Travel Diary

Pity I wasn't measuring my steps, because this would be a day of prolific walking.

From my flat in the City of London, I walked west, checking out various sites along the street. I stayed north of the Strand this time to see new things. And then headed towards the West End, past Somerset House, and then south, where I reached some festivities going on. There were booths with sweet-smelling food for sale, and even a skateboard park area. It was a location I had never really been to before. I kept going and reached the London Eye, and discovered that the Haunted London Museum had moved to this area. I then reached the Westminster Bridge, and crossed over that, but stopped to get my photo of the bridge lights mixed in with the London Eye photo. I then got some pictures of Big Ben (technically Elizabeth Tower) and kept going.

I made my way over to Buckingham Palace, where I took pictures of the guards and gates and anything that looked photogenic and iconic. I crossed through Green Park and made my way over to the short subway tunnel and into Hyde Park. I was able to get some photos of the green parrots, which were always amazing to see and quite plentiful now. I noticed a sign that said not to feed them, but people of course fed them. And then I went over to the Hyde Park Lake, where countless swans and geese and ducks were all being fed and photographed by tourists. Then I headed up to where the fountains were (Italian Gardens) and rested there a spell. I noticed that the sun was getting lower and the air colder.

I walked farther and reached Kensington Gardens, where I got photos of Kensington Palace, and then crossed over. It was also time for them to lock the gates which reminded me of Peter Pan since in one book, Barrie mentions how they would knock people out at night—and ended up locking Wendy in. I crossed the street and went into the V&A, although it was quite late and they were closing in 30 minutes, so I wasn't able to see very much.

I then began my long walk eastward again, passing by Harrods, which was quite exquisite with all of the Christmas decorations and lights. I noticed there was a carnival going on over in Hyde Park, but it was paid admission and I wasn't going to be doing that. Plus I had to get to my show. I reached Trafalgar Square and found many booths which had been set up with all sorts of Christmas festivities. One booth was selling chocolate sweets in the shape of large bells (if I could best describe it like that). Temptation was too much and I bought three or four of them.

Then I headed over to the theater. But I was a little too early, so I went into a nearby pub to get a drink there. After finishing that, I headed back to the theater. I would be seeing “GOOD” with David Tennant, which was pretty exciting as he was the lead actor in “Doctor Who” for a few years. The play was certainly “good” and quite interesting as it was a Harold Pinter play and we were at the Harold Pinter Theatre. Afterwards, I walked back home along the strand, taking photos all along the way.