The Strand and Trafalgar Square, London, UK

Welcome.

These shots were taken in March. The first 10 photos were on a cloudy evening. The rest were on a bright sunny early morning two days later. The place? A walk down the Strand to Trafalgar Square. I don't want to live in London anymore, but I do love it.

Opposite the Strand Palace Hotel where I stayed
is the Savoy, where I didn't stay! I remember
some great meals at "Simpsons in the Strand"
years ago






















The RSA tucked away.
Lovely building
















Inexpensive coffee to keep you warm on a chilly
March evening




















The Icon. The red London Bus. Despite threats
of extinction, still to be seen on the Central
London bus routes
















Charing Cross Station
















This was new to me. Bikes for rent. The scheme
is, by all accounts, very successful






















The famous red phone box and the
Metropolitan Police light,
with just a touch of graffiti






















Big Ben














The Mall - the driveway to Buckingham Palace

















Trafalgar Square as a concert venue for a
Russian festival
















St Martin-in-the-Fields






















The base of Nelson's column
















Another view of St Martins-in-the-Fields






















Now you can see Nelson
















The National Gallery
















The art piece of the moment. A replica of
Lord Nelson's ship Victory, set inside a
giant bottle. It was made by artist Yinka
Shonibare
















.......up close. The 'glass' is plastic and was
made in Italy

















The fountains are a special feature of the square
















Sunlit
















Nelson standing proud
















Last minute preparations?

A Spring Day, Central Park, Plymouth, UK

Hi and welcome!

I went to the UK in March and was very fortunate to have some stonkingly good British weather.

In Plymouth there is a large park called "Central Park" It was my playground from when I was 11 to when I left to go to Liverpool University at 18.

I hope you enjoy these shots of how gorgeous everything looks under a blue sky!

Pounds House above is a Grade II listed building.
It was built in the mid 19 century. If you click
on the link you can see it situated in the park
as a bird would!
















A splash! The little cottage is the guard house
at the top of the drive leading to Pounds House
















The house is now used for wedding receptions
Great if the weather is like this on your wedding
day
















The park immediately surrounding the house
is called Pounds Park. It used to be the
gardens of the house
















The trees are quite old. I remember them well
from my teenage days






















Most of Central park is not
"ornamental" but in Pounds
there are a few cultivated
areas
















There used to be six of these trees in a circle.
Now there are only four. They were always
known as "six trees"






















The path to Pounds House. The trees
that line the pathway are cherry trees.
The blossom is gorgeous, but it was a
bit too early when I was there
















One of the "six trees"
















Looking towards a cultivation of beautiful
camellias (close ups coming soon!)
















I love this tree
















Now for some....
















...gorgeous....






















....camellia flowers
















A white splash






















Just waiting....
















....to be photographed
















Spot the crow!






















Lovely shapes.....






















.....trees have











and spring wouldn't be complete without
the daffodils

Come back next for some shots of Trafalgar Square in similar weather