Auld Lang Syne

NYE fireworks, London, England

“Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!
and surely I’ll buy mine!
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.”

– Robert Burns

Continue reading “Auld Lang Syne”

Fish and chips

Fish and chips

The national dish of Great Britain is a working class street food. Fried battered fish (often plaice, haddock or cod) combined with chips – the British version of French Fries, more soft and thick. High caloric, delicious and served in small shops around all of the United Kingdom. A must-eat.

Platform 9 3/4

Kings Cross, London, England

When J. K. Rowling published her award-winning Harry Potter books she gave a new meaning to the King’s Cross railway station in London, United Kingdom. Students of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry take the steam engine Hogwarts Express from platform 9 3/4 of King’s Cross station. To reach this platform they have to push their trolleys into the wall between platforms 9 and 10. Continue reading “Platform 9 3/4”

London Eye

London Eye, London, England

The London Eye (or Millenium Wheel) is with a height of 135 meters the highest big wheel in Europe. It is located on the south bank of river Thames close to Westminister bridge in London, United Kingdom. It was opened in 2000 and was planned to be deconstructed after five years – but as it was so successful and became a town’s landmark of London, it is still standing. Continue reading “London Eye”

Queens Park Hotel

Queens Park Hotel, London, England

The Queens Park Hotel in  London, United Kingdom is a hotel in a Victorian building dating back to 1900. It is nothing special in this area of the town and also a bit shabby – but it is perfectly located between Paddington station and Hyde Park. In fact all these buildings look quite similar from the inside and when walking through nested corridors to reach our room I somehow had the feeling of already having been there. Continue reading “Queens Park Hotel”

Heathrow Express

Heathrow Express, London, England

Getting to the city center of London, United Kingdom from Heathrow airport was painful in the past. The most important airport is 24 km away from the center and you need around 50 minutes by subway.  In 1998 the new Heathrow Express started to operate and now you can reach Paddington station within 15 minutes (from terminals 2/3) – especially on short trips to London you can save a lot of travel time in this way.

Continue reading “Heathrow Express”