Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Greenwich

The trip to London was as good as the previous six jaunts. When the alarm sounded and told me rise & shine on a Sunday, I was only happy to get up. I was in London and all set to feast my eyes on this metropolis where modernity mingles effortlessly with history.

The only tourist place I hadn’t visited before beckoned me and I did give in, Greenwich. From London Victoria station, the tube took me to the remarkably well built and stunning Canary Wharf station. Canary Wharf is where the skyscrapers are built in London, a contrast to the testimonials of the old architecture elsewhere in London. The sky kissing glass edifices of Citigroup, Barclays, HSBC etc. stood like stalwarts right outside the station gleaming at the passers by. A huge LCD screen was constantly getting updated with the latest world news right in front of the Reuters. The coffee bar next to it was bustling with activity. I was to catch a DLR train (Dockland Light Railway) to Cutty Sark station. Cutty Sark station gets its name from the one of the last sailing clippers which is permanently docked at Greenwich.

Winter time is when sun bids goodbye to Europe at around half three in the afternoon. The most valuable thing in winter is daylight and I had to make the most of what was available. After a considerable time at Cutty Sark, I made my way to National Maritime Museum and Royal Observatory. Museum boasts of exhibits of importance from the British naval history, in short, it encompasses Naval History in an enclosure. Behind he museum is the road flanked by trees whose leaves had been stolen by autumn. The twilight made the scenic surroundings etch a permanent picture in my memory. The orange glow among the trees only enhanced the beauty.


The thoroughfare led to the Royal Observatory which stands on a hillock. Though the building wasn’t all that impressive, but it still is considered the holy place when modern astronomy is the religion. The Prime Meridian passes through the observatory. It is marked by a brass strip in the courtyard where the cameras were clicking with everyone trying to sit on either side of it. The new addition, a bright Green Laser, shines across the London sky, for us to view the imaginary prime meridian. Standing on zero degrees Longitude…half of me on the eastern hemisphere, half on the western hemisphere, the London skyline was nothing less than captivating.


A few quiet moments and some photographs later, I was ready to call it a day, and a good day at that. Hopefully, the lazy me will sleep allowing me to write about the other places in London and the neighbourhood visited.

14 comments:

Dinesh Babuji said...

Do tell me if font's too small!

Unknown said...

wow great pics.

Łóòň Ġãĺ said...

Nah the font's perfectly fine.

I've been in London for 9 mnths now ... and havent visited Greenwich ... dad says tiz a nice place ... my sisterz here for her vacation ... and shez been compelling me to come along ... but i was being a lazy bum ..... but after reading ur post ... am gettin all excited now ... Thanks for sharing it with all of us ... now all am lookin foward is to seeing the place myself asap!!

Cheerzzz!

Dinesh Babuji said...

@Vibha: Welcome! Thanks.

@Cheezy: Cool. Yes, please do visit and make sure you reach cutty sark at around 1230-1300 hrs. Then u will be able to see Cutty Sark properly and then u can take ur time inside Maritime museum and of course see the Royal observatory and also see the laser in at aroung 1600 hrs. Also walk thru the tunnel from below Thames (just for fun) from cutty sark to the prev train station. Enjoy!

Cheers!

Keshi said...

Beautiful pics...never been to London but I certainly feel like paying a visit now.

Thanks for dropping by my blog Dinesh :)

Keshi.

Dinesh Babuji said...

@Keshi: Thanks! And it surely is worth visiting. Most welcome.

Łóòň Ġãĺ said...

Yep yep ... going there today most probably :D

PNA said...

cool fellow !!! enjoy and be back with more posts and pics

Ash

Anonymous said...

hey r u also gonna cover any national parks or something? am awaitin'.

Dinesh Babuji said...

@Cheezy: Enjoy your trip!

@ash:Thanks and am back. I like the little Lulu pic.

@bs: Welcome. Sorry, but couldnt cover any national parks. Mebbe next time. I am not sure of any national park near London. There are zoos of course.

Anonymous said...

hey ur commiting the blog sin now of not updating frequently..

Varkey said...

Merry Christmas

Dinesh Babuji said...

@bs: Thanks mate...u warned me just in time.

@Varkey: Merry Xmas mate!

Nisha said...

Gosh.. I am so J of u :((