Beautiful, c.i. Your trips are always an adventure for those of us who live them vicariously. Great photos!
I'm in total agreement with everyone here, most especially Osso and Piffka. That door is a vision and I lusted after the ability to enter. The fishing village - I could live there forever. And the painted boats reminded me of exactly the way they paint them on the south side of Portugal. Great views! What I wouldn't do to wander around an ancient walled city.
c.i.,
More photos please.
danon, I could probably find more photos of Malta, but here's my segment on London. I must write these things before I forget all of it. Pictures will follow.
Four Nights in London:
London has always been one of my favorite destinations since my first visit back in the late fifties as an airman in the US Air Force. This one makes it my sixth trip to the UK and London.
This visit to London was extra-special, because it included getting together with A2Kers from Germany, France, UK and the US. I brought two water pistols with me, but we got along so well, there was no need for them. We met at Penderel's Oak on High Hoburn, a rather large venue which serves at least a dozen kind of beer, the hard stuff, and food. I think somebody in our group only drank bottled water. Interesting exchanges of topics and people on A2K, and learned about each other's interests, careers, and family.
Most of us ended up at the Four Seasons for dinner, and were treated to some first class food and service. That was the least we expected, since Clary's son works there, but it met way beyond our highest expectations. Besides, there was a nice looking lady that helped in the service. I don't remember how many bottles of wine we consumed, but fun was had by all.
Dys, Diane and I had our accommodations at the Paddington Court Hotel and Suites, a few blocks from Paddington Station, and within walking distance to some nice restaurants and the Underground. This was the first time I stayed in this area, and highly recommend it to future travelers to London. The express train to Heathrow Airport is serviced by Paddington Station, and it runs every 15 minutes. If you buy a round trip ticket at Heathrow, you can save a few dollars, and it?'s good for 30 days.
In addition to the A2K Gathering, my activities included the following (not in chronological order): War Rooms, Churchill's History Museum, V&A Museum, British Museum, the Scott Expedition to Antarctica display at the Royal Geographic Society, Royal Albert Hall, National Gallery (I never miss this museum whenever I visit London), cruise on the Thames to Greenwich, stroll around Greenwich and lunch, National Maritime Museum, walk around the Tower of London, stroll Chinatown, Leicester Square, Picadilly Circus, Covent Gardens, and from our hotel to Oxford Street (I love to walk even if I have a daily Underground pass, and walked an average of over 4 miles/day).
The War Rooms where Churchill directed the war effort is still a popular tourist site. It's located just a block away from Parliament, and one can also visit the Churchill History Museum at the same time. The renovations completed to make the War Rooms bomb proof was interesting; some of the walls are 7-8 feet thick with iron girders to support the ceiling. Most of the displays are original, and the others are recreated from photographs. Moving from room to room makes one feel the times during WWII when the place was crackling with activity. The huge map of Europe that covered whole walls were put together like a puzzle. Information about the blitzes and bombings in the UK and London were recorded on one wall with casualty and injured figures.
Another tour that was interesting on this trip was the one of Royal Albert Hall. I've walked by the Royal Albert Hall often during my past travels, but this was the first time I went on a guided tour. There were only four of us with our guide. Two ladies from Germany, one young man from Sydney, and me. The short film before our walking tour was presented in German, but our guide explained the important points to us in English. The hall was built in 1871, but it had acoustical problems with echoes that was subsequently corrected by placing discs (called mushrooms) on the ceiling. New seats were installed in 2000, and the richness of the red fabric is evident to any observer. We were able to visit the Queen's box, and was informed that those who work for the Queen are treated to "free" tickets to attend concerts and shows when she is not in attendance. The Queen has only one rule for her box, no drinking of liquor. We saw the auditorium from the top floor and from the ground floor; it's an impressive venue, where the middle seats can be removed to increase the stage area or use it as the main stage. I'm glad I took this tour and highly recommend it to others.
The Scott Expedition exhibit was free, and it includes large photographs with information about their expedition. Although they failed to reach the South Pole first, the Scott Expedition accomplished many scientific and other goals that assisted future science and explorations of Antarctica. The Norwegian, Amundsen beat Scott by 35 days to the South Pole. What made this exhibit more interesting for me was the fact that Ernest Shackleton was a member of Scott's Expedition, and my visit to Antarctica was motivated by Shackleton?'s extra-ordinary journey that he led in 1914.
The stroll around Greenwich was enjoyable, but the National Maritime Museum now restricts the taking of photographs, a new rule that was not in effect two years ago. Unfortunately, I was making an attempt to take a picture (replica made for the movie "Shackleton") of the James Caird, the 22 feet boat used by Shackleton and his five men to sail from Elephant Island to South Georgia, an 800 mile trek in rough, icy-cold water with only a sextant, but was reprimanded by the attendant. They didn't even have a postcard to purchase in their gift shop of the James Caird. Stupid rules: no harm can possibly come to anybody or anything. Oh, well.
Another disappointment was at the British Museum; they now have the Roseta Stone behind glass. What more can I say?
Covent Gardens is always a joy to visit; it has talented musicians, magicians, speakers, artists, and what have you to entertain. I saw one of the artists doing a drawing of dys, so I took a picture of them. On another day, I just strolled around and had my lunch at one of the restaurants there.
The National Gallery is one of my favorite museums in this world, and I make it a point to visit on every visit to London. It never disappoints me, and I usually spend at least half a day there to view the art works. I usually begin my tour by visiting the expressionist painting galleries.
The three days passed too quickly as dys, Diane and I took a cab to Waterloo Station to catch our chunnel train to Amsterdam.
Penderel's Oak on High Hoburn.
The London Eye. Didn't go on a ride on this trip, but did so two years ago.
The Tower Bridge. There's a museum on this bridge.
<Tower Bridhe was closed by Transport for London during the time of the meeting ..... no, not because of us, but so a survey could be carried out>
Tak, you left Dys and I in your dust. You are an even faster walker than I am and you are like a pointer in that you find the right direction and GO!
We would love to travel with you again as you never expected us to keep up with you; letting us set our own pace of leisurely strolling.
I'm waiting for the train ride....hee, hee, hee.
Diane, You must learn to keep up with me for the "unplanned adventures." LOL
LOL, you manage to have fun regardless of where you are!
My oh my, c.i.,
You sound exactly like me in your travels - Things to see, places to go and people to do. Errrrr, or, something like that.............. grin
The Cutty Sark at Greenwich.
Some more pictures of Malta. This one is a little special. It's at the Palazzio Paradiso. Can you guess what the special thing is?
A narrow street of Valletta. BTW, I'll be back in Valletta when I take the cruise from Barcelona to Athens in November.
Ah, the Scotch connection............................Mmmmm
That is a great looking ship. It suggests speed just sitting there. Errr, floating there?
Pipped twice, but not thrice...... if I hurry.
Could your "special picture" have anything to do with John the Baptist's visit to Malta??
Also, love those street scenes.... You should be in some of them.
A museum we visited in Valletta. I'll get the name a little later.
I think it was the St John's museum, but I wouldn't put .02c on it.
This is the Grand Master's Palace.
danon, A few sips of the old scotch will make it move quite fast.
Not pipped - but passed, as I tried to edit........ you are a fast one c.i. !!
danon5 wrote:
Could your "special picture" have anything to do with John the Baptist's visit to Malta??
Also, love those street scenes.... You should be in some of them.
Yeah, a really good scotch whisky is just that - really good.
