This early morning, I wanted to photograph the LAMPOSTS ON WESTMINSTER BRIDGE which were designed by PUGIN to Commemorate the contributions of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria who were deeply involved in the planning of the new HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT after the old PALACE OF WESTMINSTER had burned to the ground.
While I was photographing the emblems–which I will blog about in a moment–I heard a bit of a disturbance quite near me. I turned around, and OFFICER DANIEL was handcuffing a gentleman who apparently was setting his sights on my camera bag which was hanging over my back.
I told OFFICER DANIEL I was grateful for his surveillance because I know that PICK-POCKETS work this area a great deal. People are concentrating on their boat ride down the River Thames and are not paying attention on their wallets.
It turns out the man who had my bag in mind spoke no England was working London crowds; he had two passports and a lot of cash in his cargo pants which he had pinched from some unhappy victim. When I opened my camera bag and showed him my three red apples I had just bought to snack on during my walk, the police officer and I had a bit of a chuckle. But, the point is, PEOPLE MUST BE CAREFUL WHEN VISITING HIGH TRAFFIC AREAS FOR TOURISTS IN ANY LARGE CITY IN THE WORLD. LONDON IS NO DIFFERENT.
My father gave good advice to my brother and me when we teenagers traveling the world: PUT YOUR VALUABLES IN YOUR FRONT POCKET; IT THEY GET YOUR VALUABLES THERE, THEY DESERVE THEM. Well, these days, we have money belts which are excellent. Handbags with straps are useless. Put your lunch in your handbag, and put your valuables in your money belt.
Anyway, it felt like a morning TV show, and I was the HYACINTH of an episode. I shook hands with OFFICER DANIEL and gave a stern look at the Hungarian who said he spoke no English.
That’s an episode. We will call it THE TRIUMPH OF THE THREE RED APPLES.
I have had several calls in the office about visiting the HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT this summer when the House of Lords and the House of Commons are not sitting. I am putting this information on the blog as the summer visits are taking place now.
CARNAVAL DEL PUEBLO, held in London since 1999, is the largest Latin American out-door festival in Europe, attracting people from diverse backgrounds in a day of Latin music, dance, and fun.
Carnaval del Pueblo is the event of the year for all Latinos and lovers of their culture. Londoners of all communities come together and share this intense cultural experience.
The festival brings a Latin experience to London with a carnival procession, Latin American artists in four different areas in Burgess Park.
THIS WILL BE A COLORFUL EVENT AND A FUN EXPERIENCE. Put your valuables in your front pocket. Hm! I can go to the British Museum to study Egyptian mummies, OR I CAN SPEND THE AFTERNOON WATCHING HALF-DRESSED BEAUTIES DANCING DOWN THE STREET–ALL THEIR NATIVE DANCES. Hm. I wonder which one will win out! AND, GREAT FOOD!
I will see at CARNAVAL DEL PUEBO on 1 August starting at 10:00 am
THE KNIGHTSBRIDGE STATION is Harrods and all the shopping in this luxury area. THE KNIGHTSBRIDGE STATION has two exits: one is right at Harrods and the main station exits at Harvey Nichol on Sloane Street. LUXURY GOODS everywhere. Beauchamp Place, the Cromwell Road, great restaurants–goodness, credit card shoppers will be in heaven. I like to window shop all around this area and then have lunch at the Cafe Rouge behind Harrods. A walk down Beauchamp Place where Diana Princess of Wales used to shop is great fun. If you are fashionably hungry, stop in for lunch at San Lorenzo’s. I love the pastry and bread department at Harrods for my favorite ALMOND CROISSANT. Our flats on Beaufort Gardens–this is the stop! Let’s keep traveling up the Piccadilly Line.
HYDE PARK CORNER is a small station, but it is the exit for THE HARD ROCK CAFE and your walks through Hyde Park and up Park Lake. Next stop, please!
PICCADILLY TUBE STATION is a lively spot! You are now in the heart of the Theater District–right up Shaftesbury Avenue. The entire street is one theater after another. One restaurant after another! And mobs of people. Friday and Saturday nights are a sea of people from all over the world, all trying to enjoy this amazing place. I love to walk up Shaftesbury Avenue looking at all the theater posters and people dressed up for a night out–LEVIS TO GOWNS BUT LOTS OF GLITTER since beads are the style. Boy, you know you are London when you are in this area. Our flats on Pall Mall and Cambridge Circus are reached from the Piccadilly Station.
LEICESTER SQUARE STATION is another lively spot! There are several exits, but they are all just different sides of the street. This is CINEMA land with motion pictures all around Leicester Square. There are some good restaurants here and LOTS OF PIZZAS and kebabs. THE NATIONAL GALLERY, TRAFALGAR SQUARE, THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, ST. MARTIN IN-THE-FIELDS, and THE NATIONAL OPERA are all reached from this station. Our flats on St. Martin’s Lane, Upper St. Martins, Charing Cross are near this tube station. THIS IS A LIVELY PART OF TOWN. And Fun! I love my evenings in a Chinese restaurant in China Town which is only five minutes from this tube station.
COVENT GARDEN TUBE STATION is another theater district exit. The ROYAL OPERA HOUSE is an experience of a lifetime. I saw AIDA here a few years ago have been back many times–all memories which I think about often. Rupert Friend and Keira Knightley and their world whirl around this area, often photographed in their hip clothes and shopping bags. There are several Italian restaurants like BELLA ITALIA, and Spanish restaurants, and Indian restaurants, clubs, wine bars, and pubs, pubs, pubs, and more pubs. The COVENT GARDEN PLAZA is always full of life. When I am wandering, I often find myself having pizza and tonic water and lime on the Plaza watching all the amusing entertainment around me. The stalls of Covent Garden are here. JUBILEE MARKET and my dealer friends are here. If you are going to RULES RESTAURANT for a special meal, this is your tube station. A walk to St. Paul’s Cathedral is wonderful. My family and friends had a fantastic meal in a pub during the Christmas holidays in this area. The CHESHIRE CHEESE is always a fun place. EVERY VISITOR TO LONDON WILL FIND HIMSELF IN THIS AREA MANY TIMES DURING A VISIT TO LONDON. It is a lively place to spend a lot of time. In the evenings, everyone is having a pre-theater meal or an after-theater dinner, and the restaurants are full of happy people. I like being here.
