My last day in London was a half day with no pass to get me in to any place with an admission. So monuments, free museums and walking new places were the keys for the day.
I started my day back at the Tower of London. I walked up the hill a bit from the tower looking for the spot the Yeoman had gestured to the day before. I didn't find anything that specifically noted it being the site where the sentences of convicts were completed. Around that area were nice gardens, memorials to those who gave their lives during the first and second world wars and ruins from the Tower of London.
I started my day back at the Tower of London. I walked up the hill a bit from the tower looking for the spot the Yeoman had gestured to the day before. I didn't find anything that specifically noted it being the site where the sentences of convicts were completed. Around that area were nice gardens, memorials to those who gave their lives during the first and second world wars and ruins from the Tower of London.
Next to the Tower of London is a church called All Hallows. It is the oldest church in England I'm pretty sure. This church had a more simplistic look inside than others I had visited but it also had chandeliers. If I had to go to a service these days I would request a church with chandeliers. I didn't stay long because the volunteer and a guest were in a religious argument about something in the news, you're in a church for God's sake, keep it down!
Northward I trekked up to "The Monument." This monument is dedicated to everything that was lost in London during the great fire in the mid 1600s. It is shaped like a candle with a golden flame at the top signifying the fire. All around that area there a plaques on the building telling you what building was lost during the great fire.
On any other day I would have climes the stairs to the top and paid £3 to do so but my legs were felling a bit too much like jelly for me to justify climbing more stairs. The tube station here is called Monument for obvious reasons.
On any other day I would have climes the stairs to the top and paid £3 to do so but my legs were felling a bit too much like jelly for me to justify climbing more stairs. The tube station here is called Monument for obvious reasons.
I chose my walking journey today from on of the Olympic maps that you can find everywhere in London. The map took me into the banking district. And the tube station in this area, Bank. This area holds all the major banking industry in London including some international banks. Here is where I almost got hit by a car. Everyone crosses against when they are not supposed to all around the UK and I'd been doing the same. Well this was a very complicated intersection with 6 inter crossing streets. I went across when a car was doing a U-turn. He stopped once I was across for about 5 more seconds to give me a nasty stare. He could have used those 5 seconds to give me the right of way, but nasty stares might be more fun.
From bank I went over to another museum Mostly they had stately looking paintings which I've seen enough of those for at least the next 5 years. I took it as an opportunity to sit down for a moment to figure out what the continuing plan was since I was making excellent time. I left after spending no more than 15 minutes to another little museum But this one was dedicated only to watches. Many of the clocks and pocket watches still work to this day with some as old as from the 1700s. My favorite collection were all the decorative winders for pocket watches. They must have had about 200 in one display.
Back to walking I went and back to St. Paul's cathedral. I walked around the opposite side from my other visit for even more photos.
From St Paul's it was time to cross to the other side of the Thames via the Millennium bridge. This bridge only opened for about an hour in 2000 before it was shut down for 2 years because of the extreme wobble of the bridge. So to this day it kept the nickname of the wobbly bridge.
And in the 6th Harry Potter movie I learned during my tour that this is the bridge that the death eaters destroyed this bridge and the viewers see it wobble into the water. It's supposed to be funny. Maybe it's a big British inside joke. It was strange crossing it because they pipe music along it which I was not expecting.
And in the 6th Harry Potter movie I learned during my tour that this is the bridge that the death eaters destroyed this bridge and the viewers see it wobble into the water. It's supposed to be funny. Maybe it's a big British inside joke. It was strange crossing it because they pipe music along it which I was not expecting.
Off the other side of the bridge is the reconstruction of Shakespeare's Globe theater. If I had one more day of the London pass I would have totally gone in but alas it had expired. I went into the gift shop to look for postcards since they usually have photos from the inside. The next time I visit during the summertime it will be a must do to see a show. Every year they present at least four Shakespeare plays inside in evening. Standing section included.
My next stop was back where I started the Harry Potter tour. I looked around the market area as it was open on a Wednesday because of the Olympics.
So many things looked good but I had used the last bit of my cash and would not get anymore out. The fruits and veggies looked fresh, the meat stalls had amazing looking sandwiches, the desserts too good so it was probably good I had no money to spend. While I was in the Bottoms area, home to Jack the Ripper, I visited the Southwark church.
I've been in so many churches over the last two weeks and everyone had been truly different. This one, like the one on Tower of London, had tall crypts between the pews. It had a similar set up to St. Paul's with the two side galleys flanking the sides of the choir and two main stages for service Between two of the buildings they had a little excavation site where they had dated back some of the buildings history back to the year 100 around Roman times.
So many things looked good but I had used the last bit of my cash and would not get anymore out. The fruits and veggies looked fresh, the meat stalls had amazing looking sandwiches, the desserts too good so it was probably good I had no money to spend. While I was in the Bottoms area, home to Jack the Ripper, I visited the Southwark church.
I've been in so many churches over the last two weeks and everyone had been truly different. This one, like the one on Tower of London, had tall crypts between the pews. It had a similar set up to St. Paul's with the two side galleys flanking the sides of the choir and two main stages for service Between two of the buildings they had a little excavation site where they had dated back some of the buildings history back to the year 100 around Roman times.
Again still making good time I consulted my underground map to figure out where to go next. I decided to go look for some souvenirs to buy and thought Trafalgar square and Piccadilly Circus would be a good place. Nothing spoke to me as in stores in Trafalgar but I did head into the National Gallery to see if anything peaked my interest. More portraits! I seem to spend more time around landscapes rather than portraits so I didn't spend a lot of time there plus I need to find lunch since I had forgone it the day before and goofed myself up.
I walked up a side street and found myself a British pub to have my last meal in Britain be fish and chips with mushy peas. The food came out quickly, was hot and tasted much better than my previous order of them in Belfast.
That is what I get for ordering them in Ireland. The fish was huge but I managed to eat the whole thing. Also in England you get one large fillet of fish rather than multiple small ones.
That is what I get for ordering them in Ireland. The fish was huge but I managed to eat the whole thing. Also in England you get one large fillet of fish rather than multiple small ones.
Once I was done with lunch off to the tourist stores I went. I could not make myself buy anything. Everything was expensive or just plain crappy. I wanted to get a tin of tea but all of the tea in those tins sounded like dust rather then leaves. So I passed on buying anything and whet back to my hotel to pick up my suitcase.
After being away from the tube for about 30 minutes away from the underground I was back to head to the train station. My station happens to be sitting next to Kings Cross station where platform 9 3/4 is.
They don't allow you to go onto the platform without a ticket but they have a little setup for people to take a photo with. No one was around to take my onto but I took many pictures of the cart stuck in the wall.
They don't allow you to go onto the platform without a ticket but they have a little setup for people to take a photo with. No one was around to take my onto but I took many pictures of the cart stuck in the wall.
I got to my train way to early. I thought it would take longer to get through security but it does not seem to be a big deal traveling between countries. I suppose when the countries are so close together it is not a big deal. So I found a book shop that had all their Olympic merchandise on sale so I went crazy buying stuff. Who can resist half price Olympic merchandise, not me apparently.
The train journey was a pleasant one. I was sitting unfortunately in a seat that was backwards but the speed of the train makes it not feel too terrible. The train goes under the English channel for only 20 minutes. Amazing. Most of the journey is above ground which lead to some nice views. We arrived in the French country side. Trees adorning people's property, plowed farmland and streams prevailed along our ride in. It makes me wonder I why people think that this area is so beautiful, different and superior to Midwest farmland. Probably the shapes of the buildings and he old churches. Only 2+ hours from one country to another. I haven't even been able to accomplish one state to state in that short of time. All and all I probably needed to force myself to sit down for a period of time longer than 20 minutes. My legs would thank me tomorrow. My little take away was the announcements. When you were in England hey started with the English before the French announcement but when you went into France it switched. I just thought it was cool.
After I got off the Eurostar I bought a metro ticket to make my way to my cousin Alice and family's apartment. I took 3 different lines to make it there. I went from the oldest train line RER A to the second oldest RER B to the tram line T2. Each line was different as for the age of the trains and how much graffiti was on them. Compared to he underground and London he Metro and Paris are very dirty. And a bit more sketchy. I suppose any city transportation system seems a little off in the evening. The best part of the journey was seeing the Eiffel tower light show sparkle from the tramway. Not too bad of a way to be introduced to Paris. So I thought I would make it to their station at 9. I got there about 9:15, not too bad of a guess. Alice picked me up even though their apartment is only about a 5 minute walk away. Maybe she didn't want to lose me on my first night in the city.
We got back to their apartment which is right along the river Seine where you could see the top of the Eiffel tower as it lit up the night. We talked for a bit, set up my sleeping space and decided on Versailles the next day. What an amazing trip so far and now another new city to explore.
No comments:
Post a Comment