Although my day trip to London was the result of crazy Russian Visa bureaucracy, I turned it into a lovely leisure trip. I managed to get some bargain price train tickets and set off on the in total 3.5 hour train journey at 8:00 am and because I arrived too early for the appointment at the Visa centre, I decided to walk the couple of miles instead of taking the tube, in fact I walked the rest of the day because the weather was so good. Here are some random photos I took as I wandered around the London streets, I haven't been there for years, and never really enjoyed London, but I admit this time I somehow sank into the atmosphere that seemed to envelop me..... This is Birmingham Central station which has recently been rebuilt, it was one of the worst stations in the UK being revamped in the 1960's with grey concrete and buried underground. The arrival station in London from Birmingham is Euston, another unattractive and boring 1960's affair The original Euston: The current building: The restored St.Pancras station just down the road is in contrast quite breathtaking: A popular street food tent.. The Visa Centre is another drab 1960's affair, though functional I guess: The street leading to the Visa Centre I came across St.Pauls cathedral by accident really, as I had no real route planned: Lots of people were enjoying the sun in the grounds of St.Pauls
I then stumbled across the "Millennium Bridge" which I didn't even know existed but it seems very popular and gives some good views of the Thames. The Views While on the bridge a street musician below was playing a dreamy version of Sting's lovely song "Fields of Gold", I must admit surrounded by people speaking every language you could imagine, and enjoying the late autumn sunshine, I was moved to tears, one of those magic moments when it's so good to be alive. I went down and gave the musician a few coins, you can see him in this photo. The bridge shot against the light A nearby against the light shot across the Thames A good way to take your kids around As the light was fading I made my way back to the station another couple of miles and took a few photos as I walked through various streets and parks
@Terry Page Terry - What's the statue ? The first of the second group of pictures He looks like he's had one too many .................
Oh thanks @Terry Page There's a pub in London called the Thomas a Beckett - boxers used to train upstairs there
No I didn't Holly, I am not a fan of pasta or pizza because sadly it causes my eczema to flare up, either wheat or gluten intolerance
The Sting song that gave me that magic moment. "Fields Of Gold" You'll remember me when the west wind moves Upon the fields of barley You'll forget the sun in his jealous sky As we walk in fields of gold So she took her love For to gaze awhile Upon the fields of barley In his arms she fell as her hair came down Among the fields of gold Will you stay with me, will you be my love Among the fields of barley We'll forget the sun in his jealous sky As we lie in fields of gold See the west wind move like a lover so Upon the fields of barley Feel her body rise when you kiss her mouth Among the fields of gold I never made promises lightly And there have been some that I've broken But I swear in the days still left We'll walk in fields of gold We'll walk in fields of gold Many years have passed since those summer days Among the fields of barley See the children run as the sun goes down Among the fields of gold You'll remember me when the west wind moves Upon the fields of barley You can tell the sun in his jealous sky When we walked in fields of gold When we walked in fields of gold When we walked in fields of gold