Visualize Piccadilly Circus

There are no elephants at Piccadilly Circus, which is sort of the Times Square of London. Circus means that it's circular - traffic circles around it. It was the first part of London we visited last time. This Underground poster allows you to see how the Underground trains move around London, usually below street level.

UNDERGROUND VIDEO

Check out this youtube video (if you have highspeed internet) shot on the London Underground. It features an unauthorized busker playing on the train. Buskers (street musicians) are usually licensed and told where to set up, but they're not supposed to be on the trains. One of the most surreal moments of our last stay in London was the sound of a busker with an electric guitar playing "Under the Bridge" by the RHCP as we rode an escalator down into an Underground station. The acoustics were wonderful!

Scotland or Mordor?

Most of the pictures on this site are mine, but I borrowed this one from a web page. It's the William Wallace Memorial near Stirling Castle (we'll visit both). It reminds me of something out of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings - very weird. Wallace was sort of like the George Washington of Scotland - think Braveheart.

Old, really old

We talk about things being old, but Clifford's Tower in York is really old. It was built by the Normans 800-900 years ago soon after they conquered the Anglo-Saxons. Whoever controlled York controlled northern England, so this castle was important. There are only two other structures similar to this one anywhere in Europe. There's one just like it in France and another elsewhere in England that is badly damaged. In castle terminology the central tower portion is called the keep. We'll see a much fancier keep at Windsor Castle near London.

Yorkshire

We'll pass through Yorkshire (the north of England) on our way to Scotland. Lots of people slept on the bus, but if you stay awake you'll see sights like this flying by. The yellow crop is called rape or oilseed. It's what canola oil comes from and should be in bloom when we pass through next June.

Scottish Rock & Roll

This gentleman met us at the Scottish border. He really rocked.

Signs to mind

These are two important warnings you'll see in London: Mind the Gap means don't fall between the Undergound (subway) platforms and the train. Also there are no guardrails - the length of the station is the length of the stopped train. You don't want to fall onto the electrified track! LOOK RIGHT is a reminder that traffic uses the opposite side of the road from the US. So when crossing a street you look RIGHT first, not left. The traffic moves very quickly. London cabs are made with low front fenders so they don't injure pedestrians so severely - hopefully. These warnings are painted on the street at many intersections.

Pack light!

It's never too early to start thinking about how little stuff you should take on the trip. An old Spanish proverb from onebag.com: "On a long journey, even a straw weighs heavy". This site is full of good advice. This section discusses types of luggage - makes a strong case for backpack as opposed to rolling types. I made the whole trip last time with one carry-on suitcase/backpack - mainly so I'd have hands free to help Janet who definitely had her hands full. And, I'm planning to take even less this time.

Four photos from London, 2005

Just to prove east Tennesseans can make it in London: James with a horse guard, lounging on a large lion in Trafalgar Square, redcoats headed for Buckingham Palace, and Dalton (in UT jersey) walking past the closing gate of No.10 Downing Street (the British White House). Photos from 2005 trip.

First of many photos

Here's your tour director, her niece Kerry, and her husband (the blog author) in front of the "big doors" at St. Paul's Catherdal in London. These are the doors that Charles and Diana walked through when they were married. They are rarely opened, usually only for royalty. We'll definitely stop at St. Paul's. When you see the dome of the church you'll think it's the US Capitol.

Aldgate East Tube station

This link shows a 360-degree view of the Aldgate East London Underground subway station. The Underground (or "the Tube" as locals call it) is how we'll get around London. Those who went on the last trip will recognize it as our "home station" just around the block from our hotel in east London. In case you don't know, the Tube is how we'll get around London. See the links at right for more Tube info. There's a lot of history here - this station was used as a major air raid shelter during the Blitz in the early days of World War II. Much of the station is unchanged since that time. There's no guarantee we'll stay in the same place next time, but this photo gives you a real sense of what a tube station is like. In the daytime it will be MUCH more crowded though.

Welcome UK trippers

This is where I'll be posting tips and trivia to help prepare participants for the 2007 trip from East Tennessee to Westminster (and beyond). We had a great trip in '05 and we're counting on another good time.