About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Sunday, December 02, 2012

U is for the UNDERGROUND

I had lots of practise during this past holiday in England using their Underground system of transportation.  Along with the Underground, I rode the Overground, the Docklands Light Rail System (the DLR), a canal boat and the trains.  Because I stayed in East London for 3 weeks, I always carried a convenient map that showed the routes so that I could plan my mini-trips.  I went to places like downtown London, Canary Wharf, out to Essex, up to Oxford, to Camden and Little Venice on the Regent Canal, and to Stratford where the new uber mall is located.  It wasn't long until I was boarding and unboarding like a native.  And I also learned why everyone ran to get the next underground, overground, or train.  Most people, and I got one too, have Oyster cards that are prepaid, so the longer your trip lasts, the more it costs.  Therefore, the sooner you catch your connection the sooner you get to your destination...thus, cheaper!
My travel partner, Cathy, was with me for 4 days in London at the Carlton Hotel right across the street from King's Cross and St. Pancras stations.  When we rode the trains together, we always got a seat even if there were none available - very nice gentlemen would stand up for us.  However, after she left I hardly ever got a seat.  She says it's because of her white hair!  Maybe so.  *Sigh*  We got there just as the Paralympics started and I must say the Stratford Station was a horror to get through!  But I was still in London when it was all over and travelling to and fro was much easier.  I have to admit, though, that I got turned around a couple of times and caught the underground tube going the wrong direction!  It's weird to descend so far underground, twisting and turning directions to find your track that you lose your sense of where North, South, East and West are.

After Cathy left, I moved over to Lorne's place and every day for 3 weeks, I travelled on the DLR and then transferred at Stratford Station to the Overground to Homerton to visit my dear one in the hospital, who ended up there after an accident while working in London.  He unknowingly broke his big toe, which ended up becoming infected and then it developed into osteomyelitis (infection of the bones) which went through his entire system.  The end result was a partial amputation which left him in the hospital for 3 weeks on IV antibiotics!  Good thing I was in the country so I could stay on with him until he was well enough to come home.  But before we did, we travelled to Wales so he could meet my unbelieveably wonderful friend Jane and her beau Neil.  We took the train from Paddington Station after getting there from the DLR to the underground Bow Church station and out to Paddington on the Hammersmith & City Line underground train.

I managed to get some photos of some of the Underground stations, the DLR, and other methods of transportation so I hope you like the short slideshow today. I have to tell you though that #5, 6, and 14 are from Google but all the rest are my shots.  Enjoy the ultimate in London travel.
Click to play this Smilebox slideshow
Finally, thanks to the upstanding Roger for his unwillingness to desert the post as our current administrator of ABC Wednesday.  He and his useful staff of probably unqualified but undeniably eager helpers urgently encourage you to consider joining the team.  All that is necessary is to utilize a few minutes of time to visit a few blogs (usually 10) along with your usual favourites.  Since Round 12's new heading with soon be unveiled and will begin at the New Year, why not make it a resolution to just try it out for this Round?  You just might find it utterly uplifting!  Contact Roger through ABCW site here.

27 comments:

jill said...

You are a very well travlled lady Leslie.Im so pleased that you got to see what you wanted to whilst in London.Hope you are all well.Love Jill xx

Roger Owen Green said...

Unqualified? They are VERY qualified!

Oh, I would love the underground, I bet..

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Glad you had such a great time.

nancygrayce said...

You are quite an adventuresome traveler! I would be intimidated with that under and overground travel! So much fun!

Hildred said...

Gosh, Leslie, I have traveled the Underground in London, but not to the extent you have! You are an adventuresome lady!

PhenoMenon, ABCW Team said...

Ooh I have used both of them too and I just love the connectivity.

PhenoMenon, ABCW Team

Meryl said...

Leslie and Roger are both right! The ABC Wednesday team is Uberly awesome. And Leslie I so forgot to use UBER in my post - I love the word too!

Loved your post and wish you a great week.

Carver said...

Great post Leslie. It's been ages since I was in London but even back then I remember the convenience of the underground.

Reader Wil said...

The London Underground is amazing and so easy to find the stations with the map.I wished we had a map like that in Rotterdam.The sightseeing bus is always great fun, as it is what I call a "hop-on, hop-off"bus. Thanks for this interesting post, Leslie! Have a great week.
Wil, ABC Team.

carol l mckenna said...

Very creative post for 'U' for ABC ~ wonderful ~ (A Creative Harbor) ^_^

Joy said...

From my underground to yours:-) Sounds like you got around like a local. Those maps are so useful and Harry Beck's design is so clever.
They are going to issue stamps next year to celebrate the undergrounds 150th birthday http://blog.norphil.co.uk/2012/10/2013-150th-anniversary-of-london.html

Paula Scott Molokai Girl Studio said...

It's unanimous-an outstanding post!
I like underground-not something I would've thought of since I've not been around underground transportation.

magiceye said...

That was such a lovely post narrating your wonderful experiences!

Hazel said...

I have never never tried the Underground transportation while I was in England. Next time I visit I know what to put on the to-do list. It's fun and nice to read you had such a great time.

Lmkazmierczak said...

Ordinary Words...Your expeditions sound fun and ubiquitous...as in all over and everywhere♫♪

ChrisJ said...

I used to be very familiar with the Underground many years ago. My eldest son when he was about 8 or 9 (he's now 48) was absolutely fascinated by it and even learned to direct people to the right line while we were buying tickets. Hopefully he was directing them corrctly!

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

It is very funny, where I grew up, it was very swampy, you dig a hole, water will fill in the hole. When we talk about the subway, we are very afraid.

Ann said...

Oh I really enjoyed the video. The Canary Wharf entrace is so unique. All the traveling looked wonderful, you are one very blessed lady.
Ann

Mara said...

Ever since my first trip to London when I was 16 I have been in love with the underground. It was the big wind that came before the train,the hustle and bustle of getting 57 pupils on the same train and generally the whole atmosphere. When I took my goddaughter to London a few years ago, she could have stayed on the underground the whole day and be perfectly happy (although Chitty chitty bang bang, the musical was also a big hit).

Rajesh said...

Wonderful and commendable transport system.

Chubskulit Rose said...

Once again, your photos with music is very enlightening. Wish I could visit that beautiful underground place someday.

Chewed UP
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team

Carola said...

Great how you let as travel with you. Glad that your husband recovert, and could travel on.

Fantastic pictures in the smilebox. My favorite is the one from Bow Street Station.
Quite a different view on the underground system.

Nonnie said...

I remember putting an Oyster card in the scrapbook album I assembled for my granddaughter seven years ago. She went to school in London and was fortunate to travel to other European cities. I traveled vicariously while putting the photos on each page.

Meoww said...

Public transportation might be crowded but they are the best (and cheapest) way to travel and see the city at the best!

Martha said...

My daughter and I visited New York City for the first time last year and got to know a little about the subway system there. It was actually kind of fun. I suppose the Underground must be similar.

lorik said...

Public transport is the best way to travel- cheap and better for the environment too. I remember the London underground being fantastic - except for those very big escalators which make me nervous!

LindyLouMac said...

Calling by as another ABC Wednesday participant. As A Brit who has not travelled on the Underground in London for a few years now this post was fascinating. I knew about the cards but not that they were timed for costs!