Kew Gardens

The begining of the Intoxication Season at Kew Gardens with the promise of discovering the stories of the mind altering plants, along with the "final countdown" feeling that we are experimenting these days brought me and my friends to visit for the first time the wonderful Kew Gardens.

I think we are going to remember this Sunday forever, because the place was absolutely magical and we were high in happiness and fresh oxygenated air,  amazed by cactus, orchids, algae (!) and by the wild fragment tropic contained in the Prince of Wales Conservatory; surprised by the discovery that the word "canvas" comes from "cannabis", and other fun facts of other fun plants; delighted because the Thames was shinny, the people were jogging, riding, standing paddling, sunbathing or drinking along the bankside, and because afterwards we had a delicious Sunday roast with an improvised whiskey tasting and because apparently it was the last warm, sunny day of the year... and we were in the best place to enjoy it!

Yes, I'm probably exaggerating, but as the song say: if you happy and you know it, clap your hands. Days like this don't happen often enough, so this is me clapping my hands and being grateful for such amazing weather, company and location.

If you have the chance of visiting Kew Gardens, please DO IT. You'll love it.
 

Windsor / Eton

Last month we grab one of those cool Zipcars and went to BBQ at a friend's house somewhere near Ascot. On our way we stop to have cream tea in Windsor and walk around Eton because why not?

These are the photos I manage to download before someone stole my phone (boo!). Last photo one is my super £ 1,00 souvenir (:

Parliament Hill / Hampstead Heath

Yesterday, when the weather stopped being bipolar I went to Parliament Hill & Hampstead Heath for the first time since I'm living here. 

I know. 

Now I want to live there. What an incredible place to walk, jog, swim, chat, photograph, make a picnic, read, sleep, play, think... be. 

-

PS. Both Hari Kunzru's Memory Palace short story and the V&A Exhibition are amazing. Don't miss out!

Brighton, again

Some blue and sea and sun for another grey Monday morning. These are some photos from Brighton (35mm / LC-A+) taken back in December. I can't wait to go back there during the summer (if there's summer at all this year!). I miss the sea so much.

Instax Lesson

So far my experience with Instax has been incredibly good, I love that there is an alternative to the good old Polaroids that I loved so much. However, when mixed with snow, gloves, really low temperatures and my excitement about winter and snow, this is what happened.

I reckon that the chemicals in the bottom leaked and that -this is the lesson- you should keep your photos facing up while developing. Is whether that or some sort of message from outer space that I am too silly to understand. Anyway I kind of like them.

The snow is all gone by now, the sun is shinning and the sky is blue. I definitely should try to shoot a couple new Instax today. Happy Sunday everyone! x

Christmas Time

Morning on the 23rd. On my way to my cooking session in Brixton. 

This is how the typical Venezuelan 'pan de jamón' looks on the inside.

And the outside, before the oven.

The Lion, my lovely local pub on Xmas eve.

A very late session of book shopping.

Church St. sunset.

At Rita's: pizza and Chevy Chase :)

Christmas day morning fogginess, my window and my epiphany that I desperately want to

move to house-house now.

American breakfast.

El Comandante. Rita's local pub.

The sun came out, the Off-Licenses were open. Perfect day.

Our improvised tropical Xmas Tree.

Some of the lights (before the mini-fire).

Waiting for the people. Chilling. Full stop.

What's left of Rita's card (after the mini-fire).

Our lovely Christmas dinner: turkey, stuffing, pork, mashed potatoes, gravy, roasted sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and peas. Yumm!

A damson is a plum, in case someone is wondering.

My lovely brand new friends.

Christmas this year was very especial. It was my first Christmas in the UK and the preparations and celebrations lasted from the 23rd till the 26th and they were a really nice British, American, Venezuelan Colombian and Chinese mixture.

Hope next Christmas will be this fun again and Merry (belated) Xmas to you all! :)