London 2012: London on 4th Advent

London , 22 and 23 December 2012, Part 1
"We are going to meet Celia and Michael on December 23rd. Any chances for you to get on a magic carpet and land on London at that time?" I read one October morning in a mail from dear American tabblo friend Fabio. Tabblo had been a social website, where photographers met online and shared photos and photo stories about their trips and journeys and their perception of the world. Unfortunately the website had been closed down in 2011. Celia, Fabio and I had almost known each other for four years and had gotten close friends though we had never met in person. So you may understand my joy, when I read those lines. Next morning I informed Fabio and Celia, that the flying carpet was booked and from that moment I counted the days till the 4th Advent.

I arrived on Saturday morning at Heathrow Airport and took a bus to Oxford to explore this landmark of Britishnes and its colleges. I returned to London at 5 pm to check into my hotel at Earl's Court, waiting for Fabio's call after having taken a nap. I tried to reach him on his mobile phone but without success. In the end I simply decided go downtown and explore the Temple district and stroll from there to Sothwark, where he was staying. I was halfway down the wrong road, when I received his call. The flight had been two hours late. His wife had decided to take a nap, but he was waiting in the hotel lobby. I got directions from a helpful receptionist of another hotel and finally found my way. Twenty minutes later we gave each other a big bear hug being so happy about seeing and being able to talk to each other. After that we started the hunt for food.

Which proved to be a challenge at 9 pm, because two days before Christmas Eve London's restaurants close early. When we found an open place the waiter warned us with the first sentence that they would close in half an hour. But this said he was the nicest guy you could imagine. He took our order and when we asked him, which beer he could recommend he pulled us a little bit of three varieties, so that we could taste them before we chose. We enjoyed a delicious shepherd's pie while we were talking each other's head off. Then we cautiously asked, if we might order a desert as the half hour was almost over. The waiter immediately called his boss. "Yes, we could!". It was such a kind gesture.

I started the next morning with a delicious English breakfast at a pub around the corner of my hotel. Soon the smell of baked beans, roasted toast, fried eggs, sausage, bacon and mashrooms tickled in my nose, while I skipped through the leaves of a mini London guide book. I honestly love this hearty belly warming food at the start of the day. I eat with less haste than the usual slice of bread.

I should meet the others an hour later. That gave me time to get out my camera to capture some impressions of Earl's Court's streets.

At highnoon on the 23rd December I fell around Celia's neck.and had the joy to be introduced to her husband Michael. We waited opposite of Big Ben and Westminter Abbey searching the constant flow of people for Fabio and Zenilde. They soon arrived and we crossed the road to look at the cathedral. Unfortunately it was closed to the public on Sundays, but the weather was nice, so we didn't mind to do a really touristy outdoor sight-seeing walk instead.

We walked onwards to Traffalgar Square, where we could admire the lively traffic of Charing Cross Road circling around as well as the Nelson Column and the National Gallery. It was time for a little lunch break in a café near the square. Afterwards we strolled through St. James's Park, where we should meet Celia's and Michael's son James. The day was like a parcel. You cautiously loosen the ribbon and open.the box. You take a curious look and out comes another dear person you haven't met before. It was such a pleasure to get to know both their sons. Matt joined us later that afternoon, a few minutes before had to hurry away to catch my flight.