culture unlimited....

Touring London on foot & by tube has been pretty wearying on the joints but we've covered a lot of the City, on a Walk London walk all around the alleyways of St Pauls; along the river and using bus and train to Piccadilly, St Johns Wood.  We explored Church Street just off the Edgeware Road and Whitechapel to find evidence of Tony's family - a sign still stands above the old Mann Crossman and Paulin brewery gate (now a health centre!).

We had a day trip out to Orpington in Kent to visit family. It is certainly cooler than the May weather we remember, with occasional bursts of bright sunshine to liven things up.

The Tate Modern on the Southbank housed in the old Battersea Power Station has some amazing modern art in such huge spaces and we were lucky to also get on the roof with a Tate member. We walked over the Millenium Bridge which gives a fabulous photo opportunity looking back with St Pauls in the background.  London planners apparently have a mind to create spaces where new buildings do not inhibit or disappear the old.

At the British Museum, we spent 5 hours amongst crowds of schoolchildren and other tourists looking at Britain's accumulated possessions from every corner of the globe, rooms so full of every type of "treasure". One wonders how some of the antiquities were "collected"...  The Museum is a wonderful blend of old and new with many cafes placed just where you need a quick sit down and a cup of tea to re-energise you for the next few rooms full of history.  Off to Greenwich today, Chelsea Flower Show tomorrow and then the French connection starts.

And then we enjoyed a Sunny Afternoon with the Kinks last night!

 

London calling....

This is the first of 26 weeks on our European adventure.  First impressions driving from Heathrow to Golders Green  were rows upon rows of houses built to the same style, some more cared for than others, pubs that had closed and have been given new life as McDonalds and lots of greenery everywhere. The Horsechestnut trees are in full bloom with big white flower spikes covering the trees well on the journey to become spiky 'conkers' to be opened and played with.  Golders Green is a suburb of synagogues and houses converted to flats, nearly every roof has a new skylight and roof conversion into another living space and the white 'tradies' vans are everywhere.  We are enjoying staying with family reminiscing about the past and sketching out the future over three course dinners courtesy of Waitrose and M&S.

Re-visiting the city remembered after Sally lived here so long ago; the routine of taking the tube and walking endless corridors; the joy of beautiful buildings and quirky sights. Central London is a mecca for tourists and so much cleaner now that the congestion tax has dissuaded all but buses, taxis and delivery trucks.

 At Marble Arch

Revisiting the old office!

The Flask, Hamsptead

The National Gallery is a feast of Monet, Reynolds, Turner et al with an endless stream of multi-languaged voices and school groups.  Afternoon tea was taken in the Gallery Cafe, people watching and logging into the free wifi!

The London Eye provides a wonderful eerie to see the sights, even a sneak surprise preview of the Trooping of the Colour practice in Horseguards Parade.   A complete contrast with our afternoon spent in The Flask Hotel at Hampstead, which retains a special community feel with narrow streets and leafy townhouses.  So much more to see.....