London 2012 Olympics!

With the festive atmosphere of long ago country fairs, London 2012 hosted the Olympic Summer Games with the most international field of athletes ever to compete. 10,000 athletes participated in 26 sports representing 204 countries and territories in fourteen days of competition. Pageantry is something the British do better than almost any other nation. For the games they showcased their historic sites while creating modern venues. The opening and closing ceremonies seemed to capture the British spirit of being brilliantly bonkers.

London 2012 had winners and losers not necessarily identified by medals. There were world records set, Olympics records broken and personal bests achieved by athletes who gave it their all. Mo Farah astounded with his double victories in long distance running while Ashton Eaton did what was expected with grace and style by winning decathlon gold. Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian ever by winning four more golds and two silvers.

As days progressed even the host nation got caught up in the "thrill of victory and the agony of defeat". Team GB succeeded their own expectations with the best performance by their national team in the modern era garnering 29 gold metals with a total of 64 putting them in fourth place overall.

Their volunteers called "game makers" were outstanding ambassadors for their country. London’s mass transit system worked smoothly and got people where they needed to go. All in all, the consensus was a terrific event for one and all.



Now on August 29^th, the city will host the Paralympics and the games will begin again.

 

London Dining

Several million visitors will arrive in London for the 2012 Olympics within the next few weeks. Attending the summer games will be just one of the activities enjoyed during their stay. It’s hard to imagine a city better prepared to host than London with historic sites, attractions, and over 5,500 restaurants to choose from when looking for places to wine and dine.

It may surprise some people that the most popular cuisine served in England is Indian curries. Over 1,000 restaurants in London proper specialize in Indian food with Chinese and Italian eateries not too far behind in popularity. With recent immigration and the passing of the British Empire, London has become a place of outstanding international dining choices. Fast food has also found a home here with fish and chip shops and takeaways easily found in most neighborhoods.

Meanwhile the traditional English meal has undergone a transformation pleasing to modern palates of all kinds. Based on ancient origins the classic meals were based on bread, cheese, roast meats augmented with local produce and seafood. Look for great meal deals on Sunday when most restaurants and pubs offer a Sunday Carvery featuring roast meats, lots of fresh "veg", potatoes, etc. If you desire something sweet read the menus closely as most establishments label their desserts as "puddings". In fact the famous Yorkshire pudding is a feather light popover.

While the United Kingdom is known for afternoon tea shops it is high end coffee shops that are growing in numbers almost daily. One can still enjoy the ritual of high tea but will also be able to find a great cup of coffee with delectable pastries in all parts of the city. These days many of the well known coffee chains are found on almost every block.




And last, but by no means least, there are over 7,000 pubs in London. This is not counting the many outstanding bars and clubs: just the friendly neighborhood establishments where one can get a pint. Beer has been brewed in the British Isles since prehistoric times and all the years of refinements shows in the UK's great lagers and ales.

King's Cross Reborn

The new Kings Cross Station addition is London's latest attempt at integrating modern and traditional. Personally I generally agree with Prince Charles - the traditional is what is sublime about London and the modern usually just detracts. Nonetheless, some efforts seem to have worked. The British Museum retained its flavour under its simple geometric dome. The new Kings Cross addition is a bit more intrusive, but arguably there was less there to intrude upon. Bottom line - will tourists flock to London to experience the charm and elegance of King's Cross - not likely.

London - Circus Ride of the Eye

I like nothing more than to wander about London aimlessly, allowing color and form to take me on a circus ride of the eye. This city is truly a photographer's paradise. In fact, you don't have to be a great photographer with today's digital cameras - just take the time to relax, enjoy yourself, shoot lots of photos from different angles and then crop liberally when you get to your computer.

British Museum

Soho Fruit Stand

St. James Tavern near Parliament

Beyond London

Not only is London a place that you can explore endlessly, it is also a transportation hub to nearby destinations that are well worth the visit. Cambridge and Oxford for example are only a one hour train ride from London. Truth be known, it takes that long to take the underground from one end of the London city limits to the other - not to mention how long the bus would take.

Indeed many folks who work in London live in places like Cambridge and Oxford and commute by train. Homes and flats are much cheaper and so are hotels.

For all practical purposes any place within an hour on the train should be considered London.

Oxford

Cambridge

Portobello Belle - London

You really shouldn't go to Portobello Road without Dire Straits' Portobello Belle playing in your headsets....

Belladonna's on the high street
Her breasts upon the offbeat
And the stalls are just the side shows
Victoriana's old clothes
Yeah she got the skirt so tight now
She wanna travel light now
She wanna tear up all her roots now
She got the turn-up on the boots now
She thinks she's tough
She ain't no English rose

But the blind singer
He's seen enough and he knows
He do a song about a long gone Irish girl
But I got one for you my Portobello Belle
She sees a man upon his back there
Escaping from a sack there
And Belladonna lingers
Her gloves they got no fingers
Blind man he's singing the Irish
He gets his money in a tin dish
Just a corner serenader
Once upon a time he could have made her

She thinks she's tough
She ain't no English rose
But the blind singer
He's seen enough and he knows
He do a song about a long gone Irish girl
But I got one for you my Portobello Belle
Yes and these barrow boys are hawking
And a parakeet is squawking
Upon a truck a paper rhino
She get the crying of a wino

And then she get the reggae rumble
Belladonna's in the jungle
But she ain't no garden flower
There ain't no distress in the tower
Belladonna walks
Belladonna taking control
She don't care about your window box
Or your button hole
She sing a song about a long gone Irish girl
But I got one for you my Portobello Belle

London's Weekend Warrior

I lived in London for a year once. I loved it, but it was very intense. As I have gotten older I prefer to slow things down to a more controlled pace. So now I live outside of London and take the train in on Saturday or Sunday to get my fix of the city.

Everyone is of course different in their likes and limitations. The Weekend Warrior suites me. The trains are cheaper on the weekend off peak rates. The tubes and buses are nearly empty on Sunday morning and it is a great time to get around town, grab some breakfast, stroll in the park and blissfully wander around taking photos and absorbing the essence of one the world's truly great cities.