It was sunny and cool with a light breeze. After eating my bap in the living room, I kicked myself for not having it on the balcony. So I gathered up my computer and went out onto the patio to finish my blog from yesterday.
We lazed around a little this morning after being out till midnight last night. Jody had suggested going to another market so we all decided to go to Camden Lock market. Today we decided to take the underground. We went back to Vauxhall tube station where we had bought our Oyster cards - the same pleasant guy helped us top them up.
This is the tunnel we walk through to get to Vauxhall bus or tube station.
Then we were off - we made it to Camden despite my getting off at the wrong station - we were on the Victoria line, and I thought we were getting off at Victoria Station. So we got off, and then got back on the next train - thank god that it came right away.
Camden town is a very different kind of place. Shops and stalls everywhere! Glitzy, glamorous, chintzy, chic - Camden has it all! We walked up the street taking in the all sights.
Sand artist on the sidewalk - he is shaping a dog.
Current London fashions?
The outside walls of all the shops are decorated.
I was looking for a baseball cap to wear in the rain.
Dark Angel
Chinese Restaurant
We walked over the canal to Camden Market - lots of these barges along the canal.
We just made it into the enclosed Camden Market when the rain began pouring down. We poked around the stalls for a while - got some money from the ATM. Then we decided we needed some nourishment.
Street stall in front of local restaurant with covering over it due to rain.
Outside stalls.
Luckily, the rain stopped.
We walked along this first floor or second level to the Lockside pub.
There were picnic tables outside so we each ordered a Pimm's and took it outside.
Picture of our bartender - Patty took this picture - I am stealing it!
I hadn't had Pimm's since GeeGee, Julie, and I had been to London in 1978! Pimm's is a gin based drink - with cut up fruit and cucumber slices.
I look like I've had a couple of Pimm's!
We also ordered some snacks - I had a baked sweet potato with cheese - it came with guacamole and sour cream - neither of which I normally would eat but I did try some of each.
Before our snacks arrived, we decided to have another Pimm's - the bartender who made our first drink suggested a pitcher of Pimm's - how could we refuse?!?!
No, we each didn't order a pitcher of Pimm's!!!
We shared a pitcher of Pimm's!
We walked along the canal after our pitcher of Pimm's and came upon a canal barge in a lock.
Difficult to see the boat, but we watched the lock fill with water while we talked with the lock keeper.
The barge/narrowboat rising in the lock.
The boat is now ready to pass through the lock to the canal.
Our friend in the green vest is opening the gate to the lock.
The boat passes out of the lock after our friend opened the gate.
The gate keeper had to move on to the next lock - he suggested we walk along with him, and he gave us a history lesson on the area. He also showed us the black posts below - it is difficult to see because of the graffiti, but there are horizontal ridges cut into the black concrete posts from the ropes used to lead the horses who pulled the original barges along the canal.
The barges would deliver goods and merchandise to the Thames where it could be shipped all over the British Commonwealth. The railroads and then trucking put the canals out of business. Now the canals including this Regent Canal are used for recreation. You can rent one of the narrowboats for a weekend or a week - you can cycle, jog, or walk the former towpaths - you can take a ride on one of the narrowboats from Camden Lock to Little Venice. So we did!! But before we left, I had to have ice cream, and Jody had to get a coffee while Patty held our place in line.
The trip on the narrowboat was very relaxing and refreshing after the hustle and bustle of Camden Market. We passed behind London Zoo and under a bridge which had been blown up by a narrowboat carrying gun powder which caught fire and caused an explosion in the 1800s.
Today people were walking along the towpath. I'd like to do that walk sometime.
Today people were walking along the towpath. I'd like to do that walk sometime.
I thought that the boat ride ended at the top of Regent's Park so we planned to walk through Regent's Park to Baker Street to visit Sherlock Holmes. Miscalculation!! We passed through Regent's Park alright, but Little Venice is not inside the park. The pilot told us that we were closer to Paddington Station and pointed us in that direction.
The Milton was our narrowboat.
So we started walking - along a highway! We decided to head to St. Paul's Cathedral when we found a Tube station - I think it was Edgeware Road Station. Unfortunately, we were too late for admission to the Cathedral - it was just after 5, and we were too late for Evensong which had already started. One thing on my to do list was to attend an Evensong. Next trip I guess.
We decided to walk across Millennium Bridge - another item on my to do list. The bridge had been built for the Millennium obviously. When I was in London in February 2000 with my kids, the bridge had been closed because it wobbled/swayed in the wind. I think it was a couple of years before it reopened. It is a suspension bridge for pedestrians only. And there are lots of pedestrians crossing over it!!
St. Paul's Cathedral as we headed off to the bridge.
The Shard.
We were interested in these "beaches" along the Thames.
Tower Bridge from Millennium Bridge.
St. Paul's from the Millennium Bridge.
The Cheese Grater and Walkie Talkie buildings from Millennium Bridge.
Tate Modern Art Gallery as we approach the end of the Millennium Bridge. The building was originally a power station.
Mud Rackers looking for treasures.
The pictures came out clearer in black and white!
St. Paul's Cathedral from across the Thames.
Rather than check out the Tate Modern now, we decided we needed something to eat. We walked along the embankment looking for a place that wasn't too crowded. Most of the pubs had people hanging out of them - they all looked like business people - mainly men in suits - drinking and smoking outside the pubs. We wanted to have a drink so we kept walking.
I think the white house with the red door above is the house where Christopher Wren lived while building St. Paul's Cathedral.
Prior to being built in the early 18th century, this area was home to the Cardinal's Hat Pub - which was also reported to be a brothel. This section of London - Bankside - was the dark side of London - with lots of illegal activities - gaming houses, theaters, brothels, bear baiting, cock fights. Today the name of the pub lives on in the Cardinal Cap Alley - an alley which dates back to 1360 - you can see it between the white and brick houses in the above photo.
We passed the ruins of Winchester Palace and its Rose Window.
The Palace was built by a brother of King Stephen who appointed him Bishop of Winchester. Bishops were very powerful in Catholic England. This would have been their residence when they came to London.
We continued walking until we came to Hays Galleria which had several restaurants and no lines. We stopped at Cafe Rouge for a drink and a bite to eat.
It was dark when we finished eating. We decide to head home - we headed to the London Bridge tube station - Jody had a great app on her phone for finding the way through London. I have an iPhone 6 from Sprint, but I couldn't get the internet on my phone when we were out and about despite setting it for international travel. So Jody was our navigator, and she did a great job getting us from one place to another.
It always feels good to get off at Vauxhall - walk through the tunnel - then head through the park to our digs - and just relax. Tonight we had to get ready to go to Oxford in the morning. Helen had suggested taking the train to Oxford and renting a car there instead of renting one in London. So that is what we are doing - so we have to get to Paddington Station in the morning to get a train to Oxford. Tomorrow should be a very interesting day!
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