Blogging is Hard
So, I haven’t updated on my British goings-ons in a while, so here’s a summary of the past week or so:
Wednesday: Went to a Indie-type bar called “catch-” on 22 Kingsland Road with some friends of various nationalities. It was a really good time, got to hear some cool local music and hang out with people who aren’t American.
Thursday: Met Devin and Jason at the Baker Street tube station for dinner. Saw statue of Sherlock Holmes. After giving up on finding a suitable cheapish place to eat, we followed Jason’s lead, hopped back on the underground, and went to a pub on Fleet Street called “Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese.“ The place has been unchanged since 1666, and has a really cool vaulted basement with low ceilings and tons and tons of atmosphere. I ordered fish and chips (delicious) with a pint of bitter to drink. England has a comparatively wide selection of beers easily available, and I’ve enjoyed sampling the various types of Ales, which are served only slightly below room temperature. The Cheese’s brand of bitter was especially tasty, unfortunately I can’t recall the name. Also, Devin and I sampled some spotted dick with custard (also delicious) which I’m still not sure how to precisely describe. We will be returning to this pub. Next, we joined up with a birthday party with some people from King’s, Devin and Jason’s school, and hung out until the wee hours of the morning. This left me to take the night bus home alone at 2:30 in the morning, something the Arcadia orientation people warned us against about 50 times. I made it home taking two buses across half of central London without getting lost or mugged, so epic public transportation win.
Friday: Relaxed a bit with a film at the local cinema (Ricky Gervais’s “The Invention of Lying,” a pretty good film, but a lot heavier than I expected) and a fun, chill night at the local pub, The New Globe.
Saturday: Read Beowulf most of the afternoon. Damn you studying aspect of study abroad.
Sunday: Visited Brick Lane, a famous market and shop-filled street about a 20 to 25 minute walk from campus. Ate my first Chicken Tikka Masala of the trip. It was delicious, and I can understand why it’s typically recognized as the national dish of Britain. Although I do have to wonder why that dish isn’t fried chicken, since there were well over a dozen fried chicken places on the walk. But despite the rep, I really like British food so far. The main things I have left to try are two local East End favourites, pie and mash and jellied eels, along with the traditional sunday roast served at most pubs. I’m excited for 2 of the 3.
That’s about it for exciting things this week. Planning an excursion to the British Museum Wednesday morning and perhaps a trip to the Tate Britain Friday. I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to run out of things to do in London. Unfortunately, school work is starting to pick up, so the days of endless free time are pretty much over.
