I cannot tell you, or emphasize enough, the sheer number of bakeries and patisseries in London. Starbucks is the United States as Patisseries are to London. There were so many coffee and tea shops, brimming with pastries. Skip the muffins, forget the cookies, set aside the quick breads, subtract the pies. These shops were filled with croissants, scones, pastries, eclairs, fruit tarts, chocolate tarts, meringues, mousses and sugary concoctions. Pudding filled pastries, almond endowed layers of goodness, chocolate inserted everywhere. I was in HEAVEN. And always, cappuccinos or tea to accompany your sweet treats.

Each morning, we would step outside our hotel and visit a patisserie called PAUL'S. If you can sneak routine into a non-routine trip, our morning visit to PAUL'S before popping on the tube was it. And what a lovely way to start the day (especially knowing I was about to walk and walk and walk that pastry off). Many mornings I enjoyed an almond croissant (I am an absolute sucker for marzipan/almond paste), or an almond tart. Once, while on a walk from Highgate Cemetery to Hampstead Heath [park] I fell upon a cafe for lunch: and appropriately finished it with a chocolate eclair. I enjoyed every... large... bite.

The trip was an absolute treat, start to finish.