Towers and Pubs and Grubs

On January 2 we woke up early in the morning to get a good start on the day. Ashley had to go into work at Rock.It for awhile in the morning so Jeff and I set off for the Tower of London for a morning history lesson. We spent more than two hours there learning as much possible but really could have spent the whole day. After viewing the breathtaking crowned jewels, we hopped back on the Tube to meet Ashley and Jason for lunch. But not before I took a moment to completely OBSESS over where she works. Rock.It is a fashion merchandising company (Ash, correct me if that is the wrong word). They buy clothes from designers-some in the US and some in Italy and maybe elsewhere and then sell the line to boutiques and department stores around London. Ashley's office is this little white space with racks and racks of beautiful clothing. While she finished up work, I examined the clothes, took photos and wiggled my nose with the wish that somehow I could be working there too.

When Jason got to the office we headed out onto Oxford street and then onto a little side street to eat at Princi-a delicious Italian quicky lunch place with pizza, paninis, salads, pastries and more. After some caprese and seafood salad for Ash and me and pizza and lasagna for the boys we were back out onto Oxford street for some shopping. When it was too cold to continue walking around, we began our pub crawl.

First we stopped in at the Winter Wonderland outdoor market in Hyde Park where we indulged on mulled wine and pints of beer. I joined all the kiddies at the make your own bag of Haribo gummies. It was a little bar of sweet gummy paradise and I was super excited about picking each little Haribo gummy morsel.

First we stopped at the Nags Head Pub for obvious reasons and then to a Belgian pub called Lowlanders. After too many beers, a dinner of fish and chips was in order so our hosts brought us to their favorite fish & chips restaurant called Rock & Sole. Any hole in the wall restaurant with a line out the door means delicious to us and tasty it was.

After an hour or so of stuffing ourselves and laughing hysterically, it was back on the tube to Notting Hill for more prosecco and beer and QT together.