Chelsea: Walk of the Superstars

Chelsea is basically where the cool people live. All the rock stars and legends of literature, music, and art made their nests here. So if you are a V.I.P. or planning to make history, you should consider finding real estate here. It might burn a hole in your pocket though-- living here is a bit pricey. Still, everybody who is anybody can be found in this very neighborhood. You can hardly throw a rock down the street without hitting some sort of plaque or a famous residence. For many years this has been the home of London's superstars, and continues to be today. Don;t take my word though. See for yourself...

Royal Ave. is considered the fictional address of our favorite secret agent, James Bond. What I's like to know, is if there are real secret agents living in this area, or if there ever was. Perhaps, Pierce Brosnan was intereted in real estate in this area.
34 Tite Street is where Oscar Wilde made his residence. He was a famous victorian author who wrote beloved play The Importance of Being Earnest and the one we recently saw, An Ideal Husband. This general area is also where Princess Diana and the "Sloane Rangers" worked some of their magic. It used to be a slum part of town, but they rejuvenated it to restore it to its old glory.
Artists also made their homes on Tite Street, such as John Singer Sargent (#31) and James Whistler (#35).  These houses are not the original ones that the artists lived in, but seeing where all of these famous Londoners lived helps you understand the area demographics. The VIPs make live around these parts.

Here at Number 19, Bram Stoker graced St. Leonard's Street with his presence. He is the author of Dracula. Perhaps, he inspired Stephanie Meyer.

Here is Lawrence street where the famous T.S. Eliot lived for much of his long life. The novelist, Henry James, also lived on Lawrence Street. He died at his residence in 1916. This shows that this was a very fashionable area for writers.

Just for fun, here is where the famous rock star Mick Jagger used to live. Stars of the past and present flocked to this area. It doesn't matter if you are a poet or a Rolling Stone.
Here at #16 Cheyne Walk, lived Dante Rossetti. He was one of the famous artists of the Pre-Raphaelite  brotherhood. They believed art had become too academic, and had lost its beauty and sincerity. They strove to bring the aspects of art back that they considered to be essential. Dante also had a famous sister, Christina, who was a poet and posed for one of his paintings.
Just down the street from Rossetti lived George Eliot-- aka Mary Ann Evans. Again, this was the area for serious writers and artists-- not silly female novelists.
Just a hop, skip, and a jump away is Flood Street. This is the street where Margaret Thatcher lived. She was Britain's first and only woman prime minister. Known as the iron lady, she was tough, a staunch conservative, and a powerful speaker-- she certainly left her mark. I wouldn't mind seeing more Margaret Thatchers in our government today!

Seats of Power: Whitehall and the Mall

The "Seats of Power" walk is filled with important monuments and memorials that are relevant to British history and continuing tradition. The day that I conducted this walk was very significant because it was Armistice Day. Because there are a lot of military memorials and building in the area, there were poppies everywhere and many people gathered in honor of those who had given their lives in war. When the clock struck eleven, there was a moment of silence observed by all in the area. It was a neat experience to be in an area so magnified by history, while this memorial day was being observed.

The first thing we came across on the walk was the statuary. I have to admit, I wan't very familiar with most of the figures that the memorials are dedicated to, but Bassett assured me that they are very well-remembered by the British people. They mainly include the great war heroes, but there are a few of non-military figures as well. One of these is Tyndale, who translated the Bible into English.

Two of the staues in the statuary were in memory of Air mArshall Lord Trenchard and Lord Portal, who founded the Royal Air Force. They were responsible for the Air Force Branch of military during WWII, and are very famous in British History. The statue above shows a winged fighter pilot from WWII.

If there was ever a respectable British leader, full of character and zeal- this was the one. Winston Churchill is probably my favorite figure in British history. He was a magnificent speaker, and led during the darkest times of WWII and the "iron curtain" of communism in Europe. he still retains a strong presence today just outside of Westminster Abbey.
Guard's memorial stands in memory of those British troops that died in WWI and WWII. The day we took this walk was Armistice day (11/11). It was very moving to see all the wreaths of poppies placed by the memorial and the many people who had come to pay their respects.

Big Ben is probably London's most recognizable landmark. It's tall clock tower marks the location of British Parliament, and of course, chimes the time on the hour.

This monument, the Admiralty arch, marks the official way to proceed to Buckingham Palace. The road is a red color, like a red carpet for royalty.

St. James' Palace is a remaining monument of the Tudor reign. It is the palace where "Bloody Mary" died, and the birthplace of many royalty, including many of Charles I's children. Charles I was living here when he was taken to his execution.

And of course, the climax of the walk-- Buckingham Palace. You can't live here, unless you are royalty. It is still quite a spectacle from the outside as well.

Walk Among the Scholars: Bloomsbury/ St. Pancras

The area of St. Pancras/Bloomsbury had a familiar feel to it, though I had never really explored the area. Oh yeah, this is what a college town feels like! I'm not going to lie, I kind of made me miss Provo a little, which is a strange feeling. There is something interesting about the fusion of the town-and-gown. The college area does seem to be appropriately placed. It is amidst where many of the great British thinkers lived, including Charles Dickens. The streets in the area are literally lined with blue plaques in memory of the famous scholars who lived there. It must be inspiring for students to be studying in area filled with so much scholastic legacy. The very thought inspires me to academic ambition. The walk of the scholars is all of learning and remembering the great legends of Britain.

One of the first things about the area that I noticed was the many small colleges that dotted the area. This one struck me oddly. Goodenough college??? Good enough for who? I hope I would be good enough to get into Goodenough. 

The magnificent British Library. It is HUGE!! I mean, moving from Rexburg to Provo, I thought that BYU's library was rather large. But this is the mammoth of libraries, isn't it? I can't imagine what an amazing resource it would be to have a library like this while going to college in London. It has everything, including some pretty amazing exhibitions...

This was one of my favorite monuments that I ran into on the walk. It sat right outside of the British Library, inviting seekers of knowledge into its doors. The statue is of Isaac Newton. I love to learn about him, because I am particularly fascinated by the study of physics, he could be an ancestor of mine, and the statue is modeled after a painting by William Blake-- one of my favorite poets.

Inside the British library is a grand exhibition of old old old texts. Ancient Bible Manuscripts, an original of Beowulf, and the Magna Carta. The place is just awe-inspiring.

Along with a center of learning, this area was filled with memorials of the many great ones. One of these, is Mahatma Gandhi. Here, in a small garden dedicated to peace, he sits in meditative reflection. He still remains as an example to peaceful causes, and there is still much we can learn from him.

This is where I began to miss traditional college. I saw students out and about their studies. Leaving school, buying books at Waterstones, and just scurrying about the urban campus. There is something distinctive about college towns and areas. I think it is because there are so many in such a small area dedicating their lives to learning and building their future. London seems like a great place to do that. I wonder what it would be like to attend school on an urban campus like this one.
Jeremey Benthem requested that his skeleton be displayed in this manner. Strange, indeed. Still, this is considered a sacred shrine to all serious economists. Benthem was considered the father of Utilitarianism and was also involved in socio-political issues. He is dressed in his own clothes, and has a wax head. He continues to grace students with his presence at the University College of London.
This is right near where the University College of London Hospital is located. It is said that Benthem's ghost haunts the place, and chases nurses with his cane. I really enjoy urban-lore, but more importantly it is an institution of learning.

Kensington: The "Regulars" at the park

On my late afternoon stroll in Kensington Gardens, I decided to go solo. It was the ideal place to gather my thoughts and some peace of mind while enjoying the lovely Autumn scenery and fresh air-- the kind I just can't get in Arizona. I realized though, that it was the fashionable hour when all the "smart" Londoners are out on the promenade-- to see and be seen. Consequently, I ran into some old friends and a few of the "regulars" of Kensington Gardens. Without fail, you can always count on casually running a few of them.

Peter Pan usually hangs around the Serpentine, playing his little flute for any passerby. He is kind of a show off.

Albert himself, in his golden image, is a little bit unfortunate. He does not get to enjoy the lovely view of the park since his golden chair is always fixed toward the city.

Watch out for this guy. He's cute and friendly, but he only wants your Hob Knobs.

It's always an awkward encounter when I run into this guy-- the naked horseman. Are there any indecent exposure laws in the park? A dress code, perhaps?

Rude. Everyone knows that this is my afternoon bench-- right by the flower walk. This is bad form on the part of my feathered friend.

Queen Victoria is always at the foot of Kensington Palace. I tried to avoid conversation with her though. She is really a bore. All she does is talk about the weather.
This group looks very familiar to me. I always see them at the Park, but I know I've seen them elsewhere. A London cocktail party? Maybe it was the Royal Opera House?...  Odette!

William III on his usual pedestal is actually a charming greeter at the gates of Kensington Palace.

The Museums of South Kensington: A Center of Culture and Learning

Exploring the streets of South Kensington was a fun adventure. Not only are the streets lined with fashionable shops and restaurants and attractive buildings, but the most attractive ones offer free admission. I speak of the huge museums, including the Victoria & Albert Museum, Science Museum, and Natural History Museum. The Royal Albert Hall is just around the corner, and across from it is the Royal College of music where you can often hear the students practicing. The smaller streets are lined with national embassies ornamented with each country's flag. In the same vicinity, blue plaques mark the homes that once house famous Londoners, such a Winston Churchill, Charles Dickens, and Virginia Woolf. The overall impression of the area, is a curiosity of the world and culture extremely magnified in these few blocks.

London's huge, interactive science museum that offers free admission, which is more than I can say about the science museum where I am from. I agree that we should be free to explore the complexities of the world around us.

The V&A offers a wide variety of exhibits, bot old and new. One of these includes a model of the statue of David. Again, free admission.

The very impressive Natural History Museum-- impressive in size, architecture, contents, and price. Again, free!

Geological Museum. Here one can learn about our Earth's infrastructure. Free!

Lines and lines of buses bringing swarms and swarms of school children to the free museums to learn things for free.

The Royal College of music houses the great musicians of tomorrow. Here they study, and often can be heard practicing from the street. We had the privilege of hearing a wailing female opera voice.

This must be where the Royal College of Music students go when they graduate-- across the street.

This area was full of famous residents-- Winston Churchill, Dickens, Woolf and her family.  There is just something attractive about South Kensington. It is an area for learning, exploring, experiencing culture, and remembering the great ones.

Hampstead Heath: Access to Nature

The excursion to the Park in Hampstead Heath was a delightful surprise. Expecting the same style of park as the Inner-city parks, such as Hyde Park and Regent Park, Hampstead was a drastic contrast. Rather than the clean-cut, formal style of park, Hampstead was a little rough around the edges. It was filled with rocky paths, thick brush, uncut grass, and a much more informal set-up. The less-planned park gave it a more natural feel. 

Here's Lauren walking on one of the main paths of the park. The trees and brush are thick and unkept, but give it a natural atmosphere.

This seemed to be a popular place for letting pet dogs run free for awhile.

Here's Parliament Hill, or "Kite Hill," where people come to send their kites soaring.

You can see in the picture just how rugged the hill is. The grass was kind of blotchy and uncut, but it was somewhat appealing.

Fallen trees are left fallen, and provide a sort of natural playground.

Hampstead had bikers galore. I observed the paths were rougher and more strenuous, affording a more extreme ride for serious bikers.

Again, you can see the grass on the hill is uncut. It gives the whole park a more rugged feel.

The whole city lies at my feet.

The paths are rough, yet still accessible to the handicapped.

Not exactly like the Italian Gardens at Kensington, but the mossy, murkiness of this pond has its own beauty.

The landscape increasingly becomes more refined as it nears the city.