Bankside Walk

On the sunniest Saturday of the year, so far (not difficult), I decided it was time to treat myself to a wander along Bankside, in London's buzzing Southwark.  Perhaps not the greatest of plans, as the rest of London and its environs appeared to have had the same idea.  It was heaving and not the best for someone who likes to move at more than a snail's pace...

The views were gorgeous though.  I never fail to relish gazing across the river at Sir Christopher Wren's regal Saint Paul's.

The pic above shows the dotty Tate transfer boat which conveys visitors between the two London Tate gallery sites (the original at Vauxhall and the Modern at Bankside). The boat is easy to recognise, decorated with multi-hued dots, although they can't be spotted clearly in this pic...

I love the contrast one gets when meandering further, as the scenery across the river Thames evolves to encompass the old and the new.  An elegant countering of the recently built (although no longer wobbly) Millennium Bridge leading to Saint Paul's on the other side.

There's so much to see, from a cost-free walk, to a visit to the Tate(s), a riverboat trip (learning about the history along the way), a drink at a pub, or the lovely bar at the Globe Theatre (rebuilt by the inspirational Sam Wanamaker in the 1990s).  On Thursday, Friday and the weekend, wander further along the river (with a detour at the moment) and take-in the joys and delectations at Borough Market.

I extended my walk to revisit Borough Market (which I love, even though I always feel it doesn't quite have the intrinsically natural, unpretentious attributes of many a local market in France and Italy).  I made a new discovery there, yesterday - the enticing Turkish delight stall with its colourfully authentic, myriad varieties. I was most impressed by the chewy mastic variant, made with Mastic gum from the island of Chios (used to produce the original chewing gum) with multiple digestive health benefits (probably better as a treat, though, due to the high sugar content).

An entertaining, and unanticipated highlight was encountered when I got lost during my meanderings and came across this original sign outside an old housing estate in Southwark.  Aren't unexpected 'treasures' one of the best aspects about walking and getting lost (safely) in a city...

Many today could do with heeding those words...

If you fancy your own wander along Bankside, there are many ways of getting there. Take the train (or a bus) to Waterloo or Waterloo East.  Get the tube (when it's running) to Southwark, or, if you have more time, go for the full river experience on a boat - perhaps opt for the journey from green and regal Greenwich in SE10. When using public transport in London, your best bet is always to use an Oyster Card as the savings on costly fares are considerable.