goddesstogo

Well, here we are on the other side of the ocean and so far, so good. The apartment (West Hampstead) is small but cute and clean -- fair-sized living/dining room, small bedroom, tiny kitchen, nice bathroom with a jacuzzi and lots of candles (our landlady is newly engaged and, it seems, very romantic). It's certainly warm enough, in fact, we've had to turn the heat off, and it's very quiet even though we're on a busy street. We're situated in a residential area but the shops and restaurants start about two blocks down from our apartment and there's a small supermarket (a local Tesco) and about a million coffee shops, pubs and restaurants, all of which have 'take-away' so I don't think the tiny kitchen is going to be much of a problem. There's both a tube station and a train station within a few minutes' walk from home, and big red double-decker buses which run down our street from Abbey Road to Oxford Circus (and elsewhere, I think) and the West Hampstead station seems to be open, so I guess the work they've been doing on it is finished. Or maybe it's only closed on weekends -- I think I remember something about that. There's also a huge high street (Finchley Road) about 15 minutes walk away with two major supermarkets, a multi-plex movie theater and lots of other stuff we haven't gotten around to exploring yet. We'll be going for a nice long walk around there tonight. We've lucked into two days of beautiful blue skies and warm weather, so we're enjoying that while it lasts.

The flight was easy and pleasant (though charming as I tried to be, they didn't upgrade us to first class), the car service picked us up promptly, and the property manager woman showed up on the dot at our apartment, so all went smoothly there. So far, we've explored the neighbourhood, done a bit of grocery shopping, etc.

We also found the public library and we now are the proud possessors of library cards, just like the regular folk in the 'hood. The library is about 10 minutes walk away and it was a must for us. We're trying not to buy books because a) we're trying to clean off bookshelves at home, not add to them, b) we don't need to spend the money, and mostly c) they're too heavy to lug home. The local library not only has books, but plenty of dvds and also computer access which came in very handy this morning before we were hooked up at home.

I'll try to keep this thread going with our lives here and our travels but will try not to bore you with the day-to-day trivia. If any of you are familiar with this area and know restaurants or events we should try, I'd love to hear about them.

We're looking forward to getting together with some of our London friends and with jamiekins -- a fodors friend -- when we get back from Lisbon next week.

Best to everyone
gtg

(ps On the plane, I was thinking about all the fodors threads about obese passengers. I was in a middle seat with my SO on the window side and a stranger on the aisle side. He was a big guy but certainly not obese so no problem there. Only he was wearing a short sleeved shirt (as was I) and he had very hairy forearms which tickled my arms everytime I tried to share the armrest! I think there should be a special section for men with hairy forearms, don't you?

Mathieu

If there was a 'Like' button here, I'd be pressing it now.

Replied to you other thread. Happy for you and looking forward to more.

M

bookchick

GTG, good to see you! In The Lounge there is a thread about Rosh Hashanah foods and I kept thinking of how much I missed you!! Hope the SO is well, and that your adventure continues smoothly....keep posting, please.

BC

jamikins

YAY, glad you made it over ok...cant wait to meet up!

sassy_cat

So pleased to see this thread! Congratulations!!
I hope you're not in the 'hairy section' when you fly to Lisbon LOL

Looking forward to following your tale

colduphere

You tried to be charming? You must be exhausted!

goddesstogo

jamie, we're looking forward to meeting you too.

cold, well, we ended up in our regular seats in tourist section, so you can see how well that worked. When I come home, I'm going to enrol in the 'Colduphere School of Charm and Screendoor Emporium'.

goddesstogo

bookchick,
I'll be sad to miss Rosh Hashonah with my family but I'm planning to call them from Lisbon at 1 a.m. which will be 8 p.m. their time. But can you believe it --I actually cooked a brisket the day before we left for my sister to freeze and serve!
gtg

crefloors

I'll be lookiing forward to your "tales" goddess. It's been way too long since I was in London, and the last time was just to change planes at Heathrow. I need to go back hopefully in the near future. I still have things I want to see and do.

lizziea06

Please let me know if a London GTG is in the works!

landineen

GTG, so glad your enjoying West Hampstead. You described it perfectly. It's been over three years since my last stay there. As I remember, they were down to one PUB, the railroad/way which is next to the tube stop and two great Indian restaurants. We usually took the tube/bus over to Hampstead Heath in the evening as there were more PUBS which is only 10 minutes away.

Looking forward to your on-going TR...

Hans

"We also found the public library and we now are the proud possessors of library cards, just like the regular folk in the 'hood."

I think this is the first time I've seen the words "library card" and "in the 'hood" in the same sentence

Michel_Paris

This should be an on-going fun read. Thanks!

I am only "familiar" with the Hampstead area (really liked it). I'm sure you'll explore and report back to us on all of these neighbourhoods.

PatrickLondon

>>I think this is the first time I've seen the words "library card" and "in the 'hood" in the same sentence

hetismij

I'm looking forward to following this thread.
Glad you made it OK.

If you ever get over here let me know - maybe we can meet up too


Definitely a separate section needed for hairy arms. Or better yet wider arm rests!

beanweb24

I'm with lizziea06...would you consider a Fodors GTG while you're in town?

Seamus

gtg- Our volcanic ash cloud stranding in London left us wanting to have a longer, intentionally extended stay. Now we can do that vicariously!
So glad your transit was uneventful and look forward to reading your tales of the 'hood.

julia_t

This is brilliant! Keep on posting please.

And if you decide on a London GTG, do tell, as I have to be in London for a day or two sometime in the next couple of weeks and would love to join in.

annhig

Nah man, lahk, books is well wicked, innit. (Or so I believe they might say in parts of Hampstead).>>

not in any parts i ever went to, Patrick.

when are you off to lisbon, GTG?

I'm looking forward to reading more about your travels.

thursdaysd

I do envy you three months in Hampstead - did you have a planning thread with the info for the place you're staying? I lived in Highgate for a year a long, long time ago and didn't appreciate it as much as I should have done!