UK day 3-4
May 18th, 2014 by Ashley
4/21 Canterbury
It took us a while to figure out where SouthEastern platform is. After grabbing some last minute breakfast from Mark & Spencer, we were on the high speed train to Canterbury!
At the very beginning we decided that we would do a day trip even though a week was not nearly enough for London alone. The candidates were: Paris (because taking EuroStar across the channel just sounds too cool–expensive and Paris for sure desire a dedicated trip of its own, even though I never really have the desire to go), Rye (my favorite small town–but 1 day would not do it justice), Cornwall (cornish pasty, the Eden Project and other stuff I read on historic fiction–too spread out for a day trip), Bath (Sally Lund’s buns! Jane Austin, pretty and nice things–too touristy and I don’t think Daniel will get much out of the place), OxBridge (oldness, snobbishness, Detective Lewis, punting.)
Eventually Daniel picked Canterbury. Probably because of Canterbury tales.
The weather was, contradictory to the forecast, BEAUTIFUL.
The guys at Canterbury River Tours were as cute and funny as they were when I visited 4 years ago.
Lunch was a fish & chip shop that the tour boy recommended, snack was Cornwall pastry and dinner was Nando’s.
We were going to The Bar with No Name that we saw on Esquire channel but I was too tired.
4/22 Kew Gardens
Before heading to one of my favorite place in London, we stopped by The Original Maid of Honours for picnic pastries.
The first thing that greets us after we got in was the peacock. He waited until a good number of people started to gather, and then he barked, open his “plumage” and did his circle dance. He did it so many times that I was able to take many pictures for his open butt butt.
Kew Gardens was as lovely as I remembered. My favorite section this time is the rock garden. It might not be gigantic or exotic, but it is so exquisite and full of life. I would like a garden like that!
After the Kew Gardens, we had some time to kill before heading to the Goose to watch the Chelsea Atletico match. Daniel opted for Harrod’s instead of Chelsea Megastore.
I like Harrod’s, but I never ventured out of the food area. From a few quick glances, the rest of Harrod’s is pretty much like other department store, granted fancier. Food Hall on the other hand is like an amusement park for me. All the tea, biscuits, terrine, oysters… If only it were so crowded.
The match was not worth mentioning; however, I had one of the best Ale I’ve had at the Goose — Tribute Ale. So I had two.