London...

...by foot

for some reason, whenever I hit a new city, my preferred mode of transport, is walking.

I seem to enjoy the discovery of how streets connect together; building a little map in my head of how everything in an area is laid out.

On this particular trip, that's meant 3 very packed days in 3 very different cities.

When you add in the 6-days skiing, it's been a 'holiday' of non-stop movement.

Today was London.

Learning from my paris mistakes, I caught a train into the touristy area to start my day.

Waterloo station, towards the Thames and the giant london eye thing.

The only goal of the day (or indeed my only pre-thought), was to find the tate gallery.

I kind of figured I'd be able to take photos anywhere.

Lets start...

...in paris (on the eurostar heading NW to england)

journey was fairly uneventful, but delayed by enough time that it made all the regular passengers annoyed. met my host at the train station, and had a lovely evening catching up with, and meeting new people

this morning held the promise of a slightly warmer (9 deg C) environment, and even the chance of a little sun later on in the day.

Morning cloud

Getting lighter...





morning for sillhouette of a church

foot-bridge, a little over from the waterloo bridge




Big Ben, through some trees




almost midday, only had a coffee at my accom by this stage.




double-decker and the parliament, does it get any more english than this...




Queens walk




found the tate gallery, it should probably be renamed the Turner gallery on account of just how many Turners they have... seriously, it's a little over the top
just for laughs, I also went to the tate modern (which was several Kms away, in the opposite direction to the way i'd just come...)


flags, flags, flags, flags




westminster abbey




classic...




more of the scenic clock




the county hall (london eye is right outside)



inside, is the London Film Museum. which, lets face it, is going to make me curious enough to spend the 12 pounds to take a gander (promises of seeing behind the magic of the movies)

amusingly, just as I was considering leaving, there was an evacuation from the building - and I had a chance to grab a grande-mocha at the starbucks next to the evacuation area... (P.S. I don't think it was anything other than a simple inconvenience for the adjoining hotel, didn't look like the building was on fire or anything...



love that they positioned the old-school pedestal boom next to an articulated dino-skeleton


Daleks - like, real; have actually been used in the making of the TV show...




Charlie Chaplin's hat and cane (there was a whole wing devoted to his life and career)




Lightsabers (the three in the front - are actual props from the "first" two films, while the blaster and saber in the back are commercial replicas)




a collection of actual ewok fur... (this is something you can buy - if you're so inclined)




stormtrooper costume (unsure of its authenticity - there was also a Vader costume and a boba fett)




X-wing model




Sunset




pretty walkway




looking north




beach on the Thames




nice contrast in buildings...




ok, where's my bike?




millennium bridge




pretty war-ship




London Tower




another angle




London-Bridge ('aint falling down, but they are doing some restoration on the road deck - so it didn't look like it was going to open up anytime soon)




alternate




on the deck




signage




pretty-trees




night-eye



well, it's off to bed, for a few hours sleep, before a short day tomorrow... followed by a non-existant day (Sat feb 5th dissappears into the ether due to date-lines, flight times etc)

anyone feel like picking up a worn-out and bearded little aussie at the Brisbane International at 0100 am on sunday morning? (6th)