A Request for Vacation Assistance - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Estelyn Telcontar · 01-28-2008, 11:54 AM

The place near the British Museum is called "Forum Café" - I'm not sure we Downers were actually in it back at the first meeting of Downers in London; we may just have taken our picture outside. The name is quite appropriate!

As to Hamburg, the Alster (the lake in the middle of the city) is very picturesque - you can walk along the shore or take a ferry across. The inner city is full of beautiful old buildings to see, and it's fun to stroll around the pedestrian shopping zone.

obloquy · 01-28-2008, 12:18 PM

Thanks, everyone, for your posts. I am reading them and I appreciate your great ideas!

Mithalwen · 01-28-2008, 03:30 PM

I have just googled and discovered my favourite eating place is still there and still good. "Creperie des Arts" 27 rue St Andre des Arts, metro St Michel or Odeon. It is very close to Place St Michel in the Latin Quarter and Notre Dame etc... Obviously you have to like crepes but they did a good range of savoury and sweet fillings and it was quite affordable (unlike many Parisian eateries..)

Bêthberry · 01-28-2008, 07:48 PM

The great fun of eating in Paris is not only to find great culinary establishments, but also to enjoy the style of French dining in its many forms.

First of all, even at the most expensive restaurants, lunches are considerably cheaper than dinners. But they taste just as good. (will return with names of several fantastic establishments if they still exist.)

Second, we really enjoyed eating al fresco in Paris, buying meat and fresh French bread (which does not exist anywhere else in the universe except in France) and fresh fruit and vegetables at boulangeries and patisseries in the morning before we began our excursions for the day.

We brought along plastic plates, cups and utensils in a backpack (horrors, I know, but easily transportable) which we ditched before returning home. It was amazing how many French citizens also ate this way. I recall observing an entire mini soap opera of l'amour triste between a French couple while they and we ate a similar French picnic lunch near the Eiffel Tower (which we refused to go up). Same holds true for dinner if one travels during early evening daylight.

The English apparently cannot fathom this sort of manners/eating/fare and so we were unable to experience such spontaneity and free form cuisine in England. On t'other hand, it is possible to find great pub fare in the Septre'd Isle, if one looks for it.

PM me if you want the name of a fantastic tourist hotel in the Latin Quarter. As I recall, it was only 2 stars, but why people need a TV while in Paris I fail to understand. Double glazed windows provided sound proofing. No lift, but you're young. It provided breakfast, free laundry facilities, and even allowed guests to use the kitchen. near the Musee de Cluny. Not available in London, sadly.

I am so wanting to catch a flight back there tonight.

Lalwendë · 01-29-2008, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

The English apparently cannot fathom this sort of manners/eating/fare and so we were unable to experience such spontaneity and free form cuisine in England. On t'other hand, it is possible to find great pub fare in the Septre'd Isle, if one looks for it.

You clearly didn't stray within 100 yards radius of a branch of Greggs, a Northerner or a working class person then?

Rune Son of Bjarne · 01-29-2008, 01:19 PM

If you at some point find yourself in the southern Sweden instead of in Stockholm then I should be able to help, but my knowledge of Stockholm is suprisingly small.

Mithalwen · 01-29-2008, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

The English apparently cannot fathom this sort of manners/eating/fare and so we were unable to experience such spontaneity and free form cuisine in England. On t'other hand, it is possible to find great pub fare in the Septre'd Isle, if one looks for it.

.

Are you saying that the English do not know how to picnic? Utter balderdash .... the smallest bit of sunshine will have us eating al fresco whether it be a sandwich on a bench or something involving hampers (and possibly a butler

at Ascot or Glyndebourne..the former is more my style... I raided the delicatessen's of St Giles rather than fork out the extortionate price of an Oxonmoot lunch and have pictures of a picnic I went on in the Bois de Boulogne in sub zero temperatures - the French were the ones giving us funny looks. I even have a little insulated backpack kitted out with a picnic set and wine glasses and even napkins for more planned occasions.

So Bethberry, will it be swords or pistols?

Bêthberry · 01-29-2008, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

So Bethberry, will it be swords or pistols?

Oh, I would suggest pistolets as eminently preferable, particularly if you bring your butler along to do the toting and serving. And perhaps we can include a bottle of port courtesy of Gordon's in London.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lal

You clearly didn't stray within 100 yards radius of a branch of Greggs, a Northerner or a working class person then?

Well, I did bring a piece of coal to Newcastle--flung it out the open train door as we drove through. Does that count as North?

I had been wondering if it was the late season of our trip--long past the strawberries and cream of -- is it Wimbleton or Ascot? My chapeau was also a wee bit modest compared to some of the English accoutrements I saw.

Mithalwen · 01-29-2008, 03:04 PM

Gordon's do gin ... and very well. Cockburns for port but I can't stand the stuff so you can bring your own... and I am afraid Butler is dead (ex-faithful hound of solemn demeanour). Pistols are a good choice for a bullet may go anywhere whereas a sword will almost certainly go somewhere...

Lalaith · 01-29-2008, 03:37 PM

Stockholm:
Skansen and the Vasa museum, boat rides around the islands and the underground food market at Hatorget.

Brussels has some very good bars, or at least it did when I was last there, some years ago now I admit. There was a lovely one shaped just like a 1920s ocean liner (Archiduc), and another which was done up in ultra-goth style, ashtrays like coffins etc. (Le Cercueil)

In Paris, I, like Lush, love Pere Lachaise. Sainte Chapelle is beautiful. Restaurant-wise I rather like Le Procope, which claims to be the oldest restaurant in the city (1686) and has rather a fun and raffish 18th century interior, not hugely expensive either.
As for London....lots of things already said (Gordons is fab) but I would add that despite, or even because of, the opulent naffness, Harrods is always worth a visit - the food hall, the Di and Dodi fountain and the Egyptian staircase are a hoot. And go on one of those open-top bus rides, they are fun and will show you most things you need to see. Walk around the Serpentine in Hyde Park, visit the old Reading Room at the British Museum, and see Hampton Court if you can. Mo Tearoom in Heddon Street, (behind Regent Street, next door to the posh restaurant Momo) is a really good little secret to know about, dead cheap, tasty Moroccan food and very atmospheric.

As an ardent Londoner and European, I have to ask, oblo, what led you to your choice of cities? I've never been to Hamburg....but Mr Lalaith has and he says that other than quite a pretty lake there's not much going on.
Personally, I feel that the most tremendous city in Europe, possibly even more marvellous than London, is Rome.

Lalwendë · 01-30-2008, 03:37 AM

The west of Ireland is apparently fantastic - I've not been (I suspect I would not come back) but my brother goes all the time, being fond of the horse racing, the drinking and the Irish friendliness. If you plan to go anywhere near Kenmare in Kerry (close to the Dingle) I'll ask him which the good pubs are. Apparently some pubs are sneaky and do two sorts of Guinness - one for 'tourists' and one for 'locals' which is stronger. It's all very friendly - my mother and auntie ended up having their tea in a priest's house after talking to him in a churchyard they were looking in for graves of relatives. It rains though. A LOT.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

Well, I did bring a piece of coal to Newcastle--flung it out the open train door as we drove through. Does that count as North?

I had been wondering if it was the late season of our trip--long past the strawberries and cream of -- is it Wimbleton or Ascot? My chapeau was also a wee bit modest compared to some of the English accoutrements I saw.

I'm beginning to wonder if you went to Newcastle at all now

It's the home of Greggs and eating in the open air is compulsory, preferably after the clubs shut, and involving a kebab, chips, and curry, possibly all at once and eaten off a massive Stottie Cake. Plus Geordies (and most Northerners in general) are well known for their hardiness and rarely go out in a coat at night (or indeed very much at all, lasses are often struck by the nasty affliction known as Corned Beef Legs due to their skimpy frocks in near zero temperatures) - who needs a wussy coat when you've got a toasty warm beer jacket?

Now I'm offering the alternative England to Mithalwen's vision of Gordons Gin and Hampers

01-28-2008, 11:54 AM	#1
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	The place near the British Museum is called "Forum Café" - I'm not sure we Downers were actually in it back at the first meeting of Downers in London; we may just have taken our picture outside. The name is quite appropriate! As to Hamburg, the Alster (the lake in the middle of the city) is very picturesque - you can walk along the shore or take a ferry across. The inner city is full of beautiful old buildings to see, and it's fun to stroll around the pedestrian shopping zone. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

01-28-2008, 03:30 PM	#3
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	I have just googled and discovered my favourite eating place is still there and still good. "Creperie des Arts" 27 rue St Andre des Arts, metro St Michel or Odeon. It is very close to Place St Michel in the Latin Quarter and Notre Dame etc... Obviously you have to like crepes but they did a good range of savoury and sweet fillings and it was quite affordable (unlike many Parisian eateries..) __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

01-28-2008, 07:48 PM	#4
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 6,003	The great fun of eating in Paris is not only to find great culinary establishments, but also to enjoy the style of French dining in its many forms. First of all, even at the most expensive restaurants, lunches are considerably cheaper than dinners. But they taste just as good. (will return with names of several fantastic establishments if they still exist.) Second, we really enjoyed eating al fresco in Paris, buying meat and fresh French bread (which does not exist anywhere else in the universe except in France) and fresh fruit and vegetables at boulangeries and patisseries in the morning before we began our excursions for the day. We brought along plastic plates, cups and utensils in a backpack (horrors, I know, but easily transportable) which we ditched before returning home. It was amazing how many French citizens also ate this way. I recall observing an entire mini soap opera of l'amour triste between a French couple while they and we ate a similar French picnic lunch near the Eiffel Tower (which we refused to go up). Same holds true for dinner if one travels during early evening daylight. The English apparently cannot fathom this sort of manners/eating/fare and so we were unable to experience such spontaneity and free form cuisine in England. On t'other hand, it is possible to find great pub fare in the Septre'd Isle, if one looks for it. PM me if you want the name of a fantastic tourist hotel in the Latin Quarter. As I recall, it was only 2 stars, but why people need a TV while in Paris I fail to understand. Double glazed windows provided sound proofing. No lift, but you're young. It provided breakfast, free laundry facilities, and even allowed guests to use the kitchen. near the Musee de Cluny. Not available in London, sadly. I am so wanting to catch a flight back there tonight. __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

01-29-2008, 03:04 PM	#9
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	Gordon's do gin ... and very well. Cockburns for port but I can't stand the stuff so you can bring your own... and I am afraid Butler is dead (ex-faithful hound of solemn demeanour). Pistols are a good choice for a bullet may go anywhere whereas a sword will almost certainly go somewhere... __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

01-29-2008, 03:37 PM	#10
Lalaith Blithe Spirit Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 2,779	Stockholm: Skansen and the Vasa museum, boat rides around the islands and the underground food market at Hatorget. Brussels has some very good bars, or at least it did when I was last there, some years ago now I admit. There was a lovely one shaped just like a 1920s ocean liner (Archiduc), and another which was done up in ultra-goth style, ashtrays like coffins etc. (Le Cercueil) In Paris, I, like Lush, love Pere Lachaise. Sainte Chapelle is beautiful. Restaurant-wise I rather like Le Procope, which claims to be the oldest restaurant in the city (1686) and has rather a fun and raffish 18th century interior, not hugely expensive either. As for London....lots of things already said (Gordons is fab) but I would add that despite, or even because of, the opulent naffness, Harrods is always worth a visit - the food hall, the Di and Dodi fountain and the Egyptian staircase are a hoot. And go on one of those open-top bus rides, they are fun and will show you most things you need to see. Walk around the Serpentine in Hyde Park, visit the old Reading Room at the British Museum, and see Hampton Court if you can. Mo Tearoom in Heddon Street, (behind Regent Street, next door to the posh restaurant Momo) is a really good little secret to know about, dead cheap, tasty Moroccan food and very atmospheric. As an ardent Londoner and European, I have to ask, oblo, what led you to your choice of cities? I've never been to Hamburg....but Mr Lalaith has and he says that other than quite a pretty lake there's not much going on. Personally, I feel that the most tremendous city in Europe, possibly even more marvellous than London, is Rome. __________________ Out went the candle, and we were left darkling

01-28-2008, 12:18 PM	#2
obloquy Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: WA Posts: 941	Thanks, everyone, for your posts. I am reading them and I appreciate your great ideas!