For the third (!!!) April in a row, we joined Andrew on a work trip to London. Between these recent trips and the handful of times I’ve joined my mom over the years, London is beginning to feel like another one of our ‘happy places.’ We know our way around, we have favorite restaurants and playgrounds, and the concierge at the hotel even recognized us!
We had an uneventful flight (unlike last year!), and arrived at the hotel late morning. After a nap, we headed out for an early dinner at The Builder’s Arms.
Maelle had her heart set on visiting Hamley’s, so we decided that night was as good as any other. She chose a rather large cheetah almost immediately and after our attempts to interest her in some smaller items failed, we gave in. We’ve taken her photo with the giant Hamley bear every year; click here to see how small she looked two years ago. She’s a full head taller now!
The following day was Saturday, which means the Portobello Road market in Notting Hill is open! We arrived early, and I had a great time until it got crowded. We always get a really ethnic lunch from the food trucks set up at the end; this year I chose Turkish, Andrew had a duck confit sandwich and Maelle ate fried potatoes on a stick. OK, so maybe this year wasn’t the MOST diverse selection of foods for us, but we try. I think last year was Iraqi and Venezuelan?
After the market, we headed to Soho for some shopping. Liberty was too busy, so we let Maelle play at the ‘rainbow playground.’ (It’s really just this art installation in Soho Square that kids climb on.) She remembered it from last year.
We ended our evening with pizza at Rudy’s (another favorite) where Maelle LITERALLY fell asleep on the table. In her almost five years, I don’t think she’s ever done that before! Andrew held her and it was precious. She woke up before we left and enjoyed a walk through Leicester Square!
The next morning, we visited the National Portrait Gallery, where we came prepared with drawing paper for Maelle. (We actually learned that trick last year while visiting the Courtauld Gallery here, and have used in in other museums since.)
Apparently, it was also St. George’s Day, in London, and there was a big festival going on outside the museum at Trafalgar Square. (I say ‘apparently’ but Andrew already knew and planned our itinerary accordingly.) He and Maelle dressed up and fought the dragon, and she participated in a couple games and rode a few rides as well.
Afterward, we headed over to the Jubilee Playground, and on the way we caught a glimpse of the marathon, just like last year! It always pumps me up and makes me want to start training again. I actually entered the lottery for next year’s race (Andrew entered last year–good thing he didn’t get in!) but I’m not holding my breath since MORE THAN 800,000 OTHER PEOPLE DID.
Here’s something new to us that was kind of neat: a graffiti tunnel. Somehow Andrew became aware of it and led us through; it was really neat to see all the ‘art,’ if not a bit pungent! (If you aren’t careful, you could get high in there!) It had the feel of an actual art installation, and you could tell others were checking it out just like us. A few people were actually working in there as we passed by, and it made me wonder how–if at all–is it regulated?
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