Sunny Skies and Clear Lenses

This morning dawned lovely and clear.  The air was crisp but the sun was out, at least to start the day.  We had a quicker start with the motivation to get out while the weather held.  Our first stop today was Canary Wharf and the station on the Jubilee line.  The big glass roof over the elevators made for some start contrast in the morning sun.  What followed was a little bit of exploring around the tall towers and canals of the Isle of Dogs.

We took the train down to Greenwich next, with a quick stop for breakfast.  We walked to the Queens House where the bright suns shine cast some beautiful shadows across the porticos and highlighted the Greenwich Observatory beautifully.

Turning around, we walked around Greenwich Palace, I got a few neat shots with some prop sandbags that had yet to be picked up from a WWII movie being filmed in the area.  It was some interesting contrast with all the modern students and the bleak reminders of the war.   I also walked past the Music Department and heard a variety of instruments practicing and even an opera singer warming up.

While debating the best way to get back to central London, google recommended taking a river boat. After a quick laugh my dad and I jumped at the idea and bought tickets to head up to Tower Bridge.  Sadly the sun had vanished and the air was getting chill, but it was a lot of fun seeing parts of London from the River.  

We walked across the Tower Bridge, which I realized I had never done before! And got some fun pictures from the back side of the Tower of London.  Our final stop of the day was my pick of St Dunstan of the East.  It’s a small church that has been knocked down so many times, its first recorded restoration was in 950.  It was rebuilt after the Great Fire, but left as is after the blitz.  The spire still stands, and some walls.  However the rest is now a part of the Gardens of London, and is such a beautiful spot there were many Londoners having lunch there. (And ruining my angles!!)

Though photography can always prevail, and we got some wonderful pictures with the windows with a touch of sun peaking through.  I may have a couple good shots of a cheeky squirrel running about! I just need a bigger device to check out the pictures!  Then, foot sore and hungry we found the nearest pub for lunch.

The Hanged, Drawn and Quartered located beside Tower Hill to give it such a delightful name.  My dad and I had a laugh about toasting an illustrious family ancestor, St Oliver Plunkett, who received the traitors death likely quite near that spot, from the English for the sin of being Irish and catholic. 

So, worn out and even more foot sore it was once again back to the hotel.  I stupidly did one last lap around Blackfriars to see St Pauls and the Millennium Bridge in the sun.  As the our last evening was coming to a close I was asked by my dad where we should go for dinner, and I thought we should go for a treat with a Michelin Starred chef.  My dad agreed and we were in for a treat.

At Heard we had the most amazing burgers and just a super fun experience in a cute little building with a tree growing through the patio roof.  It was everything one would expect from a burger from a Michelin level chef.  A final nightcap at the hotel was the end of my dad’s day.  But mine had a few more stops.

I’m now headed to Cornwall for the next leg of my journey and I’m taking the Night Riviera Sleeper Train from London to Penzance.  I have an adorable little cabin to myself and am typing up this blog sitting in the lounge before I head to sleep, waking in Truro and ready to explore.