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To all my friends celebrating Chinese New Year….Gong Xi Fa Chai!

Here’s to a joyous and prosperous New Year!

As you read in my London: Tourist post, I walked around London for 7 hours.  I started my day just wandering around the streets of the City of London.  In case you didn’t know, the City of London is considered the financial district and with that, is virtually empty on the weekends and as you may have also read in that previous post, I went out shooting on Sunday, traditionally….a part of the weekend!

I went out with a couple of goals:

1. Since the streets should be pretty empty, I wanted to get some good street photography shots of the architecture, with people sprinkled in, if they were passing by.
2. Use my style and creativity to show both the London streets and architecture along with highlighting some of the more popular tourist spots.

As I was shooting, I already knew how I was going to process these shots.  BLACK & WHITE.  Since I’d been to London before and had my goals in mind….I knew that these pictures were not going to be like Chip’s posts from Mexico. (Which are beautiful and just full of gorgeous, vibrant colors….If you haven’t seen them, go check ‘em out….leave a comment and come on back, I’ll wait.)

….

Most of these shots were processed in black and white, but I left some in color too.

I want to start off with my shots of 30 St. Mary Axe, also know as the Gherkin.

I used the Gherkin as a landmark.  It was a very short walk from my hotel to the Gherkin, so as long as I could see it, I didn’t feel lost.

As I was walking away from 30 St. Mary Axe, I happened to turn around….this is what I saw.

I found out later (thanks to a sketchbook given to me by our London office, thanks again London office!) that’s Lloyd’s of London.

The majority of this part of my shooting day actually came before I went into Westminster and shot the “touristy” stuff….so I’ll try and keep things in order as I walked around….but no promises.

This next picture is of the outside of the building of my former employers London office….nothing like intimidation to keep the clients IN or would it be OUT?

These are the columns of the Bank of England.  The building in the background is where my current job’s London office is.  They also filmed the bank scenes from Mary Poppins in our building!

I loved all of the little alleyways and side-streets.

So much to see and shoot.

Behind me was a flea market, but the more intersting stuff was across the street.

I love the couple in the next picture. 

Remember, I said MOSTLY black & whites….this one had to be in color!

This pigeon was at St. Paul’s

I couldn’t leave London without an “Underground” picture.

I really do love London….I think it’s such a great city.

I already have goals for the next trip!  Can you say Arsenal Football (Soccer) & Stonehenge?!? I knew you could!!

The week after I went to Dubai, I was in London.

I had 2 ½ days of free time in London….which was awesome!

The first day I was there was a ½ day, only because of my jet lag….but I was able to have lunch with a good friend! (That was Friday)

Saturday it rained ALL DAY LONG!

Sunday was B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! Absolutely beautiful!!

I ended up walking and shooting around London & Westminster for 7 HOURS! Sure my legs hurt later that night, but it was sooooo worth it! It was AMAZING!!

Instead of posting ONE BIG, HUGE blog with over 50 images….I broke it in half. One post with the touristy sights of London and one of the streets of London.

I walked past these 2 phone booths everyday on my way to the office.

After wandering the streets of the City of London, I found myself in familiar territory. I’ve been to London before (with the Wife), although it was more than 6 years ago….but there in front of me was St. Paul’s.

Then I hopped on a double decker tour bus bound for the Tower of London. I love the Tower….so much history. Most of us “Yanks” know the bloody side of the Tower of London.

But did you know:

1. That it has also been used as a zoo (of sorts).
2. It was a palace.
3. Most of the 35 “Beefeaters” and their families still live at the Tower.
4. In 1662, a goldsmith named John Barkstead supposedly hid more that $40,000 in stolen gold somewhere on the Tower grounds and it still hasn’t been found!
5. It’s HAUNTED!

• Queen Anne Boleyn is said to wander the grounds without her head!!
• One building is believed to be so haunted that dogs refuse to enter!

**These facts taken from National Geographic Kids, February 2009.

Next to the Tower of London is Tower Bridge….this is NOT London Bridge.

After shooting and walking around, I got back on a tour bus towards Big Ben.

My grandparents, who are both from the U.K., and took me on my first trip to England & Scotland when I was 11. That trip was very memorable for me. It was all about visiting family and seeing where my family came from with some cool castles thrown in. We didn’t make it down to London on that trip, but when I showed this next picture to my Grandmother, the first thing she said was….”Ahhhh, Benjamin!”

Big Ben now has a new name in my book….Benjamin.

Next up, and across the street was Westminster Abbey.

Then I walked through St. James’s Park to Buckingham Palace

From there I walked up to Piccadilly Circus and on to Trafalgar Square.

While I was waiting for the tour bus to head back to St. Paul’s, I saw this sign….Who knew?

Finally, on the tour bus, I sat on the upper deck and grabbed these shots.

The City of London

My personal favorite….the London Eye

During the week of Thanksgiving the family and I went back to California to spend time with friends and family (”Shout Out” to Norwood for meeting me at Starbucks and to Rah, Kirk and Nick for lunch).

One of the things we wanted to do while we were back in Cali was (of course) go to Disneyland.

Being from SoCal, both the Wife and I have been to Disneyland countless times, but Loo has only been once before and Goog has never been.  So we got together with the Wife’s brother and sister and their little families and we went up to the Magic Kingdom.

The Wife, Loo, Goog & I got there early so we could go to Minnie’s Breakfast in the Park.

I didn’t bring my “Big Boy Camera”, but I was able to borrow my sister-in-law’s point and shoot….red eye is free of charge on this blog post!

Now before we start, let’s play a game….you can pretend that you’re me taking these pictures.  Here’s what I want you to say before you look at most of these pictures….

“Goog, look at me.  Look at the camera.”

We’ll start outside the park….on the Mickey Mouse head benches!

We switched positions, but still not looking.

One of the cool things about these Disney breakfasts is that the characters come visit you at your table.  While the Wife & Loo were getting their morning grub, Minnie was the first character to come and visit us.

This next picture is HILARIOUS to me….

Here’s Loo and I.

The Mickey Mouse waffles were sooooo good….I swear they were infused with butter!

Don’t be distracted by the waffles.  Remember the game.

Then Winnie the Pooh stopped by, still not looking at the camera though.

Still not looking….even when one of the penguins from Mary Poppins came to see us.

Loo isn’t camera shy….not at all.

The wife and Goog….I can’t even put into words how funny (and frustrating) it is to me, that one of my daughters won’t look at the camera.

Minnie came back around to visit both the girls.

Tigger was AWESOME!

It was kinda cool to see a Lightsphere being used by other than us wedding photographers.

The family in front of Walt & Mickey.

The Wife & Sister Kai.

Here’s Kai’s youngest daughter, looks like she’s having a good time, huh?

Loo has loved riding carousel’s her entire life.

Goog loves carousel’s too, just doesn’t like looking into the camera!!

OK, Goog….Look over here….Look at me!

FINALLY!!  There’s that smile!

All my ladies!

Sister Kai’s oldest daughter.

Auntie Jackie and her little one!

Here’s 10-E and his niece!

Kai’s husband, Uncle Jesse.

Outside of the Winnie the Pooh ride….

Funny faces on the canoe ride.

Too bad Kai didn’t know what they were doing behind her back.

The siblings.

….and the not siblings! (Minus Uncle Jesse who was watching the little ones while we rode the Indiana Jones ride. Thanks Jesse.)

Red eye for everyone!

Since the guys were outnumbered 8 - 3, we had to go to the Princess Fantasy Faire! 

There were crowns and coloring….story-time too!

There was also a coronation ceremony.

We waited in line to get pictures with some of the princesses too!  Here’s the girls with Aurora.

Next up….Cinderella!  Goog was very excited to see her!

Last, but not least, Mulan!

Poor Aurora was waiting for her shift change and was looking pretty lonely all by herself, so I slid over on the bench next to her and asked for a picture of my own!!

It’s a Small World….all lit up for Christmas.

One of our last rides of the night was Dumbo.

Here’s how this picture happened….”Hey Goog….let’s take a picture….Ready!?!”

I don’t have any pictures of it, but while the Wife went to ride a “Big Kid” ride, I took Loo & Goog to see the Enchanted Tiki Room (YouTube link).  Like I said above, I’ve been to Disneyland more times than I can count….BUT, I’ve only been to the Tiki Room once.  So the Wife is “selling” the magic and wonder of the Tiki Room….While we were waiting to enter the show, Loo turns to me and says, “Daddy, when is the magical fun of the Tiki Room gonna start??”  I couldn’t help but smile….”Soon, sweetie. Soon.”

As we were walking out….Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.

My 2 Front Teeth!

I know it’s a little late for that, but she did actually loose her second front tooth about a week before Christmas.

I’m not 100% sure, but I think this is her best vampire impersonation.

….of course you know I don’t like to post one without posting the other.

Chip & I were at Ashton Gardens for Vicky & Robert’s big day. They had some great weather and both Vicky & Robert were awesome to hang out with!

Here’s some of how Chip & I saw their special day: