Friday 24 August
Well, after my night on the floorboards on Saturday, and my afternoon of defiance sitting in the rain in Trafalgar Square on Tuesday, I've managed to get sick AGAIN. This is the third time in the nine weeks I've been here. This place is surely a cesspool of contagion. I'm considering popping in to the local hospital to ask them to check if I have The Plague. It's possible...I've seen the little tube mice scurrying around after all...filthy vermin.
Anyway, I've spent the last few days at home, inside, away from the miserable cold and rain (what the HELL happened to Summer???) for the purposes of a decent convalescence. I've started reading the latest (and last) Harry Potter, watched a few movies, and generally rested (with one or two power naps for good measure).
I'm planning to attend the Notting Hill Carnival this weekend (for approximately 10 minutes, which I expect will be about how long I'll be able to cope with the insane crowds) and if the weather permits, a BBQ on Monday (a public holiday here).
Friday, 24 August 2007
Another Gallery...
Tuesday 21 August I finally made it to the National Portrait Gallery. I spent a few good hours perusing through the exhibitions, the most interesting ones being the Tudor Galleries and the other suitably old stuff. The special Princess of Wales exhibition was a bit of a let down - only about 10 photos showing her time as the Princess.
I had come fully prepared with sustenance for the day (and managed to remember my glasses too)...so when I sat down to eat my baguette and orange juice on the only seat I could find which wasn't located in the cafe (the wooden bench in the lift area was far more comfortable and atmospheric anyway), I got a conspirational smile from the geriatric couple who did exactly the same at the other end of the bench, with their poppers and packed sandwiches from home. Taking a closer look, I realised that'll be me in a few short decades...right down to the comfortable shoes and glasses!
After that somewhat confronting episode, I decided to have my afternoon yoghurt snack sitting in Trafalgar Square...in the spitting rain and bitingly cold wind...ah this is the life! Young and vital and what not...
I had come fully prepared with sustenance for the day (and managed to remember my glasses too)...so when I sat down to eat my baguette and orange juice on the only seat I could find which wasn't located in the cafe (the wooden bench in the lift area was far more comfortable and atmospheric anyway), I got a conspirational smile from the geriatric couple who did exactly the same at the other end of the bench, with their poppers and packed sandwiches from home. Taking a closer look, I realised that'll be me in a few short decades...right down to the comfortable shoes and glasses!
After that somewhat confronting episode, I decided to have my afternoon yoghurt snack sitting in Trafalgar Square...in the spitting rain and bitingly cold wind...ah this is the life! Young and vital and what not...
Flash Gordon's!
Sunday 19 August I went to the Royal Festival Hall to see the World Press Photo Exhibition, which was ok. There was the obligatory 'expert' present, sharing her wisdom with some poor sap, and to avoid the tedious drivel coming from her mouth, I had to change my route around the exhibition so as not to run into her again.
The highlight of the day was by far Gordon's Wine Bar, (said to be the oldest in London, dating back to 1890) in Villier's Street, near Charing Cross station. The building itself dates back to about 1237, and consists of a fabulous underground low ceilinged vaulted cellar, complete with rickety wooden furniture and only candles in empty wine bottles to light the area. Definitely a place to revisit (pictured).
Losing time in Greenwich
Saturday 18 August I met up with the girls in Greenwich for dinner. Unfortunately, time got away from us (as it seems to do, whether we are at the origin of time or not) and I missed the last DLR home. I spent the night on Lex's bedroom floor (floorboards no less!), but the three of us had a great night and I was up nice and early the next morning to get home in order to be in the city by 10 am. Unfortunately, the universe was against me that day, and due to signalling problems on the DLR, and maintenance on the tube, it took me 1.5 hours to get home...I could have walked it in that time. London's efficient transport system at its finest.
Ye olde London
Wednesday 15 & Thursday 16 August
After a few lazy days of not completing any tourist obligations, I set off to the Museum of London. I spent 5 solid hours in the museum on Wednesday and 6 hours on Thursday. I went on a tour of part of the London Wall ruins (including a section which is under the modern road), a demonstration of a Roman water well, and a Bollywood Brass Band demonstration.
It was an extremely entertaining 2 days (for me) so I'm glad I didn't torture anyone else by making them sit (or stand as the case may be) through the entire 2 days while I read every single exhibit explanation in the museum. The exhibitions included "London Before London" - which showed artefacts from 450,000 BC to 50 AD, "Roman London" from 50 AD to 410 AD, then "Medieval London" from 410 to 1558 and a special exhibition "London Burning - the Great Fire of London 1666".
After a few lazy days of not completing any tourist obligations, I set off to the Museum of London. I spent 5 solid hours in the museum on Wednesday and 6 hours on Thursday. I went on a tour of part of the London Wall ruins (including a section which is under the modern road), a demonstration of a Roman water well, and a Bollywood Brass Band demonstration.
It was an extremely entertaining 2 days (for me) so I'm glad I didn't torture anyone else by making them sit (or stand as the case may be) through the entire 2 days while I read every single exhibit explanation in the museum. The exhibitions included "London Before London" - which showed artefacts from 450,000 BC to 50 AD, "Roman London" from 50 AD to 410 AD, then "Medieval London" from 410 to 1558 and a special exhibition "London Burning - the Great Fire of London 1666".
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Kew Gardens
Sunday 12 August
After the glorious warm, sunny weather on Saturday (which I missed a sizeable chunk of being inside the gallery), I was anticipating another beautiful day on Sunday for our visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens, in Kew, South West of London. Alas, the sun was a little shy, and the weather not quite as good as it could have been. However, it did not detract from the beautiful gardens...all 300 acres of them!
We went on a free guided walking tour (considering the £12.25 admission fee, we were going to get something out of it!) for an hour which was a great introduction to the gardens, and a few pieces of interesting information we otherwise would not have known.
We visited the Temperate House, the Pagoda (a 10 storey octagonal building with each storey reducing in height and diameter), walked through the Ruined Arch (built to look ruinous...but now a little more ruinous than when it was built in 1759), past the Palm House (which closed before we could go in...ditto for the Princess of Wales Conservatory), through the Duke's Garden, past the Wollemi Pine in its cage, completely missed the Secluded Garden (perhaps not easily seen?) and into the Queen's Garden - the highlight of the day!
The Queen's Garden is a 17th century style garden situated behind Kew Palace. The plants are those exclusively grown before the 17th century, primarily for their medicinal qualities. The plants were labelled with their traditional uses, as outlined in 17th century herbals. An example: Blue Comfrey - 'the slimie substance of the root made in a posset of ale, and given to drinke against the pain in the backe, gotten by any violent motion, as wrestling, or overmuch use of women'. A handy one to note...
After the glorious warm, sunny weather on Saturday (which I missed a sizeable chunk of being inside the gallery), I was anticipating another beautiful day on Sunday for our visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens, in Kew, South West of London. Alas, the sun was a little shy, and the weather not quite as good as it could have been. However, it did not detract from the beautiful gardens...all 300 acres of them!
We went on a free guided walking tour (considering the £12.25 admission fee, we were going to get something out of it!) for an hour which was a great introduction to the gardens, and a few pieces of interesting information we otherwise would not have known.
We visited the Temperate House, the Pagoda (a 10 storey octagonal building with each storey reducing in height and diameter), walked through the Ruined Arch (built to look ruinous...but now a little more ruinous than when it was built in 1759), past the Palm House (which closed before we could go in...ditto for the Princess of Wales Conservatory), through the Duke's Garden, past the Wollemi Pine in its cage, completely missed the Secluded Garden (perhaps not easily seen?) and into the Queen's Garden - the highlight of the day!
The Queen's Garden is a 17th century style garden situated behind Kew Palace. The plants are those exclusively grown before the 17th century, primarily for their medicinal qualities. The plants were labelled with their traditional uses, as outlined in 17th century herbals. An example: Blue Comfrey - 'the slimie substance of the root made in a posset of ale, and given to drinke against the pain in the backe, gotten by any violent motion, as wrestling, or overmuch use of women'. A handy one to note...
Oh Golly, the same Gallery!
Saturday 11 August
I met Cels at the National Gallery to tick off another item from the 'to see' list. Imagine my delight when I arrived and realised I had already seen the gallery in my first week! I was under the impression I'd seen the National Portrait Gallery, but in fact it was the National Gallery.
In any case, being as I am a culture vulture (?!), I was happy to view the gallery again. We spent about 3.5 hours wandering through the gallery and almost got to see the entire collection before the gallery was due to close. I will admit my concentration was waning after about 2.5 hours, with my speed increasing and my attention to each painting decreasing in each new room.
However, we did have a fun time spotting the number of times St Sebastian starred in a variety of paintings (sometimes completely inappropriately), with his usual depiction of being tied and looking like a pin cushion for arrows.
I met Cels at the National Gallery to tick off another item from the 'to see' list. Imagine my delight when I arrived and realised I had already seen the gallery in my first week! I was under the impression I'd seen the National Portrait Gallery, but in fact it was the National Gallery.
In any case, being as I am a culture vulture (?!), I was happy to view the gallery again. We spent about 3.5 hours wandering through the gallery and almost got to see the entire collection before the gallery was due to close. I will admit my concentration was waning after about 2.5 hours, with my speed increasing and my attention to each painting decreasing in each new room.
However, we did have a fun time spotting the number of times St Sebastian starred in a variety of paintings (sometimes completely inappropriately), with his usual depiction of being tied and looking like a pin cushion for arrows.
St Paul's Cathedral
Friday 10 August was my second (and this time successful!) attempt to visit St Paul's Cathedral in the city. There was quite the queue to get in, and I was blessed with a pair of Whinging Poms (a local specialty) right behind me. We'd been waiting approximately 3 minutes before they both declared they'd been waiting far too long, that this was utterly ridiculous, and they simply "don't do queues". No sign of them leaving despite their claims though. Then followed the moaning about the cost...and declaration they weren't going to pay that - the sign couldn't possibly be right! And yet, they remained in the queue. I was sorely tempted to turn around and make a snide remark or two...but I was in God's house, and wanted to avoid being struck by lightning and being buried in the crypt before getting a chance to see the rest of the Cathedral.
I donned my audio guide and opened my map, and off I went on my spectacular 3.5 hour (one must get one's money's worth after all) journey to the giddy heights and the plunging depths of this magnificent piece of architecture.
The current Cathedral – the fourth to occupy this site – was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1675 and 1710 after its predecessor was destroyed in the Great Fire of London. Important services have included the funerals of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Winston Churchill; the wedding of Charles and Diana and services for the Golden Jubilee and 80th Birthday of the Queen.
I walked up the 163 steps (or 259 if you believe the website) from the Cathedral floor to the Whispering Gallery, where the dome is constructed so that a whisper along the wall on one side is audible on the other. However, with about 60 people trying to do the same thing, I was a little doubtful of its effectiveness.
Another 119 steps up was the Stone Gallery, and then another 152 steps further was the Golden Gallery, which runs around the highest point of the outer dome, 85 metres and 530 steps from ground-level. The Golden Gallery gives panoramic views across London, and photos are available on my online gallery. So I either walked up 434 or 530 (depending on which source is correct) narrow spiral steps up to the top, and then all the way back to the bottom...quite the work out with 2 heavy bags...and then continued, wobbly-legged, down into the Crypt.
Some people of note located in the Crypt are: Lord Nelson, Duke of Wellington, Sir Christopher Wren, Sir Alexander Fleming (Mr Pencillin), Sir Henry Wellcome (whose collection I saw a few weeks ago), Florence Nightingale and William Blake.
Down in the Crypt was the Crypt Cafe...interesting name, and quite frankly an interesting location for such an establishment wouldn't you agree? Didn't really take the time to peruse the menu (seeing as I had come prepared with my homemade sandwiches and refreshments) but I believe they were serving Cadaver Chips, Flaky Blake Pie, Crispy Skins, and a selection of matured organ pates, to name but a few, sourced from local ingredients...
I donned my audio guide and opened my map, and off I went on my spectacular 3.5 hour (one must get one's money's worth after all) journey to the giddy heights and the plunging depths of this magnificent piece of architecture.
The current Cathedral – the fourth to occupy this site – was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1675 and 1710 after its predecessor was destroyed in the Great Fire of London. Important services have included the funerals of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington and Sir Winston Churchill; the wedding of Charles and Diana and services for the Golden Jubilee and 80th Birthday of the Queen.
I walked up the 163 steps (or 259 if you believe the website) from the Cathedral floor to the Whispering Gallery, where the dome is constructed so that a whisper along the wall on one side is audible on the other. However, with about 60 people trying to do the same thing, I was a little doubtful of its effectiveness.
Another 119 steps up was the Stone Gallery, and then another 152 steps further was the Golden Gallery, which runs around the highest point of the outer dome, 85 metres and 530 steps from ground-level. The Golden Gallery gives panoramic views across London, and photos are available on my online gallery. So I either walked up 434 or 530 (depending on which source is correct) narrow spiral steps up to the top, and then all the way back to the bottom...quite the work out with 2 heavy bags...and then continued, wobbly-legged, down into the Crypt.
Some people of note located in the Crypt are: Lord Nelson, Duke of Wellington, Sir Christopher Wren, Sir Alexander Fleming (Mr Pencillin), Sir Henry Wellcome (whose collection I saw a few weeks ago), Florence Nightingale and William Blake.
Down in the Crypt was the Crypt Cafe...interesting name, and quite frankly an interesting location for such an establishment wouldn't you agree? Didn't really take the time to peruse the menu (seeing as I had come prepared with my homemade sandwiches and refreshments) but I believe they were serving Cadaver Chips, Flaky Blake Pie, Crispy Skins, and a selection of matured organ pates, to name but a few, sourced from local ingredients...
Monday, 13 August 2007
Canary Wharf...BYO homing pigeon
Wednesday 8 August
I decided it was time to visit another tourist location nearby, so I ventured forth to Canary Wharf. Canary Wharf is a relatively new business estate (first tenants moved there in 1991) in South East London which boasts the tallest building in Britain - One Canada Square - which is 50 floors (244 metres) high.
As with most things here, it has a long and interesting history. Briefly though, in medieval times the area was a marsh, which was drained in the 13th Century to provide land for pastures and cornfields. By the late 1500s it had become a shipping dock, and was named Canary Wharf because many of the imports were from the Canary Islands.
Canary Wharf is planned on a grand scale...a little like a high-rise Canberra meets The Matrix. The estate extends to over 97 acres and has approximately 14.1 million square feet of office and retail space over 24 office buildings and 5 retail malls with 80,000 people working here.
However, with all that planning, I still managed to get lost. Well not lost per se, more like I was able to find the same place 3 times, 3 different ways. The shopping malls are underground, and I spent a while browsing through some of the shops...but in the end managed to spend more time trying to work out how to get to the other shopping mall in the next building, unsuccessfully. I ended up outside, over the bridge, in the residential complex...completely the wrong direction.
The highlight of this part of the trip (let's focus on the positives after all) was seeing my first mullet hairstyle outside of Australia. Some poor Eastern European kid of 4 or 5 was sporting this horrendous do, and I felt it was my social duty to take his parents aside and whisper in their ears. Unfortunately, the opportunity for the frank and open discussion about the effect of this hairstyle on the young whipper snappers emotional development didn't arise.
Eventually I did manage to find my way to a different mall, but my enthusiasm had waned rather dramatically by that point, so after a quick perusal, I tottered off to find my way back to the underground station. I somehow managed to end up on street level in my search for the underground, so surely this futuristic mini-city could do with a suggestion box where I can put my 5p opinion about it being more of a rabbit warren than a meticulously planned estate.
I decided it was time to visit another tourist location nearby, so I ventured forth to Canary Wharf. Canary Wharf is a relatively new business estate (first tenants moved there in 1991) in South East London which boasts the tallest building in Britain - One Canada Square - which is 50 floors (244 metres) high.
As with most things here, it has a long and interesting history. Briefly though, in medieval times the area was a marsh, which was drained in the 13th Century to provide land for pastures and cornfields. By the late 1500s it had become a shipping dock, and was named Canary Wharf because many of the imports were from the Canary Islands.
Canary Wharf is planned on a grand scale...a little like a high-rise Canberra meets The Matrix. The estate extends to over 97 acres and has approximately 14.1 million square feet of office and retail space over 24 office buildings and 5 retail malls with 80,000 people working here.
However, with all that planning, I still managed to get lost. Well not lost per se, more like I was able to find the same place 3 times, 3 different ways. The shopping malls are underground, and I spent a while browsing through some of the shops...but in the end managed to spend more time trying to work out how to get to the other shopping mall in the next building, unsuccessfully. I ended up outside, over the bridge, in the residential complex...completely the wrong direction.
The highlight of this part of the trip (let's focus on the positives after all) was seeing my first mullet hairstyle outside of Australia. Some poor Eastern European kid of 4 or 5 was sporting this horrendous do, and I felt it was my social duty to take his parents aside and whisper in their ears. Unfortunately, the opportunity for the frank and open discussion about the effect of this hairstyle on the young whipper snappers emotional development didn't arise.
Eventually I did manage to find my way to a different mall, but my enthusiasm had waned rather dramatically by that point, so after a quick perusal, I tottered off to find my way back to the underground station. I somehow managed to end up on street level in my search for the underground, so surely this futuristic mini-city could do with a suggestion box where I can put my 5p opinion about it being more of a rabbit warren than a meticulously planned estate.
Tuesday, 7 August 2007
Hampton Court Palace
Sunday 5 August was the big train trip to Hampton Court Palace, home of King Henry VIII. It was another glorious sunny day, a perfect day to enjoy the 60 acres of beautiful gardens which run down to the Thames, complete with fountains, ducks, geese, swans, the famous hedge Maze (which is also the oldest, or the largest...or whatever) and the Guinness Book of Records winning 'Great Vine' planted in 1768 and still producing grapes. We also toured through the palace apartments, of note being the red velvet covered King's toilet, and the huge Tudor kitchens, complete with open fire multiple racks for roasting a number of animals at a time...in order to feed 800 guests. Photos are in my web album.
Saturday Shopping
Saturday 4 August I went into Oxford Street and experienced the insane shopping crowds. The streets were absolutely packed with people, which wouldn't have been so bad except that the day was very warm...the hottest so far this year apparently...a whopping 30C (insert condescending Aussie snigger here). Inside the shops wasn't quite so busy, and I had my first taste of English department stores. My enthusiam quickly waned and I ended up kicking back in the Marble Arch park feasting on the juiciest, reddest, most delicious strawberries I've ever eaten. The Marble Arch part of the park was chosen because going across the road to Hyde Park seemed far too much effort! The highlight of the day was when a strange man sitting nearby came and gave me a bunch of pink carnations, which was very sweet, until he said he had stolen them from the shop across the road...excellent, accepting stolen goods is the way I like to end all Saturday afternoons.
Hidden treasure
Friday 3 August I met up with the girls for after work drinks in Covent Garden...an extremely busy place to be on a Friday night. We first visited a place called Neal's Yard which has an herbal dispensary and so we spent around an hour in there frolicking amongst the beautiful herbal and other natural products. Neal's Yard is hidden away from the street in a quiet, colourful courtyard. A fabulous discovery! After we had our Naturopathic appetites somewhat quenched, we moved on to the Maple Leaf, the Canadian bar in Covent Garden where we settled in for the night.
Day at the docks...
Thursday 2 August started as a gloriously sunny day, so I treated myself to a coffee at the cafe in the park next door. I sat outside on the balcony and soaked up the sun...until it exited stage left as per usual. Back at home I did a few necessary domestics and found that the day was slipping away without me having achieved much at all really (obviously I'm settling into a life of leisure all too easily).
So to tick off a 'tourist to do' I walked over to the Royal Docks. The docks consist of a huge area of hotels and new apartment developments, restaurants, the ExCeL London and the Sunborn Yacht Restaurant and Hotel...and of course the water.
The ExCeL London is an international exhibition and conference centre and is absolutely massive. And on the day I went...completely deserted. I was crushed to discover I had missed the Star Wars convention in mid-July. However, I was thrilled to learn that I'll be able to attend the '36th Miss Intercontinental' competition in late October. Even more exciting is the Skin Two Expo in early October, two fun filled days of the world's biggest fetish fair where apparently I'll be able to meet my local club, my favourite fetish model, and socialise with Club RUB. You just can't top that!
The Sunborn Yacht/Hotel was a distinct disappointment. The menu was fairly uninspiring, particularly for the prices, but the biggest disappointment was the view...in one direction was the convention centre and DLR stop, and in the other direction the dilapidated Millenium Mills building, currently being demolished due to Asbestos, etc. Certainly not something I'd be spending my hard earned pounds on.
So to tick off a 'tourist to do' I walked over to the Royal Docks. The docks consist of a huge area of hotels and new apartment developments, restaurants, the ExCeL London and the Sunborn Yacht Restaurant and Hotel...and of course the water.
The ExCeL London is an international exhibition and conference centre and is absolutely massive. And on the day I went...completely deserted. I was crushed to discover I had missed the Star Wars convention in mid-July. However, I was thrilled to learn that I'll be able to attend the '36th Miss Intercontinental' competition in late October. Even more exciting is the Skin Two Expo in early October, two fun filled days of the world's biggest fetish fair where apparently I'll be able to meet my local club, my favourite fetish model, and socialise with Club RUB. You just can't top that!
The Sunborn Yacht/Hotel was a distinct disappointment. The menu was fairly uninspiring, particularly for the prices, but the biggest disappointment was the view...in one direction was the convention centre and DLR stop, and in the other direction the dilapidated Millenium Mills building, currently being demolished due to Asbestos, etc. Certainly not something I'd be spending my hard earned pounds on.
Thursday, 2 August 2007
Having a good time in the mean time...
Wednesday 1 August was my time to travel back in time to visit the origin of time...in Greenwich...and what a wonderful time it was! The weather was absolutely spectacular - the sunniest day yet! Interestingly, Greenwich remains on GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) while the rest of us are currently on BST (British Summer Time). British manners prevailed here in tourist mecca too, and we all patiently queued (minus an obnoxious few who should have been shot immediately) to have our photo taken with the Prime Meridian Marker at 0 degrees longitude. I then took my time, ambling through the Time and Longitude Gallery in Flamsteed House (the oldest part of the Observatory, built in 1675). In 1714, the British Government offered a reward of £20,000 to the person who could "solve the problem of longitude". The phrase 'finding the longitude' became an expression for the pursuits of fools and lunatics. I have made it my personal challenge to introduce this phrase into conversation as much as possible. The view from the Royal Observatory is claimed to be the best in London, and it is quite impressive. You can view the photos in my online gallery.
Porcine and swine experience
Monday 30th July I ventured into the seedy underbelly of this fair city to visit Theresa in her new home. It was my first experience of the overland rail system, which thankfully I managed to negotiate with some success, although I didn't realise I wasn't able to use my transport card and had to purchase a ticket at the end of the journey (oops!). Three cheers for me for making it to her house (and back) without getting mugged.
We visited the local markets (Ridley Road in Dalston) for a bit of a browse. Being a weekday, the markets weren't as busy as they would be on a weekend, but I did get a feeling for how loud and thriving the atmosphere would be. My personal favourite was the butcher who had a whole pile of montrous pig's trotters (part of the leg still attached) stacked up nicely at the front of his stall. Mmmm, mouthwateringly tempting. I could imagine myself gnawing away on one of those babies, happy as a pig in mud...boom boom.
The trip back on the train was not quite the peaceful journey I usually experience on the DLR, with one young gentleman playing "music" at an intrusive volume. I noticed that quite a few of the other passengers were put out by the whole affair, but no one was game to say anything - I suspect for the same reason as me - not wanting to be shot in the face, particularly not on a Monday. Once I changed at Stratford for the DLR, I did expect the journey to improve considerably. Unfortunately, my fellow passengers and I were subjected to some hoodlum youths with their unsavoury behaviour for a few stops. Granny, sitting opposite me, was holding onto her bag on wheels for dear life, which I assume is similar to how I looked, but my handbag (unfortunately) doesn't have wheels.
We visited the local markets (Ridley Road in Dalston) for a bit of a browse. Being a weekday, the markets weren't as busy as they would be on a weekend, but I did get a feeling for how loud and thriving the atmosphere would be. My personal favourite was the butcher who had a whole pile of montrous pig's trotters (part of the leg still attached) stacked up nicely at the front of his stall. Mmmm, mouthwateringly tempting. I could imagine myself gnawing away on one of those babies, happy as a pig in mud...boom boom.
The trip back on the train was not quite the peaceful journey I usually experience on the DLR, with one young gentleman playing "music" at an intrusive volume. I noticed that quite a few of the other passengers were put out by the whole affair, but no one was game to say anything - I suspect for the same reason as me - not wanting to be shot in the face, particularly not on a Monday. Once I changed at Stratford for the DLR, I did expect the journey to improve considerably. Unfortunately, my fellow passengers and I were subjected to some hoodlum youths with their unsavoury behaviour for a few stops. Granny, sitting opposite me, was holding onto her bag on wheels for dear life, which I assume is similar to how I looked, but my handbag (unfortunately) doesn't have wheels.
Red Bull Air Race London 2007 - blink and you'll miss it...
Sunday 29th July was the day of the Red Bull Air Race Finals along the Thames, near Greenwich. We had a pretty spectacular view (well, free anyway) from the roof of our apartment tower, so up we all went with cameras (and refreshments) in tow. Admittedly, there didn't seem to be too much action, but we did get to see a helicopter or two engage in a bit of air acrobatics, and a few planes go through the course along the Thames. In any case, the view was fantastic, so I took the opportunity to take some photos. In acknowlegment of the sun popping in briefly for the day, we went to the park next door and played some cricket until the ball was lost in a tree, and then some frisbee until we were all tuckered out from the exertion.
Portobello Road
Saturday 28 July
After a hearty breakfast, I travelled to Portobello Road Markets (one of the most famous markets in the world). It is absolutely huge and includes lots of shops, arcades, stalls, antiques and second-hand (absolute rubbish of course) sections. I don't have much to say on the markets...markets are markets really. However, of note were some old guns, swords and armoury, all for sale of course (or you could have your photo taken with them for £2...bargain). Statistically it features in the top ten rankings as the most visited tourist site in London, and I have now made my contribution to this statistic, as did about 50,000 other people in the short time I was there. You may remember it from such films as "Bed knobs and Broomsticks" and more recently "Notting Hill" with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. Its history and culture span approximately 300 years of existence. And that's all I have to say about Portobello Road markets.
That evening I caught up with the girls at London Bridge. We managed to score an outdoor table right on the water, which we refused to part with, even when the rain started pouring down on us. We just soldiered on with our umbrellas, much to the amusement of our fellow pub patrons standing under cover. Eventually, the rain eased up enough for us to venture forth to the local Wagamama's restaurant for a quick meal and an early night.
After a hearty breakfast, I travelled to Portobello Road Markets (one of the most famous markets in the world). It is absolutely huge and includes lots of shops, arcades, stalls, antiques and second-hand (absolute rubbish of course) sections. I don't have much to say on the markets...markets are markets really. However, of note were some old guns, swords and armoury, all for sale of course (or you could have your photo taken with them for £2...bargain). Statistically it features in the top ten rankings as the most visited tourist site in London, and I have now made my contribution to this statistic, as did about 50,000 other people in the short time I was there. You may remember it from such films as "Bed knobs and Broomsticks" and more recently "Notting Hill" with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. Its history and culture span approximately 300 years of existence. And that's all I have to say about Portobello Road markets.
That evening I caught up with the girls at London Bridge. We managed to score an outdoor table right on the water, which we refused to part with, even when the rain started pouring down on us. We just soldiered on with our umbrellas, much to the amusement of our fellow pub patrons standing under cover. Eventually, the rain eased up enough for us to venture forth to the local Wagamama's restaurant for a quick meal and an early night.
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