Potter mania

The new Potter book - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released this Saturday.

- People all over the world were waiting in line all day and all night to get their hands on the book first thing when the shop opens and to make sure that they do get the book before the store runs out of the copies!

- When I went to Hyde Park this weekend, I was amazed to see that of all the people who were reading in the park, around 90% had their noses buried inside the new Harry Potter book.

- And same case in the tube! People were reading Harry Potter as if their lives depended on it. They were reading it while they were on the train, they were reading it on the escalator, they were reading it while they were walking on the platforms! I wouldn't be surprised if they gave up sleeping till they finished the book.

- I saw this family which has bought two copies of the book so that their two children don't fight over who gets to read first.

- And this couple, who have each bought a Harry Potter book and were racing with each other to finish it.

- And what started as a children's book has been happily accepted by the grown-ups as well! I saw more 18+ reading the book than 10-15 year olds.

- And I am not even talking about all the records it has broken in 2 days!

Ms. Rowling must be very happy!

Hyde Park

- The largest park in Central London.

- 3000 trees. What more could a tree lover want?

- All spots are potential picnic spots. It's so beautiful and fresh and clean everywhere! You feel as if it has just been created!

- And there's so much happening either at the Bandstand or at the Speakers' corner or there's a roller skating club whizzing by or people jogging or swimming or rowing or horse riding or sleeping or getting some tan or sleeping or enjoying a picnic or reading a book. (See the next post to know what book they were reading!)

- I went on a small visit to the Park and ended up spending a whole day picnicking there!

I've always wanted to visit Hyde Park, and I just did. It ended up a place not just crossed off my list - I am sure I'll visit it many more times.

More pics here.

From Lake District, England

A dear friend of mine once told me, “Do you know that Lake District is home to William Wordsworth? No wonder he is such a great poet; the place is so beautiful, anyone will be inspired to write beautiful poetry there.”

:)

Now there’s a point. I agree that Lake District is extremely picturesque. You can see for yourself from these pictures here. But not so sure about the poetry bit though. All I got when I came back from Lake District was a fridge magnet souvenir and a parking ticket, the astronomical fine in which didn’t look very poetic to me!

The place I went to is called Windermere Lake and, is the largest natural lake in England. I went there during the British summer, but mind you, I had to retreat inside during the cruise, due to the chilly winds at the upper deck. That’s the summer there!

Places to look out for if you are planning a trip to Lake District – Windermere Lake Cruises, Ambleside village, Lake District National Park, Cars of the Stars Motor Museum, Cumberland Pencil Museum , Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum, Haig Colliery Mining Museum, Honister Slate Mines and the Aquarium of the Lakes. And you miss half the fun if you are not driving down there. The journey is just as beautiful as the destination!