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Published: September 14th 2006
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Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge in London I got in to London a week ago and I thought it was about time I updated this. After I arrived and spent an hour getting through customs (the brittish love to cue it would seem!) I caught a bus out to St Albans which is where Jo and Richie (some friends from Perth who now live over here) live and where I've been staying for the last week. I spent the rest of the day relaxing and snoozing a bit cause after a 10 hour flight which I didn't sleep on, I was pretty jet lagged by the time the plane landed at 7am london time.
On friday I caught a train into the city and made the mistake of going in early (before 9am) and getting stuck in the crowds going to work and all the delayed trains were annoying. Anyway, I got to the tower of london at about 10 or so and went for a walk around to see the crown jewels (they're a bit over the top I think but some of the stones are very impressive) and the spot where royals were beheaded and the white tower in the middle. There was so much stuff
Tower of London
The Tower of London there to see but after 2 hours, I gave up and then walked over tower bridge, down the south bank of the thames past the tate modern, the new globe, the london eye and then across the bridge at big ben and the houses of parliment. I went to see the oliver cromwell statue too but it was covered in scaffolding. In fact, it seems that half of the old buildings in london are covered in scaffolding for repairs which ruins any thoughts of photos.
Anyway, on the saturday I didn't do much. Went with Jo to the indian part of town cause she wanted to get some henna and pretty much just had a lazy day. Saturday night Jo and I went into town to see if london nightclubs are any good - Richard fell asleep before we went out so didn't come - and decided that they must be only good if you're in the right club on the right night cause we were throughly un-impressed.
On sunday we went to the Roman ruins near St Albans which consist of a theatre and the foundations of a town house and some shops. It was pretty interesting and being
Tower of London 2
Inside the Tower of London walls 2000 years old, surprising that it's lasted this long. We went to the ruins of some castle (only in Europe could you get away with saying that I'm sure!) and then to a pub on one of the canals.
On Monday I went into town again to Piccadilly Circus (all the billboards made it look like a very poor imatation of Times Square in NY) to book some train tickets for next week then to buckingham palace, through hyde park and kensington gardens past the peter pan statue. Then I got the tube over to Liverpool St station and walked down petticoat and brick lanes to see why they are marked on maps. Brick lane is more interesting at night tho with lots of restaurants and bars and weekends in that are would be interesting with markets and people everywhere, but daytime during the week is not that exciting.
On tuesday I decided to go see the first geological map ever made which hangs in the geological society part of Burlington House. But when I got there I was told that it had been taken away for restoration and would not be out on display until January so I was
Big Ben
Big Ben, London a little dissapointed. From there I walked down bond st and look at all the things I can't afford. De Beers have quite a nice diamond shop there actually. I wasn't game to go in tho - way too expensive for me. Then I walked along oxford st a bit and realised I was walking the monopoly board cause I was in Mayfair and Park lane was just down the road. Anyway, I didn't buy any expensive clothes cause I don't have room for it in my bag but it was interesting looking.
Then on wednesday I went to westminster abbey and saw more graves and coffins about the place than I would have believed could be in one place. After walking through here I wouldn't worry about walking on peoples graves anymore! Saw all the usual stuff tho like Henry VIII's coffin and Elizabeth I and all the other kings and queens and important people to various kings and queens. Oliver Cromwell even has his name on a stone in the floor. And I saw the massive Issac Newton memorial right near the stone in the floor for Charles Darwin. Strange how much difference there is between the memorials
canals
One of the canals that can be found in London. This one has a nice pub right near it that Jo, Richie and I went to but... Then after that I walked to Trafalgar Square to Nelsons Columns. The statue of Nelson is way up the top of a massive column with no plaque to say who it is. Then from there I walked down Strand and Fleet St (more monopoly streets!) which were not that exciting, back across the river and to the Tate Modern art gallery where I saw all the usual 20th century art like Picasso's weeping woman and 3 dancers and a Monet and Warhol's painting of the 2 Elvis'. There was some interesing stuff there but I only spent 90 minutes walking the 2 floors that have free entry.
Today I went down to Brighton beach as the train from St Albans runs all the way there. It was a pretty nice beachside town except for Brighton Pier which is an amusement park and during the day looks really tacky. Walked through the old part of town too (called the lanes) which is lots of little shops in really narrow lanes which was nice.
Tonight (well very early tomorrow morning really) I'm off to Falmouth for a fire spinning weekend. I get back from Falmouth on Sunday night and then monday
From the Palace
Looking away from Buckingham palace towards the London Eye morning I'm off to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam for a week. Not much left of my holiday now.
C'ya,
Chris.
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Kim
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Statues
You know, all those statues and buildings were under repair when I was in London 17 years ago. I think they start at one corner, work their way around the building, and by the time they get back to the beginning, it's time to start all over again. Your bag wasn't all that full when you left Hawaii... must be full of gifts now, eh? :)