London Quiz

Regular readers will recognize from the pictures below that I was in London.

Can you tell where?

I will give you clues.

 Artistic graffiti.  You've seen that before.

I particularly liked Zorro Carrot.

 Bands on the street.  This one had a particularly Eastern European flavour.

 Bohemian hipsters strolling the streets.

 Aha... a market.  It's not a flower market, so you know it is not Columbia Market.

It's not a food market.  That rules out the Borough Market.

 More bohemian musicians.  Russian hat.  Accordian and violin.  Again, the Eastern Euro slant.

 I love the architecture of this building.  Note there isn't a store front sign in the front.  It seems residential, but the small sandwich sign simply says that collared shirts are required.  It's only until you see the neon sign on the side of the building that say "Striptease" do you get a sense of the purpose.

 Tight passage ways with indie retail stores and trendy pubs.

 Any ideas yet?

 I ended my day in London at this pub watching England lose to the All Blacks in rugby.

Any guesses? 

OK, I'll tell you.

I started the day at the Broadway Market in Hackney.  Afterwards I strolled over to Spitalfield.

I love east London.  I probably have said that before.  It has vintage shops, crazy art on the sides of buildings, plenty of opportunities to find taxidermied foxes and bugs, and street food that is worth the journey.  Jen wants to live in Edinburgh, which is an excellent choice.  But east London, in my opinion, is a worthy second option.

Don't leave me alone too often, Sausage

I kept my track record of interesting dining alone experiences in Brussels.  The last time I had a nice woman ask to eat with me and somehow I ended up paying for her complete dinner (including dessert).  It was a transaction I still cannot figure out how it happened.

So this week I plopped down at a little Italian place in the touristy section of the city.  My method of selection consisted of finding a manager who was not too aggressive (they attempt to drag you off the street into their restaurant), evaluating the outside seating so that I could have a cigar without bothering people and had a heat lamp and lastly, had some local cuisine. 

I must have tourist or sucker stamped on my back because within minutes I got the guy who draws a picture of you without asking then sells it to.  I went along with it and now have the picture you see below as an artefact of my European adventure.

 Then I made the mistake of making eye contact with the accordion player.  I gave him a couple euro to  serenade me.  Except for the fact that I was alone it was lovely.

 I made a tactical error and had three Chimay's.  It's a damn strong beer.

But look at me!  Who wouldn't want to make the magic last?!

 The guys behind me became my smoking buddies.  One of them had a cigar too.  They left and a long while later walked past me and said "you're still here!"  It was a sign that I needed to move on.

However.....

 The magic became a bit too magic when my new friend, the manager of the restaurant, brought me my second gratis grappa.  My first gratis grappa I managed to subtly dump in the street when he wasn't looking.  The second was given to me as I was waving good night.  He came running out and insisted I come inside for one more.  Embracing my "hell yes!" life philosophy, I went along for the magic ride.

Grappa plus Chimay = too much magic.

Random Edinburgh Morning Walks

I was walking past a butcher in the Stockbridge neighborhood when I saw my Sunday dinner (rabbit) before it make it to the kitchen. I had simultaneous sensations of wanting to eat it or stuff it and make it my friend.  Do we have furry animals hanging in the front of butcher shops in the states?  Do we have butcher shops?  I'm trying to think of the last time I saw a butcher shop at home like this.  In the states I tend to get everything (except cheese) at the supermarket so it's all packaged up for consumption.  But there is something appealing about the idea of going to a butcher and buying a rabbit for dinner.  Notice I said the idea is appealing - I think we all know that I would not have the slightest idea what to do with this when I got it home.

Next door was the fishmonger.  Now these we do have around Newburyport but I couldn't resist snapping those faces looking up at me. 

A few mornings ago I walked up Calton Hill but my iPhone ran out of juice (it does this randomly - DiDi are you now worried I'll be lost somewhere?) so I didn't get many shots.

 I'm reading Alexander McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street.  I have to admit that I poo-pooed this book for a long time (I assumed it would be too "twee") but it turns out to be the perfect accompaniment to a trip to Edinburgh since he talks about so many local places.  I tried to find #44 but it turns out that Scotland Street stops at #43.  I wonder how many other Smith readers have this same picture?

From Scotland Street I headed to the Royal Botanical Gardens.  I was running out of pre-work time but I did find one stone sculpture by Andrew Goldsworthy.  He is considered the founder of modern rock balancing.  So these stones are all just placed by hand into this circle…which is probably harder than it sounds.  

Mid-November is probably not the peak time for the Royal Botanical but it was a sunny morning and there were still a few flashes of fall color. 

Last night Andrea and I went to see author Donna Tartt - and again - no photography was allowed.  Why are all the authors banning photography these days?? I managed to get this one little picture of her in the distance.  She's the one sitting at the table signing books.  She was great - very chatty and friendly. 

While all this is going on Bill is in Belgium for work but he can't post because he's having internet problems at the hotel.  Why is Europe so wifi challenged??

Castle and a Gallery - Just Another Day in Edinburgh

I know you've seen a million pictures of the Edinburgh Castle since I take the same pictures every time I come.  But it's just so awesome up there on the mound surrounded by fall colors that I can't resist taking more and more and more...

 And Greyfriar's Kirkyard is another repeat…but I know Jessica likes a graveyard as much as I do!

And Greyfrier's Bobby -which is really going to look exactly the same every time- is still a favorite.  This is for Chi :-)

And finally something new - The Portrait Gallery!

 This was in the Science room - I don't remember who they are but they are doctors.  Or rather, they are ghosts of doctors?  Creepy but interesting.

 Sir Compton Mackenzie - he wrote the Highland Novels that were used to create the TV series Monarch of the Glen which is an old favorite of mine.  I loved the colors and the library setting and all his paraphernalia around him (glasses, papers, pipe, etc).  

"After I shoot a few deer I like to lay in the heather and use one for a leg rest." 

What are the chances he's wearing anything under that kilt?  

I've really gotten into the groove of working US hours here.  It's kind of nice to spend the morning out and about before I settle behind my laptop for a work day.  Last night my day ended with dinner with Andrea at a french restaurant in the west end but didn't take any pictures of my pigeon on black pudding starter or my duck confit.  Both were delicious. 

Random public service announcement:   Andrea and I saw Gravity on Tuesday night - highly recommend in 3D!  I don't usually make a point to see 3D versions but this really made the viewing experience.  The movie is a pretty simple story so it's all about the effects.  See it and let me know what you think.

Arthur's Seat

Despite multiple trips to Edinburgh I have never climbed Arthur's Seat and I was determined to do it this week.  It seemed like such an easy goal when I started out.  The sun was shining.  The path was a gradual incline.  There weren't many people around and I was ready for a few hours of walking.

 In no time I was getting a beautiful view of the city.

 Then I realized that to really go up - it was going to be a climb.

 These "stairs" are steeper than they look.  Uneven.  Wet.  Slippery.  Serpentining up the side of the old volcano.  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur's_Seat,_Edinburgh)

 I think it was right around here…when I realized that I was basically on my own if I slipped or if the hurricane force winds blew me off the side of the mountain. 'I'm not crazy about heights.  Why did I think this was a good idea? 

This is Isabella from Poland.  Right about the time I was thinking of heading down, she met me coming up and said, "Let's do it together."  So we made it to the top.

360 degree views of land and water awaited us.

 Going down took some concentration.  There are no railings - just you and the rock.  But not a bad start to a work day.

Edinburgh Arrival

As Bill mentioned yesterday, I'm in Scotland this week.  I wanted to spend time with Andrea before she heads back to the states and I needed time in my favorite city in the world.  (Ok, I do keep wobbling between Edinburgh and London but right now, it's Edinburgh.)  The train on Sunday was extra long due to engineering works so I was happy that I had a tiny bit of sunlight to find my flat while dragging my ridiculously heavy bag.  But that didn't stop me from pulling our my phone for a shot of this beauty on George Street.

By the time Andrea came over to see my flat it was dark out.  But that just means the castle looks majestic and glows in the moonlight.

 So where am I staying?  I found myself a little flat to rent for the week right on Thistle Street.  Come on in and check it out.  Here is the view from the outside.  I'm the door on the left next to the blue front.

It's quite spacious.  I took these during a commercial break from the Downton Abbey finale.

This is the entry way - I'm standing in the door to the living room looking back towards the bed room.  The door to the apartment is behind me to my right.  The loo is the door you can see on the right.

 To the left is the kitchen.  More kitchen than I'll know what to do with!!

Petey and Travel Monkey have settled in.  

So this is my home away from home away from home for the next week. I'll work out of the building down the street.   The only thing that could make this better would be if Bill could have joined me.  More reports from Edinburgh to come!

Dibley and Bill

With Jen away in Scotland I had a day to myself.  I decided to pretend Jen was here and kept to our little routine.

Caught the train out of Windsor.  Grabbed a cup of tea from our little friend, Ikra.

 Mr. Dibley and I spread out on the train.  We both like the window seat.

 Landed in Richmond where I had a lovely lunch at Pitcher and Piano overlooking the Thames and Richmond Bridge.

Pitcher and Piano is a good name.  Jen and I had this conversation yesterday.  Actually we've probably had it many other days.  What would make a good pub name?  They are often two names.  Entwistle and MacKay is too many syllables.  It would have to be Entwistle and Doug.  Or Entwistle and Fudge.

Another assignment for Mother Entwistle.

 Dibley is decent company when Jen's away.