It’s a perfectly marvelous stormy day today, gusting winds, pouring rain, and it feels every bit like England in the fall.
So this afternoon I’m going to take you on a pictorial jaunt with me and my dear friend Katy through the streets of London.
It was late afternoon as we emerged from the Tube, wrapped our scarves more snugly around our necks, and wandered happily through the bustling throng.
Seeing this flower stall made me think of Eliza Dolittle in My Fair Lady and I was struck by how many of my favorite movies and books are set in this most wonderful city.
I love strolling with Katy. A prolific traveler, writer, and lover of life, she is a splendid walking partner, perfectly content with companionable silences or laughing hard as she regales me with tales of her adventures abroad and at home in England.
She chuckled at my incessant photo-taking and ooohing, knowing that she is every bit as bad as me in countries she didn’t grow up in.
After a gentle rain the sun emerged, casting a lovely, warm glow over the stately stone edifices around us.
I was utterly charmed by this street. It reminded me of the delightful Jean and Lionel from “As Time Goes By.”
And I couldn’t help grinning at all the lovely old pubs and cheery double-decker buses.
After much happy wandering we decided it was high time for a pot of tea and something decadent. We found a welcoming spot with one table left open just for us. We ordered piping hot tea to warm our fingers and pooled our last few pounds to purchase a stunning little strawberry tart to share.
Then we sat back and watched people, wrote in our journals, and felt like two of the luckiest girls in the world.
What is your favorite treat to have when you stop for a coffee or tea break?
thick creamy cheesecake… love it every time!
Oooo, I DO love cheesecake too, Susan! 🙂
Beautiful pictures, Krista! They even made me see London through new eyes 🙂
Oh I’m so glad, Kate!! 🙂 Thank you!
OMG! This post made me feel very homesick especially as I recognised every image. What fabulous pictures Krista
and that strawberry tart looks “naughty, but nice!”
Oh, that makes me happy, Vanessa! Not that you’re homesick, but that I got to bring you a piece of home. 🙂
Krista – your treat is gorgeous. I guess my favourite treat would have to be scones with jam and cream! I am curious now about what are your other favourite movies and books that are set in London. I have just re-watched ‘The Forsythe Saga’ which I love but then I am a big period piece fan.
Oh, I love scones too, Cathy!! I will have to post about those another day. 🙂 I still need to finish the Forsythe Saga!! I’m so glad you reminded me of that. 🙂 Oh boy, let’s see – of course Sherlock Holmes and John Buchan books and PG Wodehouse and Dickens and so many great English novels have their characters pop into London to go to their club, and all those fabulous British murder mysteries. 🙂 I love period pieces too!!
Oh yes that was definitely a As ‘Time Goes By’ setting 🙂
Wasn’t it perfect, Linda?! 🙂 It made me smile very big. 🙂
Thank you for taking us on this journey Krista. It was a great way to start my day by dreaming of travel!!!
Oh, my pleasure, dear Val. 🙂 It had me dreaming too!
I love London, Krista! Your photos brought back so many memories!
Isn’t it a wonderful, amazing, fascinating place, Barbara? I’m so glad these shots brought back memories for you. 🙂
Oh Krista, I nearly cried reading this! It was such a lovely day, especially the journal-writing and strawberry tart 🙂 I miss having you here heaps and heaps!
And I confess I was a bit teary writing it, dear Katy. 🙂 I miss you terribly!!
Such a great place to wander around! And then you don’t feel guilty about splurging on dessert! 😉
Very good point, Andi! 🙂 We walked so far we didn’t feel in the least bit guilty. 🙂
What a beautiful time in London, Krista! I am the same way with my camera — I want to capture everything, lol!
Isn’t it fun, Faith?! Then later it’s like you’re taking your favorite trips all over again. 🙂
Stunning photos. I can’t believe how many places you get to visit. Lucky you!
Thank you so much, El. I do feel very, very lucky and SO grateful to have dear friends and family to visit in such lovely places. 🙂
Something just like the strawberry tart that you ordered…What a great day. Wait a minute could not have been just a day…You are living in Australia. Okay, that’s a long airline flight.
LOL! It WAS a great day, Velva, just a day in October instead of December, and YES, it was a very, very long flight. 🙂
Krista, you’re so lucky! (I’ve always wanted to visit London.) What beautiful photos of a gorgeous city! If I were there, I would be crossing my fingers that Jamie Bamber would be just around the next corner. 🙂 Thank you for sharing and taking me on a mini-holiday for a few minutes. My favorite treat definitely pain au chocolat…just thinking about it is making me hungry. (So is that strawberry tart, so it must be dessert time!) 😀
You are SO welcome, Valerie! I admit I was absolutely giddy with happiness too! Sigh, a Jamie Bamber Encounter would’ve been the cherry on top. 🙂
Lovely clicks! London is such a great place.
Cheers,
Rosa
It sure is, Rosa May! I’m so happy I finally got to see it. 🙂
What a fun day Krista…and the scenes of London are so pretty. Not to mention you look totally beautiful in that photo – just love your colorful scarf and terrific smile 🙂 bon weekend ma belle!
Oh, thank you so much, Tuula. 🙂 That is my very favoritest pashmina in the whole world. 🙂 So glad you like it too!!
I love a delicious cheesecake or something with dark chocolate and raspberries – gorgeous photos!
Oh boy, dark chocolate with raspberries makes me swoon too, Andrea. 🙂
I love London. You’ve really captured the delights of wandering the city. And the pubs are gorgeous, too.
When I stop for coffee it is usually in the morning so I like scones with it.
I’m so glad you love this city too, Stevie. 🙂 I am officially in love with it as well. 🙂 Mmm, scones with coffee sound so good this morning. 🙂
That tart looks amazing!!!!
Doesn’t it, Cailin?! We just HAD to try it. 🙂