Saturday, April 7,
(continued from here)
London, day 2: after breakfast


While searching for a shop I had discovered online, we explored the Covent Garden area and ended up in The Seven Dials; a set of streets with quaint little shops; on the right you see Hans walking though a small alley to Neil's Yard.


Neil's Yard; isn't it awesome? So pretty with all the colours! Plus we found the shop I was looking for! (Bought delicious Comfrey & Mallow Footbalm)


Cool graffiti in the alley


When we walked back towards the centre of town, we came by this building-site art by Nathan Bowen


When we passed the Palace Theatre with the Singing In The Rain façade, Hans couldn't resist; he had to swirl around a lamppost:)


We decided to check out tonight's theatre The Duke Of York, to find out how to get there later and to see if we could maybe already pick up our reservations for All New People. (We could, yay!)


View from The Duke Of York. (Sorry, I'm too lazy to check the streetname or sights;) Enjoy the impressive buildings.

While I was leading brotherdearest to Piccadilly Circus (for a visit to bookstore Waterstone's and drugstore Boots) I had meant to quickly bypass M&M's world on Leicester Square. Unfortunately Hans sensed my discomfort and decided we had to go in. Well, he is my little brother and he had been so sweet up until now, accompanying me to all the shops on my list without complaining. Still. I think that doesn't compare to the horror of what I was about to experience...


Four floors of M&M madness, oh pardon, 'merchandise'. It smelled like chocolate but there were humansize dancing M&M's and what little comfort I got from the scent was blown away by the weirdness of it all. I repeat: FOUR FLOORS.


Okay, this was kind of cool, especially the wall with M&M's in an overwhelming amount of colours. But again: on FOUR FLOORS.


Ahw, look at his crazy happy wittle face. *pinches cheeks and then slowly steps away*


And then look at my not so happy face when I discover the Periodic Table of M&M's. I think my exact words were "Oh. My. God." (I didn't know Hans was taking a picture of me until I heard him giggling. Bastard)

After climbing ALL the stairs and checking ALL four floors, Hans finally showed mercy and we went back outside to continue our walk to one of MY favorite stores. Pfew. I was also relieved to see the apostroph was still on the front of Waterstone's. That restored my faith in humankind a little;)

With bags full of books and toiletries (from Boots), we took the Tube to the hotel. On the way we grabbed food at Pret a Manger and had lunch in the park before finally checking into a room where we collapsed on the beds.


We napped until 4 p.m. *grins*


Well, I had to take a photo of my loot first, but then it was really nice to be able to sleep in a bed for a bit, after the long night on the bus and boat.

Completely refreshed we went back into town around 5 for our visit to the Hamleys Toystore, where it was busier than I had ever seen it!


There was an awesome LEGO display of the royal family.


The Queen was sitting in the corner with her little dog. Ahw.


For dinner we went to my favorite restaurant Mother Mash for mashed potatoes with steakpies and for dessert pudding and warm custard. Omnomnom.


Then we walked through Regent Street to get to the theatre. I tried to make a photo of the Abercrombie & Fitch ad across the street. Grumble, stooopid tourists...


My darling brother saw my struggle and having the advantage of height and a better camera, shot a photo especially for me. Obviously, he is totally forgiven for the M&M thing;)

Then it was time for the play All New People, written by and featuring Zach Braff, which is why we wanted to see it. Extra bonus was Eve Myles (Torchwood) who played another one of the four people in the play, who all end up together in a beach house in the wintertime. - If you want to know more, you can find a review from nick730 which I mostly agree with here.

We had great seats, but I had a bit of bad luck with tall men in front of me, the last one coming in after the lights went out, so Hans and I didn't have an opportunity to swap. In addition I was distracted by dumb people beside me who kept checking their phone throughout the performance. Grrrrr. Luckily I still enjoyed the play, because I was just so happy to be there.

Afterwards we noticed a bunch of people hanging around the side-exit of the theatre and since we suspected they were waiting for the actors, we stuck around for a while.


Zach did indeed come outside and was ever so nice: signing programs and posing for photos (he even made some arm length pics for people who were on their own!). We only took pictures from behind the crowd, but it was really nice to see him in person. A great end to a wonderful day!


We went back to the hotel, where Hans crashed while I got comfy in the tub. So comfy in fact that I fell asleep and didn't wake up until Hans started banging on the door. Oops. Luckily I had put my book away and had added warm water right before I dozed off;)

I didn't waste any more time getting ready for bed, since we had to get up early for the busride home...

To be continued:)

London with brotherdearest
Day 1: The Knightbus
(Okay, fine *sighs* ... the nightbus from Amsterdam to London, still quite adventurous;)

Friday, April 6: from Zwolle to Amsterdam to London

My late lunch on the 15.16 train to Amsterdam:)


Weird warning on train/metro/trainstation: apparently you can't even use your mobile phone without it getting nicked? So glad I don't have one.


Arrived at my brother's appartment around five, we had dinner before getting on the metro to Amsterdam Amstel station to catch the nightbus to London. This is the Eurolines busstation.


The awesome traveltreats machine at the busstation includes postcards with stamps and a helpful message from the kind people at the Eurolines office. Ahw.

Bus left the station half an hour before the official departure time, around 9 p.m. There was a stop in Eindhoven to pick up more passengers before driving South to France. We were supposed to cross the Channel in Calais, but were told it was too busy there and drove to Dunkirk instead (this takes longer, hence the earlier departure from Amsterdam). Passport control by French and English bordersecurity was swift and without problems. Our busdriver was pleasantly surprised.


Around 3.15 a.m.: Duinkerken (Dunkerque/Dunkirk) next to the bus with the lights of the ferry behind us, we're ready to board. :-)

Bus was quite comfortable, but not a good night's sleep with the break on the boat (ship?). Although we did manage to find a bench and chairs to put our feet up, it wasn't really suited for more than a power nap. From Dunkirk to Dover took about 2 hours and 15 minutes. Then it was back on the bus for the final stretch to London...


Day 2: London!
Saturday, April 7: from Zwolle to Amsterdam
Click to read in LiveJournal

Around 7 a.m. local time I startle awake: is that a double decker? Are we in London already?


Hey, look, a familiar sight: the houses of Parliament! WE HAVE ARRIVED IN LONDON, woohoo \o/


Still sleepy, but very excited, we get off the bus and walk from the Victoria Coach Station to the Tube (or the "Tsjoop", as our busdriver called it;)


I love this add on the subway. Alas, there was no Mr or Ms Right sitting beneith it. Oh well.

We left our luggage at the hotel and went into town for breakfast. (We couldn't check in a room yet, but could leave our bags without charge until rooms got available around 2 p.m.)

First stop: Covent Garden! We wanted to look for food, but were distracted by a massive display of Easter Eggs! Excuse me while I go a little egg-crazy...


As it turns out all the eggs made for The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt were on display for a final time.


From painted eggs to egg-shaped installations, it was an art-project similar to 2009's Elephant parade (which I saw in Amsterdam back then with S.


Some of the eggs were too fragile to be out in the open, so there were quite a few 'hidden' in shop windows as well as outside:)


The British Alphabet egg:)


So many eggs. \o/


I couldn't stop taking pictures:)


Front and back of one of my favorites.


Yes, more eggs. But look: it has Covent Garden in the background, it's totally atouristy photo!


LOOK HOW AWESOME! A My Generation Egg! A mailbox Egg!


So pretty and fun.


One last look and then we're going for breakfast.


No, really, this is the last egg, there is more to see in Covent Garden ("He's behind you!") but now we're really hungry, so food it is.


Oh, come on, how could I not? Delicious and perfectly cooked soft boiled eggs at Le Pain Quotidien. Omnomnom.

To be continued...