Live virtual Transatlantic on the Regal

[scubacruiserx2]

When entering London they didn't stamp our passport . Our driver was waiting for us and took us to the Double Tree by Hilton . We arrived early in the afternoon and our room wasn't ready so we had a snack to eat in the bar . I saw this car across the street and could't resist taking a photo for the grandsons .

 

 

Our assigned room had a view of the river .

 

 

We wanted fish and chips and stopped by this garden for a break .It has a creepy past .

 

 

 

Site: St John the Evangelist burial ground (2 memorials)

SW1, Horseferry Road, St John the Evangelist garden

The garden's modern information board reads: This garden was acquired by the church of St John the Evangelist, Smith Square, for the use as a cemetery and was consecrated by Dr Wilcocks, Dean of Westminster, on 29 July 1731. the burial ground was overcrowded within 20 years and three feet of earth was deposited over the whole area as a solution to problem {sic}. Overcrowding continued to cause difficulties, and fees were raised several times in attempts to prevent "low fees attracting interments from other parishes". One report said that 5,126 graves had been dug in ten years. The burial ground was not protected by a wall until 1784, but two watchmen were appointed for night duty in 1781, when the stealing of bodies for dissection was common. In 1814, after a time without watchmen, they again were needed, and were armed with pistols.

In 1823 Lord Grosvenor sold adjoining land to the parish, and this was consecrated as a burial ground on 23 June that year. Lord Palmerston closed the burial ground in October 1853, claiming it had become a great public nuisance. After closure it was neglected until 1880 when a committee of inhabitants was appointed to convert it into a public garden. A strip of the ground was given for the widening of Horseferry Road. The garden was opened on 23 May 1885 by the Duke of Westminster, and in 1887 the MP for Marylebone, Sir Frederick Seager Hunt, paid for a shelter to be built in the centre. The layout of the garden remains the same today.

Except, clearly, the shelter has now been replaced with a fountain, and this plaque, recovered from the shelter or elsewhere, has been reclaimed and laid into the slabs around the fountain.

Both plaques are laid into the paving around the fountain.

 

Our favorite fish and chips shop

 

 

 

A number of temporary shops have obscured the entrance to the shop

 

 

The old fire station

 

 

Gotta go ?

 

 

[AF-1]

Well I saw from your picture. The Tower Bridge, Tower of London, London Eye, Business center, Hyde Park, Westminister Abby, and a few other landmarks

[scubacruiserx2]

6 hours ago, AF-1 said:

Well I saw from your picture. The Tower Bridge, Tower of London, London Eye, Business center, Hyde Park, Westminister Abby, and a few other landmarks

 

Well spotted .

[scubacruiserx2]

We tried to take a nap but it was noisy in the hotel . We walked down to the Lambeth Bridge and along the river .

 

 

We did notice somebody napping on the bench who was more successful then we were

 

 

The Tate Britain is where we had a nice visit on our last Baltic cruise 3 years ago

 

 

We had a nice dinner at the White Swan on Vauxhall

 

 

After dinner this group serenaded us on the Vauxhall Bridge

 

 

 

 

The rock that doesn't roll

 

 

 

The view from the elevator landing

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

There was a lot of sirens and door slamming that night and we tried to upgrade or change rooms but they were filled . The next morning after breakfast we walked down to the London Eye where we had a morning reservation . We were surprised to see that part of Parliament building and Big Ben were encased .

 

 

 

From the bridge we got a good view of the Eye .

 

 

 

 

 

The Eye wasn't operating when we got there so we hung out for a bit .

 

 

When it began running we got in line and noticed that they were stopping the wheel to make some repairs every few minutes .

 

 

It usually runs non stop and you have to jump on or off as it is moving . It take about an hour per cycle . At last we were on .

 

 

 

 

Saint Paul's Cathedral sits at the highest point in the city 

 

 

A shot of the clock tower from a previous visit

 

 

Exiting the Eye

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Buckingham Palace

 

 

We ask this guy where to board the tour boat

 

 

We weren't alone on the tour boat

 

 

Bridge with a view

 

 

London Bridge ....

 

 

The Tower of London

 

 

The Tower Bridge . Most of the people got off here but we were headed to Greenwich

 

 

 

 

The Cutty Sark

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BarbinMich]

Thanks for your London photos.  We spent a week there about 10 years ago in April.  Visited St. Paul's for a concert, the Tower of London (to see the jewels <g>), etc.  We did a number of "London Walks"--small-group walking tours in different parts of the city.  They were all great.  Spent one day on a bus tour to Bath and Stonehenge.

[AF-1]

One good location for London is the Tower Bridge HIlton.  Lots to see and walk to; subway is two blocks from hotel. A coulple nice pubs across street.  

[scubacruiserx2]

6 hours ago, BarbinMich said:

Thanks for your London photos.  We spent a week there about 10 years ago in April.  Visited St. Paul's for a concert, the Tower of London (to see the jewels <g>), etc.  We did a number of "London Walks"--small-group walking tours in different parts of the city.  They were all great.  Spent one day on a bus tour to Bath and Stonehenge.

 

You're welcome . London is one of our favorite cities along with Saint Petersburg .

[scubacruiserx2]

2 hours ago, AF-1 said:

One good location for London is the Tower Bridge HIlton.  Lots to see and walk to; subway is two blocks from hotel. A coulple nice pubs across street.  

 

Thanks for the tip . We would like to try that one next time or The Royal Horseguards .

[scubacruiserx2]

The Queen's House in Greenwich

 

 

Royal Observatory 

 

 

 

 

 

The line divides East from West

 

 

 

 

Gnarly tree

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We began our last full day in London by taking the Big Red Bus to the Borough Market 

 

 

We went outside to photograph the Shard

 

 

We found Southwark Cathedral nearby

 

 

 

As we entered this elderly gentleman began telling us about the church building

 

 

It has a lovely ornate altar

 

 

And some great stained glass windows

 

 

 

This one dedicated to William Shakesphere

 

 

He told us the story of Sam Wanamaker an American who raised the money to rebuild the Globe Theatre after it had burned down .

 

The choir began practice while we were there

 

 

 

As it was near lunch time we saw that they had a cafe in the rear of the church .

 

 

We ate outside near this vintage Rolls - Royce

 

[AF-1]

Some people don't realize the art of stain glass window making.  Those pics show just how pretty that art can be.

[scubacruiserx2]

7 hours ago, AF-1 said:

Some people don't realize the art of stain glass window making.  Those pics show just how pretty that art can be.

 

There are some amazing stain glass in many of the churches of Europe . We also saw some nice stained glass in the Moscow Metro at Novoslobodskaya .

 

 

 

 

 

The 32 panels were created by Latvian artists

 

 

 

 

In the distance is the entrance and exit , and to the side , access from other trains .

 

 

 

Edited July 2, 2020 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

 

After lunch we decided to walk it off by going along the river . Walking under London Bridge we heard a familiar tune .

 

 

The Silver Wind was next to the Belfast

 

 

 

 

At about this point we fancied an ice cream 

 

 

And Mr. Whippy hit the spot

 

 

[MicCanberra]

Soft serve in a cup, with a flake stick in it. Classic Mr whippy.

[scubacruiserx2]

1 hour ago, MicCanberra said:

Soft serve in a cup, with a flake stick in it. Classic Mr whippy.

 

When I was a kid in the 50's we used to have Mister Softee ride around our neighborhood in Miami . Loved it .

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We crossed Tower Bridge

 

 

 

And after passing the Tower and it's guard lions we decided to pick up the Big Red Bus

 

 

 

When the bus came a lot of " ladies" came out of the woodwork cutting line , pushing and shoving to grab the few empty seats on the hot bus .

[scubacruiserx2]

Saint Paul's Cathedral

 

 

 

We hopped off to walk along the river embankment

 

 

We didn't recall seeing so many rough sleepers before

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

The T shirt that our son bought me for Father's Day .

 

[BarbinMich]

9 minutes ago, scubacruiserx2 said:

Saint Paul's Cathedral

 

 

On our week in London that I mentioned earlier, we went to an organ concert at St. Paul's the afternoon of the day we arrived (Sunday).  Unfortunately, I dozed off during the concert due to jet lag 😏.  It is a vast place, but I prefer Westminster Abbey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

We wished that we could take photos inside but it's prohibited . I read about a person that was jailed for trying to bomb the Cathedral .

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-04/woman-jailed-for-plotting-to-bomb-st-pauls-cathedral-in-london/12422536

 

 

 

[AF-1]

On 7/2/2020 at 7:16 PM, scubacruiserx2 said:

 

When I was a kid in the 50's we used to have Mister Softee ride around our neighborhood in Miami . Loved it .

 

 

 

We had both Mr. Softee and Good Humor trucks

[AF-1]

scubacruiserX2;  your pics above are so clear.  Thanks  for posting

[scubacruiserx2]

3 hours ago, AF-1 said:

scubacruiserX2;  your pics above are so clear.  Thanks  for posting

 

Thank you and you're welcome .