London - Day3 - II

Continued from Day 3 - I

Tate Modern -

A former power station has been superbly converted into the world's biggest collection of Modern Art. And it's free! The two huge floors cover the complete century - there's a whole room devoted to Rothko. The layout and juxtaposition are certainly worth the hype.

The River was less busy. It was really enticing to just sit on the Bench, doing noting.

The Millennium Bridge and St Paul’s cathedral were in clear sight with Tower 42 and the Swiss Re building in the back drop.

7] Millennium Bridge – This is the pedestrian-only steel suspension bridge. Londoners nicknamed the bridge as Wobbly Bridge, after pedestrians felt an unexpected swaying on the first two days after inauguration. The bridge was soon closed and modified to eliminate the wobble.

Remember reading about this, when it was inaugurated in 2000 June.

This starts from Tate Modern on the South Bank and end’s at St Paul’s Cathedral in the North.

Shakespeare Globe Theatre -

London’s first public playhouse established in 1576. The theatre was open to anyone who could afford the penny entrance fee. Oranges were to theatre in those days what popcorn is to the cinema now.

Loved the ornamental gate here.

8] Southwark Bridge -

9] Upper Thames Bridge -

Walked down toward the actual London Bridge.

The lanes were still empty.

At the exit of this tunnel is the London Prison Museum.

The Golden Hinde -

9] London Bridge – First built by Romans this was the only bridge over the Thames in London until 1750.

Of all the Bridges I had plans to walk the Millennium, London and Tower Bridge from one bank to another. Standing in the middle of the London Bridge.

Custom House on the North Bank -

Why did we sing London Bridge is falling down, while at School?

This was real interesting bit indeed. Back home some search led me to this London Bridge history page.

London Bridge, Thames, Custom House and me. This was the only way I could photograph myself and the London Bridge.

My first view of Tower Bridge

Hay’s Galleria -

This is a converted dock/warehouse complex which has been converted into shops and offices. It is actually a converted ‘Warf’, an enclosed dock, originally known as Hay’s Warf named after its owner merchant Alexander Hay.

This place had Bric-Brac’s which were common in every lane of Commercial Street.

This is this pleasant kinetic sculpture 'The Navigators' under the glass roof of Hay’s Galleria.

HMS Belfast -

HMS Belfast is a cruiser. She was launched on the St Patrick’s Day 1938 and served throughout WWII. She is famous for playing a leading part in the destruction of the German battle cruiser Scharnhorst. After which she served United Nations Forces in Korea. In 1971 she became the first ship to be saved for the nation since HMS Victory. A reminder of Britain’s twentieth century naval heritage.

I walk down towards the Tower Bridge. It was this photo of London Bridge, which was in my Rhyme Book for ‘London Bridge is falling down’. I had decided by this time to ask the other person for a click in return, incase I get a request. And a troop of girls from China arrive with their Biscuit size Nikons and Samsungs. After capturing them in every Camera and Cell Phone they had, I finally ask if they can get mine too. And all of them are ready. Now, I’ll have to teach them to click using a DSLR. I do, and this is the only snap of mine in London. J

Thames River cleaner working for a cleaner Thames.

10] Tower Bridge - The iconic 19^th century drawbridge.

Walked down the narrow cobbled lanes in search of ‘London Design Museum’, but later decided to retrace path back.

London Bridge and St Katherine’s Dock.

The bridge goes up several times a week to allow large masted boats underneath. Although I tried finding it out from the timetable, the days weren’t anywhere near.

Butler’s Warf on the South Bank

Thames as seen from Tower Bridge

Continues in part III......