tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61102308027810464182024-03-13T10:08:28.254-07:00Shankar's Codexdabble: (v) to work at anything in an irregular or superficial mannershankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14112245133560996508noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110230802781046418.post-66573807815916544812021-02-15T00:39:00.009-08:002021-02-20T20:47:44.310-08:00Paris, Paris - Day 6<p>Our schedule indicated that we had a date with Mona Lisa that day. We got up late, because we were quite tired after all that walking around Eiffel tower the previous night. We even discussed about ditching the day's schedule, but then, what is a visit to Paris worth, without a trip to <a href="https://www.louvre.fr/en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Louvre?</a> We quickly devoured the free continental breakfast at the hotel and hailed an Uber.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7iBw0diBUvc/YCnDdlDjK5I/AAAAAAAALbE/efkTlsiB-Iw4sW6K7MdzIF_rjFPCPsz3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_2183.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7iBw0diBUvc/YCnDdlDjK5I/AAAAAAAALbE/efkTlsiB-Iw4sW6K7MdzIF_rjFPCPsz3QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_2183.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Louvre courtyard with the glass pyramid in the middle.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The glass pyramid serves as the main entrance to the palace. A moderate crowd was jostling for space. Since we had purchased the tickets online before leaving the hotel, we were able to get in quickly.</p><p>To the right of the pyramid is the Denon wing, buildings in the left comprise the Richelieu wing and the ones behind the pyramid form the Sully wing. The museum has five floors, unconventionally numbered from - 2 to +2, with the main entrance on floor zero.</p><p>If you are interested in the Roman history, art and architecture, this museum is a must-see. Depending on one's knowledge and taste in European art, it can take anywhere from a few days to a few months to completely appreciate the more than 38,000 objects on display. We completed it in 4 hours straight while managing to keep our date with Mona Lisa.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--E9AUHBqTnM/YCnNIh7AJDI/AAAAAAAALbQ/di_LWgoAkkocDQFCd1Jy4p5nFVw0zmQywCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_2214.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--E9AUHBqTnM/YCnNIh7AJDI/AAAAAAAALbQ/di_LWgoAkkocDQFCd1Jy4p5nFVw0zmQywCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_2214.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait of a wealthy Italian lady named Lisa del Giocondo</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The area in front of the painting (about 15' x 15') had been cordoned off for security reasons, which puts the viewers at a slight distance and disadvantage. The painting, whose value is estimated to be north of $700 million, sits safely behind a bullet-proof glass. I did ponder for a moment about the valuation of art, but decided to come back to the subject later since the kids started pestering me for lunch. It took us a good fifteen minutes to figure out the location of the cafeteria in the maze of corridors and connecting pathways. Vegetarian options were limited and the entrees provided us a taste of cost of living in Paris.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1-kRbrsqRnw/YCnSdkAAMzI/AAAAAAAALbc/U7ovuSmHvpYwGN-ntCZdMtEO72jw8ND2wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_2243.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1-kRbrsqRnw/YCnSdkAAMzI/AAAAAAAALbc/U7ovuSmHvpYwGN-ntCZdMtEO72jw8ND2wCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_2243.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the innumerable ceiling frescos<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HbXIHGt_rYI/YCnT88wcEHI/AAAAAAAALbo/kShJ0oIUgLISEl12EuCQR6-CVZ5vP91UACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_2267.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HbXIHGt_rYI/YCnT88wcEHI/AAAAAAAALbo/kShJ0oIUgLISEl12EuCQR6-CVZ5vP91UACLcBGAsYHQ/w426-h640/IMG_2267.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The inverted pyramid<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>We walked past the inverted pyramid and exited through the mall in the floor below. If you had watched the movie <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsFGe6Afx5M" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Da Vinci Code</a>, you would have known that deep below the pyramid is the final resting place of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Magdalene" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mary Magdalene</a> Since it was closed, we headed back to the hotel. </p><p>We rested for an hour or so in the late afternoon to catch our breath. Kids decided to evaluate the hotel swimming pool, hence my wife and I headed to the Church of Notre Dame. En route we stopped at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conciergerie" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Conciergerie</a>, a palace that also served as the prison for the traitors of the French Revolution, including the former queen Marie Antoinette.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mGApWds0tUc/YCosXEBrTcI/AAAAAAAALb0/AsTqRerLEA8cNKPrrW7L4zbOO18OYCW5ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_2276.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mGApWds0tUc/YCosXEBrTcI/AAAAAAAALb0/AsTqRerLEA8cNKPrrW7L4zbOO18OYCW5ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_2276.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Conciergerie - the palace of guards<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We looked at the cells that held the prisoners. In a stark contrast to the level where the guards lived, the cells were dingy, dark and cramped. If it felt that way now, imagine the plight of the prisoners in the pre-electricity days. What could they be thinking, while waiting for the certain death at the guillotine? It was scary.<p></p><p>We walked the couple of blocks to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre-Dame_de_Paris" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Church of Notre Dame</a>. The Conciergerie, Notre Dame de Paris, and another famous church, Saint-Chapelle are all situated in a tiny island in the middle of river Seine. We felt a cool breeze which made the walk pleasant!</p><p>At the outset, Notre Dame de Paris looked structurally similar to the Westminster Abbey in London, with two tall towers and a high-arched entrance in between them. Many a time I have confused the photos of the two. I'm sure they are different, but I felt vaguely familiar while standing in the line outside.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pej-k4kN3XA/YCowQwJxUZI/AAAAAAAALcA/NqD6Xp2aNTAgeHGKfRxPKPWaGLLQxnBCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_2300.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pej-k4kN3XA/YCowQwJxUZI/AAAAAAAALcA/NqD6Xp2aNTAgeHGKfRxPKPWaGLLQxnBCwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_2300.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church of Notre Dame<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Once inside, the architecture was recognizable, with high arches and colored glasses, bringing back memories of St Paul's and Westminster Abbey.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oaudCTChSjk/YCoxuOqDj-I/AAAAAAAALcM/SWxjj_reHKg6EN9ajx-RMLG9iDKCoXNxgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_2308.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oaudCTChSjk/YCoxuOqDj-I/AAAAAAAALcM/SWxjj_reHKg6EN9ajx-RMLG9iDKCoXNxgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h426/IMG_2308.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the church<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The church had erected pathways and lines directing us where to go. We completed the self-guided tour in about thirty minutes. When we came out, there was still light. We hurried back to the hotel to make dinner plans.</p><p>Note: Almost an year after our trip, this church was destroyed in an unfortunate fire accident on April 15 2019. I believe it is still under construction.</p>shankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14112245133560996508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110230802781046418.post-56456281788751198642020-05-25T00:52:00.005-07:002021-02-20T21:05:47.532-08:00Paris, Paris - Day 5<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Day 5 was travel day, to Paris! We packed our bags, had an early breakfast, took an Uber and reached <a href="https://stpancras.com/" target="_blank">St. Pancras International</a> promptly at 10 o'clock.<br />
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What did we miss to see in London? I wanted to see the <a href="http://www.ox.ac.uk/" target="_blank">Oxford</a> and <a href="https://www.cam.ac.uk/" target="_blank">Cambridge</a> universities, simply because they were centers of learning. If I had been to Cambridge, I could have also seen the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srinivasa_Ramanujan" target="_blank">Srinivasa Ramanujan</a> memorial <a href="http://trinitycollegechapel.com/about/memorials/brasses/ramanujan/" target="_blank">plaque at the Trinity College Chapel</a>. We couldn't make it to the <a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/" target="_blank">British Museum</a> either, their <strike>loot</strike> collection of eight million items is one of the largest in the world. <a href="https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/" target="_blank">The National Gallery</a> (at Trafalgar Square), home to some of the world famous artwork, also didn't make the cut. Shakespeare lovers can visit <a href="https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/about-us/" target="_blank">Stratford-upon-Avon</a>, his birth and burial place. I had asked one of my colleagues about Stratford, and he told me that the people of the town wear a goofy 16th century costume. When I informed my family of this fact, it was instantly tossed out of the list, which also happened to be the only unanimous decision we made in this entire trip.<br />
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Our <a href="https://www.eurostar.com/us-en/train/france/london-to-paris" target="_blank">Eurostar </a>pulled out of St.Pancras promptly at 11:31 AM.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a4QfZqW2ioA/XlDjGtQaWzI/AAAAAAAAJT0/WS5CQDE2dt4lDhZ5LvUGU9CauP2Pev4gwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_2061.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a4QfZqW2ioA/XlDjGtQaWzI/AAAAAAAAJT0/WS5CQDE2dt4lDhZ5LvUGU9CauP2Pev4gwCPcBGAYYCw/s640/IMG_2061.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eurostar high speed (formerly <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TGV" target="_blank">TGV </a>or Bullet Train!)</td></tr>
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Have you seen the movie Mission Impossible, (the first one), released in the nineties? The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WaXuRWGrvw" target="_blank">climax scene</a>, a favorite of the fans world over, happens inside the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_Tunnel" target="_blank">chunnel</a>. I had wanted to travel this route ever since I saw the movie, now I can check this item off the bucket list.<br />
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The train ride itself was uneventful and anticlimactic. The chunnel was dark and the train crossed over in to France, in less than twenty minutes. We had booked premier seats, which provided enough leg room as well as a small dining table between the rows. They served hot meals and snacks. There was enough space at the end of the car to stow away our luggage.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cQQMQqVQSTs/XlDnqCBL3-I/AAAAAAAAJUA/HVV6DkLxcdkAgloaCVJxBwwefQoXf_OJgCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_2057.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cQQMQqVQSTs/XlDnqCBL3-I/AAAAAAAAJUA/HVV6DkLxcdkAgloaCVJxBwwefQoXf_OJgCPcBGAYYCw/s640/IMG_2057.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overhead monitor displays the speed</td></tr>
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True to it's name, the train picked up speed and at times reached well over 300 kmph. We arrived at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gare_du_Nord" target="_blank">Gare Du Nord</a> station in Paris in two hrs twenty minutes flat.<br />
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This time there was no chauffeur waiting for us (our tour operator provided taxi service only from and to airports). After a fifteen-minute cab ride, we reached our hotel, <a href="https://www.starhotelscollezione.com/fr/nos-hotels/castille/" target="_blank">Castille Paris</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RsWMyi4BYoY/XlTIh3HxggI/AAAAAAAAJVA/qux6WCkHBD0x0pbgtCuEX_-hLxeaTUpbwCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/castille-exterior-view-new-2014.b9115e12c39b8b18451745ed4b60149c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="408" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RsWMyi4BYoY/XlTIh3HxggI/AAAAAAAAJVA/qux6WCkHBD0x0pbgtCuEX_-hLxeaTUpbwCPcBGAYYCw/s640/castille-exterior-view-new-2014.b9115e12c39b8b18451745ed4b60149c.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castille Paris!</td></tr>
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We freshened up and headed to the Concorde station, about a seven-minute walk from the hotel. En route, I saw this church.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uC9C0YR1z70/XsjGSKWvRuI/AAAAAAAAJqo/JK0LtLh7HWw_BMT01MVsyADs0VbF6NWEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_2067.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uC9C0YR1z70/XsjGSKWvRuI/AAAAAAAAJqo/JK0LtLh7HWw_BMT01MVsyADs0VbF6NWEgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_2067.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why did I take this picture?</td></tr>
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I was in "tourist mode" and clicked the photo involuntarily. Later I found out this was the catholic church of notre dame. Just like the temples of India, there are thousands and thousands of churches in Europe, many of them hundreds of years old, mostly with similar architecture. It told myself not to take pictures indiscriminately.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iNunROLZx5Y/XsjKdtV5etI/AAAAAAAAJq0/5nDIwrcjsKMR5MVfgGEOvQB2aaSaHAOHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_2069.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iNunROLZx5Y/XsjKdtV5etI/AAAAAAAAJq0/5nDIwrcjsKMR5MVfgGEOvQB2aaSaHAOHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_2069.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">can you identify that steel tower in the middle?</td></tr>
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Just before climbing down to the subway, I clicked the above photo. Eiffel tower is visible in the distance. On the left, behind the cars and the statues, is Concord Place, a public park with fountains and shops. Though I wanted to, time crunch prevented us from visiting the place. <br />
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We purchased an all-day pass at the station and boarded the train back to Gare Du Nord. Why? Because the street adjacent to the station was also home to a cluster of Indian restaurants. South Indian chains such as Saravana Bhavan and Sangeeta were situated there. I remember seeing a Kumaran Silks store too, but buyer beware! I don't know if it is an official branch of our beloved store in Chennai. We finished an early dinner at Sangeeta, and went back to Gare Du Nord to catch a train to Eiffel Tower!<br />
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First thing we noticed about Paris was that it was decidedly more blue-collar than London, hosting a more diverse population. Groups of jobless louts were sitting outside the station, smoking cigars and talking loudly. Once inside the station we asked for the route to "I-Fell" tower, but the employee didn't understand. A lady was heading to the exit; she was in a great hurry. He nonchalantly stopped her and asked her for directions. She didn't understand our question at first either, but quickly realized that we were clueless tourists asking for directions to "e-fill" tower.<br />
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We took a train to Bir-Hakeim station, closest to Eiffel tower. We walked over and joined the long line to buy tickets. It was evening, but there was enough light.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YOkJrC6jKHc/Xstuz-DbluI/AAAAAAAAJrc/aKQSEwjnYSA41riIfdZa3wsaG7M136GxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_2070.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YOkJrC6jKHc/Xstuz-DbluI/AAAAAAAAJrc/aKQSEwjnYSA41riIfdZa3wsaG7M136GxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_2070.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eiffel soars in to the sky!</td></tr>
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Eiffel tower is more than 1000 feet tall, and weighs more than 10,000 tons. We took two elevator rides, from the ground floor to the second floor, which was a shorter ride, and another one from the second floor to the third floor, a longer ride. Crowds tested our patience, while the kids started questioning the wisdom behind visiting Europe. Finally we made it to the top and the view was well worth it.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cV68jVPL9-8/Xstyph3G_DI/AAAAAAAAJrs/pJX7R2G_JJUISvMFOK9H1m2MIjv-1E10QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_2097.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cV68jVPL9-8/Xstyph3G_DI/AAAAAAAAJrs/pJX7R2G_JJUISvMFOK9H1m2MIjv-1E10QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_2097.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trocadero Gardens with National Marine Museum in the backdrop.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jNqyLMbPznw/XstzFULp8uI/AAAAAAAAJr0/28qdHoJuUjwoFGZePncv1qumBFtsEl4hQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_2099.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jNqyLMbPznw/XstzFULp8uI/AAAAAAAAJr0/28qdHoJuUjwoFGZePncv1qumBFtsEl4hQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_2099.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seine river. Serene and more beautiful than Thames!
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fU9QQg0J5mk/Xst0gwbTNVI/AAAAAAAAJsA/_dJHuUuA7u4g6clf7ORqyZ_ftwl8GPqtgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_2157.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fU9QQg0J5mk/Xst0gwbTNVI/AAAAAAAAJsA/_dJHuUuA7u4g6clf7ORqyZ_ftwl8GPqtgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_2157.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view that completes the trip!</td></tr>
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At 9:00 PM, the tower was brightly lit. It also hosted a dancing lights show once every 30 mins until midnight. Then we lost our way. Champ de Mars gardens (in which the Eiffel tower is situated) is huge and we were wandering on the side streets way past 11:00 PM. Luckily, we met with another Indian couple, Paris residents, who were also heading back to Bir-Hakeim. We tagged along with them to catch the train back to the hotel.</div>
shankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14112245133560996508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110230802781046418.post-59798821179257703352020-02-19T09:21:00.005-08:002021-02-15T15:03:27.897-08:00Dear Old London - Day 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The next day was a "free day", meaning we had nothing planned. In the words of my kids, we just wanted to "meme" around. We had a leisurely breakfast and headed out to <a href="https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/our-building-and-squares/trafalgar-square" target="_blank">Trafalgar Square</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6d5sAzh12iY/XkzUfCwepaI/AAAAAAAAJP4/9no-wsXj2bMN6SfSjQeV1KoMO2ufRvdKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_1911.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6d5sAzh12iY/XkzUfCwepaI/AAAAAAAAJP4/9no-wsXj2bMN6SfSjQeV1KoMO2ufRvdKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1911.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traffic near Trafalgar Square (which is to the left)</td></tr>
</tbody></table> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">As the name indicates, the monuments in Trafalgar Square were erected to commemorate the victory of Britain over the French and Spanish forces at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Trafalgar" target="_blank">Battle of Trafalgar</a> in 1805.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mRRTYLTNdMA/XkzVcshkPTI/AAAAAAAAJQE/yp-T3hE9cgk7pvDTsSd69LVqfyxymK1_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_1930.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mRRTYLTNdMA/XkzVcshkPTI/AAAAAAAAJQE/yp-T3hE9cgk7pvDTsSd69LVqfyxymK1_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1930.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nelson's Column - in memory of General Nelson who led the British to victory at Trafalgar</td></tr>
</tbody></table> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Trafalgar Square is also home to the <a href="https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/" target="_blank">National Gallery</a>, which contains about 2500 paintings from the 13th to the 18th centuries.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bwxv8yrSxEA/Xkzawd_773I/AAAAAAAAJQc/ZrhGEIWb99YpB-2mwgq3e3yAgM3hxu3LACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_1948.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bwxv8yrSxEA/Xkzawd_773I/AAAAAAAAJQc/ZrhGEIWb99YpB-2mwgq3e3yAgM3hxu3LACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1948.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">National Gallery - forms the backdrop of Trafalgar Square</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Sadly, this was another place that we didn't have time to visit. I do think that visiting a gallery (or a museum) requires study and preparation, especially if we want to fully appreciate a foreign culture and their history. As you had guessed by now, we were woefully unprepared! The gallery's french counterpart across the channel, The Louvre, by contrast, is the world's largest art museum having more than 35,000 objects on display.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ab8Pa08TSmk/Xkzb47abqVI/AAAAAAAAJQo/gRhhDz7ywQAmr8r_tNlANHCoYdk8E0mRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_1953.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ab8Pa08TSmk/Xkzb47abqVI/AAAAAAAAJQo/gRhhDz7ywQAmr8r_tNlANHCoYdk8E0mRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1953.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">London Eye - we decided to pick up where we left off yesterday</td></tr>
</tbody></table> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Next stop before lunch was <a href="https://www.londoneye.com/" target="_blank">London Eye</a>, because we already had tickets! It was the tallest ferris wheel in the world when it was constructed twenty years ago. Today, it is surpassed by the ones in China, Singapore and Las Vegas.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ss_ge6fNkh4/XkzeB-RwZEI/AAAAAAAAJQ0/yAh8zq3c-mYaOsE9173Q4CizP55WvGM-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_1971.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ss_ge6fNkh4/XkzeB-RwZEI/AAAAAAAAJQ0/yAh8zq3c-mYaOsE9173Q4CizP55WvGM-wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1971.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from the Eye - a few buildings decided to show off more color</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bw4-uVO2aC0/XkzeyRlP06I/AAAAAAAAJQ8/Mt0MjMC0rBUrTLPlPQ0cyTnSljd8V_9VgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_1983.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bw4-uVO2aC0/XkzeyRlP06I/AAAAAAAAJQ8/Mt0MjMC0rBUrTLPlPQ0cyTnSljd8V_9VgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1983.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from the Eye - barges on river Thames</td></tr>
</tbody></table> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The ride in the London Eye was smooth and comfortable. The car had enough space and seats for everyone. Covered by glass, it offered a 360° view of Greater London. Thames looked clean, but muddy.<br />
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As an indicator to the early river valley civilizations, many of the cities in the world are situated on river banks; Washington DC on Potomac, New York on Hudson, Rome on Tiber, Paris on Seine, New Delhi on Yamuna, and Kolkatta on the banks of river Bhagirathi.<br />
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On the way to the Waterloo station (the closest to London Eye), we picked up sandwiches for lunch. We hopped on to the Jubilee line, and before we could assess the quality of the sandwich, we arrived at the Westminster station, our next destination.<br />
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Before joining the line at the church entrance, we decided to pay a quick visit to Mohandas, who was waiting for us at the Parliament Square garden nearby.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HY89yr7cN18/Xk1c_YCsiOI/AAAAAAAAJSA/yWdO4vaW-2oZ9uV1_koAjzV_jXIls5JxACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_2010.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HY89yr7cN18/Xk1c_YCsiOI/AAAAAAAAJSA/yWdO4vaW-2oZ9uV1_koAjzV_jXIls5JxACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_2010.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mohandas!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PVWy8Wo0TnU/XkztR7mpY8I/AAAAAAAAJRI/kKbkqD9LBXccyfkZMY5Be210F8xH0O51QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_2018.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PVWy8Wo0TnU/XkztR7mpY8I/AAAAAAAAJRI/kKbkqD9LBXccyfkZMY5Be210F8xH0O51QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_2018.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.westminster-abbey.org/" target="_blank">Westminster Abbey</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Westminster Abbey is a gothic church that was built in the 13th century. It still baffles me that a church can be a location of worship, marriages, coronations and burials. The last coronation was of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, the latest royal wedding was of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011. Issac Newton, Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens, Winston Churchill and Stephen Hawking are among the 3000+ people buried in the church.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ihAtLFtS9j8/XkzvfIVKe5I/AAAAAAAAJRU/p92EHaRtBCI1wcfP2B2PH-0Zr8XRELv3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_2027.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ihAtLFtS9j8/XkzvfIVKe5I/AAAAAAAAJRU/p92EHaRtBCI1wcfP2B2PH-0Zr8XRELv3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_2027.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Westminster Abbey - the more photographed entrance</td></tr>
</tbody></table> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">After appreciating the now familiar architecture of massive arches and tinted glass windows, we took a short rest at the gift shop, to formulate the plan for the rest of the day.<br />
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We took the Jubilee line to Green Park station. My son decided to go back to the hotel, because he thought their wifi was underutilized. Rest of us decided to take the train to Piccadilly Circus. The place was crowded, with big digital bill boards and blaring music. Jostling in the crowd reminded me of <i>Ranganathan Street, Mambalam</i>, in Chennai, India. I'm sure the residents of Chennai can empathize with me.<br />
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My wife and daughter wanted to spend more time exploring the famous Soho district, especially the shops in Regent and Oxford streets. I knew that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lush_(company)" target="_blank">Lush</a> was on their itinerary.<br />
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I took the train back to Green Park station and walked to the Buckingham Palace. After parting with £27, I was let in to the waiting area. Prince Charles was on the TV talking about an art program he was patronizing. He looked tired and uninspiring. Have you watched the Lion King movie? Remember Simbha singing with his friends at the beginning? I wonder why this song <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8UFnc85-xM" target="_blank">Can't wait to be King</a> came to my mind. I digress!<br />
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The State Rooms were stately, with huge chandeliers, polished and unused dining furniture decorated with ornate plates and tea cups, and everything flanked by large murals on the walls. But I did get the feeling that an old house will always remain an old house. I noticed the dusty corners and chipped paint at a few places, and thought to myself that the place could have been maintained better.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P4XD1WEyjbM/Xk1nMkG-eNI/AAAAAAAAJSI/5HH-cm4EAuIhr0B7I2EdoS421CYNYmNVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_2033.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P4XD1WEyjbM/Xk1nMkG-eNI/AAAAAAAAJSI/5HH-cm4EAuIhr0B7I2EdoS421CYNYmNVQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_2033.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry folks, photography was not allowed inside the palace. Here is a view of the palace grounds!</td></tr>
</tbody></table> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">On the way back to the station, I popped in to Hyde Park, and strolled through the speaker's corner, a place designated for public speaking. Anyone can supposedly talk on any topic. This concept was borrowed as the opening scene in the Tamil movie <i>"Ratha Kanneer"</i> (loosely translates to Tears of Blood), where the protagonist will be speaking in a park.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c92slaYOUak/Xk1qU0M6VEI/AAAAAAAAJSQ/h_0GBvrEq2QGL_W6CYIYPEdUCA5MJ59QQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_2044.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c92slaYOUak/Xk1qU0M6VEI/AAAAAAAAJSQ/h_0GBvrEq2QGL_W6CYIYPEdUCA5MJ59QQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_2044.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the entrances to Hyde Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I called up my wife and daughter and arranged to meet outside <a href="https://www.harrods.com/en-gb" target="_blank">Harrods</a>, claimed to be the world's largest departmental store.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-InyFB-UmQ9M/Xk1snV5mRrI/AAAAAAAAJSc/CjrAFfzzazESMx_d51iStrfgxSpDWp2XgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_2045.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-InyFB-UmQ9M/Xk1snV5mRrI/AAAAAAAAJSc/CjrAFfzzazESMx_d51iStrfgxSpDWp2XgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_2045.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harrods - covers an entire city block</td></tr>
</tbody></table> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The store was so big that it did not fit in to my 10mm wide angle lens. It was owned by Al-Fayed until 2010. If you think the name sounds familiar, yes, he is the father of Dodi Fayed, who had romantic relationship with Princess Diana.<br />
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The goods in the store were highly expensive, I'm guessing, even for the top 1%. Did anyone actually buy anything there? It did make me wonder about the real purpose of the store. See the price tag of a rug below.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gy53n0n3SRU/Xk1uGpYr6eI/AAAAAAAAJSo/EQEn-HetZlAUWPWbLK1JCwJINd0X4zQvgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20180825_191908.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gy53n0n3SRU/Xk1uGpYr6eI/AAAAAAAAJSo/EQEn-HetZlAUWPWbLK1JCwJINd0X4zQvgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20180825_191908.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">130 sq. ft. of hand-woven carpet - only £77,000</td></tr>
</tbody></table> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">That was the last photo we took in London, next day we were heading to Paris!</div>
shankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14112245133560996508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110230802781046418.post-85395218914913167502019-11-12T23:54:00.001-08:002019-11-12T23:54:26.974-08:00Dear Old London - Day 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Next day was the tour of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London" target="_blank">London</a>, a city that is estimated to be at least two thousand years old. No wonder the locals call it "the City". Our first stop was St Paul's Cathedral.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fQAUJeLsPlc/XcrX7xl_dRI/AAAAAAAAI5A/Wt-tw2SVcuYGtBB_6GGu-zt0GyDQYwRzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_1806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fQAUJeLsPlc/XcrX7xl_dRI/AAAAAAAAI5A/Wt-tw2SVcuYGtBB_6GGu-zt0GyDQYwRzgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1806.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.stpauls.co.uk/visit" target="_blank">Visit St Paul's</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The church was originally built in the early part of 7th century, and then rebuilt in the late 17th century after it was destroyed in the the great fire of London. This was my first time stepping in to a christian church, and I was appalled to find that it is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Burials_at_St_Paul%27s_Cathedral" target="_blank">burial ground</a> for eighty people, almost all of them English aristocrats, including its own architect Christopher Wren. This is in complete contrast to our Hindu culture, where places of worship are considered divine and holy. I was looking down at the names and dates engraved on the stone beneath my feet worried that trampling on the dead bodies might be considered a mark of disrespect, but the rest of the visitors appeared blissfully unaware; they were looking up and admiring the massive arches and the multicolored tinted glass windows. I realized, we are also colored by our perspectives! Anyone who needs some exercise can climb the stairs all the way to the top of the dome, and will be rewarded with a spectacular view of the city. The stairs open only at 9:30 AM, hence time your visit appropriately.<br />
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The bus took us through a winding route showing us the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerset_House" target="_blank">Somerset House</a>, and <a href="http://www.lse.ac.uk/" target="_blank">London School of Economics,</a> then dropped us in front of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mall,_London" target="_blank">The Mall</a>, the street leading to the Buckingham Palace.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MHcpc5YAevY/XcuBAETr95I/AAAAAAAAI5Q/r7dOlEAI0rIT5GkxEMhvumNJuxaypY0OQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_1821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MHcpc5YAevY/XcuBAETr95I/AAAAAAAAI5Q/r7dOlEAI0rIT5GkxEMhvumNJuxaypY0OQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1821.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mall, with the Buckingham Palace visible at the far end</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v2C265I0LBs/XcuHppHX54I/AAAAAAAAI5c/XMpfwNXVSwAJxyGwdYlTS3LTe_Q1hZs-QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_1834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v2C265I0LBs/XcuHppHX54I/AAAAAAAAI5c/XMpfwNXVSwAJxyGwdYlTS3LTe_Q1hZs-QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1834.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.rct.uk/visit/the-state-rooms-buckingham-palace" target="_blank">Visit Buckingham Palace</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We saw the palace only from the outside, since we had other stops on the tour. The State Rooms have to wait. The weather was fantastic (as you can see in the blue sky above), which brought out thousands of visitors, who packed all the prime spots to view the Changing the Guard ceremony. Fortunately our tour guide directed us to a location on the right side of the palace (on Spur Road), which provided us an unbridled view of the guards marching in to take over the duty.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_fMBMPf_Ytg/XcuJSAVNOdI/AAAAAAAAI5o/LL7ce_dbtBYmh-OzLQrFjJlQwl3U4AHvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_1847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_fMBMPf_Ytg/XcuJSAVNOdI/AAAAAAAAI5o/LL7ce_dbtBYmh-OzLQrFjJlQwl3U4AHvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1847.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The more pompous and more popular Changing the Guard ceremony</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After taking umpteen unsatisfactory snaps, we boarded the bus. Off we went to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_London" target="_blank">Tower of London.</a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WFoekgxlPf8/XcueVZXJ3mI/AAAAAAAAI50/rzuNjnxBHa097DtZJVv2q4WZ_p_G1z5JACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_1882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WFoekgxlPf8/XcueVZXJ3mI/AAAAAAAAI50/rzuNjnxBHa097DtZJVv2q4WZ_p_G1z5JACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1882.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tower of London, home to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koh-i-Noor" target="_blank">Kohinoor</a> and the crown jewels</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The tower is a 11th century castle that served as a prison until 1952. Today it is a heavily guarded fortress, home to the monarchy's crown jewels. Though there was a long line, it was moving fast. Once inside, we saw a dazzling array of ornaments, jewels, swords, and other regalia. Except for the 105 carat diamond, the Kohinoor, which was stolen from India, the other items didn't capture much of our attention. One can spend a lifetime studying the history of the objects on display. Since we were not that desperate to know the English history, we moved along in a brisk pace.<br />
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Right outside the tower is the <a href="https://www.towerbridge.org.uk/" target="_blank">Tower Bridge</a> (hence the name) across the river Thames. It is a museum by itself, hosting the Engine Rooms, that showcase the machinery used to lift hundreds of tonnes of materials during the construction of the bridge. Again, we didn't have time to visit the museum.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aAmCPh9vsO4/Xcumagyq0sI/AAAAAAAAI6A/p3zKv6vaApUn83EKjR1E9wI8BjWbZ9yeQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_1886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aAmCPh9vsO4/Xcumagyq0sI/AAAAAAAAI6A/p3zKv6vaApUn83EKjR1E9wI8BjWbZ9yeQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1886.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tower Bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I used to be a fan of digital photography review site <a href="https://www.dpreview.com/" target="_blank">DP Review</a>, founded by Londoner Phil Askey. He reviewed all of the digital cameras of the day. I stopped visiting the site soon after the shopping behemoth Amazon acquired it in 2007. His most frequent test subject was the tower bridge. I must have looked at hundreds of beautiful <a href="https://www.dpreview.com/sample-galleries/8084006360/canon-eos-300d-beta-review-samples-one/6251813306" target="_blank">tower bridge photos</a> in his site. Weather god decided not to cooperate, hence my click above looks a little gloomy.<br />
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We boarded the Thames Clipper for a forty-five minute boat ride to <a href="http://www.visitgreenwich.org.uk/" target="_blank">Greenwich Village</a>. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qm1IYdvEKSY/Xcuu9iux2uI/AAAAAAAAI6M/gLXNtImmQeoJrOKGljzxO1bxAiDx46i7QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_1903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qm1IYdvEKSY/Xcuu9iux2uI/AAAAAAAAI6M/gLXNtImmQeoJrOKGljzxO1bxAiDx46i7QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1903.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">University of Greenwich</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We saw the Cutty Sark, University of Greenwich and the Greenwich market, but the biggest regret of the trip is not visiting the <a href="http://www.visitgreenwich.org.uk/greenwich-meridian/" target="_blank">Prime Meridian</a>. Ours was a guided tour that didn't provide much time for self exploration. If we had visited the meridian line, we could have claimed that we straddled the globe. Oh well, there is always a next time! <br />
<br />
We hopped on the boat again for our trip back, but this time we crossed the Tower Bridge and went all the way to <a href="https://www.londoneye.com/" target="_blank">Coca-Cola London Eye</a>, the giant observation wheel, which has become one of the modern landmarks of London. The tickets were included as part of the tour, but it was raining heavily; more importantly we were tired. Since we had the tickets, we decided to come back the next day. The nearest tube station was Waterloo, which was only a 10-minute walk from the wheel.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgPPYrd4mV4/Xcu0K-2aanI/AAAAAAAAI6Y/M1qaoCDKkL8UIZaHqBN1VwtjNSz0KTDKACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_1909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZgPPYrd4mV4/Xcu0K-2aanI/AAAAAAAAI6Y/M1qaoCDKkL8UIZaHqBN1VwtjNSz0KTDKACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1909.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterloo Station, the busiest terminal in London</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm a great fan of Bourne trilogy, in the third film a <a href="https://bourne.fandom.com/wiki/Waterloo_Station" target="_blank">nerve-wracking scene</a> takes place at this station. I was so glad that I was at the same location. Both inner city trains and long distance trains leave from Waterloo. We took a train back to the hotel, ordered room service and crashed in to the bed.<br />
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shankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14112245133560996508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110230802781046418.post-23998518929126179432019-09-25T00:47:00.001-07:002019-09-25T10:38:01.300-07:00Dear Old London - Day 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We woke up, had dinner at the hotel restaurant. They had a surprise waiting for us, brought out a cake with dessert, to celebrate our Wedding Anniversary! Apparently our travel agent had mentioned it to them. Very sweet!<br />
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Day 2 was our first pre-booked tour, and stop <i>uno</i> was <a href="https://www.rct.uk/visit/windsorcastle" target="_blank">Windsor Castle</a>, the residence of the British Monarch! It was about an hour's ride from London. We arrived at the castle 30 minutes early (they open only at 10:00 AM), only to find a long line snaking thru' the outside roads already. It was cloudy, and a slight drizzle had started. We joined the line a little disappointed. In one of the street corners we saw another well-known symbol of England, the red telephone box.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uoMd1mbKSIY/XPC2gBx8aXI/AAAAAAAAG90/AXKFsh_uCU0ZQ49bFFW-JfQK6H0o5TOogCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uoMd1mbKSIY/XPC2gBx8aXI/AAAAAAAAG90/AXKFsh_uCU0ZQ49bFFW-JfQK6H0o5TOogCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1625.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_telephone_box" target="_blank">The red telephone box (K6 model)</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We were admiring the outsides of the castle, and before long, it was ten o' clock.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E7Eli4WnncE/XPC3LqKL7wI/AAAAAAAAG98/M5WRrdTsS7wnZzaIrm4wneqiqPgQaoS-gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E7Eli4WnncE/XPC3LqKL7wI/AAAAAAAAG98/M5WRrdTsS7wnZzaIrm4wneqiqPgQaoS-gCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1633.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A partial view of the castle from outside, with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Jack" target="_blank">Union Jack</a> fluttering high atop!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xtlay7AwlRw/W7GwUdSXWUI/AAAAAAAAFso/PDPxbjMe8TYEz4s7fMxYtqQTA2k3e6kRACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xtlay7AwlRw/W7GwUdSXWUI/AAAAAAAAFso/PDPxbjMe8TYEz4s7fMxYtqQTA2k3e6kRACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1641.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The same tower, viewed from inside!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We went through the State apartments, Semi-State rooms, moat room, and Queen Mary's doll house. The doll house was designed by one <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Lutyens" target="_blank">Edwin Lutyens</a>, who, incidentally, was also the architect of India's capital city of New Delhi (aka <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutyens%27_Delhi" target="_blank">Lutyens Delhi</a>).<br />
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Windsor Castle hosts a Changing the Guard ceremony on certain days of the month, conducted by the British Army. (a more popular one is hosted by the Buckingham Palace). One was happening that day. We stayed and took a few snaps.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8g-Y5Jkr8wA/XWYcWvwARmI/AAAAAAAAIcE/MABYpxcpJt8asYhciqeYqiXJxJdvJ9D4QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8g-Y5Jkr8wA/XWYcWvwARmI/AAAAAAAAIcE/MABYpxcpJt8asYhciqeYqiXJxJdvJ9D4QCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1659.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.windsor.gov.uk/things-to-do/changing-the-guard-p264351" target="_blank">Changing the Guard</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As soon as the ceremony ended, it was time to board the bus. We crossed <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_George%27s_Chapel,_Windsor_Castle" target="_blank">St George's Chapel</a> on our way out, which is also situated in the lower ward of the castle. It has been the location of many royal weddings, most recently of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, in 2018.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CIXz2QcUHe4/XWYfzN3kSzI/AAAAAAAAIcQ/S3BNP5VJCsAY0847azq5z5-2e7JuqKC6ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CIXz2QcUHe4/XWYfzN3kSzI/AAAAAAAAIcQ/S3BNP5VJCsAY0847azq5z5-2e7JuqKC6ACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1671.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_George%27s_Chapel,_Windsor_Castle" target="_blank">St George's Chapel</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Have you seen the movie <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0268380/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ice Age</a>? Below is one of my favorite scenes, in which Manfred exclaims "Modern architecture. It will never last!" I have always wanted to see <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stonehenge</a> since I heard this line. And that was our next destination, about ninety minutes away from the Windsor castle. We spent the time productively, eating our lunch; a veggie sandwich, chips and cookies. Fortunately, the tour operator also supplied a water bottle. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jf8s3nod2NY/XYr-ZgCHkHI/AAAAAAAAIrs/ueXAKSznDXghb_9rrnPLd5FyRv_Wm1LvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/ice-age-quote.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jf8s3nod2NY/XYr-ZgCHkHI/AAAAAAAAIrs/ueXAKSznDXghb_9rrnPLd5FyRv_Wm1LvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/ice-age-quote.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Modern architecture. It will never last!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We reached the visitor center, and then a shuttle bus took us to the actual site. It was about half-a-kilometre away. Situated in the Salisbury plains, it is dated to be more than four thousand years old, belonging to Neolithic or Bronze age. There were many debates about the purpose of Stonehenge. Today, it is widely accepted to be a prehistoric temple. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KUcUTUiGNBw/XYsEUgBz4kI/AAAAAAAAIr4/exhaPtFU-g8zQYkeFkUE5ws1iY8UtMkDwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_1707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KUcUTUiGNBw/XYsEUgBz4kI/AAAAAAAAIr4/exhaPtFU-g8zQYkeFkUE5ws1iY8UtMkDwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1707.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stonehenge - prehistoric temple, aligned with movements of the Sun</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you are an avid photographer, you can request <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/plan-your-visit/stone-circle-access-visits/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">special access</a> to the stone circle. You can click the photos up close. Visiting hours are either earlier in the morning around 7:00 AM or later in the evening after 7:00 PM.<br />
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Next stop was <a href="https://www.romanbaths.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Roman Baths</a>. As the name indicates, it is a Roman site used for public bathing. On the way, we crossed the <a href="https://www.bathabbey.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bath Abbey</a>. We had time to marvel at it's gothic architecture only from the outside. (If we go inside, we may have to spend a few more hours, which we didn't have)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lmYh9DS7kX4/XYsQubbUAEI/AAAAAAAAIsE/lUKyoaDoRV06I8O5s7Ck19dd45bc5jVAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_1758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lmYh9DS7kX4/XYsQubbUAEI/AAAAAAAAIsE/lUKyoaDoRV06I8O5s7Ck19dd45bc5jVAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1758.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bath Abbey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then we reached the actual baths. We saw a main pool, surrounded by several smaller pools and a maze of rooms constructed below the street level. Natural hot springs supply water to these baths.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q64rZIFLq0A/XYsSHMbw60I/AAAAAAAAIsU/yGA395dtGcY4esY6-x5NAg8WriXMPSNpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_1726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q64rZIFLq0A/XYsSHMbw60I/AAAAAAAAIsU/yGA395dtGcY4esY6-x5NAg8WriXMPSNpwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1726.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roman Baths</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A trip to Roman Baths is not complete, without visiting the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Pump_Room,_Bath" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Grand Pump Room</a>, a 19th century building that serves refreshments. We ordered the famous <a href="https://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/clotted-cream-scones/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">English scones and clotted cream</a>, and finished it up with a hot cup of tea.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FSEmM-gVad0/XYsWb31WrQI/AAAAAAAAIsg/aMn9tefYitg01JIw12IpJqrtjmRbkZVMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_20180823_165017%2B-%2BCopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1600" height="337" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FSEmM-gVad0/XYsWb31WrQI/AAAAAAAAIsg/aMn9tefYitg01JIw12IpJqrtjmRbkZVMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_20180823_165017%2B-%2BCopy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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On the way back to London, we got down at the Baker street station. We had one more stop to make. Since we had watched all the Harry Potter movies, we were determined to find that entry way to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. We took the Circle line from Baker street to Kings Cross station. At Platform 9 3/4, our day was complete.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nrQuNTzJ0AA/XYsZnktuFTI/AAAAAAAAIss/beHpMWrzD0gy3cD1C6G-kdQckbVDeJMBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG_1767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nrQuNTzJ0AA/XYsZnktuFTI/AAAAAAAAIss/beHpMWrzD0gy3cD1C6G-kdQckbVDeJMBgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1767.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to Hogwarts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While we were spending an excessive amount of money on small pieces of Harry Potter memorabilia, our bellies grumbled to remind us that we haven't had the dinner yet. One of our friends had recommended the <a href="http://www.dishoom.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dishoom Restaurant</a> which was, fortunately, only a 10 minute walk from the station. It was a Friday night, and even at that late hour, we had to wait more than 30 minutes to get seated. Carbohydrate filled naan-breads and creamy indian curry was what our bodies needed. We devoured the food like hungry wolves, and caught the next tube back to our hotel.<br />
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shankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14112245133560996508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6110230802781046418.post-70513867788700584722018-09-05T20:44:00.001-07:002018-09-06T23:54:08.657-07:00Dear Old London - Day 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Our long and much-awaited trip to
Europe finally happened this year. We were nervous about the short
layover in Amsterdam, but much to our surprise, we arrived at the London
City Airport (<a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.londoncityairport.com%2F&t=MTYxYjY3MjIzODYxNDNlYmQwMzJlYjkyYzc1ZWM0YWRlM2M0NGE5ZCxaMzlqTTh1RQ%3D%3D&b=t%3A1srVJ5U6vGDYs7JxPsvqBQ&p=http%3A%2F%2Fshankarstravels.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F67645142996%2Fdear-old-london&m=1" href="https://t.umblr.com/redirect?z=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.londoncityairport.com%2F&t=MTYxYjY3MjIzODYxNDNlYmQwMzJlYjkyYzc1ZWM0YWRlM2M0NGE5ZCxaMzlqTTh1RQ%3D%3D&b=t%3A1srVJ5U6vGDYs7JxPsvqBQ&p=http%3A%2F%2Fshankarstravels.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F67645142996%2Fdear-old-london&m=1" rel="noopener" target="_blank">LCY</a>)
a full fifteen minutes ahead of schedule! Our tour operator, who, more
often than not, must have been used to delayed flights, came in late to
pick us up.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="graf graf--p" name="b400">
The
first thing we noticed in London is that everything is, at least one
size, smaller (when compared to America); narrower lanes, smaller cars,
and densely packed apartments. Sometimes cars were parked on both sides
of an already-narrow street, and our chauffeur skillfully maneuvered the
mini-van between them. Our adventure had already begun!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b6riA-EWCPg/W5Cl1babjXI/AAAAAAAAFnI/yb5TnAKl8z0bD9uCllVnWYEbA1oPgKGkwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b6riA-EWCPg/W5Cl1babjXI/AAAAAAAAFnI/yb5TnAKl8z0bD9uCllVnWYEbA1oPgKGkwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1538.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driving to the hotel, <a class="markup--anchor markup--figure-anchor" data-href="https://www.the-shard.com/" href="https://www.the-shard.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">THE SHARD</a> is reaching for the sky in the background</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="graf graf--p" name="b400">
</div>
<div class="graf graf--p" name="0aed">
Before reading further, watch a few clips of the <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://www.nfsa.gov.au/latest/dear-old-london" href="https://www.nfsa.gov.au/latest/dear-old-london" rel="noopener" target="_blank">namesake travelogue</a>, a documentary made in 1934!</div>
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<br /></div>
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The really narrow streets, the hidden side lanes connecting busy thoroughfares, and the zig-zag roads indicated that this city has been around for sometime, and has grown organically without much of a planning. Most of the buildings in London wore a tired and old look (yes, because they are <i class="markup--em markup--p-em">actually</i> old!) I wish they had maintained it better! The newer office buildings and shinier apartments in Central London provided a relief to the sore eyes.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jd-Qkoq66NM/W5Cm39W6rpI/AAAAAAAAFnU/imerOoklIpQ8144ddYCGsuZBvju5N6tIwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jd-Qkoq66NM/W5Cm39W6rpI/AAAAAAAAFnU/imerOoklIpQ8144ddYCGsuZBvju5N6tIwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1545.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New buildings indeed!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div class="graf graf--p" name="387a">
Soon after we arrived at <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://www.chesterfieldmayfair.com/" href="https://www.chesterfieldmayfair.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Chesterfield Mayfair</a>, our abode for the next four days.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-knniK38fr6A/W5CnHaVEQhI/AAAAAAAAFnY/Xl8cn089Me8x46apeaPADyNLEfDc8lFoQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-knniK38fr6A/W5CnHaVEQhI/AAAAAAAAFnY/Xl8cn089Me8x46apeaPADyNLEfDc8lFoQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1596.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a class="markup--anchor markup--figure-anchor" data-href="https://www.chesterfieldmayfair.com/" href="https://www.chesterfieldmayfair.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Chesterfield Mayfair</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
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Our rooms were not ready yet, and hence we stowed the baggage at the hotel and took off to get lunch. Thanks to our friends back home, we knew how to buy the Oyster card, the pass required to travel in the Tube (the underground train system).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AGHvhpfTpoQ/W5CniFSYINI/AAAAAAAAFnk/439_bJJRRLgNXD9iJIX0rJn3NSEXWpCoQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AGHvhpfTpoQ/W5CniFSYINI/AAAAAAAAFnk/439_bJJRRLgNXD9iJIX0rJn3NSEXWpCoQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1601.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oyster Card</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
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The vending machines at the airport (and all over the city) can only top-up (i.e., add money to) an existing Oyster card. You can buy a new card only at the “big machine” in one of the underground stations. And a new card requires £5 as deposit.<br />
<br /></div>
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The Green Park underground station was only about a five-minute walk from the hotel. We took the Piccadilly line to Leicester Square, our first stop was <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/SaravanaBhavanLeicesterSq/" href="https://www.facebook.com/SaravanaBhavanLeicesterSq/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Saravana Bhavan</a>, the famed South Indian food chain (though I read reports that this particular restaurant is <b class="markup--strong markup--p-strong">not </b>part of the chain!) The food was very good. We ordered thali, sambhar vadas and various dosas. After the ravioli and pretzels on the airplane, this food was heavenly.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bev69ibo4Qc/W5CoqVz3EkI/AAAAAAAAFnw/ri6Y5U7lX74gN7vmf4C7U6b99Qb0YERXQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bev69ibo4Qc/W5CoqVz3EkI/AAAAAAAAFnw/ri6Y5U7lX74gN7vmf4C7U6b99Qb0YERXQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1555.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leicester Square — what is a photo of London without the red double-decker bus?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
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The Leicester Square was only semi-busy, even though it was lunch time.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l-NPNiZBtWM/W5CpGtOqtTI/AAAAAAAAFn4/wq5Uj460dScffmp4U4tydkLYDygXlNuNQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l-NPNiZBtWM/W5CpGtOqtTI/AAAAAAAAFn4/wq5Uj460dScffmp4U4tydkLYDygXlNuNQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1548.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zig zag road (really!) near Leicester Square</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CqO9Giau2jc/W5CpXpGD0aI/AAAAAAAAFoE/2Yd4mBkPlpgiSHiQ_GvJZ62Qm1-YVHpCwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CqO9Giau2jc/W5CpXpGD0aI/AAAAAAAAFoE/2Yd4mBkPlpgiSHiQ_GvJZ62Qm1-YVHpCwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1550.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near Leicester Square</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="graf graf--p" name="e987">
The London underground train system is truly an engineering marvel! Even though it was built in the 20th century, it still serves the ever growing population and the expanding metro of London and Greater London. I believe other cities in Europe such as Paris and Lisbon also have the underground train system.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EZe4dPHsagY/W5CqurmqrhI/AAAAAAAAFoQ/5kc2eLklCN84mA4f35hLEUsVQJo-rm8pwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EZe4dPHsagY/W5CqurmqrhI/AAAAAAAAFoQ/5kc2eLklCN84mA4f35hLEUsVQJo-rm8pwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1591.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baker Street Station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e7VSLVf6utU/W5Cq5qbQk4I/AAAAAAAAFoU/LitGExEkq0IW4W5lr2iULSLp5UKIE9GowCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e7VSLVf6utU/W5Cq5qbQk4I/AAAAAAAAFoU/LitGExEkq0IW4W5lr2iULSLp5UKIE9GowCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1592.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A train pulling in</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="graf graf--p" name="0f27">
Our next stop was the <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" data-href="http://www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk/" href="http://www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes Museum</a>, at the world’s most famous address: 221B Baker Street.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OxD0GFUyPwY/W5CrHSJSemI/AAAAAAAAFoY/mYhz-r7DQ5klI9hKEVGwDiAQc6wD5TDqwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OxD0GFUyPwY/W5CrHSJSemI/AAAAAAAAFoY/mYhz-r7DQ5klI9hKEVGwDiAQc6wD5TDqwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1567.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a class="markup--anchor markup--figure-anchor" data-href="http://www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk/" href="http://www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes Museum</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div class="graf graf--p" name="9ed1">
The house itself is about a hundred and fifty years old (it croaks and creeks when you walk) reflecting the times when Arthur Conan Doyle was actually creating the fictional Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson. Being fans of the great detective, we thoroughly enjoyed the depiction of various scenes from different stories.<br />
<br />
Then our hotel called. Our rooms were ready. Suddenly, we lost our will power to look around any further. The jet-lag caught up with us. We went back to the hotel and crashed in to the bed straight away.</div>
</div>
shankarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14112245133560996508noreply@blogger.com0