Love London!

Visiting the Southbank on a sunny, Saturday afternoon in London, I recognised that life doesn't get much better. Add to the mix a couple of Coronas, three girlfriends and discussions ranging from the merits of blue veined cheese to the hot bartender in Las Iguanas.

Our languid afternoon started off at said Las Iguanas when we realised that finding any space in a restaurant/bar on a busy summer Saturday in London is all but a hazy mirage in the distance. Every teensy space was 'reserved'. Londoners are obviously used to this state of affairs and plan in advance. Even single seats and cosy chairs with a small coffee table on which you could barely stand two glasses of wine successfully, were slapped with a white A4 sheet stating time of reservation. You gotta love it.

Patience prevails however .. helped by the liquid relaxative of a golden brew. Space came up at the window bar and we took full advantage of it.

Wahaca, a novel, Southbank experimental restaurant was our next port of call. It offered Mexican street/market fare in a Jenga style configuration of vamped up containers (yes, those that travel on ships across the sea with tons of stuff in them) balanced on top of each other. One of them had the entire side glassed out so you could sit inside gazing out across the Thames.

On our walk to the Swan at the Globe (Shakepeare's to be precise), a crowd had gathered at the edge of the Thames. A creative fellow was sculpting a sofa out of sand. If you look carefully you  can see the beginnings of a seated person on the righthand side.
There are even folds in the cushion where its innards are squashed - so lifelike.

Further down the Thames near London Bridge, there was a guy sitting on the sand in a deck chair. Small speakers in front of him, and an amplifier. He strummed away on an electric guitar singing to his own tune. A hat in front of him in case you felt his musical talents warranted a contribution. Thing is... the hat was rather small, and surrounded by gravel and stones. If your coin missed the hat, heaven knows how he'd find it in all that!

We ended up stuffed and replete after a sumptuous feast at The Real Greek complete with bouzouki and plenty of raucous clapping. Time to go. Headed home around 11 having spent a good 10 hours of revellery in the city.
Woohoo London!!!