Beginning the Northern Break: Düsseldorf and London

It has become our pattern since starting this cruising life to settle Songster somewhere safe in the Mediterranean and spend the hot and busy summer months of July and August in some northern clime.  This summer we are making our way north for a Scandinavian tour.  First stop was Düsseldorf on our way to London.  We decided to stop in Düsseldorf mainly because we were able to get a cheap flight from Prevesa in Greece.  We hadn’t considered Düsseldorf as a destination before but it turned out to be a delightful place.

Church near our hotel

As we only had one full day in Düsseldorf we got up early to start walking around to explore the city.  We first came upon Königsallee Boulevard, a pretty tree lined street with a peaceful canal full of Canadian geese running through the middle of the boulevard.  On either side were upmarket shops.  We walked through the the large square with the Rathaus or Town Hall.

Beautiful ironwork on the bridge across the canal

The Town Hall Square

 We wandered along the Rhine River watching the barges go by.  The area is still a major shipping route.  On the water front was a small Maritime museum housed in a 13^th Century tower, the only remaining structure of the old fort.  We sampled some famous Alt Bier from the Uriege microbrewery and walked around the old town.  The town is dotted with quirky statues and art figures.  We also went to an excellent film museum which inspired Bob to download lots of classic movies.

Statue commemorating the Battle of Worringen and the granting of city rights to Düsseldorf

Detail of the statue

Statue of Bismark

With a beer bottle

Throughout the city were very realistic figures on top of advertising columns.  We often did a double take they were so life like.

The lovers

The dancer

Father and son

Whimsical bronzes

This translates as "We probably do not fool anyone.  Life teaches you wisdom and savings."

All too soon it was time to leave Düsseldorf and fly to London to see Pam and Nicole.  We flew into London City Airport which made our travels so much easier.  It was great to see Pam and Nicole again.  We arrived in London on the same day as Donald Trump’s visit.  From Pam’s humble abode in Southfields we saw Trump and his entourage flying from the US ambassador’s residence in Kensington to Windsor Castle on his way to be rude to the Queen.  

Trump et al flying over Southfields

The cover of a Big Issue in London

While in London we visited the zoo but sadly got rained out.  Still it was fun to see the indoor exhibits.  One day we made our way to North London to Sigmund and Anna Freud’s house, then over to Abbey Road (such a thrill!!) then to some more hallowed ground, Lords.  

Freud's House

The famous couch

   

Of course we had to ....

Good times

  

 A few weeks later we read that Paul McCartney walked over the Abbey Road crossing again.  We are such trend setters that even the trend setters our following our lead! ;)

The gates of Lords

Through the gate we could just glimpse of the pitch of the hallowed ground

It was the end of Wimbledon tennis so Southfields was packed with tennis fans.  We had a lovely BBQ in Wimbledon Park with Nicole’s parents.  The heat wave hitting northern Europe has made the lush green fields of England brown and crunchy.  Sitting in Wimbledon Park it felt more like an Australian summer. 

Our visit to London ended all too soon but it was great to see everyone again.  Over these last 4 years London has become to feel like our second home.