"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move." RLS
If one were the try and draw the limits of “London” on a map and somehow managed to establish a geographic centre today, by tomorrow it would have moved.
While the geographical centre of London cannot be defined what is generally agreed upon are various points from which distances from London were and are measured including the Marble Arch, St Paul’s Cathedral, Hicks Hall in Clerkenwell and the doors of St Mary-le-Bow church among others. Continue reading “Centre of Empire and London”
Between Paternoster Square and St Paul’s Cathedral, behind a fence, you will find this water pump inscribed thus:
“Erected by St Faith’s Parish 1819” Continue reading “St Faith’s Water Pump”
Access to the Middle Ages City of London was via one of a number of barriers/gates set up to control movement and regulate traffic into the City and protect trade within the City. Continue reading “Temple Bar Gate”
In 1958 a rather scraggly bear from darkest Peru turned up at Paddington Station with a battered suitcase and a label around his neck saying, “Please Look After This Bear. Thank you.” Continue reading “From Darkest Peru to Paddington Station”
I feel it rather fitting that this, my first review on London, is about something upon which the very future of the City is inextricably dependent. Continue reading “The London Stone and London’s Survival”
I credit the title of this blog entry to Samuel Johnson who said:-
“By seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show.” Continue reading “London…as much of life as the world can show”
Having spent the best part of a day swimming, snorkelling and relaxing on the beach and a little more time looking around the market and the small village of Tadine, relax and have a drink before heading back to your cruise ship (assuming that’s how you got here, as the vast majority of visitors do). Continue reading “Tadine Port Bar – One for the Road”
While the primary attraction of Maré is, without doubt, its beautiful beaches and shoreline I was also looking forward to what was touted as a ‘local market’ in Tadine, the small port village were we landed via tender from our cruise ship. I love such markets. Continue reading “Tadine Market -A Blend Of Local And Chinese”
During World War I, 2,145 New Caledonian men served in Europe on French and Turkish fronts. Of these 1,005 were Kanaks – indigenous (Melanesian) islanders. 600 New Caledonians, including 382 Kanaks, died overseas in the service of the French colonial administration, many in the Aisne, France in July-August 1918. Continue reading “WWI Memorial: Kanaks – Pour La France”
The Rambling Wombat 