The Travel Industry News - Editorial Archives

November 1, 2001

OUR WORLD STILL TURNING...

Everyone needs distractions now and then, the kind of thing that carries us away for the merest while, an opportunity to re-evaluate, to appreciate the wonders of life and not dwell on the negative. AND SO... come with me now to some of London’s attractions...

I have always advocated city tours as the way to get a feel for a city, an opportunity to see a great deal in a relatively short space of time, the chance to ‘case the joint’ if you will! You can always return to spend longer at the places that hold particular interests for you.

Darlene and I have been to London many times...and I spent my first 29 years there...we know it quite well! However on Monday Oct lst we went on a London tour with ‘The Classic Coach Company’! We opted for the ‘Day Tour’... cost 28.50 pounds each (approx $40).

Our 11 seat replica of buses long since past, picked us up at our hotel and we were off to see: Buckingham Palace; Westminster Abbey; The Houses of Parliament; Harrods; Picadilly Circus; Tower Bridge; Fleet Street; The Tower of London; St Paul’s Cathedral; Trafalgar Square; Downey Street (Tony Blair’s hangout); Covent Garden and the Changing of the Horse Guards.

London, although a vibrant home to modern era of banking, insurance, publishing and high tech companies, still exudes history all around.

Our ‘story teller’ driver drifted from the now into the past...and back again... as he navigated through London’s never-ending traffic. On board our ‘cream & brown’ classic coach we shared the experience with a couple from Boston, a couple from Tampa Bay and a family of four...believe it or not.. from Iran, who now called Nova Scotia, Canada home...they all loved “my city”.

We’d heard most of it before, but the Changing of the House Guards and lunch at a Covent Garden ‘Irish’ flavored pub...the ‘Coach & Horses’ were highlights for us. Incidentally pubs are still the best value...and different from home atmosphere...for lunch in London. Plan to spend about 10 to 14 pounds ($14 to $20) for two..including your beer of choice. Don’t miss the ‘West End’ area of Covent Garden if you stay in London.

It started life as an area of market gardens growing produce for Westminster Abbey ‘til the 16th century. In the 17th & 18th centuries it blossomed...so to speak...into THE fruit, vegetable and flower market of London. In 1974 the market itself was moved and a complete renaissance took place.

On this Monday excellent singers performed in the ‘Garden’s’ quadrangle paid by the donations of ‘passers-by’, Gypsy flower sellers offered good luck with the purchase of a rose -adorned with heather...I need all the luck I can get, plus Darlene was pleased with her gift (lucky indeed!)...the Gypsy, perhaps recognizing a needy soul...also gave me a smooth lucky blue stone...the one I carry with me now! Antique stalls, small specialty shops, an assortment of cafes & nearby pubs...all make this one of London’s popular areas. ALSO...don’t miss SOHO, just the other side of Shaftesbury Avenue from Covent Garden. Here you’ll find restaurants of every whim...it’s London’s Greenwich Village.

One thing I saw in London that I have to admit...I hated...was the new Lloyd’s of London Building. (I once worked at the old one) A high winding steel edifice that is totally our of keeping with its surroundings, it has no place midst the 18th century buildings that surround it. Be forewarned, when I become King...that little hummer is coming down!!!

Speaking of sites that are different, on this outing we had our first view of the British Airways-built ‘London Eye’ that turns like a giant windmill on the South bank of the River Thames...but we had decided to return later to experience the ride for ourselves. A busy and fun day completed, we dined at a nearby local Greek restaurant that evening...and what a delight ‘HALEPI’ turned out to be.

Space precludes me taking you with me day by day (thank goodness, you say?) However...other highlights included: the theatre where we saw Peter Fraser’s (Seattle’s former Canadian Travel Guru) son, Brendan, on stage at the Lyric Theatre’s production of ‘Cat On A Hot Tin Roof’...very good!; Harrod’s Store, which is worth a visit just to wander through the ‘Food Halls’; the wonderful ‘Globe Theatre’..the faithfully accurate reconstruction of ‘Shakespeare’s Globe’ that originally stood near the current site in 1599. This is well worth a visit for the history it represents, the first class artisan work that has been accomplished (the first thatched roof allowed in London since the ‘Great Fire’ of 1666!)..AND..the wonderful contribution made to this achievement by American actor Sam Wanamaker; a nostalgic return to ‘Shephard Market’...just off Park Lane; Churchill’s War Museum...that brought back so many memories...good and bad...for me; Hay’s Galleria on Tooley St.; Trader’s Vic’s Restaurant at the Park Lane Hilton (it used to be our favorite Seattle getaway); Tower of London & the Crown Jewels (the Gypsy bouquet lost some of its glitter here!); the London ‘Tube’ (subway); ‘Dali Universe’ ...an incredible exhibition of over 500 of Dali’s works at County Hall (next to the London Eye) and my personal favourite spot...Westminster Abbey...to mention but a few.

David (Gypsy) Bond

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