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Houses of Parliament and Big Ben: Westminster Abbey(right middle)
from London Eye |
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Foreign Minister : Buckingham Palace(back center)
from London Eye |
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river Thames: Millbank Tower(back right)
from London Eye |
This was my third times to trip in London and Paris. And I was also admired the beauty of rows of houses and streets. Reddish buildings with the ground floor in London and ivory same height buildings with beautiful sculptures in Paris. And parks with thin shade of green at both cities relax me.
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| London |
I am a poor speaker and listener in English. But when I ask something someone, I smiled a greeting and asked eagerly. So people answered kinder than I thought. Smiling is a good way.
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| Paris |
I felt both cities were flooded with cars exhaust gas awful heavy. Especially, in Paris they went on strike against that government raised age to get pension, so the road was closed to strike and a lot of buses that local strikers got on to come to Paris occupied roads and I heard ballet performance in
L'Opera de Paris was cancelled for strike on the day before we scheduled. Also I saw a man running away from many policeman at the airport and a old Gypsy woman begged to a customer who was eating outside a restaurant was hit by a waiter. I saw pickpockets of sister and brother in the metro. I thought I saw two faces of Paris. Lovely scenery and uneasy.
London
We visited many places but I will write my favorite tour only.
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| Chicago at Cambridge Theater |
Musical "Chicago" at Cambridge Theatre
I was very excited at their dance. Because it was sexy and skillful. But regrettably, I got drank and got sleep during the part of men's sexy dancing in the first half. I wanted to see it. Although I can't drink , I drank just before this musical.
Covent Garden
I like to stroll around Covent Garden. There are Jubilly Market that are selling antiques or Royal Opera House, small shops around there and a woman was singing opera tunes. It reminded me of "My fair lady." ( a woman is singing under the stair in the picture. After her singing, maybe her mother was collecting tips. Her voice was nice.)
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| Covent garden |
Victoria and Albert Museum
The real things like obelisk from Middle East were exhibited. The displays were so big. Maybe England may seize exhibits from Middle East or Asia etc. I thought England was a strong empire again. And people can enter free to museum and young people were copying their favorite works. so they may become to like archaeology. Dresses were exhibited,too. The British Museum or The National Gallery or this museum entertained us.
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| Victoria and Albert Museum |
St.James's Park
This park is next to Buckingham Palace. After we also saw Guardsmen parade performance we walked in this lovely park. My eyes were filled with beautiful pale green. It's eye-friendly green, mild, soft. An avenue of big trees extend to the far and gradation of green cover the ground. Cute many squirrels are going up and down big trees and come to us to get food. I felt so comfortable.
Afternoon Tea at Brown Hotel
A waitress brought tea, milk, hot water in silver wares and served sandwiches on the bottom plate, scones on the middle plate, small cakes on the upper plate. we can get another helping so it's was more expensive than I thought.Tea was very tasty and elegant flavor. That's because water of England matches tea,I wonder? The light of tea room was changed to candles around at 6:30 and it's atmosphere changed to a bar.
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| Scone and Tea |
Football at West Ham United's Stadium
During staying in London, there was a soccer game "Carling Cup"between West Ham United and Stoke City. It's not famous teams like Chelsea or Arsenal but we went to experience England soccer. When we arrived at there the game was already started. So we sat down seats were vacant and I asked people around there. They said that your seats are in opposite side but stay here. We cheered West Ham up with them. All people around there were side with West Ham. They were excited very much, crying,booing,singing,standing. They were almost middle age not young. It looks like baseball in Japan. Happily West Ham won by 3 to 1. People tremendously exulted. I was surprised that audience is near to the ground.
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| at home of West ham United |
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| Houses of Parliament and Big Ben |
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Whitehall court :Nelson's column-in Trafalgar Square( center)
from London eye |
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| Tower Bridge |
Paris
The day we reached Paris was very fine. So we rode on the ferryboat in Seine. We could see the Notre-Dame de Paris from Seine very near. When the boat arrived at the Eiffel Tower stop, it became dark and the Eiffel Tower was just lit up. It was very beautiful. Base color was orange and a lot of white dots were flickering on the orange light. I heard orange light is changed to blue on Christmas
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| Notre-Dame de Paris |
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| The Tower Eiffel at dusk from a boat |
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| The Tower Eiffel was lit up |
Ballet "Paquita" at Palais Garnier
I went to see Monet's Water lily at Orangerie museum alone. It's early morning so when I crossed Tuileries Park, the cold wind passed over my face. But it and greens in Tuileries Park pleased me.
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| Water lily at Orangerie |
We went to Opera Garnier to see ballet "
Paquita".The leading character-Paquita- was performed by Myriam Ould
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| The celling painting of Opera Garnie by Chagall |
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| Opera Garnier |
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| The gallery |
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| Ballet "Paquita" |
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| Paquita finished |
Saint Germain des Pres
Our hotel was in Saint Germain des Pres. It was a little but has a cute court that we can have a tea. It is near a main street but quiet, and very comfortable. When we come back the hotel at late night, a young man in front desk says "Bonsoir Madam"with a smile. I thought the tone of "Bonsoir"suits more as greeting of night than tone of "Good Evening"and it's near to the tone of "こんばんわ".
There were many small cozy shop that have atmosphere of Paris around there, for example, macarons shop, delicatessen, sweet shop, bread shop, restaurant. Le Deux Magots (cafe)was near our hotel. Macarons were soft and flavorous and a shop girl put macarons into one that we choose among many lovely boxes. Unexpectedly some middle-aged men were waiting in line to buy in the early morning. They eat them by themselves or use it as a gift, I wonder? It's mind my business, of course.
There were some kind of Pate and contents were variety , delicious. I think Japanese taste is closer to Paris's than London's. At one brasserie, I was surprised, because the width between our small table and next small table is narrow,about 10 centimeter so we can hear next parson's conversation, of course I can't understand their French. The shop's menu was written in French only. So we asked a waiter if they have this dish pointing a photograph in a guide book. "No." He said bluntly. So a next gentleman spoke to us,"Any help?" He and his wife were Brazilian and they could speak four language. I thought that tables are near may be good thing.
Any way I enjoyed London and Paris.
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| Cafe Magots |
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| Macaron shop through a window |
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