A Week in Pictures
japra | Mar 19, 2007 | Comments 0
The Natural History Museum, London. This amazing building was actually more interesting to me than the collections inside. Designed by Alfred Waterhouse in the German Romanesque style, the museum opened in 1881. Be sure to spend some time on the outside to admire the mouldings of animals, birds, and other creatures.
Escalator through the metal earth sculpture. Museum of Natural History, London.
The Science Museum, a great place for kids of all ages. Lots of interactive exhibits. London.
A beautiful Saturday afternoon in Greenwich park. Looking down to the Queen’s House (middle). Supposedly James I gave the manor to his wife, Anne of Denmark, after he swore at her in public–she accidentally shot one of his favorite dogs while hunting. Also the National Maritime Museum, which we didn’t get to see. It’s supposed to be very good, though, and contains more than two million items “relating to seafaring, navigation, astronomy and time measurement”.
The Royal Observatory, designed by Christopher Wren. You can tour this 17th Century building, once home to John Flamsteed, the first royal astronomer. Many of the rooms are set up as they would have been when Flamsteed lived there. By the way, the red ball on the roof was installed in 1833 to announce the time to ships on the Thames as well as to Londoners. At 12:58 pm every day, the ball rises and at 13:00 GMT, it falls. It still is used today (except on windy days). Greenwich.
24-hour clock at the Royal Observatory. It wasn’t working when we were there. Greenwich.
Roxi walking the Prime Meridian line, half in the Eastern Hemisphere, half in the Western Hemisphere. That’s cool! The Greenwich Meridian was elected Prime Meridian of the world (0 degrees longitude) in 1884.
Entrance to the Greenwich Footway Tunnel under the Thames. Completed in 1902–can you believe that? It’s kind of creepy to walk under there–to think about where you are, how much water is on top. BTW, the lifts didn’t work when we were there. Be prepared to tackle the 100 steps. This is one of those things you just have to do because it’s there. The tunnel links Greenwich to the Isle of Dogs.
Inside the Greenwich Footway Tunnel.
Sunday afternoon in St. James’s Park. About two hours before we had a bit of sleet. London.
View of Buckingham Palace from the footbridg
e in St. James’s Park. If you turn around and look the other way…
You’ll see this. St. James’s Park, London.
Sunday’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. Photo taken from the steps of the statue of Eros, the Angel of Christian Charity. The Michelin London guide says that it’s a “(drinking) fountain”. Not sure if that’s still true today (I didn’t try it). London.
Wonder why this needs to be here? Piccadilly Circus, London.
This image freaks me out. I have no idea what the play is about. I only just realized that Daniel Radcliffe (think Harry Potter) is in it. But this image, though graphically clever, makes me think of a person who has been cut in two. I keep expecting to see blood dripping. Instead, I am relieved it is just a horse’s head. Anyway, this is the Gielgud Theatre in London’s West End.
And Finally…
It snowed a tiny bit today, just enough to make it fun. It wasn’t very cold, not sure why it snowed. We liked it!
Filed Under: Blog • Destinations • Historic Sites • London • Museums • United Kingdom • What to Do
About the Author: JaPRA is an expat Texan living in England with her husband (Mr. DJ), their 17-year old daughter (Roxi), and their dog Trudy.
