Saturday, March 28, 2009
The British Museum
We explored as much as we could of the British Museum and I started to post the photos here but decided against boring everyone half to death, so I started a new blog just for all the Museum stuff. So if you want to check it out then please visit my Museums blog and read all about it there.
Backyard Fireworks
After another full day of sight seeing we tubed it back to our accommodations. It was getting closer to Guy Fawkes night so on the way home the boys picked up some fireworks for them to set off in the back yard. It's cool that you can buy fireworks over the counter there and set them off in your own backyard. In Queensland setting off fireworks is frowned upon and there's no way you can buy them over the counter anywhere. I'm sure there are places you can buy them 'under' the counter though - somewhere. We ate dinner and unwound with our friends and their room mates - the coolest French people I've ever met. Having worked in food preparation for a large percentage of my working life I've developed a taste for good food, cheeses and salami's in particular and boy was I in luck. After dinner our french friends brought out some brie and saucisson - I was in heaven! The french sure know how to eat and by that I mean that they sure know what tastes good. How can you go past, fancy cheeses, salami (saucisson), croissants and pastries? Hanging with our new French friends had more than culinary benefits, we were heading to Paris very shortly so it was good to get some advice of where to visit, where to eat, how much to expect to have to pay, how to navigate the French transport system and proper (or at least better) French pronounciation - thanks guys, anytime you want to come over and visit, you're both more than welcome.
St Pauls Cathedral
We visited St Pauls Cathedral where (mores the pity) they didn't allow photography. I didn't mind adhering to this rule out of respect for the Church and what what it represents, but I'm afraid that not all visitors have the same respect.
St Pauls Cathedral is enormous and spectacular, the gilding is exquisite, the whole place shines with an almost inner beauty. I'm not normally a religious person and have, in the past, been perplexed for peoples reverence for religion and the Church, but being inside this amazing space put me in awe. It's easy now, for me to understand when people say the entire world is inside the Church, the beauty of both natural and man made world combined.
I found myself thinking of all the workmanship that went into every minute detail, wondering what they were thinking as they worked, wondering what their lives were like and imagining the sense of achievement they must have felt seeing it at least partially complete.
I couldn't visit London without seeing St Pauls, and not just because it's such a wonderful old Church. My great grandfather was a choir boy at St Pauls, or at least sung there. Whilst others were gazing upon the intricate ceilings, I found myself examining the pews where the choir boys sit, wondering 'did my great grandfather sit right there?' and touching the door to the choir boys pews imagining my great grandfather touching that same timber, it must have been such an honour for our family to have him sing there.
After a few hours of amazement we had a bite to eat at the Cathedral shop where I bought some post cards for my mum and my grandmother - speaking of which, I really should send them on.
St Pauls Cathedral is enormous and spectacular, the gilding is exquisite, the whole place shines with an almost inner beauty. I'm not normally a religious person and have, in the past, been perplexed for peoples reverence for religion and the Church, but being inside this amazing space put me in awe. It's easy now, for me to understand when people say the entire world is inside the Church, the beauty of both natural and man made world combined.
I found myself thinking of all the workmanship that went into every minute detail, wondering what they were thinking as they worked, wondering what their lives were like and imagining the sense of achievement they must have felt seeing it at least partially complete.
I couldn't visit London without seeing St Pauls, and not just because it's such a wonderful old Church. My great grandfather was a choir boy at St Pauls, or at least sung there. Whilst others were gazing upon the intricate ceilings, I found myself examining the pews where the choir boys sit, wondering 'did my great grandfather sit right there?' and touching the door to the choir boys pews imagining my great grandfather touching that same timber, it must have been such an honour for our family to have him sing there.
After a few hours of amazement we had a bite to eat at the Cathedral shop where I bought some post cards for my mum and my grandmother - speaking of which, I really should send them on.
Millennium Bridge
The breeze over the Millennium Bridge was fierce. I really felt for a Scottish bagpiper we walked past, busking lets just say I don't think his sporin would have given him any comfort that day.
The Golden Hinde - Sir Francis Drake's famous galleon
On our way to St Pauls Cathedral we passed The Golden Hinde
This full-size reconstruction of Sir Francis Drake's 16th century galleon has traveled over 140,000 miles including sailing around the world.
Drake was knighted in 1581 aboard the original Golden Hinde. Queen Elizabeth I ordered the ship to be preserved and it became the world's first maritime museum.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Southwark Cathedral
Southwark Cathedral is the oldest cathedral church building in London, and archaeological evidence shows there was Roman pagan worship here well before that. Southwark stands at the oldest crossing point of the tidal Thames at what was the only entrance to the City of London across the river for many centuries.
The textural quality of this face was fascinating.
Borough Markets
The Borough Markets are huge and quite busy, there was a combination of fresh, cooked and preserved food on offer. It was surreal to see un-skinned beasts hanging on hooks in the open air (something you wouldn't even think of in Australia). I decided on the wild boar burger or some such, I believe it was wild pork and it was delicious! Consecutive cold days out and about inevitably lead to a sore throat for me, I was drinking as much warm lemon and honey drinks as I could handle, until that is, I discovered the mulled wine - mmmmm warming.
English Rose?
This is one of the roses outside the Imperial War Museum. I know it's probably not technically an English Rose, but it is a rose and I did find it in England - so that counts right?
Monday, March 23, 2009
The Secret War - The SOE - Special Operations Executive
The role of the SOE was to fight an 'ungentlemanly' war of espionage behind enemy lines against the axis of powers in Europe or as Churchill famously put it, "to set Europe ablaze".
The secret War exhibition at the Imperial War Museum reveals the clandestine world of espionage, covert operations, and the work of Britians special forces. It shows how Britans secret government agencies MI5 and MI6, have developed since their establishment before the First World War, and how specialist communications technology has been used to gather intelligence and break top-secret codes.
The secret War exhibition at the Imperial War Museum reveals the clandestine world of espionage, covert operations, and the work of Britians special forces. It shows how Britans secret government agencies MI5 and MI6, have developed since their establishment before the First World War, and how specialist communications technology has been used to gather intelligence and break top-secret codes.
Salvaged from the Admiral Graf Spree
This is all that we saw of the Admiral Graf Spree, one of the most famous German naval warships of World War II.
WWI ANZACS
That's right fellow Aussies, I went all the way to London to take a photograph of an Aussie soldier. This quintessential Aussie soldier, standing inside a London Museum made me feel patriotic in a way I'd not felt before.
Imperial War Museum
The Imperial War Museum Building was really something special, at least to me. If you look closely at this photo you can see that at the time of our visit it was under restoration, scaffolding surrounded the exterior of the dome. We had a ham and cheese roll from the little cafe just outside the museum, the gardens were well maintained and the roses that were in bloom were beautiful. It wasn't until we approached and were virtually on the steps of the building that we noticed that the entire building was under restoration, the outside of the building was clothed in scaffolding and shade cloth, not just ordinary shade cloth, shade cloth that had been painted with the features of the buildings exterior - AMAZING and we hadn't even entered yet.
Thames House
We made our way past Thames House, home of the infamous MI5 Security Service since 1994.
I wondered if we were being tailed after I took this shot and we may well have been, I didn't see anyone tailing us, but if they were really good sneaky spies, sorry 'intelligence gatherers' then they wouldn't be seen would they?
I wondered if we were being tailed after I took this shot and we may well have been, I didn't see anyone tailing us, but if they were really good sneaky spies, sorry 'intelligence gatherers' then they wouldn't be seen would they?
Lambeth Bridge
We walked the Lambeth Bridge over the river Thames. The Bridge is located at the site of an ancient landing platform, apparently used as far back as the 13th century and used as a meeting point for Henry VIII and Cranmer and Elizabeth I and Archbishop Parker.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Richard I, Palace of Westminster
Richard was called "Lionheart" for his fighting skill and bravery, he was crowned king, after defeating his father with the aid of his mother. Richard often has been portrayed heroically in literature, most famously in Sir Walter Scott's book Ivanhoe, in which Richard is assisted by the outlaw Robin Hood.
The Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, in London, is where the two Houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (the House of Lords and the House of Commons) meet.
Big Ben
As we cornered some street who's name evades me, we sighted Big Ben, the great clock at the north-eastern end of the Palace of Westminster. Big Ben is the world's largest four-faced, chiming clock and the third largest free-standing clock tower in the world.
National Monument to the Women of World War II
Passing through Whitehall I noticed this monument and thought of my grandmother, who had to raise 6 boys on her own and maintain a working farm whilst my grandfather was away at war. Women were built tougher then.
The lettering on the sides of this Monument to the Women of World War II, replicates the typeface used on war time ration books. There are 17 individual sets of clothing and uniforms around the sides, symbolising the hundreds of different jobs women undertook in World War II and then gave back for the homecoming men at the end of the war.
The lettering on the sides of this Monument to the Women of World War II, replicates the typeface used on war time ration books. There are 17 individual sets of clothing and uniforms around the sides, symbolising the hundreds of different jobs women undertook in World War II and then gave back for the homecoming men at the end of the war.
Mounted Boxman
As we were walking, we noticed a crowd gathering outside some gates, we attempted to get a look in, but couldn't see much above everyone elses heads, so hubby took the camera out, raised it above his head and snapped of a couple of shots of these Mounted Boxman. Good work honey!
London Arcitecture
The architecture in London is something to behold, many a time I nearly tripped on some pavement or another whilst mesmerized by the view above.
St Martin in the Fields Spire
We saw St Martin In The Fields Church Spire as we made our way through Trafalgar Square.
King George III Statue - Trafalgar Square
I believe this statue of King George III in Trafalgar Square is commemorative of his role in the American Revolutionary, French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.
London Statue
I have no idea of the name or meaning of this statue, all I know is that I liked how it's form implied grace.
If you happen to know anything about this statue, please leave a comment, I'd like to know.
If you happen to know anything about this statue, please leave a comment, I'd like to know.
Pazuzu Statue
As we were wandering the streets of London, slowly making our way to the Imperial War Museum, we looked up and discovered this statue of Pazuzu lurking atop this building.
Pazuzu is an Assyro-Babylonian god, known for bringing famine during dry seasons, and locusts during rainy seasons. Although Pazuzu is, himself, an evil spirit, he drives away other evil spirits, thus protecting humans against plagues and misfortunes.
English Leaves
My fascination with shapes and colour attracted me to these collection of leaves scattered 'willy nilly' on the green grass. Knowing that I'd already captured the Autumn leaves in Avoca, Ireland, I just knew I had to shoot these to get a comparison.
Squirrel
After checking out Buckingham Palace for a while we decided it was time to eat, so we made our way past St James Park where we saw some squirrels, I know they're like furry pigeons which are just feathered rats, but they were so cute to me, frolicking about, looking for food, scampering up trees, it was difficult to get a good shot, the speed these little guys move. And their tails, I didn't expect the fur / hair on their tails to be so sparse and fluffy, for some reason (probably the influence of European childhood television) I expected their tails to be full of fur / hair not unlike 'Basil Brush'.
Queen Victoria Memorial
In 1911, a memorial statue to Queen Victoria, flower gardens, and a new road layout were completed. The memorial statue is topped by the gilded figure of Victory.
Queen Victoria Memorial Statue
This is one of the statues that comprise the Queen Victoria Memorial which stands outside Buckingham Palace. Queen Victoria is surrounded by the figures of Charity, Truth and Justice. I'm not exactly sure which attribute this statue represents.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Buckingham Palace
30th October 2008
After traveling back into London and enjoying some well earned rest from our adventures in Bath our hosts took us out sight seeing. Let me take the time, now to thank them again, nothing was too much of a bother, we no doubt walked them off their feet and talked their ears off, but they accommodated all of our touristy needs and desires. If there's one thing I'll take from our visit to London is how important it is to be a gracious and accommodating host.
Buckingham Palace is not really as spectacular from the outside as I expected it to be, I found the statues and gardens and parks surrounding the palace much more fascinating.
After traveling back into London and enjoying some well earned rest from our adventures in Bath our hosts took us out sight seeing. Let me take the time, now to thank them again, nothing was too much of a bother, we no doubt walked them off their feet and talked their ears off, but they accommodated all of our touristy needs and desires. If there's one thing I'll take from our visit to London is how important it is to be a gracious and accommodating host.
Buckingham Palace is not really as spectacular from the outside as I expected it to be, I found the statues and gardens and parks surrounding the palace much more fascinating.
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