If we were having coffee, I would tell you how I had a great five days in England and that summer has arrived in Finland. I would also hope that we would be drinking coffee from Patisserie Valerie because that is where I found the best lattes in London!
Last Friday, I left for London very early in the morning. I had so much planned for my visit and actually only missed one sight I had in my itinerary. And that wasn’t because I didn’t have time but meeting a friend is absolutely more important than any sight out there. Which means I’m a super good planner, hey! I was very happy to hang out with my dear friend from our days in Kuala Lumpur for great food and some sights. We even tried hanging around a pub like all the Brits seem to enjoy doing!
I am the sort of traveller who likes to make (almost) minute timetables and see as much as possible. But, I also need good food and coffee breaks in between. The super efficient kind of travel is best done alone, although I do have a friend in San Francisco who matched my travel style perfectly when we visited Istanbul together.
Next time I visit London, I will see a musical. Most likely Book of Mormon – the last minute tickets were over 50 pounds! As I had all kind of things planned anyway, I gave it a pass.
Cambridge on the other hand was much more relaxed, as I was staying with a friend and trusted her and her husband to be my tour guides. Look at what was waiting for me in “my” room! I loved the duvet covers so much that I bought some for my children as presents.
I really didn’t have any other wishes for Cambridge than hanging out with my friend and her six month old daughter Baby P and of course seeing some of the colleges. And colleges I did see!
I was very excited to be visiting England at a time that the cherry blossoms were blooming. I had to take a photo of every house in front of which or park where I could see them. I really had quite an obsession that I must see them this year, so that wish was granted.
When I came back home, I was surprised to hear that the weather had been amazing. Better than in England! I was glad to be able to enjoy it too, as the rest of the week turned out to be sunny and summery as well. Which was great as we had another session with our sailing teacher on Wednesday. I was feeling very tired and cranky when our lesson started, as I’d only slept five hours due to arriving from London at midnight. But I am happy to report, that once we started getting the boat ready for take-off, my spirits lifted and the evening turned out to be great.
Thursday was luckily a public holiday (Ascension Day), so I got to finally catch up on my sleep. Hubby and I spent the day biking – my favourite place in Espoo to do that is to go along the official shore route. It’s very pretty and there are nice seaside restaurants on the way.
How was your week? Have you been to London and/or Cambridge? What did you enjoy there best?
To take part in the weekly coffee share link-up hosted by Part Time Monster navigate to her site.
xx
The Life and Travels of Mrs Suvi 
Such a readable travel blog. I know London well and have visited Cambridge a few times en route to Suffolk coast. You’d like Oxford too.
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So nice of you to say that Helen! Yes, I am sure I would love Oxford 🙂 I have visited but I was only 12, so I don’t have much recollection of it. Maybe I should revisit next time!
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I’m probably just like you – a planner – that’s one of the reasons why I travel solo most of the time. I’m still reluctant or maybe haven’t found a friend who can ‘appreciate’ my planning skills haha 😉 And a big nod to food and coffee breaks, absolutely!
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Sorry I meant, haven’t found a friend to travel with who understands my preference to plan travel itineraries; )
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I know what you mean! Usually my friends are quite open to my itineraries but I don’t think anyone of them is up to doing it at my super fast pace, heheh! Also if one travels with someone else, one must be considerate of the travel companions wishes which may clash with ones’ plans 😉
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Yes one cannot forget food and coffee breaks, we do need fuel to keep going 😎
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I saw Book of Mormon in Las Vegas and LOVED it. It’s probably the wildest show I’ve ever seen. Did people walk out? Yes. Did I gasp more than once? Yes. I hope you finally get to see the show that it isn’t too watered down.
Sounds like you had a lovely trip. Loved the pics!
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Wow, it sounds amazing! I am now regretting not going to see it when in London.. who knows when I have the chance again! Thank you for your visit and lovely comment 😀
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I’m lucky to live only 2 and a half hours from London. I visited there so many times when I was younger. It’s a great place and I love how there are so many different cultures present.
Cambridge is really lovely, Oxford too.
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Wow, you really are lucky! London has so much going on, you can forever find off the beaten track things to do and even the touristy sights are fun to see over again. 🙂
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Ah, England has been on my list of places to travel to for SO long. I’ve been to Ireland and Northern Ireland, but not England. Some day…
Sounds like you had such an adventure traveling there! I love the pictures. 🙂
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I on the other hand have never been to Ireland but I hear it’s fabulous. I hope you get to visit England soon 💕 Thank you for your visit and kind comment!
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London is one of my absolute favourite cities to visit! Your photos remind of why I love it so much.
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I can’t pinpoint why exactly it’s such a great place which I love go to again and again! Maybe it’s the fact that there’s always something new to see. Great to hear that you love it too 💕
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Looks like a fun trip! I was just listening to the soundtrack for Book of Mormon this morning. Funny show. Hope you get to see it!
~Tara
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Thank you Tara! And great to hear that it’s a good show, one of these days I will be sure to go and see in in London. Lovely of you to visit, hope to see you again.
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I was following your trip on Instagram and now reading it I understand how you got to see so much. I’m not a good trip planner. I have a list of things I want to do and the address for them written down, and from then I go with the flow. I always hit a stop when it comes to eating, though.
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Heheh – every morning I made a new plan, mapping out which way it would be best to move on the tube and thus which place should be visited first and last 😛
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It’s so good to read that your visit to England was a success. I recognise that waterside Espoo cafe, too!! So nice Spring has arrived in Finland.
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Yes it definitely was a great success, I’m very happy! It’s incredible how warm it is, sadly it will most likely end soon. So have to really enjoy it while it lasts 😊
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Cambridge looks lovely!
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I would love to experience the garden parties they have too!
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