Tuesday, 13 March 2012

Holiday in London


Tower Bridge ,London



Students studying in schools in India analyse  Shakespeare and Charles Dickens threadbare during their English classes.School's libraries have Arthur Conan Doyle's collections of Sherlock Holmes' Elementary My Dear Watson stories and the same are read and reread along with Ian Fleming's James Bond collections of My Name Is Bond- James Bond.The latest among he popular authors and most read in India is Jeffry Archer. The result is that the first international destination which comes to mind is London.  Upon arriving in London for the first time the waiting  surprise is that all street and metro railway stations sound AND feel familiar. Fleet Street for newspapers, Savile Row for tailors, Charring Cross Station for Sherlock Holmes stories etc. London feels strangely familiar and the biggest comfort is that language is no issue at all as compared to Europe and Asia. As a result London has always been the top destination for foreign travel and has many tourist places waiting to be explored.Fully furnished and fully equipped flats of various sizes are available for a month or so on rent and can be time shared for by two or three families for 10 to 15 days which are basically enough to explore London.The London Underground train system is very extensive and can take you almost anywhere in London and its suburbs.

The Tower of The Tower Bridge, London


This is a draw bridge which opens for ships to pass  and there is a story about a bus jumping between the two sides of the opening draw bridge because the bridge started opening when the bus had not fully crossed over.An aeroplane has also flown between the draw bridge and the upper level walkways.The walkways are glass enclosed and the walk between the 2 sides at that height enables some excellent panoramic views of the city.The upper walkways are meant to be used when the draw bridge is open for ships.


Buckingham Palace, London

Hire A House For A Night. Airbnb Delhi. Large Family Groups. sleeps 8

The Queen's residence is a tourist place  for all visiting London.The Queen's Guards in the red uniform have been the butt of many a joke ,but I believe they are gallant soldiers who are serving in the British Army and who have also earned decorations  for various deeds of valor or for other meritorious services to the crown.The black cap worn by  the guards is made of  the skin of the Canadian Black Bear and weighs about 2lbs . The Queen's Guards are not supposed to smile even in the most extremely comical or humorous situation-just try doing it . The Changing of the Guards is a mid morning  ceremony(made all the more famous by Changing of the guards Bob Dylan song) in which several soldiers and horses take part. Somehow I could not figure out when the ceremony started and exactly when it ended. However innumerable videos and photographs were shot. 
London Eye

Just a short walk from the Buckingham Palace is the London Eye, put up by British Airways to mark the millennium year.There were some technical issues and the erection of the giant wheel took some time with the result that there was a joke floating around for some time "BA can't get it up". I believe now BA has sold the London Eye to the Tussuad's Group whose Madame Tussuad's wax museum is an institution by itself and not to be missed.
The London Eye


As  the capsule goes up the view of London City can be enjoyed. It is a flight like experience with  London eye tickets and boarding passes being issued ,the  capsule going up and then landing after about half an hour.Another capsule can be seen outside.
Westminster-Parliament House from London Eye

The London Eye has done what The Eiffel Tower did to Paris-given it a symbol.In the background can be seen the Palace of Westminster which is the British House of Parliament.
Big Ben-London


For films set in London, the opening shot always shows the Big Ben. Earlier I believed Big Ben was the Bell of the clock tower but I think now the bell, Big Ben Clock and the tower itself are all collectively known as Big Ben.
London Tower

Built as a Palace cum Fortress , the Tower Of London  has been used mostly as a prison and is famous for the imprisonment, torture and beheading of many princes, princesses and  queens and many non royals also. There is a show in which we can meet the ghosts of most of the people executed in the tower.We saw our own Kohinoor Diamond also among various Royal Jewels on display in the tower of London.


The London Dungeon

The children have a nice time at the London Dungeon.It is a lesson in innovative torture and execution.
Westminster Abbey

The West Minster Abbey is the  final resting place of the Royalty. Their coronations and marriages also take place in the same church.The remains of  famous artistes and scientists are also buried here.Sir Issac Newton was also buried here.
Trafalgar Square, London

Charring Cross has now become Trafalgar Square. It is named after the Battle of Trafalgar in which Admiral Nelson won the war with France but lost his life. I believe Nelson was fond of wearing a flashy and  brightly decorated Admiral's uniform and was thus a singled out target for a musketeer on a French warship.


Stone Henge,UK



The Stone Henge has been around now for 3000 years from the Roman times. Its purpose could have been astronomy or religion ,nobody knows for sure.


For shopping in London , a walk down Oxford Street is a must. At the end there is Marble Arch which was earlier the place for public executions.There was a famous tree  whose branches played the role of the scaffold. The popular entertainments in olden times were Public Executions and Bear Baiting. 


Picadilly and Soho have been infamous for their revue shows . Earlier there were only female performers but lately male  and transvestites have also been included in the shows. However there is  never any  doubt about which performer is male,female or neither.  


If you visit India stay at our Airbnb -Renuite In Delhi.It has 2 large bedrooms and a very large living room. It can accomodate 8 people comfortably. 

1 comment:

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