London bridge I [The U.K. '03].

by Rico

London bridge needs no introduction since it's one of those world-famous sites in the ranks of the Eiffel Tower, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, & etc.

However, its actual name is "Tower Bridge" yet it has come to be called as "London Bridge" by mistake. Hope you like the pics & this article, cheers!!!

*I won't blame you if you'll like the old pics (towards the end of the article) than my pics. I have to admit they're better than mine.

"Tourists galore"
- London is a very diverse city as seen in this pic.

A boat passing under London Bridge:
- There are lots of boats passing-by here every 10 minutes it seems. *Once...

London bridge's high tower:
Now that's why the actual name of this bridge is "Tower Bridge"...

A busy bridge:
Like San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, or New York's...

Closer view of the elegantly high tower:

View of nearby "Tower of London"
- That big castle will be featured in later articles.

Tower of London among high-rises:

A high-tech looking building:
- Aside from the numerous charming & splendourly old buildings, there are...

View on top of the bridge's tower:
It cost around $12 to go up the tower. But in towers of other countries,...

Inside London Bridge's tower::
It's a walkway museum which has historical photos of the bridge's...

View from the walkway:

More views from the walkway:

Tourists boats:
These boats are for cruising the river Thames though they're not...

Replica of the bridge's workers:
There are several of these replicas inside the tower commemorating the...

London's fine-looking modern buildings:

More modern buildings on the rise:

"Boats & low bridges galore!"
- London's river Thames has lots of boats & low bridges.

View of St. Paul's cathedral in DC zoom:
St. Paul's cathedral is one of those well-known & heavily touristed...

The "London Eye" from a distance:
- You already saw the London Eye in my previous article.

"Blast from the past" [18th]
- London bridge's construction workers. *As stated earlier, the...

"Almost complete"
- Construction nearing its end.

View from the top:
- Strikes a starking similarity with my pics, doesn' it?

"The inaguration day"

"Horse carts"
- The traffic scene back then was a lot more charming than today's vehicles!

"A royal parade"

More horse-carts:

"Tiny specs of life"
- The boaters does looks like tiny specs of life against the colossal bridge.

"A steamer passing-by"

"Boats galore!"

article published 09/15/2003

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Great info on the Tower Bridge!!!
— Been there, September 16, 2003

Hi Fred,
I just checked the site you listed & saw your fine article on Arizona, the Lake Havasu area. I wonder why it's not much publicized that the original London bridge is now in Arizona [since 1971!] especially since that original bridge is like how you said in your article: "a world-class monument" in the ranks of the Eiffel Tower & Statue of Liberty. (I share the same sentiment too. I mean, everybody in the world knows about it especially kids. The London bridge nursery rhyme is a world institution 'coz it's heard all-over the world in different languages.)

Anyway, thank you so much for writing that website, it really is very informative & educational. Next summer, I gotta see that bridge in your article as well as the Tudor-style english town built beside it. Now America has 2 precious gifts from our good friends across the Atlantic - the Statue of Liberty from France & the original London Bridge. Cheers!!!
— Rico, September 16, 2003

The real London Bridge
Hi, I enjoyed your photos of the Tower Bridge and area, particularly since on the only occasion when I visited London it was too darn foggy for me to get a shor of it. For interest's sake, you can find a photo of the real bridge, as it stands in Lake Havasu, AZ at http://www.bootsnall.com/travelstories/na/may01az2.shtml ,an articvle I wrote a couple of years ago. I was quite surprised to find it there, but it's really authentic, as a plaque commemorating its official opening by the Governor of Arizona and the Lord Mayor of London attests. I'm sure 99% of tourists to London do believe that the Tower Bridge is the one from the nursery rhyme, though. Keep up the fine photography! -- Fred
— Fred Perry, September 15, 2003

Hi Mark,
Thanks for the info, I now remember having read that factoid about the real "London bridge" as having bought by an Am. & transfered to the U.S. Yeah, please publish your pics, I'm really curious to see the true "London bridge." Cheers!!!
— Rico, September 15, 2003

factoid
Actually, "London Bridge" - the one that was falling down in the nursery rhyme - is now in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. An American purchased the old bridge, had it taken apart stone-by-stone, and re-assembled over the Colorado River in Arizona. I have a picture from when I was there, I'll have to find it & scan it for you.
— Mark Flanders, September 15, 2003

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