April 2nd (Day 3)
Friday, April 2nd, 2004
Partly cloudy but clear and cool, windy at times
Woke up in time to catch my "English" breakfast. Since I saw a lot of the major
sites already, I decided to retrace my steps and take photos.
I hoped on the Tube at Gloucester Road and took it to Westminister. When I
pulled the camera out of my Sainsbury's bag on Westminster bridge to take a
snapshot of Big Ben, I was pounced on by two women looking for donations to
children's charities. Hmm, that was why I did not bring the camera round a few
days ago!
These charity workers are respectful by American standards but get
right in your face. Remember that in England and Europe, people stand closer
together when talking. Well, one of the ladies was even closer than this. She
put a flower in my overshirt button hole to encourage me to donate. I think
most Americans would be amazed how unusual this situation was because the woman
was not aggressive but insistent. This is strange to me because usually when
you are in close proximity to a stranger, negative emotions are present.
Excuse the poor bloke's head in the left foreground. There is a dark-colored
fence around Big Ben, which is the clocktower for the Houses of Parliament
(pictured below). This fence completely encloses Parliament and is probably a
product of the recent terrorism.
I walked around Parliament and got this picture. The Houses are very tall and
the sheer sides are decorated in a vertical line motif. It is amazing to see.
The complexity and abundance of lines gives the Houses an almost sinister look.
Formidable.
I walked to Westminister Abbey and snapped a picture of the front and north
side. Too busy and the weather was too nice to enter the Abbey.
I walked up Horse Guards Road to the Mall. The Horse Guard Headquarters: what
else would they call it, hang-out, joint? So the HQ was not too impressive from
this side, mostly just a large parking lot.
Taking a left onto the Mall, I
found another tourist trap. I saw countless teenagers in school groups. Some
were even obnoxious, but did I feel homesick? Ha, no way. By this time it was
cloudy, but I did not remove my sunglasses because it gave me an upper hand. As
I continued along one of the girls jumped out in front of me and timidly yelled
a "boo." I saw it coming and wasn't startled, and as quickly as she pounced,
she was past me. Very strange. Drugs, alcohol- I didn't think so. She was
probably a Briton because she lacked a heavy accent and was timid. It made me
smile because she was quite pretty.
I started up the Queen's Walk in Green Park because I wanted to get a distant
picture of Buckingham Palace. I also lucked out and saw the Horse Guards
parading up the Mall, evidently I had just missed
the changing of the guard.
This was the best way to see the
changing
because you don't have to contend with the wacky tourists. Well, you miss some
of the wackiness!
I resumed my walk towards the Green Park tube station. There I took a right up
Piccadily heading to the Circus. Then I meandered down to Trafalgar Square. It
was mobbed, of course, so I shot a picture of Nelson's Column (the monument)
from Cockspur Street. Behind the buses and next to Canada House is the rest of
the Square.
I attempted to get on the Northern Line at Charing Cross. Train was overfilled
so I gave up and walked up the Strand and wandered up Bedford Street.
This St. Paul's is the church not the famous cathedral! That's why it was a
little difficult to find! But I took a few minutes and relaxed in the
churchyard while looking at the map. Then I spotted St. Paul's Cathedral. It had
it's own Tube stop and was over in the City. I noticed an outdoor play going on
at the Garden. I popped on the Tube at Covent Garden and went to Oxford Circus.
This doesn't make too much sense because I was looking for St. Paul's. My notes
are sketchy at this point.
Leaving the Circus via Regent Street, I went looking for the BBC. Under
construction so I went to Cavendish Square to find a new destination. Wandered
northwest in Marylebone looking for anything interesting.
I stopped for a pint
in the William Wallace pub. I took the recommendation of the attractive
barkeep. I really didn't care too much what she chose and forgot the name
immediately. The pub was typical of English publican house but with a Scottish
twist. U2 was playing on the radio and another guy was playing pinball while I
sipped my beer and took notes and looked at the map. It was early afternoon and
the pub was empty and quiet.
After I finished my pint I started for Baker Street and took it north to
Marylebone. I walked by Madame Toussard's wax museum because the weather was
too fine to be indoors. I was stopped by an Oriental girl looking for the Royal
Academy of Music. Easy one, it's right next to Madame Toussard's across the
street. Maybe I should start charging money for directions! I caught the Tube
at Regent's Park and took it to St. Paul's.
I walked around St. Paul's Cathedral. Sadly the famous faces (east and west) of
the building were covered and being cleaned. Even if the faces were exposed,
photographing them would be difficult. I think a helicopter or plane would be
necessary to take a picture of the entire building. It is immense, the size of
an entire city block, and is jammed into the City.
I went down the Peter's Hill walkway towards the river.
I took this picture from the elevated walkway over Castlebaynard Street. I was
fascinated by the tunnels running underneath the building. This is near the
heart of London business district and the fairly expensive cars reflect this.
The walkway is cool as it has a bend in it while it crosses the street!
I picked up the walkway along the Thames and saw the buildings and bridges
along the south bank. This is a pleasurable and cheap way to see the river
without being jammed into a riverboat with a bunch of tourists. I saw the goofy
Millenium footbridge and almost laughed. Shaking my head I looked around more.
And speak of the devil, a tour boat!
The three pictures below from left to
right are: Southwark Bridge, Shakespeare's Globe (round white building), and a
replica of Francis Drake's Golden Hinde.
I took this photo immediately after crossing under the London Bridge, which was
disappointingly bland. In the center background is the Tower Bridge, next to it
and somewhat closer is the HMS Belfast. Just behind the ship is a round glass
building. This is City Hall. In the foreground you can see a red "life-saving
device." Tampering with these can get you thrown in the Tower of London!
Then I continued on to the Tower Tube station and went back to the hotel. I ate
dinner, watched the Simpsons and then napped.
Thinking that Carnaby would be more exciting at night, I went to see. Boring. I
bought a pint of Guinness at the Shakespeare Head and sipped it at a table
outside. No, Jimi didn't walk by. I didn't see Roger Daltrey "stagger back to
the underground." Nothing. So I left.
I walked an estimated 5 miles on Friday.
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On to the next day, April 3rd
