UK - view from my window

I've officially changed my location to 'London'. I would never imagined to move to the other side of the Channel!

I have the smallest room but it is on the South side - therefore enjoy the sun!!! and I have a view on the garden :)

Pictures taken on a bright sunny day.

UK - cultural adaptation?

 Some random new things I've learnt about British culture: the 'socially awkward' concept, that pudding isn't actually pudding but dessert, that saying dessert is 'sooo' middle-class, that public schools are actually private and that you can be Zimbabwean white and British (well actually that's not true not anymore), that carpets (incl. in the bathroom) are supposed to make you warm during winter, tea has to be strong and dark, that being rude is a BIG deal, and that if you are invited for dinner you have to leave politely between 21h25 and 21h35...

Seeing drunk smart-dressed people at 8pm or huge beer drinking crowds in the city from 5pm is not uncommon. The 'laicity' concept has no translation in English. You can open a bank account without any address check but they will do a credit search on your behalf. Everything is so expensive but you have important sell-out discounts. Amazon is a big business. English people don't really like Americans' extravagance. 

UK - London my first exploration tours

Everyone is so excited about London. After 8 weeks however I had seen a few interesting places but nothing like "whaouh!". Probably I hadn't been to the right places, and decided it was time to get into more serious exploration mode before the weather becomes too cold.

In September/October I had mostly explored the City side as I'm living in East End and working in the City.

(a) City walk: I'm not a big Thames & skyscrapers fan but walking on the South side of the Thames from Blackfriars bridge to London Bridge/ or Chain Bridge is a city center to do.

(b) Covent Garden: yes! but crowded

(c) Spitalfields, Brick lane: to see but limited geographically

Friday I spent some more time browsing on the internet to find reviews and new destinations. The below three links are the most interesting I found so far. Helpful as well the Waitrose Week-end issue (when my flatmate gets it). Well, I'm still very new to London and probably not into the most trendiest circles to now what are the 'in' blogs and happenings.

"Premièrement il existe un wikitravel http://wikitravel.org/en/London d'ailleurs très pratique pour enfin (!) avoir une vue des quartiers et une rapide description de leur style & intérêt, parce que jusqu'à maintenant j'avais un peu de mal de mettre en place les pièces du puzzle.
Ensuite le National Trust http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/places/find-a-place-to-visit/ regroupe les meilleurs monuments/jardin du patrimoine et est très facile à utiliser (les photos sont aussi superbes & il y en a quelques uns qui me tentent :)
Pour ce qui est nature le http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/ est bien fait (par région également, le plus intéressant à mon sens est celui de herst au nord ouest http://www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/whats-on ) et il y a des événements tous les week-ends  (gratuits la plupart du temps)."

Thames & City

London Royal Hospital (East)

King's Cross

That's why todays destination was ... HAMPSTEAD, and it was really lovely. My first "whaouh that's cute!" and thinking this is a place to go to escape grey London. Maybe feeling remotely like my favorite places in Rome. Even though weather is quite windy and the BBC announced rain for 2pm, decided to cycle the 8 miles to Hampstead. Unluckily it started to rain at some point and I had to check my map every 5 mins to make sure I was on the right road... but was really worth it :) Getting lost was really fun as well, it was part of the exploration. I just have no clue & orientation in this new city and I think the left driving is mixing up my intuition...

My pin board - My places

Over time and travels I've been finding some interesting places to eat and shop... I always wanted to share with you some of them. In the packing effort as I have to clean my pin board and probably throw away the visit cards of the places I've pinned there - here a few of my memories.

BREIZH Café (Paris / 109 rue vieille du temple - Marais)

La crêpe autrement: Crêperie bretonne with amazing salty and sweet combinations. Very cosy design (all wood) and atmosphere. Small place, maybe worse to book.

ANTICA FOCACCERIA S.FRANCESCO (Milano / Via Castaldi 37 - Porta Venezia)

Cucina popolare siciliana dal 1834: Genuine traditional sicilian kitchen mostly based on sardine and bread. Else you have a lot of fried antipasti options. Interesting, especially the daily plate on week days. Never tried the sweet treats but there is the canolo siciliano or some other sicilian pastries. 

ICE CREAM in MILAN:

Gelato in Italy is always very good... and competitive! We usually take away as a break or dessert as only a few frozen desserts are usually proposed at restaurants. From good to exceptional depends on your taste. I like GROM (for Crema di Grom and Gusto del mese (a new receipe every month)); VENCHI (more chocolate & nuts based, from a famous Torinese chocolate-maker) in Stazione Centrale and behind the Duomo Via Mengoni 1. bClose to my place, i.e. Porta Romana/Lodi I've found GELATERIA ARTIGIANALE N22 (Corso Lodi 22) and one on Via Cadore but can't find it on Google where you also have mini frozen desserts.

LE PARADIS DU FRUIT (Paris / 32 avenue Wagram - 8e)

As its name already announces, a good options for fruits/vegetables when you're on business trip for a while (especially over the week-end) and need something fresh and different. Service not always very appreciative, but that's Paris isn't it?

LE COMPTOIR DES PETITS CHAMPS (Paris / 17 rue des Petits Champs - 1er)

absolutely everything I like!!! just the kind of places making it worth eating outside. I found it randomly one evening close to my hotel. Very good price/quality and simple yet innovative menu. Offering lunch and dinner menus, else you can take . Cosy and intimate place, yet roomy. They do speak English and are patient with foreigners (2 Japanese girls when I was there). 

OH MON CAKE (Paris / 154 rue Saint Honoré - 1er)

Lunch Bakery very yummy cupcakes and an easy nice salty quiche-cake-bagel shop (where you can also sit upstairs) for lunch

CA'CONTAGLIO (San Omobono Terme, strada per il Santuario della Cornabusa)

Specialità Selvaggina is the kind of local countryside italian restaurant or osteria you should always look for. This one is located in a valley north of Bergamo.

PLACE MINUIT (Milan / Corso Garibaldi 127)

In Milan it's hard for me to find a place I say I like to browse. This one is an exception. They have their own collections of ready-to-wear and shoes I love. I've heard they can produce on request, the color, the model you want (have seen brides to be really happy about that).  Never bought anything but almost did, they didn't have my size anymore :( Have a look during sales time!

IL SALVAGENTE (Milan / Via fratelli Bronzetti 16)

my favorite outlet in Milan. Not too far, very nice brands, prices ok (and discounted!!!) All sorted by product typology and sizes and colors, so it's quite easy to quickly find you are looking for. Found a few dresses, rain coat, shirts, etc there. Only issue, it closes at 7pm on week days and they have no basket to store your articles so after a while it becomes inconvenient...

COTTON FACTORY (Milan / Viale Umbria 3)

An outlet for Petit Bateau + other underwear/night and babywear (Liabel...). Very good for newborns and small kids.

BASSETTI Outlet (Milan)

There are several of them, one close to Porta Romana (via Carlo Botta). For bed linens, towels and every home clothes you could possibly imagine. 

BBC News: Queuing: Is it really the British way?

Moving to London after being used to some more Latin & Southern lifestyle might involve some frustration... How many times have I heard Italians complaining about lines in there own country? How undisciplined, rude and the list goes on. Personally, yes, I'm avoiding queues as much as I can but I've never been that shocked nor frustrated by the national queuing behavior in Italy (while in the NL I would say that sometimes yes). So here you are with a BBC article on the myth of British Perfect Queuing System....


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23087024

ps: this is by the way, my first post with the UK tag = = = 

IT - Sardegna & Olbia

oups, just realized I never posted about Sardegna… Went there on my own for a few days relax before going back to Milan last summer. I was surprised it was not as busy as I thought, probably because tourists (mostly italians) are having their own boat and just stay offshore on the turquoise sea. You can travel by taking the buses on the island but maybe it's more convenient for you to rent a car and be able to reach any beach… It is called the region of the 100 beaches! Travelling to Olbia is quite cheap as low cost flight are scheduled several times a day. Locals are very easy, felt very safe & relaxed! After that you feel like going back to the ghetto :S

FR- Arrière pays grassois

Here I need to be careful... some of my readers are exactly from that region :) ok, so on our sunny day we went from Nice to St Paul and then Gourdon, uphill then back to Nice via Grasse

Our pic-nic stop of the day, along the Loup

Gourdon seen from above, and sea at the horizon

from the top (very windy by the way...)

and on the north side, snow!!!