Portobello road, Portobello road
Street where the riches of ages are stowed.
Anything and everything a chap can unload
Is sold off the barrow in Portobello road.
You’ll find what you want in the Portobello road.

Yes, I did walk down Portobello Road humming the lyrics to the song from Bedknobs and Broomsticks.  And I just might have branched out and also sung a little bit of “The Beautiful Briny” – just for me.  (It’s lovely bobbing along, bobbing along, at the bottom of the beautiful briiiiiiiiiiiiiny sea!)

We decided it would be fun to check out the Portobello Road market on Saturday, its big market day.  I had hopes for finding a vintage teacup or a used book at a steal price… but ended up leaving empty-handed.  I tend to get overwhelmed in crowd situations, and Portobello Road was about as crowded as anyplace I’d ever been.  Hubby and I elbowed our way through the throngs of people and booked it outta there as fast as we could.  But not before seeing at least a few carts piled high with cool antique china, clothes, and other odds and ends.  I’m glad that we went, although it was a rather stressful hour!

After Portobello Road, we headed over to Harrods for tea.  When we were in London in 2008, we only had time for one afternoon tea, which of course we did at the Orangery.   This time, we obviously made our pilgimmage to the Orangery again, but we also wanted to try tea at Harrods.  Our former neighbors own a house in the Cotswolds and have travelled extensively in England, and they assured us that the tea at Harrods was touristy but worth it.  So we tripped off to Harrods hoping to get into the famous Georgian Restaurant for afternoon tea.  But it was fully booked… all day long.

So, instead – as you might be able to figure out from the plate of macarons – we went for the new Laduree tea salon instead.    Laduree is a French tearoom and patisserie that was founded in Paris and now competes with Pierre Herme for the honor of making the best macarons in Paris.  (When we visited France in 2010, we ate our share of macarons and I’m sort of in love with them.  We had local macarons in Burgundy, but ate Pierre Herme in Paris – so I’d never tried the Laduree macarons before.)  I had been somewhat torn, knowing we only had time for one Harrods tea and wanting to try both Laduree and the Georgian Restaurant.  Since we struck out at the Georgian, the decision was easy – and delicious.

In addition to the macarons (I went with my four go-to flavors, by the way: black currant, salted caramel, raspberry and coffee) we enjoyed a “traditional” afternoon tea with a French twist.  Tea sandwiches on the top tier, then an assortment of croissants, and finishing with the pastries.  Now, I know I told you I can take or leave pastries, and that’s generally true.  Consider Laduree the exception that proves the rule… because WOW.  They were all incredible, but the best was the gigantic raspberry macaron “tart” that’s flaunting its gorgeousness right in front there.  Hubby and I split each of the pastries, and I strongly considered hitting him with my purse and stealing his half of that baby.  (I didn’t, because I love him.  But next time we go there, I’m getting one all to myself.)  In retrospect, I’m glad we didn’t get into the Georgian Restaurant, because the Laduree tea was the most decadent I’ve ever had.  If you’re visiting London and have time for another tea, don’t hesitate to get this one.  I was a little unsure at first – it seemed wrong to have croissants instead of scones at Harrods, of all places – but the macaron tart was to. die. for.  (And if you don’t have time for tea, at least stop and pick up some macarons.  And get a black currant one for me.  Thanks.)

Tea at Laduree was the perfect way to wrap up our London trip… because wrap it up we did.  This post concludes the England recaps.  It was the vacation of a lifetime – a perfect way to turn 30.  I don’t know when I’ll be back to England next, but I know I will be there again.  Many, many more times.  And the British fun isn’t quite over – I’ll have a few more posts popping up in the next few weeks about different related topics – like the English afternoon tea experience, and creating a photo memory book to memorialize the vacation.  But, for now, imagine we’re on a plane headed back across the Atlantic… looking fondly over our shoulders toward the little island where so many of our favorite vacation memories reside.  Thanks for coming along!