The Thames River at night

View from Lambeth Bridge. You can se the London Eye, and the tip of Big Ben on the left. After the fireworks.

New Years London Grand Finale 2013

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://youtu.be/f5ZQRTMwCBs


AJ

Fireworks begin--New Years Eve London 2012-2013

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://youtu.be/KqerOeYQDZ8


AJ

Ringing in the new year

The absolute best fireworks display I have ever experienced. The beginning and ending ROCKED. They were launched from the London Eye, and some of them were shot off from the ferris wheel itself. Videos are linked in the next couple posts.

A sea of people...

...and me. NYE 2012-13 London

A million people

A panoramic from Westminster Abbey to Big Ben. It's 11:15 PM, 31 December 2012. CRAZY!

Self pic

It's 2000 (12 noon pacific) on New Year's Eve. I'm gonna head straight to the Thames River (call me Ishmael) and see how crazy it gets tonight. I walked through Soho before I got on the bus to the hotel. It was already getting busy there. I saw a sign on a shop that said 'licensed sex shop downstairs.' Don't know what that means.

Going back

You can see the blue-lit London eye in the back. I stopped at a pub for some chow. Roast beef, potatoes, 'roots,' and Yorkshire pudding. Tasty. $15US (9 pounds). No tip required when you order at the bar. That's how they roll here. Then they deliver the grub to where you're sitting. You have to claim a table first. Don't know what would happen if you ordered and there wasn't a place to sit. Probably look like a hobo eating in the corner standing up.

Leaving...

...it was raining when I left.

My favorite rooms

This area wasn't as busy, but displays a lot of British exploration history. Very very interesting. I got chewed out for leaning on one of the wooden display cases. Hey, there weren't any signs--I looked!

Hmmm

These guys look related. The top one is from that island in the pacific that had a bunch standing on the side of a hill to scare away jet skiers. The bottom one is a Buddha from Asia tho. Looks like he ate the top one.

The Rosetta Stone

This chunk of rock allowed some expert cryptographers to decipher hieroglyphics. It was a big deal. They did it because there are three written languages of the same topic translated on it. Their eyes must have been bleeding by the end. The English translation was essentially: 'my kings are better than your kings, and they're, like, Gods too, so step off bitch.'

...

This Italian had a big nose...

Statues

This is a 'portrait' of Emperor Caracalla from Rome, around 200 AD. I only show it because when you see these in person, carved so long ago from the real dude, you can see a lot if detail as if he's standing there looking at you. He looks a little scary up close. There are a lot if these, some going way back in the hundreds of years BCs.

The British Museum

The best museum I've ever been to. Outside and inside is amazing.

Nice idea

Although it hasn't really taken off, London has made available bicycles to rent. I think they're free for 30 minutes, as long as you lock them back up at one of these stations. I'll stick with walking and the bus though.

Bus Ride

Just a few pics from the top floor of the British bus (#24). It's the way to go. If you miss a bus, another one comes around in about 7 minutes or so.

On the bus

Google maps works well. Rick Steves was right. If you can use the bus system here you have it made. I'm traveling through a lot of the areas I walked to yesterday. It's nice to have my bearings and know what I'm looking at.

Day's beginning.

Well, I found out there's no hot water. Been a long tne since I took a cold shower. I remembered the techniques tho.
Found a nice breakfast for $7 US.

Awake--trip planning

0800 Local (Midnight Pacific time). Google maps rocks. The app on the iPhone displays all manner of transportation to my destination--subway or bus or walking. I'm planning a bus trip to The British Museum. It is closed on 1 Jan (thanks for the info Google). I'm glad I checked-I was planning the Churchill museum today but I'll save that until tomorrow since it will be open.
I bought a 7 day travel card at the underground station when I arrived. It includes unlimited bus and tube, plus a ride to and from Heathrow. I'll see how the bus system goes...

My room

Finally got to my room. What a day(s). This is a 270 degree pic of my very small room with a twin bed in it. The room is about 12' by 12' including the bathroom. This hotel used to be sleeping quarters for nurses at the local hospital next door a long time ago. The room is nicely equipped, just small. Perfect for my trip. No real view from the 4th floor.

Walking home from the Theater

5:30PM local (11:30 AM Pacific). I am beat! Bought some snacks at a small store to take to the room. My sleep is way off--can't wait to Zzzzz.

Wicked

I walked back to Victoria station to see about tickets to the musical Wicked. . Prices are surprisingly good. I'm at the 2:30 show--had time first to get my first meal in England. Fish and Chips. Yum.
The theater is great.

More pics.

Big Ben. Westminster Abbey. The changing of the guard at the Queen's palace.

Tour Pics

Below is a snap of a map that shows where my pics were taken on the tour. . Nice 2 hour walk and tour. Now I'll know where I'm going tomorrow when I go into the museums. You can see the good weather. Started clouding up at the end though.

Hitting the ground running

I had read in the book about a walking tour that starts at Piccadilly Circus at 10AM. Since I can't check in to the hotel until 2 I tried to make it. Left the hotel at 9:40 and jumped in a cab (didn't have time for the subway). It was a short ride. Got there just in time to start the tour. Along with two women from France and a young couple from Philly. This is the cab ride, and a picture of the Nelson statue in Trafalgar Square.