Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Metroparks

A few Sundays ago I went to the Metroparks for a hike and took some pictures. Really beautiful day!






Thanks Steve

Today Steve Burton confirmed that he is leaving General Hospital after playing Jason Morgan on and off for 21 years. I am not surprised by this news as significant changes have taken place the past few years. Mainly the economy - which has been affecting just about everything. I haven't been watching the past few years due to college except during the James Franco story arcs. I began to suspect something as Steve announces new business opportunities in fitness and health drinks. Plus relocating his family to Nashville.

Anyway thank you Steve Burton for making my days the past 11 years since I started watching General Hospital. Wow that's just old to me. I never thought I'd get into soap operas but I guess I learned that I don't want any of that drama in my life. LOL.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Sunset Pictures II










Sunset Pictures I

These photos were taken in June 2006 during a cruise to Mexico and the Cayman Islands.






Tuesday, August 21, 2012

More Leavesden Studio Pictures


Great Hall set



 Yule Ball costumes







 


London Day 4

In case you were wondering Day 3 was the Warner Brothers London (Harry Potter studio) day and already wrote about it earlier...

I decided that Wednesday would be "neighborhood day" during this vacation or "holiday" as they called it there.

The weather was perfect. Bright and sunny and in the mid to upper 60s. I decided to walk down Oxford Street, one of the biggest shopping streets in London. In my opinion its just chain stores (UK and USA) but Selfridges, John Lewis, and Marks and Spencer are all there. It was still 8:30 so most stores were not open yet and still the edge of rush hour. I walked all the way to Tottenham Court Road, which from Marble Arch is a long walk. Lots to see but I could already feel it in my legs. Luckily the bus I wanted to catch has a stop along the road. I was able to get the front seat on the top deck so I could film.


The route took me into Mornington Crescent and Camden Town. I probably would have stopped in Camden Town but nothing was really opened yet. I guess I will put it on my list for next time. I wanted to stop at St. Dominic's Priory just on the edge of Hampstead Heath. Its a beautiful Catholic Church. There's a saying "they don't make churches like these anymore" and this one fits perfectly.





I walked north and started my journey through Hampstead Heath. The ponds were just off the entrance. With the sun out, the ponds were bright and the walk was very peaceful. I heard locals and tourist talk about Hampstead and now I know what the fuss is about... and they are right. Besides the surrounding neighborhoods this particular area is quiet and peaceful. Londoners come to get away from the traffic and noise of the city. Hampstead Heath is right next to Parliament Hill. That area of the park overlooks the city of London.



What a breathtaking view. Its one of the many places in London where one stops and you feel as though you are in one of the greatest cities in the world.

After eating lunch in the village I wanted to get to Abbey Road  There a famous photograph of The Beatles walking across the road right in front of Abbey Road Studios. I was not very far from St. John's Wood, where the studios where located.

 St. John's Wood, like Hampstead, is an affluent area. I took bus #46 down and got off near the St. John's Wood tube station. I was only a few minutes away so I called Dad from my mobile phone telling him where I was. Before I left he said there was a street camera at the famous crosswalk. So I told him I would be there in a few minutes and explained to him what I was wearing and carrying in case there were many people there.

I made it to the intersection of Abbey Road and Grove End Road. I got out my Kodak video camera (a small camera the size of a mobile phone) and began to record although it took forever due to traffic. By the way residents and drivers dislike tourists there because they get in the way. I called my Dad back and he said he saw me.

After talking to him I got on the Tube. I was one stop away from Baker Street station. Baker Street is where the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes lived. Since its publication from Victorian times, fans of the detective and the series have made Baker Street a shrine to the detective. Between Marylebone Road and Regent's Park a set of Georgian flats have been converted to the Sherlock Holmes Museum and the Sherlock Holmes shop. There is also a hotel named after the fictional detective as well. I have read the stories since I was in fifth grade and wrote a paper about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in college. So I really wanted to go. Plus I am a big fan of Benedict Cumberbatch and admired Jeremy Brett and Basil Rathbone, who portrayed Sherlock in films and television. If you are not a fan of the books or media then its best to skip this but for fans its very neat.


 After this I was exhausted...