On Day 2, we set out in the morning and walked our feet off. Surabha in her infinite wisdom had decided that the city had to be explored on foot! Phew! Unused to this much walking, nine hours I think in total... by the end of the day, Sappu's and my feet had developed blisters. :P But because it was a day captured in time we bore on. :D
We started at the Kensington gardens, walking through the huge green space—trees heavy with branches, weighed down like antebellum skirts—to the sound of organ music from the Albert Memorial. From there we headed to Hyde Park, beautiful and vast. We walked along the Serpentine Lake, and I imagined the Victorian age—figures on horseback riding along its lanes or sometimes falling into the waters. :D
We passed by the Buckingham Palace which made me think of an apartment building with cornices on top of pillars. The monument in front of it with a golden angel at the top was far more eye-catching. :P
Then followed a walk into St James Park to watch its many waterfowl. We were nearly hypnotized watching one particularly loony pair of swans. All they did was turn round and round in circles. Ceaselessly. I wondered if swans could get dizzy. :D Though a net search tells me that the behaviour shows defensive strategy employed to mark territorial borders! And that sparks off so many possibilities in my head...! :D
From here, we walked to Westminster Abbey which was truly beautiful in its architecture. Along the path outside, there are statues of historical figures. My favourite was of Lincoln's, who looked down (benignly?) at us lesser mortals unlike the rather haughty mien of the others. (Were they haughty or was that the impression the sculptor had of them or wanted others to have of them...? :P) We also walked past the iconic Big Ben clock tower.
The last part of that day's walk was along the beautiful embankment and it's many street performers—singers and acrobats and more. We crossed the Millennium Bridge, spotted the Globe Theatre in the distance and arrived in front of St Paul's Cathedral embellished with winged heads of eerie infants (not kidding!).
We were to catch up with the rest of the family for dinner so through several overcrowded tube changes we arrived at O2. It was cold and there we were sitting on wooden benches surrounded by daisies. To get warm, we got a small bottle of wine and Sappu (as usual :P) got tipsy with the little she had, giggling uncontrollably, and us with her, over the lamest jokes we could think of. :D The day ended in the best possible way with good food—nachos, peri peri prawns and paella at this south American joint Chiquitos. :)
One of the many squirrels at St James Park. Photo courtesy: Craig Holland
@craigholland30
Comments
Post a Comment