I started the day looking for a new bag - and finally found what I wanted in a card shop, of all places! In Liverpool Street Station. Well, after all the effort that went into that, I was hungry - and an Upper Crust kiosk caught my eye. They specialise in baguettes and croissants - I had their last plain ham baguette, at a very reasonable price, and when she asked whether I'd like it hot, I said yes please! on such a cold day. And yummy it was, too.
Ann Marie phoned soon after, and after that, it was about time to leave for the Winter Lights Festival. Sunset was scheduled for 4.37, and I was due to arrive there just after that. I planned to start from Westferry Circus - which worked out well, as the roads around Canary Wharf itself were blocked off, and this was as close as the bus would take me. Not that it was easy to find my way to the roundabout, although I could see it:
As it turned out, that building on the left has a spiral staircase that can be accessed from the street, which is the handiest way to get up there. Which I discovered when I'd already got up there. How I actually got up there was to jaywalk across two roads, then inch my way up a narrow pavement, squeezing past anyone coming against me. Never mind, I made it, and started to take photographs.
Not everything, mind, was worth photographing. One of the best installations of the night was Sky on Earth, which had us walking across a bridge over a huge spewing of foam, which represented clouds, and which had lights hidden in it that flashed occasionally, to the accompaniment of thunder sounds from the adjacent speakers. Terrific effect - although the several people who were tempted to touch the foam proclaimed themselves sorry they had - that it felt awful! Looked great though.
The other worthwhile installation there was Strata, where lights travelled up and down poles to a musical accompaniment. Like most of the light features, this was most easily found by looking for where a crowd was gathered - and again, this was excellent. Sadly, the video I took of it never saved itself to my phone..
After that, I tried to to follow the most logical path I could - not always easy, with a few things straggled along the edges of the area. Most of the installations included music:
And for this next one, I really didn't see the point in queueing to go in - I thought the better view was outside!
The big advantage of visiting on the weekend - unlike my previous, midweek visit - was that I had plenty of time, and got to see all the light exhibits. The big disadvantage, of course, were the huge crowds - and by the end, I was oh so sick of walking around people, having people walk into me, being run over by buggies, or having to take massive detours around family groups. Hey ho.
A couple of exhibits I'd seen before - the words from light droplets were as stunning as last year, and I remembered the light benches from some years ago!
The next exhibits were indoors - and when I saw we were entering through a foodcourt, that was it; I just had to get something! I wasn't enamoured of either of the exhibits in there, and was considering my food options.. when whom should I run into but Stephen, from London Literary Walks! Well well. He only runs events from April to September, but obviously doesn't spend the rest of the year cloistered in his room! So we had a brief chat, and I went on my way. Lovely to see him - looking forward to the revival of his walks!
There was a huge queue outside Nando's, but I was too tired and hungry to go any further, so I joined the end of the queue and waited. And just a few minutes later, someone came, checked that I was alone, and said they had a table for me! She explained that all the others were waiting for tables for three or more. Hallelujah - and never have a sit-down, a meal, and a glass of wine been so appreciated. Even if the chicken was slightly charred. The garlic bread was very flavoursome, though. Unfortunately, they'd sold out of their phenomenal choc-a-lot cake. As I sat there, I noticed a large group of people to the side - and it suddenly occurred to me that this might be (part of) one of those Meetup groups that were coming tonight. It also occurred to me that, had I joined them, I wouldn't have got a seat! And I was glad I hadn't joined them.
And so to the last of the exhibits.
Despite the claims of the maitre d' in Nando's, I don't think this was quite as good as last year's - quite a few of the exhibits were underwhelming enough that I took one look and moved on. Conceptually interesting, just not pleasing to look at. But yay, for the first time, I did see everything - and had another rest, at the last exhibit, before heading home.
I had to head to the edge of the festival area again, for my bus - and the diversion stymied the young Spanish-speaking woman in front of me, who was busy feeding her toddler (who had a habit of smiling back at me). I was fully halfway home when she turned to ask whether the bus went to Canary Wharf..! Of course, where I had got on was as close as she could have got, on this bus, to Canary Wharf! I explained to her about the diversion, and that we were now well past it - she got off at the next stop, and had a long conversation with the driver about what best to do to get there. Hope she made it ok.
Tomorrow, London European Club is staying pretty local (to me) - they're headed to a tap dance jam session in Gigi's in Hoxton. And so am I. It'll be my first event of the year with them.. Tickets from Design My Night again, and cheaper in advance.
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