12,000 calories later...we're back at home...and STILL eating...

Family,

And a good evening to you from across the Pond on perhaps the prettiest Saturday we’ve had to date! Talk about perfect – 80 degrees, TONS of sun, and barely a cloud in the sky. I hope this trend continues!
So today we rolled out of bed around 9 AM and got cleaned up before rolling out of bed around 11 AM. We hit Ponti’s café (a little Italian joint), where we got some GREAT breakfast sandwiches (I went for mushroom, Swiss cheese, bacon, and GREAT bread) and ate them in route to the British Museum.

At the British Museum, I subjected the De La Rosa clan to my standard 90 minute tour, hitting the usual highlights (Dad and Co – you’ll remember this well):

1. Rosetta Stone

2. Elgin Marbles

3. Gate of Sargon I

4. Masoleum of Halikarnassos

5. Moai of Easter Island

6. Lewis Chessmen

7. Necronomicon

8. Cleopatra’s mummy

After that, they experienced their first Tube ride, rolling from Tottenham Court Road to St. Paul’s, where we showed them the London Stock Exchange, Temple Bar, Paternoster Square, and Jenny’s old office. From there, we walked to a long awaited (and long overdue) destination: Borough Market!

Okay, so for those of you who’ve never been there, Borough Market is the food market in London, and it’s AWESOME!!!! All over, you’ve got samples of food and fresh produce, cheese, meats, and breads, and the prices are honestly great (and negotiable – Dad, you’re be so proud of me – even if I didn’t tell them I was a teacher and wanted both the educator and the convention guest discount).

Today was a GREAT day to visit, as there were samples everywhere (lots of cheese, vinegars, breads, you name it). We picked up some cheese and “Mexican-spiced – no clue what that means” cashews, and they also let us sample white chocolate covered coconut squares and strawberry and white chocolate covered raspberries (off the chain!).

We also picked up some vino (in a plastic bottle because, well, we’re ALL CLASS) to sip on whilst we walk around.

We bought some cheese and figs before strolling over to the beer wharf, where we ordered bread with our drinks (I went for the Stigl – TASTY!) and then consumed about 85% of our cheese (along with some chorizo). That sent us back into the Market, where we bought MORE cheese, bread, olives stuffed with garlic, and some cherry tomatoes (“Have a BOWL of tomatoes, HAVE A BOWL!!!!!”). We then wandered home along the river (including going over the Wibbly, Wobbly Walkway) and home along Fleet Street and Strand.

After catching the Bakerloo line home, we picked up some vino and brewskis (Leffe, baby!), and we’re now sitting at home chillin’, preparing to eat some pasta (oh yeah, we bought that at the market as well) and have (still more) cheese. I mean, when you can’t buy “all you can eat fondue in Switzerland,” this IS a close second.

Okay, so it’s time for some drinking, eating, and learning a new card game (hand and foot – played with FOUR decks!).

That’s all the news that’s fit to print. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO VOLS, BABY!!!!! Smash those Bruins!!!! And of course, GO HEELS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even if this is the embarrassing part where I say I don’t know who the Heels are playing (CP – as well as the rest of the “Granville 6” – don’t yell at me – you know I love my alma mater!).

Chat tomorrow (from Madrid – so there could be a week’s picture hiatus, so you know)!

Love,

Sam and Jenny

P.S. Miller – Tuesday. You. Me. Athletico Madrid. Donkeys. It’s happening.