Alison's Birthday

the London/Italy photos drag on lol...should be only 3 updates left :-)

On our last day in London we celebrated Alison's birthday.  We visited this unique food market which was this amazing place of outdoor vendors selling all types of ah-mazing food.  It kind of changed my life.  If I lived in London, or if we had that piece of heaven in Raleigh, I'd be there every Saturday.  It blows every food truck rally out of the water.  Seriously.

 hard to see, but Aaron's getting a cone filled with saucy chicken

steak frites <3 <3 <3 

 Alison's friend showed up to surprise her!

After the food market, it was basically a mad dash to get home and shower because up next was Alison's surprise party!  She had no idea Neill and her friend Ben had been planning for months to throw a party for her 30th.  Her parents were in town and requested to go to the golf club to grab drinks before we all went out to dinner.  She walked into the golf club and surprise!  There was everyone.  It was a fun night of tabbouleh, mock television game shows, drinks and karoke.  It was so much fun I didn't get any decent photos, they're mostly blurry cell phone pics.  Here's a few of us playing tabbouleh and a mock version of Going for Gold, a British game show that Alison actually competed on before!  Yes, I'm friends with a British TV celebrity.   It was so touching seeing all of her friends and family band together to celebrate 30!

London Part 2

More London photos :-) 

We went to the Cat Cafe for Alison's birthday

Later that evening, we ate at Dans Le Noir for dinner.  The title is french for "in the dark" and it is a restaurant where you eat in complete darkness.  No kidding.  The waitstaff is blind.  It was really fun, really different.   So, my first course smelled like an Asian inspired beef dish.  I opened my mouth expecting noodles or meat.  Instead I bit into a sweet peach chutney also on the plate - it was really jarring!  Eating in the dark really emphasized smell and texture instead of just taste.   

Our VIP friends scored us a private tour of the British parliament ;-)

Angels in the rafters.  Like all ancient building in England, no detail went untouched.  I wish I could have taken more photos, but they were prohibited in most areas.  

Buckingham Palace in the distance

Trying to take "engagement photos" for Neill and Alison but Aaron's hand kept sneaking in the way

Afternoon tea with a fascinator.  Basically my dream in London ACHIEVED

Ladies post tea

Coming up next: Alison's 30th birthday surprise and then ITALYYY!!!!

Cambridge

On Wednesday, Neill took us on a day trip to the home of his alma mater, Cambridge.  Neill went to University of Cambridge, which is the world's 4th oldest surviving university.  Not only do Cambridge and Oxford have rivalries, but the university actually started when some scholars left Oxford after a dispute with some locals.  It was very gorgeous and picturesque.  You couldn't walk on campus without paying a fee, but there was plenty to do anyways.

 Students and cows, totally normal.

So you can drink on the train.  I had just finished reading Girl on the Train, a book about an alcoholic girl who rides the train to London to and fro, so that's all I could think about. 

That evening when we got back, Alison was sweet enough to provide us with tickets to see The Seagull at the London Open Air Theater.  It was at Regent's Park and Santander Bank provided us with refreshments during the show.

 The edamame crostini was simple and delicious.  I wish I knew the recipe.

 The theatre.  The mirror was pretty neat and gave another point of view.  

That was such a nice day.  Unfortunately the London tube strike started that evening so it took over an hour for us to catch a bus and get back to our friends.  I think it was around that time I swore off living in a city where people relied on public transportation. :-)

Happy Tuesday!

London Part 1

 Welcomed by the Union Jack flag

We brought Neill and Alison many goodies from America too- Lonerider beer, Cackalacky nuts, Defiant whiskey, peanut butter, pumpkin puree and other tasties :-)

We went down by the river and the Morris dancers were welcoming the summer season 

 Tower Bridge

 Beefeater tour at Tower of London

 Piccadilly Circus

 We found Chinatown in London!  And a tasty Chinese bakery

 Coconut roll and BBQ Pork Bun

fish shaped, cream filled mini cakes they crank out all day (as seen in the window) 

That day Neill prepared such a tasty and simple dinner for us to come home to.  Meat, cheese and a tomato and onion salad.  Heavenly :-)

more photos to come!