Secret Agent Tango

This time it's a video instead of still frame photos. Here's Annes' Tango from the Secret Agent Showcase @ FADS. Video credit to Emma Ayers for the recording. I'm the guy on the step ladder shooting stills. Took several tries to get the video configured for Blogger, so better late than never.

Older Photo Essays

Just a quick pointer to older photo essays:

http://picasaweb.google.com/jaayteejaay

I found Picasa to be a bit clunky for posting photo essays. The OneObservantLens blog format works much better with 10 - 12 images per post.   - OOL

London 2014 - Part 7 / London eye

The London Eye is a new attraction, especially by British & European standards. Not thousands or even hundreds of years old, but it gets a lot of attention.

Time for a short trip: around, up and down again.

 

Compare the size of the support to the ladder behind it.

The day we rode the Eye, it was a bit overcast. Probably a good thing since being in a glass enclosure can get quite hot, even with AC.

 The enclosure fit 12 - 15 people comfortably.

 Going up.

The engineering and construction must have been similar to a kid with tinkertoys. Some of us are old enough to know what tinkertoys are.

 The British seat of government.

 Bicycle spokes.

The Wellington and surrounding area.

Waterloo station. Take the train from here to Hampton Court, the palace of Henry the 8th.

 Over the top.

Who needs a helicopter for these views?

We bought the expedited tickets to avoid standing in line for the ride. The view and the experience are well worth eliminating standing in a crowded line.

London 2014 - Part 6 / Cruising the Thames

We'll begin with a bit of maritime travel: an afternoon tea cruise along the Thames.

We did not use his services, but the cabbies were in abundance.

Note the build of this vessel; low and long. Most vessels on the Thames have this same characteristic.

Previews of coming attractions. We'll take a ride on the Eye in the next post.

Interested in infrastructure? Here's your infrastructure.

The Wellington. Not familiar with John S. Burnett's Dangerous Waters, Modern Piracy & Terror on the High Seas? Even though she is moored as a tourist attraction, there is an office inside one of those port holes. From that office, former military have been dispatched across the globe to guard maritime shipping, combat an assortment of modern pirates and keep sea based shipping moving between ports.

The reason for the previously mentioned low & long vessel structure. Not a lot of headroom going under.

The Tower. We were just there.

About to go under Tower Bridge.

Along the waterfront, former warehouses & rough neighborhoods have become condos and yuppie playgrounds.

Now for a few random photos.
Horseguards parade ground. We came upon this quite by accident while taking a stroll.

Picadilly Circus. Much like Times Square.

The Rosetta Stone, located in the British Museum. Centerpiece for understanding Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Wall carving in the British Museum. The British literally cut out sections of temples and walls to bring back to the museum.

London 2014 - Part 5 / The Tower

Today we visit a rather dreadful location if you were a medieval bad guy. The Tower

 

The present day version of the moat. Ready for tourist & no alligators.

Young man to the left: Pay Attention!!

Round tower to the left is the Wakefield Tower. Square tower to the right is the Bloody Tower. Sir Walter Raleigh spent his time as a prisoner in the Bloody Tower. He was considered a medieval good guy & still landed here.

A bright sunny day makes a girl smile. Keep in mind the Crown Jewels were not too far away. No photos of the jewels, but excellent memories. Note: Anne Boleyn, 2nd wife of Henry the 8th, lost her head on the green behind Anne.

The White Tower. Royalty lived on the top floor, with animals on the lower floor & various humans in the middle. A bit uncomfortable if you ask me.

We arrived early & were glad we did. By late morning the crowd was getting thick.

Part of the original Roman fortifications. Note the ravens' cage in the distance.

You may recognize this: Tower Bridge.

A wider view of the moat & fortifications.

And lots of castle walls.

A proper use for the television. Someplace to hang our jackets.

London 2014 - Part 4 / Buckingham Palace

We based our entire trip to London around 1 event. As with other locations, photography was not allowed inside, but I hope to convey the story by borrowing a few photos from the Buckingham Palace Official Souvenir Guide.

 Most everyone who has been to London has peered through these gates.

 Through the Royal Collection, Anne was able to secure an exclusive tour of Buckingham Palace. There were approximately 25 of us on the 2 hour event. We all felt like royalty as we went through the State Rooms.

We made our arrival via the Ambassadors' Entrance. Sitting in the foyer & waiting for the last of the group to arrive, we each were looking at each other and thinking the same thought. We are inside Buckingham Palace! Such tourists!

The Ambassadors' Entrance is to the left, close to the trees. While people outside were looking at the front of the Palace, we would enter the left side of the Quadrangle and begin the evening  . . . . 

At the Grand Entrance and the Grand Hall. We were welcomed up this same carpet.

Up the Grand Staircase. Looking through the Green Room into the Throne room.

The Picture Gallery. Priceless antiques. Artwork beyond belief.

Remember the 2012 move Skyfall? In one scene, 007 and Her Majesty travel the East Gallery & beyond. Been there.

The Ballroom. Anne & I sat in the front row. The red carpet can be removed to reveal a ballroom dance floor. Oh, for the opportunity to do a foxtrot across those planks!

After a glass of bubbly, it was time to leave. We did not leave via the Ambassadors' Entrance, but were escorted through the quadrangle & out this front gate. Walking towards the gates, there were numerous people looking at us, thinking How did they get in there?

I have seen for myself what lies beyond those gates.

London 2014 - Part 3 / Windsor Castle

Part 3 of our tour takes us to Windsor Castle.

We used the ever efficient transportation system. Underground to Paddington Station. A Paddington Station train to Slough. Change trains to Windsor. This location is Slough.

Welcome to Windsor Castle. It's too massive to get everything in one photo. So we'll see Windsor in sections.

More castle walls.

Note the flag flying on the round tower. 

 

That is Queen Elizabeths' standard flying. Her Majesty was in residence at Windsor. The standard flies above the palaces when she is in residence.  

Looking into the courtyard toward the Windsor state rooms. This was the section of the palace that burned in the 90s. 

 What used to be a moat is now an attractive and peaceful place.

The hat may look funny, but do not make him mad. The gun is real.

My queen was in her element.

St. Georges at Windsor. Final resting place of George VI, the Queen Mother, Henry the 8th and Jane Seymour, among others.  

Photos are not allowed in St. Georges nor the State Rooms, but the memories are tremendous.

 You didn't think we were going to tour without numerous visits to the pubs did you? This one was just outside the castle walls.