Saturday we got up, had some coffee and headed out to The British Museum. This was the one major museum in London we had yet to visit. It is definitely one of those places where you can spend days and never see it all. Fortunately in our online explorations before heading over we found a great self-guided three-hour tour recommended by the museum.
If you are pressed for time, it is worth walking in just to see the Great Court, which is a glass covered 2-acre indoor plaza. We had lunch in the Court Restaurant (reservations recommended) which affords great views of the court and a bit of respite for the feet. They had started tea service as we were leaving and it looked like a great place for tea too.
I don't even know how to try to tell you about what we saw, it covered everything from Greek art to Chinese vases, an Easter Island statue to 20th century clocks. Seeing the Rosetta Stone was amazing. When you get to see this thing that you learned about as a little kid that is considered a key foundation of modern knowledge you have to be a bit awed. They have a replica outside the case that you can actually touch.
Whether historical world culture excites or bores you, you'll find at least a couple of hours, if not days of things to peak your interests.
26 February 2009
25 February 2009
LondonWeekendFriday
Last weekend was a non-stop mix of intensity, fun and culture. It started off with my first behind the wheel driving lesson. It went pretty well. I like my instructor and he recommended I book my driving test right away, so a couple of more months and I should be driving in the UK! It was however, really intense. Trying to learn the UK way of doing things, which often involves unlearning the US way of doing things, combined with having a teacher in the car with London traffic - certainly not a Sunday drive.
I couldn't wait to get to lunch and have a glass of wine. Joe and I met up with our friend Bernie at a quaint French bistro near Covent Garden. She's from South Africa so mostly we talked about our pending safari plans.
On the way to lunch I stopped at the Tkts booth for the Official London Theatre Society and picked up two tickets for Plague Over England. It was a great play. Using the "tea room" (what the Brits call "cottaging") arrest of Sir John Gielgud in 1953 as the center of the story, the play explores the nascent gay rights movement in England at the time. As a play it was engaging and well done. As an opportunity to learn about a moment in time and juxtapose it against my knowledge of the gay rights movement in the U.S. it was excellent.
Before the play we had dinner at Sitaaray, in the West End theatre district. The food was good, but the concept was great. Essential it was a tasting menu, we received a couple dozen of things to taste, which was fun for me. I tend to stick to my favorites at Indian restaurants and don't explore much so this really gave me that opportunity. And the price was really reasonable.
I couldn't wait to get to lunch and have a glass of wine. Joe and I met up with our friend Bernie at a quaint French bistro near Covent Garden. She's from South Africa so mostly we talked about our pending safari plans.
On the way to lunch I stopped at the Tkts booth for the Official London Theatre Society and picked up two tickets for Plague Over England. It was a great play. Using the "tea room" (what the Brits call "cottaging") arrest of Sir John Gielgud in 1953 as the center of the story, the play explores the nascent gay rights movement in England at the time. As a play it was engaging and well done. As an opportunity to learn about a moment in time and juxtapose it against my knowledge of the gay rights movement in the U.S. it was excellent.
Before the play we had dinner at Sitaaray, in the West End theatre district. The food was good, but the concept was great. Essential it was a tasting menu, we received a couple dozen of things to taste, which was fun for me. I tend to stick to my favorites at Indian restaurants and don't explore much so this really gave me that opportunity. And the price was really reasonable.
17 February 2009
In Cold Blood
I don't think, other than a short story or so, I had read any Truman Capote before reading In Cold Blood. A long time ago I had seen the movie and I knew it was this iconic true story, but I hadn't really thought about putting it on the reading list.
I had received it as a gift, the Christmas before last and it looked like a good book for traveling so it came with me to the States. Divided into short enough segments that it's easy to pick up and put down, yet exciting and interesting enough to pull you away from the overhead announcements and the airport throngs or to make hours of flying disappear, it is a good traveling book.
What can I say, other than if you haven't read the book, get it. You don't often get such direct insight into anyone's mind, let alone that of two killers.
For added fun, knowing I had the book, a few months ago I picked up the DVD of the movie. Definitely read the book first, but then do see the movie. Shot in the actual town, with real towns people, at the real house made it an interesting experiment in comparing how I "saw" what I read and what things really looked like.
I had received it as a gift, the Christmas before last and it looked like a good book for traveling so it came with me to the States. Divided into short enough segments that it's easy to pick up and put down, yet exciting and interesting enough to pull you away from the overhead announcements and the airport throngs or to make hours of flying disappear, it is a good traveling book.
What can I say, other than if you haven't read the book, get it. You don't often get such direct insight into anyone's mind, let alone that of two killers.
For added fun, knowing I had the book, a few months ago I picked up the DVD of the movie. Definitely read the book first, but then do see the movie. Shot in the actual town, with real towns people, at the real house made it an interesting experiment in comparing how I "saw" what I read and what things really looked like.
ChocolateBliss
After two weeks in Washington, I headed to New Jersey to visit the folks and celebrate my Mom's upcoming 70th birthday. In honor of the occasion I had booked us at the historic Hershey Hotel, and its Chocolate Spa for three days of mother/son quality time and plenty of pampering.
They were calling for a big snow storm on the East Coast of the U.S. so we headed up a day early, which made it even more relaxing. From the moment the valet opened the car door until he closed it three days later, it was nothing but total relaxation.
After checking in on Monday evening, we took a walk around the hotel, enjoying its 1930s architecture. After a cocktail in the bar and dinner in one of the restaurants we went back to the bar for dessert. We each had a signature Hotel Hershey Coffee - Kahlua, cognac, Hershey's chocolate syrup and coffee all topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. To round things out we shared a serving of orange chocolate angel food cake, which came with a beautiful winged cookie and fresh mandarin oranges.
Tuesday morning we both ordered the Spa Breakfast from room service to set the mood. It included a great muesli, these really tasty high fiber muffins, fresh fruit, juice and coffee. Then it was off to the gym, followed by a swim in the huge indoor swimming pool. Since it was a weekday in early February the place was practically abandoned. The absence of other guests and the minimal spa visitors just added to the overall relaxation. I spent over an hour in the pool just hanging out all by myself.
That afternoon we started our spa treatments. I had a great sea scrub followed by a soothing hydrotherapy bath. I met my Mom back in the room and we had champagne and snacks that I had packed for our cocooning in the room.
Wednesday was the major spa day. After a light room service breakfast of fruit, juice and coffee we were off to the spa. I relaxed
with a long steam before heading to the quiet room to enjoy some homemade hot cocoa. The kind made with powdered cocoa, milk, sugar and a pinch of salt...all you can drink...along with coffee, tea, lemon water, etc. My first service was a mojito body wrap with a vichy shower. After some relaxation time it was off to the Oasis restaurant for lunch.
Lunch at the Oasis must be the height of spa decadence. The food, a delicious and abundent buffet, included shrimp, several salads and pork loin. Even though I didn't have any, the lamb and barley soup, which my Mom ate, looked and smelled wonderful. For dessert there was an incredible array of little chocolate things. I really enjoyed the mini chocolate pecan pie in particular. And you get to do all this in your spa robe as only spa patrons eat here. The views of the hotel gardens, the sound of the water fountain add to the relaxed atmosphere, but alas, there is a pampering schedule to be kept.
As we were getting ready to leave, the hostess came over to our table and with a look of abject horror on her face apologized to my Mother, her 2:30 service had been pushed to 3:00. The hostess invited her to linger over lunch a little longer and assured her that the rest of her day would go as planned. This was the kind personalized attention we enjoyed throughout our stay.
After lunch I had an 80-minute chamomile relaxation massage and then a fun 75-minute private pedicure that included exfoliation, massage and paraffin. No polish, just a nice natural buff.
That night we ate left over snacks and had room service dinner. The room service waiter had inquired about our stay and we told him we were celebrating my Mom's birthday. When he returned to pick up our table he brought a lovely plate of chocolate petite fours for her. On our last morning I arranged for a late checkout as my Mom had a salon visit scheduled and I wanted to go to the gym.
The first contacts to make the plans and schedule the services set a standard of attention to detail and service that carried on throughout the entire trip. The recently renovated (and upgraded - big flat screen TV, fridge, sheets, pillows, etc.) room was wonderful and the relaxation hard to beat. The only thing I found disappointing - and I knew in advance - was that you need a jacket, and they prefer a tie, for the main dinning room. I did get to see the architecturally famous dining room though, and it is beautiful. The menu didn't look too bad either. Maybe by the time I get back they'll have loosened up a little.
They were calling for a big snow storm on the East Coast of the U.S. so we headed up a day early, which made it even more relaxing. From the moment the valet opened the car door until he closed it three days later, it was nothing but total relaxation.
After checking in on Monday evening, we took a walk around the hotel, enjoying its 1930s architecture. After a cocktail in the bar and dinner in one of the restaurants we went back to the bar for dessert. We each had a signature Hotel Hershey Coffee - Kahlua, cognac, Hershey's chocolate syrup and coffee all topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. To round things out we shared a serving of orange chocolate angel food cake, which came with a beautiful winged cookie and fresh mandarin oranges.
Tuesday morning we both ordered the Spa Breakfast from room service to set the mood. It included a great muesli, these really tasty high fiber muffins, fresh fruit, juice and coffee. Then it was off to the gym, followed by a swim in the huge indoor swimming pool. Since it was a weekday in early February the place was practically abandoned. The absence of other guests and the minimal spa visitors just added to the overall relaxation. I spent over an hour in the pool just hanging out all by myself.
That afternoon we started our spa treatments. I had a great sea scrub followed by a soothing hydrotherapy bath. I met my Mom back in the room and we had champagne and snacks that I had packed for our cocooning in the room.
Wednesday was the major spa day. After a light room service breakfast of fruit, juice and coffee we were off to the spa. I relaxed
with a long steam before heading to the quiet room to enjoy some homemade hot cocoa. The kind made with powdered cocoa, milk, sugar and a pinch of salt...all you can drink...along with coffee, tea, lemon water, etc. My first service was a mojito body wrap with a vichy shower. After some relaxation time it was off to the Oasis restaurant for lunch.Lunch at the Oasis must be the height of spa decadence. The food, a delicious and abundent buffet, included shrimp, several salads and pork loin. Even though I didn't have any, the lamb and barley soup, which my Mom ate, looked and smelled wonderful. For dessert there was an incredible array of little chocolate things. I really enjoyed the mini chocolate pecan pie in particular. And you get to do all this in your spa robe as only spa patrons eat here. The views of the hotel gardens, the sound of the water fountain add to the relaxed atmosphere, but alas, there is a pampering schedule to be kept.
As we were getting ready to leave, the hostess came over to our table and with a look of abject horror on her face apologized to my Mother, her 2:30 service had been pushed to 3:00. The hostess invited her to linger over lunch a little longer and assured her that the rest of her day would go as planned. This was the kind personalized attention we enjoyed throughout our stay.
After lunch I had an 80-minute chamomile relaxation massage and then a fun 75-minute private pedicure that included exfoliation, massage and paraffin. No polish, just a nice natural buff.
That night we ate left over snacks and had room service dinner. The room service waiter had inquired about our stay and we told him we were celebrating my Mom's birthday. When he returned to pick up our table he brought a lovely plate of chocolate petite fours for her. On our last morning I arranged for a late checkout as my Mom had a salon visit scheduled and I wanted to go to the gym.
The first contacts to make the plans and schedule the services set a standard of attention to detail and service that carried on throughout the entire trip. The recently renovated (and upgraded - big flat screen TV, fridge, sheets, pillows, etc.) room was wonderful and the relaxation hard to beat. The only thing I found disappointing - and I knew in advance - was that you need a jacket, and they prefer a tie, for the main dinning room. I did get to see the architecturally famous dining room though, and it is beautiful. The menu didn't look too bad either. Maybe by the time I get back they'll have loosened up a little.
FarrahOlivia
During my almost three and a half weeks in the U.S. I did manage to go out to dinner once or twice. The biggest dining event was at FarrahOlivia in Old Towne Alexandria, Virginia. I was joined by my favorite fun dining friends, Martha and Janine.
I've spent quite a bit of time, too much time in fact, contemplating the overall experience. I finally decided that all that time validates my opinion that it was a mediocre experience, even though expectations were high.
The first disappointment was the service. We were promptly greeted on a Sunday evening and seated. Our waiter came over, answered some questions and with his cell phone ringing departed the table...never to return. He did eventually return to the dining room, but we sat ready to order for entirely too long before a new person arrived, nodded a brief apology and took our order.
The three of us ordered the seven course tasting menu, Janine and I had the vegetarian version with wine pairings, while Martha had the standard tasting menu, but only a glass of wine since she had volunteered to be the designated driver. Throughout the evening, the service remained a little too catch-as-catch-can, though it was certainly more attentive than our initial reception.
The food scored very high in creativity, but I found myself thinking, just because it's creative doesn't make it amazing, palate-pleasing or even fun. This was reinforced by the wine pairings. Janine and I have no qualms about going head-to-opinionated-head with each other so when our opinions align strongly we usually feel safe that we're in the right. The wine with either the second or third course was a total mis-match. It wasn't that we didn't like the wine, it was just plain wrong, clashing with the food on our palates making neither taste good. We noted that the leftover sips in our glasses went excellently with the course that followed. And, while the wines were all solid, like the service and the food, nothing wowed.
Frankly, I go to restaurants like FarrahOlivia to be wowed. All in all, I left feeling that there were many other restaurants I'd have preferred to have spent the evening.
I can't recommend it and I can't say that I'll give it a second chance, which if you've been reading my food entries in the blog you'll know is pretty extreme.
I've spent quite a bit of time, too much time in fact, contemplating the overall experience. I finally decided that all that time validates my opinion that it was a mediocre experience, even though expectations were high.
The first disappointment was the service. We were promptly greeted on a Sunday evening and seated. Our waiter came over, answered some questions and with his cell phone ringing departed the table...never to return. He did eventually return to the dining room, but we sat ready to order for entirely too long before a new person arrived, nodded a brief apology and took our order.
The three of us ordered the seven course tasting menu, Janine and I had the vegetarian version with wine pairings, while Martha had the standard tasting menu, but only a glass of wine since she had volunteered to be the designated driver. Throughout the evening, the service remained a little too catch-as-catch-can, though it was certainly more attentive than our initial reception.
The food scored very high in creativity, but I found myself thinking, just because it's creative doesn't make it amazing, palate-pleasing or even fun. This was reinforced by the wine pairings. Janine and I have no qualms about going head-to-opinionated-head with each other so when our opinions align strongly we usually feel safe that we're in the right. The wine with either the second or third course was a total mis-match. It wasn't that we didn't like the wine, it was just plain wrong, clashing with the food on our palates making neither taste good. We noted that the leftover sips in our glasses went excellently with the course that followed. And, while the wines were all solid, like the service and the food, nothing wowed.
Frankly, I go to restaurants like FarrahOlivia to be wowed. All in all, I left feeling that there were many other restaurants I'd have preferred to have spent the evening.
I can't recommend it and I can't say that I'll give it a second chance, which if you've been reading my food entries in the blog you'll know is pretty extreme.
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