London

13 August, 2019

We started the day with a "proper" Full English breakfast, taking our time and savoring our last leisurely morning in London before being drop-kicked back into the reality of daily life (and the coming year of Paramedic school.) At the risk of being redundant, when you travel don't fall back on familiar foods - branch out and give the regional twists and turns a try. I may never have baked beans with my eggs and toast for breakfast at home, but I look forward to enjoying them when I'm in the UK. Travel isn't just about seeing things and checking off a list - it's about experiencing things from different perspectives and expanding our knowledge and understanding of the world.

Best bookstore, anywhere

Other than toasted cheese sandwiches from Borough Market the only other thing we require for a trip to London to be complete is a visit to Hatchard's. They always have something new and interesting, and there's just something about browsing stacks of books in a centuries-old building that feels right. The staff is exactly what you think a bookstore staff should be, able to answer the most esoteric questions about any book you pull from the shelf. Fortunately there is no VAT nor duty assessed on books - the only "tax" you'll encounter involves the weight of your purchases. If you're a book lover then Hatchard's should be at the top of your list of places to see when you're in London.

Next door to Hatchard's is Fortnum and Mason, a London institution that first grew to fame as a grocer. The modern F&M continues the tradition of high quality groceries in addition to their expansion into luxury items. You'll find an extensive library of wine verticals as well as some exceptionally rare varieties of Scotch. F&M also offers one of the finest brunch menus in all of London, in addition to afternoon tea and a full range of breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus. F&M biscuit tins are an excellent choice if you're looking for something to take home to that difficult-to-buy-for person.

A mid-afternoon stop at Cafe Nero for a much-needed caffeine boost kept us motivated before grabbing a rare cab to run back to the hotel to unburden ourselves of books and assorted purchases.

Scarsdale Tavern

After delivering our booty to the hotel room and navigating a bit of re-packing in preparation for our trip home we headed to The Scarsdale Tavern for dinner. We were introduced to The Scarsdale in 2016 by my wife's uncle, who was an airline captain. He began his career with Piedmont Airlines, which then merged with USAir before being assimilated by American Airlines. He passed away in January 2019, and we honor him each time we visit London with a trip to The Scarsdale for a pint of his favorite, Guinness.