July 27, 2003

My Birthday!

It was a perfect London day, and the perfect way to spend a birthday. In the morning, Brian, Kristin, Mom and I all set out for the Columbia Flower Market. We got there in good time, early enough to see the street packed with vibrant colors on both sides. Kristin and Mom were pricing flowers, shrubs and trees and comparing the prices with those in Washington. Apparently, decent prices do exist in some parts of London.

After much plant identification and photographing, we sat down to a proper English breakfast including stewed tomatoes, baked beans, hash browns, mushrooms and toast. Kristin had the bacon and eggs. Next to our restaurant was a pub that was absolutely rocking with people and dance tunes. This was at 9 am. A close look at some of the faces inside confirmed our hunch that these partyers had been going all night long.


The weather was good and getting better, so after lunch we got in the queue for the London Eye. The crowds were thick but everything was well organized and it was only an hour before we were able to hop inside our pod that took us high up over London.

After landing, we cruised over to the Somerset House Courtyard fountains where I couldn't keep my eyes off a darling toddler in diapers zig-zagging around the sprays. There were a couple dozen children of varying ages all splashing about enjoying this watery oasis in Central London.

We strolled through Victoria Embankment admiring yet more blossoming flowers. We phoned Michelle and caught her before Sunday morning yoga class.

We stepped inside St. Paul's Cathedral and somehow, after seeing so many spectacular sights over the past two weeks, it didn't seem all that grand. I like viewing it from the outside best, especially at night standing on Blackfriars Bridge.

Here's the godess Kristin next to a beautiful statue at the end of the Columbia Street flower market. By evening, we had burned off the big English breakfast with all the walking. So we headed to Merkato on Caledonain Road, Brian's and my favorite London restaurant. We had an excellent Ethiopian dinner and got to eat with our hands. Feeling the need for some locomotion afterward, we decided to walk the mile back to the flat. Along the way we looked at Pentonville Prison with new architectural appreciation thanks to our recent history lesson in Dublin.

We got back to the flat and when I walked in the door I was greeted by a rainbow of balloons decorating every wall and a big, home made chocolate birthday cake thanks to Brian! We ate it with ice cream drizzled with Scotch whiskey cream liqueur that Mom had purchased along the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Mmmmmm.…it was superb. To top off the perfect day, the gang endulged me by watching Best In Show and nobody told me to be quiet as I recited lines from the movie just seconds before the actors did. Now that's a loving family.

Kristin's UK photos