Weekend in Madrid

I only took part in two bachelor parties, both were cool because my friends can behave I suppose. Once in Dublin a few years ago when I was living in Oslo and a second one in Madrid as living in Berlin, this weekend.

After weeks of strategic decisions Madrid was chosen, flight tickets were bought and the groom had no ideas what will happen to him this weekend.

Friday morning early, the mission from the Berlin team was to pick up the packape. So we did. Two French and Swiss/French are travelling to Madrid. Once arrived in the Spanish capital we meet semi randomly an Austrian coming from Vienna, a French coming this time from South of France, another French arriving from Göteborg, more Frenchies from Paris and a Portuguese, a French, a Greec, a Germnan/Israeli and even a British from London. L'internationale quand tu nous tiens. But that's the problem or the solution when you are traveling, speaking at least two languages and a bit open minded (I don't want to change my friends).

A lovely weekend filled with walk, street art tour, 5k run, servejas, jamon, crossing other bachelor parties sometimes less classy, a show at the circus, good food, good time, not long enough sleep, what else?

A post shared by jeremie Gerhardt (@mrbonsoir) on Apr 4, 2017 at 4:10am PDT

First ever entire Saturday in London

Waking up i Islington
It started pleasantly with a walk in Islington and a first and very import coffee at The Place where it was promised to me to meet famous actresses drinking their coffee drink with style... I have seen beautiful croissant and brioche instead and the coffee was great.

A post shared by jeremie Gerhardt (@mrbonsoir) on Mar 11, 2017 at 6:42am PST

Going to the market in Hackney
Coffee is important I will never stop to remind you that, but eating it nice too. We jump into the train to Hackney to reach the Broadway market. Spring weather is there, crowd is international, food offer is multi-directional and our palate is in trouble. One shared crispy chicken sandwich made with love from Butchies and we can start the market exploration. A vegetarian Indian dish to complete our meal seating in the nearby park and we continue our tour. Following the outdoor railway to the station we have our second coffee of the day at e5bakehouse where sadly we had no place in our stomach for more.

A post shared by jeremie Gerhardt (@mrbonsoir) on Mar 11, 2017 at 6:24pm PST

Design museum
We did split our schedule, my host has a meeting this afternoon and I decide to go visit The Design museum which didn't not amazed me. At least I did explore the city. There are sport events in town and did cross many people with their team jerseys. Back in Islington I avoid just in time the rush for the late afternoon football game and stop again at The Place to work a bit. When  I say I worked a bit, it doesn't mean I work for the coffee,  I meant I worked for myself on my laptop at the coffee place, I saw confusion arising.

Evening in Islinglton
Food food food, it will be Back Axe Mangal to start, delicious worldwide tapas I would say, then walk into the neighbourhood until the pub, The Craft Beer Islington it will be, beer beer beer. Before to get our first beer of the day we follow the stream of football fans leaving the stadium. Eventually we reach that place not too crowded. It's still early.

After beer number three a time loophole did happen. Basically more beers, French fries and a discussion with our table neighbours. One French, one Norwegian/Israeli, three Indians and except a couple from the Indian team none of us is living in his native country. Different view points, different paths with Mumbai/Oslo/Paris/Tel-Aviv/Berlin/London, one Indian tourist very happy to share his new Arsenal shirt and his love for Arsene Wenger - his new wife and friend stay quiet - and a very pleasant time.

A walk home, a jump into the bus, beautiful girls talking to us - alcohol is making effect probably - and the discussion turns around horse riding in Italy, our stop arrives and we jump out,  enter a kebab place, went home, slouch on the sofa, enjoying our late snack, headache is coming, who knows? Great day.

Friday Afternoon in London

My working trip to Cambridge has been postponed meaning no stop-by by London, I thought. But a week before I also thought whatever, let's fly to London for the weekend and meet my friend Janiv as it was planed. Flights Berlin-London are so cheap it will be a shame to not use them, so I did!

Thanks to a so rare strike in Berlin airport I had to take off from Hamburg airport, giving me the chance to visit this city - shortly - for the first time. First time if I don't count the crossing of Hamburg by car on my numerous trips France - Scandinavia in the past years.

The trip
Wake up early, run to catch the tram, jump into the train in Berlin to Hamburg and S-Bahn to the airport, shitty croissant, tasteless sandwich and bad coffee I'm in the plane. Almost empty I fall asleep as soon as we take off. Arrival in London, buy a transport card, take the train, change at Victoria, take the tube, leave at Highbury and Islington Station and wait for my friend facing the well named Islington Cock Tavern.

First things come first, we have a coffee and delicious toast at Maison d'Etre then direction South Bank with the idea to visit an exhibition about light and color in a place I forgot the name while just briefly remembering a poster in the subway I may have seen an hour before... We reach the possible place which obviously was closed with reopening announced for 2018... A beautiful failure.

A post shared by jeremie Gerhardt (@mrbonsoir) on Mar 10, 2017 at 5:17am PST

So we keep walking and talking. Tate Modern in our back we bravely take the Millennium bridge and continue our exploration in the direction we came from but from the other side of the Thames. At Saint Paul's Cathedral we turn left, pass King's College London, then Wellington street, Covent Garden, aiming for Soho and the Photographer's Gallery which is ok but not crazy neither.

Tea time passed beer time arrives
Museum done, time for a pint and it will be the Blue Post. It's 6pm-ish, we found place to seat on the banquette and two ales. We talk and talk and we bring our neighbor into out discussion while searching for the name of the place. Time flies, two more ales, peanuts, local stories about the place, David Bowie, tailors in London versus tailors in Italy later and out stomachs scream for more. Goodby to our new friend and direction a not too far sushi place, later followed by ice cream. Always good to have local friends with similar food interest or obsession.

A post shared by jeremie Gerhardt (@mrbonsoir) on Mar 10, 2017 at 1:10pm PST