Ben Huberman, The Daily Post:
In my book, coffee, sparkling water, and a donut (okay, I confess: a fancy donut) make one such perfect combination. Sweet and bitter, cold and hot, smooth and fizzy — all these sensations come together to create a coherent, “this morning is going to be just fine” experience.
So here is self’s idea of a a good match:
Arriving in London and taking a cab from the airport. It is not cheap. But it pays off in spades because the cabbies are very interesting conversationalists. They know more about London than the average person. Most of them grew up in London. They can tell you where the best street markets are, where the best fish and chip shops are, and where St. Bride’s Church is. (If you are in a rush, this is not the mode of transport for you. It takes almost an hour, esp if you arrive during rush hour. But why would you go to London to rush? Especially if traveling alone and not on a particular schedule?)
A few years ago, when self was on a Shadowhunters reading binge (Thank you, Cassandra Clare!) she followed the path of Will Herondale and it took her to: York; Blackfriars; and St. Bride’s.
St. Bride’s was not easy to find. She asked about three people, and no one had even heard of it. Until she saw a parked London cab, and asked the driver if he knew where it was. His prompt reply: “Course I do! I’m a London cabbie!”
Nick Townsend was the cabbie who drove her in from Heathrow. He owns his own cab, and is a certified city guide:
Licensed City Guide (and Cab Driver) Nick Townsend proudly showed self his badge.
He talked about a church named St. Bartholomew the Less (The other, St. Bartholomew the Great, is next to the hospital. “Not that one,” he told self), which is a beautiful example, he said, of fine Norman (13th century) architecture.
He told self she must visit Sir John Soane’s Museum, which has candlelight tours “every last Tuesday of the month.”
He also told self about the Wallace Collection, which self has seen, but wouldn’t mind seeing again.
Self took notes.
London: oh, what a city. It is not cold. The rooms are damp. But go outside. Just keep going outside.
Stay tuned, dear blog readers. Stay tuned.
