Our friends Paula and Wal got married this year, and 10 of us flew to London to help celebrate.  Not only was it my first chance to see London, it was also my first time shooting digital.  Both events were great fun. :)

  Look at the energy and excitement in our faces, as represented by Sarah, Molly, and Martin.  Clearly, we were on our way there and not limping back in exhaustion.

  The new BART connection to SFO made it very easy to get to the airport.  Just look at how happy Molly and Martin are at the prospect!

  Our plane, the pride of British Airways, awaited us with cramped quarters in coach.

  Thank goodness the public art at the airport distracts you from the lengthy lines at boarding.

  Upon arrival we dropped off our luggage and headed to Greenwich, where the Great Hall of the Old Royal Naval College awaited us.  I especially liked the effect that all these lamps on the table created.  

  The place was pretty well deserted -- rain may've had something to do with that. 

  We also wandered about the Royal Observatory, that had an excellent exhibit on the effort to build a clock that would keep accurate time aboard ship.  Many clock examples were on display, and it was great fun to wait for them to chime on the hour and see which ones were off.  I liked the look of the architecture, and had fun taking shots such as the detail of  this facade.

  A classic English cottage nearby had an interesting brick pattern.

     The weather just sucked the first day, but you can't tell thanks to the magic of Black-and-White.  The trees in this park adjacent to the Observatory really caught my eye.

  At the end of the afternoon we were just plum tuckered out.  Well, Scott, Erin, and Erica were.

      Luckily the weather wasn't always bad.  We had some gorgeous light on a few days, and it lit up the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben just something wonderful.

  The plaza in front of the British Museum attracts so many people just hanging out.  It's a great place to sip some coffee and people-watch.

    The reading room is at the center of the museum, in a beautiful enclosed courtyard.

  And the steps leading up alongside the reading room provide their own vantage point to the courtyard below.

    London has great examples of both old and new architecture.  Whether it's the side of the treasury building, or the London Eye.  And although we didn't go up in the Eye, the people in our group who did said the sights from up top were fantastic. 

  Sometimes the shadows of things offer up their own unique portrait, such as of a streetlamp.

    Part of a day was spent exploring the shops near Charring Cross Road.  All manner of books and ephemera can be found here.

  The bad weather caught up with us on this day, too.

  If I'd had the time, I could've spent the entire vacation just shooting the pub signs of London.  Each seemed to have a combination of clever signage, hanging floral baskets, and a look that was straight out of Olde England. 

  All manner of food can be found.  There are just some things you can't get away from when you travel.

    Thankfully it's just as easy to bypass those sorts of establishments and instead enjoy local fare.  There's nothing like a good farmers' market.

  The birds are nice and slow, which makes catching one for a meal very easy.  Just kidding.

  One afternoon was spent in Kensington Gardens, where we later had afternoon tea.  Given the season, the gardens were in beautiful bloom.

      But before tea, we just relaxed and recharged our batteries.  Well, Sarah, Erin, Molly, and Erica did...

  ...I was off watching the swans and this cute couple feeding them.

  No signs of terrorism anywhere, other than this little bit of graffiti.  Unless it had just been sprayed, it seemed surprising to still be present.

    One thing that was ubiquitous were the phone booths.  I never did figure out the difference between the red and black ones.

  Getting around was so easy thanks to the Underground.  It's a shame our own system has such limited coverage compared to London's.  Our weekly travel pass was a great thing to have, and whenever I see this logo I'll always remember that authoritative voice commanding me to "Mind the gap."

I never got a chance to ride in a black cab, but I was able to sit in one at the London Transport Museum.

  The museum chronicles the history of public transit in London.  Trolleys, buses, cabs, the subway, all are covered.  Lots of old trolley cars and buses are on display.

    The trolley cars in many cases have mannequins dressed up in period costume, adding character to the displays.

  Most of the buses let you climb aboard to explore, as Martin discovered.

  Ok, I'm a cyclist, so when I saw a recumbent bike for a delivery company! I just had to take a shot.

  The streetlamps near St. Paul's Cathedral had wonderful metalwork on them.

    Parts of the cathedral were undergoing renovation, but there were plenty of camera angles where all that disappeared. 

  Or, where you could focus in on the quiet setting of a simple bench.

  Portobello Road Market is the great antiques street faire of London.

  Well, maybe not just antiques.  You can also find all sorts of nifty suspenders, suitable for musicians like Scott.

  The Tower of London, at that magic time in the early evening when the lights are low and warm.  We queued at this spot for our Jack the Ripper walking tour.  Shall I say it was a ripping good time?  I shall.

  Ravens reside on the grounds of the Tower, ensuring the continuing health of the British nation.  Or at least that's the myth.  They've grown quite tame, and inquisitive of American women..  

  And how can you not close with an obligatory Beefeater shot?  The Yeoman Warders give a great tour, and also close out this tour of our London 2003 trip.