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...