North West
So good to wake up to a bright Sunday morning with blue skies, have a quick coffee and get straight on our bikes ready for another London cycling adventure. You had a plan to go to Westbourne Park via Primrose Hill and Swiss Cottage and try the Bluebells café highly rated in your book of best coffeeshops in London. I welcomed not another repetition of Hyde Park. What is it with me and Hyde Park?
We loved exploring Fitzrovia, the narrow streets of immaculate architecture, the beautiful and many pubs - I saluted briefly the Yorkshire Gray and Dare Friday nights in 2008. I stopped and took a picture of an elaborate figurative mural, is this Virginia Wolf and who is that General, is it The Bloomsberry Group? We spotted Caravan and Lucky Pig on the stunning Bolsover street with a tower peaking at its end but we decided to move on towards Regent's Park.
I love Regent's Park. After meandering through Primrose Hill and you briefly reminiscing life on the beautiful and charming Chalcot Square so quintessential London, I insisted on a brief stop at the Little One Coffeeshop and Roastery on the High Street. What about Bluebells? We can do both:) Feels good to be kind to each other. You found us a wonderful sun trap facing the street but coffee was weak: I drank half, you said sipping something hot was enough. The street you took me to immediately afterwards without a doubt was the biggest highlight in the entire ride. What is this village? England's Lane NW, a street sign to remember.
Oh.... I want to live here. Primorse Hill High street, Bermondsey street both great but busy and too overrated. We made a mental note of Black Truffle and Chamomile. We loved how understated and quiet it was. Some beautiful homes and other shops. You don't need much you said, a couple of good coffeeshops. A grocery store would be nice and just as my thought was formulating Artichoke popped up across the road. Must return next Sunday! This place has it all.
What followed was not so pretty: big, busy roads to Swiss Cottage and Kilburn over a couple of bridges to Westbourne Park but we did reach Bluebells and despite it being a bit too shabby and dirty with an average age of 25 we loved our brekkie of poached eggs on sourdough with Guacamole and feta, fresh rocket, spinach and piri piri salt. The fresh orange juice sent me straight back to Politia sipping it all at once, again - how come I'm always so dehydrated? - sitting at the dinning table waiting for the school bus; the memory of my beautiful mum smiling at me in adoration. How lucky I was ... I knew it then and I never took it for granted thereafter.
We continued our route on Portobello Road and through some back streets before cycling down Kensighton Church street we spotted a good looking tiny coffeeshop starting with K, Kipa? Something short, Japanese sounding. In South Kensinghton I took the lead and took us to Sloane avenue where I waved hello to 19 passed Nell Gwyn House, then Sloane Square and to the end of Pimlico road where you took the lead and headed us to Chelsea Bridge and a cycle on the Embankment.
After Lambeth Bridge, a little too late, I caught you cycling towards Westminster, but I thought you were getting cold? Too tired to change I stuck to our usual route home through the Imperial War Museum and West Square. As I was crossing George's street I spotted you in the distance so I stopped and waited: Nice, Yanna. Indeed nice, lovely to see you Cutie and thank you for a gorgeous day. It's only 13:45! We had so much energy that within 40 minutes we had cleaned the entire flat.