France & England... for work... - Page 4

Photos of the rain. I always seem to end up here when I am in London. I think the landromat I have used in the past is very near this building. No need to go there this time, I did my laundry in Paris. Thankfully the cafes open at 7:30 even on Sunday, so I sat and had a coffee and stared at the rain.

Here is the Thames and some of the newer buildings. I think when I first came to London nearly 15 years ago, none of these were here. Because my website is awesome all the photos from then are still accessible, later I will do a comparison because I am a very boring person.

A ballerina is posing for some graffiti photos for instagram.

The SNOG froyo truck includes an upstairs disco. All the kids like yoghurt dancing.

Its the London eye, as seen from below. The Chinese tour groups were lined up waiting for it to open.

110 years ago, Shrek constructed this building for his own personal adventure.

If you came to London to see big ben, you will be disappointed, it is currently covered in tarps. No one has any idea what time it is.

The new Covent Garden market is nowhere near Covent Garden. It is just a shed with no customers. This reminds me of the relocation of the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo. I suspect here in London it has been relocated for the 25 year crossrail construction project.

The biggest rejuvenation project in Europe, according to a sign. This used to be a dirty power station at Battersea, it is now being turned into housing. That would be very tricky, the ground would be very polluted.

Of course near the filthy old power station is a park, with duck pond.

The Battersea fountains rival those of Versaille, although theres no music to make the experience magical.

I was then attacked by hordes of dogs.

Someone has been allowed to construct a house within the park.

I was very aware of those around me and ensured my steps were out of time with theres.

Can you see the bridge wobbling as people ignore the sign and step in time?

This is as far down the Thames as I got today, further than on previous visits I think.

Houses in Chelsea generally look like this. Million dollar cars are left parked on the street.

Eventually it becomes Earls Court, also known as Little Australia. When I first came to London and did not select my own accommodation, I was made to stay here, because its where Australians stay. I saw 2 guys randomly vomiting in the street, so can confirm, Australia.

In nearby Holland Park there is a design museum, free entry apart from the Stanley Kubrick exhibition. British museums are generally free, and have free toilets, a winning combo. Actually they have decent healthy restaurants too, but I did not eat there today. This car was in the movie Clockwork Orange. Which I think is a movie about Englishmen pretending to be Frenchmen who kill prostitutes for sport before they all realise that they should be gay instead and wind up killing each other?

Now to take a stroll through Holland park. The buildings do not line up with the gardens.

Note the offset building here as well, frustrating.

London rats are absolutely enormous.

Very strangely, in 2018, Fukushima donated this garden to the city of London as thanks... for what?

It is in central London, but at times Holland Park feels like you are out in the dark woods.

Finally after many hours, I arrived at the local westfield, many years ago this was the first of their new design which was the template for all their newer designs throughout the world. I know all about this for some reason.

It has not changed since I first came here when it opened, although they are currently overhauling the eating area.

The salad place I have eaten at previously was gone, so I had a falafel wrap, but really I wanted the pickles and they were great.

After 30,000 steps, it was time to catch the tube back to my hotel. This station goes directly to my hotel, no transfers. Very convenient. Now to wait for the photos to actually upload.... come on internet! Its not as bad now as it was last night.

Camden has many many market areas, this is the first one. It is the worst one.

Despite being early Sunday evening, the street is still very busy, and full of weird characters and lots of rubbish.

Most of the stores selling drug smoking apparatuses are now adorned with things to scare drug addicts above the door.

If you dont want a crack pipe, your choices are t-shirts or handbags, like every market.

Now to enter the extensive Camden lock area. Here is the lock.

Poisonous algae grows in the water.

Another of these weird boats designed to keep the sun off people and ensure you dont get a view.

There was lots of vegan food places, but its too hard to get a table, and the first rule of rulebook is, I do not stand to eat. Except in Paris.

I dont think tennis is very 'punk', but they have erected a super screen for tourist punks to watch people hit a ball who are only allowed to wear white.

I do recall going here previously. They sell t-shirts with batteries in them.

ITS ME! Posing with a Japanese hippo.

And as described in detail already, here is the place I could sit and eat. Its pasta. They were making the pasta fresh in the shop, small serve but quite nice. Small serve meant I could have some more fruit salad later.

Whenever I come to London its time for a photo of the BT Tower, so here it is.

We have these annoying pedestrian destroying bikes for the fat and stupid in Melbourne also, but here in London they are fur covered. Protesters have thrown blood over the fur making it red.

One of the big department stores I went past. I think this one is Primark. Which I think is cheap like kmart or target.

I found the French people.

This archway is made of marble. You can chip bits off and make a kitchen counter top.

Here is Hyde Park. You are allowed on the grass, hence it is dead. In France you are not allowed on the grass, only on the gravel. So pick your side, sit on hot gravel or kill the grass.

Now for the birds. These are a super sized swan / sea gull hybrid. They are enormous and delicious.

Here are some normal swans.

The majestic Serpentine. I think?

The other direction of the Serpentine.

This is the Princess Diana Memorial fountain. Its more of a concrete water slide loop. I became suddenly aware that I was taking photos of half naked swimming children. Earlier I passed a park where a sign stated men are not allowed to enter unless accompanying a child in their care. Scary stuff!

Harrods is now a giant Samsung ad.

And heres my delicious dinner from the ubiquitous Pret a Manger. A salad and delicious soup. I wish we had these places in Australia.

Heres a street. I think its Charring Cross or something like that, near Holborn. Nice blue sky today, a true rarity. Rain tomorrow perhaps.

Immediate dinner required. This is a chain called Leon. All their salad meals look great. They make them fresh despite serving them in a box. They also have a lot of seats to sit and enjoy rather than having to stand and eat Paris style.

Australians should be outraged at this. This brand went out of business in Australia despite being hugely popular, owing lots of wages to the employees and lots of money to creditors. The owner made promises to repay money after he ran off with the cash, then he vanished. Now hes opening up again in London to pull the same scam.

My street is very diverse.

The Covent Garden station has no escalators. It does have lifts. It has many many written and audible warnings that it is 151 steps to the top. Despite this, many people start to ascend the stairs then cant make it. Every week they rescue people, and numerous people have heart attacks. Welcome to planet earth circa 2019.

Covent Garden is very popular at night. It was quite late (for me) by now.

It was late enough for the Apple Garden to be shut, so I could not buy an apple.

The motherland! Real Chinese food has arrived in London!

Some more Covent Garden.

The streets around this area are lots of alcohol consumption clubs with people wearing too much make up who cant face going home standing out the front drinking and smoking. They are very loud and annoying. Fake happiness. Lots of toxic mascufemininity.

SNACK TIME!

This is Leceister square, 42nd street, where all the movies are showing in life like 3d.

St Pancras hotel / train station.

Annnnd another version of the above photo. Thats it. More long work tomorrow.