Coffee and Love Affairs

If you’re wondering why I haven’t written in a few days…it’s because nothing has happened. I’m saying this to garner sympathy for my angst-filled life, either. I’ve literally spent my spare time on my bed, reading or sleeping. Not exactly the stuff exciting blog posts are made of. But, luckily, today was different!

Brittany and I decided to make a dent in our extensive list of coffee shops, part of our mutual quest to prove that, though it’s hard to find, there is good coffee here in London. We started with Tapped & Packed, conveniently located near the British Museum (our ultimate destination for the day). Tucked away down a back street, it’s a nice location to get away from the crushing crowds of nearby Oxford Street. The interior can be a little off-putting; stark and minimalistic décor isn’t much softened by the somewhat provocative art on the walls. Don’t get me wrong, I’d still come here with some friends to catch up, but it’s definitely not a ‘cozy up with a cup of coffee for hours’ kind of place. But cozy up with their coffee I most definitely would. Smooth, creamy, and just the right balance of espresso and milk = my cappuccino. Not to mention the Affogato, vanilla ice cream drizzled with a shot of espresso. Oh goodness. Their sandwiches were delicious as well, though the cupcake we shared left something to be desired. All in all, on a scale of 1-10… coffee: 8.5, atmosphere: 5.

After we left the British Museum (more on that later) we made a quick stop at Store Street Espresso. Also near the museum, this shop was snuggled back in a quiet and picturesque neighborhood. Their interior was light and airy, though still pretty minimalistic. More cheery than T&P, and I could see myself studying there, but still not the ‘home away from home’ place I’m looking for. We both ordered cappuccinos to go, wanting to savor them on our bus ride home. We were slightly disappointed, though. While they were creamy and winning in appearance, they were a bit bitter and had a less-than-appealing aftertaste. Not the worst coffee I’ve had here, not by a long shot, but nor was it a winner. Overall…coffee: 6, 

atmosphere: 6.5.

So maybe we didn’t find the shop of our dreams today, but we definitely discovered a place to get good coffee. And in the middle of it all, a love story began. I wasn’t expecting it, not given the overall atmosphere this trip has had so far. But the chemistry is simply undeniable. My life will never be the same, because I know in my heart of hearts we were made for one another.

I’m talking about the British Museum. Gotcha, didn’t I? 

Seriously though. I’m in love. It’s filled to the absolute brim with treasures (albeit it they were somewhat unscrupulously obtained) and those treasures are exhibited well. There is room to walk and breathe, admire and gawk. There is information on every item, and while it is huge, the organization is logical and obvious. I will be back many times, I’m sure, and I look forward to spending an entire day meandering around its marble halls.

I’m still not feeling 100%, but neither do I feel like death is hovering over my bed like a creepy little goblin. Hopefully I’ll be back in business by Saturday, when I’ll be venturing to Stonehenge and Bath! I’ll certainly have plenty to write about after those adventures, so be sure to check back. There’s still moments most days when I think of home, friends and family and wish I were there instead of here. But I remind myself that there are wonderful memories to be made here, lessons to be learned, and hopefully a thing or two to accomplish I may not know about yet. God has been so incredibly faithful it literally takes my breath away. He may not promise easy, but He does promise to be there. So many loves, but they all flow from the greatest love of all…His.

Double-decker buses = preferred mode of transportation.