Kew Gardens and River Bus
17 August, 2014
Formal arrangements at Kew Gardens.
First touring day in London was Kew Gardens (botanical gardens), traveling by way of River Bus (catamaran) each way.
The River Bus is a really fun way to travel, although it is more expensive. You get good views of pretty much all
of the London sights that are along the Thames. [All facts are from Eyewitness Travel's
London, unless otherwise indicated.]
River Bus
Tower Bridge.
Tower of London.
Tower of London. It's a large complex.
Traitor's Gate, where the condemned would enter the Tower.
This unusual structure is actually London's City Hall.
I haven't been able to identify this building, but I suspect it's apartments.
The Golden Hinde II, a reproduction of Sir Francis Drake's ship.
Shakespeare's Globe. This is a modern reconstruction of the theater, but they do perform Shakespeare's plays there.
"Look, kids! Big Ben! Parliament!"
"Look, kids! Big Ben! Parliament!" (and also the Hungerford Bridge).
Cleopatra's Needle, about 3,500 years old and moved to London in the 19th century.
The famous London Eye.
Somehow, these cars look like they could simultaneously make some people feel claustrophobic and others
agoraphobic.
The Hungerford Bridge.
A street in Kew Gardens. Fancy, huh?
The cars were fancy, too!
Kew Gardens
Pond.
Example of Japanese-style architecture.
Baby Egyptian Geese.
Lily.
Example of a plant that evolved to look like a rock.
Flowers.
Tropical carnivorous plants. The sign indicated that carnivorous plants grow where the soil is
nitrogen-poor, so they get their nitrogen from eating insects.
Flower.
These flowers just looked like sprinklers to me.
Doesn't this tree look like it's going to start walking toward you at any moment? Is it an ent?
On to Tower of London and Other Area Sights.
