Paddington

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Traveler Loxit in London
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- Jun 1, 2021, 3:00pm
- ☀️ 24 °C
- Altitude: 28 m
- England City of Westminster Paddington Sheldon Square 51.52122, -0.18131551°31’16” N 0°10’53” W
Day 452
Regent's Canal: that was then
June 1, 2021 in England ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
This is by far from being my first walk along the canal. I first got to know it in the 1970s, having found my first post-graduation job (which I hated) in London. Weekdays involved the daily trudge from Chelsea to Holborn, wearing a suit for 5 days a week and proof-reading international scientific patents.

Weekends were a blissful escape to explore what was then a very run-down city but in a good way, or so I felt. My weapon of choice was a Rolleicord twin-lens reflex, using medium-format 6 x 6 cm. film. In black & white of course, to enhance the grittiness.

While Little Venice in the first image was always upmarket, most points east of there didn't seem to have changed since 1945. Any damage from the Blitz was heightened by the running down of Britain's waterways. The docks became redundant and boating for recreation was unheard of then. Image 2 shows Camden Lock; 3 & 4 move east to Islington, and 5 is where the canal empties into the Thames. 6 is not strictly the canal but sums up the general dereliction of docklands in those days.Read more
Speak, World Wow, great grit! Wonderful photos! I’m so glad that you are able to display them here. Keep them coming, please!
6/29/21Reply
Traveler Glad you like them! It was still London but not as we know it now.
7/1/21Reply
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Traveler Loxit in London
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- Jun 3, 2021, 12:00pm
- ⛅ 21 °C
- Altitude: 28 m
- England City of Westminster Paddington Sheldon Square 51.52122, -0.18131551°31’16” N 0°10’53” W
Day 454
Regent's Canal: if this is Thursday.....
June 3, 2021 in England ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
......I must be in Little Venice, again. The beautiful early summer weather continues and it's time to sport a new weapon of choice, a mirrorless Canon camera. Besides having an increased resolution on my previous Canons, its electronic viewfinder provides an accurate exposure check before shooting---very useful.

Little Venice is at a junction with an arm leading to Paddington Basin. It was always the poshest part of the canal but now most other stretches have become gentrified as well. Even the Trellick Tower (image 3), a prime example of brutalism from the time I first discovered this canal, has become a Grade II listed building. But Ian Fleming hated this style so much that he named one of James Bond's villains after the architect, Erno Goldfinger!

Image 5 takes me to Camden Lock, once moribund but now a challenge to the social distancing which is supposed to continue for at least 6 more weeks. And finally to the King's Cross area, where acres of railway yards have been replaced by hipster apartments and sleek offices for multinational techie companies.Read more
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You might also know this place by the following names:

Paddington, Paddinqton, Падзінгтан, Падингтън, پدینگتون, פדינגטון, पैडिंगटन, パディントン, 패딩턴, Паддингтон, Паддінгтон, پیڈنگٹن، لندن, 帕丁頓

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