ALL PHOTOS © RUUD LEEUW

When Alexander spent part of a gap year in London, living and working,
we took the opportunity to visit him twice. In april the weather was wet,
but that did not deter us from walking the London streets.

Plenty of pubs of course, they provide a welcome break and as soon as
you walk in, take in that ale and wood smell from a well used public house,
I feel right at home!

 

The London Underground is excellent, even with so much work on refurbishment,
it still is the best way to cover distances in this metropolis.

It reminded me of a nice little book I have on poetry, detailing the confusing 'Tube' system in London

When Alexander took up provisional lodgings, he had his guitar stolen there. That was quite an emotional experience: without having been able to get his bearings yet and still so many things to sort out (like the immense burocracy for a work permit and acquiring a bank acount) he had things taken from him and had to file a police report for this theft; he found little support by the police in this process and a failing computer system did not help one bit. It was only right to replace that guitar 'asap' and we did this at the reputable London Resonator Centre. Things improved quite a bit from then on, though one shouldn't underestimate living & working abroad; quite an endeavour.

More ways of transportation in London: the London Cab in a modernized version and public transport the slow way

A visit to China Town was included too.

Regent's Park (officially The Regent's Park) is one of the Royal Parks of London. It is in the north-western part of central London, partly in the City of Westminster and partly in the London Borough of Camden. In the Middle Ages the land was part of the manor of Tyburn, the property of Barking Abbey. In the Dissolution of the Monasteries, Henry VIII appropriated the land, and it has been Crown property ever since, except for the period between 1649 and 1660. It was set aside as a hunting park, known as Marylebone Park, until 1649. As one can see the weather during our may trip was much better!

 

Always nice to find a Dutch connection: Willem III William III & II (Dutch: Willem III; 4 November 1650 – 8 March 1702). He was a sovereign Prince of Orange, of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadhouder (Stadtholder) William III of Orange (Dutch: Willem III van Oranje) over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Gelre (Gelderland) and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland. By coincidence, his regnal number (III) was the same for both Orange and England. As King of Scotland, he is known as William II. He is informally known in Northern Ireland and Scotland as 'King Billy'. More on Wikipedia

 

We were lucky to obtain tickets for the Comedy Club; we laughed a lot about
the comedy on offer and were amazed of the boozing by British part of the public.

While we only had a fun trip to London, the experience of working and living abroad at such a young age was a major event for Alexander. And it wouldn't be the last time he stayed abroad for an extended period, so it paved the way in a manner of speaking.

See my London 2011 pages:

LONDON, in general
WALKING THE STREETS
WALKING BY NIGHT
TOWER OF LONDON