pictures - 1

Westfield London - near the end of a tube run - and the equivalent of Schaumberg - HUGE -

and finally got down to the river !!

looking the other way from the same spot

Florence Nightengale actually has her own museum - small - and very nicely done - opposite side of the river from Big Ben

this is a map of regents park -

incredible park - includes the zoo and all manner of smaller gardens - broad swaths of trees

and various set flower plantings - all very formal

and all quite pretty

and fountains - and all this is in a public garden, and no evidence of vandalism --

(and don't ask me the names of flowers!)

and walking from the tube (south edge of the map) to the zoo (north center) I saw 7 different grounds keepers doing various weeding, trimming, painting (litter boxes), and above - mowing the meadow

that way was all along what is called "the broad walk" -- and even two different tea shops IN the park, along this walk !!! how terribly civilized !!!

zoo has animals (natch), and have included a few favs of mine, and a few favs for special people

great new pengiun habitat - oh yeah, I'm in front, not in....

the money shot of the meerkats

actually saw the tortoise get into the pond -- have NEVER seen one of these in water before --

for Jan

beautiful countryside -- off to Salisbury

don't know if you can read the sign - it says "Chinese & Cantonese" -- Hmmmmm....

gate onto cathedral grounds

ta - da -- one of this cathedral's claims to fame is that it was built in 38 years - so style is totally uniform (vs. the usual of several centuries and a number of master masons)

these pictures are to keep proving that I really was there -- very Japanese

stumbled onto an exhibition of 'everyman' statuary around the cathedral.  It was striking, and have included a fair number of the pieces. 

tomb that is always there

sculpture addition

incredible detail - and this photographed well -- all was with this level of detail

the baptismal font  - "ever-flowing water" over the corners into grate on the floor

and a very old clock for Kurt

standing at the crossing looking back down the nave

turning and looking up through the choir to altar and beyond

closer shot of the end windows

nice glass

and imagine carving ALL this stuff -- no repeating computer controlled jigs for this stuff...

out into the quad - on the way to the chapter house --

grave plaque set into the wall - not remarkable for itself....

but read and look at the dates of the kids - first died after 5 days - the other two died w/in 2 days of each other - yeouch...

...and , as mentioned in the blog, I stumbled onto a wedding -- and yes, the ladies really do wear HATS -- all kinds of hats, including some of the 'tilted on the head decorated pancake hats' ala the recent royal wedding...

... and the wedding party, and ALL the guests really do assemble on the porch of the church for one 'en masse' photo.  It's not just for the British sit-coms! Forgot about this tradition, and just got this shot at the end, as it was breaking up.

... andother set of photos coming later today -- It's time for me to go and have tea....