This afternoon we paid a visit to that interesting place, Greenwich. We took a 205 bus.

Aboard the 205

We travelled on the 205 quite a way, in fact, to Bow.

We changed at Bow

At Bow we changed to a 108.

Going through the Blackwall Tunnel

This bus crosses the Thames by the Blackwall Tunnel. Best not to think of the tons of earth and water above you!

A pause in Costa

We arrived at an area within a loop of the Thames known as the Greenwich Peninsula. It is the site of what was the Millennium Dome and is now an O2 centre. The rest of the site is a mixture of residential blocks, entertainment venues and restaurants and cafes.

Tea and toasted teacakes

We made a pause in a branch of Costa and ordered an old stand-by of ours, tea and toasted teacakes. This was in lieu of lunch.

A partial view

Head in the Wind
Allen Jones

Partial view of the Dome

Penrose Tiling

This building fronts onto a road called Penrose Way, a clue that it is covered with Penrose tiling.

Emirates Air Line cablecars

Cablecar departing

The Emirates Air Line cablecar service has a role to play in London’s transport network but it also has obvious novelty value. There was a long queue for places. (I have yet to try it and am not sure I ever will.)

Shoreline

This is a photo of the “other side”, that is, North of the Thames. North and South London have distinct characters and rivalries. Many “ northerners” are reluctant to admit that “Sarf of the river” is even London. (I am not of their party.)

Quantum Cloud
Anthony Gormley

This is not, as you might at first glance think, a heap of old iron, but a work of art. Entitled Quantum Cloud, it is by Anthony Gormley, thus disproving the often expressed theory that he only creates male human figures.

We then walked SE beside the Thames by a road with tracks for pedestrians and cyclists. If it has a name, I don’t know what it is.

Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park

This brought us to the ecology park, which we hoped to visit, but it was closed and we could only catch glimpses from outside.

Over the fence

For this photo, I lifted the camera above my head to clear the fence.

Common darter dragionfly

We spotted this pretty thing on the hand rail, seemingly cleaning his or her head. It’s a dragonfly of a type called the Common Darter.

The path back

We then retraced our way back along the same path, quite a long walk on what was now a warm day.

Royal Naval College Museum

We caught a bus to Greenwich “proper” and passed through the grounds of the old Naval College. (See here for an etymological note on the name of Greenwich.)

Another view of Greenwich

Greenwich ancient and modern.

The Cutty Sark

We viewed the dramatic silhouette of the famous tea clipper, the Cutty Sark.

CThe Thames

The Thames at Greenwich and, no, I don’t know what ship that is.

Entrance to the pedestrian tunnel under the Thames

The foot tunnel was built in 1902 to provide all-weather access from Greenwich to the shipyards and docks on the north side of the Thames where many local people would have been employed.

Here comes the DLR train

We started back by taking the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to Bank.

Off we go!

The train runs both above ground, as here, and…

Approaching Bank

…underground, as here, when we are approaching our stop, Bank.

Changing to the Northern Line

At Bank, Tigger agreed to travel on the tube for once (normally, she avoids it like the proverbial plague). So we negotiated the passageways and escalators between the DLR and the tube, and caught a Northern Line train.

The escalator at Angel Station

Finally, we ascended the escalator – the longest in London – at Angel tube station. A short walk from the station brought us home.

I don’t know about you but I am looking forward to my supper!