ms_go

It was fun to come back and take another look through this (and also the see the newer posts) having just returned a couple of days ago. We used some of the earlier posts as inspiration for our two free days in London. On Monday, we went to Kew Gardens and walked the two-mile or so path from there along the river to Richmond. On Tuesday, we spent some time around Spitalfields and Brick Lane. We also enjoyed wandering around Manchester for a day, in between our two concerts there. So sorry about your father.

zebec

Tanks MsGo. Backatya regarding Bob.
How were those gigs? You are required to report here about them. See, if I get 45,000 'likes' then they're gonna give me a sparkly red armband that says 'Exalted Traveler'.
Btw, we did that Towpath on what turned out to be an unexpected heat wave day. We thus refer to that walk as The Death March. I'll include a foto or two from that in the upcoming final bunch of shots.
Btw, I have a childhood pal who was a Mancunian. His wife was the final singer in our old '70s band. Think Ann Wilson.

I say, it would be great if MS-and-MrGo would post more about their experiences here. All agreed circle one of the words below:

True That Rather YES Absolutely

ms_go

Duly noted!

We enjoyed both shows. They were on consecutive nights at the AO Arena in Manchester. Spoon/Black Keys was a lively show with a lively audience, with a few new songs from the latter but mostly recognizable hits. Peter Gabriel plays his entire new album, although interspersed with other more familiar material. It was a very intricately produced show with a great supporting band, not surprisingly. He has two 10-song sets with an intermission and a couple of one-song encores. Total show was almost exactly three hours. We managed to stay awake both nights, despite the jet lag (but no pub crawling after).

By the way, the Black Keys/Spoon show was actually an afterthought. Originally, we planned our travel around the Peter Gabriel show on Friday night and a Cubs/Cardinals game in London on Sunday afternoon. Then, we noticed that Spoon/Black Keys were playing on the evening of our arrival in Manchester. It would be dicey (our flight was to arrive at 5 pm, and the Manchester airport is a bit out of the city) but we decided to buy tickets and take the chance, particularly because Spoon is one of mr_go’s long-time faves. Our decision not to check any luggage ended up making the difference. Our Lufthansa flight from Munich to Manchester was delayed due to air traffic control. After an hour, the captain announced that we were leaving immediately without any of the checked luggage loaded, in order to keep our departure slot. So, unlike most of our fellow passengers, we did not have to queue up to file a lost baggage claim (after standing in a hundreds-long line for immigration). We landed at 6 pm, made a beeline to our hotel and got to the arena just before Spoon came on. Isn’t travel fun these days?!

zebec

Ta' MSgo. I'm glad that you made it there just in time, makes for a great travel memory/story! We passed on our similar 'but-will-we-make-it-in-time?' situation in London last year. Guitarist Nels Cline from 'Wilco' was one of the performers at the Tunbridge Wells fest but there were just too many moving parts for us to make it so. Btw, Steve Wilson has written a book. Summat about a career in music.

zebec

Time to wrap up. The following are miscellaneous images. Again, we welcome any and all additional photos, stories, suggestions, faves, related reportage. Don't be shy, folks.
And a fitting Brit song from the early '70s to kick this final lot off. We used to cover several Heep songs and our primary songwriter was heavily influenced by their style. I concurred.

zebec

Brixton is a very hip place. Many Jamaican people settled there in '48 and it remains home to many Brits of color.

Race riots made headlines here in 1985.

Brixton's Electric Avenue was so-named because it was one of the country's first electrically-lit streets. Nowadays there are numerous outdoors produce vendors.

Colorful clothing.

During our visit, a clearly stoned woman walked around lugging a large computer monitor. Pretty sure that she'd ripped it off from somewhere. As we passed underneath here in the tube station, she attempted to spit on us from above, but instead of hitting us, her gob instead struck a young black man. "And I never even did nothink to her!!" he protested. Neither had we. This fellow above witnessed the incident but had nothink to say.

This couple were at the pseudo-Swiss chalet that is Duck Island Cottage at St. James park. The building was constructed in 1841 to house the Royal Birdkeeper. Settle down DCD!

Bethnal Green. I immediately explained to those in the image that we too have a coffee house with that exact same name in our neighbourhood.

Little Bangla sweet.

I forget where this foto was taken.

Two young women chat during their work break.

London has any number of famed recording studios where classic albums were once made. Seen above, an old-school Schure mic. Back in '87, I went to Abbey Road for my newspaper article. A group of young German fans there took my portrait by the studio door and in return, I promised to send them a few copies of my private audience bootlegs. Unfortunately, when the developed foto arrived in Toronto--they'd neglected to include a return address! Oh no...

Near Pancras. Some 8.6 million souls reside in London and many take the Tube.

Freshly-painted.

Again, needs no intro.

Neal's Yard Cheese, and Neals Yard (herbal) Remedies are apparently no longer owned by the original Chelsea shop anymore. Still love the latter's distinctive blue glass bottles--fan-tastic gift items.

Detail from historic home's window.


Can't suss out the sign. 'Tenters Ground' or somefink, yeah?

My friend Mike's dad grew up nearby.

This adult gal seemed to be celebrating a graduation. Daddy took many photos of her there by those Somerset House fountains. He was trying hard to look casual, all blue jeans and casual wear, but his bodyguards (plural) who oversaw the scene spoke of great wealth.

Near Warwick crescent in Little Venice.





Traitors Gate at the Tower of London.

Tower of London.

Close-up detail of Brick lane's 30m stainless steel Mosque tower.

Flask Walk in Hampstead.

The East End took the brunt of Luftwaffe bombing during the Blitz. The waterfront was just below on the map. I've also read that Nazi crews dumped their remaining payloads there for logistical reasons. Conditions in the underground Tube stations (inc. Liverpool, Aldgate and nearby) were terrible for the many citizens who'd been directed there by officials. Sleeping comfort was non-existent and there were only a few buckets to serve as toilets for those sizable crowds. The government hid that.

Reflections from the downtown Insurance Companies high-rises, plus this first one from 'Citizen M' hotel. The last one is from Westminster abbey's neighbour church.






Not far from Scotland Yard. This is a brilliant photo print, seemingly 3D in appearance.

One of our fave meals at Dishooms, a breakfast. Manager Rama and I had a very friendly chat about business and post-covid tourism. Outdoor décor included lovely Persian tiles. The bookshelf there also had an old Lonely Planet title. That was photographer Richard l'Anson's great picture book about his times in India.

Petticoat Junction. The nearby Sonna store's knowledgable owner Brandon is a world authority on West African wax-print textiles.

York Hall Memorial Spa turned out to be disappointing. First their answering line was a farce. Then their promised Indian 'Ayurvedic' massage turned out to be bogus, not as advertised. Sigh...

Walked all the way to this venerable wine shop by Pall Mall, only to discover it was closed that day!

Camden Town mural. I like this one very much.

Richmond Road bridge and the colorful local waterfront riverside.

Richmond Theatre courtyard floor mosaic.

This friendly Richmond resident sits before a mural depicting that nearby historical theatre.

The actual theatre.

The Mount in Hampstead. Nearby Whitestone Park (home to white waterlily pads) is the highest point in London at 440 metres.

Dig that Hampstead door! This leafy, posh area ranks as one of London's (many) exclusive addresses.

The French restaurant 'La Cage Imaginaire' on Flask way. The food, the wine and the service were all excellent. This was Mrs Z's wise selection, a great choice.

Flask Walk, site of England's first bottled water enterprise during the 18C. Painter John Constable lived nearby, as did the poet Keats.

Weavers Field was where these men had gathered to bond over a game.

Dray wWk takes one past bars and cafes into the open-air Ely Place. The Free Range Photography fest was in full-swing then and there. A funny, if confusing, moment occurred when one of the promoters approached me on the street to invite me to that exhibit. he'd seen my Nikon. I'd just then been waiting on a stranger who was late for our rendezvous and of course, assumed the invitee to be that same fellow. He was not.

She checks her cell phone by the Covid Remembrance Wall, a promenade at the sarf end of Westminster Bridge.

A shot taken through the window of a moving taxi on Blackfriar bridge. Do you ever try that? Christopher Wren's St. Paul Cathedral survived the Great Fire of 1666, plus the Blitz. It was also the site of Charles and Dianne's wedding. Btw, the notorious photo of that plucky milkman striding forth through Blitz rubble to complete his tasks nearby, was staged propaganda. The photographer had instructed his assistant to don a milkman's coat and then pose accordingly.

Mile End Fun Fair Mile End Fun Fair poster.

Kew public scooter rentals, which were matched by the popular Santander bicycle equivalents. 'Ma Cuisine' cafe in background.

This couple lounge in the park. They told me that they'd just been to see the big Rolling Stones concert a couple of days earlier.

Friendly Jan worked at Spitalfields City Farm. She told us a strange story. A week earlier, a young Canadian tourist gal spent her single day in London by visiting the farm. It seems that she somehow fell asleep on one of the benches and narrowly avoided being locked-in for the night! Try telling the airlines that excuse!

It was a hot day at the farm. We bought some cool drinks. Mine burst with all the noise in the universe (Elderflower Cordial culprit above). One of the closest kids at the adjoined St. Anne's school recess yard shouted, 'WHATTHEHELLWASTHAT?!" I had to calm him down, unseen, through the common link fence. Later while visible and fetching an errant ball for them, I teased those same kids by pretending that the ball was too heavy for me. They played along, "YOUCANDOITSIR!!" A wonderful interlude.

Beside the whimsical modern metal sculptures 'Rabbit Woman & Dog Man (riding bikes).

The East End Mosque is across from the Whitechapel site where in 1912 a smart man finally figured out the source of water that was killing locals: a contaminated fountain. An angel statue now marks the spot. Also, back in '78 down the road by St. Mary church, skinheads murdered poor Altab Ali. A square/park has been named for him there.

Someone's private puppet in a home's front window display.

This good-natured Syrian man encouraged Brick Lane passerby to play chess with him. Close-by was a "Poet for Hire'. Theirs were some of the efforts that helped to create an attractive, carnival-feel during the weekend market.

That's it folks. Thanks for viewing. Time for other travelers' input now.

zebec

zebec

zebec

zebec

Saved this one for last, because there is a connection to our upcoming Cotswolds TR. You're scratching your head and I don't blame you--the Cotswolds and Black Sabbath!? What? Stay tuned for that story.
I am done London. the end London.

coral22

Wow, wow and wow!!! You have such a rare gift for so many different types of photography, especially the way you capture people's moods and expressions. We are planning a trip to London and the Cotwolds in the spring, so I have taken many notes. Thank you for sharing!

So sorry for your loss of your father, it is a very sad way to end a such lovely trip.

dcd

zman, I just spent a wonderful hour and a half reading this incredible TR. Where to begin......

First, sorry to learn about your dad. My very belated condolences.

Second, when posting photos here, I learned the trick to displaying multiple images so that white space appears between them, avoiding that run on appearance where it can be difficult to tell where one photo ends and the next begins. Assuming you don't know, here's how to do it.

As you do know, if you make a comment in the box underneath each photo, white space is automatically created before the next one appears. But if posting multiple photos in a row without comment, the only way to create separation/white space between each one is to put the cursor in the box below each photo as if you were going to write something but instead simply hit the return key once (or twice if you want extra white space). Then proceed to the next photo. And wa la, separation when you hit post!!!

Third, I'm in awe (yet again) of your ridiculous memory, your fabulous creative writing and story-telling skills, the music library in your head, your superb, keen artistic eye, your impeccable photographic compositions, and your charming photo journalism. Too much freakin' talent in one person! So please don't take up bird photography, lol!!! I can believe it took you a year to piece this masterpiece together. I stopped doing TRs long ago. Too much time and effort... Which is why I limit myself to photo TRs in the Saturday/Sunday Night Loser's Club thread when traveling.

Fourth, Joyce always gives me a hard time when photographing people, especially large breasted brides. So I'm more than just a little envious you have (an apparent) license to shoot as you please. Good on you, Mrs. Z!!!! And I had to do some fast talking (something about there being a little pond between US and UK) to get the British intelligence folks off my back for that heron work of art, lol. Actually, I have ZERO artistic skills, unless stick figures are making a comeback.

Lastly, I am embarrassed to admit that I rarely, rarely venture onto the Europe board, but I'm glad you prompted me to do so via your comments in the Bird Thread in the Lounge (shameless promo) because I now have several other trip reports to read here. In reviewing the thread titles, there are many where I could seemingly offer some helpful advice, if only I had a halfway decent memory. But I don't (sigh), which is why I take so many photos when I travel.

fufu7755

Very wonderful record. From Do you have any recommended food in London?