London photos

I have finally started using Flickr. My first photo set is for London.

Photo fun

I'm currently wasting time waiting for the Eurostar. Here's what I've wasted my time on.






Obviously they picked me up way too early this morn.

Cheers. Thanks a lot.

Well, my week in London has just flown by! I'm surprised and sad that my stay is almost at an end. It feels like both yesterday and a year ago that I arrived at Heathrow. Make sense? Just when you start to get used to a place - boom - you're off. I crammed as much as I could into my short stay. I saw everything I wanted to and experienced so much more.

Enough wistfulness, on to my last day. As it was the last, I decided to walk wherever my feet took me. I started at the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park. From there I wandered through the gardens to Kensington Palace. The gardens here are so lush and rich in colour. The English sure know how to garden.





The palace was under construction, so you couldn't really see most of it. Actually, quite a bit of London is under construction, especially the nicest areas. They are probably in "get it super pretty" mode for the 2012 Olympics.

I did do the tour of Kensington Palace. They have some "Enchanted princesses" thing going on. They tried to make the rooms all dark and spooky and talk about the tragic history of the royal princess. Honestly, it was cheesy as hell, but in the dim lights, I did get to see some great royal paintings. I was probably there for 45 minutes tops.

I continued to walk around Hyde Park and I hate to say it, but the pigeons are cute! They are all pretty fat too. At the very least, they aren't hurting. I then came across three young girls practicing their horse riding. It's pretty cool that you can rent and ride horses in the middle of a city. Not sure how many city parks allow that.





I then walked over to Oxford Street to do a little retail therapy. I bought a couple of nice things in Marks & Spensers. I then went into Selfridges. Holy, it's like another Harrods. Seriously, I think I have counted at least seven Gucci and Chanel stores. The amount of high-end stores here is ridiculous. There was a lineup to get into the Luis Vuitton store. A lineup! With the amount of shopping done here you would never realize their economy is suffering.

I also had the best BLT ciabatta sandwich on a small pedestrian street. The restaurant was called Toast. It was in Mayfair, but it wasn't too pricey, well for London that is.

It was supposed to rain most of the day. This morning it was cloudy, but then the sun came out and stayed out. What a great last day.








Thank you London for a wonderful time. There will be another visit someday.. Cheerio!

...now for Paris!

Cottage country

Today I did another bus tour, this one taking me to Blenheim Palace and three towns in the Cotswolds. The area is breathtaking. The thatched-roof limestone houses together with all the rolling hills and farm animals makes this place a totally relaxing and lazy place to visit.

Our guide Sue was hilarious. She was that "cheeky mum" sort. She sounded all prim and proper, but she had some of the funniest stories about the area. She talked about the Queen's old voluptuous figure and all the sordid stuff that goes on between the gentry in the country. I found it hilarious, I think some of the old codgers on the tour were a little offended. Ha, whatever.

Our first stop was Blenheim Palace, the residence of the Duke of Marlborough. Wow, what a gigantic place. Churchill was born there and there is so much history inside. As we only had an hour there, I just beelined it outside to look at the immense property. The palace backs onto a lake and the gardens that overlook the lake are picture perfect. It was a little chilly, but I did find a nice old stone bench in the sun to sit on that had both a view of the lake and garden. The bench was so old that I wondered how many illicit rendezvous were had here over the centuries? While sitting there a boater paddled by.











After the palace we ventured into Burford. Everyone on the bus but me paid extra money for lunch. Here's a tip, never do that on a bus tour. Get your own lunch. There were tons of cafe's and pubs on the main strip. While the bus people were sitting down for an hour of mediocre lunch, I picked up a small quiche, found an old church and graveyard and parked it there to eat. What a great find. The graveyard is so pretty and old and there was a tiny walking path under a tree canopy that I couldn't resist. What I found was another bench overlooking the stream and not a soul around. I parked my butt there for a good 20 minutes.





As I was taking in the view, what starts gliding down the stream? Two white swans. Are you kidding me? It was like they were on cue. I could have sat there all day.


This area makes you think, "why don't I move here? This is ideal." I actually met a man walking through the stores that was from New Zealand and visited last year and has now moved him and his wife here. He said he was only a few years from retirement, so why not. Good for him!


The next two towns were Stoll-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water. Both were beautiful. I wish I had more time to look around the area. They really just park you there to shop, but every store carries the same crap. Although, in Stoll I did find some art to buy. I walked by this tiny store and there was a man painting a beautiful watercolour of a house in the area. He, Peter Dean, was such a nice guy and wanted to show me everything, but nothing was catching my eye.

I was about to leave with nothing when I noticed a very simple painting of a water bottle. I liked the colour of it. He said it was one of his from his sketchbook. I looked through the book and found another one I liked. I asked if he would sell them and give me a deal. He was shocked I wanted them, he said he has never sold from his sketchbook before. He gave me his card when I left. It says Peter Dean, Bio Chemist. Haha He is actually a geneticist. Very cool.

A good day was had in the country.

Massage please!

Well it's my fifth day in London and I feel I have walked the entire city. Twice. My shoulders are so sore. I try not to carry much stuff, but somehow a light bag gets heavier and heavier as the day progresses. I actually thought the feet would be my problem. Nope. They are holding up pretty well.

I started off the day having a great conversation at breakfast with a woman from San Francisco. She sat down at the table next to me with a huge stack of papers with editing marks all over the pages. At first I thought she was an editor, but it turns out she's a mystery writer. She is working on her next book after a long hiatus raising twins. Nice woman.



It was park day! I started in Hyde and moved over to St. James and ended with Green. Beautiful. In between I stumbled across the changing of the guard again. And again it was packed to the gills with tourists. Also nearby is the Canadian war memorial and Canada Gate. The gate is huge and directly across from the palace.


Canada Gate. Manitoba's Bison is on the left.

From there I walked over to Trafalgar Square. Holy smokes it has the tallest monument of a dude ever! It's to honour Lord Nelson's defeat of Napoleon at the battle of Trafalgar. Funny how his monument is so tall. I wonder if anyone else finds it ironic that one of the tallest monuments to an individual is for defeating one of the tiniest emperors.


Trafalgar Square


This reminded me of the movie "Stand By Me" when I first saw it. Wonder why?

Again, the fact that most museums here are free is such a treat. It makes you not think twice about going in. I walked into the National Gallery to take a look at their treasures. For something that wasn't planned, it sure was a highlight. I saw my first Leonardo and Monet. They also had quite a few van Gogh's.


National Gallery

I went through many rooms today and looked at many paintings - some much longer than others - but when I got into the 1800+ rooms I was in heaven! Those painters are one of the reasons I wanted to travel here. When I looked at my first Monet that memory flooded over me and I thought to myself, "Finally did it, I'm actually here." So far, this trip is more than I could have imagined. I'm so grateful that I can do this.

Anyways, enough sappy shit. Tomorrow I'm off to the British countryside. The Cotswolds here I come. Stay tuned, let's see if I will cry tomorrow too.


Doesn't this photo look fake? Except for the chilly pigeon on the head. This is in front of Buckingham.

Horse poop everywhere! I have no idea why these guys had the carriages going. Maybe just for exercise?

Piccadilly Circus. Crazy busy.

London in pictures - Day 3 - Tower of London, London Eye and Parliament Square

Tower of London. This is definitely a treat to see. around since the 12th century.


Walking through bloody tower. This is where the two princes were killed by their uncle. Talk about a dysfunctional family!


Tower bridge. Built to keep out the riffraff.


Buckingham palace from the London Eye.


At the top. Looking over parliament.


Westminster Abbey at dusk.


Love how it's lit.


I can't seem to remember what monument this is. ;) Looks good at night though.

London in pictures - Day 3 - Palace, the Globe and St. Paul's

Young soldiers. They all have to learn to ride.


Entrance to Hyde Park.


Marching in, playing a tune. I wonder if my papa had to learn an instrument too.


This just looked cool.


Shakespeare's Globe theatre.


St. Paul's Cathedral

A tourist says moo

I just realized I haven't discussed my hotel yet. It's very English and I mean that in the nicest way. I'm staying at The Cadogan Hotel. It is famous for being the hotel that Oscar Wilde was arrested in for "acts of gross indecency with another male" in 1895. The hotel is celebrating the 115th anniversary this year. Kinda funny, doncha think?

The hotel is in the borough of Chelsea. This area is total high class. Down the street to the left is Harrods and Harvey Nichols; to the right, Tiffany and Cartier; with Gucci, Versace, Armani filling in the gaps. I'm the frumpiest person around! Everyone is dressed to the nines and almost every man I see wears tailored clothes. It really makes a difference. No "pants on the ground, looking like a fool" here.

My room is not too big, but it is extremely cozy. The bed is comfortable, the bathroom is all marble and clean and it has classic furniture. Not your typical Holiday Inn! They clean the bed everyday and they also turn it down for you at night. They even give you a nice goodnight note with famous quotes and the next day's weather. Charming.





The staff are excellent and so polite. They all know your name and they do everything they can to help. On Sunday I had my first breakfast here. It is not your typical continental breakfast. Tons of pastry's and fresh fruit salads and juices. Like fresh fresh. The dining room looks like it's out of a Jane Austin novel/movie with classical music playing. Seriously.

Now, about my first bus tour. I enjoyed the places I saw: Changing of the guard, St. Paul's Cathedral, Covent Garden, Thames river ride, Tower of London and the London Eye. But I didn't like feeling like cattle being shuffled along. It's not really me. I'm grateful I did it though, because I wouldn't have seen all those places.

The Tower of London was impressive. So much there and so much history. I could have spent half a day there at least (I only had an hour). I mean, this is the place that Queen Elizabeth I was kept and Anne Boleyn was beheaded with so many others. It's just cool. Then to see the Crown Jewels. Impressive. The scepter has a diamond as big as an egg! I had to have another look!


Chillin with a Beefeater. Fascinating history those guys have.

The London Eye was pretty cool. You don't even feel like you're moving on it and it never stops. You get on and off while it is moving.

Today I went to Harrods. That place is too big and too expensive. I got some souvenirs then left. I just wasn't into looking at expensive goods for fun. That's a waste of time here!

After Harrods I went to the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum. They were cool, but were geared more for kids. I didn't spend too much time in either. I instead went back to the V&A museum to see the "Grace Kelly, Style Icon" exhibit. It had many of her famous clothes and accessories. I saw the dress she wore when she won an Oscar. Very nice. I took a pic, then got in trouble for taking said pic. Oh well.

Tonight I went and saw the musical "Billy Elliot" at the Victoria Palace Theatre. It was very good. The kid in it did an amazing job of singing and dancing.

By the size of this post, I would say it's been a hectic few days. Tomorrow is calling for rain. I wonder what I should do? Visit the parks in the rain or shop?

Sorry if my grammar is horrible. I write these late at night and don't really have the time to edit or review them.

Bed Knobs & Broomsticks and mummies, huh?

Yesterday I took the London Underground for the first time. Hello, that system is simple! Everyone told me it is, but I had doubts because every time I saw the map, it was confusing. Well, it took me one short metro ride to figure it out. That's what colour coding does, it simplifies things.

Anyway, I went to Saturday's market on Portobello Road in the morning. Now a lot of people I know remember it from the movie "Notting Hill." As I am an old hag - my web teams nickname for me - I remember it from the movie "Bed Knobs & Broomsticks." If anyone remembers that movie they should remember the song about Portobello Road and all the great things you will find there.

What I found? A great way to spend a morning. It was fun talking to the shopkeepers, looking at their treasures and just absorbing a really vibrant atmosphere. I did buy one treasure, a nice tartan scarf made in Ireland. It was the one thing I saw that I definitely wanted. Must of been the Irish in me. When we aren't drinking, we are making great woolen things. I think?

After the market, I hopped on the metro and dashed down to The British Museum. I know I am excited about everything I am seeing, but I have been waiting for years to see this place. And it exceeded expectations! Everything I saw was fascinating, but I really wanted to see the Egyptian pieces. WOW. They have so much.

The first thing was the Rosetta Stone. The crowds around it are immense, but if you are patient, you will eventually get close. It literally took my breath away. I audibly gasped when I walked up to it. I never thought it would do that to me, but it did. It's so pristine and so old.

Everything in that exhibit is old. You start to feel really small when you walk by pieces that are dated 2500 B.C. Supposedly they have artifacts that date back to 10,000 B.C. Sweet jeebus!

Another piece that floored me was "Aztec turquoise double-headed serpent." It's not too large, but the colour in it is so vibrant. It's pretty kick-ass. It was the last item I was able to get a picture of before my camera battery died. ARGH, how can it die at that place? It's probably for the better. You start to get too picture happy and forget to really look at and absorb an object and think about how it makes you feel.

They also have a very nice library there too. It holds some great pieces. I got to look at a coin collection of each King and Queen. I really admire Queen Elizabeth I, so it was a treat to see her two coins. She was a pretty cool chick.

After the museum, I walked down Charring Cross Road and stumbled into the theatre district. It's hopping! People everywhere on the streets just talking and drinking. I wanted to go to a show, but I was exhausted and it was too late, so I just came back to the hotel.

London in pictures - Day 2 - The British Museum

The Rosetta Stone. This made me gasp when I first looked at it.


Just some dudes chillin.


Ramses II. Big boy statue.


Statues from the Parthenon.


Mummies!


And cat mummies too.


Oh, and why not mummify bulls as well.


Aztec double headed serpent. Simply gorgeous.


Aztec skull. Simply creepy, and still kinda pretty.