Chapter 15: London Calling
22/7/24 Paris:
We bid a teary adieu to Nicky’s family in Biarritz before embarking on our Parisian adventure. After a blissfully uneventful train ride, we found ourselves in the City of Light, ready to paint the town red - or at least, beige with a hint of impressionism. Our first order of business? Risking lactose-induced discomfort for the sake of a truly authentic crepe experience. With bellies full and spirits high, we dove headfirst into the artistic wonderland of the Pompidou Centre. There, we marveled at Picasso's peculiar perspectives, pondered Duchamp's urinal (art or plumbing gone wrong?), and pretended to understand Rothko's color blocks. Nicky geeked out over trusses and furniture design, while Ben nodded along, secretly dreaming of baguettes. As night fell, we dined like true Parisians at a charming bistro, though our romantic evening was cut short by a chilly breeze. We strolled home through streets already buzzing with Olympic fever, feeling like we'd won gold in the art of Parisian day-tripping.
23/7/24 Paris:
Our Parisian escapade continued with a twist of Olympic fever and a dash of nostalgia. We navigated a maze of barriers and detours, turning our morning stroll into an unexpected urban adventure. The usually bustling Champs-Élysées greeted us with an eerie emptiness, as if Paris itself was holding its breath for the upcoming games. Undeterred, we eventually conquered the labyrinth and found ourselves immersed in the impressionist wonderland of Musée d'Orsay. After a quick refuel, we set our sights on the Iron Lady herself, though she played hard to get amidst the Olympic preparations. The day was capped off with a heartwarming reunion with Ben's old friend, Paul Henri, whose homemade brew and Korean cuisine made the evening memorable. Paris may have thrown us a few curveballs, but we hit them out of the park (or should we say, over the Eiffel Tower?), creating memories as enduring as the City of Light itself.
24/7/24 London:
We bid adieu to the City of Light and hopped aboard the Eurostar, zipping beneath the Channel like moles with a need for speed. Emerging in London town, we found ourselves in a bizarro world where everyone suddenly spoke our language (mostly). Our gracious hosts, Lauren and Adam, welcomed us to their Angel abode, and we promptly hit the streets for some proper British fare - bagels, naturally. A bit of window shopping later, and we'd procured a floral peace offering for our hosts. Then came the great gender divide: Nicky vanished into a mysterious realm of tulle and taffeta with the bride-to-be, while Ben and Adam donned imaginary chef's hats for a culinary adventure. The day culminated in a dinner party that felt like an antipodean reunion, complete with more Aussie accents than you could shake a didgeridoo at. As we settled into our temporary London life, we couldn't help but wonder: had we really left Australia, or had it followed us halfway across the globe?
25/7/24 London:
Our London adventure kicked into high gear with a day that could only be described as quintessentially British: grey skies, stolen artifacts, and world-class theatre. After Ben's brief foray into the corporate world, we reunited in Covent Garden, where we window-shopped until our wallets breathed sighs of relief. Our friend Andy, fresh from his Madrid cameo, joined us for a culinary expedition in Seven Dials. Then, seeking shelter from London's idea of "summer," we time-traveled through the British Museum, marveling at treasures that had mysteriously "found their way" from ancient civilizations to these hallowed halls. As night fell, we embarked on a mythical journey to the long-awaited Hadestown musical with Dana and Ray, preceded by a Malaysian feast. The musical lived up to its hype, and we wrapped up the day with drinks and laughs, despite Ben’s lament about his fading tan in the London drizzle.
26/7/24 London:
We embarked on a whirlwind tour of London's greatest hits, starting with a leisurely morning coffee that would make any Brit proud. We then headed off to Borough Market, where we indulged in a salt beef bagel that could make a New Yorker weep. We then played tourist bingo along the South Bank, ticking off the Tate Modern and the London Eye faster than you can say "queue." As evening approached, we traded our walking shoes for our eating pants and headed to a Shabbat dinner that would make any bubbe kvell. Our hosts, Andy and Tom, treated us to a Middle Eastern feast. The night culminated in a collective "ooh" and "aah" session over the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. The journey home proved to be its own Olympic event, with closed train lines and elusive taxis, but we emerged victorious, if a tad sleepy. Ben, feeling every one of his years, muttered something about "not being as young as he used to be".
27/7/24 London:
Our London escapade continued with a day that felt like a whirlwind tour of our social calendar. We kicked things off with Nicky's mysterious "special dress appointment" (no spoilers here!) before diving into a dim sum extravaganza with Ben's Sydney mate, Hanbo. The queue was longer than the Thames, but hey, good things come to those who wait - and chat! We then channeled our inner cool cats, exploring the trendy Coal Yards area, where we witnessed the time-honored London tradition of children frolicking in fountains (because who needs swimsuits when you have unpredictable weather?). As night fell, our Aussie contingent grew stronger with the arrival of Sam and Lach, fresh off the plane and ready to party like it was Potts Point. We clinked glasses, devoured Thai delicacies, and reminisced about home. By the end of the night, we were left wondering: had we teleported back to Sydney, or had Sydney come to us?
28/7/24 London:
Our London sojourn took an unexpected turn as we zigzagged across the city, from a leisurely breakfast in our hosts' sun-dappled garden to the posh streets of Chelsea. There, we rubbed elbows with Ben's family friends, the Pintos, at a charming trattoria, swapping tales that spanned generations. But the real adventure began when we time-traveled back to the 70s, courtesy of ABBA's holographic extravaganza. Surrounded by a sea of silver-haired dancing queens, we felt positively spring chickens. The technology left us starry-eyed, though Ben's inner geek was practically doing cartwheels. As the night wore on, we found ourselves canal-side, dining al fresco and cheering on Olympians from afar. Our social calendar continues to burst at the seams, Ben's yawns are becoming more frequent, but in this city that never sleeps (or at least, never stops catching up), who has time for shut-eye?
29/7/24 London:
We embarked on a journey through time and space at the Natural History Museum, where Ben channeled his inner eight-year-old, gawking at dinosaurs and creepy crawlies. The summer heat drove us from the Jurassic era into the regal gardens of Kensington, where we paid our respects to Princess Diana and pretended to know which royal lived where. Hunger struck, and we found ourselves devouring Armenian sandwiches - because nothing says "British summer" quite like Middle Eastern cuisine. We then braved the tourist labyrinth of Portobello Road, secretly hoping to stumble upon a magical wardrobe or a certain floppy-haired bookseller. Alas, no Hugh Grant in sight, but we did find some respite in the charming streets of Notting Hill. The day culminated in a culinary masterpiece courtesy of our host, Adam - a tofu rice bowl that had us questioning our carnivorous ways.
30/7/24 London:
We kicked off our London adventure with a bit of divide and conquer. While Nicky indulged in some retail therapy along Regent Street, Ben embarked on a pilgrimage to the hallowed grounds of Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, returning with more merchandise than sense. Reuniting in Hampstead Heath, we shared a lovely lunch with Ben's friend Andy, who miraculously found time in his busy schedule to entertain us commoners. As London decided to cosplay as a tropical paradise, we strolled through the Heath, dodging impromptu pond swimmers and accidentally stumbling upon Ricky Gervais - because apparently, that's just what happens in London. Our evening took a turn for the culinary when we organized a park barbecue with friends, unwittingly entering the realm of competitive sausage cooking. While most of us emerged unscathed from this gastronomic roulette, poor Adam may have drawn the short straw - or in this case, the undercooked sausage. Despite the potential food poisoning fiasco, we chalked it up as a successful day in the books of our British escapade.
31/7/24 Edinburgh:
Our London chapter drew to a close as we embarked on a northbound adventure to the land of kilts and bagpipes. Fueling up with a not-quite-full English breakfast (apparently, we're rebels), we whisked ourselves away to King's Cross. The Hogwarts Express - or rather, its Muggle counterpart - whisked us away on a five-hour journey that was less about spells and more about spellbinding views. Our trusty onigiri kept hunger at bay, proving that even in Britain, we can't escape our penchant for Japanese cuisine. As the English countryside morphed into Scottish hills, we found ourselves in Edinburgh, where our hotel greeted us with a dose of celebrity fandom with Scottish Celebrity themed rooms- who knew Rod Stewart could make such a cozy bedfellow? The brisk Scottish air welcomed us like an old friend, albeit one with a thick, barely decipherable accent. We took a wee wander through the city, our ears perking up at every rolled 'r' and guttural 'ch'.
