London April 2008

I admit it -- I'm a bit overly ambitious (and obsessive). I can't wait to be there and see everyone! It's going to be a great trip.

Distance from South Hadley, Massachusetts. See where this picture was taken. [?]

Not all of this stuff made it into the suitcase. I nearly forgot to pack the Peeps for Spooner, so a few shirts had to get out to make room. This time, I'm not bringing guidebooks -- just a mapbook and my London moleskin journal. I left a couple books of walks at Spooner's on a previous trip, and I ordered London Above Eye Level from amazon.co.uk and had it sent to his house. I learned from rosenbeans to always take a folder of all the junk I've printed out, so I've got a portfolio with maps of Whitstable and Canterbury, some pub lists, and -- of course -- my spreadsheet.

On arrival day, I had to walk up to Belsize Village to see with my own eyes the location of grepnold's mystery sketch. Read the saga here: www.flickr.com/photos/grepnold/2153095818/ See where this picture was taken. [?]

There used to be a nice, big clock in that round copper frame, but now there are two cheap kitchen clocks attached with electrical tape to some wood. Belsize Park tube station. See where this picture was taken. [?]

Looks like it's been there for a while, but it's the first time I've seen it.

My first stop on arrival day. I met JudyGr here to see From Russia. See where this picture was taken. [?]

An amazing array of paintings from six Russian collections. Many of them had never been out of Russia since they were seized by the state after the revolution. In my jetlagged condition, I'm not sure how much I comprehended or retained, but I really enjoyed the exhibition, which included some familiar things like Monet haystacks and Kandinsky abstracts, as well as works by Russian painters I'd never heard seen or heard of. See where this picture was taken. [?]

The newest Banksy, next to the Royal Mail facility just off Oxford Street. See where this picture was taken. [?]

The newest Banksy, next to the Royal Mail facility just off Oxford Street. See where this picture was taken. [?]

The newest Banksy, next to the Royal Mail facility just off Oxford Street. See where this picture was taken. [?]

The newest Banksy, next to the Royal Mail facility just off Oxford Street. See where this picture was taken. [?]

St Pancras Parish Church. See where this picture was taken. [?]

St Pancras Parish Church. See where this picture was taken. [?]

Interactive exhibit at the British Library. Originally posted to Guess Where London group. See where this picture was taken. [?]

The new international rail station, under the old shed roof. See where this picture was taken. [?]

The new international rail station, under the old shed roof, which was designed by William Barlow in 1868. See where this picture was taken. [?]

Sculpture of John Betjeman at St Pancras International Station. I took some pix of the other sculpture also, but it's just too hideous to post. See where this picture was taken. [?]