|
Post by htmb on Jun 16, 2013 20:09:45 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2013 20:14:12 GMT
Perfect so far, and not a dog in sight. London looks horrible in sunny weather. You are so lucky!
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jun 16, 2013 20:25:35 GMT
Perfect so far, and not a dog in sight. London looks horrible in sunny weather. You are so lucky! And you are so BAD! I am thankful that I packed my raincoat. I had agonized over whether or not to bring it on this trip. Today, it paid for itself. Just about the time the boat passed The Globe Theatre it started raining and didn't stop until the late afternoon. It was also pretty chilly. Everyone here was wearing jackets and clothing we would wear mid-winter in north Florida.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jun 16, 2013 20:47:13 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2013 21:30:16 GMT
The couple crossing Tower Bridge are perfect, even if they should have had two umbrellas rather than just one.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jun 16, 2013 21:31:58 GMT
He's hogging the umbrella and letting her get wet while they are both watching me take their picture.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2013 21:36:01 GMT
Oh well, they're just on their way to the Globe where you cannot use an umbrella.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jun 16, 2013 21:46:53 GMT
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jun 16, 2013 22:51:09 GMT
|
|
|
Post by mich64 on Jun 16, 2013 22:52:04 GMT
Really enjoying it so far htmb!
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jun 17, 2013 6:57:50 GMT
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Jun 17, 2013 7:24:20 GMT
I like your pictures, htmb, but the thought that really comes to mind when I see photos of London is "what an architectural mishmash it all is".
Any idea what those ruined brick buildings with what look like skylights are?
|
|
|
Post by mossie on Jun 17, 2013 7:25:56 GMT
A great journey, such a pity London's weather didn't look more kindly on you. I notice several people "mud larking" on the foreshore, looking for treasures of all sorts revealed by the tide. UK weather can change season in an instant, I can remember having snow in early June when it was 80+ by the end of the month, 1976.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jun 17, 2013 13:25:02 GMT
Mossie, I do believe it was you who first suggested I take a Thames boat tour. I'm so glad you did!
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jun 17, 2013 13:27:27 GMT
I like your pictures, htmb, but the thought that really comes to mind when I see photos of London is "what an architectural mishmash it all is". Any idea what those ruined brick buildings with what look like skylights are? Sorry, bjd, all I know is what's represented by the sign, Thames Tunnel Mills. Perhaps one of our London experts will enlighten us.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jun 17, 2013 15:46:54 GMT
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jun 17, 2013 15:51:04 GMT
|
|
|
Post by spindrift1 on Jun 17, 2013 16:53:43 GMT
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jun 17, 2013 16:58:21 GMT
Oh, spindrift, of course you did suggest you take me, but Mossie had also suggested early on that I go on a cruise. Anyway, you were both right. I loved it! I've also been able to use several other helpful suggestions from AnyPorters and I have appreciated the helpful advice more than you can ever know!
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2013 17:11:44 GMT
I keep wanting to take a boat cruise when I am in London but I have still not managed to do it yet.
I know that I jump at any occasion whenever family or friends are visiting Paris to take a Seine cruise. Boat rides are (almost) universally pleasant in big cities.
|
|
|
Post by tod2 on Jun 17, 2013 17:43:31 GMT
It's many a year since we took a trip down to those awesome barriers Htmb - I loved the photo where you got the Shard in the picture too! Magnificent shots of the O2 - I went twice to see a performance there when it first opened. I adore the unusual structure of it and knew immediately what those folks in blue were doing when I saw your pics.....same thing I did in Sydney when I walked up one side and down the other over Sydney, the "coat hanger" bridge. ;D We had to stick to the same side tho. Seeing you mentioned the 'dome' next to the Cutty Sark....(don't know if you still intend visiting Greenwich on it's own) but do go down the flight of steps into the 'Greenwich Foot Tunnel' which leads to the Isle of Dogs. You can walk back the same way and then can boast "I've walked under the Thames"! In your photo I can make out the pub we had lunch at the day we visited, called The Gypsy Moth. I was so envious when seeing those people on the sand bank of the Thames. I have been told or read somewhere that no-one is allowed to scratch around for hidden treasure. Only a select few with a license to do so. Wonder if those folks were legit? Now all you have to do Htmb is take the river cruise the other way and see something entirely different! More tranquil, more swans, more rowing boats, and more islands Getting off at Hampton Court for a tea break is wonderful - the gardens must be superb by now.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jun 17, 2013 18:52:04 GMT
Kerouac, I highly recommend the downriver Thames cruise, but particularly if you are a waterway junkie like me. One of my favorite books about Paris is The Secret Life of the Seine, by Mort Rosenbloom. I'd love to explore the river and canals in Paris more. Tod, I listen to advice well, and if you will notice, we haven't gotten to the "Dogs" part of this thread as mentioned in the title. I covered a lot of ground on my first day in London, and I still have tons more to report.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jun 18, 2013 5:10:37 GMT
Really enjoying it so far htmb! Thanks, Mich. Sorry, but I am just now seeing your post. Hope you are still with me. Mossie, yes, there were quite a few people scouring the shoreline. It would be interesting to know the kind of things people find.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2013 5:17:25 GMT
When I was in London last month, I read an article comparing the shoreline people to archeological vandals. What the article was really complaining about, though, was the lack of government funds to do more professional verifications of the foundations of London.
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jun 18, 2013 5:39:24 GMT
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jun 18, 2013 6:10:01 GMT
Ducking out of the rain and cold for the first time so I could clean the water off my camera, I took this shot from below deck. The below deck seating area is huge. I wouldn't want to sit down here with a full crowd. In case you are wondering, it was still raining. And now, it's time to get off the boat at Greenwich, a most interesting and beautiful place (cranes and all).
|
|
|
Post by lugg on Jun 18, 2013 6:31:49 GMT
Great start Htmb, I have never been so far down the river (on a boat). Love the shots of the O2 roof. I have ordered you some better weather for the next few days.
|
|
|
Post by nycgirl on Jun 18, 2013 13:21:38 GMT
Nice to see you're making the most of things, despite the dismal weather.
London sure does look different from when I saw it 8 years ago. That O2 building is really odd-looking. I don't find it very visually appealing, but I love how you captured it.
Looking forward to more!
|
|
|
Post by htmb on Jun 18, 2013 17:08:13 GMT
Thanks, Lugg and NYCGIRL. It was supposed to rain a lot today, but so far it has held off. You've got good connections, Lugg. I'm still battling a cold and a sore foot, but I'm finding that ibuprofen is my friend. I managed to get out and see a few things today and will keep posting more photos as this tempermental Internet connection will allow.
It is so much fun to visit places where many of you have been. I walked down the south side of the river from the Eye to the Millenium Bridge and saw many of the things pointed out by several of you in your reports. What fun! I even recognized the skater/biker area.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2013 17:09:31 GMT
No bubble makers?
|
|