As mentioned in my last post, the first stop of our trip to Europe was London. My best friend relocated there this summer. We added a stop to hang out with her and her fiancé for a couple of days!
After arriving at Heathrow Airport, we headed to Finsbury Park—the adorable and charming neighborhood where they live. We caught up for a bit and then got ready to explore the neighborhood and grab lunch. For dinner that night, we went to Dishoom—an amazing Indian restaurant that I can’t recommend enough. You know the food was good because I have not one picture of it!
The next day was a true day of exploring. We walked through Finsbury Park into the Stoke Newington area, checked out some cute shops, and stopped at a couple of pubs. I tried some Guinness…I’ll stick to my pale ales. For dinner, we headed to Pig and Butcher—a delicious restaurant that offered elevated traditional English cuisine.
This was both Brian’s and my second trip to London (first time together). I loved this visit because we already did the bulk of sightseeing during our first trips. We could really enjoy the amazing things locals get to enjoy and not feel like tourists. There’s nothing wrong with being a tourist in a new city. It’s also fun to just relax and take it all in!
Of course, we can’t forget that Billie was along for the ride! She thrived — despite me being worried about crankiness, jet lag, etc. Save for a few meltdowns (to be expected with a nine-month-old), she adjusted almost instantly.
One thing that helped with her adjustment was abandoning routines. I let her nap and go to bed on her own terms. I followed her lead, and everyone — especially Billie— was happier for it. One momentary joy was her sleeping in— which only lasted in Europe!
After a delightful brunch at Hokka Brasserie, we prepped to fly to our next destination—Rome! We’re incredibly grateful to our amazing hosts for making this such a memorable visit. We’ll definitely be back.
Stay tuned for part 3!
Alexa Alfonso 