Introduction to Marrakesh

My friend Daniella and I decided to go to Morocco a few months ago and we booked the cheapest flights (EasyJet from Gatwick) and a nice but cheap hotel (Riad Clementine), for our holiday to Marrakesh. We prepared ourselves by looking up things to do online, and I bought a little guide book from Amazon. We looked at a bunch of different blogs and tried to see what the best things to do were. We ended up writing a day-by-day plan of what we were going to do and what we wanted to see. 

When travelling you have to be sure that even if you plan every detail things do not go as planned. We reserved online for a few things, but on the first day we had planned to go to "Les Bains de Marrakech" but our reservation didn't go through because we didn't pay for it online. 

Not to worry, we were dying in the 40°C heat, so we stopped for a drink, and took a cab back to the hotel. From the first day it felt like we were going to end up taking a lot of taxis but we only ended up taking about 4, and two of those were from and to the airport. 

Our hotel was paradise, (but I'll write about that in my next post) and close enough to everything we wanted to see. Now the people of Marrakesh always assume you're looking for the square "Jemaa el Fna" but we never seemed to be looking for it when they attempted to give us directions. 

We reminded ourselves that this was not Europe and everything is a little unorganized, such as there being barely any street signs in French or English. Its hard when there isn't any Arabic on your map and yet everything around you is in Arabic. You end up asking yourself whether the mosque you're looking at is the same one you're looking at in your map. 

Overall, it was an incredible trip, and we were able to see a lot for only being there for 5 days. This holiday gave me the sudden urge to need to see more of the world and I can't wait for my next Intercontinental holiday. 

Somerset House; Tom's Kitchen

In gross grey weather its always important to cheer yourself up. So I went to the Somerset House to see some art and have some lunch. The day my friend and I went was 2 days before the new exhibitions opened so there was almost nothing to see, just something about Picasso's blue period (I can't stand Picasso anymore, so we avoided that) and something about limited edition designed rugs. So obviously we went for lunch first. 

The biggest eating area in Somerset House is "Tom's Kitchen" which is an incredible restaurant. Its not cheap, I only had a main, and sparkling water and I spent 20 pounds, but the food was just amazing. The flavours are aligned perfectly. I had papardelle (A sort of wide and flat spaghetti type pasta) with butternut squash, roasted pine nuts and roquefort cheese. They also brought us out some bread while we waited and it was really really good, we devoured it. 

The service was impeccable, and they wrote on a pink slip in the menu that one pound would be added to our bill to support cancer research because in the UK May is "cancer awareness month". I think its a good way to make people take part and donate because otherwise we forget, or we don't have cash on us when they ask for our help. 

Anyway, back to the point, the restaurant was incredibly good, I want to go back again, it was one of my best eating experiences in London. 

Here's a link to the restaurant: http://www.tomskitchen.co.uk/somerset-house

Abbey Road

London is full of popular landmarks. Abbey Road is famous due to The Beatles, they walked across the zebra stripes on the physical road for one of their many covers, the album was then names "Abbey Road". There is also a studio next to the zebra stripes names "Abbey Road Studios". 

Anyways, in the rain on Tuesday the 14th of May I kind of "ran" across the crossing holding my umbrella. My friend and I went there to take photos of each other crossing, but there were a few groups of people watching which made me a bit uncomfortable, and also there were many cars passing. Luckily I have a few not too horrible photos of me crossing the road. 

One thing I love about this landmark is that its not overpopulated by tourists, at least it wasn't when I went. I love that Abbey Road the only place in London where there are still zebra stripes for crossing the road, everywhere else has these weird dot things. 

Also, the Abbey Road Studios website has a webcam feed so you can watch people trying to cross the road and taking pictures, here's the link: http://www.abbeyroad.com/Crossing

Thai Rice

A few weeks ago my friend Daniella and I wanted to go to Notting Hill for lunch, we ended up walking the wrong way, and somehow found ourselves walking towards Edgware Road, at this point we decided we were dying of hunger (I was) so we stopped nearby at a Thai restaurant called "Thai Rice".

Daniella had been here before, and she remembered that the food was good so after a quick glance over the menu we walked in. The place is lined with booths and tables, and we were seated in a booth. There are Ipads at each booth for people to play games, look at the menu interactively as well as look at other things online. There are also a few big screen televisions which at the time were playing a football match. The waiter is polite, friendly and really well composed for such a small restaurant. Our drinks are brought out straight away which is great. I ordered a Thai Ice Tea. They're incredible, I have no idea what they put in them but they're a super sweet tea-based drink with added milk and ice. 

As a main dish I had Pad Thai with Beef. Which I really enjoyed because the contrasting textures and flavours worked together really well. It was a quick but relaxed meal, and I really enjoyed it. Daniella and I had a laughing fit at the end of the meal because she put a mint and two ice cubes in her mouth at the same time and for some reason we thought that was hilarious. Here's their website: http://www.thairicelondon.com/

Genesis

Genesis Cinema is in between Whitechapel and Stepney Green stations. Its an independent cinema and it only has 5 viewing rooms. The fifth room is special because its set up as the viewing experience from your home, they have couches for groups of two, where you sit with a coffee table in front of you and you can look at the big screen. I've only seen one movie in this "studio" (as the cinema calls it) and it was a really good experience. I didn't really like the movie but I was comfortable and not distracted throughout the whole film. 

Usually I get easily distracted when its a long film, I hate when people stand up to go to the bathroom and when people eat really loudly. I tend to talk to myself a bit when I see films, but I'm trying to do it less and less. Obviously it depends on the film, some action movies are alright to talk in because of the explosive sounds and other loud scenes, but I know it gets on everyone's nerves when someone is talking throughout the whole film. 

I really like Genesis, its a cheap cinema, its 5.50 pounds for students, and 7 pounds for a standard ticket. But on Wednesdays its even better because its only 3 pounds for everyone. Also their food isn't as crazy expensive as bigger chain cinemas in the UK. Its not as cheap as getting the food at a supermarket, but you can get a deal of large popcorn and a large drink for 5 pounds so its worth it. Also, in the upstairs waiting area there is a bar, so you can purchase alcoholic drinks to bring into the studio with you which is generally not allowed. I'm going to this cinema again soon, and I'm really looking forward to it! 

Here's their website: http://www.genesiscinema.co.uk/

Fortnum & Mason's

In early March I went to eat at Fortnum & Mason's with my friend Tatiane. We booked a table for two online for their Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon. Arriving in the shop was great, the doorman explained to us which direction we needed to go, what floor it was on, and which elevator to take. The doors opened for us on the 5th floor and we walked into a room with a small reception desk and a huge grand piano. It was really special. After a few minutes wait we were seated to our table with a huge white table cloth and plates and cutlery set out for tea. 

Looking over the menu we couldn't pass up the chance of having something savory as well as having cakes. Sadly, in the end we weren't able to have tea because we were so full, and we both still had wine in our glasses. I had an onion tart, and Tatiane had a dish with fish which she very gracefully devoured. I later got a huge slice of maple cake, and it was incredible. I loved every second of it. 

Its an expensive place to go eat, and you need to dress well to be taken seriously but once in a while everyone deserves a treat, and this is really an amazing treat. We might make this dinner an annual thing, I hope because I still dream about this food. 

Here's the Restaurant's website: http://www.fortnumandmason.com/c-54-diamond-jubilee-tea-salon-afternoon-tea-london.aspx

Founder's Arms

Founder's Arms is a pub type place near the Tate Modern on the south side of the Thames river. Its really nice to eat there on a sunny and warm day, cause the breeze coming from the river is really relaxing. I went there with my flatmate Emily on a Saturday evening and we were able to get dinner and something to drink for about 15 pounds each, which is pretty good for dinner in London. 

We got to watch the sunset, and enjoy our drinks. You have to go inside to order the food, and sort of scream it across the bar to the bartenders. But they understand everything and after you've paid they give you a number to take back to your table so they can bring you your food. I liked that, because they came over to bring the food and all of the eating utensils so it felt like they knew what they were doing. I had a really good chiabatta sandwich and fries, not too healthy, but really yummy. 

It was just a great evening because we got to enjoy the remaining hour of sunlight, and it wasn't too cold. It was nice to be outside for a change, because in London you often find yourself running from the rain. 

Here's the link to the pub's site: http://www.foundersarms.co.uk/