Back to the UK after 50 years

[OZDUCK]

That walk of yours was almost identical to mine in 2018 as I had to go to the Bank of England to change my £10 notes. But we. ate at the Borough Market with oysters and foie gras included.

Oysters are fine in moderation but foie gras is not for me. It is definitely a 'up market' market.

 

[OZDUCK]

The next day many of us got together for a sort of guided walk around London. It was an ad-hoc one put together by the organiser of the reunion showing us some of the parts of London he likes. We ended up walking just under 20 km for the day.

All of us meet up just outside the Tower.



There were Canadians, English, Germans, Singaporeans and Australians in this group. All linked back to a common ancestry from Ulm (Baden-Württemberg) in the 14th C.





We walked over the Tower Bridge







These plaques were on the footpath - "The named plaques highlight the unsung heroes and workers who built, operated, and maintained Tower Bridge across its history, shedding light on lost professions and past social change"

Just some of them











HMS Belfast with the Sky Garden beyond

 

[OZDUCK]

Further along the South Bank

A mudlark in action



I don't think that there is an actual lark among these birds



The Sky Garden and The Gherkin



The ruins of Winchester Palace - 13thC



Replica of Sir Francis Drake's vessel The Golden Hinde



Formerly an enclosed dock for tea clippers like the Cutty Sark





Where we got the term 'clink' for prisons.





We just rushed by the edges of the Borough Market. The arches still fascinate me.



A refreshment break at the cafes ins Tate Modern.



It is located inside the former Bankside Power Station



A new display was being set up in the Turbine Hall





My wife from a very similar spot in 1976

 

[Jacques Vert]

Back to the town

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We walked under the river via the Greenwich Foot Tunnel. There are numerous signs all through the tunnel stating that bikes must not be ridden but only pushed. The signs were ignored by 90% of the bike riders we saw. A YouTube video I saw explained that because the tunnel is controlled by two different 'councils' on either side of the river who can't agree what day of the week it is the rules and regulations have not be updated for decades. The fine for riding a bike is Two Shillings.

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Apparently it is common for the lifts at either end of the tunnel to be out of order but luckily they were both working on that day

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There was some bomb damage to the tunnel in 1940

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The repaired part of the tunnel is noticeably smaller.

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I walked through the tunnel in 1975 but had forgotten what it looked like; thanks for posting the photos.

 

[OZDUCK]

I walked through the tunnel in 1975 but had forgotten what it looked like; thanks for posting the photos.

No worries - glad to bring back memories for you

 

[OZDUCK]

Onwards

Some military Chinooks flew down the Thames



Decorative lamp post



We then crossed over Westminster Bridge







London Eye



It was very crowded around here. Unpleasantly so in fact.





Westminster Abbey in the distance



We then turned down Whitehall

Some drains on the public purse, sorry VIP's went past.

 

[SYD]

A mudlark in action

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We like a good mud lark!

Where we got the term 'clink' for prisons.

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I’ve walked that Southwark river walk multiple times and never clocked the original “Clink” was there!

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I’ve past that Prison Museum many times but again, didn’t register the significance. Just thought they were borrowing the “Clink” phrase…

Oh well, I’ll hunt it down next time.

 

[OZDUCK]

Continuing down Whitehall

The Cenotaph - erected 1920



Women of World War II Memorial - erected 2005



Entrance to Downing Street






The King's Life Guard





My wife and her uncle in1976.



We were to have a very late lunch in Chinatown so my wife and I requested a short diversion to Trafalgar Square



The National Gallery



Shortly after we arrived in the UK in 1976 we had our photo taken there by a street photographer. We were trying to replicate it and found pretty much the exact spot where we had stood. It was a nice nostalgic moment for both of us. Happily most of the pigeons are gone these day.

Ah the lost hair and gained weight that 50 years bring





(SuePa was kind enough to point out the advertising slogan on the bus behind us when I posted these photos in 'the view from my office' thread earlier on. It was a very apropos one considering my comments about weight gain.)



Saint Martin-in-the-Fields - completed in the 1720's

 

[OZDUCK]

We like a good mud lark!

I’ve walked that Southwark river walk multiple times and never clocked the original “Clink” was there!

I’ve past that Prison Museum many times but again, didn’t register the significance. Just thought they were borrowing the “Clink” phrase…

Oh well, I’ll hunt it down next time.

Happily the organiser had made a point to take us past it.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Continuing down Whitehall

The Cenotaph - erected 1920

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Women of World War II Memorial - erected 2005

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Entrance to Downing Street

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The King's Life Guard

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My wife and her uncle in1976.

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We were to have a very late lunch in Chinatown so my wife and I requested a short diversion to Trafalgar Square

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The National Gallery

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Shortly after we arrived in the UK in 1976 we had our photo taken there by a street photographer. We were trying to replicate it and found pretty much the exact spot where we had stood. It was a nice nostalgic moment for both of us. Happily most of the pigeons are gone these day.

Ah the lost hair and gained weight that 50 years bring

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(SuePa was kind enough to point out the advertising slogan on the bus behind us when I posted these photos in 'the view from my office' thread earlier on. It was a very apropos one considering my comments about weight gain.)

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Saint Martin-in-the-Fields - completed in the 1720's

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Great memories replicating years gone by @OZDUCK - love it!

 

[OZDUCK]

On to Chinatown. In the 1976/77 I used to occasionally drive my wife's aunt into here, specifically Gerard St, on a Sunday morning so she could buy various Chinese spices and sauces from the large 'Chinese' supermarkets here. They were unavailable most other places. It was an easy drive in those days and I did well out of it. She was the one who really taught my wife how to cook Singaporean/Malaysian/Indian food. And you can see by my weight gain how well she taught her.



My DIL would love this place











We had a very nice meal there but we were too busy talking and eating to take any suitable photos.

After the meal the tour ended six of us, four Germans and two Australians, split off to go our own way.

There was a large M & M store nearby that to my surprise sold all sorts of merchandise. Our German friends bought leisure ware, plates and all sorts of 'exclusive collectibles'.



It was really busy









Mearby was the Swiss Glockenspiel - the biggest glockenspiel in the UK.

Swiss Glockenspiel – Smith Of Derby

Swiss Glockenspiel, Leicester Square Smith of Derby was asked to design and create the famous glockenspiel clock from a conceptual design. Central to the design was that the clock retained a very strong Swiss identity, but it was also crucial to minimise its bulk and visual appearance in...

www.smithofderby.com

Leicester Square



Mary Poppins Statue - one of many

 

[OZDUCK]

Great memories replicating years gone by @OZDUCK - love it!

Thanks. Preparing this has bought back some good memories for me too.

 

[OZDUCK]

We then wandered off down Piccadilly having lost two of our number who headed off to their hotel.

Piccadilly Circus





Princess Arcade



Piccadilly Arcade





We then cut through The Green Park heading towards Buckingham Palace











The park gates opposite Buckingham Palace



Twilights last gleaming



With even a bit of aviation action











And thus ended what will almost certainly be the last ever full day we will spend in London.