else on the schedule, I went.  It was very interesting.  The exhibition takes us on a ride through the underground world of Bob Marley through his music, photos and installations. Sometimes it feels like we're passing through clouds of marijuana. Groovy and funky.  The entire exhibition extends over several floors. You can easily spend an hour or even two if you are a fan.






After the visit, I walked a bit in the surrounding streets and discovered some beautiful places.



On the way back, I took a bus that bring me a little further, but very close to Paul's house. There was light in his house. Was he there?  😏  Tonight, I choose to stay home and cook all the left over in my fridge.  Tomorrow night I will go to the restaurant for my last night in London.  




Thursday, 3 March 2022

jour 5

 I was so exhausted last night that I didn't talk about my way back after the concert.  As you can imagine, there was a crowd leaving the Royal Albert Hall so finding a taxi wasn't easy.  I walked in the direction towards my flat while glancing to hail a cab. It took me at least ten minutes.  It's strange but I felt no fear of walking alone in the dark. I thought I never feel so safe anywhere else, not even at home. I know however that it is irrational, since London is no safer from all dangers than Montreal.  My taxi ride was quite expensive, but I arrived at my doorstep. The driver didn't speak to me, however, he waited for me to open the door before driving off, waving at me. I found that nice.  Finally, after writing the blog, it was past midnight and as the evening had been quite emotional, I took some time to fall asleep.

Which meant that I wasn't fresh and ready when I woke up this morning. It takes me time to start my day.  I booked my pre-return test for Saturday. Please cross our fingers and send positive vibes for a negative test. I have already decided where I will go in the event of a positive, but I prefer to come back another time.

I didn't tell you, but handsome Englishmen in suits have become rare since my arrival. So today I decided to go for a walk in the city. The city is the center of finance and business. If there is a place to see gentlemen, it is there.  I saw a few but not as much as usual. Do they also do "télétravail"? Maybe... Or they go out less than in summer...  Any way, I took advantage of the walk to admire the magnificent buildings along my way. London is the old and the modern that coexist everywhere.

  
  






I took the bus to near Charing Cross and walked to St-Paul Cathedral, a walk of about 20 minutes. I had lunch at a restaurant near St-Paul and crossed the Jubilee Bridge to get to Borough Market. Along the way, I stopped at my favorite souvenir shop in London. Cheap souvenir shops are everywhere in the city. This one, without being chic, still offers average quality.  


Those who came with me to London know that I love Borough Market. I did some shopping there and came back for a quick afternoon nap. You know the tube is always on strike. The traffic is heavy and it took almost two hours by bus to return. Luckily I didn't have an important appointment!

  



I just came back from supper. I went to Cafe Laville. It's five minutes from my flat. It is a restaurant that is installed above the Regent Canal. I will have to take my friends there. The food is excellent! All is homemade, from pasta, pizza to dessert.  I let myself be tempted by a dessert: fresh tiramisu. So good ! It tasted like heaven. Now I'm at the stage where I say to myself: "I shouldn't have..." Too late and it was delicious.

I'll leave you there and say good night. It will soon be for me.

P.S.  Editing:  When I came back home, I crossed a fox just in front my flat.  That remind me when I was with Raymonde et Robert in summer 2019, we also crossed a fox on our way for a restaurant.  


Wednesday, 2 March 2022

Jour 4

 Already half of the holidays are over...  Since it is raining again today, I change my plans.  I was supposed to go to St-Albans because it is market day.  But visit à market in the rain is not so attractive for me.  So, I went shopping.  My intention was to go near St-Pancras station but beeause I took the wrong bus, I ended up on Oxford Street.  Oh well, I then went on Mark and Spencer for my second coffee of the day.  I found there some cute little things for my sweet girls.  I strolled from store to store and stopped at Selfridge for lunch.




I came back to my neighborhood. I did some grocery shopping and went inside to get ready for the highlight of my day: the concert at the Royal Albert Hall.  I left early because I know that with the tube strike, the traffic is quite intense. I took a good decision, because a bus ride that should take about 40 minutes, took 70 minutes this time. Fortunately I had planned it well and I arrived a little twenty minutes before the concert.  As soon as I enter the building I knew I was living a very special moment. 


But when I arrived in the box and I was able to admire the view of this magnificent concert hall, it really touched me.  I took lots of photos, but when I look at them, I realize that they do not represent the grandiose beauty of this building.




The concert started with the national anthem of Ukraine, as everybody stand up.  It was a very nice show with a symphonic orchestra and four singers. I realized that I didn't know much about the repertoire of Broadway musicals.  Sad to say, but one of the thoughts I had was that there was a lot of CO2 in that space.  It's something that would never have occurred to me before.  Sad...
But the most touching moment of the evening was the final. Day of my life, from Dirty Dancing.  Seeing everyone standing up singing together and then thinking it was normal before. I cried a lot.  I thought how lucky I am to have had the privilege to experience this.  

 

*I reassure my people. In my lodge, there was no one near me. And I wore the mask in all my travels.  Even sad having to mention it.  

Goodnight!









Tuesday, 1 March 2022

Jour 3

 Well, well, well...  That's it, after a day of 22,000 steps yesterday, when I wake up this morning I can say that it's the front of my legs that hurt me the most.  At least, now I know.  It is a rainy day, a museum day and a tube strike day.  A pretty good day to keep a mask in the bus!!  I had a thought for Marcel, who hates being caught in traffic. A trip that was supposed to take about 30 to 40 minutes, ended up taking 1h30.  The bus was packed and traffic moved at a snail's pace and even stopped for long minutes.  And it's all because the tube are on strike.  I just can't imagine a day when the tube and the buses would be on strike at the same time! It would then be fair to say that London is paralyzed. 😲

At the end, I arrived late for my scheduled visit to the Design Museum.  I booked a ticket to see the exhibition Amy Beyong the stage. I'm not so much a fan of  Amy Winehouse, but I still find her fascinating and her voice is very pleasant to listen to. I like the way she seem to be rebel and modest  at the same time. The exhibition presented her biography, her musical creation and her clothing fantasies.  I particularly enjoyed the performance of her last concert. Touching!


 

There was also a really interesting permanent exhibition: Designer, Maker and User.  It presents nearly 1000 pieces from the 20th and 21st centuries, seen from the angles of the designer, the manufacturer and the user.  The exhibition presents several design disciplines, from architecture and engineering to the digital world, including fashion and graphic design.




It was finally lunch time when I left the museum. I had thought of taking a walk in Holland Park, but with the drizzle, I was less tempted. I spotted a restaurant nearby: Street Burger. This is part of Gordon Ramsay's chain.  The burger was good and very well stocked and the service was courteous. The decor also referenced Amy Winehouse and I heard her songs while enjoying my meal.


After a short stop at home, I got back on the road to visit my neighborhood.  It is a peaceful neighborhood located between an area of ​​very rich people and a poorer neighborhood. It's strange to see such different neighborhoods so close together.  I'm glad I came to see before inviting friends. It is a really pleasant area to live in but less practical for visiting the city. Public transport is less user-friendly than in other neighborhoods.  

I put you some photos taken during this last walk. You will notice that the weather is gray over London today.




And the last one to confirm that spring is well arrived in London!



See you tomorrow !!

P.S.  Marcel asked me yesterday if I use google translator. I mainly use it to check if what I write makes sense. So yes, I use it, but I write first in English then I correct with Google. And I don't always accept his corrections when I feel like it doesn't reflect my thinking.