Salut mes amis,
Just a little update. Not really too much new report. School for me, work for Chris. Two of our flatmates moved out so we’re down to six in the flat for the time being. It’s kinda nice. Tentatively planning our trip over my reading week but nothing solid yet since Chris is waiting to hear back from work about days off. Still don’t really have the hang of the grocery stores. I really can’t think of anything else new to report right at the moment, but I’m adding some photos below. I went to Hyde Park/Kensington Palace yesterday (Saturday) and Tower of London/Tower Bridge today (Sunday). There are lots more photos here.
Some Kensington Palace history (taken from Wikipedia so, y’know, take this with a grain of salt): Built in 1605, purchased by William III and Mary II for 20,000 pounds. William and Kate (and Prince George) were living here for a time, though I believe they recently moved into Princess Margaret’s old place. Prince Harry currently lives there. Much of the palace is open to the public, which seems weird but cool. I didn’t venture in but I could see tours going on inside. It’s much less impressive than Buckingham Palace.
Hyde Park and Kensington Palace:
Queen Victoria:
The Orangery, built in 1704 for Queen Anne:
The 900-year-old “Elfin Oak”, as seen on Pink Floyd’s “Umagumma”:
All kinds of elfin figures are carved into it:
Goose-duck hybrid?:
“Official” golden-gated entrance to Kensington Palace:
Part of our ‘hood right outside the park:
Just a little history about the Tower of London: it’s construction was started by William the Conquerer (1066, Normandy), and completed by his son. It was added to by pretty much every monarch. It’s made mostly of stone from Normandy. It’s served as a residence for the monarchs, as a torture facility, an armoury, the mint, and many other things. The battery is still used by firing squads when foreign heads of state are in London, and during the queen’s “official” and “actual” birthdays (what?). I haven’t gone inside yet (the cost brings tears to my eyes, so it’ll probably wait until one of you comes to visit), but the outside is phenomenal. Also happened to stumble on a re-enactment today, which was pretty neat.
Remnants of a gate that was discovered while the London Underground was being built. Allowed access into the city from the east:
“The Shard”:
Tower Bridge:
The Queen’s Stairs. This is where she and other highly important people would dock, then they’d cross a drawbridge into the Tower of London:
Nobody does Starbucks like London does Starbucks:
St. Katharine Dock, very nice area I stumbled upon with some swanky looking restaurants and condos along the water:
The Royal Mint Court:
The Tower from The Mint:
Tower Bridge:
And now for just some other fun things…
Australia vs. Canada football game at Craven Cottage:
The very kind security officer took our picture for us, unfortunately it didn’t turn out very well. But that’s us with a few of our flatmates:
And I was very lucky to meet Eleanor Catton (left), the winner of the Man Booker this year! The winner was announced this past Tuesday. She’s the youngest author to ever win it (at age 28) and her book (which is her second, called The Luminaries) is the longest piece to ever win it, too. She was born in London, Ontario (woo!) but moved to New Zealand at the age of six:
That’s all for now. If you don’t like photos, I’m sure you don’t like me either now.
Love, Meg.
P.S. Yes, I’m aware it’s now Tuesday. It took ages to upload the photos. I had good intentions.
Bags of Milk 