$\"Albemarle$

Albermarle Street in London inspires holiday wanderlust.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n

On a cold December morning,<\/strong> the London sky is gray, the sunlight as stingy as the fire in Scrooge\u2019s counting-house. But the air is fresh, our hearts are filled with festive wanderlust, and we\u2019re off on a Very English Holiday Ramble. Come join us in search of \u201cOh I see\u201d moments, magic, and a seasonal surprise.<\/p>\n

$\"An$
Holiday flats are charming (and rents less alarming) south of the Thames.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
We begin our ramble<\/strong> in Elephant and Castle, a vibrant, hardworking neighborhood named for a long-gone tavern. The tavern\u2019s name, in turn, was a playful tribute to La Infanta de Castile, who was once engaged to Britain\u2019s Charles I. Good to know if we\u2019re ever in a pub on \u201cTrivia Quiz\u201d night.<\/p>\n
For the festive season, exploring on foot is a must. Why? It\u2019s positively Dickensian. Charles Dickens often walked 20 miles a day, exploring London in detail, then recreating it on the page.<\/p>\n
Besides, walking reveals charms we\u2019d otherwise miss:<\/p>\n
$\"Red$
A garden on Red Cross Way, the 1886 flagship project of Octavia Hill, a founder of the National Trust.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
$\"A$
A sentiment for all seasons from Turner Prize-nominated artist Mark Titchner.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
$\"A$
A window display that sparks memories of handwritten holiday cards.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
$\"A$
Another fine sentiment\u2014and a vintage beer ad, at what was once the largest brewery in the world.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
This is a sign, pun intended,<\/strong> that we\u2019re approaching London\u2019s oldest food market. Borough Market has been serving the people of Southwark for 1,000 years including \u201cthe best of times and the worst of times.\u201d<\/p>\n
$\"A$
At Borough Market, foods are the real deal\u2014fresh, fragrant, and flavorful.\u00a0
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
$\"Fresh$
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
Yes, Borough experienced tragedy in June 2017. But on this cold and brightening morning, Borough is a place where \u00a0. . .<\/p>\n
$\"Children$
Carolers sing . . .
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
$\"Handmade$
. . . and life is sweet.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
Crossing London Bridge,<\/strong> we catch sight of the Bank Station Underground. But don\u2019t hop on the Tube yet, because we\u2019re only a stroll away from another festive sight. \u00a0See if you recognize it:<\/p>\n
$\"Leadhall$
Hint: Harry Potter fans love this market in London.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
$\"A$
Yes, it\u2019s Leadenhall Market, the real-life inspiration for Diagon Alley.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
On to the mighty, muddy Thames<\/strong> at Southbank. “Ooh<\/em>, what\u2019s down there?”<\/p>\n
$\"Pop-up$
Pop-up holiday huts under the London Millennium Bridge\u00a0
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
“Oy! Save us a hot cuppa and a waffle, will ya?”<\/p>\n
What\u2019s next<\/strong> on our holiday rambles list? We could . . .<\/p>\n
$\"A$
. . . have lunch in a very English igloo . . .
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
$\"A$
. . . or sip mulled wine by the fire at a just-for-fun Thames-side ski lodge.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
Oh look,<\/strong> there\u2019s a Foyle\u2019s bookshop. Come on!<\/p>\n
$\"Southbank,$
A sign in Foyle’s announces, \u201cWelcome, book lovers, you are among friends.\u201d
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
Wanderlust turns to book lust<\/strong> when we see Foyle\u2019s Books for a Year<\/em> table. Lucky gift recipients receive a brand-new book every month, each chosen for \u201cits must-haveness or unputdownability.”<\/p>\n
So many books, so few suitcases.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, there\u2019s room for a seasonal treat,<\/strong> a poetry pamphlet series called \u201cInstead of a Card.\u201d Candlestick Press of Nottingham publishes these charmers \u201cnot only for people who already love poetry, but also for those who will love it but perhaps don\u2019t know that yet.\u201d Sales also benefit charity.<\/p>\n
$\"Poetry$
Candlestick Press hopes \u201cto revive the seasonal tradition of reading by the fire.\u201d
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy\/Candlestick Press<\/p><\/div>\n
Suddenly we hear bells!<\/strong> Reindeer? No, the \u201cmobile.\u201d The caller says, \u201cIf you miss this, you\u2019ve missed a marvel!\u201d She\u2019s quoting a theatre review.<\/p>\n
Quick\u2014to the West End! (Yes, by Tube. Sorry, Charles.)\u00a0But first, sustenance. We\u2019re in luck. Street Food Union<\/a> is right around the corner. \u00a0Mmm, what\u2019s this?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
$\"Yorkshire$
Yorkshire Burrito? Sounds daft\u2014we must have some.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
Our new BFF<\/strong> (Burrito-style Favorite Food) is\u00a0braised pork shoulder cooked in cider and herbs, served with sage and onion stuffing, rosemary roast potatoes, spinach, and applesauce, wrapped in a giant Yorkshire pudding. Jolly good, amigos!<\/p>\n
$\"The$
Theatre-goers arrive at the Gielgud on Shaftesbury Avenue.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
When we exit the theatre, night has fallen, yet it\u2019s 4:30 p.m. All the better to see holiday lights!<\/p>\n
$\"Angelic$
From angelic lights above Regent Street . . .
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
$\"Tropical$
. . . to tropical lights on Carnaby Street.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
There really is magic<\/strong> in the air, a sense that holiday spirits could suddenly whisk us off to . . .<\/p>\n
$\"The$
Hey, this isn\u2019t London\u2014this is Cork City, Ireland!
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
Yet our Very English Holiday Ramble continues.<\/strong> Launched in 1788, Ireland\u2019s English Market is considered one of the ten best food markets in Europe.<\/p>\n
Oh, I see:<\/strong> It wouldn\u2019t be the festive season without a surprise! I guess you just never know where holiday wanderlust might lead.<\/p>\n
$\"Vendors$
Why just envision sugarplums? At Heaven\u2019s Cakes, in Cork\u2019s
English Market, Laurie and C\u00edara serve tasty mince pies.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
Click on the\u00a0links to find out more about Borough Market<\/a>, Leadenhall Market<\/a>, Foyle’s<\/a>, Candlestick Press<\/a>, Yorkshire Burrito<\/a>, Cork’s English Market<\/a>, or Heaven’s Cakes<\/a>.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
Comment<\/a> on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":null,"protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":29925,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[99,109,209,516,222],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29924","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-heritage-culture","category-discoveries-creative","category-england-mappoints","category-ireland-mappoints","category-hiking-travel"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29924","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29924"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29924\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40937,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29924\/revisions\/40937"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29924"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29924"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29924"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

For Revelers with Wanderlust