"The Chilling Streets of Chiswick": Route 23

Hello all! Sorry it has been a couple of weeks since our last post....last week we had every intention of going on our London walk, but we were thwarted by public transportation issues. Alas, today we made it back into our walking shoes. In fact, we decided today that we will definitely have to purchase a walk book for whichever city we end up returning to in the States.

Today's walk took us outside the central city of London, which was a nice change of pace - we most likely would have never ventured out to Chiswick otherwise, so it certainly begs the question as to how many other little undiscovered pockets and suburbs of this city rest at our feet! Set along the banks of the River Thames, Chiswick is primarily a residential area, with neighborhood pubs and churches sprinkled throughout the winding streets (and very old homes that used to be pubs---taking the idea of a "man-cave" to a whole new level...). As with many pockets of this city, Chiswick is famous for its countless ghost stories. Apparently, the ghosts of London do not discriminate, as they allegedly appear in all types of locations - cemeteries, homes, pubs, parks, and alleys. We haven't had any sightings yet ourselves, but rest assured - that would definitely make the blog!

Most of the houses in Chiswick, especially those along the river, have names --Walpole House, once home to one of Charles II's mistresses, Red Lion House, Osiers House, etc. -- which felt a bit like meandering through a college Fraternity Row. Built in the 16th and 17th centuries, these homes boast gated riverfront terraces and boat docks, some littered with patio furniture and garden statues, all with a stunning view of the Thames...

(Bryan couldn't resist touching the water...
which he decided was probably warmer than the air)

We also went by St. Nicholas Church, home to the remains of Oliver Cromwell's two daughters, and through the Church's extremely old and spooky cemetery, with moss-covered headstones commemorating deaths from the 1700's+. Felt like something out of a movie...

We ended our walk at the Chiswick House, once a "lunatic asylum," and now a restored English Heritage site. Winding through the surrounding gardens, the noise of traffic and cars is completely silent. A slice of tranquility before stepping out onto the main thoroughfare to catch our bus home...

-B&B

"If my ship sails from sight, it doesn't mean my journey ends, it simply means the river bends." - John Enoch Powell