After looong, long time I finally decided to post about my trip at the Tate Modern Gallery. You know, when I was home (back in Italy) I barely went out, especially by my own, but here in London it's almost impossible to stay home: so many things to see and do. So on one of my days off I went to the Tate Modern. 

I have to say I'm not a fan of galleries, museums or exhibitions unless it's something involved with photography, but I really liked it. It was nice to see some of the things I've studied in High School and recognize almost every artist. However, the best part of the gallery was the shop. After few hours of visiting every room I ended up in the shop of the Tate: BIG MISTAKE. One of the main things I have to remember now is to save, save, save. And when I went to the shop all I wanted to do was buy, buy, buy. A lot of magazines, books, gadgets, I wanted to buy everything. I think I've spent more hours inside that shop than visiting the gallery. But luckily I didn't buy anything. 

Lately I've been spending days working, eating and sleeping, mainly because the weather has been awful. Cold and rain while in Italy everybody went to beach, nice. I'm still wearing my winter coat and waiting for the summer to arrive so I won't be spending so much time thinking about what I should wear. I love summer only because it's so easy to dress up. Dresses, shorts, tops and you're done. When I wasn't tired enough to go out I went to Waterstone and spent few hours in the Photography and Fashion department reading and exploring some books, or visiting some charity shops and shopping here and there. I miss taking photos, I barely do it lately, but since my family is coming to visit in few weeks maybe I'll be start again. London deserves to be captured.

Yesterday I didn't want to go home after work so I went to Victoria and Pimlico to search some charity shops and I ended up finding an absolutely amazing photography shop. A lot of vintage goods, polaroids and so many lenses. I was dying and the prices weren't even high. I found a Rolleiflex for 169£ which I guess is not much, is it? When I'll be able to spend some money on photography that's where I'll go. 

Let's hope the next blog post won't be next month. 

Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens (Birthday post)

It's been a while since I've posted something, not so much has happened but I wanted to write anyway.

Last monday was my birthday and luckily for me I had two days off; my friend was working on sunday so I had all day by myself. At first I didn't even know what to do, it was a very sunny and warm day so I wanted to go out. I somehow had an enlightment and decided to visit Kensington Gardens, which I wanted to see since few weeks. 

I cooked myself a very good pasta with (homemade) italian ragù and ate so many sweet strawberries I was going to die. Then I got dressed quickly and went to Kensington Gardens. It was sunday, sunny and very hot, there were a lot of people, kids, and tourists cycling around Hyde Park and as soon as I got there I wanted to hire a bike. I used to cycle a lot when I was little, but not lately and I really love cycle, so I just did it. Music, warm weather, Hyde Park and a bycicle, it was just perfect. After few hours I took a break and sat in the middle of Hyde Park enjoying two muffins (couldn't ask for more) when I got a call for a possible job interview (which sadly went good but was not the job I was looking for). I was so satisfied with how that day turned out that I decided to do something similar the next day for my birthday.

The next day, itwas me and my friend Eva, who asked for a day off to spend it with me, since it was my birthday.  We went to Hyde Park again for a cycle, enjoying the same beautiful weather. Then we went to the cinema to see Divergent, which was nice. I've read the book just before the movie came out and I have to say the movie was very well directed. It was pretty much the same as the book, even though the story itself didn't amaze me that much. However, after the movie we went in a sushi restaurant and ate chickend noodles and sashimi. So good, I wanted to eat sushi since the day I came here, if not even before that. I was not satisfied enough, though. I really hope I will eat sushi again pretty soon. 

The rest of the week went well, as usual, nothing special happened except few random episodes but nothing relevant. I met an italian boy this morning, who was going home and he helped me find the buses to get to work since the tube was closed. I should really get a reminder to check every possibilities in case these things happen again. I still have to know how holidays work here. 

Anyway, another big news is that tomorrow I have a shoot. First shoot since I came to London, and well, stay tuned, I am curious as well.

Highgate Cemetery (East side)

 

It's April now and one day it feels like spring while the day after it's winter again. This weather's back and forth is annoyng, really, I wish I could get to know what's the secret. I guess I just need to wait and see.

However...

The other day we went to Highgate Cemetery, since my roommate is apparently a fan of witches, ghosts and haunted places. Luckily for us it was a hot and sunny day, so we enjoyed our little trip in this very non-creepy cemetery. We actually only visited the East side because we found out that to visit the West side you have to book online. It was nice though, we eventually discovered there was also Karl Max's grave. Then we went to the nearest park and took a few photos there too, I ate a very good banana and then we went home.

And to tell you another funny story, just few hours ago we've been locked out, I mean, we forgot both of our keys into our bedroom. I know it was just about time because it happened a few times before that we were about to close the door when, somehow we remembered we had the keys inside. We were going crazy when one of our housemates came downstairs and saw us laughing hysterically and told us "try from the windows" but they were closed, like locked, and then he said "use force then" and I looked at my roomie and she started laughing again, but then went straight to the door pushing it with the shoulders and she did open it. I swear that moment was epic. We started laughing again and wouldn't stop for a while. Haha. I don't know if I'm more relieved that we managed to open the door or worried that anyone can actually push our door open without keys. 

For now I'm just happy I'm sitting on my bed with my laptop, listening to music and getting bored as usual. I need friends, a boyfriend, a job, whatever, anyone?

Primrose Hill and Fortnum & Mason

This last week has been busy and funny and a little bit expensive. Saturday, me and my roomie went out for dinner and then walked around the city centre. It's incredible how different it looks at night, I didn't even recgnize the places I have already visited in the daylight! However it was nice, we enjoyed our pizza, finally.

That same saturday, in the afternoon, I went to Piccadilly and found Fortnum & Mason. I didn't even know it, but I saw these two gentlemen outside with some kind of strawberry/champagne bonbon and they were giving them to people completely free, so I had to try. They were delicious and, after that, I though I had to go inside. I almost died when I saw all kind of Tea right in front of the entrance and you don't even know how many other things I was dying for. Besides there were free tasting almost everywhere. I tasted a mango marshmallow, olive oil, some sort of chips, and I forgot to taste something that looked like a cheesecake. I still don't know what that was.

And I met Frankie Enticknap, well, I actually didn't talk to her but I saw her it was weird and funny and I still can't believe it happened because London is so big and I haven't seen any of the people I know so far, except for her, so I was quite surprised.

Then sunday we finally went to Primrose Hill, amazing as everything in London. I mean, is there something here which is not absolutely stunning? I don't think so, the more I live here the more I fall in love with every place and everything. And still, I have a lot of things I haven't seen yet and can't wait to see. I hope to get a job soon though, so I can finally go shopping haha!

Yesterday I took my roomie to Covent Garden where we gave few CVs and then I took her to Fortnum & Mason because she had to see it. We eventually found out that all the cakes were half price so we bought the best Vanilla Cheesecake and Chocolate Tart ever. Seriously, I can't even tell you how good they tasted.  I really need to stop eating cakes, seriously, and the best way to do so is taking my CV in a few bakeries ahahah.

So, just to end this entry I invite you to visit Fortnum & Mason, buy some delicious things and enjoy them at Primrose Hill. And, if you want you can also follow my instagram for more captures of London.

See ya!

Covent Garden, British Library and Holland Park

Hello!!! Last few days I had a lot time by myself since my roommate and friend had few different job trials, so I decided to do the tourist. Of course I'm supposed to go aroung looking for a job but, hey, I'm in London let me enjoy the city a little bit!

However, a friend of mine suggested me to visit Covent Garden (which I already saw on my trip back in 2009) and Holland Park.

For those of you who already know Covent Garden, you surely know how magic and beautiful it is, especially for the live music, but for the others who have never been there, well, you must visit it! Covent Garden is a must if you go to London, there are many little shops, and there is also a little market and many many restaurants/bar/cafè. But the best thing about this place is live music. 

The other day there was this girl, Sammie Jay, who is so talented, I loved each song of hers, either if it was a cover or an original song. I stopped and listened for half an hour at least, and I'm sorry I didn't give her nothing at all because she deserved it. But you know, I need money as well eheh, for now at least.

Also, I don't if they still cook it, but when I visited London in 2009 and went to Covent Garden I ate the Jacket Potato, it was so good you really should try it (here's the link to that trip, I took a photo so you can see what it looks like.) The food is basically the other good thing about Covent Garden. So, really, go visit Covent Garden!!

First week

So I'm writing from London, sitting on my bed after sending many CV application. The first few days were crazy busy. When I visited London the first time I saw everyone running around and I didn't get why they were always doing it, were they always late?? Now I get it though, there is no time to do anything. You always have too many things to do in one day and even twenty-four hours aren't enough to do them all. Just one week has passed and it feels like I came here a month ago. It's crazy, but I love it. I was a little scared at first, everything was so different from what I was used to, it took me few days to finally enjoy the London antmosphere.
London is still London after all. The weather has been sunny, not too cold not too hot, it feels almost like spring. Flowers are everywhere and everyone is so nice and kind.

Not to mention how inspirational places and people are, you walk in the street and always remain fascinated by a stranger.

I have to admin that the first day I arrived I wanted to go straight back home but now I wish I could stay, there is always something to do, to see, to discover. It's refreshing!

However, last week we went to Oxford Circus (so many times that I actually know every shop, restaurant of the streets,) Camden Town, Soho, Notting Hill, Portobello Road, Regent's Park, Trafalguar Square and the National Gallery. Next are the British Library (which I hope to visit today) and Covent Garden. I'm also looking forward to visit Primrose Hill and Hyde Park. To be honest we have still a lot to see. I hope we'll have the chance to do it. I'll keep you updated.