Too many Americans come to our shores expecting the traditional thing, and of course we have that, plus loads of tall buildings
London is experiencing a skyscraper boom at the moment. That one in the bottom photo in your post is, of course, the Shard, the EU's tallest building, which was completed last year. In the photo at the top in your post you can just make out two other skyscrapers which are currently under construction.... The Leadenhall Building, aka the Cheesegrater, will be be completed in mid-2014.... ..... and the bendy-looking 20 Fenchurch Street, aka the Walkie-Talkie, will also be completed next year. Here's a closer view of the Walkie-Talkie
The trouble though is I doubt that landscape will impress Americans all that much. Europe has historically built low cityscapes, as interesting and graceful those buildings are, even Sydney would put the CBD to shame in terms of height and numbers
That is the problem with propaganda. Tourists go somewhere and expect it to be like they expected. I mean, I work in San Francisco. ANd people come here and expect to see this: Then they come here on a day like today, and what they see is this:
Actually that is not my photo, so I could not say for sure. But I don't think so. The hill on Broadway is much steeper, and I can't see either the bore of the tunnel, nor the landmarks like the Condor Club at the bottom of the hill. Broadway is actually part of my nightly commute home. However, here is one I took on Monday night as I was going home. I posted this on my FB asking people to identify it, and for some reason nobody could. Even though it is a world-famous landmark.
I suppose that's the benefit of Kansas...people come here with low or no expectations right off the bat....
That is the approach to the GG bridge. You are right about Broadway- looking at it again- Filmore looking down towards Union Street. I just went with my first instinct and didn't notice the rest of the picture.
I just like the idea of being able to see that dog running away from home......for ten days and not lose sight of him Yes I like to see the monuments and specific buildings but I also like the atmosphere of a place. I like San Francisco's Chinatown for example, stayed in a ratty old hotel there once and thought it was great. And just on that, one of my visits to the city was at the same time the streetcars weren't running, but good old American ingenuity, we could buy tee shirts that said, "I Visited San Francisco When the Streetcars Weren't Running!" I like the Gherkin in London, especially at night.
LOL, what do you mean Americans are provincial? It took all of four posts before a thread about London became about American cities.
Actually, I was just commenting on tourist perceptions, and using the town I happen to be in. If I had still been down range I probably would have posted pictures of lots of sand and camels.
We live up to our stereotypes in my state quite nicely. Everyone east cheese even lactose intolerant people will put up with the discomfort from time to time. State is covered in farms and dairies. Milwaukee is the cesspool of crime and economic calamity and segregation that it is accurately portrayed in the national media and Madison is where all the nuts live.
If I manage to make it to Britain (which I would love)---I won't be going for sky scrapers. Though I have to say those London buildings are beautiful.
