Beautiful Cambridge

After being in London for a few weeks it was time to venture out into the country. One of my school friends is doing some crazy smart stuff at Cambridge so it was necessary to take a trip, if only to feel super smart for the day! I have heard that Cambridge is picturesque and indeed it has some incredible architecture. The fact that Cambridge itself is over 800 years old and many of the colleges in it, about the same, is truly spectacular. I wish we still paid as much attention to our new buildings as we did to our old ones. I guess once TV was invented, our imagination and time for detail slipped a bit. Here are some of the highlights of the day. 

 

The bridge of sighs. I am told that the students used to walk across this bridge when they were off to write exams - hence the sighs! It's counterpart in Venice (also the bridge of sighs) was the crossing for prisoners to get to the gallows - I think they had more reason to sigh! Although I hardly feel that a sigh is enough when you're about to have your head chopped off!

I think this is St John's Collage, and I gather this is the one that secretly everyone else wants to be in, because there is a lot of rivalry towards and between them. I don't blame the others - it's a spiritual experience walking within these walls.

Photographic evidence that I punted! You may notice that all the other boats are going in the other direction. We took this photo after I had managed to turn us around and get us stuck along the bank. I was punting upstream so I had that against me, but man, it looks much easier than it is! I wonder if rowing would be easier - at least you have two oars. As London is hosting the Olympics in 2012, one of the sports they would like to propose to be added to the games is punting.. this seems ridiculous but I do think there is a lot of skill and tenacity involved. As few nations punt as a pastime, hopefully the British will actually win something.

Philippa and Jen with a birthday cupcake and sparkler for Jenny's birthday, celebrating birthdays as you should on a lazy Sunday afternoon, with old friends, along the river Cam.

More architectural grandeur... 'fraid I can't remember the name of this one - possibly also part of St Johns where they hold these incredible parties which are themed and everyone dresses accordingly. Seems like the place to do so and invite Harry Potter along.

And with ying, there must be yang, and thus I present you with the ugliest thing in Cambridge - truly grotesque. The guy that invented the cordless kettle, clearly rolled in the dough - and decided to design this clock which is on display for all to see in a very public area - unfortunately. The 'chronophage' (made up word? are you kidding?! chrono as in chronological and phage as in 'yum-yum') is supposed to be eating up time. This weird cockroach combo dinosaur moth creature sits on top of the clock like a hamster in a wheel and occasionally sticks out his tongue. What possessed this man with all his millions to desecrate Cambridge's ancient, natural beauty is beyond me. I will have to focus on its clever design and innovative mechanism to get passed this one. Eew.

When in London, be a tourist why dont'cha? Version 2.0

London Bridge is falling down

We are living very close to the Thames and we discovered that a quick (and exotic) way to get into central London is to take the Thames clipper. It reminded me of the Staten Island ferry only more with the inside like an aeroplane. The Thames clipper dropped us off here (above) - and of course the bridge looks just like it did years ago..

Tower of London

We also stumbled upon this impressive structure - the tower of London. I wonder if we will ever know the truth about the Little Princes, supposedly locked in the Tower by Richard the III, so that he could take the crown.. 

Borough Market

Perhaps not the typical tourist thing to do in London compared withe popular landmarks, but I  was recommended to go to the Borough market by a local so I thought I would check it out. In addition, Jamie Oliver supposedly shops here so it gives you an idea of the food and wares that the marketers are likely to peddle: exotic and expensive fungi, super smelly cheese and organically ground coffee beans. One day I will shop at Borough market and know what I am doing!

Greenwich Palace (again)

I know I keep putting up pictures of Greenwich palace but well I just can't help it! The evenings have been so beautiful here so I just had to take another picture of this palace in its completeness. Thanks for baring with me!

When in London, be a tourist why dont'cha? Version 1.0

Kensington Gardens

I am assuming that this is the view that Lady Di saw when she lived in Kensington Palace. 

 Alice in Wonderland inspired perhaps? 

Kensington Palace: I am sure it is just lovely inside. Not sure who the lady in the front is supposed to be.. She does not bare a resemblance to Lady Di or Queen Lizzy as far as I can tell. Perhaps, Elizabeth the First otherwise known as Cate Blanchett. 

Hyde Park

On my way to find the elusive Lady Diana Memorial Fountain - stopped by this bridge crossing the Serpentine in Hyde Park. This was also the day that I saw Kelly Osbourne. I'm 99.9% sure that it was her - purple grey hair and all. 

I guess when you don't have a beach you get try and trick people into thinking they are on one in a man-mad park. You then get loads of people in scantily clad bikinis in the royal gardens - the trickery must be pretty effective then - Londoners - you know what I mean!

My Kind of London.

Notting Hill

Oh to have tea from a teapot once more...

 Notting Hill - the Bo-Kaap of London..

We travelled all the way from Chicago..

..not expecting this. For those of you that know Ryan's relationship with Vida, well I don't need to explain anything. For those of you who don't - e-mail me. 

This is how I feel about London, working and life in general..

..confused, bemused and frustrated. 

 
I am going to need to drink a lot of tea and nutella by the spoonful to get out of this funk.

Greenwich Park for a Picnic

Greenwich palace - birth place of Henry VIII and his daughters, Queen Mary I and Queen Lizzy I (you know the one Cate Blanchett plays..!). See below:

I'm sure they beheaded some people here. It's sad that it's pretty empty now. I feel like I stepped into some history here. It's really quiet and majestic.

Royal gates with loads of crowns and bedazzling. Greenwich Museum and Park is in the background.

Another way to stand on the East/West line. Pretty cooool. 

 The London equivalent of a sunset? We're on the South Bank of the Thames looking north across to Isle of Dogs (where we live) and which was marsh lands until it was rebuilt after the War (it also took a lot of hits as the docklands area).

I just liked this one. I also like the fact that I can see this with the zoom. I love my camera. 

Greenwich park and something that I am probably never likely to do! But I admire their effort! 

Check out the colours of his paws - awesome! He posed pretty nicely for us. 

 

Ryan asked me to take this one - a quintessential London shot, he said. Yes he did.

Home away from Home away from Home.

We organised our apartment from Chicago. Correction, 1x crazy Italian organised it for us from Chicago via Italy via email so all four of us didn't really know what to expect. The flat turned out very nicely in a cute suburban area with lots of schools and old English pubs (I better learn to drink beer quickly.. Ryan is getting embarrassed when I ask for a plain tonic water or a hot chocolate at a pub - I couldn't help it, I was cold!) and it's close to a bus line from Canary Wharf and a tube station on the DLR (Docklands Light Raiway). I don't want to bore you with pictures of our carpet, bathroom and bedrooms so here are a few photos to give you an idea of the place and it's inhabitants. Please also bare in mind that furnished in the UK/London does not necessarily mean kitchenware included - so no pots, pans, knives, forks, cups, plates, toaster, kettle.. nothing! No cleaning equipment, no dustbins for the bathrooms! Luckily we had our wits about us to bring a duvet cover, towels, a fitted sheet and pillow cases because otherwise we would have spent the first night sleeping on a bare mattress and uncovered pillow. Now, I have seen those National Geographic programmes where they tell you that all the house dust mites live in your mattress. They also show you what they look like under a microscope. No thanks. 

Kitchen with one of our lounge chairs and a dining room table - very nice - and we don't have a dining room table in Chicago so I am taking full advantage of this one.  I also find that I get the most 3G bars at this table and the internet is therefore the fastest there. But I don't want to tell the rest of my housemates because then they will hijack my spot in the evenings and the weekends and I won't be able to blog! Notice my tea mug bottom left.. hmm reminds me, it's nearly 11am - and that as we all know is the universally accepted tea time hour. 

OK now that the kettle is boiling (I kid you not), I can continue. This is the view from our lounge across the apartment complex. The main thing is that the sun is shining. Looking at this picture, I feel like I should get my chim-a-ney sweep Mary Poppins gear out and go and clean some flutes. At least I would earn a few squiddles and a cockney accent. I am living in East London after all. But it's not the time for chimneys just yet! 

So I can't have a dog or a baby just yet so I decided to give Monsieur Basil (above) a new home. At only 50p ((R6) I thought he was a great bargain and I know he will delight any gourmet sandwich and pasta that I make in the future. In fact, after 1x crazier Belgian cremated his pizza in the oven (he left it under the grill and wonders, why?) and 1x crazy Italian offered to share his pasta with him, Monsieur Basil added the final touch to the pasta which before was just olive oil + pasta + canned tomatoes. So he has been welcomed into our household. I hope he lives a long and healthy life. I am worried where to send him after we leave - the boys suggested eating him completely but I'm not sure I can do that. He looks so happy. (Note to self: You know you've gone bonkers - and you're husband is an investment banker who leaves you alone a lot - when you're talking about a plant as a person and you give him a French name like you would a cat)

Funny story, this one. As Ryan says, 'that is a ridiculous radio' and at 4 pounds, I thought it was a bargain. Of course the batteries cost just as much but that's beside the point! I have mumsy to thank for this suggestion to make me feel like I have a friend at home and to keep me up-to-date with the world. We don't have a TV and no broadband so this way I have some contact with the outside world and a friendly gadget to help me when I have to do housework and I need a distraction. My life.. is it sad?

P.S. I have been listening to Capital FM which seems to be the pop/current music station in London and it's playing all the same tunes as we heard in Florida - ah takes me back - Hilly this one is for you: Alejandro Alejandro, Fernando (Shakira?)! Come on Rude Boy, Giddy up boy, (Rhianna), I'm a Freak - Just don't give up - Adam Lambert.

Thames River Tour - Gotta do the sights!

When you have no job, limited funds and lots of free time, what do you do? You pick up the free HSBC guide that everyone gets at Heathrow airport and you do the suggested activities in there. So on Wednesday, I decided to venture out into the City and do the River Walk. In accordance with the location of each major landmark, their respective picture (for proof purposes) follows, with a brief description. Of course. 

1. Big Benjamin

Iconic - I took millions of pics of Big 'Ol Ben from all the angles. You'll see the time changing. Caught him at midday too. I also really understood the power of the zoom when I could see the sculptured work on Ben in these pictures.

 
2. A beautiful photo of.. I don't know what.

This building is right next to Parliament and Westminister Abbey. Perhaps AlexAlice can help out again with naming this one? I'm not even sure if this is the front but I liked the sky and the proportions in the photograph, so it made the public appearance (blog).

3. Westminister Abbey

There was a lot of construction going on around the front of Westminister. And I would have risked my life crossing the road at noon to see the entrance so this will have to suffice. :) 

4. Parliament and Big 'Ol Ben on the Thames

 5. London Eye-ball

 For you mom too because I  know you love heights and can't wait to take that helicopter trip with us from Vegas across the Grand Canyon.


6. Freaking hilarious... is all I have to say.

There just are no words. It was too funny. Let me know if I need to expand on this explanation further. 

7. Somerset House

 

Again, I need to research this one because apparently (according to the HSBC promotional guide), 'this leafy length of riverside (on the south bank of the Thames) is always busy with crowds enjoying the views across the water to Somerset House'. There were no crowds when I was there and all I could see were these trees in my way. What is the deal with Somerset House? Pray, do tell. 

8. London Bridge

At least I hope it is... otherwise it's Tower Bridge.. but I am fairly confident that this is the one the nursery rhyme was talking about falling down. 

9. This was an awesome man who was missing a head. Unfortunately these lil blighters thought he was fascinating too and got in my way of my super picture. I thought it was a pretty clever act. 

10. For any Herschel girls out there... this one is for you (and Mrs Crutchley and Ms Baws)

Shakespeare's Globe currently showing Henry the VIII - definitely an upgrade from Maynardville..

The Greenwich Meridian

I blame Herschel for making me feel that I wasn't 100% well-educated until I had seen the British sites - where Shakespeare performed at the Globe, where Henry chopped off the heads, and where the East and West meet at the Greenwich Meridian. I have always wanted to be that cheesy tourist who stands with one foot in the west, and the other in the east. And now I can say that I have done it! Did I feel cut in half or perfectly symmetrical at that moment? Well no.. I mostly felt embarrassed by all the other cheesy tourists waiting to have their pictures taken on this historic ground. Still, it was worth it! And, I have the cheesy grin to prove it!

The Greenwich Maritime Museum - with a sterling collection of toy boats..

We think this is the top of Greenwich Cathedral - anyone out there know? Either way, it's beautifully ornate.

This one is for you, Mom! This is Sir William Herschel's telescope. Perhaps the very one that he used to discover Uranus and found Herschel.

Approaching the moment of truth..

Getting closer... our little feet on East and West waiting in the queue.

Abstractedly, architecturally and practically splitting the world in half.

Ta daaa!!!! I think I am more West than East in this picture but that is probably true in life as well! So peops, this is it - the Greenwich Meridian. Not sure it's worth all the hoo-ha but I guess it's novel to say that you've seen it. At least they don't charge you to stand there.

Cape Town represents!! But why are we grouped with Sydney? Sorry! I think I am frustrated by the fact that every second American thinks I'm Australian! Now really! South Africa - we need to represent and give our accents more air time! We have 46 million people and Australia has 26.. clearly the Aussies are getting out more!

Greenwich park with Canary Wharf skyline in the background. Looks like a good picnic spot!