Beginnings

I have many impressions from my first day in London but must try to keep it brief if I hope to publish an update every day!

First impressions

• The sun was shining! I'd expected a typical London gloom but it was a crisp, fall morning with plentiful sunshine.

• The tube (say "chewb" if you want to sound British 😆) is a lot like the NYC subway but a little cleaner. The "way out" signs at the stations are charming!

What we did today

Settled in at the flat, took showers, then headed out to Borough Market. Which was PACKED with people. You literally rubbed shoulders or elbows with someone the whole time. We headed first to the vendor whose special is chocolate covered strawberry pots. Warm chocolate from a fountain is drizzled over waiting cups of strawberries.

Friends, it was every bit as good as the hype! The strawberries tasted like home grown (not tasteless grocery store quality) and the chocolate - incredible! The way they rushed people through the long queue "had nothing on Chick-fil-A" to quote Sharon. 

There were hundreds of vendors at the market and all types of food imaginable. Some of us quickly got tired of all the people and sought out a less crowded spot. Karma, Michelle, and I went around the corner to Southwark Cathedral where we found a quieter cafe in the courtyard. I got a salted beef focaccia sandwich - a thickish slice of beef, cheese, spicy mustard, and pickles on toasted focaccia. Very tasty! 

We spent some time in the cathedral listening to the choir practice and looking at the architecture and tombs. After meeting up with the rest of the crew, we decided to take in Evensong at the cathedral. The organ and choral music was a high point! My tiredness caught up with me during the service and it felt like I could fall off my chair.

On the way back to our flat we stopped for supper at Safen. Top notch Mediterranean-style food. I ordered lentil soup and Greek salad but sampled the chicken shawarma, kofte, and tikka the others ordered. There's lots of food options close to where we're staying.

We're all sitting around talking while trying to journal, so this was written under a lot of distraction and fatigue.