Random Bits of Edinburgh and London

This post is for all the random pictures that didn't fit in anywhere else! I could wander around London forever.

We took Elowen to yet another Michelin restaurant, because she's a very classy toddler--she was very into all the various juices she could order. These pics are from Pollen Street Social, also child-friendly! It's so nice when higher-end places welcome kids.




Honestly, at this point I don't remember what we ate--but I do remember it was delicious.

I do, however, remeber this delectable and beautiful dessert--it was absolutely amazing and tasted like the perfect fall day--a combination of warm spices, caramel, and apple. 

 
 
And who can say no to a cheese cart? Not Elowen! 

 
 
Eating her flan. I have an obnoxious habit of bragging about her eating, but she just has such a good palate (so far). The girls we were with wouldn't eat the vanilla ice cream because it had black specks in it (the vanilla bean), and they pretty much lived on mac 'n cheese and bread. But Elowen truly chows down on anything, from ikura to blue cheese.

 
 
I will never be over this dress on her, so I took approximately 100 pictures of it.  

 I wanted to do a princess photoshoot, so of course we headed to Buckingham Palace. 

 
 
The real royal, outside the palace.  

 
 
But seriously, look at this gorgeous face. (This is a gush-about-Elowen post.)  

She saw a bird and thought it was HILARIOUS. Also, if you haven't noticed, she decided that bag of hair ties was her treasure and was taking it absolutely everywhere. Woe be unto you if you tried to take it.




 
 
These two are my favorite pics of her from the trip, I think--I fully plan on having the hair tie bag photoshopped out and having one printed and framed. She just looks like an elegant Victorian lady, out for a walk in the English countryside. 



 
 
She visited Buckingham Palace twice.  

 
 
And these are from the V&A Museum, my favorite that I've visited in London--I just love the fashion exhibit, and every time we go there are different displays. We were there maybe 20 minutes though, and I won't shy away from saying how annoyed I was--the other family said "Oh, we hate museums" and wanted to leave almost immediately (begging the question of why I didn't just get to go to the museum by myself?). Also, who hates museums? The different facets and cultures of human history are endless and fascinating, and I could stay in the V&A all day.




 
 
I know it's rude to take pictures of strangers, but you can't see her face and also I feel like you're kind of asking for it if you wear a unicorn onesie to the airport? 

I don't remember if I posted about this cider before, but dang this brand is GOOD. The strawberry was my favorite until I found the elderberry, but every kind was delicious. 

 
 
And here's Elowen waiting for and then on the train from Edinburgh to London--it was 5 hours, but at least we had little tables. I did learn the valuable lesson though of not being cheap and buying your toddler your own seat. Five hours is a long time to have your little bestie sitting on you.  (How adorable is her little cardi though? And her koi dress?? Having a girl is a dream.)



Travel is exhausting. 


But the views from the train were pastoral perfection. 

 
 
We only had one night in London before we left, and I was dying to visit Mr. Fogg's--I've written about the chain before, and I'm absolutely obsessed with it. Each location has a different theme, with the decor and cocktails following suit. The level of detail is just...chef's kiss. The only downside is that kids can't go in (which I understand--it's for adults), so Taylor let me go by myself. This location was new, called Mr. Fogg's Apothecary, and the drinks were so clever. I drank three in half an hour, because I couldn't decide what to try and also because I am a champion.

I had a Laudanum for Madame (gin, black raspberry liquor, woodland liquor, pineapple puree, tepache, and fresh lime juice, topped with a rhubarb and white peach kombucha and passion fruit foam); a Dram Stoker (whisky, amaro, clementine puree, maple syrup, orange and mandarin bitters, and fresh rosemary); and unfortunately I didn't take a picture of the menu for the third. 


Elowen had the best time frolicking in the outside alley while I drank!


For dinner, we went to Chinatown--which is always packed but so picturesque. We chose a ramen restaurant, where Elowen enjoyed soup and I had a beautiful lychee cocktail. Also the rainbow mochi had such unique, fruity flavors...a nice change from the usual vanilla/green tea/red bean.





I was too full for one of these fancy donuts, but I still think of them with regret. 

Gene Kelly, happy again in Leicester Square. 

And finally, to conclude this series of blogs, Fortnum and Mason really pulled out all the stops on their window displays celebrating the coronation. 







I never have enough time in London, and I can't wait to go back there and also explore more of Scotland.













































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