It’s August 2006 in London UK. On a warm sunny weekend day the South Bank is busy with cultural festivals, meandering tourists, visitors to the Tate Modern, and The Globe.
The River Thames, often referred to as the life blood of the Capital City, is alive with tour boats, boat buses and there are kayaks, which, at first, are moving fast in a two lines formation, oars -in-out, tidily in together. They shift their positions on the water and move on, keeping up their speed.
It looks like the biggest draw for those of us on foot is The Millennium Bridge, It has connected up the old City of London to the rest of the throbbing cultural metropolis, it has breathed life into a part of the square mile that is the Old City Of London, where it used to be sleeping once the business of the day had ended. As you cross The Thames towards the majestic sight of St Paul’s Cathedral, you can also take in the views up and down the waterway. Returning, you will see The Tate Modern Gallery,(from where this picture was taken) you could also catch sight of The Globe Theatre. There is always so much to see whichever direction you are moving in.
Here on The South Bank you meet buskers, Greek musicians of quality, who are here because of the celebration of their culture. I stop to listen and record a few phrases of their music. They tell me they are staying in North London (where there are large Greek and Cypriot communities). They earn their living playing music at night in some of the Greek restaurants in London.
I take photos as I wander over the Millennium Bridge; the tide is out.
The Gherkin appeals to me, I love its clever elegant shape, the colour of the glass and it’s design. It breaks into the utilitarian lumps of angular concrete of the buildings clustered around it, buildings which I think are not sympathetic to the Neo-Classical structures nearby them. I never tire of the Gherkin. Eight years on, the skyline has altered with the development of more new fantastic architecture, slotted in and very visible from the vantage points from which I took these pictures in 2006. London never stays still.
It’s been a really good day, it’s time to go.
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8 comments:
ZACL,
Thank you for the tour! I wish I could go there again and watch a play every night and eat fish and chips. You're lucky.
I was a visitor in London in 2006, Keiko, and I took my golden opportunity to enjoy the dynamics of the outdoor activities in the Town. I do miss London life. It is easier to get there from many countries than it is from where I live. However, I do try to make the expedition.
Thanks for commenting.
I only venture to that part of London once or twice a year nowadays but never cease to be surprised at the visible changes. Flighty xx
What a delightful tour, ZACL! You words and pictures made me feel like I was there. I can hear the music...and oh, how I love bridges.
Hi Mr f,
When I lived not too far from where you are, I did not explore central London as much as I would now if I visited. For one thing, transport costs were expensive; there were not the Summer festivals that are so easy to access today. Museums had high entry charges. These days the visitor can freely enter a museum and then choose whether to pay for a special exhibition,or, enjoy the main exhibits open to all.
Sometimes I used to walk with a guide book to find the hidden corners and take visiting friends around the main sight-seeing locations, often in the evenings.
Xx
Hi Rebb,
How are you!
I am so pleased you liked the tour. I do have a .mov with some of the musical bars just starting to get my toes tapping, it is brief. I wasn't sure if it could be uploaded. The men were very good musicians. They had fun playing together on The South Bank, they said, as they did not often have the chance to do so. It was a real treat!
I adore The Millennium Bridge and the wistfulness of Tower bridge, it has many secrets about what it has seen over the centuries.
I'll never go in England, beause money. Good Travel in London. Thank you.
Ciao Zalandeau,
Thank you for your comment. Je suis tres contente que mon petit tour de Londres tu se plait.
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