Trafalgar Square

　　When I was walking on the Golden Jubilee Bridge, I saw several people shooting pretty ladies. They were apparently a professional photographer and his assistants. My daughter asked the seems-to-be director if she could take pictures of models and she was allowed to do so. While shooting, several visitors got together around her, and we fled out of the flock. The general atmosphere of my daughter seemed to draw people to her.
　　My fondness for trips is surely inherited from my father, but the influence of the world history class in my high school days also might work. The "Battle of Trafalgar" and "Admiral Nelson" were essential words for understanding the history of Europe and passing the entrance exam of the high class universities. As I was approaching Trafalgar Square, the statue of Admiral Nelson caught my eye. It was too high to look closely, and he is another great admiral compared with Admiral Heihachirou Togo, who had saved Japan from Russian invasion just like Admiral Nelson saved the U.K. from Napoleon. I took a walk around and found the statue of King George 4th, of whom I had an image of a bad king for folks, so I didn't understand why his statue stood in the square. Anyway, I was happy to actually see the National Galley, St. Martin In the Fields Church, and the statue of Admiral Nelson. I wanted to take pictures of myself with lions on the basis of the statue, but it was too crowded to do so.

Golden Jubilee Bridgesを渡ってトラファルガー広場へ向かっていると橋の上でモデル撮影会に出くわした。ミラーレス一眼に凝っている娘がディレクターらしき男に了解を得て撮影していると、また人が集まってきた。娘の笑顔はどうも人を惹きつけるような気がする。早々にこの場所を退散してトラファルガー広場へ。自分の旅行好きは親父の影響もあるが、高校時代の世界史の勉強によるところが大きいかもしれない。トラファルガーとかネルソン提督とかキングジョージ４世とか、世界史の勉強にあたり絶対に覚えなければならない用語が懐かしい。トラファルガー広場に近づくにつれてまず目に入ったのがネルソン提督像。あまりに高すぎて細かな表情は見えないが、日本の東郷平八郎と並んで称される偉大な海軍提督である。ゆっくりと広場を歩いた。キングジョージ４世像もあった。この人は銅像になるほど立派だったのかなとしばしいぶかるが、よく覚えていない。あまり良い印象のない王様である。St. Martin In the Fields Churchにナショナル・ギャラリー、ネルソン提督像の台座のライオン像とツーショットを取りたかったが混雑故に断念。