If you really want to experience a place…..get out there and WALK IT!
The sights, the smells, the sounds of London.
Hustling, Bustling, Jostling and hectic ---SO many people! Loud & noisy, coming this way, going that way ---
I have never seen so many people in one place in my life…okay, maybe Tokyo, but that was many years ago. Here it is a complete melting pot. Everywhere you listen, conversations are happening in a multitude of languages. And it’s summer. A beautiful summer with sunshine and warmth and the energy of the city has Londoners and tourists alike enjoying shopping areas, enjoying parks and out door street cafes.
After our visit to St Paul’s cathedral yesterday, we were stopped at the well-known Covent Garden area where there were lots of eateries for grabbing a bite of lunch, and lots of vendors and shops for some souvenir hunting.
I was STARVING. And so excited to find myself in this place.
Upper and lower levels full of shoppers and browsers!
Oh YUM! Pallela!
Covent Garden was erected as a fruit and veggie market place in 1828!
While yesterday’s St Paul’s Cathedral post had me humming “Feed the Birds, Tuppence a bag!” This place took me to another favorite musical from my childhood…..OLIVER! And in my head I’m singing “Who will buy my sweet red roses? Two blooms for a penny!”
There was plenty of time to walk the streets surrounding Covent Garden before boarding our bus at 2:30 so we could go check into our hotel. Remember by this time I’d only been in England a mere 5 hours….and I was capturing everything I could by camera.
Take a walk with me around the Covent Garden area and you will find fabulous older architecture combined with newer buildings….restaurants and pubs with brightly filled flower boxes and interesting door ways!
I’m posting this as a slide show as it would be too long of a post to do other wise, I hope you enjoy!
Click the image below if you are unable to view the slide show on your mobile device. You’ll be taken to the photo album for viewing.
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| Covent Gardens, London 2014 |
Today is another day to explore! I think there will be Big Ben and Westminster Abbey on the line up…..What a way to spend a Monday!
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You may find something interesting going on today somewhere. England is celebrating the centenary of the beginning of World War Two today. Glad to see you are enjoying your trip so far and the weather is being kind to you.
ReplyDeleteLinda
You missed a musical on your tour! Covent garden was where Charles Higgins met Eliza Doolittle in 'My Fair Lady'!
ReplyDeleteOne of my surprises was how many plaques and statues greater London has to honor 'yanks'. Did you see the book at St Pauls, behind the great altar, of the servicemen who lost their lives in WWII defending Britain? One page is turned each day, since it was dedicated in 1951. I was rocked to my knees.
ReplyDeleteSharyn in Kalama
Sorry we can't edit posts :)
ReplyDeleteThe book contains just US servicemens names
Fabulous pictures ... noted many of them doors and surrounding architecture. PERFECT for putting together a "door" art quilt when you're back home and as a memory of your trip? I loved, loved, loved London and my time in England ... one of the countries I would re-visit in a heartbeat!
ReplyDeleteI tried to schedule my visits to London on different days of the week so I could try different markets (some are only open of specific days.)
ReplyDeleteWhat fun - enjoy your time there! I haven't been "up to London" since I was a kid, and your pictures make me wish I could go back. Keep the fabulous pictures coming, please!
ReplyDeleteLOVE all of your pictures, Bonnie! Thanks for "taking us on your trip"! I would LOVE to have gone on this trip… maybe another time! Keep showing us the wonderful pictures and keep having fun!!
ReplyDeleteBetsy D
I would be curious to know how many of these beautiful buildings were restored after the London Blitz... I guess that is the history teacher in me.
ReplyDeleteLovely!
Fantastic ‼️
ReplyDeleteHugs
Thanks for sharing every day. Love, love the architecture and the flowers.
ReplyDeleteI miss London! I studied there for a semester in college (university, for you Brits), and also spent my honeymoon in London and other parts of England. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI noticed rather a lot of pubs in this post Bonnie! Have you been propping up the bar yet?
ReplyDeleteMy "Mum" was British. She was a court florist in Buckingham Palace. My Dad was one of those Yanks...a serviceman in WWII. They were married in Westminster Abbey. My mother was one of the first "war brides" to arrive in America.
ReplyDeleteI will bring a "Coronation" Spoon from the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II for show and tell in Bloomington IL in September.
Enjoy your visit!
You are right, you HAVE to walk in London! We were in Maidenhead where my husband was working for a few days and I took the train in almost every day with a couple of other wives who were also there. We also had an Englishman who was working with my husband take us into the country to a wonderful pub. My best memory was being stopped on the street and being asked if I was there visiting my mother. Guess those English genes show.
ReplyDeleteWhile you are in London I hope you get to meet Graham Forsdyke, Purveyor of Fine Featherweights to the Gentry. I would love to meet him!!
ReplyDeleteGina in Missouri
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