Visit from a Marine

Another friend visited me this week! In case you do not know who he is, my dear reader, Steven Southworth is a family friend. He's a Citadel man (Romeo Company) and an officer in the Marine Corps. About two years ago Steven received orders that stationed him in Okinawa, Japan so it has been roughly two years since any of the Mercer's have seen Steven. Well Just like Harrison, Steven messaged me on Facebook (Clever thing this Facebook is) and told me he was going to have a 14 hour layover on March 15th. Coincidentally I didn't have any classes on that day, how lucky!

Steven arrived in London around 6:00 in the morning and meet me my residence. For a guy who just got off a 13 hour flight he had much more energy than I had! We got breakfast at a cafe near Kings Cross that I've been wanting to try but never had (It was great, shouldn't have waited!). Over breakfast I asked Steven what he wanted to do during his one day in London and he had a short list. 

1. Buy a Liverpool football jersey for his Girlfriend to give her brother

2. Buy something for his girlfriend

3. Have a real English Bitter

4. Have an English Oatmeal Stout

With a little breakfast and coffee in the tank we headed off towards Oxford St to buy gifts he wanted. Oxford St. is one of the big shopping areas in town and is a pretty fun way to spend an afternoon (even if you hate shopping like I do). Luckily we didn't receive too many dirty looks as we bought a Liverpool jersey, I mean it could've been worse had it been a Chelsea jersey! (note: If you only know one thing about soccer it is this; everyone HATES Chelsea). We went across the street to some girly store (the kind that assaults your nose with smells and gives you a headache) to buy something for his girlfriend. Oh I almost forgot to elaborate on that! Yes, Steven has a girlfriend. They meet in Okinawa, which is where she is from, she's very cute and don't ask me what her name is because I forgot (sorry everyone). Ok, now that that is cleared up, back to the story!

To show him a little bit more of the city, Steven and I cut through Chinatown to get to one of my favorite places, Trafalgar Square. Trafalgar Square is where the National Art Gallery is located (where I have spent many hours for my art class) as well as several embassies, a church, restaurants, etc. It's a beautiful place, especially on a sunny day. Unfortunately our day was overcast but that didn't damper our spirits! 

It was finally time for Steven to get the bitter and oatmeal stout he so craved. I'm not sure if you know this my dear reader, but English bitters are cask beers meaning they do not have added carbonation nor are they cold. They are definitely an acquired taste for foreigners. He knocked having an English bitter off his bucket list of things, but funny enough I don't he cared too much for it! To cap it all off we grabbed some pub grub (i.e. fish & chips and bangers & mash) and one of those stouts he was looking for. Turns out Steven came all the way to London for an English oatmeal stout but the one we found (one of the best you can find according to the bartender) was brewed in Wisconsin! Hey it still counts.  

Just as quick as he arrived, Steven was off again headed to Iceland, Copenhagen and Armenia. It was a really great catching up with an old friend and I'm glad we got to meet up even if it was just for a couple of hours. I know the rest of the Mercer's are jealous!

One of the few pics we took was a selfie in Chinatown 

Long Live the King