The exhibition yesterday was slightly disappointing to be honest. I reckon I was expecting more pictures of the Northern Lights, the two pictures I posted earlier pretty much cover the whole series ‘Hyperborea’, there were a few more but not much of a difference there. I wasn’t allowed to take pictures even though I did, pretending to be a stupid ignorant tourist, until I got caught by a guard. She was a bit grumpy at first but then lightened up. I reckon she must be sick and tired of telling people all day long, not to take pictures…
I did anyway and got a few nice shots, I don’t agree with their policy; the woman said it had to do with copyrights… well if they put stuff on display, you can imagine that the people who visit the place are interested in the stuff therefore would like to take pictures of it, so taking that away from them will only result into people not wanting to come back anymore. At least that’s how I feel, can’t be bothered. I can probably see the same stuff elsewhere where I am allowed to take pictures.
To be honest I always ignore the signs… they can sue me or make me delete my pictures whatever, I don’t care. I don’t think I’m doing anything wrong.
Anyway, it was a cold and windy but beautiful day, we went for a walk at the park and had a look at the observatory, where I took pictures of the measurements there, at least that was allowed… My pictures can be found in the galleries. I bought some cute baby stuff for my little niece and will send it off to the Lowlands soon…
We walked thru a 100 year old tunnel under the Thames to the other side which was pretty cool! I’ve been on the DLR [Docklands Light Railway] which is a monorail train going thru the Docklands, amazing place, it’s all skyscrapers basically but they’re all on islands. It feels very SF-like because you are high on the monorail and above water. It’s like a theme park ride… It was too dark already so I couldn’t take pictures, next time I will!
We went back to the car which was parked at Canary Wharf. On our way home we dropped in at Chris and I.’s place and had a lovely dinner there. I’ve put up their xMas tree together with Chris. We left around 22.15. I had a terrible headache today and have had headaches for weeks now, I’m drinking a lot more water these days but somehow it doesn’t really help. I hope it is the diet and its detoxifying effect… I’d better go now and work on my website a bit.
[If you’d like to see more pictures of Greenwich please send me an email]
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The best way to explore Docklands and Greenwich is on DLR
Experience London’s most dynamic new neighbourhood and it’s rich maritime history all in one day on the Docklands Light Railway. East London blends the splendour of modern architecture with the historic buildings of London’s past and the elevated, automatic trains let you see it all. Watch out for glimpses of the Millennium Dome, Canary Wharf, historic docks and the city skyline during your trip.
Vibrant Docklands
London’s Docklands, once a bustling centre of the tea and exotic spice trade, is now home to beautiful marinas, breathtaking architecture, fascinating museums and waterside restaurants and bars.
What to see and do
• West India Quay is home to the Museum in Docklands, which reveals the history of London’s river, ports and people. Plus many dockside bars and restaurants.
• Thames Barrier Park 22acre riverside park at Pontoon Dock, with views across the Thames and flood barrier. Includes a sunken garden, fountains, children’s play area and coffee shop.
• Canary Wharf is a gleaming metropolis standing 800ft high, with over 200 shops, restaurants, bars and open spaces in which to relax [Canary Wharf or Heron Quays station].
• Mudchute Park and Farm , the largest inner city farm in Europe gives a taste of English countryside in the centre of the city [Mudchute station].
• Island Gardens Park is a ‘must- see’ for the breathtaking view south of the Thames, unchanged since Canaletto’s famous painting of 1751-54 [Island Gardens station].
Historic Maritime Greenwich
The World Heritage Site of Greenwich is just 20 minutes from Bank station by DLR. Alight at Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich to enjoy the park, explore the museums and learn about the birthplace of time and navigation.
What to see and do
• Royal Observatory, Meridian Line and the National Maritime Museum are fascinating destinations, located in Greenwich Park.
• Old Royal Naval College was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and was the beautiful birthplace of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.
• Cutty Sark, a famous Tea Clipper, gives visitors an amazing experience of international travel and trade in the 19th century.
• Greenwich Market is a lively shopping experience for crafts, antiques and souvenirs.
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Category Archives: Out And About
Oh Yes!…
We are going to an exhibition this Sunday and I’m really really really looking forward to it!!!!!! I found it thru a url A. sent me about things to do in London. Here’s some info:
Primarily through long exposures, Dan Holdsworth uses photography’s capacity to record what is not visible to the human eye as an analogy for the limits of knowledge and our desire to overcome these shortcomings. In 1999 he went to French Guiana, South America, to photograph the European Space Agency’s spaceport. The results are hugely ambivalent – by turns doleful, futuristic and romantic. At dusk, a sleek rocket towers over a car park before a distant moon; the stars have been turned into streaks by extended exposures and from this position near the equator they appear to fall towards the ground like laser beams.
Last year Holdsworth was back in a tech-heavy jungle. In Puerto Rico, he photographed the world’s biggest single-dish radio telescope, which can access radio signals from the outer limits of space; exposures of up to four hours transform the moving dish into a soft blur. When, at one point, it manifests itself as a sparkling gold smear above misty mountains while strange red lights infect the edges of the print, the image becomes tinged with an almost theological import.
This year Holdsworth went to the outskirts of Reykjavik and a rocket range in Norway to photograph the Northern Lights. Again, as the nocturnal illuminations flare, the lens is left wide open so that the skies and the snowy landscapes below them turn rich shades of emerald and jade. Only the presence in the barren land of the occasional boxy dwelling clarifies that this is part of Europe rather than the surface of another planet. His work may seem only like a matter of consulting atlases and booking plane tickets, yet Holdsworth is more capable than most of conjuring the technological sublime.
Untitled’ from the series ‘Hyperborea’
We will be planning a trip to see the Northern Lights next year, probably in October or November in Iceland. I’m obsessed with this phenomenon [and need to see it before I die].
After visiting the exhibition, we will have lunch here:
Pavilion Tea House
The Pavilion Tea House offers food and drinks and is near to the Royal Observatory. It was designed by Sir Henry Tanner as a two-story octagonal building in the rustic style and built in 1906-7.
This is a consistently lovely lunch place, situated alongside the Royal Observatory (due to reopen in 2007 following major redevelopment). A big draw is the enclosed lawn, with its lovingly tended flower beds, large, part-shaded eating area and fab views over Greenwich Park and Docklands, with the dome of St Paul’s in the distance. Visitors are welcome to relax and eat on the lawns. Inside, the operation is well organised, with appetising wall-mounted pictures of the mains; it’s a cosy refuge in winter. Staff are friendly and helpful.
Hot food has a British bent, and includes smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, welsh rarebit or smoked chicken and asparagus salad. Sandwiches are chunky and fresh, and classic dishes such as bread pudding, trifle, scones and rock cakes feature for dessert. The decor incorporates features of the original refreshment house, built in 1909, with a more modern, sleek look, making this a pleasantly individual spot.
And then we’ll go for a walk in the park…
Greenwich Park
Covering 74 hectares (183 acres). Greenwich is the oldest enclosed Royal Park and home to a small herd of fallow and red deer. Situated on top of a hill, visitors enjoy sweeping views across the River Thames to St Paul’s Cathedral and beyond. The park is part of the Greenwich World Heritage Site, host to the Prime Meridian Line and the old Royal Observatory, as well as having the National Maritime Museum as a neighbour. Al fresco dining in our newly landscaped garden at the Pavilion Tea House.
The History
Greenwich Park has several historic buildings nearby including the Royal Naval College, the National Maritime Museum and the Queen’s House…
I’m so looking forward! *chuckle*