This post marks the end of this trip. After two more days in London, we will shuffle to Heathrow, nearly miss our flight, surprisingly get upgraded (hell yeah! And… how will I ever fly coach again?!) and make the long journey back to California, while flight attendants try to get us drunk coming round regularly with a drink of some sort. Honestly, do people always drink this much in first class?
This post has the potential to turn into a novel if I ramble the way I often do, so instead let me present … London in captions! And pictures!
Borough Market & Tate Modern
We spend out second full day in London out and about with our new friend, João. After a bit of wandering, we soon found ourselves snacking our way through the Borough Market, joining the crowds under the arches of the London Bridge. Do not make the mistake of eating before you go, it’s a foodies paradise.
As London’s oldest food market, the Borough Market has been a bustling trade center since the Romans founded Londinium around 43 AD, and remains so today.
We had the Korma, shared a berry tart, munched on cashews, sipped on fresh apple/black currant juice while drooling over the stacks of cheeses.
Attempting to walk off the food, we made our way along the Thames Path to the Tate Modern, to get down with some modern art.
Clearly João was FASCINATED with all the artwork…
Looking down on London from the restaurant atop the Tate
Wish we had time to check out a performance at the Old Globe!
Tower of London & the Dungeons
On our last full day in London, mom went off with Joao to sightsee and I met up with my lovely friends Becca and Kirsty, who both caught trains from Northern England for another mini-reunion!
Meeting at Trafalgar Square. Note to self, next time decide a specific spot, Trafalgar Square is large and crowded!
All fans of history, we hit up the Tower of London. I was more than happy to (remember, “Tudor obsession”) and I saw loads of things I missed when I was here last.
After a lunch of fish & chips at the Liberty Bounds – Wetherspoons, we debated Hyde Park and Dickens House, but actually ended up in the London Dungeons where we were told stories of Jack the Ripper, Sweeney Todd, the Fire of 1666, Bloody Mary and regularly had the bejesus scared out of us. Fun times though! After the fact. 
We’re all part of the same book club, and following form of our last time together, we made our way to a bookstore. Not just any bookstore though. We spent a good amount of time in Europe’s largest bookstore, Waterstones Piccadilly. With 6 floors to peruse, we understandably barely scratched the surface after an hour. I came away with 5 books though.
Dinner near the West End. This neighborhood was crowded and very familiar to San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter.
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++Another wonderful trip behind me. Next stop on the blog… Costa Rica!
Your blogs been a great read. what a trip. And here u are in London. I dont think Ive been to Waterstones piccadilly. My Dad used to work at Hampton Court so been there many times. I used to live in the area.
Cinqua Terra.. never been. must go!. a train from Genoa you say..hmm
Waterstones Piccadilly is a book lovers paradise!
And Cinque Terre… go NOW if you can. I adore that place!
Great post, Borough Market has to be one of my favourite parts of London
Thanks! I’m pretty happy Joao suggested it. I would love to have one like it in my neighborhood!
Lovely photos! Made me homesick… (worse than usual…
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Did you like the crown Jewels? Isn’t it funny how they whizz you past on a conveyor belt?!!! It wasn’t like that when I was a kid – I nearly died laughing whe I went back as an adult and got whizzed along like something at the supermarket checkout!
Yes, I saw the crown jewels… and I did find that conveyor belt odd actually! Not what I was expecting.
Your pictures are awesome, Tisha. Brought back some great memories of Londontown. Glad to hear you had so much fun!
Thanks, Mike. It really is a great town… wish I had something like the Borough Market near me. It puts my local Farmer’s Market to shame!