Welcome to Hampstead

Disembarking at Southampton Ocean Cruise Terminal we found Amanda waiting for us. She quickly booked an Uber ride and shepherded us to the taxi pick up lanes. Next stop, the train station. We booked an anytime return ticket and almost immediately we were aboard the South Western Railway 10:40 train to London. Just two hours later we were arriving at Waterloo Station and transferring to the London Underground Northern Line toward Hampstead Station. Next was the short uphill trek to La Gaffe to check in at what will be our home for the next four weeks. In the lobby as we three shared a pot of tea Amanda guided us through the installation of an UK SIM card in one of our phones. From there we ventured down Heath Street to Mani’s Cafe just off High Street for some lovely salads at an outdoor table. We followed this with some amazing, potentially habit forming, gelato at Venchi, then back to La Gaffe where Alex mixed us a round of custom cocktails. It’s been a fabulous day hopefully foreshadowing good things to come as we settle into making the village of Hampstead our home for four weeks! Thank you Amanda, Giuseppe, and Alex for the wonderful welcome.