Matt & Julie Visit

Matt & Julie arrived here from New York early on December 28, and after some initial mix-ups with their car service from the airport to our flat, we were off and running on a wonderful whirlwind 5-day visit. We packed lots of fun into those days. We went to two very special restaurants: Gordon Ramsay's restaurant in the Claridge Hotel and Marco Pierre White's place, Belvedere. We also had great meals at several pubs and two different Indian restaurants, as well as delicious dim sum in Chinatown. We took tours of the Tower of London and Shakespeare's Globe Theater. We shopped at the Borough Market (unfortunately in its scaled-down version because of the holidays). We saw the Harold Pinter play, "No Man's Land." We spent time walking around town and seeing different areas like Bankside, Marylebone, Mayfair, Notting Hill, Leicester Square, Camdentown, and Angel. Carl and Matt toured even more neighborhoods while Julie and I checked out the after-Christmas sales at Harrods. On New Year's Eve, after being out and about all day, the four of us watched the midnight fireworks display from the window in our apartment. The next morning we squeezed in a New Year's Day breakfast with our friends Marcia and Pete - so they could all meet each other.

During their visit, it never rained -- but it was VERY COLD! The temperatures were around freezing most days, so we bundled up with heavy coats and gloves, scarves, and hats. (The warm woolen hats Shannon made for us one Christmas came in really handy.)

Before we knew it, the five days had passed. Matt and Julie left early this morning to catch their flight home. Our place seems very quiet and empty without them. We miss them already.