I decided to take it a bit easy today — favorite soda, comfy hotel bed, home renovation shows, old British movies, the park downstairs, and happy laziness. =)
I felt my usual iffy this morning, with the usual improvement. (It’s not a bad thing. I’m used to it.) It’s warm outside today, so I decided to go out early evening — I need to pack tonight and be on a train-to-a-plane in the morning.
I knew there would be lots of fun pictures in the immediate neighborhood, so a cappuccino and cooler temps sent me on my way by four this afternoon. =)
We’ll start with the Lloyds of London building. I took several photos, and it’s the kind of thing people either love or hate. You’d think I absolutely loathe it, but for some reason I enjoy the Lloyd’s building.
And some less futuristic pictures from around the neighborhood. I think I was probably only out about two hours.
My coffee spot — that’s my cup.
Leadenhall Market, the classic photo
Leadenhall Market, main corridor
I had a nice rest on this bench with new friends. They didn’t have much to say. Although I probably won’t have much to say when I’m 200 years old either. (They’re not in the wall, they’re under the pavement.)
A favorite place — Leadenhall Market — is just up the street. Since it (and other things I’ve taken photos of) appear in the Harry Potter films, I thought it would be fun to have a Harry Potter Post.
I was (am?) a big Potterhead. (Hufflepuff — I even have the socks!) I think I can talk about each of these things without doing too much Googling.
Australia House was used as the interior of Gringott’s.
The Millennium Bridge was smashed up by flying bad guys!
Lambeth Bridge is where the Night Bus got skinny.
Borough Market was used as the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron in the later films.
Harry flies along the River Thames and over Tower Bridge in The Order of the Phoenix.
An enormous spiral staircase inside St. Pauls was used in The Prisoner of Azkaban.
And finally, this shopfront in Leadenhall Market was used as the entrance to The Leaky Cauldron in the early films. A photo from the film is below.
Experience told me I was having a day where it’ll be afternoon before I’m feeling up to much. I took a shower and a walk outside to see how I felt when upright. Yes, indeed. My stomach wasn’t quite with me, and my feet were not quite footing. No sad face though, I’m used to it and I knew it would pass by noon or one.
I emailed my friend at the church here to say I wasn’t feeling well, and would probably not make it in for one o’clock to play. (It’s no big deal, I was simply going to be playing for my own pleasure and for tourists visiting.)
I decided I’d walk down to the Tower of London (a block away) where there are shops, views, people, and of course, a castle. I could also hop on the Thames Clippers at the pier if I wanted to go for a boat ride. And so I did.
My Ride
Entrance to the Tower of London
I stopped off at Greenwich to take a few photos and change boats. (Switching to a different boat would let me ride around longer.) At Greenwich, I didn’t do much. Just took in the sights a bit.
The Cutty Sark
The Greenwich Foot Tunnel
This entrance to the Greenwich Foot Tunnel takes you down underneath the river, where you can walk a damp tunnel to the other side … maybe another day. I got a great photo of the Battersea power station on the way back — it’s decommissioned, and now one of these mall/apartments/entertainment center type places.
Battersea Power Station
By about five-thirty, it was time for the normal people to gather in noisy groups to go get their dinner. I was starting to mutter about them under my breath, so I got off early at Blackfriars and walked up to Saint Paul’s to catch a bus the rest of the way. I found the following handy chart to be absolutely, positively accurate.
Saint Paul’s — South Door
Saint Paul’s Churchyard
And finally, a short video including some of the things I saw on my boat ride! =)
Without much surprise, I was exhausted this morning and my stomach was bothering me.
Fate stepped in with a Pauline Collins movie, followed by an ensemble cast film with Helen Mirren and just about every British mom actor from Harry Potter to Call the Midwife to Downton Abbey.
I set aside £100 to buy myself something, so I thought I might shop a bit this afternoon if I felt a little better. I didn’t have a particular destination in mind, and I don’t particularly want anything. (I’m very hard to buy for, even if it’s me doing the buying.) I’m going to be near the Tower tomorrow, so maybe then.
I’m spending the day resting at the hotel — I want to make sure I feel really well for tomorrow. I thought I’d post a collection of photos from last few days that didn’t fit anywhere — creepy, random, and otherwise.
Awesome alley — I want to live there.
Pretty sky over St. Dunstan’s
Moody moody
So, stop asking.
I want it.
1700s tombs under the floor at St. Magnus
Gladstone and St. Clement’s.
Since 1828, now a victim of Covid.
Get the look … you too can resemble a street bollard.
The walkie-talkie building again, but a pretty sky. I went to the sky Garden on the top on my last visit. Very beautiful. Very crowded. Hated it.
I woke up at 8 o’clock (which I hadn’t planned on), took my medicine, and took a shower. I lied back down thinking, “Oh, I could just close my eyes for a few minutes.“
I woke up at 11:45.
Downed a double espresso and flew out the door feeling great! After I got back at 6:30 tonight, I realized I had taken 156 photos! It’s going to be a big photo day, but I’ll whittle it down a bit!
I caught the Route 15 bus on the corner at noon. It was packed, hot, and noisy. I don’t know why the air conditioning wasn’t on, other than British people tend to be like, “Oh my God, the sun is out and it’s hot! Isn’t it wonderful?!” I would’ve taken a cab, but when the bus goes door-to-door for £2, it’s hard to turn down.
I headed over to Saint Martin’s in the Fields. The church itself is a favorite spot. There’s an awesome café, education center, and shop in the crypt, so I always stop. The café was packed, but there’s a side hallway that no one knows about that leads to a seating area that’s always completely empty.
I’d like to solve. It was Mr. Phill, in the crypt, with his hair.
Heading up Saint Martin’s Lane, I passed a few familiar sites and the notable Brydges Place, but I was particularly headed for a few sights I hadn’t visited in a while — Cecil Court for great shopping and Goodwin’s Court, for a great photo.
Brydges Place, purportedly the most narrow alley in London.I don’t believe it. It’s not that narrow.
I stopped in Mark Sullivan Antiques, where I’d been a few times before. Mark is very friendly and likes to answer questions and talk, and he always remembers me. We had a nice chat. I looked for something I might like to buy, but didn’t find anything quite right. I headed over to Goodwin’s Court for a photo op.
Cecil Court, Mark’s shop is on the left.
Goodwin’s Court, always good for a photo.
I bought a little collapsible stool before I left, and I love it! Super-light, and folds up to about the size of a large Whitman’s Sampler. As I headed over to Covent Garden, it proved itself.
People everywhere, difficult to even walk, no seats available, like a packed day at Disney World. But. I could sit down wherever I wanted to, whenever I wanted to. I was under a shady tree for a good 15 minutes. The seat probably doubled the time I was out enjoying myself, being able to rest whenever I wanted.
Covent Garden had an exhibit of painted gorillas happening, and there were plenty of other things to take pictures of (following). I thought Audrey Hepburn should be there in her proper location, so I added her.
Gorilla, Gorilla
That mirror corridor thing
Busy entrance to the Piazza
“Two bunches of lovely violets trod in the mud. A full day’s wages!”
The nice new shady pedestrian plaza in front of St. Mary le Strand!
I saw the following two ladies on the walk back to my hotel. I’ve noticed that modern office buildings often incorporate sculpture or busts from the before-building that was torn down. After I saw this, I realized it must be a law that doesn’t state where the salvaged art needs to be.
These poor ladies are on a short retaining wall at the back entrance/loading dock of an office building that is ironically … derelict and empty.
Sit Still Phill 