G.R.S. Trips

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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