2: Exploring the unknown

Distance walked: 13km


Highlights/ Chronological Breakdown:
Leichester Sq (Tkts booth), Billy Elliot RUSH tickets (Victoria Palace Theatre)
Buckingham Palace (10:45am) Changing of the guards. View point from Victoria Statue

Take a break and watch the ending part of the procession on Vimeo.

House of Parliement featuring Big Ben

Walked along the South Bank (WEST side) towards Lambeth Bridge trying to still find artwork from Banksy. No dice! Enjoyed the lovely warm sun as I strolled over the bridge to get to the next destination:
Tate Britain - This museum/Art Gallery houses mostly Artists that have influenced the British art scene. I will have to come back and explore more British artists.

Since I was going to MAX out my oyster card I decided to take the Tube towards Covent Garden and just explore more of that open market. While in London I been on a Fixed bike Spotting crusade.
As my lovely friend SL says. " you know how some people will stare at beautiful ... people, shoes, bags, clothes... PC will loook at bikes."
I just have a fascination with customized Fixed bicycles. It takes a certain creative mind/passionate person to come up with the colour scheme and acquire the parts to get the bike built up. Seeing I was in another urban area I figured that Id try to become a "local" and ask around for the best bike shops in town.

In TO; Id say... Urbane, Sweet Petes, Bike Priates, MEC, and sometimes Bikes on Wheels....

In London; Toyko Fixed Gear - HIPSTER (hardcore), tucked in Soho. I spent a good 15 minutes to try and find this location. Its tucked in between red light streets and on a very narrow street.
Brick Lane bikes - More Urbane style; down to earth people in the shop, and REALLY hott mechanics working in the back (almost felt like it was a made up garage in the back!). I'd shop here if I was in London.
14 Bikes Co.  - located in Truman Brewery is the truest shop to reclaiming unused space. This is where all the hipsters/yuppies hangout! But they have really nice open concept shop with many high end products, and in house anodized connection and powder coating.

Apparently the FIXED gear scene is newish in London. It will cost between £800-1200. Which equates to 1230- 1900 CDN$. That 's DOUBLE what it took me to make my bike! obsurd pricey here inthe UK.
My cover -- I just moved here and was wondering how much a GOLD anodized quill stem would cost. 1", 26.0 . I KNOW the LINGO!
They probably thought I was a poser!

Another trend I've noticed is that the bikes share a lane with Taxis nad BUS (those huge double decked buses).... SCARY. so most rider where this nifty rucksack cover. They also wearh FULL reflective waterproof jackets and pants as well. I felt like it was a high-lighter, commerical. All these bikes whizzing through the streets.


Decided to have dinner from "Food for Thought" Mousaka!!! but in the Green PARK (and just  chill out with my notebook and catch up on the event of the day. Then walked past Buckhingham Palace to go and Watch Billy Elliot.


Ending with the "space invaders" that are all around London. It's great street art.

Billy Elliot is a MUST SEE, its Amazing. Day tickets were £19.50, front row (slightly obstructed view). The singing, dancing and performing was very powerful. I must have cried about 5 times.

Trend: theatres in London are not as huge as toronto