Where To See Popular, Traditional, Modern, Serious, Humorous, and Minority Interest Statues And Monuments

Mr Bean at Leicester Square.
 

Popular Statues

Mr Bean is not a has-been. His videos are loved worldwide. In Singapore when I was teaching my pupils loved videos of him attempting to cheat in exams.

UK Royalty

In the UK statues of Royalty and peers are in London, Nelson's Column in Traflagar Square, Piccadilly, and inside and outside cathedrals and city squares. 

UK Royalty Worldwide

Queen Victoria's statue is in squares worldwide.

Kings, Queens and Bishops are in central squares. Royalty and Presidents are outside Parliament buildings.

Belgium

Famous mythological characters and animals, cherubs and children include Belgium's Mannekin Pis.

Outside parliament and municipal buildings you will find city founders.

Jewish, Spain & Arabic Maimonides

The seated statue of Maimonides commemorates the writer of The Guide For The Perplexed. Maimonides was Jewish, but wrote in Arabic. He left Christian Spain and became the revered physician for a Moslem ruler. He is revered by Arabs and Moslems in several countries as well as by Jews.

Moslem India & The Taj Mahal

Because of the taboo against worshipping statues in the bible, Islamic countries and those with Islamic rulers and communities do not have statues. Instead they have buildings and monuments named after those they wish to commemorate. For example, the Taj Mahal, built by the widower to commemorate his beloved wife in India.

The USA and Pocahontas

The Reason For The Eight Lights and Fewer On the Hanukiahs worldwide

Mincemeat tart with pastry forming a six point star, at John Lewis, Brent Cross shopping centre.

Singapore Hanukah Lights

I remember seeing a giant Hanukiah in central Orchard Road in Singapore. Only three candles were lit. I thought, 'What a shame. They have spent a lot of money making that lovely sculpture, monument, and the electrics have failed.'

I did not realise that it was the third day of Hanukah so three lights are lit. I discovered this when a girl from London arrived to stay and she had brought with her a candelabra, a candle holder, and a set of candles, which she left with me as a gift.

London Lights For Hanukah

 In Central London the best known location is Trafalgar Square. It has the largest Hanukiah in Europe. The lights are lit up from the first day of Hanukah, on December 14 until the last day, eight days later, Dec 22.

 Hanukah is a Jewish festival, celebrating the lighting of the candles in the temple in Jerusalem, when Jews were able to rededicate the temple after the Roman leader had tried to install Roman Gods. The story goes that there was not enough pure oil, the Romans had sacrificed a pig, deliberately to desecrate the temple. I don't know why it was so difficult to get a supply of oil. However, it seems that it took eight days, but the little oil they had which should have lasted only one day, lasted eight days, a miracle.

The Candles of  Hanukiah

The festival is also called the Festival of Lights. On the first day, one candle is lit, using a second helper candle. One the second day a second candle, total three. Until on the last day all eight are lit, nine if you count the helper candle.

Sets of Candles

If you buy hanukiah and a set of candles, you will have a box of 44 candles. Not just eight. Why so many? I automatically tried to add them up, 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8, plus 8 more for the central, more rarely on the side, candle used to light the others. The usual way of counting is starting with two on day one, the first candle and the helper candle, called a shamach. 1+1=2,  ... 8+1=9.

Oil Based Food

In synagogues and other places where celebrations are held. oil based food, usually donuts, is served. Greeting cards will show oil and oil based food.

 Often children are supplied with kits to make a hanukiah during the 8 days, on the first day. You may have to go early and sign up in advance, because the number of kits may depend on the budget for the number of children expected.

Did Jesus Celebrate Hanukah?

Yes. Jesus celebrated the festival, the Feast of Dedication, as it was then called, as recorded in the New Testament in the gospel of John 10.22.

Useful Websites About Hanukah

Wikipedia Hanukah

Haukah candles

Hanukah history

Update on Dec 15 2025

https://www.thetimes.com/world/australasia/article/sydney-shooting-antisemitism-attack-jewish-holiday-chanukkah-zkk6dvt7d

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Nelson's Column, Trafalgar Square, London

 

Nelson's column. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

You can photograph Nelson's column on every visit you make to Trafalgar Square and get different pictures. Night and day, sun and rain, summer and winter, crowded, and deserted. What do we see here?

Glamour Or Realism? Good or bad?

I took this picture walking away from Trafalgar Square, Unfortunately, the glamour of the column was spoiled by a plebian, workmanlike lorry. (Lorry is what we call it in England, Americans say say truck. However, the vehicle adds realism. It's different from my usual pictures of Trafalgar Square with statues and crowds of tourists. 

Spy the Season

Look closely, making the picture larger. Be a picture detective. You know the season because you can see the leaves on the spring into summer trees in April. 

Britain and England 

It is Britain. England. You can tell by the traffic lights, the red phone box. 

London

It is London. You can tell by the rack of bikes for hire. The double yellow painted lines on the edge of the pavement. The fancy decoration on the lamp post base on the right of the picture. 

It is 21st century, the tourist waring blue jeans and white trainers and a hooded jacket. It is a picture of its time. Totally different from the same scene ten years earlier, ten years later, and in the nineteen forties. 

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Hanukah symbols and where to see them - eg Trafalgar Square, London, or buy them

A hanukiah with eight branches and coloured candles and the six point Star of David.

Hanukah dates vary from year to year because the Jewish calendar is like the Muslim calendar and does not follow the reformed gregorian calendar which attempted to ensure that dates from more uniform from one year to the next and kept in tune with the seasons, but instead with the phases of the moon. This year, 2022, the eight day Jewish festival of lights, Hanukah, starts on the evening of Sunday December 18th and ends on December 26th which is Boxing Day in the UK and several other countries, or in the Christian calendar, St Stephen's Day.

In the UK the newspapers showed King Charles III of England visiting a Jewish community centre JW3 in London, and dancing the hora with Anne Frank's posthumous stepsister, just before Hanukah. King Charles III was presented with a hanukiah. 

If you look at Wikipedia you will see US Presidents with hanukiahs and rabbis.

Hanukiah

The hanukiah is the nine branch candlestick, a candle for each of the eight nights, plus the 

The most familiar symbol is the hanukiah. 

Jerusalem, hanukiah at the Wailing Wall. 

Other hanukah symbols are the dreidl, a spinning top, and chocolate coins covered in gold foil, called Hanukah gelt (German or yiddish for gold or money). Both are gifts for children, or adults.

Hanukah gelt, coins of chocolate covered in gold foil.

Food For The Festival of Light

Food with oil reflects the story of the miracle of the oil which burned for eight days, when it looked like there was only enough oil for one. Food using oil starts with the savoury latkes or grated potato, fried in oil. I like to eat latkes in the UK at Jewish style deliatessens such as B & K in Hatch End.

For desserts or snacks, you can enjoy jam doughnuts. (Americans call jam as jelly. What the British call jelly, the Americans describe by the brand name, Jello.)

Jam doughnuts, cooked in oil for hanukah.

When I was visited by an Orthodox Jewish person they brought with them a hanukiah as a gift which they lit during the 8 days of hanukah. 

Candles

They brought the 44 candles you need. Why so many? One day one, you light the servant candle, the highest one, as well as the first candle. On day two, the servant candle and two candles, which makes 3. Add them all up until the last day and it makes 44 candles. Yes. Try it.. The numbers are 2,3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, which adds up to 44. 

Around hanukah, time the Jewish shops either sells the hanukiah with the candles, or remind you to buy the set of candles.

Expect to find all these items either in a supermarket in an area likely to have Jewish customers and Jewish communities or community centres or public buildings which celebrate the holidays of all religions. In Singapore the 9 recognized religions are recognized and the Jewish community sponsors giant hanukiahs, as the plaques below will tell you.

You can buy tee-shirts with hanukah symbols and messages, other garments, and baubles for a hanukah bush.

The Hanukah Bush

Hanukah Socks

Instead of a red large sock for Santa to fill, for Hanukah there are blue socks.

I was researching for my speech on Christmas, Hanukah and Chrismukah for Toastmasters International clubs which I belong to, including Braddell Heights Advanced, and Singapore Online Dynamic, and Tampines Changkat Advanced. I added two blog posts on the subject on travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com I discovered that there was a hanukiah on Traflagar Square, and the England's King Charles III in London was given a hanukiah in London where he visited a Jewish community centre and danced the hora with Anne Frank's posthumous sister. (After WW2 ended, Anne Frank's father moved from Holland to England, lived around the corner from me in Edgware, which I only learned years later. He married another survivor whose daughter is still alive.)

Where to see a hanukiah>

ISRAEL

Jerusalem, wailing wall.

Jersusalem, windows in the Hadasseh hospital.

In public places, buildings and squares. In the windows of homes. On dinner tables at dusk.

USA

In New York, in public places and Jewish museums, synagogues, and homes.

UK

In Trafalgar Square, London. 

Public places such as Edgware and Golders Green. 

Menorah outside Edgware station, Middlesex, NW London, England, UK.

Supermarkets in Golders Green and Hendon.

ASIA

Displayed at the Singapore synagogue in Waterloo street. In previous years they had one in Orchard Road.

WORLDWIDE

Jewish museums in many countries including Australia and South Africa, and Europe.

A Toastmasters club poster.

A neutral greeting encompassing everybody is Happy Holidays.

Here is a greeting from a Toastmasters International speakers' club.

Useful Websites

https://www.judaicawebstore.co.uk/hanukkah-candles---rainbow

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hanukkah-Ornaments-Chanukah-Supplies-Decorations/dp

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hanukiah-Judaica-Holyland-Menorah-Hanukkah/dp/B00GC48E6K/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1XC756GF648S2&keywords=hanukiah&qid=1671293365&sprefix=hanukia%2Caps%2C132&sr=8-3

UK

https://www.london.gov.uk/events/menorah-2022-trafalgar-square

Updates

https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/all-light-on-the-night-hundreds-flock-to-trafalgar-square-for-chanukah/

You can look inside the book by Eva Schloss on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/After-Auschwitz-heartbreak-survival-stepsister/dp/1444760718/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1671295570&refinements=p_27%3AEva+Schloss&s=books&sr=1-1

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Trafalgar Square Tree & Lights At Night 2022

 

Trafalgar Square Tree and lights at night, December 2022. Photo by Trevor Sharot.

Trafalgar Square in London is named after the Battle of Trafalgar.

Trafalgar Square is in the City of Westminster, Central London, laid out in the early 19th century around the area formerly known as Charing Cross, which is the underground railway station with exits across the road from the square.

I have rewritten an article from Wikipedia with deletions and additions.

:

 At its centre is a high column bearing a statue of Admiral Nelson commemorating the victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. The battle of 21 October 1805, established the British navy's dominance at sea in the Napoleonic Wars over the fleets of France and Spain.

. For centuries, distances measured from Charing Cross have served as location markers. The 169-foot (52 m) Nelson's Column at its centre is guarded by four lion statues. A number of commemorative statues and sculptures occupy the square, but the Fourth Plinth, left empty since 1840, has been host to contemporary art since 1999. Prominent buildings facing the square include the National Gallery, St Martin-in-the-Fields, Canada House, and South Africa House.

The square has been used for community gatherings, carol singing, and political demonstrations, and campaigns against climate change. 

A Christmas tree has been donated to the square by Norway since 1947 and is erected for twelve days before and after Christmas Day. The square is a centre of annual celebrations on New Year's Eve. 

The National Portrait Gallery is near the National Gallery of art.

Useful Websites

Travel - transport for London

Maps  - google maps and street view

History

Wikipedia

galleries - National Gallery. National Portrait Gallery.

Nearby Pubs include The Sherlock Holmes.

Where next? Walk west to Buckingham Palace.

Walk south to the Thames and see the London Eye lit at night. (By Embankment station).

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Filling Food And English Apple Crumble at the Civil Service Club - and postage stamp UK artwork of a red phone box

Civil Service Club entrance. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

How To Go There

The Civil Service club has 12.000 members and a great location within walking distance of Trafalgar Square and near central London underground train stations. If you know anybody who is a member, and the chances are that you do, you can get an invitation. 

We went to the club for a food and wine dinner organized by Central London Wine Society. We were in the main dining room at a T shaped table. The reasonably priced menu offered large portions, we already knew. The wine group meets there regularly. I know the venue well because I have also been there several times over a decade. I went there for events such as an annual Christmas dinner organized by a member who belongs to a writers' circle. He is also a member of a Toastmasters International group which meets in outer London. 

You sign in at the reception which has a sanitizer dispenser, and an orchid. Before ticking my name on the guest list, I took a photo of it on my mobile phone. That way I could check on the names of fellow guests. 

Before the meal started, we were each served a hot white roll covered with poppy seeds. The butter melted into it. Delicious. We went without ordering starters because we wanted to leave room for desserts.

I recommend the steak pie. Big portion of juicy steak. Three of us liked it.

My husband ordered it and I tried it. We always order different food and swap. The steak pie came with more vegetables, carrots, cauliflower, green beans, broccoli. He chose mashed potatoes, included in the price. My salmon came with a bed of spinach. I asked for chips, included in the price. 

BBQ sauce and a white cuff stain

I usually take the precaution of wearing brown or black when I go out to dinner. This time my outfit had a black bodice - but white cuffs. Big mistake. My lovely white silk cuffs have a brown mark. 

I tried washing, soap, cold water, hot water. No luck. Silk is too delicate for me to risk bleach.

I could cut out the stained part and sew up the hole. No. I could just sew around the stain. Maybe. I could sew on a sequin.

Grilled Salmon - Not again

I saw the word salmon and thought, what could go wrong. I missed the word grilled. That is what went wrong. Part of the joy of salmon is that it is a juicy fish. Hard and tasteless when grilled or over grilled. I won't have that again. I wrote it up on Tripadvisor to be able to locate my last visit in a hurry, next time, and check what to avoid ordering. If you are happy with a cold main course, have the cheese platter, which includes grapes. Eat the grapes second for dessert. Or indulge in a hot dessert.

Apple crumble. With custard. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Dessert - Apple Crumble - Yes, definitely

I like a hot dessert, not ice cream. I chose apple crumble. I also chose custard rather than ice cream to go with my apple crumble. The French call custard creme anglaise. Yes, it is not something you see a lot in France.

Yes, good apple crumble. Not the tops. But good enough. One of the joys of the UK. I can't say I have ever had apple crumble in the USA or Singapore or elsewhere. 

Toilets - Your choice

The toilets are upstairs from the main restaurant. (On the same level as some of the private rooms.) A steep staircase. With a wooden tubular hand rail. If you are ultra careful about Covid you might consider when to wash your hands, or wear gloves, or take a disposable wipe, or not drink so much that you feel unsteady on steep stairs.

Two cubicles. The good thing about the toilet was the moisturizer.

If you don't want to use the stairs, on the ground floor by the bar are more toilets, a larger area.

Make sure to see the downstairs bar indoors, not just the outside seating, because of the pictures, created from what look like tiny postage stamps from close-up. From a distance you see three classic views, the circle symbol of the London undergrounds, a red classic telephone box.

Brilliant Bar Picture

Accommodation

Yes, there is accommodation, and very conveniently placed.

Useful Website

https://www.civilserviceclub.org.uk/Membership/Ordinary_Member_Form/accomodation_2021_screen.aspx

White Christmas? Lights & Sleigh Rides? Novelty Christmas Street Lights In Singapore and Xmas Lights Around The World

Orchard Road Xmas lights by Tanglin Mall (right) in December 2019. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

This photo was taken from a moving bus through the closed window. This year's novelty Christmas lights idea is to show piled up parcels forming a triangular tree shape topped by a star.

To the right of the picture is Tanglin Mall.

Where have I seen the best lights?


Flag of Singapore

SINGAPORE
1 Orchard Road, Singapore, especially the corner of Orchard Road where it meets Scotts Road.
Also see all the
Shopping malls,
Hotels,especially the big hotels. The high atriums are in the hotels around the Suntec fountain.
Community Clubs


Flag of the United Kingdom. Yes, still united in December 2019.

UK
First stop is right in the centre of London.

Regent Street Light. London, England, especially both ends of Regent Street. At one end is Piccadilly Circus. At the other end is Hamleys Department store and Oxford Street at Oxford Circus.

More lights adorn Selfridges department store windows and columns in Oxford Street.

Another must see is the grand Harrods in Knightsbridge.

The out of London shopping malls near London include the famous big malls and the one at Watford.

Previous year's lights in Watford, London, England. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Watford mall interior lights. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Coprytight.

London
Trafalgar Square
See the big tree donated to the UK from Norway every year in gratitude for help in WWII.

USA
New York
In New York and other big cities sometimes an upright oblong skyscraper is decorated like a giant parcel with strings of lights up the centre suggesting ribbon and a bow.New York and Washington DC can be cold in winter (and sweltering in summer).

Xmas tree in front of Rockefeller Centre, New York. From Wikipedia.

Outside the cities in a countryside hotel we took a Xmas sleigh ride on Xmas Day or the day before or after, at the Snowed Inn, Utah.

Florida
Many malls compete to provide selfie spaces. Santa grottoes in the USA and UK malls with photo opportunities and usually for a fee a chance of a photo with Santa and a toy

One year the powers that be in a city in the USA offered a prize for the best prepared Xmas lights. Apparently this is done in many places in the USA. This is a bit like Britain in Bloom, offers prizes for the best summer flowers in gardens in the UK. Local papers take pictures in the lead up.


Finland
Finally, Finland has Santa villages and Elves and you can book a holiday featuring Santa Claus and reindeer, models and real reindeer.



Useful Websites
https://www.snowedinnsleigh.com/
https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Attraction_Review-g57097-d11710338-Reviews-Park_City_Sleigh_Rides-Park_City_Utah.html

britishairways.com

https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/partners-and-alliances/oneworld/frequent-flyer-benefits

https://www.finnair.com/gb/gb/plus

laplandsafaris.com

http://www.levi.fi/en/enjoy-levi/services/clothing-store-shopporo.html

(Pictures on Tripadvisor and Instagram.)

For comparisons see

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Search?geo=189896&q=santa#&ssrc=a&o=0

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/finland/articles/Visiting-Father-Christmas-in-Lapland/

I saw an ad for this comparison website:
https://www.clicktripz.com/rates/search/

About the Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts. If you wish to share any posts or photo or be a guest blogger or to have me as a guest blogger please contact me on annalondon8@gmail.com

Christmas Lights in Trafalgar Square, Regent Street and Carnaby Street, London

Problem

I have London friends and family going to Edinburgh, Scotland or Singapore, whilst my Singaporean friends are coming to London. What will visitors to London see? What will visitors to Singapore see?

London: Trafalgar Square fountains and the Norway spruce tree, given in gratitude for help in wartime (WWII). Underneath carol singers gather and sing and collect money for charity. Photo from Wikipedia.

Lights in London, 2017 and the red London buses. Photo by Trevor Sharot.

Lights in London. Photo by Trevor Sharot.

Where Oxford Street and Regent Street meet, look for pedestrianised Carnaby Street.

Lights in Carnaby Street. Photo by Trevor Sharot.

Top Ten places to spend Christmas? Santas, Elves, Mangers, Trees or BBQ on the Beach?

Christmas street Lights in London, England. 2106. Photo by Trevor Sharot.

Problem
Where do I go for Christmas?
Nazareth? Maybe save a trip to the Middle East for Easter. 'I'm dreaming of a White Christmas.'

Answers
Christmas themes and traditions

1 Assissi in Italy
- 'away in a manger',  birthplace and burial place of St Francis of Assisi. Midnight mass in a Cathedral.
Assissi and the Vatican too busy? Come to Perugia, and Umbria, says the tourist board.

2 London, England -
 Carol singing under the Norway spruce and stars at Trafalgar Square. Pantomimes in theatres in the warm. Lights in Regent Street and Oxford Street. Window displays at Selfridges, Harrods and Hamleys.

London, England. Trafalgar Square with tree and illuminated fountain. Wikipedia.

London Street lights. 2017. Photo by Trevor Sharot.

3 America -
For giant scenes of Santas galloping in neon lights across rooftops; and skyscrapers lit like candles and parcels. Go north towards Canada, New York, Washington DC, for springtime snow. Go south to Florida for warmth.

Ohio, USA. Photo from Wikipedia.

4 Santas' grotto in Finland.
5 Singapore -
Every shopping mall is lit from floor to ceiling. So are the atriums of skyscraper hotels.
6 Elves Hideaway
in Finland.

Elves Hideaway, Finland. Photo courtesy of the company.

Get Away From It All Christmas

7 Spain,
Europe for a quieter Christmas in December - celebrating Jan 6
8 Russia -
celebrating Grandfather Frost.
9 Scotland -
More fuss over New Year in Edinburgh.
10 Australia -
For guaranteed warm weather on the opposite side of the globe, BBQ by pool or beach.

Finally, home sweet home, in your own home or a holiday hotel suite. Celebrate and watch the Queen's speech; or celebrate not having to work and write your memoirs or great novel, fast instead of feast and ignore the frenzy.

Those who are not Christian, such as Orthodox Jews, often offer to take over in hospitals so that Christian hospital staff can spend Christmas Day with their own families. It was a source of surprise and amusement to me to learn that the Santa in costume visiting sick children in hospital in London's East End on Christmas Day is often an Orthodox Jew performing a mitzvah (good deed). Now the Moslems and Hindus, agnostics and atheists can offer their services.

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
See my other travel blog:
http://luxurytravelforless.co.uk

Night Bus from London's Trafalgar Square to Edgware - wear white at night

Problem

How do you get home at night in London?

Answer

A night bus.

A bus service, Route N5, runs from Trafalgar Square to Edgware.

The stops are:

Edgware - bus station 

Burnt Oak, 

Colindale, 

Hendon Central Station, 

Golders Green - bus station

(then Hampstead, Camden Town,

Leicester Square Station

(more or less along the Northern line train directions)

Trafalgar Square - for Charing Cross Station

Here's a list of stops in both directions:

Route record

Edgware - Colindale - Hendon - Golders Green - Hampstead - Camden Town - Trafalgar Square 
Edgware Bus Station - Station Road - High Street Edgware - Burnt Oak Broadway - Watling Avenue - Montrose Avenue - Lanacre Avenue - Grahame Park Way - Colindale Avenue - Edgware Road - The Hyde - The Broadway - West Hendon - Herbert Road - Wilberforce Road - Station Road - Vivian Avenue - Hendon Central Station - Queens Road - Brent Street - Golders Green Road - Golders Green Station Bus Station - North End Road - North End Way - Heath Street - Hampstead High Street - Rosslyn Hill - Haverstock Hill - Chalk Farm Road - Castlehaven Road - Hawley Road - Kentish Town Road - Camden Town - Bayham Street - Crowndale Road - Eversholt Street - Euston Square - Euston - Euston Road - Gower Street - Bedford Square - Bloomsbury Street - Shaftesbury Avenue - Charing Cross Road - Leicester Square Station - Charing Cross Road - St Martins Place - Trafalgar SquareWhitehall (for Charing Cross Station)

Trafalgar Square - Camden Town - Hampstead - Golders Green - Hendon - Colindale - Edgware 
Trafalgar Square East Side (for Charing Cross Station) - St Martins Place - Charing Cross Road - Leicester Square Station - Charing Cross Road -Tottenham Court Road Station - Tottenham Court Road - Euston Road - Euston - Euston Square - Eversholt Street - Camden High Street - Camden Town- Chalk Farm Road - Haverstock Hill - Rosslyn Hill - Hampstead High Street - Heath Street - North End Way - North End Road - Golders Green Station - Golders Green Road - Brent Street - Queens Road - Hendon Central Station - Vivian Avenue - Station Road - West Hendon - The Broadway - The Hyde - Edgware Road - Colindale Avenue - Grahame Park Way - Lanacre Avenue - Montrose Avenue - Watling Avenue - Burnt Oak Broadway - High Street Edgware - Station Road - Edgware Bus Station.

You need to go to their page to check out the times and the bank holidays when they run more or fewer or no buses.

Night Time Safety Tips

What can you do to be safe from traffic when walking around at night? The nights are light and long in London in summer. But still remember to wear white at night. Then the traffic can see you. Stay safe.

I looked up the origin of the phrase 'Wear white at night' which I was sure came from a British road safety campaign. On YouTube I found two videos. One from 2015 gave the shocking figures that nearly 400,000 were killed on the roads, 200,00 thousand children killed or seriously injured after dusk.

An earlier film was from the 1970s or 80s. What could that tell me and you? It suggested that if you were not wearing white, you could carry a newspaper.

Tips

http://www.londonbusroutes.net/times/N005.htm

Author 

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

KEEPING COOL: FAVOURITE FOUNTAINS AND WATERSIDE WALKS WORLDWIDE

Giant Fountain Depicting a Boat in Hays Galleria, London, England. Photo by Angela Lansbury, copyright.

Hays Galleria, London, England

 One side of the open sided but roofed Galleria opens onto a busy road and nearby railway station, whilst the other side open onto the riverside. These buildings were once the dockside warehouses, now redeveloped.

Problem
I love water. Maybe it's because I'm a Pisces. Most people like watching fountains, or taking waterside walks. If you don't like nature (I have one friend who told me she doesn't) you can watch fountains in a shopping mall by day, or lit up changing colour at night. Where can you to go to see fountains? Or walk beside the water? Or take a houseboat.

Answer
London, England; Italy in Europe; Las Vegas in the USA; Singapore; or Russia. These are the places where I have seen the best fountains. But for waterside walks, Cambodia.

My favourites are:

UK
Everybody's favourites are the fountains in London. Trafalgar Square is the best known. In many fountains it is forbidden to jump into the water.

ITALY
The famous Trevi fountain in Rome.

Fountain at Bugis shopping area in Singapore. Photo by Angela Lansbury.Copyright.

SINGAPORE
The famous and largest fountain is the fountain of wealth in the business district of the city state.

OUTDOOR FOUNTAINS WHICH WILL COOL YOU
But I enjoy the jumping fountains which children can run between for a laugh. Such fun. I love the ones that are lots of small knee high pencils of water you can get up close and run between. You find them in busy, popular places.

WATERSIDE WALKS
My favourite - Cambodia.

INDOOR FOUNTAINS IN HOTELS
Singapore has several hotels with dramatic waterfalls or stepped and floodlit fountains.

Floodlit fountains in Sheraton Towers Hotel, Singapore, near Newton MRT underground railway station. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright. 

LAKESIDE HOLIDAYS
America - just look at the map and pick your favourites. Canada. America. River rafting. Kayaking.
New Zealand. I went on rafting

THEME PARKS
A recent accident caused a ride and later the whole park to close for several days in the UK. One accident was when a girl stood up to change seats. Another was when a group of lads did not stay sitting but stood up for excitement and when the raft hit an obstacle and jolted he was thrown out. Stay seated and stay safe.

HOUSEBOATS
My favourites were in the USA. The scariest boat trips? In the deep south, such as the Everglades, with warning to to throw food which attracts crocodiles. Great for photos but not for safety. So many films evoke the joys and dangers of the waters in America.

If you can't get out and travel, travel with your walking fingers on your computer keyboard. Stay home and watch a romantic film or a horror movie.

WATCHING YACHTS
Colourful yacht races and regattas. Thames river in England. Southern England. New Zealand. California beaches and boardwalk: LA beaches and ship tour; Big Sur; Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco. Marinas.

TOURING SHIPS
For historians and tourists:

• Pearl Harbour.
• Ship tour of Queen Mary, Los Angeles, California, USA. 

If you haven't the time or opportunity to go inside the great cruise liner, see the impressive outside for a selfie. Good to end on a jollier note. It's very cool, in the metaphorical sense of the word.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer. I have several posts about the bridges and boats in Singapore and the water walk through a lake in Cambodia near Ankor Wat which was voted the top site int he world. Please share links to my posts.

Night buses, worldwide, especially from Piccadilly and Trafalgar Square

Piccadilly and Trafalgar Square are near each other. In Piccadilly underground station you can see a poster telling you about the night buses. It's worthwhile noting the numbers and times in the back of your diary, and on the day you'll need the buses, such as New Year's Eve. You will want to note the website for updates.

I was in a hurry so I gook a picture of the poster which I could check later. I also have it on my phone so if I am at a restaurant or bar or cafe and want to check I have it handy.

If you are planning to spend Christmas and New Year in another city, it might be worth your while to think where you will be spending Christmas and New Year and how to get back to your home or hotel.

I would rather do it now when I have time. (And later you might be jet lagged or have had a late night or a hangover.)

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Trafalgar Square and the Twelve Days of Christmas

Christmas Tree to see in Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square in London always has a Christmas tree, a Norway spruce sent to England from Norway, a custom started the Christmas after the end of WWII as thanks to Britain for supporting Norway.

Why Is the Tree In Trafalgar Square?
Why not Piccadilly, centre of London? Whilst Piccadilly with its statue of eros, god of love, stands at the start of Shaftesbury Avenue, at the lower end of Regent Street, famous for fine shops and toy store Hamlets, Trafalgar Square is an open space where you have room for pedestrians to gather and happy crowds to sing carols. You can stand under Nelson's column, near the National Portrait gallery featuring famous heroes and heroines of Britain and the world.

Even if you cannot visit Trafalgar Square at Christmas, as an armchair traveller, book reader, news reader, shopper, or TV news follower you will see Trafalgar Square in countless souvenirs and pictures and news events.

Why is Trafalgar Square Called That?
Trafalgar Square is named after the Battle of Trafalgar. Where is Trafalgar? The column supports the statue of Nelson, famous for sending the message, 'England expects every man to do his duty'.

How do I know this? I learned all about the message at a museum in Wales, and later I remind myself by checking up on the internet. This easy to remember message and its history is a reminder to keep things simple. Nelson was going to use a longer words but the man sending the message from ship to ship with flags in a hurry needed s simpler message with fewer letters.

Christmas Carols
One of the Christmas carols most useful to people learning English is the twelve days of Christmas.
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me: a partridge in a pear tree.

Learning and Teaching English Through Songs
Using The Twelve Days of Christmas:
You learn (or teach) both the simple cardinal or quantity numbers: one, two, three, and the ordinal or order numbers, such as first day of Christmas.

You also learn (or teach) me and my.  My true love gave to me ...

Guide to Stars:
***** Cross the world to see this. Major attraction or landmark in major city.
**** Divert to this city to see it. Major city and major attraction
*** Stop at this city if en route. Top of the list of attractions in this great/small city or town.
** Major site in this city, town, suburb.
* Quirky little thing. If you happen to be nearby, have a look.

Travel Visit Checklist
***** 1 England: Trafalgar Square, London (See Nelson's column)
*** 2 Wales : The Monmouth Museum or The Nelson Museum about Nelson
* 3 Finsbury Square fountain.

http://www.uncoverdiscover.com/facts/the-worlds-10-most-famous-christmas-trees/moscow-russia/

http://www.hellomagazine.com/travel/gallery/2013112815880/top-ten-christmas-trees-in-the-world/1/

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Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, English teacher, author, speaker.

Travel Affected By Terrorism: Places Closed; Events Cancelled; Vigils Planned; Lights Lit; Travel Cancelled

Terrorist attacks in Paris on the evening of Friday 13th November 2015 have sent ripple effects to other countries. That always happens.

FRANCE
Paris
Closure of the stadium and restaurants and nearby roads condoned off. Lights on the Eiffel tower turned off on Friday 13th and Eiffel Tower closed.
Bars shut. Curfew Saturday evening. Disney, Paris region, closed.

Borders and Transport into France
Delays caused by high security, extra checks at airports and borders.

Red, white and blue lights from the Charlie Hebdo event were put up on YouTube.
Signs JeSuisParis on banners.
Hashtag PorteOuverte on Twitter offering refuge to those who were stranded or needed a refuge.

BELGIUM
Travellers asked not to travel to Paris. Some streets were blocked while raids were made by police.

GERMANY
Brandenburg Gate, Berlin. Tricolour lights.

ITALY
Michelangelo's David. Tricolore lights.

UK
Flag at half mast at 10 Downing Street, London, home of Prime Minister.
Candle-lit vigil and flowers started during the afternoon although advertised as starting at 9 pm in Trafalgar Square, London England on the north side in front of the National Portrait Gallery. People painted their faced the colour of the French tricolour flag, and were asked to lay red, white and blue flowers and tea lights. Some carried signs.

Red, white and blue colours on London's Tower Bridge, The London Eye, and the Arch over Wembley Stadium in NW London, which can be seen for miles, even the car park on the cliff top opposite Grimsdyke hotel and along roads nearby.
Vigil in Liverpool, England.
Vigil in Glasgow, Scotland.

AUSTRALIA
Red, white and blue lights in sympathy with Paris on Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia.

CANADA
Lights on CN Tower, Toronto; Calgary Tower, Alberta.

NEW ZEALAND
Lights on Sky Tower, Auckland, New Zealand.

USA
Red, white and blue lights on New York Trade Centre and Empire State Building in sympathy with Paris.
One American airline has cancelled flights to Paris. Others are still flying. If you plan flying, or meeting somebody on an incoming flight, check your airline.
Tricolour lights on San Francisco city hall.

S AMERICA
Lights on Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer statue, Brazil.

I am updating tomorrow. See next post. Come back and/or favourite/like my blogs.

Great photos of the lights around the world in an article in the Daily Mail online. You see a complete set of pictures of the world's largest or tallest landmarks, arrayed in colour, the way columns were coloured centuries ago by the Greeks.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3318549/Britain-s-communities-solidarity-France-wake-Paris-terror-attacks.html

http://metro.co.uk/2015/11/14/wembley-stadium-lights-up-arch-in-french-colours-in-show-of-solidarity-with-paris-5502408/
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/paris-terror-attacks-world-landmarks-6830872
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/sky-tower-lights-up-for-paris/story-fn3dxix6-1227609161479
http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/the-french-flag-tricolore-waves-during-a-vigil-organized-by-news-photo/461491434

Angela Lansbury travel writer and photographer.