Last Saturday, Liebling and I went to Greenwich (pronounced GREN-ich).
So… I’ve been slacking on posting on this blog. Oops. But I have a good reason, I promise! I have been out and about in London… And, well, I got a job! But more on that later. I’ve got some catching up to do. So. *clears throat*. About Greenwich.
Having no immediate plans, and wanting to explore more of London, I begged Liebling to take me there when he asked me what I felt like doing last Saturday afternoon. The idea to go was actually planted in my head the weekend before when I had the pleasure of meeting Jen, another Canadian-turned-Londoner who chronicles her expat experiences on her blog, She Went Away. She mentioned that Greenwich was a cool little town with a cool little (ok, maybe big) observatory, and that it constituted a nice, touristy day trip within London.
Liebling and I left our apartment and strolled soutward for about 15 minutes before hopping on the Docklands Line Railway and jumping off at the Cutty Sark (where do they get these names?) stop. Once outside the train station, we dove head-long into the throngs of tourists, past the neat rows of stores with bright window displays, and headed straight to the market.
The market is a large affair, despite only spanning a small area. Densely packed, mostly with food stalls, which Liebling and I made a beeline for. There were many savoury treats from all over the world on offer: the only issue we had was deciding!
But then, we saw this place serving up Japanese cuisine. It was in fact my nose, and the smoke billowing up from the stand, that lead us there. I saw them fry up some teriyaki chicken for a waiting customer and knew that was where we were meant to eat. I love my chicken and I love fresh, hot food. It was a match made in heaven.
After a lovely lunch, we continued on to the observatory. Greenwich is also the home of the Greenwich Meridian, otherwise defined as 0° longtitude, and thus the official site at which Eastern and Western hemispheres are divided.
The observatory is located atop beautiful rolling green hills, at the edge of Greenwich Park. Liebling and I climbed the stairs and had a lovely view over part of the London skyline.
To the absolutely adorable:
To the funny.
We were nearly ready to be on our way when Liebling stopped me. He found another place where they had a marker indicating the Greenwich Meridian! Even though it wasn’t as impressive as the one located in the paying section, it suited me just fine. I straddled the Meridian and asked him to take my picture. So here I am straddling the East and West hemispheres at the same time!
Satisfied, we continued to the National Maritime Museum, where we spent about an hour learning more about boats and Britain’s role in sea exploration over the years. It was extremely interesting and, best of all, free!
We then headed home, but not before I paused to capture the gorgeous architecture that Greenwich seems to have in abundance.
Greenwich is well worth the trip! Try to make it out if you find yourself in London anytime soon.
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53 Comments
Mmm…now I'm hungry! That looks delicious.
I love notes like that, I think I shall share one of them with my coworker who is trying to get pregnant 🙂 🙂
Oh and Congrats on the job!!!
Patties! Festival! Peas and Rice! Okay, I just get excited whenever I see Caribbean food but the market looks wonderful as well. I think outdoor markets are great window's into an area's culture. I did a post on Montreal's Jean Talon Market last week. Did you fill in a card for time stood still? Lovely meridian shot of you, you should make it a postcard.
Congratulations on the job you won't tell us about.
I have a strange attraction to maritime museums– strange mostly because the very idea of being on water churns my stomach. If you can convince Liebling to journey north with you I recommend the equally free and very impressive one in Liverpool.
I love interactive art projects like that! It's so nice seeing people's take on what made time stand still for them.
love those pics of the market!! Sounds like a great afternoon out!
Hey Nikita,
Just wondering, how do Canadians right the date when they use only numbers: American style with the month first, followed by the day, or vice versa?
Thanks,
Oh this post takes me back to my time in Greenwich this past April! The Observatory was amazing, as was the view from it. I loved walking up there and enjoying the greenery.
I fell in love with Greenwich from the time we got there because it was so calm in comparison to where I was in North London. We also got to hear some opera singing and violins at a conservatory (unfortunately I can't remember the name right now) nearby.
I love your blog, by the way. I'm a university student from Ottawa with Jamaican parents and major travelling ambitions for the future. You have definitely inspired me to travel for longer periods after my undergrad. Thank you for sharing your perspective. All the best!
I must tell you that I essentially stopped reading after the food part. Sure, I skimmed…barely…and I looked at the photos but I was still up there at the food stands. How you passed up those amazing looking dumplings I will never know. The chicken looked good though so I can understand why you went with it. But the dumplings… Speaking of J'can food, I just remembered that I have some ackee in the cupboard. Hmmm…
I have been to Greenwich with my high school a loooong time ago 🙂 Remember I liked it! Oh and I have the same picture, one leg in one hemisphere 🙂 haha
Nice pics! Greenwich was my old "stumping ground". I used to live about 10 minutes away and frequented the area. Love it. Although the market looks much better now. For one, they didn't have any WI food before. Moms is Jamaican so I share your excitement when WI food is around. Glad you two had such a nice time.
I love this post! What a fun day out!! 🙂
Hehe, love the pronunciation tip! Every North American gets it wrong.
x
Love the photos…and looks so delish!
Still lovin' Greenwich. I went to view a flat today – studio – about five minutes walk from the train station. Would love to live there, but the flat just wasn't quite right. I'll still to Bermondsey in the meantime. If you'd like to come see my hood some time, let me know – do you have my mobile number yet?
@Ashley: The teriyaki was to DIE for. Hmm, you're reminding me that I should go back this Saturday! And thanks for the congrats!!
@Fly Girl: I hadn't seen West Indian food for so long that I kinda stood there enthralled as well. What I wouldn't give for a good patty- but I am partial to a patty joint in Toronto. Thanks!!
@legrandezombie: I'll have to do a post on it soon!! As for being seasick, I am sooo with you on that one. Liebling has his sailing licence but after sailing with him in Croatia (and feeling nauseous most of the time), I don't see myself sailing again any time soon! Liverpool is definitely on the list so will have to remember to check the sister museum out there!
@Audrey: So cool, huh? I love seeing all the different answers!
@Little Gumnut: It was fab!
@Aritul: Honestly, I'm not sure! I always get mixed up and end up putting the day first regardless 🙂
@Kayanna: Hey there!! Thanks so much for reading!! What were you doing in North London, were you living there or just visiting? So cool to meet another Jamaican-Canadian! Hope you'll stick around and don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions!!
@Tanya: Women you are too darn funny! But about that ackee… Do feel free to invite me to dinner and make some for me when I come to Nice in May… 😉
@Kristina: I LOVE taking these sorts of pictures, even though I know they are kind of dorky!! I'm jealous that you're in sunny OZ now though!
@Alicia: Thanks for dropping by! You know, the more I think about it, the more I feel bad that I didn't get the J'can food after all! Sigh. Anyway, I guess that Greenwich is trying to diversify with their food selections.. 🙂
@Deidre: Was a fab time! I'm waiting for your reports and pics from Vanuatu, though!
@Milla: Haha! I made the same mistake until about 3 weeks ago 😉
@Alexa: Oh it sooo was!
@withinireland: Would LOVE to! I don't think I have the email with your number in it anymore. Can you send it to me on Facebook? Would love to meet up again soon!
I just love Greenwich and I am glad you had such a good time there. Your photos of the market are gorgeous!
The market looks so fun! And congrats on the job! Can't wait to hear more.
I would love to go to Greenwich. I just went to Ecuador and took pictures at the "middle of the world" line. It was fun 🙂 Someday I need to do the same with the East/West line
Don't you hate it when life gets in the way of blogging? I forgive you, especially since you've returned with such a great post. 😉 Thanks for sharing your adventures in your new city with us.
@catae: I need to make it to Ecuador at some point! For some reason I think of the equator as WAY cooler than the meridian. 🙂
@Monique: Glad you enjoyed! I love all the new adventures- it just hard to keep up with blogging about them!
Can I copy the URL from one of your pics? (landscape) …and link to your blog..I’m writing something on my blog about “Dream Places I want to visit” and you’ve put Greenwich on the map for me! Hopefully I hear from you soon 🙂 If you want, you can check out another Dream Place I posted about: http://thetravelbugandlifelessons.blogspot.com/2012/12/dream-place-id-like-to-go-someday-russia.html
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