Europe2017

I was in Europe for a little over 2 weeks after the US holiday of Thanksgiving. I had planned quite a bit of exploring for this trip, but what I didn’t plan for was coming down sick on the way over. When I got back to the U.S. I found out that there was a fairly minor flu that somehow wasn’t stopped by the vaccines this year, and I’m guessing I had that – only a couple of days of being too sick to get out of bed, but many days of having not enough energy to do more that a few hours of exploring. Fortunately I had scheduled my first few days in London and had reserved a room in Earls Court where I knew the restaurants and transit. When I got to the hotel, the clerk seemed to be fighting off a similar disease, so we could commiserate. Luckily also there was a Boots pharmacy nearby, they and Walgreens (US company) are related, so I managed to be able to get decongestants that were similar to what works for me in the U.S. Most of the time I was in Europe the weather was cold with highs during the day just a little above 40F (4C), but relatively clear and even often sunny. This is Sunday (Nov 26) morning, leaving my hotel and headed towards Earls Court Road and the Earls Court tube station.

Part of my plan for my relatively short period of time in London was to continue exploring the eastern portion of the Regents Canal from where I had stopped with it in Camden (https://www.flickr.com/photos/donbrr/34586207346 ) on last year’s trip. Having gotten sick on the flight over, I had to modify my plans somewhat, but still got a fairly good view of it. This and the next few photos are taken from an area near the London Canal Museum, just northeast of Kings Cross station. This particular area is apparently called Granary Square, the building along the canal here is called the Coal and Fish building per Google maps. (see next picture).

The Coal Office, from the north side, away from the canal. Considering the fencing, I’m suspecting this is slated for conversion into housing. Besides having been a site for coal distribution, also near here (see later pictures) were the frames from very large gas storage tanks. It would be interesting to see a photo of the area from the early 1900’s when this was apparently a major hub of coal and gas energy distribution for the city.

Granary Square itself, along the Regents Canal near Kings Cross station. The square has art installations on an ongoing basis. This one was pleasantly interesting – the tree talks. I couldn’t figure out what the recordings were saying, but it seemed to be that the statements were sort of a pun on how department-store Santas talk to kids. I could not find much more detail than that the installation is called “DOES THE ITERATIVE FIT” (see: www.kingscross.co.uk/newspaper/2017/12/05/kings-cross-christmas-trees ) In the background are the skeletons of former gas storage tanks that are being incorporated in developing housing (see adjacent picture).

The Gasholder apartments, being constructed within the frames of former gas storage tanks. The frames and storage tanks were once on the opposite side of the Regents Canal at about this same location, but were dismantled, refurbished, and reconstructed here to form the organizing structures for new apartments (see the link below). The apartments sell for from £810,000 to £3,525,000 – a pound is roughly $1.33 so these are selling for $1,079,000 to $4,696,000. See: thespaces.com/2016/02/15/gasholder-conversions-a-glimpse-inside-the-show-flat-for-the-kings-cross-triplets I could not figure out what the construction was that looks almost like bleachers in this photo.

Various canal boats near Granary Square; the green sign on the boat says "Coal Diesel & Gas."

The east portal of the Islington Canal tunnel. The tunnel goes under a relatively steep hill in the Angel area of Islington, London, and is 960 yards (878 meters) long, a little over .5 mile. Due to the costs of boring tunnels, the tunnel opened in 1818 with no tow path. Originally boats were moved through by legging, a process where two people lay on their backs and push the boat through with their feet – not an easy task, and ‘leggers’ were killed. In 1826 a chain was laid on the canal bed and, driven by a steam engine, the boats were pulled through; that steam process continued until the 1930’s! See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islington_Tunnel

Looking east along the canal from above the east portal of the Islington tunnel.

It was a surprisingly busy Sunday along the canal.

This was approaching the City Basin area.

A young man working the lock at City Basin.

This is City Basin, the main route of the canal is off the the left of the picture. It's difficult to imagine what this area looked like when the canal was an active trade and commerce corridor.

A young man working the lock at City Basin.

A shock to see two almost naked people floating towards you on a cold day in a structure that looked to be little more than a raft. Those on the walkway seemed to be quite blase about it, not paying attention to the scene.

So, it’s officially a floating hot tub (link below). The hot tub is at 38C (100F) and a trip is 75 minutes. I can think of all sorts of dire consequences that could happen – though they require a designated ‘driver’ that doesn’t drink. In the U.S. there’s all these warnings about time spent in hot tubs and drinking when using hot tubs -- and then what does your skin look like after 1.25 hour in hot water? Of course, everyone they show in the advertising pictures is on the young side – at ages when one feels impervious to risk. www.hottuguk.com

Nice shadows....I was going to label this 'late afternoon sun', until I noticed it was taken mid-day.

Looks like something rented out as a party boat..