London, England

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London, England Destination Unknown
What’s My Color?
November 8, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 39 °F
This "high tech" device scans you and determines what color M&M is best suited for your personality. Kathy scanned herself and got the color gold. I can see that, because she's as good as gold. She decided to let herself be scanned a second time and another color came up making me feel that these color determinations are just assigned randomly. She'll always be gold to me though no matter what that M&M's machine says. Just like they say in the Outsiders movie, Stay Gold!Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
The Fair Maiden
November 8, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 39 °F
Since all the figures here are posed and clothed in British inspired costumes and situations, Green is dressed up as a fair maiden, looking as if she just stepped out of the legends of King Arthur. I'm guessing that she's playing a princess because she's wearing a tiara.Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
Orange
November 8, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 39 °F
Even Orange, one of the more uncommon M&M's, has his own figure here. Of course, if these figures are depicting British culture, soccer has to be represented. While I don't really care for this sport, it seems to be immensely popular here in England. The fans are so passionate about this game and are so loyal to their favorite teams. I just don't understand it's appeal. I think that's because when I was a kid, soccer was almost non-existent in America so I never grew up with any exposure to this game.Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
M&M's Forever
November 8, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 39 °F
Everything in this store is so colorful! M&M's are used as much as possible in the decorations which makes sense since this entire store is devoted to them. This wall was decorated with real M&M's arranged as a repeating pattern of the British flag. This is a lot brighter and more colorful than the standard Union Jack.Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
Abbey Road Revisited
November 8, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 39 °F
Abbey Road has become one of the most iconic album covers in history for two reasons - no album cover has inspired more imitations, and none has spawned such a mass of conspiracy theories.
According to the legend, Paul had died in a car accident and been replaced by an impostor. The band, it was said, subsequently felt guilty about the deception, and so placed hidden clues on the album cover for their fans.
Thus, even today, despite the apparent health of Paul McCartney, they insist that if you look closely at the images on the front and back of the album it is packed with deathly symbolism.Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
Abbey Road Once Again
November 8, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 39 °F
What is certain is that the Abbey Road album denoted one death of sorts. Unbeknown to the public at the time, The Beatles were in the final throes of a bitter break-up and would never record another album.
Relations had deteriorated to such an extent that the group abandoned their original title of Everest, together with a shoot in the Himalayas, and were photographed instead walking away from the studios and everything they had once shared.Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
Where is Everyone?
November 8, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 39 °F
Here's a look at several floors of M&M's World at the same time. I know that the hour is late but where is everyone?
As we were leaving the store, I started wondering about having an entire shop in England dedicated to just one type of American candy. We love M&M's in America but do the British really like them that much also? I would think that they would prefer Smarties, the British version of M&M's. I've even heard Smarties mentioned in an episode of Fawlty Towers when a very fresh boy says he doesn't like the chips because they are the wrong shape and and their just awful. Basil Fawlty asks him, very sarcastically, what shape would he like; Smarties shapes or amphibious landing craft shapes. The chips, of course, are french fries. What a great show Fawlty Towers was! One of my favorites!Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
Swiss Court
November 8, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 39 °F
One of the more interesting minor attractions found at Leicester Square is the Swiss glockenspiel that was given to London in 1985 by Switzerland and Liechtenstein as a symbol of the centuries friendship between the nations.
The clock chimes numerous times each day, producing a nice melody and you can watch the figures atop the clock structure turning around while the small bells chime away. It's an interesting and pleasant experience if you are passing through the area and happen to be around when the glockenspiel is in action. Otherwise, just have a look, take a picture and move on to see the rest of Leicester Square.Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
I Emerged in London Rain
November 8, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 39 °F
London has a reputation for being a damp and rainy place and here's the rain. It's not coming down very heavily just enough to make an umbrella, or brolly as it's known here, necessary. I didn't have an umbrella with me but Kathy did. She seems to take an with her nearly everywhere we go. It sure came in handy tonight. After getting this shot, we walked back to our hotel together under her umbrella. It was so nice to walk together in London's rain. I'm tired but very happy right now.Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
Out and About
November 8, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 39 °F
The rain doesn’t seem to be slowing anybody down, but then, I’m guessing that the British people are quite used to the wet and rainy weather. I’m surprised by how many people are still out and about despite the late hour. It reminds me a lot of New York City.Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
Almost Home
November 8, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 39 °F
Since it was raining, the best thing for us to do was to get back to the hotel. Fortunately, it was right across the street. I see that a Christmas Marketplace is being set up in Leicester Square Park, right in front of our hotel. I hope it's open before we go back home to New York. I'm really curious to see how they celebrate Christmas in London. It was another great day for us. I'd like to go out again for photography but I'm just too tired. This is a night to relax and sleep early. I just hope that the rain is gone by the next morning.Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
TKTS
November 8, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 39 °F
This TKTS building sits right outside our hotel and it’s been tempting us since we’ve got here. We’re thinking about getting tickets to see a show while we’re here. London’s theater district is supposed to be just like Broadway so we’re very curious to see a show here.Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
Two for the Show
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 45 °F
I think we're not really adjusted to the time difference here yet because we didn't wake up until past 10:00 am. Not only were we dealing with the time change but we were just so exhausted because of all the running around we have been doing lately. We're on vacation though, so it's perfectly fine for us to sleep in if we want to. Before we went to sleep last night, we decided to see a show in London so as soon as we stepped out of the hotel we got tickets to see Jersey Boys later tonight. It's going to be another great day!Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
Covent Garden Market
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 45 °F
We walked over to Covent Garden Market to eat lunch, since by now it was far too late to have breakfast, and to browse around the shops but, for some reason, we couldn't find the restaurant where we wanted to eat. Most of the streets around this area are little more than twisting alleyways and none of them seem to have any street signs. I guess, if you're local, your used to it but we didn't have a clue where we were going.Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
Covent Garden
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 45 °F
We didn't really mind getting a bit lost. When you're traveling, that's often when you find some of the best places, usually something that you would never have expected. We were a little disappointed that we couldn't find that restaurant. Having not eaten breakfast yet, we were getting hungry!Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
The Corridor
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 45 °F
These dark and enclosed corridors and alleyways seem very common in London but, being from New York City, it's something that we're not used to at all. This is what we passed through to get from Covent Garden Market to the street. I'm thinking that going through these dark passages at night would be a bit scary.Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
I Emerged in London Rain
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 45 °F
We hadn't been inside Covent Garden Market for more than several minutes but when we came out it was raining. Rain and dampness is something to be expected in London and I don't really mind it. If anything, different kinds of weather can give a city an entire new look.Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
Empty Chairs and Empty Tables
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 45 °F
On a nice sunny day these tables would be nice to sit down, relax, and enjoy lunch or perhaps some snacks as you shop in Covent Garden Market. Today, the rain seems to be keeping everyone away. Perhaps we're just here too early. Most of the shops and food stands aren't open yet and the the whole area seems very quiet. I'm guessing that Covent Garden really gets busy with the lunch and dinner crowd. I'd like to come back some evening and see that.Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
In Search of Lunch
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 45 °F
By this time, we had given up looking for the restaurant we had set out to find and, at this point, would have settled for anywhere. Not only were we so hungry, having not had breakfast, but we had to get back to Westminster Station by 2:00 for our Harry Potter's London tour, run by Tours by Foot. If we didn't find somewhere to eat soon, we'd be skipping lunch too!Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
Bangers and Mash
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 45 °F
We ended up eating at one of those traditional English pubs, something that I had wanted to do anyway, just for the experience. The place was called the Wellington and the food and service was very good. It was British food, so Kathy had the meat pie which looked like, and made me think of, Mrs. Lovett's meat pies from Sweeny Todd. I was going to get fish and chips again but, instead, went with a dish I've been wanting to try for years, bangers and mash. Those things on top are onion rings. I'm not sure how well they would fit in with the meal but, surprisingly, they were great! Everything was very good! I'm so happy I took a chance and ordered this!BangersRead more
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London, England Destination Unknown
Mrs. Lovett’s Meat Pies
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 45 °F
Since these meat pies reminded me so much of the ones that I saw Mrs. Lovett making in Sweeney Todd, here's some of the lyrics about them...
Ladies and gentlemen,
May I have your attention, please?
Are your nostrils aquiver and tingling as well
At that delicate, luscious ambrosial smell?
Yes they are, I can tell.
Well, ladies and gentlemen,
That aroma enriching the breeze
Is like nothing compared to its succulent source,
As the gourmets among you will tell you, of course.
Ladies and gentlemen,
You can't imagine the rapture in store
Just inside of this door!
There you'll sample
Mrs. Lovett's meat pies,
Savory and sweet pies,
As you'll see.
You who eat pies,
Mrs. Lovett's meat pies
Conjure up the treat pies
Used to be!Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
Temple Station
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 45 °F
After lunch, we were back on the tube and headed to Westminster Station to meet our Tours by Foot guide for the Harry Potter's London tour. I'm really hoping for a better tour than what we had yesterday. All the rushing around was just too much. If today's tour turns out to be more of the same, we might end up leaving early. I'm just hoping that the tour isn't being run by Sinead, the same woman from our tour last night.Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
Big Ben
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 46 °F
When we got out from Westminster Station, this was right in front of us! Big Ben is so much bigger and more impressive than I ever expected it to be. I would have liked to stay here for a while to explore Westminster some more but before long it was time for the Tours by Foot Harry Potter's London tour to begin.Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
Elizabeth Tower
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 46 °F
Officially, the Elizabeth Tower's bell is called the Great Bell though it is better known by the name 'Big Ben'.
There are two theories for this name's origin. These are that the Great Bell was:
First, named after Sir Benjamin Hall, First Commissioner for Works 1855-185
Second, named after Ben Caunt, a champion heavyweight boxer of the 1850's
The first theory is thought to be the most likely.
The name 'Big Ben' is often associated with the Elizabeth Tower and the Great Clock as well as the Great Bell. It was to the Great Bell that the name originally was given.Read more
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London, England Destination Unknown
Big Ben
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 46 °F
Warners of Norton near Stockton-on-Tees cast the new bell in August 1856. It was transported by rail and sea to London. On arrival at the Port of London, it was placed on a carriage and pulled across Westminster Bridge by 16 white horses.
The bell was hung in New Palace Yard. It was tested each day until 17 October 1857 when a 1.2m crack appeared. No-one would accept the blame. Theories included the composition of the bell's metal or its dimensions. Warners blamed Denison for insisting on increasing the hammer's weight from 355kg to 660kg.
Warners asked too high a price to break up and recast the bell so George Mears at the Whitechapel Foundry was appointed. The second bell was cast on 10 April 1858.
This bell was 2.5 tonnes lighter than the first. Its dimensions meant it was too large to fit up the Elizabeth Tower's shaft vertically so Big Ben was turned on its side and winched up. It took 30 hours to winch the bell to the belfry in October 1858. The four quarter bells, which chime on the quarter hour, were already in place.
Big Ben rang out on 11 July 1859 but its success was short-lived. In September 1859, the new bell also cracked and Big Ben was silent for four years. During this time, the hour was struck on the fourth quarter bell.Read more
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