Saturday, July 15, 2006
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Oxford Street
Oxford street is one of London's main shopping arteries. For London, it's a very wide street, full of buses (often stuck in traffic) and bemused shoppers. I usually try to avoid it.
Now here's a palace of consumerism: mighty Selfridge and Co. (more ministry than department store!)
Of course Oxford Street also has its good moments...
Now here's a palace of consumerism: mighty Selfridge and Co. (more ministry than department store!)
Of course Oxford Street also has its good moments...
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Saturday, June 17, 2006
More Pubs
The pubs follow the order of my walk to campus. Here is the sign for "The Lamb". It's by far my favorite pub in London--mostly because it's 250 years old and has great dark corners to hide in. There are also no televisions (a creeping plague spreading throughout London's pubs). Perhaps we'll go for a tour inside at some point.
Next we come to a pub with a fabulous name (but not a place that I actually go). It's just reassuring to walk past it.
Wine bars are apparently the sophisticated alternative to pubs. This place is quite near Gray's Inn...
And so we arrive on the LSE campus...at one of the three campus pubs. I know absolutely nothing about George IV, or why the LSE decided to buy this particular pub. But he looks like a nice guy, doesn't he?
Friday, June 16, 2006
Highgate Cemetery
I went to Highgate Cemetery early in the year, but I just found these pictures now. The Cemetery's most famous permanent resident is Karl Marx (the photo is too blurry to really make out the features on his giant head). Around Marx are all kinds of socialist leaders (or at least devotees) who wanted to be buried quite literally in his shadow.
I thought this other grave was a beautiful example for the possibilities of interfaith marriages. Each tradition respected but neither compromised.
I thought this other grave was a beautiful example for the possibilities of interfaith marriages. Each tradition respected but neither compromised.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Beautiful Chelsea
I went to Chelsea looking for the Physic Garden. Apparently, the buildings on one side and river on the other create a microclimate that allows semi-tropical plants to survive outside all year. The garden was unfortunately closed, but I did find some flowers on a wall and an incredible set of doors:
Monday, June 12, 2006
Sunday, June 11, 2006
"To Know the causes of things"
The LSE has several signs:
A Beaver (industrious, I suppose).
Some glass frosting.
And its disembodied acronym.
But it's the people that count!
A Beaver (industrious, I suppose).
Some glass frosting.
And its disembodied acronym.
But it's the people that count!
small pub collection
I've always wondered how these pubs got their names.
I've seen old maps that show most of greater London as just scattered villages.
Some of the more ancient pubs appear as inns at the crossroads.