Markets, the Eye & Poetry - Day Two in London

Iconic buildings of London's skyline: the Thumb, the Cheese-grater, and the Gherkin

St Katherine's Dock

After coffee in St Katherine's Dock and another trip across Tower Bridge we headed to Borough Market.

The market is housed under a railway bridge

A massive wheel of gruyere cheese

It really was a foodie paradise - like Matakana Market but on a much bigger scale. As well as street food such as curries, salt beef, paella, and carb-wrapped meat in various guises, there also bakeries with golden loaves of bread piled up and delectable pastries.

London is Calling Me - Day One

On the Thames

After spending a night just outside London with relatives, I caught the train to Waterloo where I met my second cousin to stay with her and her partner for a little while. That first day, after dropping my bag at her flat, we walked along the Thames, past the Tower of London, and through the streets to St Paul's Cathedral.

the old telephone box - you've just got to, haven't you...

Greetings from Windsor

Next stop was London. I stayed with some family near Windsor on the first night and we drove around the village and went to nearby Eton. It was amazing! The castle was quite over the top. How could one family live in such a large place?! At the same time, I loved it - I can't help being partial to the royals.

Windsor Village

San Fransisco - And So It Begins!

On the way from Auckland to London, I had a 12 hour stopover in San Fransisco. Luckily, my aunt, uncle and cousin were there at the same time to show me around. Here are some of my favourite shots:

The State Building

Leaving Party

Paella - no where near as good as Dad's!

Way back in November I had my leaving party. It may have been a little premature, but it was placed strategically on a date that 95% of my friends could make, which I think is a pretty good success rate.

Us girls

Like all things with me, the party was centred around good food and good company. We had dinner at Elliott Stables in Auckland CBD, of either Italian, Spanish of Japanese decent. It was such a great time and I'm glad that I got to catch up with everyone, as for many it was the last time I saw them before I go away.

After dinner, as a spur-of-the-moment thing, we all trooped down to the other end of Queen St - my friend and I swapping shoes on the way - to have dessert at Milse. That was the highlight, and despite the wait and cramped space at the desert bar, once we got to the park and ate our spectacular desserts, it was bliss.

 What a great way to remember NZ and all my friends.