A Report on Walks Through London

So a summary of my walks experience: My three favorites were Westminster and St. James, Lambeth and Southwark, and Central Parks.  I loved Westminster and St. James because I got to see London's biggest attractions (Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, and the London Eye) all lit up at night and it was beautiful.  It finally hit me that I'm really here...seven weeks later.  I also did this walk alone, and half of it without a map.  Lambeth and Southwark was a fun walk because it was a beautiful day to walk along the Thames and see the Eye up close and all the street performers and booths.  The pier was so full of life, and the views were incredible.  Central Parks was wonderful too, because we live so close to these magical and historical parks, and it was amazing to walk through them on a late sunny Sunday morning.  Families were meandering, roller bladers skating by, and ducks and swans swimming lazily along the Serpentine.  It was a classic London experience.  And of course, the company on these walks can make all the difference in the world.  I'm grateful for these walk assignments because they forced me to get out and experience parts of London that I didn't know of or was too scared to investigate on my own.

It's been real, London, and I'm going to miss you!

My Last Walk! Soho to Trafalgar

Trafalgar Square!!

So this is London’s red light district.  Unaware of this, I was going to go by myself on a Friday night… Well, I’m glad I didn’t go.  I went this evening by myself.  But it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.  I actually found it funny – I came across drag queens mostly.  But I didn’t want to give myself away as a blatant tourist, so I didn’t take any pictures of that part of the walk.  I waited until I got to Trafalgar Square, where I felt of the majority.  Apparently most everybody had already hit the bars because the square was pretty empty.  Empty enough that I couldn’t find anyone to take a picture of me.  So I just took several without me.  They’re better that way anyway. :) 

Westminster and St. James

  I LOVED this walk.  I went by myself after I did the City walk, just as it was getting dark.  I am familiar with the major buildings around that area already, but it was breathtaking seeing them at night.  Big Ben and Parliament are just iconic and beautiful.  The London Eye was a contrasting kind of beauty, but that was fun to see too.  Westminster was pretty too, especially the back side.  Actually, I loved this whole walk.  St. James was beautiful.  In addition to the route assigned, I went through the park on my loop around the back side of Parliament, and it was deserted.  The sun was down, but it wasn’t quite dark yet.  Late twilight, I’d say.  The pond was so peaceful with the swans and ducks swimming lazily through the algae-covered water. Everything was a luscious green. Ah! I loved it.  And because no one was around, I may have sung aloud with my iPod… I ended the walk with a stroll on Westminster Bridge to watch the beautiful lights reflect on the Thames and the dark clouds pass through a darkening, deep purple sky.  I didn’t want to go home.  

The City (east)

  I did this walk with Alison Roybol yesterday in the rain…It was a delightful experience. Not.  We took a wrong turn right out of Tower Hill station, but we didn’t figure it out until we had already walked for 10 minutes. So we just kept going until we caught up with the route again.  We saw lots of the financial district, and where the Great Fire of 1666 was started.  That was cool to see the epicenter of that awful and historical event. My other favorite part of the walk was all the banks facing each other. And it’s cool to see a bunch of old, old churches tucked in alongside very modern and postmodern buildings.  We went on a Friday evening, so all the workers were already hitting the bars, and the city was cleared out for the weekend. 

Southwark and Bankside

I have actually walked this route several times when I’ve gone to the Shakespeare Globe Theatre: once for “As You Like It”, once for the tour of the old theatres, and once for “Much Ado About Nothing”.  After “Much Ado”, there was a suicide jumper on the Millennial Bridge, so we had to figure out a new way to get home. I have also walked to the Tate Modern several times.  So I was very familiar with the area, except the part by the Tower of London, and we went there as a group today.  I really liked it, except for the sudden rain clouds that down poured on us wherever we went.  I also enjoyed crossing the Thames on London Bridge; that was something you just have to do when you’re in London. Once over the river, (Bri was with me) we walked through the financial district, which was full of really cool buildings and lots of people in really nice, intimidating suits. I also really liked the London Bridge tube station.  It’s the oldest station in London, and I thought it was pretty cool. I really enjoyed this walk.
(and from the pic, you can see I am finally experiencing London authentically -- in the rain.) :)

Tower of London and Southwark/Bankside Walk

Millennial Bridge and Tate Modern

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre

I have actually walked this route several times when I’ve gone to the Shakespeare Globe Theatre: once for “As You Like It”, once for the tour of the old theatres, and once for “Much Ado About Nothing”.  After “Much Ado”, there was a suicide jumper on the Millennial Bridge, so we had to figure out a new way to get home. I have also walked to the Tate Modern several times.  So I was very familiar with the area, except the part by the Tower of London, and we went there as a group today.  I really liked it, except for the sudden rain clouds that down poured on us wherever we went.  I also enjoyed crossing the Thames on London Bridge; that was something you just have to do when you’re in London. Once over the river, (Bri was with me) we walked through the financial district, which was full of really cool buildings and lots of people in really nice, intimidating suits. I also really liked the London Bridge tube station.  It’s the oldest station in London, and I thought it was pretty cool. I really enjoyed this walk. 

Lambeth Walk: The London Eye and the Thames

On Saturday, May 28^th, Bri led Alison and I through Lambeth.  We got a little turned around coming out of Waterloo station (which is where part of “The Bourne Ultimatum” was filmed…no big deal…) but after we went all the way around through the sketchy part of town, we popped out right along the Thames, right where we needed to be.  It was a beautiful day, and my favorite part of the walk was strolling along the river, passing the London Eye and crossing over Waterloo Bridge and walking through Somerset House.  I took some great pictures of the river and of the Somerset courtyard’s Chinese zodiac garden…you know, Year of the Monkey stuff, etc.  It was great. 

Inns of Court Walk

 Saturday, May 21^st, Alison led this walk until we got lost, at which point she “relinquished her power”, gave me the book and map, and I led the rest of the walk.  But in her defense, it was really hard to follow the map because we weren’t following the directions exactly because we didn’t realize the Inns were closed on weekends.  So we went the roundabout way.  And we still saw all the stops along the way.  The Staple Inn was probably my favorite because it is one of the last timber buildings to survive the Great Fire of 1666.  It is quintessential: white-washed walls and dark vertical timber, crooked walls, thatched roof, etc. Then we ended down by the Royal Court House and a bunch of fancy financial buildings… I have never seen so many CCTV cameras; I didn’t know how to feel – either safe or uneasy – because I was being watched so closely! 

Busy, busy, busy + no internet= no blog updates...

Sorry! I have been doing so much everyday, and with internet that is never reliable, I haven't been able to keep up my blog.  But my assignments are done for the mean time, and I will be a blogging machine.  Sadly, I have only 6 more days left in this wonderful city.  The time has flown by!  I'm ready to go home and enjoy the comforts of being in the USA, but as soon as I'm settled in back in Montana, I know I'll miss traveling.  I miss London already.  So many things left to do and see in so little time... It's sad. :( But it's been a great run, London.  Coming up on the blog: walks around London, Scotland and northern England, Germany, and more!