I awoke to hear the weatherperson saying it would be a sunny but cold Monday. UK cold not US cold. 3 degrees sounds real cold until one remembers that is 38 to me. I did two new things on this trip that have already proved useful. First during the summer I went to the Salvation Army charity shop and bought a couple thin merino wool sweaters. A polo shirt and 2 sweaters cost about $10/£7.75. and turned one sweater and the pole into short sleeves. Wore the long sleeve one today as a tee shirt and left my jacket in the day pack as I was never cold. The second thing was the day pack which I had tucked into my main backpack. I found last winter that when I dressed for comfort outdoors I was overheating in some of the museums with no place to stash my coat. With the daypack jacket, spare camera & water all could be carried handily.
I decided to get off the tube in Piccadilly Circus. No, don’t go looking for elephants, clowns etc, as circus derives from the Latin for circle. I occasionally have just picked random Tubs stops to get off and then wander to see what’s to be seen. No agenda.
Ripley’s might have been interesting but it was too nice a day. I headed down Regent St, to Waterloo Place (oddly no sign of the Duke of Wellington) it was, with its grand buildings and many statues, impressive.
Florence Nightingale with Crimea War Memorial
Edward VII
That is obviously not Ben. John Franklin died attempting to discover the Northwest Passage.
Robert Scott was foiled in his attempt to be first to the South Pole by a Norwegian, Roald Amundsen by 5 weeks.
And the topper, literally is the Duke of York, second son of George III, the king that lost America.
And this building was stunning. Probably a hotel now.
I came out on a road that seemed familiar. It was The Mall that runs from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace. I spent a few moments chatting with Constable Ram who, with his partner, was monitoring car speeds and he gave me some great info. The road is paved with red stones to imitate a red carpet. It is actually a private road owned by the Queen and in the event of an emergency all the light posts can be removed so a plane can land. I didn’t recognize it at first because the last time there were no leaves. And timing is everything as a few soldiers were out for a ride.
It was the Changing of the Queens Life Guard
As I took the next photo I told the guard taking it was obligatory. No reaction, of course, but I could almost hear him thinking “Wanker tourist”
With feet feeling OK, I kept going through St. James park. This is a memorial for all the police who have died in the line of duty. The final name (hopeful but wishful thinking) in the book seen in the window is Officer Keith Palmer killed last month by a terrorist near Westminster. RIP.
We will not let the terrorist win.
No matter where
But springtime in London is, well, all one could expect.
And also the unexpected.
Yup, Pelicans. I suggested that the guy might want to bring his knees together but he probably didn’t hear me or maybe understand English. I say that because I have never heard so many people speaking in so many languages at one place in my life. Russian, Dutch, German, Italian, Spanish from many countries and so much more. It is amazing.
A beautiful park attracts birds.
And can anyone explain this walk signal??
I soon came to Trafalgar Square. Usually when wandering I don’t allow much lingering time as there is too much to see and not enough time to see it. Today I didn’t feel that pressure so I sat for awhile and joined the crowd. Music, dancers, mimes and models.
The National Gallery is at the top of the Square so I popped in to see what I had missed before and what was new.
Paul Rubens “Minerva Protects Pax from Mars”
For some unknown reason I was drawn to his “Portrait of Ludovicus Nonnius”
“Judgement of Paris”
“The Watering Place”
Anthony van Dyke’s “St Ambrose barring Theodosius from the Milan Cathedral” was powerful
But Rubens’ “Samson & Delilah” was just sad.
Notice the barber.
Francisco Hayez’s “Susanna at her Bath” was sort of haunting if you follow her eyes or they follow you.
When I first looked at Jabob van Ruisdael’s “Two Watermills and Open Sluice at Singraven” I didn’t pick up the scale but then I noticed the man.
The paintings by Emile-Jean-Horace Vernet, “The Battle of Valmy 1826”, “Battle of Jemappes 1821” were massive maybe 6 x 10. Look closely, zoom, the detail is incredible. In one a dead soldier has already had his boots (a very valuable commodity) stolen.
As were “The Battle of Hanau 1827” & “The Battle of Montmirail” 1822
Willem Keokkoek gave us a “View of Oudewater”
And it doesn’t appear things will go to well in Tschaggeny’s “An Episode on the Field of Battle 1848”
I think this is the Jubilee Bridge
Some photos of and from the bridge starting with the London Eye
I’ll decide what to experience tomorrow based on whether it rains or not.
A pub, The Blackbird, is just outside the tube exit, on the way to the Boka. I’ve been there a couple times. It’s a Fuller’s pub and very British. Not surprising I found a couple guys I had met in the past and the craik was good.
Earls Court, where the Boka is located, is a very quiet, nice part of the city. I’m hoping to hit the Troubadour where Hendrix got his start. And James Earl Ray once lived here. As did T.S Elliot.
I really enjoy London.
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