stories

Around London in 80 days: day 79. Of all the pub-related entertainments I’ve discovered on this side of the channel, “Quiz Night” has made the biggest impression on me.

Around London in 80 days: day 78. London is often portrayed as a fairly cold city. Big and anonymous, full of socially awkward Brits who don’t talk to strangers for fear of being rude.

Around London in 80 days: day 77. London is full of secrets — that’s why I love it so. In Westminster there are quite a few hidden treasures, inner courtyards that look private but are actually open to the public.

Around London in 80 days: day 76. As I walk home from Victoria Park I often make a detour via King Edward’s Road.

Around London in 80 days: day 75.
On street corners, in various of places in London, I spot white bike. Sometimes, a bunch of flowers lays by their side.

Around London in 80 days: day 74. The first time I went Westminster Abbey, I didn’t like it much. Well I kind of liked it but I thought St Paul’s cathedral was more impressive.

Around London in 80 days: day 73. In Spitafields, there is a “Herd of Hope”, a family of life-size bronze elephants scattered around the market. They used to stand together on Marble Arch roundabout but here they have more space to roam around.

Around London in 80 days: day 72. As I read the menu of St John in Smithfield, I realise just how unadventurous I am. As far as the culinary world is concerned anyway: I have no curiosity for the world of offel and innards, however much some of my friends recommend it.

Around London in 80 days: day 71. Big Issue? Big Issue? Eddy sells the magazine on the corner of Neal Street and Long Acre. I don’t usually stop, but…

Around London in 80 days: day 70. In Kilburn in North-West London there’s a Thai restaurant with a history.

Around London in 80 days: day 69.
I’m up for a are challenge, wanna do something different. Two of my friends are in town for the weekend and to make it unforgettable we’ve booked ourselves in for an unusual activity.

Around London in 80 days: day 68. In London, people live in tiny rooms. They share their kitchen with eight others. It’s cold and hard and scary at times.

Around London in 80 days: day 67. There are many phoenixes around London, usually pubs or clubs or restaurants… and of course, there’s the one on St Paul’s, who proudly rises from the lost “old cathedral” with the word RESURGAM. I have a particular fondness for them: a phoenix is a symbol of hope, of resilience, and it’s beautifully fiery — all things that appeal to me.

Around London in 80 days: day 66. The villain: *”Oh yes it is”*
The crowd: *“Oh no it isn’t”*
The villain: *”OH YES IT IS”*
The crowd: *“OH NO IT ISN’T”*
I’ve always been fond of the UK’s quirky culture. Ever since I first discovered Monty Python at the age of 14.

Around London in 80 days: day 65. “A spoonful of sugar, that is all it takes, it changes bread and water into tea and cakes”

Around London in 80 days: day 64. Walking back from Old Street with a friend, I spot an old, battered-looking door. There’s scaffolding on the building so I thought it was empty, but there seems to be some light behind that door and even, perhaps, some noise. My friend and I decide to have a closer look. Bingo! It’s a tiny, quirky-looking and quiet cocktail bar. Perfect place to end the night.

Around London in 80 days: day 63. I’m skating for the first time in the Olympic Park. It feels like just like skiing. It feels fun, it feels wild.

Around London in 80 days: day 62. From the top of the bus you can see everything. You fly through the city, you are high above ground. You are the king of this town.

Around London in 80 days: day 61. It’s late and dark, the pubs are closing but the Alley Cat is still open — always is. Max’s behind the bar. He has just packed up the board games that were on the tables: the Alley Cat is about to move from early evening to late night.

Around London in 80 days: day 60. I’m walking through the quiet streets of Temple, a few steps away from the City of London. I walk past the church and through the arches, next to the tall statue of the tiny Knight Templar.

Around London in 80 days: day 59. If I had not been staying with our dear family friends Nick & Monty near Tottenham Court Road I would not have discovered this lovely Apricot café, nor would I have become a regular of Covent Garden…

Around London in 80 days: day 58. A busy Kentish Town pub. Good beer, good people… and good music! It’s Thursday night, you see, so in the corner, a large table is booked for Whiskey Mick & his crowd.

Around London in 80 days: day 57. As I moved to different neighbourhoods in London, I switched surgeries a few times. They were all slightly too efficient, treating patients quickly but not personally. Never got to see the same GP twice. Didn’t know the name of any nurse or doctor.

Around London in 80 days: day 55. You can grab a shared bike and start to explore, or go on a cycle tour if you’d like to learn more. But whatever you do, you should never forget to keep an eye out for flying MAMLs.

Around London in 80 days: day 54. In my neighbourhood there’s hipsters with piercings and colourful clothing who drink almond lattes in contactless-payment-only cafés.

Around London in 80 days: day 53. In Stoke Newington there’s a Turkish restaurant where British people eat Belgian biscuits with their tea.

Around London in 80 days: day 51. Just arrived from Brussels, I walk briskly through St Pancras International station: I want to get back home asap. But after a few steps only, I’m stopped by a chatty man in a party hat. He holds a bottle of bubbles and plastic champagne flutes. He offers me a glass “won’t you join us? We are celebrating Friday night!”. Intrigued and amused, I say yes and follow him back a couple of steps back to the little crowd gathered around the public piano.