Arriving in London

Thursday October 5 started cloudy and cool in Stockholm (high of 11C) and ended with a bit of sun and  warmer (high of 18C) in London.  

We had a short five minute walk to the Flygbussarna (Airport bus) stop near our apartment and a quick 40 minute bus ride to the Stockholm Airport.  The Airport was very quiet and we got through Security very quickly.

Setting Sail in the Stockholm Airport

Planes with Nordic faces

We had a 1:10  p.m. flight on Norwegian Airlines which left on time and arrived at Gatwick Airport 25 minutes early, at 3:35 p.m. London time which is one hour earlier than Stockholm time.  

Helen Marshall, The People's Monarch: BBC South East Jubilee Art Project- made up of photographs sent in during a six week period, by viewers of BBC South East Today and BBC Radios Kent, Sussex and Surrey (over 5500 photos submitted) to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.  
It is a huge photo-mosaic in the Arrivals area of Gatwick. 

We have Oyster transit cards that we purchased on our last visit to London in 2019.  We caught the Thameslink Train to London Bridge station-- a 30 minute ride with only one stop before ours.  We got out at the station and looked up at the Shard building.

Bottom of the Shard

We were only a 10 minute walk from our flat in Southwark.  Before we left Toronto, we had a face-time chat with our host, Louise,  as she is a young film producer and had been in Toronto for TIFF.  Her flat is on the first floor (second floor Toronto) of a small apartment building, with an elevator.

A bottle of wine and some chocolate treats awaited us.

Well equipped and well lit


Kitchen area- washer and dishwasher

Bedroom (Scandinavian style with two duvets)

Clean, modern bathroom

After settling in and a quick trip to the grocery store next store, we headed to dinner on one of our favourite streets- Bermondsey.  Lots of great galleries, cafés and restaurants.  We haven't stayed in the London Bridge/Southwark area before and it is a great location.

The nearby Shard at night

We had decided to have Spanish tapas at José Tapas- just a 10 minute walk from our apartment on Bermondsey Street.  Our host had recommended it, as had Time Out London.  They do not take reservations, and there was about a 10 minute wait.  Very buzzy place at about 7:30 p.m.  The restaurant opened in 2011, and the chef, José Pizarro now has a few other restaurants. including another in the 'hood.

José

Buzzy, busy with menu on the chalkboard

Frisé salad with smoked sardines

Peppers

A person sitting near us found a pearl in his clams and everyone started clapping

Clams with garlic, wine and parsley -- we also had patatas bravas

The food was very tasty and the servers very friendly and helpful.  After dinner, we went for a quick stroll down Bermondsey.  Lot of patio dining on a pleasant evening (about 15C).

Looking down the street

One last look at the Shard

And so, the London adventure begins.  We are in London until October 12, when we fly home.  Stay tuned.
 



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