Friday, September 14, 2007

How long to Picadilly?


I did not know they had a bus service from La Madeleine (in Paris) to Picadilly Circus (in London)?! I'm kidding, they don't! In fact several companies (like this one)rent out all sorts of weird vehicles - yes, for us French this is a "weird vehicle"! - on special occasions: weddings, promotional tours, etc. This makes me think that I haven't been to London in years, maybe they don't have these buses there anymore! Have a good weekend everyone.

29 comments:

  1. Wow, you sneeked that one in quickly! We have more modern ones now, but these routemasters work on the tourist routes.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Eric
    After over 50 years service on the streets of London, the last Routemaster ran in ordinary service on Route 159 early afternoon of 9th December 2005. The vehicle chosen for this special duty was RM 2217, the last standard length Routemaster built in 1965. The vehicle is owned by Arriva and had previously been used to promote Harry Potter films as a specially decorated 3 deck bus. Route 159 runs between Marble Arch and Streatham Station, and was Routemaster operated for many years. Designed by London Transport and built by AEC at Southall with bodywork by Park Royal, 2760 Routemasters of various types were constructed for London use between 1959 and 1968 (the four prototypes were built between 1954 and 1957). Transport for London still supports the operation of Routemasters on heritage Routes 9 and 15, which augment the standard low floor bus service on these routes.
    Source:http://hardtofindtoys.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  3. Well it did not take long! Thank you for all these precisions.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What can I say?
    I am your greatest fan!
    Couldn't resist showing off ;)
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  5. We have these beautiful red beasts for hire here in Denver, Colorado, USA as well!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I would love to have a picture if me in this bus with the Eiffel Tower in the backround, and I'm not talking about photoshop!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Although they don't have a roof on the second level, We have ridden tour buses around the City of Lights and enjoyed the view very much. I never missed a chance to ride the red elephants in London. Eric, I loved the photo....memories!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Although they don't have a roof on the second level, We have ridden tour buses around the City of Lights and enjoyed the view very much. I never missed a chance to ride the red elephants in London. Eric, I loved the photo....memories!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Now what happened? Sorry I ended up doubled.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hey Johnny, you "double" is better than not at all. Hope you are feeling better.

    I've not seen these Eric, but I love phx-cdg's idea of having this in front of the Eiffel Tower for a photo.

    ReplyDelete
  11. By the way, I can't answer your first question, "How long to Picadilly?", but I do know It's a Long Way to Tipperary...

    It's a long way to Tipperary,
    It's a long way to go.
    It's a long way to Tipperary
    To the sweetest girl I know!
    Goodbye Piccadilly,
    Farewell Leicester Square!
    It's a long long way to Tipperary,
    But my heart's right there.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I really enjoy your photos. I have just started a photo blog of my own. I have linked your site on my blog, please let me know if that is alright.

    Please stop by my photo blog and take a look.

    Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh! I thought I was at Cheltenham Daily Photo for a second there... (speaking of which, where are you Lynn??) It looks like it was a nice day in Paris when this shot was taken.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I like it! And I too need an urgent London w.e. Harrods, high tea at Richoux, the Tate, Marks&Spencer, ... I miss it. *sigh*

    ReplyDelete
  15. Reminds me of Summer Holiday, the Cliff Richard film, where he and several others took a London bus to Paris.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Looks like that cheap satnav strikes again!

    Life isn't the same without the sport and the skill involved in jumping on and off the platform when the bus is moving.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Letter A's blog is great! I love it.Michael, dear lad, you are in great form today. Love your wit! True, It is a long long way to Tiperary....I've never been there but I remember the song from WWI. My great Uncle Mick used to sing it as well as a ditty called "Yakahula Hickydula" (not sure of the spelling)He was my grandfather's brother and stood all of 4'9". He had suffered major injuries in WWI.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Pont Girl well pointed, where is Lynn??
    Hope today´s post with the red bus will draw her attention back here, we miss her...

    ReplyDelete
  19. And with the new terminal in London, the two capitals are even closer! Beautiful autumn-ish light.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Woah, faking us out, eh Eric? Like Pont Girl, I thought I was in other territory for a moment. And Michael. . .big groan. . .always nice to have your songs to accompany Eric's images, though! Ham, are you serious about people jumping off these? I've heard of the hop on hop off tours, but that sounds like a sk8tr dude's kind of sport. Beautiful day by the looks of it, too. Enjoy the lovely September sun Eric!

    ReplyDelete
  21. No,I didn't just discover the "Other" button. I'm choosing to identify myself this way now, to get my co-workers that see the posts and read the comments over my shoulder, off my back about it. :)

    Never rode the double-decker the times I've been in London, but I rode it in Victoria, BC. Like a little kid I ran upstairs and took the seat up front, above the driver. Thank you for this photo, Eric, and the pleasant memories.

    Marcia, our hockey player's name is Dallas Steward.

    Je vous souhaite a tous un super week-end. Amusez-vous bien.

    ReplyDelete
  22. When I enlarged the photo, I was pulled into the passage entry. Where is this? I asked. Ah, it is the Galerie de la Madeleine. What a lovely place. The passage, the Louis Pion storefront, and I want one of the apartments on le premiere etage. To sit at one of those widows with morning coffee and croissant, looking across at La Madeleine, smiling at the British Routemaster. Where's my lottery ticket? Or at least I'd better get working on that best selling novel....

    Ok, ok, when shall I plan for next year's visit for a PDP party on the Seine? Let's all start planning. I vote for May.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Lovely photo! I could sit on one of those benches for hours, just letting the leaves fall at my feet and watching the Parisians living their daily lives...

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wow this looks fun! Our red buses will not die out after all. Great. Hi Eric. Hi Pont Girl Hi Monica, i've had a lot on recently in one way or another. Hope will be back to normal blogwise soon but i've missssssssed you !!! xx

    ReplyDelete
  25. Actually perhaps someone can help. I need to watch live french news now online. Can't seem to find anything. Anyone, please??

    ReplyDelete
  26. Come, now, Lynne, isn't France 24 good enough?

    ReplyDelete
  27. Lynn...try www.france24.fr

    Hope you are well!

    Jeff...May sounds perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  28. lol thanks. I was hoping to watch an actual news bulletin that's all but it was interesting thanks. Yep i'm ok thanks Michael, doing well; are you?

    ReplyDelete