DateTime: 9/13/2009 11:24:11 AM
Hiya from London. And the Park Plaza Riverbank, 18 Albert Embankment. Got on the Eye last night and took a few dozen shots. I like the one of Parliament.
Lotsa photos on my flickr site.
The River Fest was happening. Virtually a 2 mile long State Fair. Terrific time. Ambled and ate.
River races today but we went shopping on The Strand, bought my first cashmere sweater evah. Wish I had done years ago. It's perfect for London Autumn.
We'll be going up in the eye again, early morning.
Two plays to go to so far: Cage Au Folles then Phantom of the Opera. Always wanted to see the London Production.
DateTime: 9/18/2009 5:07 PM
Did a bus tour today. Got on a city bus and just rode round and round.when it got to the end of its trip, sign read "Bus terminates here" so the few of us got off and sat in a bus stop
shelter. Meanwhile, the bus driver, shut off his bus, read a paper, had a snack. Then he started up and the few of us got back on.We ended up in a Council Housing neighborhood. In the States we
call them "ghettos". . .Just back from seeing "Speaking in tongues" Very oddly staged play. Strong hints of "Six Degrees of Separation" in it.At least we had a Mezzanine
seat. Never sit in those dang floor stalls!Husband hits Starbucks now and then because they make the only "real" coffee in this town. And we got a pack of ginger snaps. Haven't had any in
years. The SB in Clearwater used to sell molasses cookies but stopped a year ago.We plan to go to St Paul's, which makes Westminster look like a doll house. I imagine it has even more dead people
in it. That gets really, really macabre after a few minutes.Inside, Westminster is long and narrow. Mostly very tall.
DateTime: 9/18/2009 5:23:56 PM
Lessee, did get to Buckingham Palace yesterday. The Royal State Rooms are open in august and September.Took a late lunch in a cafe on the terrace over looking the "back yard"the Royal Mews
was great. Anything horses is great.Saw "Phantom" from a stall seat. Never again. Spent the evening leaning left and right. Mezzinine only from now on.After theatre meal in China Town.
Terrible. Driest duck I have ever had and the git spilled Pepsi on the table and me and my hat. sigh. I'm trying to dry off a $125 Kangol trilby and they are handing me wet naps!We don't do any
tipping since it is added to the bills. Average gratuity added on is about 12%. If they left it open, they'd get 20% from us.Except we do tip cabbies. and they always seem surprised
DateTime: 9/20/2009 12:17:47 PM
THEY CANCELLED THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD!!! for a damned bicycle ride. Not even a Professional Race, but a "ride" by about most of London, on their bikes, round and round, from St James Park
to St James Park...Major streets closed off. to even pedestrian traffic. Had to use special crossings to get round. Couldn't go anywhere without being run down by hundreds and hundreds of bikes
ridden by all ages.To "advertise" how "green" it is to use bikes. Meanwhile, most of central London was shut down, traffic had to be rerouted as so the City of London could PR how
"green" riding bikes in London is. How much gas was used today for that?So, they cancelled the changing of the guard since the bike ride went by the Palace on all sides. And this time of
year, the Changing of the Guard is every other day. None tomorrow. This was our last chance to see it because we're leaving for Cardiff on Tuesday morning.So when we got a cab at last on The
Strand, we had it take us to the Westfield shopping, umm, "suburb". It's Europe's largest shopping mall. I'd say at least the size in acrearage as Mall of America, but the center isn't full
of playgrounds, and pools, and a roller coaster. It's full of stores and eateries.Cost about L22 to get there. But that is what our stash is for.Found a charming little figurine of a geisha sitting
with a very smug gray cat in her lap. L21. Ok, I can do that. Told me at the register it was on sale for L6!Got a "light" jacket at Marks and Spenser (Florida winter, London summer) L45.
Told at register it was on sale for L4!So, even with the there and back cab fare, we saved money because the only other similar jacket we'd seen was L70.BMW makes Bicycles!And there's a flashy little
SMART car roadster running about here. Why don't they import them?But we didn't see the Beeb. The mall was in the way. Of just about everything
DateTime: 9/22/2009 7:34:13 PM
Spent our last day in London just ambling about the south bank. Got up to Tower Bridge and thought to take the tour there - Lift to the top of one tower, walk across then a Lift down. Except the
lifts weren't working."You will have to take the stairs.""How many stairs?""220"Not even when I was in my 20's.sighAte well, again. At the Cote near the Tower Bridge, on the
River Walk.Weather was phenomenal - the temps must have nudged 70 for the last 3 days we were there. And no rain.I am writing this from Cardiff. Our room at the Hilton overlooks Cardiff Castle and a
lovely park.Thinking of taking one of those hop-on hop-off bus tours tomorrow. Go to the Millennium Centre on the waterfront. And NOT mention Torchwood. Now that should be challenging.Thursday I
may just do the take a city bus round and round gig.Beauty of all the walking is I haven't gained any weight. Haven't lost any, but not gaining is most important
DateTime: 9/23/2009 12:06:35 PM
did the tour bus round Cardiff. Got off at the Millennium center. Got the standard "Torchwood" shots. Got photos of an Ianto Memory Wall we came across. Fed wild swans.Cardiff is a human
sized city. Not lots of tall buildings. Most was built from 1840's on, then rebuilt. Old warehouses are now apartment buildings and offices. There was a massive push in the 80's so there is a lot
of new, and some very striking architecture. A number of places are only 5 and 6 years old.The Millennium centre building is a massive arts, opera, theatre complex with a great lobby of sweeping
curves and polished wood.Lots of arcades off the main streets. I used to love those in Boston when I was a child.Wide streets, much less chaotic traffic.but the city closes down at 5 pm 8 pm on
Friday! Most shops and quite a few restaurants. But there are a number of clubs here that rage on until the wee hours. There are a number of universities in Cardiff and some 30,000 students. Very
young city.Had a lamb shank meal this afternoon followed by a cup of *warm* custard. Oh such memories of my childhood that brought back.I hope to attempt a few photos on here before I leave, but I
won't promise anything.I did go to the Doctor Who exhibition at Red Dragon Center. Didn't visit the exhibit but got a first day Torchwood cover signed by Barrowman. Another signed by Derek
Jacobi.(and I'd walk on glass to get an autograph of Ian Holm)Sitting in our room now, recovering from the walks we took
DateTime: 9/24/2009 9:25:03 AM
just cruising around Cardiff city core. It's quite small and very walkable. Lots of arcades with good shopping and food. As this city is full of students and working class grunts, prices are
reasonable. We've eaten well for under L20.Everyone ambles here. None of the encompassing rush and push of London.Sun was out today, clear skies and probably in high 60's. But it's 14:30 and a
gray sky is moving in. Definite chill through the air. So I am inside writing this because I have been up and walking since 0800.
came all the way to Cardiff, Wales to find my family lineage -- on Google.
So, just came across - on Google (it wasn't there before) The history of a "John Gamage" of Ipswich Mass. Me Mum's maiden name and therefore, paternal line, was Gamage.
Seems they were "Gamache" out of Norway, to Normandy and came into UK and Wales in 10th century.They became Welsh dukes and earls and barons by marrying Welsh heiresses, and some generations down the line name was changed to
Gamage. A few more earls and barons and castles later a few Gamage's went to America and settled in Massachusetts. And a few of those descendants settled in Bristol, Maine (which was part of
Massachusetts) - where they are yet.I sent the info on to my sister in Maine. She said "Great Aunt Ginny" was always saying the family had a castle in Wales.My father's line is Howard which
goes back a long ways. And G-grandaddy was full Algonquin. So not only did some of my ancestors meet some of your ancestors on the beach, my ancestors met my ancestors on the beach. gosh.