I’m back–these pictures are still from Baldwin Park and a few other odds and ends
Wed. was preparing me for England I swear–dreary and at its best spitting rather than down pouring rain, so like what one expect in the UK, which is not known for its hospitable weather, but the people have for the most part always been kind and welcoming to me. But then I tend to be not what they expect in a Yank.
You might be interested to know that despite it’s reputation: …in reality, New York City gets more precipitation — not just rain, but also snow — during the year. London gets the most rain in October: 2.42 inches is the average. NYC’s highest average comes in May and is almost double London’s (4.48 inches). http://www.businessinsider.com/new-york-city-vs-london-comparison-2015-5 The same article says that London has 47% Green space–including 8 royal parks—to New York’s 14% and as to populations: London’s stood at 8.3 million, while NYC stood at 8.4 million. London, however, has much more room for its inhabitants — it’s 138 square miles bigger than NYC.
Thursday the sun returned and it’s lovely again today and in the 70’s very chilly for here this time of year. Mostly packed now..couldn’t find any bottles to put my shampoo in. Just bought some shampoo (what I had was in huge bottles) and hope that works out OK. Finally got my multiple month prescription so that should work.
As I write BST
Friday, May 6, 2016
London, UK
Fri
Partly Cloudy
Precipitation: 0%
Humidity: 52%
Wind: 9 mph
Neat.
“I had a fancy in my head which could be best pursued within sight of its walls and dome.” Charles Dickens
…and in a short breathing space I was on Westminster Bridge, regaling my…eyes with the external walls of British Parliament–the perfection of a stupendous institution, I know, and the admiration of all surrounding nations and succeeding ages… Charles Dickens
Turning off onto Old Palace Yard, the Courts of Law kept me company for a quarter hour; hinting in low whispers what numbers of people they are keeping awake, and how intensely wretched and horrible they were rendering the small hours to unfortunate suitors. Charles Dickens
Art Gallery
Street Art (Graffiti) Tour
5/16 TRAIN to NOTTINGHAM
Exploring Lace Market Area
5/17: NOTTINGHAM
Nottingham Castle
Ye Old Trip to Jerusalem
Gallery of Justice
Pub hopping in a couple of 13th c places that are still open for business
5/18 TRAIN to YORK
York Minster Cathedral
Richard III experience at Monk Bar (that’s a gate not a pub on the medieval wall that still exists, some 3 miles of it)
5/19
TOUR YORK MOORS AND WHITBY (FROM YORK)
we’re having dinner at a modern place–16th c Inn.
5/20
YORK
Clifford’s Tower
Do a cruise on the river
wander the Shambles
Dinner at a Pub (natch)
Then a ghost tour (leaves from another Pub—I love this trip)
5/21 TRAIN TO EDINBURGH—SCOTLAND
Explore the Royal Mile
Lunch at Witchery–expensive and Victorian
Explore Royal Mile more
5/22
TOUR TO WEST HIGHLANDS
including one of the Outlander filming locations
5/23
EDINBURGH
Wandering along the Waters of Leith
and Stockbridge
ending at Frankenstein (and yes it’s a pub and yes there’s a real monster)
5/24
TOUR TO HOLY ISLAND AND THE ENGLISH SCOTTISH BORDER
WITH CASTLES, MEADE AND POSIONOUS GARDENS AND SOME WITH SNAKES
5/25: TO LONDON
Will visit Westminster Cathedral (not Abbey)
and wander about the area a bit.
5/26
LONDON
Tour of areas in Southwark
Lunch at the Sherlock Holmes Pub
Visit Sherlock Holmes Museum (on Baker Street of course)
Then a Ghost Tour in the west.
5/27
LONDON
My own tour of the square Mile of the City of London–this is wandering in modern London within the area of the original city and is to this day the real CITY OF LONDON. I have my path and research laid out and we’ll see lost (as in under the city)rivers and find streets were men in armour went along to go to jousts and lots more.
5/28
LONDON
Boat trip round trip from Little Venice and back on the London Canals
London Canal Museum
Walking tour of Little Venice
5/29
LONDON
Tour of Derelict London
5/30: TOUR TO WINDSOR CASTLE WITH Runnymeade and Stonehenge included
5/31: LUNCH IN THE COTSWOLD TOUR
6/1: LEAVE FOR CORNWALL
6/29 RETURN TO LONDON
7/1: RETURN HOME
…it was after leaving the Abbey and turning my face north–I came to the steps of St. Martin’s church as the clock was striking three. Charles Dickens
Cornwall is the county…smaller town, villages and it’s me working on my novel and wandering the landscape for my author’s mind and my restless spirit and while it will be a different thing than the first two weeks I hope that the next 28 day that I am there I can present you with adventure in the ancient and amazing and that’ll enjoy both the crazy two weeks and the slower 28 days just as much…But there is no planned events I will do my best to keep you and I both from being bored or pointless.
Here’s a quote from the book so you can see I have been working on :
The room was dark and Alaric left us standing in the door way while he retrieved a reed light that smoldered in the hall. Inside he used the reed to light a brass bowl of oil on a large wooden chest. The room sprang into moving rivers of light. On the wall opposite of the entrance were a set of three, round wooden shields all with different colors and design one had belonged to his father, one to his the son he lost in battle and the third being the first one he had ever carried into battle himself, each were ringed in leather with heavy round studs holding it in place. The center of each was also studded around a circular hole over which a heavier piece of leather was secured for a hand hold. The room had been cleaned in anticipation of my father’s return and waited for him in vain. To the right side of the entrance were free standing wooden racks which would normally hold his chain mail, sword and scabbard and the third rigged to hang his shield. These would have been cleaned by the servants after his return and placed here; they stood empty now waiting for the new master’s equipment. I wandered if Guyon’s shield would join his families or if Alaric would change the décor completely.
Covent Garden Market, when it was market morning, was wonderful company. The Great wagons of cabbages, with growers; men and boys lying asleep under them, and with sharp dogs from market-garden neighbourhoods looking after the whole, were as good as a party. Charles Dickens
