Final City Walks

Friday, Oct 7th: This was the day for our big walking tour of The City.  Although I really love my self-guided walking tours, I found it immensely difficult to do them during this trip.  This was because of the understandable crowds of humanity that made pausing to follow a guide book nearly impossible.  Well, maybe this was a sign to put down the guidebook and look up! Experience the city!   

Jogging along the canal at 6am was the only way to escape the crowds.

Jogging along the canal also provided some stellar sights, like some grunge near Camden Lock Market.  Mom and I will be in this vicinity the next day.

The original Twinings shop (est 1706) was a "must see"!

Temple Church (1185), headquarters of the Knights Templar.  I was very disappointed it was closed :o(

St Bride's Church.  The steeple was the inspiration for the tiered wedding cake!  Can you tell?  Mom and I caught a noontime quartet concert here.

Obamarama!

We crossed the river to the South Bank to spend a little more time in bustling Borough Market.

I had been dreaming of getting a meat pie!

Wild highland venison burger and wild boar hot dog at the same stall.  I came around several times for samples.

One additional "must do" was catch an evensong, and Southwark Cathedral by Borough Market was our pick (they were setting up for quiz night!). The music was phenomenal and the service was one of the trip highlights.  The ruffled collars the boys choir wore was the icing on the cake :o)

We poked our head into the Tate Modern but I think we were both pretty worn out after the big day.  We crossed the Thames again, this time via the Millennium Bridge, and headed back to the hostel to expire the evening.

Saturday, Oct 8th: Ah, our final day!  It was time to do some window shopping, after a quick cultural activity, of course.  The Victoria and Albert museum was massive... so we just moved on to Harrods.    

Christmas World

Lots of overpriced food

Wow, Harrods really does have everything, like this yak chair.  (Visitors, keep in mind that this place really is just a large department store, one with some strange "extras".) 

Explanation, please.

Now this was my type of market!  Grungy, grimy, Camden Lock Market sprawled for many, many blocks.

The locks were quite the sight

And the shops (and people!) just got more and more bizarre

We made sure to get our afternoon lattes one last time before heading home.

We had dinner just down the road from our hostel.  Just like Italia!

We stayed by Kings Cross.  Yes, here is Platform 9 3/4, and with a sprawling queue, a professional photographer, security guard, and guy waving a Gryffindor scarf one could wear for a dramatic photo.  I wonder what Harry would think?

Our little private room at the hostel.  This was about when I realized I lost my wallet sometime after having pizza :o(  Not the best way to end a trip but at least I didn't loose it at the beginning!

Thanks, Mom, for a truly wonderful trip!