“How often have I said to you
that when you have eliminated the impossible,
whatever remains,
however improbable,
must be the truth?”
– Arthur Conan Doyle: Sherlock Holmes in “The Sign of Four”
The truth
Big Ben, London Eye and the New Year
There are some well-known places for fireworks on New Year’s Eve: Paris, France and the Champs-Élysées; Sydney, Australia and its world-famous opera house or the ball drop at the Times Square in New York, United States. And one very traditional is the vast firework in front of Big Ben and the London Eye in London, United Kingdom. Continue reading “Big Ben, London Eye and the New Year”
Auld Lang Syne
“Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!
and surely I’ll buy mine!
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.”
– Robert Burns
Fireworks on BBC
Fish and chips
The national dish of Great Britain is a working class street food. Fried battered fish (often plaice, haddock or cod) combined with chips – the British version of French Fries, more soft and thick. High caloric, delicious and served in small shops around all of the United Kingdom. A must-eat.
Platform 9 3/4
When J. K. Rowling published her award-winning Harry Potter books she gave a new meaning to the King’s Cross railway station in London, United Kingdom. Students of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry take the steam engine Hogwarts Express from platform 9 3/4 of King’s Cross station. To reach this platform they have to push their trolleys into the wall between platforms 9 and 10. Continue reading “Platform 9 3/4”
Climbing up and up
As far as I can remember I was visiting St. Paul’s Cathedral every time when I was in London, United Kingdom. It’s the architecture and the atmosphere of Sir Christopher Wrens sacral building that attracts me – but in the past I never went up to the top of the dome of the 111 meters high building. What a miss! Continue reading “Climbing up and up”
Disappear
“There are two places in the world where men can most effectively disappear — the city of London and the South Seas.”
– Herman Melville
London Eye
The London Eye (or Millenium Wheel) is with a height of 135 meters the highest big wheel in Europe. It is located on the south bank of river Thames close to Westminister bridge in London, United Kingdom. It was opened in 2000 and was planned to be deconstructed after five years – but as it was so successful and became a town’s landmark of London, it is still standing. Continue reading “London Eye”
Queens Park Hotel
The Queens Park Hotel in London, United Kingdom is a hotel in a Victorian building dating back to 1900. It is nothing special in this area of the town and also a bit shabby – but it is perfectly located between Paddington station and Hyde Park. In fact all these buildings look quite similar from the inside and when walking through nested corridors to reach our room I somehow had the feeling of already having been there. Continue reading “Queens Park Hotel”