Yesterday (Tuesday, 7/20), sore from our long run on Monday, we did a quick gym workout and went for a 10 minute walk before Jared headed to work, and I lounged around the hotel for the morning. Since we have been doing so much walking, I didn't want to get too early of a start, as we end up walking for lots of hours anyway and I didn't want to be too tired. When I finally motivated to go out in the afternoon, I grabbed a sandwich and some chips (or crisps, if you will) for lunch at Pret A Manger (sandwich/salad shop on every street corner -- think Dunkin Donuts frequency in Boston) and then decided to head to the Somerset House and check out the Courtauld Gallery. The Somerset House is conveniently close to our hotel, and the Gallery is known for having one of the best collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Art for a small museum. Impressionist art is my favorite, so I figured I should definitely check it out.
Somerset House Courtyard.The Gallery is housed in the Somerset House, which is a beautiful palace-looking building from the 1770's, with a piazza in the middle with statues and fountains. Just lovely, and somewhere I had never been before. I enjoyed walking around the piazza before heading into the Gallery. And, after the overwhelming size of the National Gallery, I kind of enjoyed going to a smaller more intimate museum. Without so many pieces, it is easier to really appreciate the paintings and sculptures they do have. Tons of Degas', Pissaro's, Manet's, and Monet's... And Van Gogh's famous self-portrait after he cut his ear off... Love love loved it!
Another view inside the Somerset House Courtyard.So, after spending two hours or so in the museum, I decided to head up to Covent Garden to do some window shopping (while the stores were actually open, unlike our first night), and then headed to Leicester Square for dinner. Jared had a work dinner Tuesday night, so I was on my own, which I was perfectly happy with. I decided that I would head back to the Wagamama in Leicester Square, where I used to go when I lived in London. Going to Wagamama isn't exactly a luxury, since we have them in Boston and Dubai (apparently I only enjoy living in cities that contain Wagamamas), but just for tradition's sake. For the uninformed, Wagamama is a delicious pan-Asian noodle bar that I was first introduced to and became obsessed with when I lived in London. It originated in the UK but has subsequently spread, only coming to the US four or five years ago, and is limited to only Boston and DC. YUM! Yaki Udon.
After dinner, I leisurely headed back to the hotel to relax until Jared got back and we got some more cider to drink while luxuriating in the room.
Today, 7/21, we started the day with another long run, this time running along the river toward Westminster Abby, the Houses of Parliament, and Big Ben. Crossed the bridge underneath Big Ben and than ran by the London Eye, heading back toward Temple on the opposite side of the River, crossed the bridge and were back. I love exploring and sight-seeing in new places by going running. It has to be one of the most fun kinds of multi-tasking possible.
Then, I decided that it was time for me to head back to the neighborhood/borough where my aunt and uncle used to live, and where I lived and worked the summer I lived in London: Richmond, Surrey, in Southwest London. I was so excited to go back and see what had changed and what was the same, and to go back to the Gap that I worked at (yes, as an American college student living in London for a summer, the only place I could get hired was the American clothing store Gap, pretty sad, although it initiated my summer jobs then for the following 3 summers, at various Gaps across Eastern Massachusetts...).
So, I took the Tube to Richmond (the last stop on the District Line) and spent the afternoon wandering around, window shopping, seeing what was new (lots of new restaurants, and some of them chains we have in Dubai as well: Carluccio's, Paul, Gourmet Burger Kitchen), seeing what was still the same (a few of my favorite restaurants, shops and pubs were still there), and walking by my aunt and uncle's old house to see how it looked (not as nice as when they lived there, of course). Just so relaxing and lovely. I am planning on taking Jared to Richmond for a day this weekend too, so he can see where I lived, and so part of my day was spent scoping out where I want to take him and what I want to show him (the beautiful riverside, the Richmond Green). I grabbed lunch at one of my old favorites, Nando's (delicious Portuguese Chicken Place, which coincidentally we also have in Dubai, but I love tradition), and then walked to Richmond Park where I sat and read ("Pride & Prejudice" -- I've never been able to get through it before and figured it would be a fitting read while I am in London), before heading back into the city to meet Jared when he finished work.
There aren't all that many restaurants that I remember and love in London (which is surprising, considering my food obsession), but the only one I have really been wanting to take Jared to is my favorite Moroccan Restaurant called "Momo," where my aunt and uncle took me for my 17th birthday the first time I came to visit them in London (almost 10 years ago, gasp. I'm getting old!). Momo is located off Regent Street near Piccadilly Circus, so we headed out for dinner and what turned out to be another ridiculously long walk.
We found Momo no problem at around 7:30pm and were not sure we'd be able to get in. They had no tables at that moment, but told us we could make a booking and come back at 9:30pm. Sure, why not? So we decided to take a walk and grab a drink to kill the couple hours before dinner. I pulled out our little DK Mini-Map to see what we were near, and decided we would walk to Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner (which didn't look all that far)... Well, a 35 minute power-walk later and we were there. And Jared was, to say the least, unimpressed. His comment was, "This is just like Hyde Park in Boston! Let's Go!" Hyde Park in Boston is in the ghetto of Dorchester. Just a slight exaggeration, but we headed back down Oxford Street in search of a pub. On the way we found a cookie stand (Ben's Cookies) and split a White Chocolate Cranberry cookie to tide us over, before finding a pub down one of the little alleys called, "The Duke of York." They had cold beer and cider so that was all we needed. So we enjoyed a drink, and then headed back to Momo for dinner.
And Momo definitely did not disappoint. The atmosphere was as authentic as I remember (low tables, embroidered silk pillows, Arabic lantern lighting, and Arabesque music), the food was delicious (Chicken couscous, Lamb Tagine), and the Moroccan Mint Tea was refreshing. All in all a great night out and I was so glad to be able to have Jared experience a restaurant that I have such fond memories of... Now, let's see what's in store for the rest of the week.
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