Westminster Abbey and Roehampton . . .

Well. It is time for another update on the London excursions I've been taking.

First, the entire student body (from WNE) went with me on a field trip to Westminster Abbey on Friday. Everyone had a good time, entertained by our guide Tom who really knew his stuff. They did not allow pictures inside the Abbey and its chapels, but here is Tom regaling the group before we go inside:

We got there late, and I was a bit embarrassed by that, but Tom of London Walks (http://www.londonwalks.com) made us comfortable with his great stories, great humor, and engaging approach to the students.

Here are a couple of late shots as we were leaving the outer sanctum:

The third and fourth images are shots of St. Margaret's Church, the parish church of Parliament. My mother may enjoy those, being a Saint Margaret herself! The last is, of course, Big Ben (with the Millenium Wheel in the background).

And now, today, I took a trip to Roehampton. A very different kind of trip. Richmond is such a rich and privileged area. On this trip I had a chance to see the not-so-rich and to experience winter and spring together, both literally and figuratively.

First sights as I walked down Queen's Street:

Interesting mixture of blooming trees and stark skies. This mixture characterized the entire walk (5-6 miles). Down Queens street, toward Sheen, past Christ Church, into the park again, and down into Roehampton.

These images are from Sheen--still very wealthy and comfortable homes and the church.

Then into the deer park (still have not seen a single deer!). There I saw another pond that I now consider to be the "Gull Pond" south of Sheen Gate. The gulls were there, floating and hunting in full force, but they still did not scare off the ducks and swans:

Some more pics of the deer park below Sheen Gate:

Leaving on Prior Road, and walking toward Roehampton, I saw a change in the architecture and the capital of the people:

Roehampton was a darker place, with more trash on the streets, less elegant housing, and multiple security guards in the grocery store. I never felt uncomfortable, but it was a change in scenery from the privilege of Richmond proper.

The coming of Spring was still visible, but on the way home I saw both flowers and snow blowing in the air. The turning of the seasons. . .

More soon!