BBQ in Hammersmith

Saturday I was invited for a BBQ in Hammersmith together with my flatmates at one of their common friends place.
Although the weather forecast promised rain showers all day and evening we were hoping for the best. We got picked up by car and as we drove closer to our destination the weather cleared up and the sun came out.
Unfortunately the weather gods wanted it different and if it was not for the host and his garden pavilions we and the grill would have drowned.

Despite the weather it is was a really great BBQ event and I met some really nice and friendly people. The most remarkable thing that evening was the tasty food and definitely all the countries that were represented. I do not think I can remember all of them but these were some of them Estonia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Venezuela, Ireland, Turkmenistan, England, Italy, Colombia, Spain, Denmark
- the beauty and diversity of London.

Moving - saying goodbye and hello

This posts is a little outdated as I moved out from the hostel and into my new room 3 weeks ago. Never the less.. I do not want you to miss out on this post.

My new room is quite small but the fact that I have my own room is amazing! I must say that I have been happy to stay at the hostel in the great area of Hampstead and getting to know some nice people. But you kind of get to a point where living with up to 6 people (some random, coming and going) in a room gets too crowded and where you just need your own private sphere.

I was really lucky to find this flat, both affordable, clean and home-ish, and I am really happy with my new flatmates. Considering that I have never shared an apartment with "random" people before I kinda like it.. much - especially the international environment as they are respectively from Venezuela, Spain and Kyrgyzstan.

All this has again meant that I have had to say goodbye and hello. I guess that is what London is about during these 4,5 months - although I have renamed goodbye to see you again.

Another thing I love about London is the hills - even when I jog (who should have known, haha). They give the most amazing views over the city.

This one is taken from outside our front door

Close up of The Orbit and the Olympic stadium

Oxford

... has been my no. 1 on my must-see list and after having mentioned it to the girls from K it seemed we shared the same interest. We agreed on a day quite quickly and soon we were on the train towards Oxford.

Cecilie and I met with Linette at Paddington Station the 4th July. The weather forecast was not promising but we just hoped for the best. Our train ride took about an hour so we had plenty of time to eat our breakfast / lunch while enjoying the beautiful landscape and taking funny pictures.

Once we arrived we did not have a clue where to go as we all thought one had made some research about the city - it turned out none of us had. I had only heard about the University which I wanted to see (turns out it is spread all over the city - who would have thought) and also where the Harry Potter movies was filmed.

A quick google search and the quickest hop-on-hop-off-bus-tour later we were in what seemed to be the city center. I strongly recommend anyone who are into architecture, charming buildings and history to go to Oxford. The views were incredible no matter where in the city we were! I guess the pictures will say much more than I will ever be able to describe.

One of my class mates is doing her internship there, so I thought I would send her a text and let her know we were in town. Luckily she had time to meet up and it was really great to see a familiar face. I hope we will have time for a drink or two, either in Oxford or London Marta :)

Listen to the song while browsing through the pictures.

Follow-up post from the last couple of weeks part 3

TV2 and VisitDenmark (Imagination) is located at St. Katherine's Dock close to Tower Bridge where they have a big screen, therefore we decided to go see the Opening Ceremony. It was quite packed so a few of us went to Dickens Inn for a beer instead. 

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Tuesday the 31st July my former room mate Camilla and I went to the Danish Embassy to watch Denmark vs. Spain. At the Embassy we bumped into a guy from K and Linette, who is an Au Pair here - we met the day before at the Opening Ceremony so it was quite funny to meet her there.
It was a really nice event where they served Danish finger food, Carlsberg, wine etc. It was so delicious and the best part - Denmark won. Unfortunately Sweden later kicked us out of the tournament.

I sat next to a Danish police woman who is here only for the Olympics. She told me who the different people were and what they were doing in London. All in all a quite good event.

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Notting Hill was on and still is on my London must-see list  - apparently it was also on Cecilie's (previous room mate). On a beautiful Saturday we took the tube from Finchley Road changed at Baker Street to Bakerloo-line and went off at Warwick Avenue where we walked a long the water took a bus and went to the Portobello Market. It was a really nice day with a lot of walking and seeing lots of different things; amazing buildings, vintage shops, shoe storess, clothes store (of course!) and second hand stuff from all the stands. We ate lunch from a Venezuelan food booth and had a delicious apple, ginger, mint juice.
Together with Notting Hill I also wanted to see the book store from the movie Notting Hill but because of all the new impressions I forgot all about it.
But but but on our way back to find the bus we randomly passed the store - yay :)

Follow-up post from the last couple of weeks part 2

Before the Olympic games started there was all the fuss about the Olympic torch and when it came to the area we of course had to go and see it. I got up at 6 in the morning, left the hostel at 6.20, managed to get from Hampstead to Chalk Farm at 6.47 and at 6.48 the torch was lit. One would think it is just a torch, but I have to admit it was a really special moment and the atmosphere was amazing. I made a video and will upload it to the blog soon. In the meantime you can enjoy the pictures from that early morning.

...and all the other people who had the same idea

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Lunch in a beautiful spot in Hampstead Heath with K-people (K = KFUK / Danish YWCA)

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We have been celebrating two birthdays in the office and look at these delicious cakes + cup cakes from our German intern - massive sugar shock! If it continues I think we will get quite addicted and the only option is to get the sugar intravenous.

Follow-up post from the last couple of weeks part 1

As I wrote in my previous post I have had lots of things to do lately and been busy. I am doing really good here in London and have settled in. Have been seeing many new and beautiful places, met some nice people and have got some good experiences.

A couple of weeks ago one of my roommates and I went for a walk in Hyde Park. After a good night out it was nice to spend a sunday afternoon walking around and enjoy the green sights. The squirrels here are not shy and it is possible to feed them with nuts from your hand. As we had not bought any nuts we did not come as close to them like the other tourists, but we had fun anyway.

 Peter Pan and I

Diana's Memorial Foundation

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In the office we have just said goodbye to an intern who had been with us for a month. To weeks ago we went out in London as we both wanted to see Tower Bridge by night. We went to eat at Wagamama - had some great food and afterwards when the sun had set we went by foot to Tower Bridge. We took some great photos of the bridge and the Olympic rings. Both of us actually had the intention of going home early but London usually want it different. Yet another late night out.

Olympic handball Denmark vs. Spain

Again today I'm blogging from the Tube. This time I am on my way to the Olympic park to watch the Danish women play against Spain. I cannot believe that I am actually going to see an Olympic match. 16 years ago I was watching our ladies win gold medals and I so wanted to be there cheering them on. That is what I will do tonight at 7.30 UK time so please do look out for the Danish flag which we will be holding up high.