well i’m on my way…

We went to the Camden Markets the day after the Fourth.  Learned the markets was a couple rows of clothes, so we left quickly.  The streets past the markets looked worth checking out, so we headed down and stumbled across the Stables Markets, which was much more intesting.  It had lots of food stalls, including real Mexian food, clothing, antiques, books, toys, jewellry, art, and furniture.  Awesome awesome market.  We spent a lot of time there and bought some souvenirs to take home.

Went out for Indian that night, since we are in Enland, and curry is now the national dish-move over fish and chips!  It was my first Indian food, and boy was it amazing.  We had an appitizer of potatoes and veg in a flaky pastry with a yogurt sauce over it.  (I can’t remember any of the names of the dishes!)  I had a spicy vegetable dish with naan while the boys had chicken dishes.  We had a dessert that looked like mini hot dogs but tasted more like a donut or a pancake that was warm and amazing tasting.  I got goosebumps in my mouth from it, but knew I would be sick if I ate a lot of it.  After dinner we went to a pub that was converted from an old tram station-hence the name: Tooting Tram.  It was very chill with an altenative vibe to it:  I felt like I was sitting in someone’s grandmother’s house with the comfy chair and couches and old paintings on the walls. 

The next day we moved out of “Hotel de Rules and Bland Food’ and checked into ‘BestHostel’ in the middle of the Lebanese neighborhood, which has flavorful food everywhere you look.  The rooms are a bit cramped, with bunkbeds three levels high but the mattresses are comfortable and the bathrooms are clean.  It’s pretty close to all the action in the city too.  We were just gettin settled when one of our roommates, Rachel walked in, and started talking my ear off.  I could see Ryan rolling his eyes behind her, but I felt her pain.  When I was on my own, and hadn’t talked to anyone in a while I got all chatty too.  I knew that all she needed was some decent conversation, but really, who doesn’t?  Within minutes of meeting her, she told me her life story, from the minute she was created-in a test tube because she has ‘two moms’.  Ryan then decided she was cool and got into the conversation.  I thought it was amazing-I’ve only heard about situations like hers, never met someone who actually was created this way.  She was a sweet girl, asked a lot of questions, but we both felt really comfortable around her.  Two more guys came in, 21 year old Americans who were hungry, and wanted to know if we were hungry?  We all went to one of the Lebanese restaurants and stuffed ourselves on delicious flavorful food.  We went back to the hostel and had a beer each-the bar closes at 11-kind of lame, but at the same time, it keeps the hostel relatively quiet.

Next day Ryan and I decided to go our seperate ways so I went with Rachel for the free tour.  We ended up losing interest quickly, so we left right after we saw the changing of the guards at Buckinham Palace.  Yay fuzzy hats!  We walked around, dodged raindrops and hail, drank coffe, and stumbled across the premier for the new Harry Potter film.  Didn’t see anyone though, besides the hordes of screaming fans. 

Next day I rose early to wander Notting Hill and find the Portobello Markets.  En route I somehow had “Wouldn’t it be Loverly” from My Fair Lady in my head, but once I saw signs for the markets, my brain suddenly turned to one of my favourite Disney movies-Bedknobs and Broomsticks-and the song about Portobello Road, which is why I wanted to go in the first place.  If only I could find the other half of the book that had the spell to make objects move…or at least a knob from a bedpost to instantly take me where ever I wanted…It was mostly antiques, which I love the smell of.  Discovered Little Morocco, but I left, not wanting to spoil what’s left of my trip.  So I wouldn’t take the same way back, I took residential streets, looking at all the massive houses, waiting to turn a corner to see a boat on the top of one shouting and preparing to set off cannons and Mary Poppins floating down in her umbrella.  I didn’t realize until I got here how many movies from my childhood take place in London…

Hung out in Hyde Park, no Obama here.  I still think my favourite Hyde Park is in Sydney.  Back to hostel, ran into Ryan, we went for Subway, only because we have coupons, and are scrimping on money here so we can do whatever in Morocco.  The trip is coming to an end, as are our funds…Had a few in the pub with our New Zealand roomie.  I’ve seen more NZ than he has, as most people who visit the states have seem more than I…

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