It is the last day of 2014. We came to London to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary.
A question we ask ourselves every year is, since we were married at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s eve do we celebrate on the 31st or the 1st?
So on this last day of the year we head out to see the famous “Eye”. It is such an icon of London and directly across the Thames river from Big Ben so you get two for one as far as sightseeing goes.
It looks like a BIG ferris wheel.
At 443 ft it is the tallest ferris wheel in Europe and opened in 2000.
The viewpoint that is usually photographed is straight on and the supporting struts form the upside down “V” in the middle of the circle. This photo was taken from the side which gives a different orientation, showing it as a ferris wheel.
And directly across the river is the famous Big Ben built in 1859 and is located at the north end of the Palace of Westminster.
But this landmark will look much different several hours from now as the barges are sitting in the river, loaded with the phyrotechnics of the fireworks that are scheduled to ring in the new year.
We walk alongside the riverfront. Fencing has been erected that will become the “ticketed” area in which to view the fireworks. Those fireworks, first started in 2004, had an attendence of 100,000 viewers the first year. That number grew to 500,000 last year and for safety it was decided that persons would need a ticket to get into the area. Those tickets originally cost 10 lbs but are now being resold on the internet for 500-600% more ( we are told) even with the limit of tickets the transportation to get out of the area again after the fireworks will be a nightmare.
But there is plenty to entertain us on the waterfront.
These men, from Africa, were performing, with music, dancing and acrobatics.
One fellow folded his legs up behind his head and his fellow performer carried him around IN A PAN!! How did he do that?
They ended their show with a “how low can you go” limbo.
We had the opportunity to walk along the south side of the river along The Queen’s walk.
London is situated along the Thames which, depending on the season, can have up to 24 ft of tidal diference. In walking back we found access to a beach that we had not earlier seen because of higher tides.
And the remains of what looked like stormwater, sewage drain into the river. Remnants of years gone by when a trough ran down the middle of the street and everyone emptied their household waste into it?
And supports to…what? A bridge that is now long gone?
We decide to have a quiet dinner alone in our flat and then join the crowds along the waterfront to ring in the New Year.
Happy 2015! And Happy Anniversary to the love of my life!
