Stephen and Therese's voyage to redemption
together we must fight this false reality!
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Therese joins me in London this week (at least for a few days). Monday we ate at “A taste of Asia”, where we had a very good Indian and water.
Tuesday we try out Santore at Exmouth Market. Exceptionally good, fresh, pizza and wine.
Wednesday Therese comes along to a work night out. We end up in Ember. We have wine, some more wine and a small number of chips.
Thursday … well, let’s just say it wasn’t my best morning.
Approaching the office …
Tags: ember, italian, santore, taste of asia, wine
Everyone we’ve met who’s been to Boston recommends “The Freedom Trail”. They don’t really have much else to recommend … which is becoming apparent as Boston continues to be small, quiet and a little too preppy and self satisfied.
We start the trail at Boston Common. There’s a thick red line which takes you the two or three miles across Boston to various sites of historical interest, which, I’m led to believe are associated with the rebellious nature of this colony. Government house is first. A strange irony, since when we spotted it from the hotel balcony, we assumed it was a Mosque due to the gold dome.
However, we’re immediately distracted from our trail, when we realise we’re only minutes from Boston’s most famous attraction.
This is where the original outside shots were filmed. The actual studio set is on the ground floor (more of later). The “real” bar (not used in the show) is downstairs.
It’s only around 1030, so none of this is opened yet.
Passing a couple of Starbucks, it’ back on the big red line and the Boston Freedom Trail.
Large red line below… which in turn leads us to many churches … and cemeteries.
And then, of course, the “other” Cheers. This is a completely fake Cheers, bearing only the name and … somewhere inside … a mock Cheers bar.
Fortunately, it’s not long before the history presents itself again.
We’re at the “North End” of Boston, arriving in a little Italy significantly larger than a city of this size would usually have.
Most of the restaurants are cased out and don’t seem to fit the bill. We stop at Al Dente. It appears considerably more modest, well priced and with a more authentic menu. Overall, a result. The service is great as is the food. Our server, Portia, even recommends staying in Mount Washington in New Hampshire if we need somewhere to go for the weekend (which we do).
We cross the Charles River (which explains the name of the “Charlieticket” transport pass).
We pass USS Constitution and blow $1.70 each on the ferry back to Boston.
From there, it’s back to Cheers, since it’ll actually be open. We have a couple of the seasonal Samuel Adams beers and a long conversation with a Canadian woman, currently taking some time out to find herself.
The downside of the beer is it kills our energy. We stagger back to the hotel and crash out early. Again.
Tags: al dente, america 2010, boston, cheers, italian, north end, samuel adams, starbucks, the freedom trail
No, not Shatner’s finest line.
Another flight into Zurich later afternoon. City centre, right, with the Alps on the horizon.
Tuesday night we end up in an Italian where, refreshingly, the staff will only speak German.
Next day, Indian seems to be the food of choice. I recall someone suggesting Khans as being excellent. With google maps in hand, it doesn’t take long to get there.
And, yes, both the food and service is excellent. I’m knackered and asleep by 10PM (9PM UK!)
Tags: alps, german, italian, khan, vegetarian, william shatner, zurich
The rain commences just as I’m leaving Zurich. 20 minutes later it’s all below us.
Crossing the channel it’s into London, rather than Manchester.
Later than evening, Therese and I meet up. We head to an Italian nearby, without noticing it’s name.
Bizzarro … yes it is. Slow service to start, we order some olives, bread and pizzas.
The olives arrive pretty quickly … followed by nothing for thirty minutes. Two pizzas and the rest of our starter appear. It takes a minute to realise there’s something wrong with the pizza … like no tomato base.
The waiter confirms they are “supposed to be like that” … until I recheck the menu, when the story changes to “the chef is new”. When the replacements finally come, we’ve pretty much lost our appetite.
Tags: bizzarro, italian, london, restaurant, zurich
Spending the night in Kirkcaldy to minimise the damage of an 8AM start for bike lessons the following day. We stayed at a very nice B&B and the owners recommended La Gondola (above). As well as being the best Italian in Kirkcaldy (apparently) it was also an 80s theme Italian. 80s decor and 80s music. All nice middle of the road American soft rock love songs, mind. Nothing dangerous.
We left incognito
and walked along the promenade
stopping off on the way back at the also 80′s themed Port Brae pub.
specialising in indecipherable locals and wine by the bottle (175ml, Stowells)
Tags: italian, kirkcaldy, la gondola
There’s a couple of leaving nights this week. Tonights was the “communal” one for Therese, myself and a few other contractors leaving the Faster Payments programme.
Originally we were going to have it on Tuesday, but the programme then pinched our slot for an “official” celebration.
We had it at our excellent local Italian “Positano” where they admirably dealt with 23 of us.
Michael Foot: A Life by Kenneth O. Morgan