Walking walking walking!
...down cherry blossom pathways
...past statues and museums and law houses and little themed pubs.
We started in Trafalgar Square and walked down The Strand to St. Paul's. I logged my first fish and chips at the Punch Tavern and the others had their first pints and half-pints. We hiked up to the top lookouts of St. Paul's dome (feel the burn!) and I said a little prayer of thanks for the aggreable weather all day. In fact, the sunset even made some golden lighting for us. From the top we saw the new footbridge leading right to the re-make of Shakespeare's Globe, our next stop. I enjoyed imagining old London and the sketchy theatre experience in Shakespeare's day. I'm amazed at Shakespeare's renown and influence to this day.
Our tired feet and sleepy heads got us part way down bank-side before we took a stop along the Thames for dinner. Mom and Dad dined Italian and Jess and I dug into some noodles and curry. We continued walking along the river to the Eye, admiring the street performers along the way. It was a lovely evening. The walk reminded me a little of San Francisco's Embarcadero. Again, we decided to part ways and the parents turned back for the hotel while Jess and I wandered back the way we came looking for a little gated area of colorful shops we had seen on our way. We never found it - instead getting sidetracked by fresh donuts (brilliant!) and steps down to the beachy banks of the Thames.
Before we knew it we found ourselves back at the Globe, where we aimed for the London Bridge tube station and along the way found cute quiet neighborhood houses, the plaque at the original globe's location, and a very intriguing Boroughs Market that was closed but still had quite the buzz around it from all the people gathered at the surrounding shops. I love serendipity! Wander-travel! It was a nice balance to our day. We got to see things we planned and also discover on our own. Thank you London for a fine Day 1.
...down cherry blossom pathways
...past statues and museums and law houses and little themed pubs.
We started in Trafalgar Square and walked down The Strand to St. Paul's. I logged my first fish and chips at the Punch Tavern and the others had their first pints and half-pints. We hiked up to the top lookouts of St. Paul's dome (feel the burn!) and I said a little prayer of thanks for the aggreable weather all day. In fact, the sunset even made some golden lighting for us. From the top we saw the new footbridge leading right to the re-make of Shakespeare's Globe, our next stop. I enjoyed imagining old London and the sketchy theatre experience in Shakespeare's day. I'm amazed at Shakespeare's renown and influence to this day.
Our tired feet and sleepy heads got us part way down bank-side before we took a stop along the Thames for dinner. Mom and Dad dined Italian and Jess and I dug into some noodles and curry. We continued walking along the river to the Eye, admiring the street performers along the way. It was a lovely evening. The walk reminded me a little of San Francisco's Embarcadero. Again, we decided to part ways and the parents turned back for the hotel while Jess and I wandered back the way we came looking for a little gated area of colorful shops we had seen on our way. We never found it - instead getting sidetracked by fresh donuts (brilliant!) and steps down to the beachy banks of the Thames.
Before we knew it we found ourselves back at the Globe, where we aimed for the London Bridge tube station and along the way found cute quiet neighborhood houses, the plaque at the original globe's location, and a very intriguing Boroughs Market that was closed but still had quite the buzz around it from all the people gathered at the surrounding shops. I love serendipity! Wander-travel! It was a nice balance to our day. We got to see things we planned and also discover on our own. Thank you London for a fine Day 1.