The View From Up Here Is Brilliant (part 3)
Day two of the major life changing holiday starts with the sounds of the city blaring through the hotel window which consisted of traffic noise interspaced with a police siren every twenty minuets or so, however it was another glorious sunny morning how amazing the difference from Scotland at this time of the year.
We had decided to go head off into the city today and check out the plinth and see what was going on and after only around 15mins travelling on a surprisingly good underground service we arrived at Charing cross, few minuets later we emerged from the station into a calm sunny morning that I had just not expected, Walking along Duncannon St towards Trafalgar Square with tall buildings on both sides all appeared quiet with very few people around, I made a mental note as we passed a small cafe with a couple of tables outside which were empty, This would be a nice place to visit later I thought. After only a couple of minuets walk from the station we turned the corner and into view of the square bathed in a glorious sunshine with the imposing portrait gallery to our right, and Nelson’s Column to our left and the lions I remembered from a long time ago, There were more people here however it still seemed quieter than it was all those years earlier when I was a child my memories of that time were of hundreds of people walking every which way and a group of hari krishna hippies in fancy colored cloths with tambourines’ dancing in the middle of the square as others gave food away to passing tourists, Of course me being me I had ate nothing that morning and happened to be starving in a childish way,but my family not wishing to get caught up in the crowd decided not to stop there and headed up further into the west end area. However between the heat and the people handing out free food I had to go and end up fainting just on the edge of the square and can only remember after that someone splashing water in my face from one of the fountains as I came to. I hoped not to be repeating that on this trip.
We Wandered into the square where there appeared to be a game of oversized chess going on with ornately painted extra man-sized pieces in black and gold and white and Gold on a raised platform, I instinctly fired of a few shots trying to get in as much detail as possible before turning my attention to the man dressed as a skeleton on the plinth, I approached him and nodded my head in acknowledgement off his existence. He shouted to me “ask me a question” what about I replied “anything” he said so I asked him what was it like to go up onto the plinth he said I meant ask me something about life and I shouted back, this is life!
After a couple of pointless exchanges I realized that it must be quite hard for him to hear me as his responses made little sense, I raised my hand goodbye enjoy what’s left of your hour I said as I wandered over to the green porta cabins where the home of the one and other production staff was. Approaching one of the security staff I told him that I would be one of the Plinthers and that I would be back early in the morning for my 3am stint and he told us what time we should arrive to get through the security procedures 1.30 am he said! I began to wonder if there was any point in going back to the hotel tonight not that I had a choice as all my photos were back there.
After taking some more photos of the square we headed off to find the theatre area or the west end as its known.
Catherine had stopped to buy a couple of postcards to send home to her pals and some stamps to send them which in its self seems like a normal thing to do but try to finding normal uk stamps anywhere in the centre of London turned into a massive quest asking at each place that sold postcards “do you sell uk stamps?” always answered by no but we have international stamps that cost £1.40 each, Now maybe its the fact that I hate being ripped off that’s never a good thing, or perhaps it’s that I am a Scotsman and I will not allow myself to be ripped off but there was no way in hell I would pay three times the rate for a post card.
Mind you in saying that many things here cost so much more, a can of cola £1.50
A bag of mints £2.75 I can remember a few years back when one of my London based uncles was complaining that the price of a pint was NEARLY a Pound a pint, all I can say today is better not too drink while in the city at over £3.00 a pint, Or is that once again the Scotsman in me coming out?
We headed into deeper into the west end coming upon a pedestrianised area that was Leister Square this was the most crowded area we had seen that day so far, there was not a single place to sit in the garden or the area around it. Surrounded by open air bars and cafe’s and an imposing large cinema on one side we wondered around for a while just watching the people around us before continuing our quest, We were trying to find St Martin’s Theatre where we had booked to see the Mouse trap that evening and before long had found the right place noteing there was an underground station on the street “that will make it easier tonight I said as he headed along the edge of china town.
Now here is a place to buy some thing at a good price (I know the Scotsman again) But a cool leather jacket at £60 is a good deal anywhere, going into one of the many shops I was amazed by the variety of goods on offer from a hairdresser to a new mobile phone or indeed the leather jacket to jewellery all under the one roof like a mini Shopping centre, Another place we will have too spend more time at on a different day,
After a while we found ourselves at the National Portrait Gallery and thinking we better fit in a bit of culture on the visit we went in for a look. Although it was not all to my taste there were many great works however the collection I liked most was one by George Heywood Melly a jazz singer from the past a collection of very colorful self portraits, as I past through the lobby I noticed a large lcd screen showing live pictures from the one and other site where people just sat and watched the days events from the comfort of this beautiful building. Its amazing just how watched this event is here everyone seemed to be talking about it and I would very soon be one of those people who had offered themselves up to be talked about, now the nerves were beginning to tingle just a little.
Sean Farragher
well done,,,,,,,,,you had to be there at an early hour
Keith Reesor
Wonderful write Alan!! :)
anisja
Another day went by….. and what a day . Reading it I did remembered my first visit to London ( few years ago ) where I do found that London is to crowded and to expensive ( I am not scottish , but I do come from Switzerland :))) .... great lines here Alan , and I am waiting ” the rest ” ....