Visiting "family" (your community of loved ones) in London (June 26-28) - Euro Adventure 2024
- Stephanie
- Jun 28, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 3, 2024
Last year, I wrote about our visit to London to see "extended family." (see London, Oct 19-22 - Euro Adventure 2023). They are not family by blood, but by marriage to our nephew. The reason we visit London whenever we get across "the pond" is to spend time with our niece's parents, brother, sister-in-law and their new baby boy. When we make it to Singapore, we'll spend time with our niece's sister, brother-in-law and their two young kids. We've adopted her family as our own "extended family" because we value the life and belief system they embody. We appreciate their cultural sense of community, how they show and spread love, the fact they practice their beliefs. Being in their presence is an emotional, psychological, and spiritual gift. It is always one of the best parts of any trip.
To provide some context, the family has owned a women's clothing store in North West London for nearly 50 years. Our niece grew up in Harrow, one of eight boroughs comprising this affluent area, known for leafy village neighborhoods, parklands and cultural landmarks.
During each visit to London, they've asked when we will be staying longer - which we promise to do - so they can show us more of England, take us to their property in Morocco and meet others in their extended family. This trip did not allow for such activities, but it did provide a few great days of exploring areas and landmarks we had yet to see.
Some key highlights were:
Learning about Hinduism (though, they are not Hindu)
Visiting Camden, walking the canal and eating at Dishoom
Dinner at The Old Guinea in the village of Ridge
Learning about Hinduism with the Family Matriarch
Although our extended family is not Hindu, but rather Jain, they are well-versed on Hindu principles. And so it was with great excitement, Anj took us to my first Hindu temple - BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, commonly referred to as the "Neasden Temple." It's dedicated to the worship of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the millenia-old practice of the Hindu faith. Photos are not permitted inside, however, from the few outdoor photographs shared below, it's clear the temple is a masterpiece of traditional Hindu design. More than 400 artisans and skilled craftsmen hand-carved 5,000 tons of Italian Carrara marble, Indian Ambaji marble, and Bulgarian limestone in India before its shipment and reassembly in London, without any structural steel.
The lower floor of the main temple, or Mandir, displays a permanent exhibition: Understanding Hinduism. It provides education into the history of Hinduism, including origin, beliefs, values and insights. Before leaving the exhibit we explored three displays delving into Hinduism: For the Individual, For Society, and For the World. Everything about our experience, from removing our shoes upon entry, to ensuring we were dressed appropriately with covered shoulders and legs, to the incredible architecture, marble carvings and education was fascinating.
Visiting Camden with the Family Patriarch
On our second day, Kev left the shop early to show us around Camden Town, an area known for its alternative scene. What a fun part of London!
We took the Underground to Camden Town, which I love because its clean, efficient and doesn't involve finding a parking space on London's crowded streets. It was a beautiful day and a wonderful opportunity to explore the many eclectic shops, stores, and stalls selling housewares, clothing, jewelry and food at Camden Market. We strolled along the nearby Regent's Canal, past locks used to raise and lower boats along the way, where many new flats have been built. One of the more interesting was a building of flats constructed within the confines of old storage tank supports.
On our way to lunch, we passed through the filming set of a TV series showcasing and interviewing multiple artists as they created landscape paintings. We continued to Granary Square for lunch at Dishoom. Reminiscent of Irani cafes in Bombay, the restaurant offers an extensive list of refreshing cocktails and spritzes, plus a full complement of authentic Indian food. Highly recommend any of their ten locations across the metro area!
Dinner at the Old Guinea
On our last night, our beloved hosts took us on a beautiful drive through the rural countryside of Hertfordshire to the small village of Ridge where we dined at a unique Italian restaurant named the Old Guinea. It dates back to 1826 and is located between Shenley and Potters Bar on Crossoaks Lane. The Old Guinea offers seating for 50 within its bar and restaurant, and a lovely garden overlooking rolling hills that can accommodate another 150 diners, plus dogs!
It was a spectacular night and a perfect ending to our quick family visit.
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