Europe2016

The Gherkin, an office tower opened in 2004. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/30_St_Mary_Axe

Though I've seen very many pictures of Tower Bridge, for some reason it never occurred to me to think of the tower-to-land portions of the bridge as suspension bridges. While the curve in the blue portion here, and how it is anchored, suggest some sort of suspension, this isn't the cable that one sees in most suspension bridges. I'm guessing this would be considered to be an eyebar chain cable suspension.

Though very popular for viewing by tourists, the bridge was described as tawdry, pretentious, false, and absurd by commentators in the early 20th century. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Bridge

Built in 1886-94, it's a combination bascule (drawbridge) and suspension. The bascule is raised about 1000 times a year; the road portion is accessible without extra charge by vehicles, though there are strict weight and speed limits -- when I was visiting the road was closed for major reconstuction but pedestrian access was possible. In the past the upper level walkways were seldom used except by prostitutes, so were closed in 1910 though they can be accessed on tours of the bridge. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Bridge

Site of construction of Landmark Place at Tower Bridge, units £862,500 to £4,016,000. Next time you visit the Tower of London, the displays of current inequality will be quite handy.

I know, it's been photographed trillions of times by billions of tourists, but it's still an impressive sight, particularly at sunset. Following is a photo from when I first saw the bridge, in 1969: www.flickr.com/photos/donbrr/3552964193

Old Billingsgate, a former fish market, now an exhibition space. Unfortunately the light was not good for capturing all of the fish sculptures along the roof.

Tower Bridge, with HMS Belfast (museum) on the right.

Little Venice section of the Regent's Canal; the orange and red canvas covers a stage for performances for children. The Regent's Canal was built in the early 1800's to connect the Grand Union Canal to the Thames to ship imports from to the Midlands; in the later 1800's it was used to ship coal and building materials locally. It's days as a shipping route diminished significantly with the coming of railroads in the early 1900's. See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regent%27s_Canal

Little Venice area, the junction of the Paddington arm of the Grand Junction Canal with the Regent's Canal. It is difficult from this view of houses, apartments, and a park, to imagine this area as once having been open fields, warehouses, manufacturers, and markets, with a constant flow of boats providing transport.

At the junction of the Regent's Canal with the Paddington basin portion of the Grand Junction Canal.

Swans.... in the Paddington Basin section of the Grand Junction Canal. When I took this, much of the Paddington Basin section was surrounded by new buildings, with the exception of these older warehouses that provide only a smidgen of a hint regarding the history of the canal/area.

Construction seems to be a constant...

Art -- I didn't see an explanation, but the words changed regularly. There were quite a few passersby, none of whom seemed to pay any attention to the art.

Paddington Basin... It would be interesting to find a picture from the past that illustrated this as factories and warehouses connected by horse-drawn or steam-powered narrow-boats. The only hint of the past is the low building on the right towards the end of the canal.

One of the few building remaining with any indication that the boats in the Paddington Basin had once been for shipping, not leisure.

These two guys are more realistic than I captured here. When walking up, I thoughy it was two men outside playing some sort of game. It wasn't till I realized they weren't actually moving that I realized they were sculptures.

Paddington Basin...