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I
can't believe it has only been a week and half since I left
that frenzied world and gone wandering in places I had never
been before. Everyone here keeps asking what I'm doing in at
this time in England when the weather is rainy and cold. I'm
here having the time of my life.
I
landed late Saturday, and early the next morning, took a drive
down the south coast to Arundel, a little town complete with
cobblestoned streets, local pubs, and a Norman style castle,
which we explored with once-resplendent halls, massive gardens,
and best of all, the kitchen in the lower levels.
click on images
to enlarge
I
also found the perfect dining room for my next dinner party.
In the day, it had solid gold plates and quite a number of butlers
to function. Of course, being friends with the Duke and Duchess
of Norfolk was required. An interesting find were suits of armor,
which one can purchase for $2,500.
Of
course, I had to have a pint of English ale at an English pub.
After all, it was almost lunch time - and on the menu was Sunday
Roast, an enormous plate of roast meats complete with Yorkshire
pudding, and smothered in a dark gravy.
The
next evening, I was taken to a dark, back alley, crowded with
people, in downtown Southampton. They all appeared to be from
foreign places, like myself. I was told this was where to get
fresh seafood. We waited in anticipation until a truck rolls
in, and they unloaded boxes and boxes of seafood of every imaginable
kind. The crowd surged forward, and I had to literally fight
my way to get at the cockles, razor clams, squid, stone crab,
skate, sea bream, and all kinds of sole. We feasted that night.
Because it was so fresh, there was not much to do but to steam
or pan-fry. What incredible flavours. When it comes to fresh
seafood, it is a language people all over the world can understand.
I
have not had to spend much time in "proper restaurants".
There is just so much good food in the ordinary life of eating.
But there was one memorable experience at Lupa, an Italian restaurant.
To taste prosciutto from Parma with dolcelatte cheese in an
asparagus salad, and bruschetta - wow! I see I will have to
keep up with my walks and runs on this journey to fit into my
jeans.
During
the week, I took a double-decker bus ride through the narrow
roads which are widespread throughout the country to Stonehenge
for a typical tourist experience. Unfortunately it was underwhelming.
By comparison, the next day, I drove through those same narrow
country roads to the seaside village of Lulworth and hiked the
white limestone cliffs. Now, THAT was spectacular.
We
had come to see a rock formation called the Durdle Door. Sitting
on the pebbled beach in front of the rock with a simple picnic
of fish and salad and watching life go by was better than anything
I have done in a long, long time.
LONDON
On
the weekend, I went to the Borough Market, the oldest and largest
open market in London, situated at the foot of the London Bridge.
With the open trade under the EU, the people in England have
benefited from the foods from all over Europe, and it was all
laid out here in this market.
I
didn't know where to start tasting. It was overwhelming with
the Spanish Jamon, aged sausages and fresh ducks hung in the
stall, and at Neal's Yard, English Cheeses I had never even
heard of. I had fresh buffalo mozzarella that was made in Italy,
literally a day ago, in a baguette with slices of mortadella
infused with truffles. I finally understood how smooth and creamy
fresh mozzarella should taste. The day ended with British fish
and chips at the local pub with a pint of Guinness. It was a
good day.
It
also meant I had to keep up with my walks. On the Sunday, I
did a seven hours walk through all the sites of London I had
only read about, palaces, cathedrals, towers, bridges, and squares,
interspersed with futuristic glass towers. That was my way to
familiarize myself in this city.
I did another six hours the next day because I had an enormous
full English breakfast, with Cumberland sausages and Black pudding
(the flavorful British blood sausage), and fried bread.
I was staying about five minute from the Tower Bridge, and took
this shot early in the morning.
