2015年09月27日 Sun
伦敦
【出发时间】
【到达时间】6:40pm arrival
【其他】
30-40 min
Originally a crossroad of Piccadilly and Regent Street, the circus took on its present appearance in the late 1800’s when Shaftesbury Avenue was connected to it.
Piccadilly is named after a draper named Robert Baker who became wealthy during the reign of Charles I by selling stiff ruffled collars called pickadils. He used his money to build a big house in the area. Londoners, who didn’t like his act of flamboyance, called his house Piccadilly Hall.
The statue of Eros has pointed in three different directions since being erected, but never in the direction to which it was intended : facing Shaftesbury Avenue.
Also, above the entrance to the store, you will see a clock. The two founders of Fortnum and Mason are represented by the figures beside the clock, who emerge from the clock and bow to each other on the hour. Mr Fortnum wears the red coat that indicates he was a footman in the Royal Household. He went into partnership with Mr Mason, a grocer.
Did You Know?
Royal warrants, such as those held by Fortnum and Mason and displayed above their door or inside their store, are issued by the Royal Household to companies providing services and goods to the Royal Family.
2015年09月28日 Mon
伦敦
Marble Arch (Tube via Central line)
- Peter Pan statue
- Albert Memorial
- Round Pond
High St Kensington (Tube via Circle / District line)
- Fashion Rules - Royal Ceremonial Dress
- King’s Staircase (must see)
- The Queen and King’s State Apartments
- The Palace Gardens (Sunken Garden)
- Victoria Revealed
- Victory arch for defeat of Napoleon
- Angel of Peace descending on Quadriga of War
Hyde Park Corner (Tube via Piccadilly line)
- Home of 1st Duke of Wellington (Waterloo)
(To get a less crowded view of the guards as they march past you, stand anywhere along the Mall between the Palace and Horseguards.)
Photo only
Can't visit state rooms (end 27/09)
Catch HOHF Bus at Buckingham Gate -- Baker St
The home of the Queen, Buckingham Palace was built in 1703. The present building is the third on the site. Around 300 people work there.
Look at the flag pole on top of the Palace. When the Queen is in residence, the Royal Standard flag is raised. A soldier is responsible for taking it down the moment the Queen leaves.
The large memorial in front of Buckingham Palace is called the Queen Victoria Memorial. Unveiled in 1911, the statue of the seated Victoria is 13 feet tall, yet was made from a single block of marble.
Did You Know?
The first cup of tea drunk in England was drunk in the Palace gardens in 1663.
The balcony from which the Royal family waves to the crowds is actually at the back of the building
HOHF Bus St Paul's -- Tower of London (cruise)
St Paul’s was founded in 604. However, the present building, the fifth on the site, dates from 1675. It is the second largest cathedral in the world, after St Peter’s in Rome.
Construction did not start until 10 years after the Great Fire, which destroyed the previous structure. This earlier building, begun in 1087, took 200 years to build and was even bigger than the present building, which took 35 years to complete.
The cathedral is the most famous work from London’s greatest architect, Sir Christopher Wren (who is buried in it.) However, the building is not exactly to the Royal-approved design. Wren submitted 3 different designs for it before his 4th version was eventually agreed. He then assembled large screens around the construction site to hide development, and proceeded to build the cathedral to a design different again from that which had been approved.
Did You Know?
Lord Nelson, who is buried at St Pauls, had a premonition that he would die at sea and so he had his coffin made from the mast of a French warship. The coffin lies inside an enormous sarcophagus which was created 300 years before Nelson was born.
The sarcophagus was commissioned by Cardinal Wolsey in 1521 for his own use but was confiscated by Henry VIII in 1529. It was stored at Windsor but then forgotten, only to be rediscovered in 1804 – just in time for Nelson’s burial.
Monument to Great Fire of 1666
Until 1729, London Bridge (next to the Cathedral) was the only bridge over the river. The original bridge was built by the Romans as a bridge of boats and this was replaced by various wooden bridges that were in use until 1176, when a stone bridge was built on the site. The stone bridge was in use for over 600 years and became one of the wonders of the medieval world as it spanned what was at the time a fierce tidal river. The bridge had houses (up to seven floors high), shops and a church on it, similar to the Ponte Vecchio in Florence.
The stone bridge was replaced in 1831 by a granite bridge as it was becoming a hazard to boats navigating the river. This bridge was in turn replaced by the present, less spectacular bridge which was opened in 1973, and the granite bridge was reconstructed in Arizona, USA. (Legend has it that the Americans who bought it thought it wasTower Bridge.)
Did You Know?
During medieval times, the decapitated heads of “traitors”, including in 1305, the head of Braveheart (William Wallace) were displayed on spikes on the gates at either end of London Bridge.
There had been a ford at low tide here since Roman times and many historians believe that the Romans used to wade cross the river near this point. They think the actual crossing point was on the other side of Westminster Bridge, in front of St Thomas’ Hospital. In 1909, the remains of a Roman boat were discovered nearby.
The name, Thames, pre-dates both the Romans and the Celts. It was originally spelt Tames but a Dutch map-maker inserted the letter “h” by mistake in the sixteenth century and the error has remained ever since.
The Westminster Tide Recorder
The turret in front of you is called the Westminster tide recorder. It measures the depth of the Thames at this point. You can climb up the rails on the side of the turret and look inside to see the computerised depth reading.
Parliament Square was built in 1868, and rebuilt in the 1940’s.
On the corner of the square, you will see a statue of Sir Winston Churchill. He was Britain’s prime minister during World War 2 and the London Blitz, when many parts of London were destroyed by bombing.
He led Britain’s war effort from the Cabinet War Rooms, which are nearby and open to the public. They are now also home to the Churchill Museum (admission charge.)
Did You Know?
No pigeons ever land on the statue of Churchill. Why? Because a small electric current runs through it.
A popular tourist attraction, the London Eye is a ferris wheel with large pods, providing great views of London. The wheel was meant to be operational in time for the millenium celebrations – unfortunately for technical reasons, it wasn’t open until mid 2000.
The Hungerford bridge is also known as Charing Cross Railway bridge. Before Charing Cross station was built across the river, the site was occupied by the Hungerford market, established by the Earl of Hungerford in 1692.
Brunel built a suspension bridge across the river to provide pedestrian access to the market in 1845 but when the railway company took over the market site, the bridge was dismantled and taken to Bristol to become the Clifton Suspension bridge. There was a public outcry at the loss of pedestrian access across the river and the railway company was forced to build a pedestrian footpath alongside the railway bridge.
Look across the river to the wall on the opposite side. You will see a number of lions’ heads facing the river, with mooring rings hanging from their mouths. They are part of London’s flood warning system and every policeman on duty near the river keeps an eye on them.
Although the Thames Barrier has reduced the risk, the phrase “When the lions drink, London’s in danger” is still true. If the water reaches the lions’ mouths, the Thames is at danger level and the tube system and all Thames tunnels would be closed.
2015年09月29日 Tue
伦敦
The Tower of London (across the river) is the most popular tourist attraction in London and one of the greatest examples of Norman architecture anywhere in the world. It is steeped in both history and scandal.
It was begun by William I around 1066 and built deliberately just outside the City boundary to warn potential troublemakers. It was then extended by a number of monarchs until Edward I, and has been a palace, prison, menagerie, place of execution and stronghold for the crown jewels.
Famous occupants have included Sir Francis Drake, Anne Boleyn (executed by sword), Sir Walter Raleigh and Rudolph Hess during the second world war.
The tower is protected by forty Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters) and eight flightless ravens, whose departure, legend claims, would indicate the downfall of England. The Beefeaters live on site and their dogs and cats are buried in a pet cemetery within the moat of the Tower.
The small “exits” at the bottom of the tower are medieval drainage outlets.
Did You Know?
Many Tudor prisoners such as Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I were brought to the Tower by boat and entered it through the Traitors’ Gate, a gate you may be able to see across the river at water level. As they passed along the Thames under London bridge, they would have seen the heads of other executed prisoners displayed on spikes.
Tower Bridge was built in 1894 and needs to be raised to enable tall ships to pass under it. Until 1976, this was performed by steam-driven Victorian hydraulic machines. It is often mistakenly thought to be London Bridge by tourists.
Largely thanks to the efforts of the American filmmaker, Sam Wanamaker, the new Globe theatre was opened to the public in 1997. It has been re-built as close as possible to the original theatre’s design, from the thatched roof to the wooden bench seating.
The original Globe Theatre was built not far from this site, in 1598. Shakespeare and his fellow actors brought it over from the other side of the Thames (Shoreditch) in pieces and reassembled it on bankside since land rent was cheaper.
Many of Shakespeare’s most famous plays were performed in the original theatre on bankside, including Julius Caesar (believed to be the first play performed here), Henry V, Hamlet and Macbeth. The plays attracted lively audiences and Elizabeth I was often amongst them.
In 1613, during a performance of Henry VIII, the theatre’s thatch caught fire during the firing of a real cannon. The theatre burnt down within half an hour and was re-built the following year. In the 1640’s it was finally closed down and demolished by the Puritans.
The iron gates which lead into the new theatre’s grounds contain sculptures of many animals from Shakespeare’s various plays.
This footbridge became known locally as the “Wobbly Bridge” when it was first opened in May 2000 as it was closed again a few weeks later due to its instability. It finally opened again in March 2002.
Did You Know?
Because London bridge was the only bridge across the river in central London for many years, Londoners were dependent on watermen and boatmen to ferry passengers and freight across the river.
It was because of this dependence on the river that people in the East End still use the phrase “up West” for the West End of London, since it is upstream from the City.
The Tate Modern opened in May 2000 in the old Bankside Power Station, which was built in 1963 and generated power until 1981. Gas and electricity had been generated on or near the site for over a century – it provided the first public supply of electricity for the City of London.
It is the UK’s largest museum of modern art and its permanent collection includes works by Picasso, Warhol and Dali. Admission is free except to special exhibitions.
The original bridge on this site was opened in 1817 and was named to commemorate the Duke of Wellington’s famous victory over Bonaparte.
The bridge fell into ruin and was closed in 1923 before being re-built, mostly by women (as many men were fighting in Europe), during the war years. It was re-opened in 1945.
Did You Know?
Shipping has to be warned whenever a bridge is under repair and this is done by dangling a bale of hay on a rope below the centre span. The origin of this is unclear but every bridge follows this custom and the custom dates to Roman times.
Big Ben is named after the Commissioner of Works, Sir Benjamin Hall, who was in charge of construction of the clock. He was heavily criticised by politicians over the problems he had in building it.
The bell’s familiar ring is caused by a crack which appeared in 1859, within a few months of the bell being installed. The bell was re-cast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry Company but soon cracked again. It has never been repaired.
When the light above Big Ben is illuminated, Parliament is sitting.
One of three main embankments in London, it involved reclaiming much of the river bank as a form of flood defence. However, the idea of building embankments wasn’t unique to the Victorians – everyone from the Romans through to Christopher Wren had earlier proposed them.
Did You Know?
You can see many examples of Victorian England along the Embankment. These range from the granite blocks used to shore up the riverwalls through to the streetlamps with dolphins at their bases.
The correct name for the Houses of Parliament is the Palace of Westminster, which was built in 1040 by Edward the Confessor and was the main Royal residence in London until Henry VIII moved to Whitehall.
The present building dates from the 1800’s and took 20 years to complete. It was built by Charles Barry, who is buried in Westminster Abbey.
It is the largest Gothic building in the world – there are over 1,000 rooms and two miles of corridors in it. In the centre stands Westminster Hall, the only part of the original building that survives.
Many great treason trials have taken place in Westminster. In 1305, Braveheart was sentenced to death here and in 1606 Guy Fawkes, the man who tried to blow up Parliament, met a similar fate.
The Abbey was built by Edward the Confessor, and William the Conqueror was crowned in it on Christmas Day 1066. Thousands of people are buried, or have their ashes interred, in it. Many others have plaques. Those buried in the Abbey include
* Royalty – Henry III, Mary Queen of Scots, Elizabeth I, James I, Charles II
* Politicians – Pitt the Younger, Pitt the Elder, Chamberlain, Gladstone
* Poets and Writers – Chaucer, Jonson, Browning, Tennyson
In 1997, the funeral service for Diana, Princess of Wales was held there. (Though she is not buried in the Abbey.)
Did You Know?
One person buried in the Abbey has three separate monuments. He was John Broughton, a famous eighteenth century boxer who invented boxing gloves. He also became a Yeoman of the Guard and a verger of the Abbey.
The last burial in the Abbey was in 1906; since then, only ashes have been accepted. Ben Jonson, the poet, is buried upright.
Number 10 has been the official residence of the Prime Minister since 1732. There is no general public access to it.
Did You Know?
The Chancellor of the Exchequer traditionally lives next door, in number eleven.
However, when Labour came to power in 1997, the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and the Chancellor, Gordon Brown (who became Prime Minister in 2007) swapped residences to enable the Blair family to have more room. This had never happened before.
In the centre of the square stands Nelson’s Column, at 170 feet tall. Buildings surrounding the Square include South Africa House, Canada House, the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery (both FREE admission) and St Martin-in-the-Fields church.
Even back in the eleventh century, the square was a traffic junction. And until 2000, the square had never been completed. While on the right hand side of it (in front of the National Gallery) there was a statue of George IV on horseback, until recently no statue had been placed on the corresponding plinth on the opposite corner. It is now used for rotating modern art displays.
Did You Know?
In front of Nelson’s Column, on a traffic island at the top of Whitehall, which also marks the site of the old Charing Cross, stands a statue of Charles I on horseback. It was deliberately positioned here by his son, Charles II, to look down Whitehall to the spot where his father had been executed (in front of Banqueting House.)
A "who's who" of Western painting -- from da Vinci to Velázquez to Rembrandt to Cézanne -- dazzles the eye at this astounding art museum. The Sainsbury Wing has one of the world's great Renaissance collections (13th - 19th century)
2015年09月30日 Wed
伦敦-温莎
http://www.britishmuseum.org/visiting/planning_your_visit/object_trails/3_hours.aspx
When Sir Hans Sloane died in 1753, he bequeathed to England his vast collection of art and antiquities. This formed the nucleus of a huge collection that grew with the acquisitions of the Empire, and has come to include such remarkable objects as the Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon Marbles (which Greece still wants back).
2015年10月01日 Thu
伦敦-索尔兹伯里
Salisbury / Stonehenge
2015年10月02日 Fri
伦敦-牛津
2015年10月03日 Sat
伦敦-巴黎
【出发时间】07:52am, St Pancras International
【到达时间】11:17am, Gare du Nord
【其他】Booking reference TBHGND
【出发时间】Gare Du Nord
【到达时间】Gare De Lyon
【其他】
【地址】31 Rue du Pont Neuf, Paris, France
【电话】
【其他】10-6pm, pick-up D'Orsay/L'Orangerie ticket
Ligne RER A, B et D Station Châtelet-Les Halles, or Métro Ligne 4 station "les Halles" Sortie Porte Pont-Neuf
Largest square in the French capital in terms of square feet, located at eastern end of Champs-Elysees. It was designed in 1755 by Ange-Jacques Gabriel and is an octagon area that covers 86,400 square meters.
Perhaps one of the most interesting things about the Place de la Concorde is the fact that it is so full of impressive structures and history. It has a moat between the Champs-Elysees to the west and the Tuileries Gardens to on the east, and is filled with magnificent statues, fountains, and impressive stone buildings. During the year of the Reign of Terror, the government erected a guillotine here and people would go to watch convicted criminals being dismembered alive for sheer entertainment.
The Pont Alexandre III Bridge connects the Grand and Petit Palais on the right bank with the Hotel de Invalides on the left bank, and made it easy for the exposition visitors to easily cross the Seine River. Almost three years of construction resulted in a lavishly adorned 40m wide, 6m tall bridge that would not obstruct the view of the Invalides or the Champs-Elysees.
The Musée d'Orsay follows a chronological route, from the ground floor to the upper level and then to the mezzanine, showing links between Impressionist painters and their forerunners.
Running down the centre of the tracks, a central sculpture aisle takes in monuments and maidens by Rude, Barrye and Carrier-Belleuse, but the outstanding pieces are by Carpeaux, including his controversial La Danse for the façade of the Palais Garnier.
The Lille side, on the right of the central aisle, is dedicated to the Romantics and history painters: Ingres and Amaury-Duval contrast with the Romantic passion of Delacroix’s North African period. Further on are early Degas canvases and works by Symbolists Moreau and Puvis de Chavannes.
The first rooms to the Seine side of the main aisle are given over to the Barbizon landscape painters: Corot, Daubigny and Millet. One room is dedicated to Courbet, with the Artist and his Studio, Burial at Ornans and L'Origine du Monde.
This floor also covers pre-1870 works by the Impressionists, including Manet’s Olympia. Upstairs are the Impressionists, Pissarro, Renoir and Caillebotte, Manet’s Déjeuner sur l'Herbe, Monet’s paintings of Rouen cathedral and works by Degas. Among the Van Goghs are Church at Auvers and Wheat Field with Crows.
You’ll also find the primitivist jungle of Le Douanier Rousseau, the gaudy lowlife of Toulouse-Lautrec, the colourful exoticism of Gauguin’s Breton and Tahitian periods, and Cézanne’s still lifes, landscapes and the Card Players.
On the mezzanine are works by the Nabi painters – Vallotton, Denis, Roussel, Bonnard and Vuillard. Several rooms are given over to art nouveau decorative arts, including furniture by Majorelle, and Gallé and Lalique ceramics.