Wednesday 1 April 2009

London - Wordless Wednesday (well, almost wordless)






Wordless Wednesday.

In honor of London, and because of the mindless damage being done today by the violence of the protests in London,I thought I would show some pictures of London as I saw it during our Christmas trip. (My way of protesting senseless acts of damage). ****All historical data taken from Christopher Winn's book, I Never Knew that About London, an invaluable guide to London that we bought while visiting.
******I am having problems with setting words with the photos in blogger - the preview is NOT showing what is turning up on my blog, so please excuse the lack of at least identifying pictures here. Gah! I hate technology sometimes.

Few words, mostly beauty.

On the left, Charing Cross road, heaven for us bibliophiles. To the right, view of London from Charing Cross underground station at the Thames River. Below that, Hyde Park photos.






































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Above left
: Samuel Pepys' freestanding bookshelf, the first one ever built, according to the V&A museum, where this picture was taken. I thought we could all see how little has changed since 1695!
Above right: All Hallow by the Towers, the oldest church in London. From the steeple Pepys watched the Great Fire of 1666 until it drew too near. or All Hallows Barking. Dates from 675. There is Roman pavement from the 2nd century inside the church.

left
: St Olave Hart Street. Samuel Pepys' Church, where he and his wife are buried. built mainly in 1450, escaped Great Fire in 1666. Many victims of the Great Plague are buried here.

St Olave Hart Street, All Hallow by the Towers, Samuel Pepys Street, and Tower of London are all within the same area of eachother, slightly more than a city block.


I love the skeleton heads on this church. This is also one of my favourite photos from our trip. I hope this makes you want to visit it one day, I know I can hardly wait to go back!

16 comments:

Kailana said...

Love the pictures!

Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanity said...

Great pictures! I went to London years ago and would love to go back.

DesLily said...

The problem is (besides no money that is)... I'd want to see as much of England as possible!! Guessing, I'd have to live there a while! lol

Dawn @ sheIsTooFondOfBooks said...

Thanks for sharing the photos from your (peaceful) Christmas trip. Yesterday's news was so unsettling ... what does that violence accomplish?

Dawn
She is Too Fond of Books

Cath said...

Wonderful photos. They make me want to go up to London so much!

Jodie Robson said...

Have you read Stoneheart, by Charlie Fletcher - set in the City of London and about lots of the statues? Forgive me if you've said you have, but reading this post made me think you would really enjoy it.

Susan said...

Kailana: thanks! I had even more fun taking them! lol

Trish: There's so much to see in London. I haven't seen Hampstead Heath yet, nor Nottinghill, nor Cheapside, nor gotten into the Tower.....I need to take in a play in Soho, and oh, maybe just live there for a while! lol We always want to go back there.

Deslily: You'd have to live there! I figured you could live vicariously through my pictures first, just to help you see that if I can get over there, one day you will :-D

Dawn: It was the desire to destroy that is so upsetting to see. I always think it can be channelled into good things.....I'm glad you enjoyed the pictures!

Cath: I was wondering when the last time you were in London and if these would remind of you what's good about it! Oh, the museums, the art galleries, the shows, the theatre, the walks along the embankment. In many places London is a pretty city - not everywhere, but it's not as bad as say, my mother-in-law likes to make it out to be - she hates London and won't go there now. I'm so glad you loved the photos! :-D

Geraniumcat: No, I haven't read this book! I'll have to see if I can get it here. Anything set in London sounds interesting :-D thanks!

Ana S. said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous pictures! I miss London.

Robin said...

Oh I would LOVE to go to London. Thanks for the photo tour!

Susan said...

Louise: That's ok, I missed you, so when you are back, I will be back to visiting you! thanks so much for counting me as one of the blogs you regularly read when you have time. Good luck with doing your Masters, and congratulations too for finishing it soon!

Nymeth: thanks! I was hoping it would make those of us who've visited it, remember it and miss it again. I've promised myself to go back when I turn 50 (in 4 years time) but we're already trying to see if we can't squeeze another trip in there too!

Robin: you're welcome! It was fun......you should see the pictures I didn't put on!! lol

Emily Barton said...

It's been way too long since I've been to London. Must plan a trip soon.

Becca said...

Great photos! I've never been to London, although I spent three weeks touring various and sundry parts of the UK. London is next :)

Susan said...

Emily: I know, my husband is already attempting to plan another one! He jokingly said he wanted to go back for his birthday at the end of the month :-D

Becca: how could you see everything else and not London?? Lol I know, it's easy, but once I saw it, I was besotted. I love the rest of England too - my husband is English! - but York and London stole my hearts first time I saw them. what did you enjoy about your trip there, the most?

Carl V. Anderson said...

Wow, what gorgeous pictures! I am both happy that you were able to spend the holidays that way and extremely jealous!!!

Susan said...

Carl: It was like a dream trip, except I didn't get into London enough to take more pictures! There's so much more to see! And museums, and author houses to find, and crooked narrow streets that take you to unexpected places....have you ever been to London?

Anonymous said...

I love your photos and have identical ones of the gate and statue of Achilles at Hyde Park! The skulls are great, will keep a look out for them when I am pottering around London next.