Tuesday, December 30, 2014

London Falling (Day 3)

Busy busy busy day. My sister suggested I go to Camden Town, so that is what I did. Of course, the only thing I had planned was to see the Camden Underworld, a super hip music venue (where, for example, Radiohead has played), which I immediately saw upon exiting the underground, thus exhausting my agenda.

can Radiohead play there now?
From there, I wandered down side streets, passing through St. Martin's Gardens,
 
lovely trees really














passing by the Jazz Cafe, which has apparently hosted Lana del Rey,

should Lana really be considered jazz?
















and down and around every little street. I think I did Camden wrong, however, as I quickly found my way out and somehow in the Regent's Park!

I guess I'm doing this now?

Here we find the Ready Money Drinking Fountain:

dodgy shadow innit
I don't want to drink from that



















I finally took a break from all that walking, when a little girl immediately asked me why I was sitting on a wet bench. Good question, little girl, good question. Maybe 'cause my feet are falling off my body?
holding back tears of relief
After my feet were secured to my legs, I wandered into the Avenue Gardens:
cute old couples everywhere
if only everything wasn't dead
Keep in mind that the entire time I was goofing around, I was subconsciously trying to find Primrose Hill, which my sister had mentioned. From here, I found these pretty gates beckoning me in, the Jubilee Gates,

don't mind if I do
which led me to Queen Mary's Gardens!

I see dead plants

yes I was actually there


















Fair warning, there's a number of "selfies" in an attempt to prove to my future self that yes, I was really there. The pains of traveling by oneself.

trying to fit in with the pigeons
I made my way up to this secret (probably not) hill atop a waterfall where I had a pleasant view:

am I in the Magical Legend of the Leprechauns?





















I'm Queen of the Gardens!
am I taking pictures right



I passed by this cool fountain and only when I was this far from it did I realize it was probably important and I should document it. This holds true with about every picture that has a name or description.



This happened to be the Triton Fountain! Is that important?








Then I spied the way I should continue on,

ssssso close
which led me to this very lovely, very lovely indeed stretch called Holme Green:

shouldn't this be a golf course by now? oh wait, that's only in America
a hairy whomping willow?







If you haven't realized, it was incredibly sunny today, but it didn't seem like anyone was really wearing sunglasses, so I accepted that I too would go blind today.












Finally, after I obviously had to take a picture with a fox and my fox scarf,


so foxy
there it was!! Looming over the town right in front of my eyes! Primrose Hill!

okay, it's bigger in real life
I forced myself to hike up this hill, promising myself hours of respite upon reaching the top. Look who followed me there!

sorry I'm not cool enough to be friends, Paddington






Awkward git that I am, I was much too embarrassed to ask someone to take a picture of me with him, especially in front of a crowd, so this is as good as it gets.









After hours of hiking (practically), I made it to the top! It was worth the view. Take a look (as if  you had a choice):

thanks for ruining my picture, peasants
Alright, maybe it's not the best picture, but I could see the Eye and the Shard and all sorts of things!

Speaking of the Shard...

After I tumbled down the hill, I was tempted to end my day early at a mere 2 o'clock. The sun was going down, my feet had detached miles ago, I'd seen all there is to see I convinced myself...when I forced myself to press on.

A short 10 minute walk later through Chalk Farm, I stumbled, exhausted and footless, into the underground, finally on my way home. But why wasn't I getting off my stop?? I decided now was as good a time as ever to get off on a promising stop called London Bridge!

The stop was, coincidentally, under the Shard!

kinda shard to see it
Misfortune strikes, however, because any and all tours were sold out. Next time, I guess. I trekked over to the real London Bridge, pretty unimpressive really:

ooh ahh
But at least I got my first view of the Tower Bridge!

now that's what I came for
just wait til I get over there



















I walked and walked and walked and walked and walked,

Tower Bridge to the Shard to the London Bridge
 but still I was eons away. Luckily the view wasn't too shabby:

the Shard, or Barad-dûr?
Somehow along the way, I happened to run into the Tower of London,

well, I didn't run into it
which is where I had my first (and possibly last) fish and chips!

delectable





It was actually pretty good. Would I prefer a hamburger? Probably. Would the British? Probably.






At least I ate to a lovely backdrop!





yay to having my head!




ft. a crane and a crane



yay history!

































Then came my first and only picture I asked somebody to take of me, because how could I not? Actually, he was trying to take a selfie, so I asked if I could help him out, thinking I'd quickly ask him to do the same for me. Well, he didn't need help. Cue return of the awkward git that is me.

almost there!
my precious








This was another "wow, I'm in London" moment. It's incredible close up!















I'M ON IT
LOOK I'M ON THE BRIDGE






















now this is just embarrassing
whatever, I'm on the Tower Bridge



















I did it!


Monday, December 29, 2014

London Sprawling (Day 2)

After not enough sleep, I was off to explore the city while my darling sister went to work. The day started off nicely by my leaping onto the tube, incurring audible gasps from the crowded space. I didn't think it was that close, but maybe the doors aren't as forgiving as the metro's. I hadn't really planned anything for the day, except to see the HQ of BBC, but I immediately went the wrong way on Oxford Street.

After walking around aimlessly but happily, I came across St. Christopher's Place,

my levitation skills at work again


 and after a quick coffee stop I found myself at Cavendish Square Gardens,
ft. a lovely horse's arse


















where I wandered off to All Souls, Langham Place,

wait, what's that I see...
we made it!!


 

which is when I realized...



I had found BBC!!








Unfortunately, you have to book a tour in advance, and they weren't even running tours this week. At least I got a snazzy pamphlet.

Feeling nevertheless confident, I hopped back on the tube and hopped right back off at King's Cross:
deceptively calm above ground
I walked down this quaint boulevard with chapter book pictures, most importantly this one:

brb I have to go cry now

I was not pleased


a bit too chilly for swimming
Wiping my tears, I strolled along the Regent's Canal,  --->








up to the Granary,







and into St. Pancras!

but where's platform 9 3/4?

time to go it says