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London: What You Want to Know but are too Afraid to Ask
June 10 2016 11:27 AM ET — via RheumReports
Red telephone booths: As I sit in traffic in a London taxi cab, I can't help but notice the number of red telephone booths that dot the streets of London. Does anyone actually use these ancient phone booths? According to my cab driver, these are mostly used for souvenir photos by tourists. In addition, they are often in a place where neighborhood prostitutes solicit business by strategically placing advertisements. Over the past few years, many of these booths have been turned into free, solar-powered mobile charging stations to provide a carbon-neutral source of energy in the city.
The Royals: When coming to London, one can't help but wonder if there is the possibility to spot a royal. When the queen is at home, her Royal Standard flag is flown. If she is away, the union flag is raised. Apparently, the queen can sometimes be spotted at Buckingham palace if you stand there long enough and focus on the windows. With regards to the younger royals, you can sometimes see them coming and going at their residence at Kensington Palace. They also like to hang out at restaurants and night clubs (Bijou, Mahiki) in Chelsea and South Kensington. Kate's favourite shops include Reiss, Topshop and Jigsaw.
What's the connection between Canary Wharf and Canada? The site of current day Canary Wharf was one of the busiest docks in the world for import and export from 1802 to 1939. The name "Canary Wharf" comes from the Number 32 berth of the West Wood Quay Import Dock, which was used to import fruit from the Canary Islands. The docks closed in 1980, after which the British government tried to stimulate redevelopment of the area. A Canadian company, Olympia & York (owned by the Paul Reichmann family of Toronto which also developed First Canadian Place), eventually bought the project and converted the area into a new business district. Amidst the office towers is a public grassy square, called "Canada Square,", which is used for concerts and TV screenings of sporting events. It is surrounded by three of the tallest buildings in London including "One Canada Square,", which was opened in Aug 1991 by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh (Prince Phillip, the Queen's husband). One Canada Square was the tallest building in the UK from 1990 to 2010, when it was surpassed by The Shard London Bridge.
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About the Author
Dr. Shahin Jamal
Dr. Jamal is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia and an active staff physician at Vancouver Coastal Health. Her interests include diagnosis and prognosis of early inflammatory arthritis, and timely assessment and access to care for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
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