A Week in London: Harrow on the Hill, Dragon Dances, and Late-Night talks

There is something special about seeing a place through the eyes of a friend who lives there. When I went to visit my friend Stuti in Harrow on the Hill for a week, I expected a fun trip of catching up and exploring the town. We had good food, great conversations and a cozy pub evening. 

 

Flying in from Munich

 

Watching buses while waiting for SL9

- a strike day is not the best to arrive -

 

 

Stuti lives in Harrow on the Hill, a quiet and beautiful corner of northwest London that somehow feels far away from the rush of central London. The area has that classic English charm: winding streets, old brick houses, and little hills that make you stop and look out over the city. Staying there felt like having a peaceful home base while spending the days working or exploring London.

 

Harrow on the Hill

 

Most mornings began with a Tube ride into central London. Some days, it was fast, others slower and once my fast Metropolitan line train ended already in Baker Street and I had to wait ages for the next bringing me to Moorgate where S&P Global has its office. 

 

Office stop

 

Dragon dance in the office

 

The Gherkin

 

Leadenhall Market

 

Friday night, a colleague invited me for drinks at her place in Pinner and I met another old colleague at ChinChin - the place to be in Pinner with Asian Fusion cuisine.  

Sheetal & Chris

 

When I returned in the evenings, Stuti and I enjoyed some late night chats on the couch about all things in life and beyond. 

Saturday, I experienced small town life in Britain: walking around Harrow on the Hill, drinking tea in the community café and relaxing. Food was naturally a big part of the week, and Stuti had great food for me. Saturday night, we went to Coffee & Cocktails downtairs before ending the evning in a local pub. 

 

British weather - sometimes gloomy

St. Mary's 

 

English Pub

 

On Sunday, I headed to Covent Garden. Even though it is full of tourists, it still has such a fun atmosphere. Street performers filled the square, musicians played outside the market, and every corner seemed to have another café or shop tucked away. I spent time looking through the street stalls offering jewelry, art and many other things and a tea with another alumna in the sunshine. 

 

Covent Garden

 

walking around in Covent Garden

 

 

 

Transport Museum 

 

Close by, I visited the London Transport Museum, which ended up being one of the highlights of the trip. I thought it would be interesting, but I didn’t expect to enjoy it so much. The museum tells the story of London through its transport system, from old horse‑drawn buses to vintage Tube carriages. Walking through the old trains felt like stepping into another era and made me realize how much the city has changed while everyone has always been trying to get from one side of London to the other.

 

150 Years of London Transport

 

Buses throughout the year

 

Driving a London Doubledecker

 

The timing of the trip also turned out to be perfect because London was celebrating Lunar New Year while I was there. When I arrived in Chinatown, the streets were absolutely packed. Red lanterns hung overhead, people lined the streets shoulder to shoulder, and there was an excitement in the air that made the whole neighborhood feel electric.

China Town

 

Mix of dumplings

 

Then came the dragon dance. The music started first—drums, cymbals, and cheers echoing through the streets—and suddenly the dragon appeared, weaving its way through the crowd in bright colors, twisting and turning above everyone’s heads. It was impossible not to smile. For a few minutes everyone seemed completely caught up in the same moment: tourists holding up their phones, kids laughing, and strangers squeezing together to get a better view.

 

Full streets while the dragons parade from shop to shop 

For Monday night, another colleague and I went high up - more than 40 floors and dined at the Duck & Waffle - reservation necessary. And enjoyed the night time view of London with all its glittering lights and our food - neither of us able to finish it. So, I took mine home and had my lunch secured for the last day in the office.

 London by night from Duck & Waffle

 

Ariane & Chris

What made this week special wasn’t the places I visited, even though Covent Garden, Chinatown, and the skyline from Duck & Waffle were all unforgettable. It was the feeling of spending a few days living like a local with a friend. Taking the Tube every morning, wandering around Harrow on the Hill, discovering great food on different days, and spending time with colleagues and friends made the whole trip feel wonderfully ordinary and exciting at the same time.

 

Pubs near Leicester Square

 

 

Leaving from the Queen's Terminal

 

 

A Skiing Week in Dolomiti Superskirama: From Bare Roads to Fresh Powder

Arriving in Vermiglio at the end of January, the first impression was not what you might expect from a ski week. It was dark, the road was clear, and there was no snow in sight at lower elevations. After a long journey, it raised a quiet question: would winter fully deliver this time?

That question did not last long. Overnight snowfall set the tone, and throughout the week we were surprised more than once by fresh snow — waking up to newly covered landscapes and better conditions than the day before.

 

Snow over night

  

We had chosen Vermiglio as our base, and it quickly proved its value. Quiet and slightly removed, it offered a calm contrast to the larger ski areas while keeping everything within reach.

 

Life is Gud, with snow even better

The week unfolded across the Dolomiti Superskirama in a varied rhythm, each day adding a different perspective.

 

 

We began in Marilleva, easing into the week with long, accessible runs and a first glimpse of improving conditions. From there, we headed to Passo Tonale, where the higher altitude already offered more consistent snow and wide, open slopes.

 

          

 

Sunshine on Tonale 

 

 

Peio followed as a contrast — quieter, more scenic, and set within the Stelvio National Park. With fresh snow settling in, the experience there felt particularly calm and immersive.

 

 Peio

 

Next came Folgarida, bringing us back into a more connected ski area, with longer routes and a slightly livelier atmosphere. By this point, the repeated snowfall had transformed the landscape entirely.

 

 Belvedere cabin

 

Returning to Tonale and extending into Ponte di Legno added both variety and scale. The terrain opened up further, combining altitude with diverse runs and consistently strong conditions.

 

Tana dell' Orso - Ponte di Legno

 

Madonna di Campiglio marked one of the highlights of the week. Polished, well-organized, and expansive, it offered a different level of resort experience while still benefiting from the fresh snow that had been building throughout the days.

We closed the week back in Tonale, a fitting final stop where everything came together — reliable snow, open slopes, and the confidence that comes after several days on skis.

 

 

Snow canons were off this week 

 

One of the most rewarding breaks from skiing came with a visit to Terme di Peio. After several days on the slopes, stepping into the thermal baths — warm water, quiet surroundings, and views of a fully snow-covered landscape — offered a welcome contrast.

 

Terme

 

Evenings back in Vermiglio followed a steady rhythm. Returning from the mountains, the quiet of the village became part of the experience. Simple meals, time to unwind, and the anticipation of what the next morning might bring.

Looking back, what defined the week was not just the variety of ski areas, but the element of surprise. Arriving to bare roads and uncertainty, then being met with fresh snowfall again and again, made the experience feel dynamic and, ultimately, even more rewarding.

 

 

suspended in air 

 

By the time we left, the Dolomiti Superskirama had fully delivered: fresh snow, diverse terrain, and a week shaped by changing conditions as much as by the places themselves.