Ever since Sevda moved to London, I've been trying to find a time to visit.  After she announced her engagement, we started planning for my visit (which grew to include Marty).  We left home on Wednesday, arriving in London on Thursday morning.  The flights were easy, taking the Gatwick Express train was a breeze, and a quick cab ride later and we were at Sevda's flat.  We arrived to snowy weather, an unusual experience here.  As I write this morning, I'm looking out her living room window at her neighbors across the street - Brompton Oratory to my right and the Albert & Victoria museum slightly to my left.  Since our arrival, we've barely left the neighborhood, and we've had a great time.

On our first day, we ventured as far as Harrod's department store.  We walked through the food halls, buying a few items and having a great lunch at the Rotisserie counter, which is more like a small restaurant.  Marty ventured into the Barber Shop to get a haircut from the cutest barber in all of London.


After his haircut, he decided to have a shave as well.  We weren't sure how much it would cost, but he'd never had a shave before and it sounded like it would be a fun experience.  There were hot steaming towels, creams, tonics, and of course a straight-edge razor.  Except for the razor part, it was pretty much like getting a facial at a spa.


As the shave continued, we had two clues that told us the price was not going to be a bargain:
1) They brought us some tea

2) The barber told us that the last person to whom he gave a shave was Ewan McGregor.

After Marty's afternoon of beauty was all over (and after he recovered from the shock of spending a year's worth of Great Clips haircuts in one afternoon), we went back to Sevda's.  Blake and Sevda returned from work, we had a great dinner together, and caught up on all kinds of details.  Sevda and I talk frequently via email and on the phone, but there's nothing like sitting at the kitchen table catching up in person.

After a long day, some jet lag, and sleeping in a bat-like cave, I slept in a bit...until 11:30!  I jumped in the shower, then we headed out for some lunch.  Our plan was to take the tube to see some of the sights, but were sidetracked by storefronts and spent the entire afternoon shopping.  We walked up and down the streets in Sevda's neighborhood, stopping in stores along the way.  Marty and I both found new jackets and he picked up a few extra items.  Obviously, I have a little catching up to do.

Last night we ventured outside the neighborhood, met up with Blake and went to see Spamalot (from the creators of Monty Python).  Not only was it really funny and entertaining, but marks a momentous occasion as Marty's second musical in less than two months. 

From there, we went to a dim sum restaurant that describes their food as "little steaming parcels of deliciousness".  We tried a wide variety of foods, and for the first time in my life I was able to use chopsticks.


Over the next two days, we will visit a few markets, tour around, do some more eating, and make headway in Sevda's wedding planning.  I think if we ever get ourselves out of Sevda's neighborhood, we'll consider this a highly successful adventure.  And if we don't, that will just mean that we've really gotten to spend some more time with the shopkeepers between Sevda's flat and Harrod's.