London heat

This week has treated me well, reminding me of all the good things London offers up. Tuesday evening Nermeen and I wandered around Regent's canal up to Little Venice, a canal with colourful houseboats, and then dinner in Maida Vale. Wednesday was Japanese food with Janice and Brian in Soho and whisky on the rocks at Bambou. Friday evening I trekked down to Shoreditch to the Light Bar where people had to queue to get in. Queuing for a bar/restaurant at 7:30? Only in London. But it was worth the wait and in many ways, it reminded me of 4th street in Austin. Friendly people, friendly waitstaff, and a rather large open air patio.

And this weekend, what a lovely (but sweltering) weekend! Had an excellent facial on saturday morning, administered by a tight-lipped Indian lady with magical hands. I sense another addiction looming... Afterwards I ambled down to Trafalgar Square for Dilli Haat, an annual Indian crafts bazaar, and was unabashedly excited when I found the stall for Nagaland (though of course, they lumped together the entire northeast India region). Waiting for Janice to arrive, I sprawled on the steps of St. Martin's church, legs sticking together with sweat and dust, lustily eyeing the fountains of Trafalgar. Lunch at the colourful Neal's Yard (it always reminds me of barrio Bellavista in Santiago) and hours of idle chatter as we wandered through the lanes of Covent Garden and Soho until finally we arrived at Oxford Circus, at which point I had to dash to London Bridge to see Tropicana, described as 'a minimalist cocktail of sex-and-death, circus sleaze and club concert.' Of course, as is my odd luck, I was sitting next to one of those individuals that screams and clawingly grabs at the person next to them.

Yesterday, a few of us partook of the day of sun, a picnic on Primrose Hill with a truly international group that makes me appreciate London all the more - sevillana, madrilenos, italians, canadian-egyptian, canadian-chinese, malaysian-chinese, british-argentine, spanish-indian, aussie, jamaican, desi (pukka!) and myself. Getting lethargic, we changed to Camden Market. Senses a bit dulled by sun and wine, I had to concentrate to walk in a straight line and not constantly trip over the cobblestones. But had I done so, it would not be out of place at this particular market... Anyway, the heat was giving me a headache so I went home at about 6 and dammit, the sun was still high and the flat was stifling. I opened all the windows which was useless since there was no breeze and opted to sit spread eagle in my bikini in front the tv, a fan the size of my hand blowing full on. The air cooled imperceptibly when the sun went down at which point I lay in my bed, licking the moisture in the air, panting like a dog and wishing I had appreciated air-conditioning when I had it.

Tickled by the cool pre-dawn air and pink light, I woke up at 4:30 am. Noticing the breeze, a true god-send at this point, I perched myself at the window and nodded off again.