Shad Thames

With London Bridge as our starting point, we decided to explore a few gallery spaces in the area. Street art graced our path, as usual,

and I liked the words on this abandoned building
and this second-floor (English first-floor) flower display.
We only had time to stop in at two galleries, Jerwood Space and Union Gallery. While we didn't end up caring much for the exhibit at Jerwood Space, the venue was great, with a nice mixture of gallery space, courtyard, and café. Just around the corner, Union Gallery was another fantastic space, under the elevated railway line, with arched ceilings and a definite urban feel. You would never happen to walk past the gallery; it's definitely a place you have to plan to visit. Their Mike Marshall exhibit was very interesting and his video installation, The Thunder and Lightning, held our attention in the darkest theatre space we've ever entered. After places began to close around 5:00 or 6:00 P.M., we walked east along the Thames, passing the always impressive Tower Bridge
on our way to Butler's Wharf, where Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise was docked. We had come for a musical performance which sounded promising in its press release, but in spite of its good intentions, the piece ended up being rather peurile in actuality. (You can see/ hear it online if you want to judge for yourself.) Regardless, we appreciated the sentiment and enjoyed our walk toward the bus along one of the most distinctive streets we've encountered in London, Shad Thames:
Once a riverside warehouse district, and now (predictably) very expensive flats and restaurants, the iron bridges that used to be used to transport goods from warehouse to warehouse now hold potted flowers and patio chairs. Such is the way of cities, I suppose!