South of the Thames

Painter-Westminster Tube StationPainter- Outside Westminster Tube Station
Painter- South Bank (Waterloo Bridge)Painter- South BankTopography and Illustrations- Under Waterloo BridgeBook sale- Under Waterloo Bridge
South of the Thames. The South Bank. This stretch of waterfront property is home to the London Eye. Along the strip are various street performers practicing their craft. Anywhere from oil paintings to "poppin' and lockin'" can be found on South Bank. For those with an interest in reading, topography, and artwork, under the Waterloo Bridge a large "print vendor" area is buzzing with activity every day.

In the Garden Along the Banks

Street Performer- "The Juggler" Covent GardensFood Stall- Crowd enjoying a midday meal.
Sextet Street Performers- Young musicians performing Mozart and other classics for change.
Apple Market- One of the various markets in Covent Garden

London is definitely a labyrinth. It is astounding how many shops and back alleys are tucked away in the most unbeknown places. One specifically interesting locale to visit while in central London is none other than the Covent Garden. Overshadowed by SoHo to the west, St. Paul's Cathedral to the east, and Parliament to the South, Covent Garden in aesthetics and appeal can hold its own against these massively impressive attractions. Known for an abundance of street performers and food stalls it is an excellent place to go out for a midday meal with friends and family.

"Covent Garden"

The district was originally founded by the Romans some time between the years AD 43 and 410. Later the "Gardens" was passed along through an assortment of dukes and at one point was even the kitchen area of Westminster Abbey. The unique architecture, "Italianate," of the gardens was crafted by the famous architect Inigo Jones in order to attract wealthier tenants. The area also hosts the Royal Opera House. The easiest way to get to Covent Garden would either be by foot if you're in the central London area or the Piccadilly line.Street Performer- "The Orange Juggler" Covent Gardens

Tube Tips (Front-of-Book)

Remember. You're not in America anymore. Even the tone of your voice can cause the most disastrous events. Here are some tips for surviving...the London Underground. No, this is not a Punk rock venue or survival guide, that would be Surviving...The Camden Underground. These few brief, calculated, and quite important tips could make the nightmare of the Tube system seem almost like a dream, that is if you're stumbling home from a pub before twelve thirty.

What is the "Tube?" The Tube is very much not like your television set. Underground, tube, train, all refer to the London Metropolitan rail transportation system. This is one of the easiest and most effective ways to travel through London.

Tip one. Oyster Cards. By ordering an Oyster card through the London Transportation authority TFL (Transport of London) the average city-goer can save a large amount of pound (money). An Oyster Card works as a swipe-and-go card. By visiting the TFL's website (tfl.gov.uk) anyone can obtain an Oyster card and be free to go on the rails in the zone they prefer. The card is great because it works not only for the rails but for the bus service as well.

Note: You swipe in at a turnstile, board the tube of your choice, and then swipe again at the destination to leave the station, this is to prevent people from hopping the turnstile and riding for free.

Tip two. Know your lines. There are numerous lines that run around London. If you glance at a map while bustling through any station it would look something like rainbow colored spaghetti. The primary lines that most visitors should be concerned about are the Piccadilly, Victoria, District, Circle, and Northern lines. These lines all interconnect in one way or another and can get to most stops relatively easily. The other lines not mentioned are all important but are easy enough to figure out. The Piccadilly is great for getting from Heathrow airport to Kensington all the way to King's Cross. The District Line follows the Thames (pronounced "Tems") river and stops by Westminster (Parliament and Big Ben) Tower Hill (The Tower of London and Tower Bridge) and many other great attractions. The Circle Line runs in a circle around Hyde Park and stops in Kensington, Piccadilly Circus, and many other great attractions. Victoria and Northern are the lines used to go North and South, such as south on the Victoria to Brixton, or North on the Northern to Camden. Both lines head in either directions but meet in central London.

Tip three. Be quiet and try not to stare. Londoners' do not like to stare. In the states, catching someone quickly looking away can be considered flirtatious, but in London they may just be wondering who is making so much noise down the aisle on the tube. Try not to be that person.

Tip four. Seats are reserved for the elderly, disabled, pregnant, and people less able to stand. If you sit or take a seat while an elderly-disabled-pregnant woman is forced to stand most people will probably make an ugly face, and no, they weren't all born looking that way. And if they were, you might want to just give up your seat for them.

Tip five. If the tube is closed, which it will be from around twelve-thirty to six in the morning, topside is a network of double decker buses. Buses are great because there are no zone restrictions and they run virtually anywhere.

Tip six. Zones. Your Oyster Card will only be valid for the limited number of zones you pay for. Zones one and two are enough to go to all the great central London attractions. Heathrow is in zone six. No worries though. You can Top Up at any tube station and access zones outside your plan. With an Oyster Card extra zones should only cost one to two pounds.

Tip seven. Top Up. This is the term they use for putting extra credit on your Oyster Card to travel to areas not outlined in your plan. Before any tube turnstile is a Top Up machine, usually rows of them, just swipe your card and follow the directions. The machines take coin, cards and paper notes.

100 Club

The 100 Club. The glitz. The glam! Central London at its ritziest. Or for the sake of honesty, the 100 Club, Latin Funk Fever. After exiting Tottenham Court Road Station follow the building numbers up to, you guessed it, One-Hundred. The 100 Club is definitely the place to go for anything from salsa dancing to flamenco. Halfway down the stairs is the ticket both, be prepared to cough up around ten to fifteen pounds to go further. Entry fees tend to be quite high for any penny-pinchers but the experience is worth it. The main venue is rather large, a guesstimate, 3000 square feet. In the center against the back wall, a rather large stage, to its left and right is seating available for those tired of walking. But what about the performance? Recently Grupo Fantasmo played a lively and exciting salsa Latin funk experience. They mixed rock guitar riffs with salsa and Latin flavor. The crowd was woo'd to their feet by the experience and nearly the entire venue was dancing quite erotically. It was a sizzling night in Tottenham Court.

Camden- Not just for Meth Addicts

Camden, Philadelphia, is a horror show. Camden, London, is a horse show! Of sorts. After stepping off the tube and taking an immediate turn north the town of Camden slowly delivers what its' reputation promises you. A punk scene full of punk things to do. Like guitar circles that praise Joe Strummer by getting high and singing his songs. Or people with enough balls to pull off a mohawk. Fuck mohawks! In Camden you'll see anything from bleach-blond cornrows hanging to the floor all the way to any kind of piercing that you 'Can't take home to mum!' Walk far enough and you'll come across Kentish Town Road which will lead to a bridge overlooking a "lock." The Camden Lock. Home of the middle-aged punks who should have stopped scaring kids years ago. Wander down to the water and you come across a walkway along the lock's canal. For night time photographers, you're probably kicking yourself at this point because you forgot a tripod and the sun is setting. Luckily I brought mine instead.

My Niche in the Park

If you've heard of London then you may be familiar with Hyde Park. You may have an idea about the scope of this recreational area. You're most likely thinking "I've seen parks before" or "I've been to Central Park! Nothing can top that!" because you're from New York and have no clue about anywhere farther than North Jersey. Next time you decide to go outside and get some exercise please feel free to pamper yourself. Buy a plane ticket to London, grab a room at Astor Hyde Park, and partake on a journey through one of the city's largest gardens.

The park is located in the borough of Kensington. Find Queen's Gate road and follow it north. Once you've reached a rustic gate with ornate metal detailing stop, take a breather, and get ready to explore. At roughly three hundred and fifty acres, Hyde Park is literally no walk in the park. Once you pass through the weathered front gate you will certainly feel a slight breeze. Travel in about a hundred feet and to your east is the biggest "Sorry" ever constructed by England. The enormous golden statue is a bit of a slap in the face to all the regions of the world, and I do mean "all," that England had conquered in the past millennium. What better than to erect a statue made of gold "taken" from these commonwealths. As you regain focus, and your eyes stop burning from the glare cast off the statues brilliant ringed fingers, resume your barrings and head north once again. Pass through the barrier garden ahead of you.

As you cross over the strip of garden you'll find yourself entering a rather IMMENSE portion of field spotted with trees. This is Hyde Park. This is what will take you days to explore. And believe me, bring an O2 tank cause it is breathtaking. Head Northwest for about fifty yards and you'll come across a crossroads. The roads should intersect at multiple points leaving a triangular patch of grass and low hanging trees in the center. This area has large trees enclosing a center "grotto." This grotto is base camp one. My favorite spot in a reasonable walking distance for the casual venture into the park. Here is a good place to check your map and set up your next destination. To your south is Kensington Road, west is Bayswater, northeast is the Serpentine, and farther northeast is Speaker's Corner. Fair well my fellow travelers!

The Intrepid Fox

I had no clue what I was about to walk into. Tongue studs, black hair, like a Slipknot photo brought to life. And I was in London! After reading about Kevin Brosky's account of the Spanish Guitar Centre in Leicester Square I thought I would check it out firsthand. While mingling with the employees there I met one guy in particular that stood out, vastly, from the rest. Kieron. He was a child of the underworld for sure. Long hair. Tattooed. Every color of the metallic rainbow. Kieron and I chatted about our lives for a good forty-five minutes and then parted ways. After a day of running errands and schoolwork I returned to the SGC with my friend Tom. Tom kept himself from "going America on their asses" and Kieron invited us for a pint at what he called "The best pub in London, The Intrepid Fox." I had been to pubs. Most of them coated in an air of laughter and old matured wooden counters. The Fox was different. Like its patrons' choice of fashion, every inch was covered in drugs, sex, and Rock N' Roll. Ironically a "No Narcotics" sign was posted modestly by the door. This was London metal. This was Kieron's life. He referred to the patrons as one 'giant family.' My experience had taught me a valuable lesson. A lesson that had been brought to my attention every step of the way on my path to adulthood. Behind every rough exterior there is an engaging and relatable story. Never judge a book by its cover. If you're uncomfortable, you're doing it right.

Montparnasse

If you're an aspiring croissant aficionado like myself and happen to be taking a stroll in the lovely borough of Kensington then look no further than the Montparnasse Cafe. Ever try an Expresso? Double Expresso? How about a panini? Or if these are too 'familiar' for you, maybe venture out into the not so familiar territory such as Nos Galettes, also known as a savory crepe. If you thought Temple had good cuisine at the Crepe Truck then maybe put your money where your mouth is and try the real deal.

It is said that good food comes from great ingredients.
I took a moment today and sat down with the director of the cafe, Bastien Mytchelom. Montparnasse is named after a section of Paris, France, on the left bank of the river Seine. The owner, recently retired, is of English and Iranian decent and shows his appreciation for French culture through his painstakingly crafted flaky pastry creations. Montparnasse opened roughly fifteen years ago and to this day still remains in a thriving business. Bastien shares, in a French accented dialect, "The business is..ehh..ah steady, mostly locals come in a lot because we are kind of hidden." If you are lucky enough to stumble off the beaten path and onto Thackeray Street then you are well on your way to finding one of Kensington's hidden treasures. London is a city littered with mazes. I've once heard the infrastructure being referred to "as if it were a pile of spaghetti." Spaghetti aside, Montparnasse is an experience hoarded by the local inhabitants of W8 (West 8) and not many tourists venture too far off the main roads. If you are searching for a great place for breakfast or lunch, or even an on the go snack, Montparnasse offers many different dishes that are sure to appeal to even the pickiest of pallets. Well known amongst the locals, the omelets are sensational and regarded as one of the best dishes to order. Also on the menu is anything from 'Vegetarien' dishes to 'Mexicain' or even your American burger with a French twist such as goat's cheese. Don't be afraid to wander off the beaten path, especially in London, where one wrong turn can open some of the best smelling doors..