Bob and Rick, Bob and Rick, Where have you been?

We've been to London to visit the queen!
Once again, she snubbed us.  Who does she think she is - royalty?  Oh yeah.

We did go down to London a few weeks ago, and enjoyed our short visit - for the most part.  More of that later.  We flew into Heathrow and caught the tube to our hotel, but along the way, the line was being repaired, so for the first time in all our visits we had to use the replacement bus service that they bring in to ferry all of us to where the line begins again.  At least we had the opportunity to see more of the surrounding area of our hotel, and it wasn't that inconvenient, so we weren't delayed too badly.  At the hotel, they didn't seem to have our reservation, but it turned out they had put it in my name, which is odd as the club card, the payment card and the reservation was made in Rick's name - I was there, so I know.  I was only supposed to be the other occupant.  Things were straightened out, we dropped out stuff, and headed into central London.

Our evening consisted of wandering some familiar and some new streets, as there is always something to see and somewhere to go.  For some reason, we often end up at Trafalgar Square, where the people watching can't be beaten.

Our first full day started off with a trip to the Science Museum, where there was a photo exhibit that I wanted to see.  Now, something that we hadn't counted on was that the English schools were out for the week we were in London.  Edingburgh Council's schools had the week off, but no other schools in Scotland were out, so we assumed, incorrectly, that England wouldn't be out.  The tube station we used was South Kensington, from which you proceed underground to both the Science Museum, but also the Victoria and Albert and the Natural History Museum.  This created a perfect storm of holiday makers heading through the tunnel as well as a long line to enter the museum.  Fortunately, the line moved very quickly and in no time we were inside, along with what felt like thousands of other people.  I headed up to the exhibit and Rick hunted for a coffee shop that was open inside the museum, as it was opening time and not everything was ready.  The exhibit, for photo geeks, was "Drawn by Light," from the collection of the Royal Photographic Society, and comprised a wonderful overview of photography from its inception (photos from the 1820s) to much more modern, with some very famous photographers represented.  Needless to say, I enjoyed it immensely.

Leaving the museum brought a new problem - many more people were arriving at the tube station, so we were very much like salmon heading upstream.  By the time we reached the station, it was literally wall to wall people crowding the stairs and at least half the platform.  We were very glad to leave all that behind and headed east to Southwark for a quick visit to the Maritime Museum and then a great pub lunch, after which we headed over to the Docklands area, from which my great-grandparents lived and worked and then left for Canada.  The weather began to be disagreeable, but we found the Dockland's Museum, so headed in, which was a fortuitous find, as it was very interesting and gave a lot of insight into life in that area.  Not an easy life, it turns out.  Still, it was certainly a colourful part of the city!

And then I got sick.  I had not been feeling great since arriving, but it really took hold that day, so we headed back for a quick supper and then settled in for the evening in our hotel room.

The next day I felt just ok, but we still headed out, this time for me to see another photo exhibit.  This was at the Tate Modern, one of my favourite galleries and a former power station. Once again, poor Rick had to find a coffee shop and pass the time as I hunted out where to buy a ticket (most museums and galleries are free, but for special shows there is usually a charge), I was treated to an exhibit titled "Conflict. Time. Photography.," which showed photos of some major conflicts, such as the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, but displayed all the photos together that were taken at the moments the events occurred, and then we followed photos of these events and areas taken a week after, a month after, a year after, a decade after and so on, until you reach the end showing these places as they are now.  Viewing the show is a slow process, but what I found odd was that, as I walked quickly out of the exhibition, I was aware of the compression of time shown by the photos which seemed to almost spiral into those moments that ignited the conflict.  It was actually disorienting.

We then wandered over to St. Paul's and off to the British Museum where we had to clear security to enter, which is a first.  By this time I was feeling rotten, so we headed back to the hotel and I slept while Rick read.  The visit didn't end up as we had hoped, but when we were out and about, we enjoyed ourselves as we always do.  Oh, and I was sick for about 3 weeks after this, so I wasn't just being a wimp!! 

Rick rides the rails. For those in Saskatchewan, you may recognize the name of this area, although they really don't have a lot in common.

We spent a lovely afternoon refreshment break, as one does, while watching a 6 Nations rugby match.  Our bartender was very entertaining.

Just a photo of some original achitecture.  It often pays to look up - look waaaaaay up!

Trafalgar Square, featuring a very large, blue rooster.  This is on the Fourth Plynth, which never had an official monument place upon it so is now used for installations, which means that you may never see the same thing twice.  Keeps things interesting.

Trafalgar Square again, this time featuring a crowd of people on a Sunday evening.

The National Portrait Gallery at Trafalgar Square.  You can be sure that CCTV is operating almost everywhere you go in London, so we try to always look our best!

A lion looks toward Big Ben.

Big Ben at twilight.

Across the Thames from our restaurant for the evening.

One of the many bridges over the Thames.

Notting Hill Gate Station.

Rick blissfully unaware of the thundering hoards we would soon encounter!

This is a Circle Line train to...pandemonium.  Just a bit crowded - we've ridden on worse.  One fun fact of the tube lines is that the colour of the rails inside the cars matches the colour of the line on the tube maps. 

The crowd we had to fight to get back to the station. 

Lunch at a local pub where...

...Rick was all aglow at being able to have fish and chips!

Family life in the Docklands area of London around the time Bob's great-grandparents lived there.

Much more posh living.  Hope this is how they lived!!

An amusing story from the World War II.

The Tate Modern Gallery, with the recreated Shakespeare Globe Theatre in the foreground.  Contrast and compare!

The Shard, London's tallest building.

The Thames from the Tate.  St. Paul's is on the left, with the Mellennium Bridge crossing the river.

Londoners do love to nickname their buildings.  The one in the middle is known as the Cheese Grater, and the one on the right with the curved front is the Walkie Talkie.  It is this one that focusses all the sunlight off its panels at certain times of the year and melts things like cars parked across from it!!

Walking the Millennium Bridge toward St. Paul's.

We have no idea what this building is, but we did like the architecture.

Some of older London still exists, fortunately.

The British Museum, after clearing security.  The entire world is represented here.

The main foyer of the British Museum, which is comprised of several buildings all connected under this spectacular glass roof.

No visit is complete without popping in to Covent Gardens.

Bob and the Volcano

 Hi everyone.

Sorry for the delay in postings.  I would like to blame the after-holiday blahs rather than my laziness.  I would like to, but I can't.  Still, onward and upward!!

We have been having lovely weather lately, so on one particularly bright and warm morning I went out to scale the heights of Calton Hill, which is one of the many extinct volcanos that make up this fair town of ours.  I'll have you know that this was no small feat of derring-do that involved great personal risk - I could have slipped or tripped or, well, gotten a sunburn while walking up some sloped, paved roads and/or climbing some stairs.  But hey, that is just the kind of guy I am - no risk too great!

My first stop was at Old Calton Burial Ground, as I am never one to miss an opportunity to visit an old cemetery, and this does qualify as an oldie.  Loved it.  Next, the climb up Calton Hill, which affords you what the brochure tells you are the best views of the city, and who am I to dispute that?  As the day was clear, the views really were quite outstanding.  The top of the hill is strewn with an odd assortment of buildings and monuments, most of which don't seem to relate to each other.  Still, it makes for an interesting experience.  Ah, but could the views get better?  Oh yes they could!  On the hill sits the Nelson Memorial, inside which, after you pay £4, you can climb a spiral staircase to the top and, from there, all of Lothian is yours to behold!  This is not for the the faint of heart nor the weak of heart, as the climb up is a bit taxing, but worth it in my humble opinion.

I hope you enjoy the following photos of my adventure.

Cheers.

Ah, crypts and plots and monuments, oh my.

I told you Old Calton Burying Ground was old!

And it gets even older!

The monument to Dugald Stewart, philosopher.

The Nelson Monument, inside which is a stairway to heart attack!  There is a large zinc ball at the top that is raised and then dropped at exactly 1pm every day, except Sunday, as  a visual signal to sailors of the time.  A canon is also fired at 1pm from the Castle, which helps on those foggy days when the ball isn't visible.

National Monument of Scotland, which was built to honour those who fought and died in the Napolionic Wars.  A wee bit of Greek architecture in Edinburgh.

Looking down on the Queen!  This is the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where the Queen stays when she is in town (our offer of our extra bedroom being turned down constantly!).  You can visit the palace when she isn't at home, but please wipe your feet and feed the cat.

Looking over the city toward Leith, across the Firth of Forth, with the Kingdom of Fife on the far shore.  The Royal Yacht Brittania is docked near the taller buildings you can see on our shore.

Looking westerly where, just peaking behind the hills on the left, you can see the Forth Rail Bridge, a rather spectacular construction over which we have travelled.

The biggest and showiest of the volcanic domes in town - Arthur's Seat, with Salisbury Crags in the foreground.

From the top of the Nelson Monument.  If you look very carefully, you may see another volcanic dome on the far horizon.  That is the North Berwick Law that was mentioned in an earlier post.  So yes, the views are very far reaching!!

A view down Princes Street, the main shopping street in town.  On the left, you can see the edge of the castle on the hill.  In the foreground and left is the wee bit of green that is the Old Calton Burying Ground.

The castle, and some of Old Town that sprawls along the ridgeline. 

The Pentland Hills dressed in their winter finery. 

The roofs of Waverly Station, the main train station in town

Ah yes, the half way point of the staircase inside the Nelson Monument.  What they don't tell you is that there are 143 steps to get to the top!  Trust me, 143 windy stairs take their toll.  At least they have encouraging signs along the way telling you that you are doing well and almost there.  Oh, but it was worth it!

How to Piss Off a Duck

All you need do is offer some lovely slices of bread cast upon the water, only to have them frozen into the ice so they can't be eaten.  A random act of kindness gone horribly wrong!

A Special Evening Out

Hi Everyone!

Last Thursday, as part of our social swirl lifestyle, we were pleased to have attended the book launch of our neighbour's first novel, "The Hourglass Factory."  It was a first for both of us, as it would seem that we don't know that many literate people!  The story takes place during the time of the suffragette movement and involves the mysterious disappearance of a female trapeze performer.

The book store was packed with family, friends, neighbours, and the interested public.  Lucy Ribchester, the author, did a fabulous job of talking about the book, reading a couple of passages to whet our appetites, and finally answering questions from the audience.  Lucy's partner, Alex, manned the food table featuring cucumber sandwiches and mini pork pies.  The drinks table had gin, wine, and bottles of craft beer brewed by Lucy and Alex.  The label featured the artwork of the novel.  We have bought a copy of the book and will have it signed by the author, as we felt it was easier to do that than wait in the long lineup of buyers who waited in line.

It was a lovely and interesting evening, and we certainly wish Lucy well in her career as an author.  We may be able to say, "We knew her when!"

The crowd thickens.

On display.

Lucy Ribchester

During a reading.

Craft beer by Lucy and Alex.  We may have smuggled a couple of bottles home with us!

A Tale of the Deep

Actually, it is a tale of the deep fried Mars Bar.  As some of you may know, there is almost a mythical status to the Scottish delight of deep fried Mars Bars.  They may not be as plentiful as you might think, but they can be found.  Having never had the pleasure before, while at the Hogmanay street party, we came across a purveyor of this tempting treat.  What is one to do but to partake!  Heather and I both had one - two each actually, but we didn't know when we ordered, or we would have just had a single order - and I can unequivocally say....ick!  What you experience is not so much a Mars Bar, but the taste of all the sugar contained within it as a sticky goo with a bit of batter.

If you are interested in a sample, I suggest that you just fall face down in a bag of sugar mixed with warm lard, and eat to your heart's content.  Actually, I doubt your heart will ever forgive you!  I don't think mine has.

Sorry, Scotland. I'm giving it a big thumbs down.