Number 28, (I’m not doing them in order)
#28 Dine at the National Portrait Gallery rooftop restaurant
And thanks go to Rumnique for accompanying me on my London rooftop night. We drank at the Oxo Tower, near Southwark, and then moved on to the National Portrait Gallery rooftop terrace.
It was a fantastic night and it was great to catch up with an old friend.
I met Rumnique at University of Leicester when we were both studying economic and social history in our first year. I later switched courses to read sociology but we kinda kept in touch.
Once he knew I’d been to DC, he was anxious to meet up and hear about my trip. He’s quite the traveller and had previously been to DC. He gave me some great tips BEFORE I went so it was nice to meet up for a catch up extraordinare. In fairness, I think the last time we saw each other was in Barcelona in 2006.
It was a perfect example of the whole purpose of my 30:30 Challenge. To do things with friends, while ticking off some must do activities in the challenge.
And it made me realise that friends are so important. We effortlessly slipped into friend and catch up mode. Five years was WAY too long.
After seeing the skyline from the Oxo Tower (south of the river) it was lovely to then move to the National Portrait Gallery Rooftop Terrace. The gallery is my favourite gallery in London.
The view was amazing, sharing the same outlook as Trafalgar Square’s most famous resident, Nelson.
Facing out to the ‘sea’ I could also see the Houses of Parliament, St Martin In the Fields, the London Eye…
It was lovely to see the city from such an unusual vantage point.
And to top it off the food and drink was brilliant, even for a vegetarian.
But what made it was the company, and that view. Perfect.
After such dizzy heights of the Oxo Tower and the National Portrait Gallery we headed back to more familiar sea levels, and wandered down the Strand looking for a final drinking spot for the end of night out.
One Aldwych fitted the bill. I promise myself, and Rumnique, it won’t be five years until we next see each other.
Another challenge ticked off. Still rather a lot to go.
Nic
