segunda-feira, 31 de janeiro de 2011

A WALK IN LONDON BY NIGHT TO SEE THE BIG BEN, LONDON EYE AND THE BUCKINGHAM PALACE





BIG BEN AND LONDON EYE BY NIGHT






There is nothing more beautiful to see the Big Ben and the London eye by night. That is 4:30 p.m if we can call it night already. Although very cold, it was as always it has been the most amazing site. Once again, we had the opportunity of walking from the Big Ben to the Buckingham Palace through St James's park and then through the Green park to the tube station on our way to Covent Garden. Walking is the opportunity to connect the city and begin to understand our way around.

CHINA TOWN





"The area that we know as Chinatown has a long and rich history that stretches back to the 17th Century and beyond".
This is another thing London has to offer: interculturalism. In the middle of the town in a very central area you find a considerably big chinese communitity full of spas, acunpucture treatments, restaurants, supermarkets and shops. TO find ot more about it, visit the website: http://www.chinatownlondon.org/history_overview.php

JAMIE OLIVER




FOOD IN BRITAIN



FOOD IN BRITAIN



FOOD IN BRITAIN






Talking about food is the most pleasurable topic for me. I'm a person of all tastes and I love to try the new and traditonal dishes that are seved in every country I visit. So, I had our group try out my favourite ones so that they could have the real taste of what it was like to be a Londoner. Here's the result: Fish and chips, pudding, gravy, Thai food (coconut rice, sour and sweet praws), muffins, chocolate cookies(we recommend Ben's cookies), chocolate, traditional fudge in Cambridge, nuts, yogurt with jam and granola, honey cereals, Japanese food (all you can eat), Chinese food, cheese cake from Harrods and the msot special, I'd say was our visit to the well known chef Jamie Oliver where we could have a real taste of Italian food for a very cheap price if you think you're eating at a famous chef's restaurant. Check out his website: www.jamieoliver.com

RED TELEPHONE BOX





Another very famous icon in London is the red telephone box. Unique in its style and bright in its color, it became a top spot for photographs. I'd say that it has its charms. Everytime I go to London I take a picutre with it. More than that, in the winter, we can sure use it to protect us from the cold as we warm ourselves talking to our loved ones.

TOWER BRIDGE






Tower bridge is a beautiful site near the Tower of London where lots of events have taken place. In my opinion, it's one of London's special places and worth a visit. We had the chance of crossing it to go from the tower of London to the Britain at war museum. Although the weather was very cold, it was nice to see its construction closer and to get to know London on foot as it has everything to offer in terms of shops, restaurants, sites and attractions. And also, it gives us a better idea of the city itself. When walking, we give a chance to London to become a well known place or us, bringing the feeling of intimacy, of home.

"Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, England, over the River Thames. It is close to the Tower of London, which gives it its name.It has become an iconic symbol of London".

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM




IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM





IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM






This was a very interesting day!!! We learned about the war as we read its events, saw the planes and special transportation involved,got to know war heroes for their courageous acts mostly for risking their lives to save a partner, understood how sad and disastrous going into war can be for people as families are torn apart whereas most children in order to be more protected had to be sent to the country to live in foster homes separated from their mothers who had already been apart from their husbands who were fighting at war, therefore not knowing if they would ever see any of them again. Not to count when the child was sent to learn how to shoot a gun to fight in the war. There is a registration of the youngest boy who was killed in battle at the age of 11. Finally we were able to experience how it felt to be a soldier in the trenches and in another experience how it felt to be a citizen during an air raid. Well, at least an idea of how it was. That made me think how lucky and blessed we are by being so far from the experience of the war but also it intrigued me how far in thoughts and action to the ones that are involved we stand when we could be doing something that really mattered for the world. Anyway, I'm sure this day has touched each one of us in a special way. I recommend. It's a must when you go to London! Check out some more information about it:

Website: http://www.iwm.org.uk

"The Imperial War Museum is unique in its coverage of conflicts, especially those involving Britain and the Commonwealth, from the First World War to the present day. It seeks to provide for, and to encourage, the study and understanding of the history of modern war and ‘war-time experience’. It is proud to be regarded as one of the essential sights of London".