Three Cold Days in London

   

     I've been thinking for the last few weeks about which travel destination I'd like to write my next blog about, so when photos popped up on my "Facebook Memories" from my trip 7 years ago this week, I took this as a sign from the universe to write about London, England. I went on this trip as a guest of someone who was hired by the New York Bakery Company to promote NYC style bagels in London. By the way, I just checked and the website says these bagels are suitable for vegans :)

      It was three very cold January days hopping in and out of a cab to different locations around London to photograph  and promote these bagels. I am grateful to have gone to a new destination (all expenses paid) and to have been taken to many famous tourist attractions. I was only in each location long enough to take some photos, hear a brief history of the place, and then move on to the next destination, but I will share what I can remember. Most of the meals were on the run and not memorable,  so I've done a little research for any of you "foodies" planning on going in the near future.
     When I read my journal from this trip, I had written that I was about 95% vegan at the time of this trip in 2011. I know the first year after reading the book Skinny Bitch (by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin) was very difficult for me to find food that wasn't from an animal or animal by-products,  that had protein in it, and wasn't a lot of starchy calories. I believe I started my journey of veganism about a year before going to London. I was happy when the taxi driver who brought us from the airport to the hotel said that there were a lot of vegetarian options due to a high Indian population at that time in that area.
     One of the first destinations was to Trafalgar Square to admire the fountains and architecture. It is a public square in the city of Westminster, Central London, built around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. It is both a tourist attraction and site for political demonstrations. "Every December, Norway donates a Marvelous Christmas Tree to thank Britain for liberation from the Nazis" (tripsavvy.com).
    There are many places to eat nearby. Leicester Square Kitchen received 4.5 stars (tripadvisor.com) for their Mexican and Peruvian menu that also has vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options. Some other places near by rated highly are Portrait Restaurant with a rooftop view of Westminster, MOD Pizza, The George On The Strand for a traditional pub, or Afternoon Tea at The Savoy for a classic London experience (all have vegetarian/vegan options).
     Next was Piccadilly Circus, a road junction and public space in London's West End in the city of Westminster built in 1819 to connect Regent Street with Piccadilly. The Circus (round open space at a street junction) is a busy meeting place and tourist attraction near shopping and entertainment and is particularly known for it's video display and neon signs mounted on the corner building on the northern side as well as the Shaftesbury memorial fountain and statue (Wikipedia).
   
     After crossing the Millennium Bridge (the London Millennium Footbridge), a steel suspension bridge for pedestrians to cross the River Thames, we stopped at Starbucks at South Bank for a well-needed caffeine boost. I was so glad to find a place to have coffee that actually served soy milk! Off to take photos with Big Ben and the London Eye which technically is not a Ferris wheel, but the worlds tallest cantilevered observation wheel. Apparently, on a clear day, you can see 40 kilometers in all directions (as far as Windsor Castle).

     I finally got a chance to stop and shop for souvenirs for my kids at Jubilee Market located in Jubilee Hall in Covent Garden, London. Saturdays and Sundays are devoted to arts and crafts with over 200 artisans. Mondays are for the antique lovers, and Tuesday through Friday the Market sells household goods, clothing, food and gifts. There are several places here to get vegetarian and vegan options such as Sagar, by Chloe, and Pho Vietnamese Restaurant.
     I was staying in Jury's Inn Hotel, although I don't remember the exact location. One night while out walking searching for food I saw a sign on the sidewalk that read "TAI Vegan Buffet". I don't know the last time I was so excited about food! I had been only eating very boring vegan food that I was able to find in a supermarket or cook for myself. This was the first time in a year that I was trying to be vegan that I actually went into a vegan restaurant. This was not just any restaurant...it was a vegan BUFFET!!! I couldn't believe that all of the options displayed that looked like a regular (non-vegan) buffet were made "cruelty-free" with NO animal products! I probably ate more during that one meal than I did the 3 days I was there, but I felt a sense of reassurance that I CAN DO THIS!!!
     I'm sure there are so many more monuments, tourist attractions, shopping centers, and eateries in London to visit...not to mention the theater district that I did not see much off, but this is what I can remember from my 3 cold days in London 7 years ago.

Tampa With a NY Yankees Fan - Eat, Shop, Relax, Repeat

     The first 24 hours of my trip to Florida this past week was spent in Tampa with a woman I met about 15 years ago at a gym in Secaucus, NJ when she hired me to train her. She's closer to my mother's age, and although we have little in common, we've remained friends ever since.  Miriam Weiner  is a Jewish genealogist, author, and lecturer who specializes in the research of Jewish roots in Poland and the former Soviet Union. Weiner is considered to be one of the pioneers of contemporary Jewish genealogy through her work to open up archives and is described as a trail-blazing, highly respected guide and leading authority on archival holdings and resources in pre-war Belarus, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, and Ukraine. (excerpted from Wikipedia.org). Although I am not Jewish, Miriam has done an extensive family history chart for me that is amazing. I think she was even a little challenged since my Nana's family history traced back to the 1600's!

 
      I got to Tampa's Springhill Suites Marriott in about 6 minutes by Uber coming from Tampa Airport. Miriam was waiting outside for me so we could make it to our 8 pm reservation at Seasons 52 Fresh Grill on Westshore Blvd. The name is appropriate since they change their menu as the seasons change. I was pleased they are currently serving their Harvest blend through November which means a variety of squash and other Fall vegetables to choose from to go with the Malbec wine I ordered. Miriam said some of the New York Yankees players are occasionally spotted in there. I believe she told me she saw Derek Jeter in there during one of her visits.

     I'm not much of a soup person but the Butternut Squash Soup was very good! We then ordered a couple of appetizers, one being the brussel sprouts which was delicious, but luckily after eating one or two the server told me that there were some pieces of bacon mixed in. Thank God I did not chomp down on a piece to find out! I ordered the Roasted Mushroom Flatbread and asked the server to add tomatoes and remove the goat cheese. It was delicious!

     Of course after all of that delicious food, I felt the need to hit the hotel's gym in the morning after our coffee (free continental breakfast). A little workout is better than no workout!  Miriam is a big fan of the New York Yankees, as is most of my mom's family. I grew up watching the Yankees play in the late 1970's when Thurman Munson, Reggie Jackson, and Lou Piniella played. The George M. Steinbrenner Field (formerly known as Legends Field) located in Tampa, is home of the Tampa Yankees, the New York Yankees' affiliate in the Class A Advanced Florida State League and also the Yankees spring training home. Miriam wanted to take me to their gift shop since she shops there every time she's in Tampa to watch Spring Training. She even bought me a really cute Yankees necklace. My Aunt Ethel (who recently passed away) was a huge Yankee fan and took me to my first Yankees game when I was a child. I thought of her often during this trip and just had to take a photo of Mariano Rivera's plaque when I saw it since he was one of  her favorite players.

     After getting our fill of Yankees souvenirs, we headed over to Barnes and Nobles to look around for a while. I was ready to hit up the Starbucks in there for my second caffeine fix...Iced Coffee with Vanilla Soy Milk. Although I have two other books I've started reading and have been procrastinating with them, I couldn't resist buying another, "Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man" by Steve Harvey. I'm reading it with an open mind and have to say I have been enjoying it. I think it's great for women to read to get a little insight as to why men don't love and act the same way most women do. The last book I read that I wanted to give to all of my single girlfriends before this was "He's Just Not That Into You" by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo, a funny and insightful book. We purchased our books and decided to get some lunch.

     P.F.Chang's is in the Westshore Plaza and has plenty of vegetarian/vegan options that I would eat. We split some sort of Asian Salad that was healthy and tasty and then ordered two entrees to split...the stir-fry eggplant and some sort of Tofu with vegetables. Both were very good but too much to eat, so we wrapped the rest to-go.

     It wouldn't really feel like a Florida vacation to me if I didn't get to sit out by the pool in a bathing suit and get some sun. I took my new journal and my new book and relaxed on a lounge chair. I had the whole pool to myself! I kept thinking that 86 degrees back in NJ feels so much hotter but I guess it's because there was no humidity. It really did feel perfect! Miriam came down to sit in the shade and we just chatted for a while since we didn't have to be anywhere until 7:30 pm, which is when I had to be back at the airport to meet my son who was flying in from NJ.

 

      Miriam and I looked at some brochures to see what else there is to do in Tampa. The Tampa Riverwalk is something to check out had we more time. Not only is it very "exercise-friendly" with people walking, jogging etc...but there are many shops, restaurants, parks, and museums to keep busy all day. We also looked into some of the dinner cruises such as Yacht Star Ship Cruises & Events, Star Lite Dining Yachts, and a more family-oriented cruise called The Pirate Ship Royal Conquest. 

     The whole reason I was in Florida last week was to visit my family who lives in Springhill, Florida and fortunately I was able to fly in a day earlier to spend the day with Miriam. I planned to have my sons meet me there since it's been five years since my younger son Dakota had been down to see his grandfather, aunt, and cousins. My older son Jesse just finished four months of computer training in Mississippi for the US Air Force and drove to meet us for a mini-vacation.

     I found a photo of my son at the airport from the last trip we took 5 years ago and couldn't resist taking another photo of him sitting in the same spot waiting for my mom to pick us up. The rest of my trip was spent in Springhill and Tarpon Springs, Florida. To be continued...