London Trip Report - May 2005

London Trip Report - Day 7 - May 12, 2005

Linda got up really early today. I was still too tired to get up so I stayed in bed. She went to St. Pauls and Abbey Road where The Beetles did their "Abbey Road" album cover shot. Someone told her that the city had moved the special instersection because it was causing traffic jams. She tried to go to the Shirlock Holmes museum but there were so many kids she changed her mind. She ended up coming back and taking a nap before tonight's show.

I got up and went to Starbucks, then caught the Underground to Covent Garden. I went to the London Transport Museum and the London Theatre Museum. Then I ate at an Italian place in the piazza of covent garden...Ponti's. I had penne carbonara and tiramasu. The tiramasu was one of the best I've ever had.

I caught the Underground to St. Pauls and got to see the cathedral. What an amazing place. I was there for quite awhile...around two hours. I took the audio tour to learn more about the place. I also took the walk up into the dome. What a view from up there. I looked down and got really dizzy. You don't realize the size of the dome until you look down from up there. I got to go up farther...just outside around the dome...a great view from outside.

I caught the Underground to Kingsbridge so I could go to Harrods. I went to H&M and United Colors Of Benneton before going to Harrods. There was a lot of great shopping around there. Harrods was great, what I saw of it. I didn't have much time. There is a memorial to Princess Diana and Dodi Al Fayad (Harrod's owner's son). Dodi had bought her an engagement ring the night before they were killed. The engagement ring and a wine glass from their last night together are on display.

I got caught in tube traffic returning to the hotel but made it back to change and go to The Royal Ballet. It was great...amazing. It was at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. The theatre is gorgeous and what accoustics!!! I was amazed to find that the Queen's monogram was on the stage curtains. We left the theatre and ate at Maxwell's in Covent Garden. It was really good. Both of us were starving.

It's now pretty late...around 1:30 AM...time for bed.

An early horse-drawn streetcar/trolley at The London Transport Museum.

An old streetcar/trolley at The London Transport Museum.

One of the early double decker busses at The London Transport Museum.

One of the early double decker busses at The London Transport Museum.

Some of the old trains at One of the early double decker busses at The London Transport Museum.

An overhead shot of the different busses through the years One of the early double decker busses at The London Transport Museum.

Another overhead shot of the busses. What a beautiful museum!

The interior of one of the early trains of The London Underground at The London Transport Museum.

The exterior of one of the early trains of The London Underground at The London Transport Museum.

One of the old steam powered engines at The interior of one of the early trains of The London Underground at The London Transport Museum.

The interior of one of the old train cars at The interior of one of the early trains of The London Underground at The London Transport Museum. The compartments were small. There's no switching seats allowed on this one!

An announcement inside one of the old train cars showing what to do during an Air Raid at The interior of one of the early trains of The London Underground at The London Transport Museum.

Another announcement inside one of the old train cars showing what to do during an air raid at The interior of one of the early trains of The London Underground at The London Transport Museum.

Another announcment inside an old train car at The London Transport Museum. This one shows what to do during a blackout.

The exterior of the old train car with small compartments at The interior of one of the early trains of The London Underground at The London Transport Museum.

This old train car at The London Transport Museum show a "Ladies Only" compartment.

This is a picture of the plackard on the model for the next two photographs about the MYA-type escalators as they would have appeared in 1968 as seen at The interior of one of the early trains of The London Underground at The London Transport Museum.

A model of the MYA-type escalators on The London Underground as they would have appeared in 1968.

A model of the MYA-type escalators on The London Underground as they would have appeared in 1968.

This photo shows how tight the train tunnels and cars fit together in the earlier London Underground tubes.

This plackard at The London Transport Museum explains about the first escalators. A model can be viewed in the next photograph.

This is a model of one of the earlier escalator models where at the bottom you would step off to the side. Guess they must have been dangerous based on how the figures feet are missing! Lol.

This plackard at The London Trasnport Museum talks about the first London Underground tube line cars that were nicknamed "Padded Cells" because of their lack of windows. A photo of the interior is next.

A photo of one of the early London Underground tube line cars at The London Transport Museum. These cars were nicknamed "Padded Cells" because of their lack of windows.

The outside of The London Transport Museum located near Covent Garden.

The Theatre Museum - National Museum of Performing Arts.

Mel Brooks' "The Producers" marquee at The Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

The market at Covent Garden. This is where I ate the Penne Carbonara a few times.

St. Paul's Cathedral.

The Western face of St. Paul's Cathedral.

The Western face of St. Paul's Cathedral.

The Northwestern corner of St. Paul's Cathedral.

The Northwestern corner of St. Paul's Cathedral.

The Western face of St. Paul's Cathedral. The belltower is on the left and the clock tower on the right.

Another shot of the Western face of St. Paul's Cathedral. This was the best attempt at fitting the whole building into the frame. It's so large that I really need a wide agle lense! You can see the awning structure from the building across the street in the frame.

Queen Anne Statue in front of St. Paul's Cathedral.

Queen Anne Statue in front of St. Paul's Cathedral.

Statue of Queen Anne with the St. Paul's Cathedral bell tower behind.

Engravings on the Queen Anne statue at St. Paul's Cathedral: The original statue was erected on this spot in the year 1712 to commemorate the completion of Saint Paul's Cathedral; Francis Bird, Sculptor

Statue of Queen Anne with the St. Paul's Cathedral clock tower behind.

Engravings on the Queen Anne statue at St. Paul's Cathedral: This replica of the statue of Queen Anne was ecrected at the expense of The Corporation of London in the year 1886; The R Hon. Sir Reginald Hanson M.A.F.S.A.; Lord Mayor W. Braham Esq., Chairmen of the City Lands Committee.

A view from outide the dome at St. Paul's Cathedral of the River Thames with the Millenium Footbridge crossing in front of the Tate Modern Art Museum.

A column with a holy statue atop on the grounds of St. Paul's Cathedral. I remember the sun shining above as if it was radiating from the statue's hand. Too bad the camera couldn't have captured this beautiful moment!

Flowers on the grounds of St. Paul's Cathedral.

Tulips blooming near St. Paul's Cathedral.

Tulips blooming near St. Paul's Cathedral.

Harrod's Department Store.

Egyptian decor in the main escalator area of Harrods Department Store.

Egyptian decor in the main escalator area of Harrods Department Store.

The entrance to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.

A plaque commemorating Princess Margaret's long relationship with the Royal Ballet.

The Royal Opera House lit up at night.

 

 

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