Final Word

I saw this quote by Henry James at the Museum of London and think it is the most appropriate to end my blog about my time in London:

It is not a pleasant place:
It is not agreeable
or cheerful
or easy
or exempt from reproach.
It is only MAGNIFICENT.

Victoria Embankment Gardens

Right beside the Embankment tube station, I stumbled on what I can only describe as the most enchanting garden running along the river-- Victoria Embankment Gardens.  I could have stayed there all day.

Biking It

London has this great bike rental program all over the city-- and people really take advantage of it.  You can have your "own" bike for not much money and easy "storage."

Moshi Monsters

My oldest niece is a HUGE Moshi Monsters fan, and while I was in London I saw these two Moshi Monsters promotations:

Moshi Monster egg from the Big Egg Hunt.



Some sort of promotional bus at Covent Garden. 
(They were packing up for the night so I don't know what all they had.)



The Faberge Big Egg Hunt

For the last few months London has had this big outdoor art exhibition called "The Faberge Big Egg Hunt."  http://www.thebigegghunt.co.uk/  Like the cows in Chicago or the fish in Richmond, there were huge, decorated eggs on display all over town for you to "find." 

Here are some of my favorite ones I saw:

Hiranya Garbha - The Golden Egg

Pretty Polly

Egg Race

London Eye

When my friend Chris was in town one of the things we did was the London Eye.  I'd never been on it before, but I would highly recommend it!  Here are some pictures I took:

Looking east

 Buckingham Palace

Look, kids!  Big Ben, Parliment!

My Views

By popular demand, it has been requested that I post pictures of what I see here everyday.  So, here we go:

This is the street I live on, St. Johns Wood High Street.

It's actually very charming during the day-- people walking their dogs, walking children to school, drinking coffee at an outdoor cafe, vendors setting-up their flowers, storeshops opening, etc.

Just on this street there are bakeries/coffee shops, a butcher, a drug store, a deli, charity shops (thrift stores), restaurants, a bank, high-end clothing stores, salons, a florist, a dry-cleaner, and a wine shop (that I can think of).

I have felt very safe here both days and nights.

My favorite local pub, the Duke of York.

My local grocery store.

This is my local Tube stop, only a couple of blocks from my flat.

This is my Tube stop for work.  (The station isn't so much under renovation as there's a building being built next to it.)

This is the view from our office windows.  (Occupy London)

Apparently People Have to be Reminded

I pass this poster every day in the Tube station at work.


On a related note, evidentally until very recently you could have an OPEN container of alcohol ON the train! 

The Friendliest Day of the Year

On St. Patrick's Day, my visiting friend Chris and I went to Trafalgar Square to take in the festivities. 

Tons and TONS of people; very good people watching.

As a matter of fact, there were SO many people that they actually had poor policemen stationed IN the fountain to keep (drunken) morons out.  (See them in the bright yellow vests?)