SO SORRY FOR THE ERRORS, EVERYONE.
I GUESS THE PHOTO HOSTING SERVICE I WAS USING HAS A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF VIEWS. I MUST HAVE MISSED THAT PART OF THE FINE PRINT.
I AM WORKING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AND WILL HOPEFULLY HAVE THE PICTURES BACK UP SHORTLY.
It wasn’t all work when I was in the UK recently. Thankfully, I did have a day off about mid-tour and was able to do a little sightseeing.
Because I was so tired and wanted to see London while exerting as little energy as possible, I decided to take one of those cheesy double-decker bus tours, which, as it turns out, is a pretty good way to get a general overview of a new place.
And I learned some things I probably never would have known if there hadn’t been a tour guide with a microphone explaining as we went.
Like how the city of London isn’t the big city we all think of. It’s really a smaller subset of the bigger metro area. And the city itself is guarded by dragons. See?
Something the tour guide didn’t have to point out is that there are security cameras everywhere. I heard once that London has more cameras than any other city in the world. Is that true? I don’t know. But I wouldn’t doubt it. The spy/thief in me especially loves this shot of St. Paul’s Cathedral with a camera, really bringing old and new London together in one image.
One of the biggest compliments I received on the tour was that the London/UK scenes in GG4 and Heist Society felt authentic. Whew. That was a relief. People asked if I came to the UK to do research for those scenes, but unfortunately that wasn’t possible at the time. I had been to England before though, back in high school. And I tried to pull from those memories as much as possible when describing things like…
Trafalagar Square
Picadilly Circus
And especially the moat around the Tower of London (where Cam and the Baxters go ice skating at the beginning of GG4)
The Tower’s infamous “Traitor’s Gate” where Mr. Solomon supposedly entered the Tower grounds (but as you can see, it’s all boarded up so–oops–got that one wrong. Unless he “solomoned” his way in. Which he probably did).
And, my personal favorite, Tower Bridge–the place where Joe and Cam have a VERY IMPORTANT conversation at the start of GG4.
Eventually, I got off of the tour bus and onto the tour cruise which took me down the Thames and under London Bridge (which, thankfully, wasn’t falling down).
Past the legendary Tate Museum (which I didn’t even case).
The Thames carried me all the way past the London Eye
And then to the House of Parlaiment and, of course, Big Ben.
That’s when I got off the boat and did a little walking around and even went up in the London Eye itself to get a whole new view of the city.
And this is about the point where I remembered I am REALLY afraid of heights (which is why there are no pictures from the very top because at that point I was sitting in the middle of the capsule with my eyes closed, telling myself I wasn’t suspended several hundred feet in the air…)
But as much as I loved London, I think my favorite part of the tour was when Victoria and I would head to one of the awesome train stations…
And travel out into the countryside.
I do dearly love countryside.
There are so many beautiful parts of England. Like Bath. Let me tell you, people, Bath is gorgeous!
And then, eventually, I came home.
And I have to say, in a lot of ways, that was the most welcome sight of all!
-Ally
Breanne says
October 17, 2011 at 12:22 amAmazing photos ally you rock !
Anonymous says
October 17, 2011 at 12:43 amWow, those are some gorgeous pictures! It has always been my dream to go to Great Britain. Thanks for sharing!
Anonymous says
October 17, 2011 at 1:51 amAlly,
Those pictures are so cool! I am really looking forward to reading OUT OF SITE, OUT OF TIME and HEIST SOCIETY 3!
Britt says
October 17, 2011 at 3:02 amGreat photos Ally! This is making me even more excited to go to The UK and Ireland in May! I will need to get some more memory cards for my camera…
Sophia says
October 17, 2011 at 11:35 amThat looks so fun! In another one of my favorite series, part of the setting is in Bath! It is so cool to be able to see what these places look like in real life.
Fatima says
October 17, 2011 at 12:21 pmIt’s true about England having the most security cameras in the world. I learnt it in my Criminology lecture last week. In Liverpool, you can follow a person from one side of the city to another. I love your pictures 🙂
Anonymous says
October 17, 2011 at 3:37 pmEngland looks amazing! I cannot wait till I can go there on vacation. You took fantastic pictures Ally. Thanks for sharing with us!
<3Felicia
alexandra says
October 17, 2011 at 6:31 pmumm i think im the only one BUT where aree the pictures! on my computer it says “upgrade to pro today!” photo bucket so i cant see it:(
Leah says
October 17, 2011 at 7:28 pmUr not alone Thts what it says for me!!! What do we do???
Mancia says
October 17, 2011 at 7:32 pmI can’t see any of the photos. Booo!
I bet they are amazing though.
Melissa says
October 17, 2011 at 8:09 pmSame exact thing is on my computer.
Rissa says
October 17, 2011 at 8:14 pmSame! I can’t see them either! 🙁
A says
October 17, 2011 at 8:19 pmHey, I can’t see them, either.
tay says
October 17, 2011 at 8:26 pmSAME HEREE!! idk whats going on but i really want to see the pics:(
Valerie says
October 17, 2011 at 8:47 pmnice!!!!!!! How could you forget to take me?????
wails then laughs like a maniac.
Should Be at Gallagher. says
October 17, 2011 at 8:50 pmI’m afraid of heights too! It’s cool!
I was reading your other post about what you’re jazzed about. Well, I’m kinda excited because…
THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES!!!!!!!!
How does that taste, Brewers?
Lol. Baseball.
Can’t wait for GG5! Good luck with all that copyediting crap. Sounds spiffy:)
Anonymous says
October 17, 2011 at 8:59 pmIt’s the same for me, but they worked yesterday! :-/
Kira says
October 17, 2011 at 9:07 pmyeah that would be a good idea.
Sarah says
October 17, 2011 at 9:15 pmyeah…. me too. i guess i’ll have to come back later 🙁
Emily says
October 17, 2011 at 9:41 pmMe too! ! 🙁
sarah says
October 17, 2011 at 9:47 pmI can’t see them either!
Anonymous says
October 17, 2011 at 10:02 pmsame here! shucks!
bella says
October 17, 2011 at 10:18 pmMe too! I’m totally bummed; I was looking forward to seeing all her pics of London!
Maceys biggest fan says
October 17, 2011 at 10:21 pmmine says that tooo!
Anonymous says
October 17, 2011 at 10:52 pmThe pcitures were not all working for me. they kept showing up as “upgrade to pro today” I do not know what that means. Does anyone else know?
Anonymous says
October 17, 2011 at 11:09 pmi can’t see it either!
Anonymous says
October 17, 2011 at 11:15 pmme 2
I don’t see any pictures either
Emily says
October 17, 2011 at 11:33 pmI can only see about 1/3 of the pictures 🙁
Beth says
October 17, 2011 at 11:39 pmThat happened to me too. When u were talking about London being guarded by dragons and there was a speed limit graph thingy, I was like ” those definintly don’t look like dragons.
MISSterious says
October 18, 2011 at 12:01 amI had the same problem as Alexandra. I don’t think I will be upgrading to pro anytime soon. I’ve been waiting to see the pictures for a week;'( so bummed!
Brielle says
October 18, 2011 at 12:13 amHi Ally! I would love to look at all your pictures, I’ve always wanted to visit London myself, but I can’t see the pictures! Is there anyway I could see them somewhere else?
~Brielle
Breanne says
October 18, 2011 at 1:22 amYAY you got the photos back, I am so glad.
BTW you may see me posting a lot but i am just such a fan of yours
erwin:P says
October 18, 2011 at 1:24 amThat made my day! Especially the London Bridge not falling! Hahaha
Primness says
October 18, 2011 at 2:35 amThey totally rock, ally!!! Happy Halloween, btw
Connie R. says
October 18, 2011 at 3:21 amOh my gosh!!!! I went on those same tours! And you are completely right; taking the cheesy double-decker bus was definately worth it. =) I didn’t even catch that I had seen some of the places that were mentioned in your book. I really need to reread the fourth one now that I know what some of the places really look like. Hope you had fun!!
Kara Veronica says
October 18, 2011 at 4:28 amLove the pictures Ally!! Reminds me of how much I missed London after my visit there a few years ago.
And you captured Bath beautifully!! One of my favorite places ever!! The Roman Baths were splendid.
If you ever get a chance to go back, I’d say book a day or so to go to Warwick Castle – an authentic, functioning medieval castle a few hours from London =) They do the cheesy re-enactments but its so amazing and totally worth it!!
Amelia says
October 18, 2011 at 3:13 pmgreat photos ally!!!
Beth says
October 18, 2011 at 4:12 pmYay!!!, they work now that I’m a school!!, when I get home I’ll check
Sarah says
October 18, 2011 at 10:25 pmya they work for me too now 🙂 thank you allyyyy :))
Hannah says
October 22, 2011 at 12:58 amYour photos are absolutely breathtaking! I really liked the pictures of the Tower Bridge and the London Eye. It looks like you had a lot of fun and i’m super glad. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your adventures with us Ally and welcome home. 🙂
Anonymous says
October 22, 2011 at 4:54 pmTwo words came to mind when I saw the picture at the train station: Harry Potter