I'm Walking London: Primrose Hill and Regent's Park

There is nothing more exciting than waking up in the morning to find the sun is up and shining through my bedroom windows. I know straight away that spring has come. For some reason, the days are always fresh, the sky is always blue and the birds are chirping more happily than before. The weather has been very good to London these past few weeks and it makes people get on with outdoor activities. I myself feel obliged to go outdoor every weekend. I know I don’t have to but I must! London is famous for its cloudy sky and when the cloud disappears and is replaced by the sun with blue sky in the background, everyone in London is flocking every outdoor places you can imagine available, be it the parks, the beaches or their own backyards. It always feels good to be outside and to enjoy the good weather.

Last weekend I went out to walk for a bit. I kind of need the exercise, you know, after months of hiding in my apartment away from the coldness of winter. I need to breathe in the spring air and to re-introduce my skin with the warmth of the sun. And so I did a walk that I followed from a book called ‘Walking London’ by Andrew Duncan. It started from Chalk Farm tube station toward Primrose Hill Park and Regent’s Park and ended in Regent’s Park tube station. It is spring time and we need the walk in the parks!

The walk from Chalk Farm tube station to Primrose Hill Park was about ten minutes and I passed by a local high street on Regent’s Park Road. It’s got a few cafes, restaurants and pubs. It wasn’t very crowded but quite a cozy street to stroll when you need to get a quick bite after your rest in the park. Once I entered the gate of park, I immediately saw a hill in front of me. It was where a lot of people hung around. I hesitantly walked up to the hill but when I reached the summit, I understood why many people hung around here. The view from the summit was fantastic. I could see the London Zoo, Regent’s Park, London Eye and some building blocks of the city. I could also see the whole park itself from up there. It’s a small park, grassy, and manicured very nicely with walking paths and line of lights. You can bring your picnic baskets or read your book or just sit or lie on the grass and enjoy the weather. The park has got a very inviting ambience which is very pleasant.

I continued my walk toward the south-east corner of the Primrose Hill Park and found the London Zoo. I walked a bit more and I saw one of the entry points of Regent’s Park. There were many sport pitches on this side of the park. I saw people playing football, tennis, cricket, and many other type of sports. Then I walked to the boating lake where I saw people were busy moving and rowing the boats about the lake. There was a children’s playground near the lake and many children were playing there happily like there is no tomorrow. The park was huge and tended with very proper care. Colourful flowers were blooming everywhere in the park. I enjoyed the walk from the lake to the open air theatre the most. It was, after all, a walk by the lake and I felt very much at peace. There was an area called bandstand nearby and it is really good for picnic and reading books on deckchairs (if they are available).

It was already dark before I could finish my walk in Regent’s Park. The walk was supposed to go on to the open air theatre, Queen Mary's Garden and end at Chester gate. There were so many spots in the park where we just stopped and played around. I don’t think it matters if we finish the walk or not. The important thing is we enjoyed the day and we all did. I’m looking forward to another great day outdoor.

Contact Details:

Address: Regent's Park, London, NW1 4NR

Website: http://www.royalparks.org.uk/parks/regents_park/

Nearest Stations: Chalk Farm or Camden Town (to Primrose Hill Park), Baker Street or Regent's Park (to Regent's Park)

Opening Hours: from 5am until dusk all year round

The cozy Primrose Hill Park

Primrose Hill Park

Enjoying the summit of the Primrose Hill Park

Primrose Hill Park

Regent's Park

One side of Boating Lake at Regent's Park 

Sunset at boating Lake, Regent's Park

Regent's Park

Daffodils in Regent's Park

Flowers in Regent's Park

More flowers in Regent's Park

Close up on a daffodil

Regent's Park

Rowing at Boating Lake, Regent's Park

More Rowing at Boating Lake, Regent's Park

Granada

We reached Granada around sunset and therefore we had some time to sit back and relax at our accommodation before going for dinner. The weather was chillier than Seville which was surprising to me. I came here once before in the summer somewhere in August and the weather was too hot to handle (36C celsius) that I didn't notice its differences when I travelled to both Seville and Granada. I suppose being located not too far off from the coast and near the Sierra Nevada mountains, Granada enjoys both warmer and colder climates.

After getting ready, we went on to celebrate the surprise birthday party from the night before with a proper dinner. We went to a very nice little restaurant called Restaurante Sevilla. The food was fabulous and we really had a good time there.

The next morning, we walked the town a bit before visiting Alhambra. The town was quite hilly and the roads were narrow and covered with pebble stones. After an hour walking the pebble stones path, my feet started to ache. Every time I stepped I felt my feet were massaged by the stones. The town itself was quiet. There was a small local market selling food, fruits and vegetables, clothes and bric-a-brac where the locals traded among themselves. We visited the remains of the old city gate and at one point when we reached the top of the hill, we saw a view of the city  and a spectacular view of Alhambra. It was magnificent.

A visit to Granada is not complete without visiting Alhambra, a palace and fortress complex that whose buildings and the designs around it was incredibly beautiful. The one thing that was very outstanding of Alhambra (compared to other palaces I visited in Spain) was the carving. Every walls and ceilings of each buildings there were carved beautifully into very detail. It must be taking the artists very long time to finish them. And looking at the results, I think it's worth it. The carving is definitely the highlight of Alhambra. Of course, there were other places worth noted as well, such as the pool of the El Partal Palace, the Alhambra reflections and there was a courtyard near the exit of the palace that was very lovely. I still remember enjoying the serenity while sitting at the courtyard.

Even in our very tight schedules, we still had time to go street shopping. Our accommodation was located in Albayzin (also known as Arab quarter) where it is famous for its original houses since the 16th century. The streets were narrow and winding and full of small shops selling Arab's influence souvenirs, clothes, shoes, or trinkets that you can bring home. I was happy to have found two bubble pants for myself.

It was another chaotically short but still a very memorable visit to Granada. We visited Alhambra, which was the most touristy place in Granada and had a chance to walk the town in attempt to grasp the essence of the town. We even had a chance to enjoy free tapas in a few tapas bars around (Granada is one of the few cities in Spain that offers free tapas for every drink you order). It was all very good. This is the last story of the Spain Trip as this was the last city in our trip. After Granada, we headed back to Barcelona to do souvenirs shopping before catching our plane back home.

The town where we walked

Some of the many designs of Granada's floor

Alhambra

Carving on the walls and ceilings of Alhambra

Windows of Alhambra

Reflection pool in Alhambra

One of the fountains in Alhambra

The courtyard before exiting Alhambra

Borough Market, London

The oldest food market in London, Borough Market is my favourite. Everytime anyone of my friends came to London, I always brought them here. The place is always full of people and very lively. It is touristy but that doesn't bother me at all. There are many variety of stalls around selling almost everything. I love to taste the yummy cheeses, the variety of olives, the delicious cakes, the hot chocolate (in cold weather) and not to forget, the world famous chocolate brownies. I can't resist the chorizo sandwich located at Brindisa. I always join the long queue and have it right there. Hmmm, very yummy sandwich. Now I'm hungry just thinking about it :).

This market is definitely not to be missed if you're visiting London.

Contact Details:

Address: Borough High Street, Borough, SE1 9DE

Website: http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk

Nearest Station: London Bridge or Borough

Opening Hours:

Thu 11.00 - 17.00

Fri 12.00 - 18.00

Sat 9.00 - 16.00

Monmouth Cafe, London

One Saturday, I was brought by a friend of friend (an American who had lived here before) to Monmouth cafe. We were in the Borough Market and he praised this cafe a lot for its good coffee. This place was full of people and the queue was long. I ordered a latte to take out and at the first sip, I thought it was too strong for me.

A few days ago, I went in to the cafe again. It was Monday morning and I happened to be in the area. There were people queueing but not as long as that Saturday. I ordered a cup of cappuccino and was asked whether I would want double or a single shot of esspreso. The staff explained usually the cappuccino there is served in double shots of esspreso. That explained my first sip that was too strong. I opted for a single shot and this time it was perfect.

The cafe itself is small and the interior gives a very rustic feel. There is only one big table to be shared by customers where baskets of breads and jams are displayed in the middle of the table. Other seats are individual seats where two narrow bar like tables are attached to the wall. Even window ledges are used as tables. And for those looking for munchies to accompany your coffee, there are varieties of pastries and cakes displayed on a serving table.

A bunch of leaflets explaining about the history of the company and sources of their coffees are available for you to read. This is an independent local company which travels to different places to get the best beans and has been roasting its own coffee to get the best flavour. It shows how passionate the company is about coffee.

This is one exceptional place for serious coffee drinkers. Just be warned of the long queue on Saturdays.

Contact Details:

Address: 2 Park Street, Borough, London, SE1 9AB

Phone: +44 (0)20 7940 9960

Email: beans@monmouthcoffee.co.uk

Website: http://www.monmouthcoffee.co.uk/

Nearest Station: London Bridge or Borough

Opening hours:

Mon - Sat 07.30-18.00

Closed on Bank Holidays

The Super Long and Snaky Queue at New Tayyabs, London

I went to New Tayyabs, a Pakistani restaurant that has great reviews, last night. I called to make a booking a few hours in advance but was told to come as it was on a first come first serve basis. When I reached the restaurant (around seven thirty) I was in shock to see the long queue but I thought it was not going to be very long to get a table. All of us, who were queueing, were standing in between the tables and chairs around (with people having dinner at the tables). The queue was too long that it went to a U turn at the end of the queue and that's in between the tables and chairs. Another U turn was in the hallway towards the ladies. The queue was barely moving and I stood for a long time in the ladies' hallway. It was stuffy and felt like forever. After two hours waiting, I gave up. Looking at the queue, it looked like I would be there for another hour (or maybe an hour and a half) and I was already so hungry. The food that came out from the kitchen smelled so nice and I could only stand in the queue and look at others eating it. It was a torture.

I have been to this restaurant once before. It was last summer at lunch time. The restaurant was empty and I got a table very easily. I have been warned by my friend about the queue but I had never expected it to be this long. The guy in the cake counter told me to make a booking two days in advance the next time because they don't take same day booking. Booking definitely is a must.

I'm still upset with the whole thing. I will wait until I can forget about last night and probably come back again.

Nerja

Another bus ride away from Ronda and we arrived at Nerja, which is a resort town on the east of Costa del Sol (Sun Coast) in the Malaga Province. From the bus stop we walked for about ten minutes dragging our luggages to our hotel. The hotel is located at the Balcon de Europa, the centre of the old town, which is also a viewing point showing stunning panoramic view of the sea and the coasts around it.

The sun already set when we reached the hotel. And the next day was my sister's birthday. The five of us planned to give her a surprise at midnight. After dinner we spent our time chatting in one of the rooms and by midnight we turned off the lights and sang her happy birthday. We also gave her the presents we bought from Toledo. It was very hard to make it a surprise as she was with us the whole time. But still, it was a very fun night together.

The next morning we went out to the beach. Some of us went sun tanning and some of us walked around the beach and the Balcon de Europa. I must say the view from Balcon de Europa was just unbelievable. The sky was bright blue sat perfectly on top of the blue water. I could see the skyline very clearly. It was amazing.

The old town itself was very touristy. There were many tourists around and I found that the majority were pensioners from the UK. I overheard some of them talking about retirement money and similar topics. I didn't see many young people around except for those who came with their parents.

I also noticed there were many street cats around the area. I talked to one lady from the UK who had been there for a week or two feeding the street cats there. I think there were around ten or more cats gathered near her when she came with the cat food. She said she had been feeding them since she arrived and she only had a few days left in Nerja. She was worried no one would feed the cats after she left. She was one very caring lady.

Nerja, a pleasing city with amazing beach and sea view, is unforgettable. I still remember the sun shining brightly, the blue sky, the blue ocean, and the light breezy wind. The city was very laid back and it made me feel that the time had stopped and let me have a good time there. But then again, we had to rush out for our next destination, Granada. This would be the last city before going back to Barcelona.

Photos by me, MT, AW, HM, JK.

The birthday gal

The breathtaking views of Nerja

Balcon de Europa

Posing with King Alfonso XII at Balcon de Europa

Vete Katten, Stockholm

If you go to Stockholm, I'd suggest you visit Vete Katten. This is my favourite place in Stockholm for having tea or coffee or simply taking a break from shopping in or walking around the city. Situated in the corner of Kungsgatan and Klara Norra kyrkogata, Vete Katten is an old-fashioned tearoom with antique interior and its old charm feel. The display of delicious cakes from window shop lure people to go inside. At least that was what got me (a tourist who happened to passed by) into this place. The cafe is surprisingly very spacious (it doesn't look that way from the outside) and divided into rooms with different themes. My favourite room is 'Kajutan' (or the cabin) - a small room that looks like it's in a ship. I've been there twice and it was always packed with the locals. There are fresh breads, cakes and chocolates for you to indulge. The staffs welcome you with good service and the whole ambience is very homey. It makes you want to sit there and enjoy. So enjoy!

Contact Details: 

Address: Kungsgatan 55, 111 22 Stockholm

Phone: +46 (0)8 20 84 05

Email: info@vetekatten.se
Website: www.vetekatten.se

Nearest Station: Hotorget or T-Centralen

Opening hours:
Mon-Fri 07.30-19.30
Saturday 09.30-17.00
Sunday 12.00-17.00

A Winter Weekend in Stockholm

There I was spending my weekend in Stockholm still in the month of February (actually it was the last day of February) but the snow was still apparent everywhere. The forecast said it was going to be sunny with very high visibility but it was not the case at all on Saturday. It snowed quite heavily on and off and the sun came out for a while but generally it was still okay to go out (provided you can handle the cold).

It must have been very cold everyday in Stockholm that most lakes, seas and areas that had water in them were frozen. I went up to Brunnsviken - a huge lake in Stockholm and took some photos of the frozen lake. I saw people were practising for cross country skates on the lake where others were jogging, walking with dogs or just simply crossing the lake. It was a scary experience for me to walk on the lake. I was afraid I stepped into thin ice and fell down but I guess the ice was quite thick and I managed to cross from one side to the other side of the lake. It was as if I was walking on water! Well, almost :).

I also went to an outdoor ice skating rink in Kungstradgarden. I was told that this was the only skating rink that has skating boots for hire. In other places in Stockholm, you're expected to bring your own. I'd imagine most people in Sweden has at least one boot. Also, there is no admission fee on all ice rinks in Stockholm - they're free.

On Sunday, the weather was gorgeous. It was a good day to walk the old town (also known as Gamla Stan) and I did just that. The walk started on the quiet cobbled stones streets and ended in the shopping streets. It was a good Sunday walk. Click here to follow the walking tour of the old town.

And what about the food? One might ask. Well, I tried the famous Swedish meatball which was much more delicious than the one you normally get in IKEA. I also noticed a pastry cake called Semla being displayed in every place that sells cakes. Traditionally, Semla is a pastry that was to be eaten only on Shrove Tuesday (a day before Ash Wednesday). Now in Sweden people eat Semla every Tuesday from Shrove Tuesday up to Easter.

I have to say it was an interesting weekend. It was cold but very nice at the same time. Stockholm is a city surrounded by water, which makes the beautiful city even more beautiful. It's a modern city that keeps its old town along with its unique traditions. I enjoyed the food, the winter activities, and the city as a whole. And I can't believe I'm saying this, I didn't really mind the cold.

The frozen lake of Brunnsviken

The traditional pastry - Semla

Another frozen water somewhere in the city

The heart of Stockholm city

Kungstradgarden

The skating rink in Kungstradgarden

Line of seats overlooking the river near Stromsbron bridge

Stortorget square - Old town

Marten Trotzigs Grand - the narrowest street in Stockholm