London …..Hopping on and Off

Nevertheless, daypack and rain gear on, we head for the Big Bus pick-up point……and start touring…..first stop was the Tower of London which had a very storied past:

…Tower of London in the background…

………among other goings on it was the depository for exotic animals brought in from the Empire….

…there was also a good deal of torture and killing that went on at the Tower……

……then time for lunch at Wagamama…..moderate prices (for London), tasty…. Japanese fusion…

 

…..re-energized we carry on seeing various area sights as we decide to walk back in the direction of Westminster Abbey…lots of nice, historic pubs and London certainly has a relaxed attitude towards public drinking not like our puritanical & rather stupid laws…

…St. Paul’s Cathedral >> huge line-up, settled for some exterior views…

……some old, some new (the Shard 1st pic below)……

……as part of our hop on/off package we can take a cruise on the Thames River to Greenwich and back……..this continues our “tradition” of taking a cruise on the various rivers we encounter in our travels. London has certainly enjoyed an unprecedented period of growth, as the riverbanks of the Thames have been completely transformed from an industrial/commercial focus to residential developments….

I remember when the Reichmann’s of Toronto embarked on their Canary Wharf project in the Docklands and imperiled their very existence due to the audaciousness of the project ……now the area is substantially totally re-developed……

…We got off at Greenwich …..the day was getting a bit dreary and we did not think this area was particularly interesting….mostly tourist cash extraction places…including the Cutty Sark (fastest clipper delivering tea) in its time…..

In fact, although Brexit is a serious threat and real estate prices seem to be dropping (Mayfair t-homes down by some 300m STG — of course a bit of a relative term as they still are worth 3mm STG plus) the commercial/residential construction seems to be going strong at least judging by the number of cranes we have seen, residential renovation also seems extremely robust with seemingly every street enjoying buildings covered in scaffolding and workmen beavering away.

The energy of the city is palpable and while obviously there are less affluent areas the number of high-end shops and people enjoying life is staggering……if the Brexit exit vaporizes thousands of high paying jobs, this could have a reverse multiplier effect which could trickle down the food chain and this picture could change dramatically…..to be seen ….but for now this city of almost 9 million provides for an extremely fun and impressive experience…

…still hungry for more we grab another Big Bus but soon get off as the “guide” was a supreme arseling and his over the top, manic babble was enough to send us back onto the street near Trafalgar Square…..Canada House in pic below…

…then a must see for Annie (big time fan of the Royals > no, not the baseball team) we trudge down the Mall to Buckingham Palace …

…..unfortunately Annie was not permitted entry….

Finally through St. James Park and on our way back had dinner at the Bon Gusto…..

…… as the name suggests Italian was the ordre de jour > we both enjoyed excellent meals with a nice organic red, and back to the Hub ……a very productive day !!!