Un Lun Dun
Popped down south last week for a brief London adventure. My primary mission was to ensure that Jennie arrived safely at her conference. Secondary to this, adventuring.
I'm hopelessly smitten with London's transport system. From the airport[1], it's a five-minute journey to the train platform. There's a train every fifteen minutes to Liverpool Street, which is an interchange station with the underground network. You can get to any tube station in London without having to set foot outside. It is ridiculous.
First order of business was a visit to Mornington Crescent. A couple of deft shunts kept us safe from the dreaded Dollis Hill loop, and we made it safely to Camden, there to look at boots.
Sadly, Jennie didn't find what she was looking for. Off to Elephant and Castle, then, for conferencing. Meanwhile I took advantage of the magical everywhere tube ticket[2] to visit all manner of touristy places like the Bank of England and St. Paul's and the Museum of London and the Tate Modern.
I'm convinced that St. Paul's was the inspiration for Spiny Norman. You can see that dome peering at you from all over London. Dinsdale! They wanted ten bucks to get in, though, so I lolled heartily and took my business elsewhere. The Museum of London is free and interesting and well-presented. Plenty of old Roman artifacts, and lots of info. Unlike in Kelvingrove, the descriptions do not appear to have been written by a five-year-old child with a particularly short attention span. Glasgow take note.
Turned up too early at the Tate for their Rothko and Francis Bacon exhibitions. Baws. Still, plenty of great stuff to coo at. Was particularly impressed by the Fred Williams landscapes.
Discovered it's an easy walk from the Tate to Elephant and Castle, so went for a wander. Got distracted by an amazing wall, as I'm prone to do.
Back to the hotel, then out for dinners. The food from the Dragon Palace on Earl's Court Road is reasonably-priced and delicious.
Next day we had time for a quick swatch at the Natural History Museum, which I strongly suspect is London's Best Thing™. We only really got round the dinosaur exhibit (plus a quick swatch at the amazing leafcutter ant colony), but even that knocks anything that Glasgow has to offer into a cocked hat. It's all terribly educational, and then you go round a corner and get menaced by a giant animatronic T-Rex (big Telegram Sam up top, there). Also, cuteness:
Didn't want to leave, but the plane wouldn't wait.
Also, how do you London guys abide the atmosphere? My chest started aching and my snot turned black on the second day. I took an absent-minded sip of tap water and nearly vommed. I mean, I could believe that the residents of South Kensington bathe in sheer opulence, but what the hell does everyone else do?
Also also, I'm a big wean:
[1]They've gotten rid of their Star Wars Trilogy Arcade machine, which I had the high score on for ages,
[2]As many journeys as you like, to anywhere you want, for five and a bit pounds. No bad.
I'm hopelessly smitten with London's transport system. From the airport[1], it's a five-minute journey to the train platform. There's a train every fifteen minutes to Liverpool Street, which is an interchange station with the underground network. You can get to any tube station in London without having to set foot outside. It is ridiculous.
First order of business was a visit to Mornington Crescent. A couple of deft shunts kept us safe from the dreaded Dollis Hill loop, and we made it safely to Camden, there to look at boots.
Sadly, Jennie didn't find what she was looking for. Off to Elephant and Castle, then, for conferencing. Meanwhile I took advantage of the magical everywhere tube ticket[2] to visit all manner of touristy places like the Bank of England and St. Paul's and the Museum of London and the Tate Modern.
I'm convinced that St. Paul's was the inspiration for Spiny Norman. You can see that dome peering at you from all over London. Dinsdale! They wanted ten bucks to get in, though, so I lolled heartily and took my business elsewhere. The Museum of London is free and interesting and well-presented. Plenty of old Roman artifacts, and lots of info. Unlike in Kelvingrove, the descriptions do not appear to have been written by a five-year-old child with a particularly short attention span. Glasgow take note.
Turned up too early at the Tate for their Rothko and Francis Bacon exhibitions. Baws. Still, plenty of great stuff to coo at. Was particularly impressed by the Fred Williams landscapes.
Discovered it's an easy walk from the Tate to Elephant and Castle, so went for a wander. Got distracted by an amazing wall, as I'm prone to do.
Back to the hotel, then out for dinners. The food from the Dragon Palace on Earl's Court Road is reasonably-priced and delicious.
Next day we had time for a quick swatch at the Natural History Museum, which I strongly suspect is London's Best Thing™. We only really got round the dinosaur exhibit (plus a quick swatch at the amazing leafcutter ant colony), but even that knocks anything that Glasgow has to offer into a cocked hat. It's all terribly educational, and then you go round a corner and get menaced by a giant animatronic T-Rex (big Telegram Sam up top, there). Also, cuteness:
Didn't want to leave, but the plane wouldn't wait.
Also, how do you London guys abide the atmosphere? My chest started aching and my snot turned black on the second day. I took an absent-minded sip of tap water and nearly vommed. I mean, I could believe that the residents of South Kensington bathe in sheer opulence, but what the hell does everyone else do?
Also also, I'm a big wean:
[1]They've gotten rid of their Star Wars Trilogy Arcade machine, which I had the high score on for ages,
[2]As many journeys as you like, to anywhere you want, for five and a bit pounds. No bad.