Posted by Katrin on March 31st, 2007 — Posted in Cafés, Food supply
Bliss!
Finally the good life is back again. I have missed so much the ordinary pleasures which simply require time to sit back and relax.
This morning we went to the Borough Market - quite a usual thing to do on a Saturday morning by now - to have breakfast at the Monmouth Coffee Company Café. For long I have bought my coffee there first thing before strolling over the market and admiring the food on display. Actually there are different Monmouth stalls around, so it took me some time to come across the bigger Café at the street corner. Easily recognizable though, when you see a long line of people wrapping around the building, you can be sure that it will lead you to the right place. The lovely scent of freshly ground and brewed coffee will ease the pain of waiting…
The special thing about this place is the large wooden communal table. It has fresh baguette, jam and butter in the middle, people squeezing themselves around it so no space will be lost, chatting away and enjoying this simple but wonderful breakfast. When you order your coffee you can purchase a plate as well, find yourself a seat and eat as much as you like. At £ 2,50 this must be the cheapest breakfast in all of London, yet providing the highest quality. I love their marmelade, but the plum jam is a close runner up!
The first time we tried it we immidiately got two seats at the end of the table and by now I realize how lucky we were! It is always absolutely packed with people and to sit down after 10.30 am becomes an almost impossible task. You might have to settle for one of the standing spots at the back of the wall - not the worst thing in the world. In any case, the lively atmosphere is exactly right to start of a shopping spree at the market.
And before you leave you might want to grab one of their pastries for later…
Monmouth Coffee Company
2 Park Street
Borough
London SE1 9AB
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Posted by Katrin on March 29th, 2007 — Posted in Literature
I have been away for quite some time now. Not really physically away, but writing your final thesis takes its toll… Life turns out to be quite unexciting when you are hiding behind your desk, trying to make some sense out of the 50 books you have just read and not being intimidated about the next 50 to come. Most of my time I have spent at the British Library. A lifesaver if you ask me! Pick the tiniest subject (believe me I had one) and they will still have most of the books you need. Or if you want to look at old and rare books, this is certainly the place to go. Besides all this the British Library is an architectural site in itself.
I loved going there as it felt like going to work in a stylish environment, rather than getting stuck in a mouldy and musty place stuffed with old books.If you happen to be in the area, I recommend a quick look inside. In order to use the reading rooms you need to get a readers pass, but the entrance is free. Already the first step into the Library is quite impressive as you find yourself in a huge hall. Have a look at the beautiful square glass pillar in the back. Behind the glass you see rows and rows of books and it actually does serve as storing room: The staff can enter the pillar, shift the shelves and take out the books that have been ordered.
A few steps down the stairs will lead you to my favourite site. It is a picture of rows of shelves filled with books, but as you walk past it you realise that it is moving with you, leaving you with the impression that you actually are walking past these shelves and not just past a picture.
Although it does not take long to figure out why this is the case I couldn’t help but look at it every time I passed it. Makes you feel a bit dizzy though…
British Library
St Pancras
96 Euston Road
London NW1 2DB
Opening Times
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