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!

More English Ruminations

I have made a number of excursions since last posting here. So these pictures will be placed randomly among some general ideas I have been brooding on here.

One thing I notice here is passages and narrow walking paths that weave in and out among the city streets. They are rarely straight for very long, and may take one to unexpected places.

With names like "Whorple Way" and "Pelham Passage," these footpaths have a magical Harry Potter-like aura at times. Until you see a bunch of school kids selling drugs or cigarettes to one another, that is.

Walks around a large loop from Richmond Hill through the deer park to Sheen, then back to Richmond and up the hill again, have become a staple of my daily life. I have found post offices in Sheen and in Richmond, and grocery stores in both places, so I am a regular citizen of the place now. Here are a few photos from a loop walk. . .

Spring is coming, as evidenced by the buds and blooms along the way. It seems Spring comes earlier here than in New England. Sorry guys!

The grey heron seems to be a regular at the Duck pond near Bishop's Gate. He does not seem skittish at all about people. I still have not seen a single deer. . .

Teaching in London, Spring 2013

Rather than clog up my other blog, Expanding Minds, with material unrelated to its theme, I have decided to blog about my experiences at Richmond University, London UK here on blogspot. So here goes!

My first Saturday excursion--

After sleeping very late and having lunch at the University dining hall (Thank God for that place! I'd be broke in no time if I had to eat out several times a day!), I goofed off awhile, talked with my daughter Mariah (and was delighted by her high spirits!), then set out for Kew, home of the famous Kew Botanic Gardens. I had no plans to visit the gardens when snow was still falling, but a walk down the South bank of the Thames sounded good to me.

Along the way, I was startled by a blue heron exploding out of the foliage by the footpath, saw pigeons as big as small ducks, and saw a parakeet! That's right, a parakeet:

My colleague, Ted South, informs me that these exotic birds have invaded the Richmond Hill deer park. Apparently they live on the banks of the Thames as well!

Seagulls floated downstream along the north bank, fishing and squawking. When they felt they had floated far enough, up they'd go, flying back west and starting the loop all over again.

Whenever a fish was seized by one of them, a flurry of fighting took place among those nearby. Sometimes a larger predatory bird (a hawk of some sort) would swoop in and seize the prize for himself. Herself?

Near the South bank crew teams of 8 men or 4 women rowed upstream against the current, with one person in the stern or bow of the boat calling the strokes. Lots of boats, but I had no clear idea who the teams might represent. I did see UCL on the jerseys of a couple boats--maybe University of Central London?

When I reached Kew, I stopped for coffee (and a much needed warm-up) at a cute little pastry shop called The Original Maids of Honour. A warm, friendly place with lots of congenial people enjoying themselves. Here is what you get when you ask for a cup of coffee there:

And this is the way it looks inside:

After that, I took the Overground (yes they have one of those too) back to Richmond and walked up the hill looking for a good place to eat. I had a place in mind further up the hill, but after reading the menu for Pizzeria Rustica I decided that pizza and salad sounded great after my long walk:

I sat in the window looking out at the passersby, and had a delicious meal:

Then back up the hill home--taking a few shots along the way.

The Chuck Taylor selection was particularly impressive! Weird, huh? More soon . . .