l o n d o n f o r r e s t

This Thanksgiving, my mom took an eleven hour flight to visit us in London. Here, turkey isn’t on sale until December, we missed sweet potato and pumpkin pie, we didn’t experience Daisuke’s first encounter with sticky rice, and we knew Corey wouldn’t get a day off. Yet, we couldn’t help but feel incredibly grateful for our time together, and with her permission, I’m sharing an email my mom sent me the day after returning from her trip overseas.

I’ve only edited a few sections, as I thought it was best to stay true to her words. Because this post isn’t in chronological order, I’ve added the day to day itineraries at the end of the post.

I am thankful for 2 daughters whom I love and rely on them immensely.

Here is her first selfie at the airport. This was to alert me to what to look for when she came through customs.

Picking up Mom from Heathrow!

We dropped off and picked up Bachan from SFO. (Miya made his hat!)

I am thankful for curiosity. It gives you freedom.

The Queens Walk along the South Bank in London. We got this picture after our tour of the Design Museum.

Arc De Triomphe- we climbed the 245 steps to the top on a rainy day in Paris.

Welcome to our humble abode on Rue de Montorgueil in Paris.

A wonka bar at the Roald Dahl Museum in Great Missenden.

Speaking of curiosity: we scored tickets to the West End show The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. I was sitting in a prime number seat!

Trying Koshari, an Egyptian dish with lentils, macaroni noodles, and fried onions, at Borough Market.

She climbed 345 steps to the first level, and wasn’t scared an inch to walk out onto the clear glass platforms that let you look down on people like ants.

I am thankful for you living in London and NY, so I can visit and see another part of the world. 

Seeing Stonehenge up close and personal on our “England in One Day” coach tour.

Underground in the Churchill War Rooms. Definitely worth a visit.

The London Cavalry with the London Eye (ferris wheel) peeking out in the background.

Stratford Upon Avon- the birthplace of Shakespeare. We were welcomed with a scone, fizz (champagne) and a pair of women performing a sonnet, and song from Much Ado about Nothing.

Writer’s Bloc? Not in the recreation of Roald Dahl’s study where he cleverly cut a piece out of the lower back of the chair to release the pressure on his spine.

Bathhouse in Bath. We stole this shot from the adjoining restaurant called the Pumproom because we didn’t have time for a tour.

Changing of the horse guard. You’ve got to go really early to get a shot with Buckingham Palace.

Brixton Box Market- everything is made of box cars to house businesses and restaurants.

Stonehenge Visitor Center.

I am thankful that I like my daughters’ partners. They are fun and love my girls. Lucky.

Corey takes us on a tour through St. James Park, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and then later to Bank street to walk across the London Bridge.

Roald Dahl was 6’5″- how do you measure up? My mom and the Vicar of Nibbleswicke (Roald Dahl Museum).

Ms. Forrest and Ms. Honey from Matilda- aww!

Mr. Twit? Mrs. Trunchbull? Nope. Safe and sound as Danny’s father from Danny Champion of the World (though I never read that one).

I am thankful for good street art. Simple and Amazing.

Found at the Place de la Republique. We were in Paris just nine days after the attacks at the Bataclan.

Found on a bus ride while sitting on the second level in the front row seats. The best seat on the bus in my opinion.

Mom spotted this near our Airbnb in Paris.

This was an interesting mix of 3D and print art on our walk to the Louvre.

I am thankful that artists are dedicated, creative and can support themselves via their art. (My mom is a beast when it comes to museums).

An exhibition of artists from Korea at the Musee des Arts Decoratifs. The sheer talent in this design museum was just breathtaking. We were also at our third site of the day without having any lunch. She is like the energizer bunny!

The Design Museum in London featured two levels: 1) on biking and 2) designs of the year. Both were stellar!

The Musee des Arts Decoratifs also featured an ode to children’s illustrators, published by l’ecole des loisirs. This print came from a book called “Animals should not wear human clothing.”

l’ecole des loisirs was celebrating 50 years of publishing children’s literature.

The glass pyramid from inside the Louvre. We didn’t even have to wait for tickets!

More artwork from Korean designers. Someone tell me what is holding these small glass pieces together?!

Which characters do you know? (Musee des Arts Decoratifs)

We did it! We captured that monumental smile. We also visited saw Venus de Milo and Vermeer’s Lacemaker. Surprisingly, the most famous pieces were sometimes the smallest works of art.

More children’s books that I need to find written in English. The book title wasn’t listed, but the image was gorgeous.

We had fun meandering through the Shakespeare and Co. bookstore, and even got the official stamp in a purchased book.

The opening piece at the Ai Weiwei exhibit at the Royal Academy of Art in London. The trees are constructed with wood from all over China. The exhibit was incredibly well done-if Ai Weiwei comes to town, check out his political and creative pieces.

More from Ai Weiwei. How can this be made of something so useful yet now be useless? He uses well known techniques and sometimes sacred materials even though we can never use these items in a practical way.

The Tate Modern displays such a range of pieces. This one is done with ink and cardboard.

Turbine Hall in the Tate Modern is home to Abraham Cruzvillegas’ “Empty Lot”. I had a shot of this on an earlier blog post, London Anne to Z, before anything was growing. Now see what the soil and dirt from all over London has to offer.

Bicycle chandelier by Ai Weiwei. Stunning.

Lorna Simpson plays with identity and intersection at the Tate Modern.

Quentin Blake’s art is essential to Dahl’s stories.

I am thankful for crows. They are smart and their midnight black feathers are so amazingly beautiful.

Crows are my mom’s favorite bird. At one point, I was making fun of her for taking more shots of birds than of Stonehenge.

We almost missed the tram back to the Stonehenge visitor center because she was so into taking crow pictures. The number of sheep, and water fowl on her ipad are also probably in double digits.

I am thankful for sheep who give us wool. A simple fiber to create with and produce clothing that keeps us very warm. (I’m cheating on this one because my mom has all the pics of the sheep… I should mention that she also was thankful for Christmas trees and took a shot every single day. Here’s a brief look).

Covent Garden.

Fortnum and Mason.

Parisian chocolate shop.

Roald Dahl museum.

I am thankful for immigrants/migrants who bring their food culture to new countries to share with anyone and everyone. So delicious. Ottolenghi – what a find! I am thankful for all his cookbooks!

Tempura Udon in Paris’ mini-Japantown. Sanukiya kicked some major butt.

Bread platter and three salads to share for Ottolenghi’s Late Lunch on Sunday. Yum! We went back again the following Sunday.

Finally! I’ve heard so much about it, and it’s true the aubergine and spicy red sauce was delish!

Our Thanksgiving meal! Roasted chicken, stuffing with bread from Paris, pilaf, my mom’s homemade chutney and steamed veggies.

Tripe soup from El Rancho de Lalo in Brixton. Can’t wait to go back.

Home made shakshuka for Sunday breakfast. Corey and I had it ready when she woke up.

Crepes with egg, cheese, jamon, and mushrooms. Increible! Get yourself to Rue Montparnasse for some bangin’ crepes. Get a cider on the side while you’re at Josselin’s.

I am thankful for having a personal tour guide for my stay in London and my visit to Paris. You have learned quickly of the city that you live in. I am thankful that you have friends who share their favorites as well and who have the privilege and desire to see the world.

From the top of Arc de Triomphe on day 2 of our trip, between the Monet Museum and the Arts Deocratifs museum.

Her first coffee and vino in Paris.

Notre Dame!

The staircase within Arc de Triomphe.

Rue de Montorgueil. Find Stoher bakery, a levain loaf, a cup of coffee, or sweet styles down this very ‘Pa-ree’ road.

The eternal flame and the tomb of the unknown soldier beneath Arc de Triomphe.

Gard du Nord looks like the Polar Express when it’s decorated for the holidays.

We had fun meandering through the Shakespeare and Co. bookstore, and even got the official stamp in a purchased book.

Our welcome performance at Shakespeare’s birthplace. The whirlwind coach tour got us there right at closing time.

Laduree macaroons. People are gaga for these. We had rose petal (don’t suggest) and chocolate. I think we’re both more fond of chocolate in bar form but a fun pitstop after dinner.

Mushroom variety at Borough market.

Jardin Tuileries right outside of the Louvre.

Wowzers! Feeling good after seeing sunset from the first level of the tower.

As I took my 1st morning walk back home in Oakland, I realized that I am thankful that I can still walk and run to catch a train. That was some 100 yard sprint I did. I didn’t even have running shoes on! Not bad for an older mom! (We had to run to the catch a train to the Roald Dahl museum. But old? I think not, Mom. You climbed 345 steps up the Eiffel Tower, another 245 up the Arc de Triomphe, and trekked about 10 miles a day to see the sights in two different cities. Check her out!)

love you much.

thankfully,

justme

mom

Quick Shot (links added here)

Day 1/2: Arrival and dinner at Afghan Kitchen (get a reservation if you can)

Day 1

• Changing of the Guard (Check the schedule and get there at least an hour early for the guard at Buckingham Palace)
• Walk St. James Park and enjoy the water fowl
• Peek at the Changing of the Horse Guard
• Churchill War Room
• Big Ben and Westminster Abbey
• Lunch at Ippudo (take the bus) but want to go to this ramen shop across the street
• Walk to Covent Garden, Picadilly Circus, Fortnum & Mason, and Harrod’s Holiday Windows
• Curry dinner at home

Day 2

• Walk London Bridge
• (Borough Market is closed on Sunday but one could get lunch here if this was Fri or Sat)
• Queen’s Walk along the South Bank starting from London Bridge
• Tower Bridge
• London Design Museum
• Maison d’etre Coffee Stop and walk to Ottolenghi’s Late Lunch on Sunday ONLY

Day 3

• Eurostar to Gard de Nord and walk to Rue de Montorgueil 
• Eat at Stoher Bakery, please
• Walk to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and the Lacemaker
• Walk through the Louvre’s Jardin Tuileries and cab/long walk to the Eiffel Tower
• Dinner at La Creperie de Josselin and get some cider with your crepes

Day 4

• Breakfast at Cafe Du Central
• Musee Marmottan Monet 
• Arc de Triomphe and mini walk down Champs Elysees
• Musee des Arts Decoratifs (we didn’t eat lunch)
• Stroll Rue de St Anne (like a mini-Japan town)
• Eat udon at Sanukiya
• Walk Rue Saint Honore (shopping) to Palace de la Madeleine  for fancy gourmet food stops like Maille mustard and Fauchon food hall and the smaller Hediard

Day 5

• More Stoher bakery for breakfast and the day’s snacks
• Walk Beauborg and Les Halles’ Jardin Nelson Mandela to see Forum des Halles (underground maze of a shopping mall), St-Eustache (gothic church modeled on Notre Dame), and Bourse du Commerce (commodities exchange)
• Walk to Notre Dame and Sainte- Chapelle (medieval church) on the Ile de la Cite (the islands in the center of the city)
• Cross over to the Latin Quarter to see the Shakespeare and Co. bookstore and Boulevard St. Michel
• Pantheon
• Markets: Rue de Mouffetard or Marche Edgar Quinet
• L’as Du Falafel and cab to Gard Du Nord
• Dinner at Lahore back in London with the wine from Paris (order the lamb chops starter, fish curry, garlic naan, daal tarka… and chicken tikka or lamb curry if you still want more meat)

Day 6

• Brixton Market for meat, fish, grains, veggies, arts, crafts, fabric, longjohns and yummy lunch at El Rancho de Lalo (get the tripe soup!)
• Mini Thanksgiving meal

Day 7

• Royal Arts Academy for the Ai Weiwei exhibit
• Lunch at Borough Market (the kid goat meal is delish every time)
• Tate Modern: The World Goes Pop exhibit
• Walk Millennium bridge and see St. Paul’s Cathedral
• West End Show: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Day 8

• Coach tour (Premium Tours groupon) for Stonehenge, Bath, the Cotswolds, and Stratford Upon Avon
• Dinner at home (leftovers)

Day 9

• Shakshuka breakfast (Plenty recipe that we made for 3 people)
• Roald Dahl museum
• Islington Contemporary Art and Design Fair
• Ottolenghi (Round 2) Late Afternoon Lunch on Sunday ONLY
• Packing for home (early train back to Heathrow on Monday)