Thursday, August 17, 2006
Greece Pictures....
These are just some of our pictures from Athens and Santorini, I have so much trouble uploading pics to this site so the majority are in our flickr website - http://www.flickr.com/photos/80363963@N00/ - this link should take you straight there. Enjoy.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Sunny Santorini...
When I started this we were sitting in Santorini waiting for a taxi to take us to the old town of Ia (Oia) for a beautiful mediteranean dinner, so we could watch the sunset over the water. Bliss.
We had a lovely week just lazing by the pool, sunbathing, and drinking cocktails at our most gorgeous villa. It even has two pools and a health spa. Definitely worth the extra money. Brad and Tuti arrived late on the Monday afternoon, after which we had already spent 5 hours working on our tans. It was great catching up with them.
On the second afternoon we got our quad bikes and zoomed into town (not really - i was too chicken to let Mark go fast). That however changed and it became me going, "christ does this thing go any faster" all of course whilst driving around crazy hilly hairpin bends, while I was digging in my handbag for my camera to take scenic pictures!!! So I guess they just took a bit to get used to.
It was so nice just to relax in Santorini. I am not good at that and generally neither is Mark, not that we got bored at all, gee I mean we didn't even sleep in!! We were out and about by 9am everyday.
Firstly we drove to the other end of the island to visit the much touted Red beach, which I must say is lovely but requires hiking shoes to get to. But when we got there it was an organised beach with sunbeds and umbrellas - so important and a god send on pebble beaches. It was very small though and we only stayed a little while before we hooned off on our "pigs" (the local name for quad bikes) to Perissa beach about 15 minutes further up the coast.
At Perissa we were meant to be having lunch, mind you it was about 3-4pm, so when one of the restaurants offered us a Greek meal, plus free sunbeds we were sold. Food was good but sunbeds were ordinary and the beach, where we were, was quite boring even if the water was lovely. I only went for one swim, as swim which was cut short by the "killer 10cm fish" (quoting Mark) that I could see in the crystal clear water - ugh I just hate things in the water. Pools rule.
I think Brad and Tut both fell asleep there. On the way out we drove the length of the beach, well nearly it went of for miles and it was much more of a party atmosphere further up - some bars were brilliant, full of lots of comfy looking couches and all.
Our volcano trip was next, on the Thursday I think, though I kinda lost track of the days (isn't that what a good holiday is all about). Our little fishing boat, too touristy really, left from the Old Port. To get to the Old Port you either had to walk down the most rediculously steep windy stairs - covered in donkey poo or you could take the donkey (still able to smell donkey poo), but better yet the cable car. Yep we took the cable car - I didn't fancy holding my breath all that way!!
The Volcano was interesting, lots of walking along lots of very hot black rocks in extreme heat to see, hummm a big hole in the ground that we were told was the still active Georgiou volcano - he is expected to go off around 2025. Maybe we avoid investing in Santorini property then...despite the tempting urge to have a summer house there.
The trip encompased a further boat ride to some hot springs on the next wee little island. We thought we'd get there, walk for a bit and find a nice little bubbling pool of warm water. No such luck, the springs were right off the sea and you had to get off the boat, swim 50m and then you reach the sulphur pool. The extra catch was the little minor detail of having to swim through, oh you know harmless stingy jellyfish. Thus I decided the hot springs were not for me. Mark, Tuti and Brad went and all decided on there return - sprint return for Tuti after finding the jellyfish had multiplied in their short absence - that one the 'hot spring' water was barely warm and two that swimming while trying to avoid the jellyfish sucked.
Mark got a sting - just a baby one on his face - but he was lucky, some people had pretty nasty ones. We were told they were harmless but they had a special cream to stop the stinging. Ugh, very glad I skipped that one.
On the way back Tuti took her much wanted donkey ride back up to the town, they are pretty good and know the way and she actually beat us and we took the cable car.
Santorini is all about sunsets and beaches. It has the best I have seen. The beaches may not have been sandy, but let me tell you pebbles are much easier to deal with. They do not get into everything, including your bathers and stay in everything for days after you have been to the beach. I can also now see how they say Australia has a mediterranean climate, as all over Santorini were gum trees - lots of lovely olive coloured eucalyptus trees. It reminded me a lot of when I visited Moomba back home.
Our next beach was our most favourite it was Kamari beach which is a black pebble beach. The plan was to get there have breakfast on the beach, chill for a few hours on the sunbeds and be back in Thira for lunch. Well it was just too nice and we stayed all day. I had a massage - so nice (cheap too) and a yummy peach (weird I know but the fruit sellers by the beach had the nicest fruit).
We took two trips to the old town of Oia, first for dinner at 1800 (apparently the best restaurant on the island) and second we had a more casual dinner at a little restuarant practically jutting right out over the ocean. The people who flock there and to the rocks nearby to watch the sunset is just amazing. Some people had been there for hours vying for the best vantage spot. It really is the most beautiful sunset and it is the same every evening - lots of pinks and purples just gorgeous. Oia itself is so cute, quaint and white, with lots of windy streets all very precariously placed on the edge of the cliff.
Now sunsets were one thing but the moon setting was just awesome. One night after dinner, it was after midnight and we were having a few drinks before bed and we noticed the moon setting. It was high and yellow, then it gradually turned orange, then a bright blood red before it plunged into the ocean. I have never seen it like that and it was just incredible.
We propellored (no jet plane on that flight) out of Santorini on Sunday afternoon, after a bit of final tourist shopping and postcard writing. We were worried that we'd be tired since we were going to be arriving back in London at 9pm, but we were quite relaxed. So I must say I think I enjoyed having a real holiday and could well do with a few more of those.
Ps a final note, flying in over London at dusk, with the lights just starting to come on was also a most impressive sight; as being able to recognise Tower Bridge and the London eye and seeing them at their prettiest from the plane was really quite cool.
We had a lovely week just lazing by the pool, sunbathing, and drinking cocktails at our most gorgeous villa. It even has two pools and a health spa. Definitely worth the extra money. Brad and Tuti arrived late on the Monday afternoon, after which we had already spent 5 hours working on our tans. It was great catching up with them.
On the second afternoon we got our quad bikes and zoomed into town (not really - i was too chicken to let Mark go fast). That however changed and it became me going, "christ does this thing go any faster" all of course whilst driving around crazy hilly hairpin bends, while I was digging in my handbag for my camera to take scenic pictures!!! So I guess they just took a bit to get used to.
It was so nice just to relax in Santorini. I am not good at that and generally neither is Mark, not that we got bored at all, gee I mean we didn't even sleep in!! We were out and about by 9am everyday.
Firstly we drove to the other end of the island to visit the much touted Red beach, which I must say is lovely but requires hiking shoes to get to. But when we got there it was an organised beach with sunbeds and umbrellas - so important and a god send on pebble beaches. It was very small though and we only stayed a little while before we hooned off on our "pigs" (the local name for quad bikes) to Perissa beach about 15 minutes further up the coast.
At Perissa we were meant to be having lunch, mind you it was about 3-4pm, so when one of the restaurants offered us a Greek meal, plus free sunbeds we were sold. Food was good but sunbeds were ordinary and the beach, where we were, was quite boring even if the water was lovely. I only went for one swim, as swim which was cut short by the "killer 10cm fish" (quoting Mark) that I could see in the crystal clear water - ugh I just hate things in the water. Pools rule.
I think Brad and Tut both fell asleep there. On the way out we drove the length of the beach, well nearly it went of for miles and it was much more of a party atmosphere further up - some bars were brilliant, full of lots of comfy looking couches and all.
Our volcano trip was next, on the Thursday I think, though I kinda lost track of the days (isn't that what a good holiday is all about). Our little fishing boat, too touristy really, left from the Old Port. To get to the Old Port you either had to walk down the most rediculously steep windy stairs - covered in donkey poo or you could take the donkey (still able to smell donkey poo), but better yet the cable car. Yep we took the cable car - I didn't fancy holding my breath all that way!!
The Volcano was interesting, lots of walking along lots of very hot black rocks in extreme heat to see, hummm a big hole in the ground that we were told was the still active Georgiou volcano - he is expected to go off around 2025. Maybe we avoid investing in Santorini property then...despite the tempting urge to have a summer house there.
The trip encompased a further boat ride to some hot springs on the next wee little island. We thought we'd get there, walk for a bit and find a nice little bubbling pool of warm water. No such luck, the springs were right off the sea and you had to get off the boat, swim 50m and then you reach the sulphur pool. The extra catch was the little minor detail of having to swim through, oh you know harmless stingy jellyfish. Thus I decided the hot springs were not for me. Mark, Tuti and Brad went and all decided on there return - sprint return for Tuti after finding the jellyfish had multiplied in their short absence - that one the 'hot spring' water was barely warm and two that swimming while trying to avoid the jellyfish sucked.
Mark got a sting - just a baby one on his face - but he was lucky, some people had pretty nasty ones. We were told they were harmless but they had a special cream to stop the stinging. Ugh, very glad I skipped that one.
On the way back Tuti took her much wanted donkey ride back up to the town, they are pretty good and know the way and she actually beat us and we took the cable car.
Santorini is all about sunsets and beaches. It has the best I have seen. The beaches may not have been sandy, but let me tell you pebbles are much easier to deal with. They do not get into everything, including your bathers and stay in everything for days after you have been to the beach. I can also now see how they say Australia has a mediterranean climate, as all over Santorini were gum trees - lots of lovely olive coloured eucalyptus trees. It reminded me a lot of when I visited Moomba back home.
Our next beach was our most favourite it was Kamari beach which is a black pebble beach. The plan was to get there have breakfast on the beach, chill for a few hours on the sunbeds and be back in Thira for lunch. Well it was just too nice and we stayed all day. I had a massage - so nice (cheap too) and a yummy peach (weird I know but the fruit sellers by the beach had the nicest fruit).
We took two trips to the old town of Oia, first for dinner at 1800 (apparently the best restaurant on the island) and second we had a more casual dinner at a little restuarant practically jutting right out over the ocean. The people who flock there and to the rocks nearby to watch the sunset is just amazing. Some people had been there for hours vying for the best vantage spot. It really is the most beautiful sunset and it is the same every evening - lots of pinks and purples just gorgeous. Oia itself is so cute, quaint and white, with lots of windy streets all very precariously placed on the edge of the cliff.
Now sunsets were one thing but the moon setting was just awesome. One night after dinner, it was after midnight and we were having a few drinks before bed and we noticed the moon setting. It was high and yellow, then it gradually turned orange, then a bright blood red before it plunged into the ocean. I have never seen it like that and it was just incredible.
We propellored (no jet plane on that flight) out of Santorini on Sunday afternoon, after a bit of final tourist shopping and postcard writing. We were worried that we'd be tired since we were going to be arriving back in London at 9pm, but we were quite relaxed. So I must say I think I enjoyed having a real holiday and could well do with a few more of those.
Ps a final note, flying in over London at dusk, with the lights just starting to come on was also a most impressive sight; as being able to recognise Tower Bridge and the London eye and seeing them at their prettiest from the plane was really quite cool.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Athens
Our first trip to Greece, so another tick on the must go to places around the world. Many more to go we assure you. :-)
First stop we arrive in Athens on a warm summer evening, which was quite strange anyway as usually we have morning flights and its rush rush from about 5am to make an 8 or 9am flight. So it was a cruisy day, get up late, pack, leave to airport just after 1pm - no rush, very casual even with time for food and drinks in the bar before our flight. Since it was 10pm we headed straight to our hotel, via taxi as the trains - conveniently were not running, and rested up for the next days exploration of Athens....
A day and certainly no more than two is ample to explore Athens (see Map below)
and I have attempted to show where we went on the map. Its not very clear so I may well elaborate, so you don't have to guess LOL.
First stop we arrive in Athens on a warm summer evening, which was quite strange anyway as usually we have morning flights and its rush rush from about 5am to make an 8 or 9am flight. So it was a cruisy day, get up late, pack, leave to airport just after 1pm - no rush, very casual even with time for food and drinks in the bar before our flight. Since it was 10pm we headed straight to our hotel, via taxi as the trains - conveniently were not running, and rested up for the next days exploration of Athens....
A day and certainly no more than two is ample to explore Athens (see Map below)
and I have attempted to show where we went on the map. Its not very clear so I may well elaborate, so you don't have to guess LOL. The Acropolis was the first thing we wanted to visit and we were in easy walking distance to it from our hotel. In fact we saw it all lit up the night before as pointed out to us by our taxi driver. Though I wasn't paying too much attention as I was worried he was trying to rip us off at the time!!! (he wasn't as it turned out - thank goodness)
It was a very steep walk to get up there, hot and windy with the incessant chirping of cicadas in the olive trees. We were trying to figure out how the people sitting in the cafes nearby could stand the noise. It was quite a saga to get in, with about a million cruise ship tourists and the ticket booth was no where near the actual entrance. We lined up 3 times really - once for tickets, then again after we were told you had to check your bags, again elsewhere, and finally to get in the gate (i also misplaced one of the tickets and had an arguement with the women on the door to get in too - hehe!!!)
It was pretty impressive, seeing such old and magnificent structures still standing after all these years and still today they are doing a lot of work to bring them back to their former glory. The most impressive bit for me was the Erechtheion which was build in 421-406BC and the porch with the draped maidens (now copies of what was originally there).
There is a good view from there across to Mt Lykavitos where there is a small church (apparently the view from there is even better than from the Acropolis), down to Hadrian's Arch and to the Temple of Olympiad Zeus. Both of those we walked down to later on, after visiting the old Olympic stadium that they used in 1896 (its very small). On the way back down we could see the Stoa of Attalus, part of ancient Agora, which was a shopping arcade back in 159-138BC and the Hephaisteion - the best preserved Greek temple in the world.
After a delicious lunch in a little backstreet taverna we began to wander through the little market district as we headed towards the National Gardens. It was such a relief to sit down there as it was so warm wandering around. 
On the way there we also passed the Parliament buildings, which would have been completely uninteresting if it were not for the hilarious Greek guards dressed in their cute little outfits (see pic). It was so hot they were swaying with the heat.
We later wandered around the Plaka district - an area of old blending with new - firstly just to walk the pleasant narrow streets and then later to explore the markets (lots of "tourist tat") whilst killing time before dinner. We still ended up eating way before Greek dinner time (usually 10pm and later), so we ate alone in a largish taverna, as we had to get up at 5am to catch a 7:30am ferry from the Piraeus port just outside of Athens.
We enjoyed it though and if we go again we'd probably visit the little islands off of Athens which I have been told are quite interesting with fishing villages and the like.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
London Beach....
No you are not looking at a photo of some exotic location - this beach is smack bang in the middle of London, right near Brick lane in fact. We found it one day when searching for the Spitalfields markets that are near Liverpool street. Somebody dumped a load of lovely white sand from the Caribbean onto what looks like a car park, stuck up a few umbrellas, plonked in a bar and hey presto - beach!!
The other pictures are of Spitafields, the church, which is quite original and a cute brick a brack shop.
Friday, July 28, 2006
Oliver
No its not the latest musical to hit the West End, much more important. Today was the arrival of my first little nephew - Oliver Deane Joseph Stratton.
Mark and I are very excited and cannot wait to meet him in November.
Both Mum and bubs are doing very well. It was a natural birth, with epi, but he is a nice 7lb11oz, about 3.6kg and 50cm long with a shock of black hair.
So exciting - so congratulations to my little sister Renee and her hubby Ben on their new bundle of joy... let the baby shopping begin :-)
Mark and I are very excited and cannot wait to meet him in November. Both Mum and bubs are doing very well. It was a natural birth, with epi, but he is a nice 7lb11oz, about 3.6kg and 50cm long with a shock of black hair.
So exciting - so congratulations to my little sister Renee and her hubby Ben on their new bundle of joy... let the baby shopping begin :-)
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Annes Visit to London in pictures.....
Anne and Lisa at The Flask pub in Highgate (near Hampstead)
Mark and Lisa at Camden Lock - Camden Markets
Mark and Lisa at Camden Lock - Camden Markets
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Count down...
Only 4 days to go and we are off to Athens and Santorini, woo hoo we cannot wait. It feels like we have been talking about this trip for ages.... and we just want it to hurry up and happen.
Last weekend we visited the Farnborough Air show down in, you guessed it Farnborough, just South West of London. Well I am not really a planes and jets gal, but it was a good day out. Basically from 12:30pm onwards to 5:30pm they had an air display of all different types of jets and planes.
The most impressive I would have to say is the new Airbus 380, which is just massive, but in the air it was very manouverable and did some impressive turns for a plane its size. The loudest was the Russian MIG 29 (that was thanks to Mark - as if I was going to know that!!!) and unfortunately holding a camera, an umbrella and a burger while it was going past was not a good move - very tricky to get my fingers in my ears!! (pics to come - have loads)
Yes umbrella you read correctly. We had a bit of a thunderstorm and it bucketed down for about 20 minutes...there was quite a mass exodus of people from the grounds dashing for the minimal shelter during that time, but thankfully that was about all and the rest of the day pulled up nice.
Sunday we had a lovely relaxing day and paid our first visit down South of the River - to where all the Aussies live - to Clapham Common. well my first visit anyway, as Mark now plays touch footy down there every Wednesday. Its big but not as nice as Hampstead Heath, particularily since they cannot water the grass and there has been so little rain.
Ah the reason we went down there - well that was for Simones fundraiser picnic to raise money for her on route home to Australia trip to Tanzania. It was great to catch up with her again and we did enjoy playing childrens games - sack race, egg and spoon race, three legged race, and Pin the tail on the "Charlie" (a friend of hers) - see Laura we celebrated with kiddies games on the weekend too!
Ah alas it is time for me to go once again...oh and the weather was 33 today :-)
Last weekend we visited the Farnborough Air show down in, you guessed it Farnborough, just South West of London. Well I am not really a planes and jets gal, but it was a good day out. Basically from 12:30pm onwards to 5:30pm they had an air display of all different types of jets and planes.
The most impressive I would have to say is the new Airbus 380, which is just massive, but in the air it was very manouverable and did some impressive turns for a plane its size. The loudest was the Russian MIG 29 (that was thanks to Mark - as if I was going to know that!!!) and unfortunately holding a camera, an umbrella and a burger while it was going past was not a good move - very tricky to get my fingers in my ears!! (pics to come - have loads)
Yes umbrella you read correctly. We had a bit of a thunderstorm and it bucketed down for about 20 minutes...there was quite a mass exodus of people from the grounds dashing for the minimal shelter during that time, but thankfully that was about all and the rest of the day pulled up nice.
Sunday we had a lovely relaxing day and paid our first visit down South of the River - to where all the Aussies live - to Clapham Common. well my first visit anyway, as Mark now plays touch footy down there every Wednesday. Its big but not as nice as Hampstead Heath, particularily since they cannot water the grass and there has been so little rain.
Ah the reason we went down there - well that was for Simones fundraiser picnic to raise money for her on route home to Australia trip to Tanzania. It was great to catch up with her again and we did enjoy playing childrens games - sack race, egg and spoon race, three legged race, and Pin the tail on the "Charlie" (a friend of hers) - see Laura we celebrated with kiddies games on the weekend too!
Ah alas it is time for me to go once again...oh and the weather was 33 today :-)
Welcome Hannah Nicola Wanzek
On Saturday a little baby girl arrived and she belongs to Justin and Michelle. We just like to congratulate them on her safe arrival and we hope that there is a little boy - Jayden - who is very happy to have a new little sister. All the best guys. Love from us :-)
Friday, July 21, 2006
Hot Hot Hot
Yes its been HOT!!! Read all about our July Heat wave, yes its almost as hot as summer at home, if that is possible at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/5193970.stm, and don't forget you can read our daily news anytime you like as I have added a new link to the BBC website on this page now.
The worst thing is the tube, it is like a sauna at the best of times, but summer makes it extra hot - even my daggy Silverlink train is a pleasant to be on with the heat even though I normally would rather take the tube. Thank heavens that both our offices are airconditioned!!!
They do some strange things to keep animals cool over here, like feeding monkeys icecream, elephants bathing and piggies eating carrot ice blocks (see pictures)
Also this was from yesterdays BBC....
Wednesday, 19 July 2006, 19:55 GMT 20:55 UK
Heatwave breaks record for July
People all over the country are trying to find ways to cool off
Britain has sweltered on its hottest recorded July day as temperatures hit 36.3C (97.3F) near Gatwick Airport. It was also the hottest day of the year with the high at Charlwood in Surrey beating Tuesday's 33.2C (91.8F).
Schools closed, workers were being encouraged to dress down, and elderly people and young children warned to drink plenty of water to cope. Peaks were 29.7C in St Angelo, Northern Ireland, 31.3C in Prestwick, Scotland, and 33.6C in Anglesey, Wales.
British temperatures this week have exceeded such holiday destinations as Malta, Athens, Bermuda and Rome.
As temperatures soared across the country, the heat brought people to the beaches and into the shade, melted roads and provoked health and safety warnings.
In the heat:
· Several schools chose not to open on Wednesday, while others closed at lunchtime and many school sports days were cancelled.
· On the roads, emergency measures were brought in to protect surfaces with gritters spreading gravel after the asphalt began to melt. Ambulance service bosses urged drivers in jams to stay with their cars after crews had difficulties getting through to an accident.
The worst thing is the tube, it is like a sauna at the best of times, but summer makes it extra hot - even my daggy Silverlink train is a pleasant to be on with the heat even though I normally would rather take the tube. Thank heavens that both our offices are airconditioned!!!
They do some strange things to keep animals cool over here, like feeding monkeys icecream, elephants bathing and piggies eating carrot ice blocks (see pictures)
Also this was from yesterdays BBC....
Wednesday, 19 July 2006, 19:55 GMT 20:55 UK
Heatwave breaks record for July
People all over the country are trying to find ways to cool off
Britain has sweltered on its hottest recorded July day as temperatures hit 36.3C (97.3F) near Gatwick Airport. It was also the hottest day of the year with the high at Charlwood in Surrey beating Tuesday's 33.2C (91.8F).
Schools closed, workers were being encouraged to dress down, and elderly people and young children warned to drink plenty of water to cope. Peaks were 29.7C in St Angelo, Northern Ireland, 31.3C in Prestwick, Scotland, and 33.6C in Anglesey, Wales.
British temperatures this week have exceeded such holiday destinations as Malta, Athens, Bermuda and Rome.
As temperatures soared across the country, the heat brought people to the beaches and into the shade, melted roads and provoked health and safety warnings.
In the heat:
· Several schools chose not to open on Wednesday, while others closed at lunchtime and many school sports days were cancelled.
· On the roads, emergency measures were brought in to protect surfaces with gritters spreading gravel after the asphalt began to melt. Ambulance service bosses urged drivers in jams to stay with their cars after crews had difficulties getting through to an accident.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
What I love about an English Summer..
Well it continues to be the most fabulous Summer that England has seen for a long time. I think its just because I am here and that is what I expect to have, but I could be wrong. I could spend hours gloating about the brilliant sunshine, warm summer evenings, sunshine till 10pm, floaty dresses, flip flops, lush green parks, dining outside....but I won't.
Last weekend we were lucky enough to have Anne (my Aunt) come and stay with us in our lovely little flat (did I mention we have air conditioning....lucky us) and be our very first visitor. We did a mini trip to IKEA, and before you all groan Anne wanted to go she doesn't have one near her and it really was a short trip, just a couple of hours LOL!!!
Since the weather, did I mention it was brilliant, was so nice we headed over to Hampstead, well more Highgate to Waterlow Park for a bit of a wander. We hadn't been before it is quite pretty. The pub nearby called The Flask was supposed to be good for celeb spotting, but alas not on Saturday. Dinner was at the Banana Tree, yes I know we go all the time, but Anne hadn't been and we love the food.
The next day after a breakfast at one of the little places across the road, Sirous, we took the bus over to the Camden Markets. They are just brilliant in summer, much more lively than our last trip in the murky winter. Lots to buy too, plenty of little summery dresses, jewellery, bags and food; but lots of fatty, greasy stuff you just do not want on a hot day. They have the best fresh lemonade and orange juice too and we had plenty of that.
The rest of the afternoon was spent at a bar in Hampstead just watching the shoppers go by, chatting, drinking cheap cocktails and enjoying the atmosphere. Did I mention a quick trip to Kirk Geiger for a bit of shoe shopping too....none for me but Anne got a pair.
All up we had a lovely lazy weekend, just exploring North London with Anne we have already made plans to see her again down in Goring (near Brighton) in August, so hopefully it's still warm and we can go to the beach lots.
Last weekend we were lucky enough to have Anne (my Aunt) come and stay with us in our lovely little flat (did I mention we have air conditioning....lucky us) and be our very first visitor. We did a mini trip to IKEA, and before you all groan Anne wanted to go she doesn't have one near her and it really was a short trip, just a couple of hours LOL!!!
Since the weather, did I mention it was brilliant, was so nice we headed over to Hampstead, well more Highgate to Waterlow Park for a bit of a wander. We hadn't been before it is quite pretty. The pub nearby called The Flask was supposed to be good for celeb spotting, but alas not on Saturday. Dinner was at the Banana Tree, yes I know we go all the time, but Anne hadn't been and we love the food.
The next day after a breakfast at one of the little places across the road, Sirous, we took the bus over to the Camden Markets. They are just brilliant in summer, much more lively than our last trip in the murky winter. Lots to buy too, plenty of little summery dresses, jewellery, bags and food; but lots of fatty, greasy stuff you just do not want on a hot day. They have the best fresh lemonade and orange juice too and we had plenty of that.
The rest of the afternoon was spent at a bar in Hampstead just watching the shoppers go by, chatting, drinking cheap cocktails and enjoying the atmosphere. Did I mention a quick trip to Kirk Geiger for a bit of shoe shopping too....none for me but Anne got a pair.
All up we had a lovely lazy weekend, just exploring North London with Anne we have already made plans to see her again down in Goring (near Brighton) in August, so hopefully it's still warm and we can go to the beach lots.
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