end of hampstead heath day.

Hampstead. can't recall what street, but i liked it.

Fueled by this veg sandwich, I begin to make my way toward Baker Street to meet Helen. After I walk our of the Heath  and past Spaniard Inn (I want to eat there) I accidentally drop the last half of my sandwich onto the remarkably clean sidewalk. Let’s just stop right here before anyone gets worried- I did not eat it.

However, it was a pretty solid womp womp Debbie Downer type moment. My immediate reaction was to go ‘oh’ and droop my head Charlie brown style. I couldn’t decide if I should pick it up or leave it. it was just cheese and bread so the squirrels that you aren’t supposed to feed would probably enjoy it. however I don’t like litter, and it was started to drizzle and I didn’t want any strangers to suffer any cheese related slips, so I picked it up.

I walked a VERY long time carrying it. London doesn’t have many garbage cans, which is why I am all the more impressed with how clean they keep the city (especially compared to NYC). There must be a whole army of people dedicated to cleaning the streets and sidewalks of London, but I never see them. they are probably harry potter esque elves. I want to write them a nice letter. People deserve nice letters. Anyway, I think they cut down on the garbage cans to prevent terrorist bombings, so I suppose its fair, but it makes it all the more melancholy to have to carry your uneatable sandwich while your stomach growls.

I try to make mental notes of the nice stores and restaurants I see in Hampstead Heath and then try to divert to Keat’s house and John Constable’s gravesite/house, but I gave up because I figured out I didn’t plan my time right. Sigh. I never plan my time right when I go on walkabouts, as Crocodile Dundee might say. At this point it was too late to get on the Tube; it was one of those situations where by the time you walk to the tube, wait for a train, walk from the station blah blah. Also, I had commited myself to walking. And walk I did. Quite fast, considering I had been walking since 9am and sat once to eat my yoghurt and once for a minute to read info on a painting. It was tiring. But I loved every minute of it.

I walk through Regent’s Park and try not to get too sentimental. I miss it so much. But I rush by and get to the theatre on Baker Street, I seem to have memorized the location just from going to it once years ago. I was way late. The movie was set to start at 3:40 and I didn’t even get to the theatre til 3:50. luckily, I remember that they have loads of adverts on first. this is the same theatre Helen, Kristen, Adam and I went to to see the last James Bond 2 years ago. The nostalgia ran deep.

I try – and fail- to call Helen, then I decide to go in and talk to the nice man at the window. A couple before me was trying to get a ticket to the 840 show, although the in the window stated clearly that it was sold out.  So the guy said ‘ you can go in right now’, but I guess the lady wanted to eat so they asked for five minutes to decide. The window guy then said ‘in 5 minutes you can’t go in. it’s about to start.’ So they let me go talk to him. It’s a shot in the dark but I say I am meeting someone and he just says ‘ oh yeah shes in there already.’ ‘did it start yet?’ I ask. And he said, ‘it’s starting right now’. So I run, find Helen, grab my seat, and quickly apologize profusely for being the worst. I really like the movie [this is Quantum of Solace]  and will probably see it again. [ I have].

After the movie I tried to get in contact with jenna and celeste but it was not working out, so Helen and I go to a pub called The Volunteer, a place she apparently frequented but I have never been to. I get a half pint of cider 1. because I am cheap 2. we weren’t really ‘drinking’ and 3. I was a bit cidered out from the Strongbow 2 days ago.

After this we wind up eating at an Italian place down the way. Quite good actually. During our dinner conversation I say, ‘I need to look up the Christmas lightings. I think they start soon.’ WELL, next day in the London Lite (one of the free papers they give out) I find out they already had some. That night. One street over from where we were. The one I really wanted to go to. So that was a huge disappointment for me. I hope they have some smaller ones when I get back.  I will at least try to go to Harrod’s and maybe I can convince someone to ice skate with me at Somerset House.

Helen and I part ways and I go back to jenna’s and finally officially meet Colin, her flatmate. We just hung out, discussed life and everything for a few hours over drinks. It was wonderful. I love that kind of stuff. They are both great. I wish I lived there with them. well, somewhere else in London with them. we eventually go to sleep. Though I can’t sleep of course. And I must wake before jenna this time so I can wake up and get to Baker Street in time to meet David Brady, my art (architectural) history professor from when I was at Regent’s. he is kindly allowing Helen and I to tag along – for free as well!- on his class trip to Cambridge. Good man. 

this was around the corner from the above photo. i like it. the message is still very applicable today. "Cheer up folks. it's only money... love's the important stuff." just another reason why i need to move to this neighborhood.