Categories: uncategorized
Date: 29 January 2005 18:56:59
Today I finally made it to somewhere I've been meaning to go for ages and ages, and wonderful it was too: The London Aquarium. There's something about fish which just ooze tranquility and serenity, and so I spent a lovely hour feeling thoroughly calmed (despite the hordes of children yelling "Look! Nemo!" at the clown fish). Even the sharks were beautiful in their own way, though no less menacing for being in an aquarium. Highlights for me included: bumping into someone I worked with a few years back when I first started community nursing; the coral reef displays (especially the tiny anemones which were every colour under the sun, just beautiful); and the Atlantic tank where I watched just about every fish (including huge bass and sharks) swimming clockwise apart from this one tiny little fish which was swimming anti-clockwise. Very reminiscent of a Christian T-shirt I thought, but anyway it did make me smile! I also managed to arrive at the terrapin tank just as a couple of them had started mating, I don't know what it is with me and animals, I think I have this weird effect on them - when I went to Munich Zoo a few years back I arrived and a couple of the orang utans decided there and then to get it on. In both cases I must say the female looked distinctly uninterested in the whole thing.
So the Aquarium: a hit! Definitely one to visit on a trip to London, though in retrospect Saturday afternoons probably aren't the best time as I had to queue for a while and it really was quite crowded. And if I go again I think I'd try to time it to coincide with the shark-feeding, which I gather is quite a spectacle. But even without that, definitely recommended.
After the Aquarium I wandered over to Covent Garden, more specifically to that shop that Maddie likes that starts with 'S' to spend my £100 of vouchers (:D). Have come home with a ton of books and still have £30 to spend another time - result! Purchases today included travel guides, travel writing and arty photograph-y books - am particularly looking forward to delving into Gardens Around the World which is one of those books full of stunning pictures that you want to stroke as much as read. Gorgeous stuff.