Our decision to visit UK came by default. We had initially planned for Japan but after reading about the after effects of Fukushima nuclear disaster (due to tsunami), we decided to change our holiday plans to Korea. Unfortunately, days after our decision, there was a military stand-off between North and South Korea. Then we thought of Sri Lanka, but my friend who had just returned from a pilgrimage in Sri Lanka told us the place was rather dirty. Finally Alicia suggested UK and France and she volunteered to do the planning.
The first thing I did was to buy a large road map of United Kingdom and mapped out the route she proposed. UK and Europe was completely new territory to hubby and myself and we were very excited about the trip. And as we googled the places we would visit, we got more excited as the day drew near.
Being an English Literature major, all the places mentioned were familiar to me. London- the hub of theaters and fine museums. Oxford and Cambridge - the perceived centre of education excellence. Stratford-upon-Avon - where Shakespeare came from. The Lake District - the Romantic Poets - Keats, Wordsworth, Coolidge...., the Yorkshire hills and moors - the Bronte Sisters - Withering Heights; Canterbury - The Canterbury Tales, London, Dover, - Charles Dickens, Bath and Cotwolds - Jane Austen county and many, many more. At last I am going to see these places.
(Here we are - grinning ear to ear in the train)
The day finally came and on 10th August, we stepped on British soil. I looked around eagerly for the iconic red double decker bus but we were whisked to the Underground to take 'The Tube'.
(The map was an encyclopedia of the underground tube - can't go without it.)
London's underground is an amazing network of train tracks that crissed-crossed the city. And as I passed from one train station to another, it dawned on me that I was actually on a Monopoly Board Game! Liverpool Station, King's Cross Station, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus. Oh my! I really am in London!
In the words of William Wordsworth :
In the words of William Wordsworth :
"Earth has not anything to show more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
So sight so touching in its majesty:
The City now doth, like a garment, wear
The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,
Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie.."
(excerpt from Wordswoth's poem "Composed upon Westminister Bridge")
Immediately upon checking into our hotel, we dumped our bags and started pounding the streets of London. Our hotel was conveniently situated near Chinatown, so off we went.
Immediately upon checking into our hotel, we dumped our bags and started pounding the streets of London. Our hotel was conveniently situated near Chinatown, so off we went.
Chinatown, Soho - which used to be a seedy part of London, is now spruced up and we could see many tourists like us, 'Ooo..Oooo....Oooo...... and Ah.....Ah...Ahhh....' as they take in the 'Londonly' atmosphere. Although the restaurants are predominantly Chinese, you also find many Indian, Greek, Japanese, Italian food outlets. We were amazed by the number of Theatre Houses in the area. And the number of casinos tucked here and there just blew us off.
We walked to Piccadilly Circus. The place pulsed with energy with the moving neon lights. It links Regent Street with Piccadilly and leads to major theatre houses. From Piccadilly is a short work to Leicester Square - where our hotel is.
(Panaroma of Piccadilly Circus)
The next day we continued our walk, strolling leisurely and taking in the sights. On the way to Trafalgar Square, we took a side lane, and came upon Carnaby Street. What a pleasant surprise. Who has not heard of Carnaby Street? Carnaby Street - Somehow the name evoked visions of hippies, the Beatles and the mod scenes of the swinging 60s.
It is a pedestrian-friendly street that houses unique boutiques. Many famous British brand clothing had their beginning here. Mary Quant had her boutique here.
The Volecanoes recorded a song called "Carnaby Street" which contains this line: "On Carnaby Street, you'll see, everything is free, everything is free when you pay".
The April 15, 1966 publication of Time magazine's cover wrote an article that extolled this street's role:
| 'Perhaps nothing illustrates the new swinging London better than narrow, three-block-long Carnaby Street which is crammed with a cluster of the 'gear' boutiques where the girls and boys buy each other clothing........' |
Trafalgar Square - In the musical 'Mary Poppins", there was a scene where the children and the Bird Lady were in Trafalgar Square feeding the pigeons - but where are the pigeons now? Instead we saw an odd looking blue cockerel perched high, dominating the skyline. Well, it was found that the pigeons' droppings had a detrimental effect on the many statues that were erected in the Square. In 2007, the Westminister City Council passed a by-law banning the feeding of pigeons in the Square.The statue of Admiral Lord Nelson ( the one who defeated Napoleon) up in Nelson's Column looked more dignified without any bird droppings on its nose!.
Tralfalgar Square had been featured in many British films including The Avengers, Casino Royale, Doctor Who, The Ipcress File and Man in a Suitcase. It was also used as a filming location for several sketches and a cartoon backdrop in the BBC comedy series Monty Python's Flying Circus.
On 7 July 2011, due to building works in Leicester Square, the world premiere of the final film in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, was held in Trafalgar Square, with a ¾ mile red-carpet linking the two squares. Fans camped in Trafalgar Square for up to three days before the premiere. It was the first premiere ever to be held in Trafalgar Square.
Our feet ached, our hair disheveled, but we continued to drink in the London sights and sounds.
Getting lost in London wasn't such a big deal - there's always a map near the Underground. An finally, the iconic double decker bus.
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