(July, 2009)(London Eye; Tower of London, museums) EUROPE: Footsteps Through England #2

As we made our way from Heathrow Airport, I limped along with my very, very sore toe and bandaged ankle up the escalators and...STAIRS! I was very impressed by several young men who carried my luggage up steps, onto the subway and gave up their seats for ...me.
To me they were angels in disguise!

I am greatly impressed by the London Underground (Tube). As I hurtle down a dark tunnel inside a tin can I am amazed at this labyrinth. We got an Oyster Card for a week which has taken us on innumerable underground trips and double-decker buses above ground to sight-see when we were tired of being on our feet...into ethnic areas which we could not have found if we had even tried. Who needs a car?

Southend-on-the-sea





5 floors up ,right on the estuary of the Thames, Trudy, Dov's older sister has a fabulous corner apartment with an open view. Loved it....and felt very at home and welcomed. Southend is a resort town with the ambience of White Rock, BC. An amusement park, a casino, cafes and places to buy cockles and winkles ( clams & snails), I felt very at home and relaxed. Wandered the cobbled streets, took photos of timbered homes, smelt roses, peered into gardens and felt like ....I was finally in England.

London area
41 years?! I could barely believe it when I did the subtraction...41 years since I had wandered around, for 2 days in London , before heading to the continent...WOW!

I have felt very at home in London and can see myself being here for a few months at a time and totally immersed in the night life, concerts, culture that only London can give. London is full of statuary which I love, parks and gardens of all sizes. It is never boring! Yes, thumbs up for London!

Dov's family has been extremely welcoming and generous! Very gracious people! We have been to numerous dinners and a garden party of 27 guests.

Earl's Court (London)

We really lucked out with an rental agency and got a 4-floor walk up, overlooking the tube tracks --shared kitchen and bathroom for only 25 # ($50) a night. Sharing with a musician and a cook, clean and well-equipped, spacious, light...and the tube does not bother us one bit. I guess all those months in Asia has paid off!

10 days of seeing the sights: the London Eye, Tower of London, Westminster Bridge, Westminster Abbey, National Gallery, Victoria & Albert Museum, Hyde Park

London Eye

Big Ben

Parliament buildings; Big Ben

Tower of London

A walled fortification, beginning primarily with William the Conqueror, 11th century. A maze of spiral stairs, stone hallways, the White Tower, and the amazing Crown Jewels display--23, 578 gems that make up the collection. One crown, the Imperial State Crown, alone has 2, 868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and 5 rubies. Not too shabby! Stood where it is believed to be the executioner's block, a crystal pillow on display.



Traitor's Gate
('traitors to the crown' would be

transported on the Thames to

this outer entrance by boat,

through this gate, up the steps

to their plight in the Tower)

Tower of London special display of Henry VIII's armour, weapons collections to commemorate Henry VIII's ascension to the throne 500 yrs. ago--'Dressed To Kill') Could not take photos.

V & A (Victoria & Albert Museum)

Glass fixture in main hall

Incredible displays at V & A: jewelry from prehistory to donated collections from aristocracy

mini-portratits, mini-boxes from 1600's up; watch collection; old silver collection; carvings; the oldest carpet about 300 yrs. old, 40 ft. x 20 ft. , on and on....amazing collections.

July, 2009

Copyrighted MB, 2009