LONDON

Our London Adventure

In April 2007, we stored our RV and flew to Gatwick Airport in London.  For three months, we lived in a flat in Sydenham (in Southeast London).  We've always wondered what it would be like to live in a Big City and we had always wanted to see London.   We accomplished both goals -- saw everything we'd always dreamed of (and more) and enjoyed learning about city life.   We had the time of our lives.

For us, staying in one central location worked.  We're just not "tour" people -- we liked discovering the wonders of the city on our own schedule and pretending (when we weren't carting the cameras) that we actually lived there.  We got away with it sometimes too!  By the end of our three months, people on the street were asking us for directions.   

This blog is about our London adventure -- to see the beginning of it, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on archives. 

POOTLING ABOUT AT BRIGHTON BEACH

This is Brighton Beach -- and the Atlantic Ocean.  We actually got out of London for an excursion.  Took one of our local trains a couple of stops south and then hopped on a fast (express) train to Brighton Beach -- about 60 miles.  It made one stop, at Gatwick Airport (which is where we flew in).  It was fun to see the countryside, from the ground, that we had glimpsed as we flew in last month.      Lots of sheep -- and hedgerows instead of fences.  We had forgotten about that.  They are pretty to look at.  The trip took an hour, including waiting time at our station and the transfer point.

Above is the old-new pier; this one is all that remains of the old-old pier (it blew down in 97; they can't decide whether to rebuild  it or not.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

                                                       

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  We rode the Volks Electric Railway.  It is the oldest remaining operating electric railway in the world and runs along the beachfront from just east of the pier to Brighton Marina and Village.  Our information said "hop aboard the V&R and pootle along the beachfront for superb views out to sea."  So we pootled -- and they were.

                                           

That beach is all ping pong ball sized rocks, not soft sand!   

                                                  

Rumor has it that you don't actually have to come to England to see an ocean and/or this kind of town. (In many ways, it's not that different from similar towns on the same or other oceans.) 

But we love the Coast (as anybody reading this will know) and it was fun to see the ocean again .    

It was a beautiful early summer day.  The lifeguard stations were manned (personed?) and there were a few swimmers.  Most people just used the chairs and strolled (as we did).

   

  On the new pier, looking toward the town.

We had an adult beverage in a nice old pub out in the middle of the pier and enjoyed watching people.  There's a carnival/arcade out there too and the usual fair-type food, all of which we skipped.  Opted instead for a a good fish dinner at a nice restaurant in town in an area called the Lanes.

   

The breakwater at the marina village (after our pootlng ride).  You can tell that they must get some pretty good storms sometimes.

   

                                                                                                                              

We came home to Sydenham slightly sunburned and pleasantly tired.                                                                   

SALLIE - London Notes 1

We have every-day adventures learning about our little town of Sydenham.  It’s a multi-ethnic area in SouthEast London, part of the boroughs of Lewisham/Bromlely.  Part of the fun is learning to understand people.  Of course, they do speak English here, but our problem is -- we speak American.  As well, the English speakers range from the typical accents you hear on BBC-America (the café owner and the laundryette lady who call me luv and Bill “ducks” or “darlin”), to the butcher who is Scottish, to the very proper (and very rapid) English spoken by our landlady to the English spoken with Pakistani, Indian,  Afghanistan,  and any number of African accents.   Everyone seems to know we are “American” even before we open our mouths and I haven’t figured out quite why that is.   Many of the people we meet are very interested – and knowledgeable – about American politics and ask us what we think of current events.   This is fun, and different for us, because in our RV lifestyle back in the states, people pretty much go out of their way *not* to talk politics to casual acquaintances – too much of a minefield, I expect. 

Bill -- London Notes 1

We have been in London for almost a month now.  Much of the time has been spent figuring out how to navigate the city.  We have rented (let) a studio flat, and many trips to the markets and “pound” stores have been required to set up housekeeping.  It is kind of strange to be buying things with the knowledge that they will be abandoned the first of August.  You can’t function here, using public transportation, without a shopping trolley.  We look just like you would imagine, two little old people trudging up the sidewalk and onto the train or bus with our cart!  Great fun!!

The Tower Bridge photo is the bridge that MacCullough thought he was buying when he bought London Bridge and moved it to Lake Havasu AZ.  (At least that’s the story told here.)  We took a tour on the Thames, and the long time boatman Captain told us that the bridge is considered a vessel and requires a Captain, First Mate and   Engineer to raise and lower. (I think the watermen have a great union)

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The buses run every 10-12 minutes all day and on the half hour at night.  Only time they are really packed with people is during commute hours.  It’s great to sit in the very front of the top deck above the driver and watch the street light come within an inch of your side window. (Honest)  Since the trees have fully leafed out, the neighborhood buses manage to thump a branch or two on the roof.  I noticed yesterday that some of the drivers are starting to recognize us, and just wave when we start to show our passes.

We saw Monte Python’s SpamAlot at a great theatre (see, I’m becoming a Londoner with my spelling) The performance was great, “laughedAlot”.  The theatre has been restored recently and is very nice.  Has two or three bars and a seat vendor for intermission.