London Westminster Big Ben is one of the most popular tourist areas of the city, people swarm like ants around Big Ben, the Abby & Parliament house, they queue for hours to ride on the London Eye.
Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of Westminster Palace in London, and often extended to refer to the clock and the clock tower.
Does anybody know what time it is?
Or as “Chicago” would say, “does anybody really care”?
Westminster Abbey London
Westminster Abbey, was originally known as the Collegiate Church of St Peter, it’s a large, mainly Gothic, church in the City of Westminster, just west of the Palace of Westminster.
Westminster Abbey London
Westminster Abbey London is steeped in more than a thousand years of history. Benedictine monks first came to this site in the middle of the tenth century, establishing a tradition of daily worship which continues to this day. The Abbey has been the coronation church since 1066 and is the final resting place of seventeen monarchs. The present church, begun by Henry III in 1245, is one of the most important Gothic buildings in the country, with the medieval shrine of an Anglo-Saxon saint still at its heart.
Westminster Abbey Sanctuary
In England, the right of sanctuary and officially recognized places of sanctuary had existed since the Anglo-Saxon days. The foremost among these places of refuge was Westminster Abbey London.
The London Eye
The entire structure is 135 meters (443 ft) tall and the wheel has a diameter of 120 meters (394 ft). It is currently Europe’s tallest Ferris wheel, the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom with over 3.5 million visitors annually.
One of my favorite places in Westminster
When you tire of the crowds and monuments head for a pub.
When I finished lunch I took a short walk to Downing Street. However the street that caught my eye was the one below, reminded me of a couple of people I know.
You gotta love this street
Say no more, wink wink, nudge nudge. 😆
Downing St security
There are so many nut cases in London which explains why they need high security at Downing St.
A very unusual sight
Blue sky in London, must be photoshopped. 🙂
Beautiful at night
London Westminster Big Ben is a fantastic area to explore and enjoy, I will be there again in March 2015.
Sadly five people have died, with 50 injured – some critically – in a terror attacknear the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday March 22 2017.
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This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.
Here is a terrific London budget hotel. Great location opposite the Holiday Inn in Gloucester Rd. The hotel has just been refurbished and is very close to the underground which takes you direct to Heathrow for 6 Quid. Within 100 metres there are 3 Italian restaurants, 1 Thai and 1 Indian. Also a very good tavern & sports bar at the Holiday Inn.
Canon Camera Love Travelling. When you grow up in Australia you soon realise that every other country in the world is beyond the sea. Somewhere in my teenage years I was bitten by the travel bug, I have been to 50 countries and 600 cities. Here is a collection of my favourite travel photos in no particular order, however the one above just happens to be my number one favourite.
Perhaps the worlds best beach for people watching. Since my first trip there in January 1999, I returned another 7 times, with the last time being October 2010.
Future super models in Rio
As soon as I raised my camera they struck a pose, did not have to be asked to do it, the spirit of Rio
My boulevard of broken dreams.
W48th st & 8th ave Manhattan there is a nice French bistro, Pigalle. New York is my favorite city, it seems like six different cities molded together, there is such an exciting diversified collection of people and places make sure you give yourself enough time to soak up the atmosphere.
Canon Camera Love Travelling Lisbon is recognised as a global city because of its importance in finance, commerce, media, entertainment, arts, international trade, education and tourism. It is one of the major economic centers on the continent, with a growing financial sector and the largest/second largest container port on Europe’s Atlantic coast.
Koh Chang Thailand.
Koh Chang is the 2nd largest Thai island after Phuket. Stay in a bungalow on the beach and enjoy the terrific Thai food. In many ways Koh Chang reminds me of Koh Samui 15 years ago. I used to love Koh Samuiin the 90′s but the more it developed the more the attraction faded.
Valparaiso is by the sea in Chile about 100 kilometres from Santiago. I bet this fantastic house has been photographed millions of times, perched on the edge of a sheer drop you would not want to be a sleep walker. This is one of the escalators (Ascensores) connecting the harbor area to the hills, and the building is the restaurant Las Brujas.
Sanctuary Cove on Australia’s Gold Coast
The Gold Coast has many world class golf courses, it was the home of Adam Scott who is currently number 2 in the world.
The fabulous art deco towers are unique examples of this form of architecture, they along the eight and a half mile stretch of Beach. All told there are twenty five towers guarding those who use the beach. At once functional and decorative, they contribute beautifully to the overall aesthetic of this Floridian resort city.
Beautiful faces in Rio De Janeiro
Carnival in Rio is awesome, it is really the greatest show on Earth. I was at the Sambadrome in 1999 and 2005, then I celebrated Carnival at a Bloco in Ipanema in 2008. I was way up in the bleachers in 1999 so in 2005 I paid about $500 to have a front row seat. Therefore I have been fortunate enough to have experienced Carnival from 3 different aspects.
I went to Nha Trang twice in 2004 and hope to return July 2014.
Take us to your leader.
Once a year, when the greatRio De Janeiro carnival takes place, the coastal townParaty which is located 250 km south west to Rio, holds a unique carnival. In Paraty’s Mud Carnival – (Portuguese: Bloco da lama) the costumes that its participants wear is black sticky mud which is smeared on their bodies.
The carnival preserves the ancient local tradition when the Indians smeared their bodies with black mud for medical reasons, and held ritual ceremonies in order to bring cure to the ill. In contrary to Rio carnival where the participants wear marvellous coloured costumes, in Paraty carnival the fiesta is based mostly on the simplicity of the junction between men and nature.
Fantastic seafood in Salzburg.
So much wonderful seafood on sale at a city nowhere near the ocean.
Salzburgis the fourth largest city in Austria and the capital of the federal state of Salzburg. Salzburg’s “Old Town” has internationally renowned baroque architecture and one of the best-preserved city centres north of the Alps.
Florence is a beautiful city, I have been there 3 or 4 times and can’t wait to visit again. I saw a lot of the city and surrounding areas thanks to my good friend Francesca.
HCMC or Saigon is a truly wonderful experience, I was there in 2015 and millions of $$$$ are being spent to transform this amazing metropolis.
From as early as 1980 I knew I would Have Camera Love Travelling around the world & often to Thailand, but I never thought I would live there permanently. However in October 2011 I left Australia and moved to Thailand. This is probably the final stage in my wonderful life.
Thanks for visiting my “Have Camera Love Travelling” post
Penzance Par one bridge too far, well rather than speak in riddles allow me to explain. Where Penzance is a bright & buzzy seaside town Par is quite the opposite, cold & bleak without too many redeeming features. My sincere apologies to the residents of this tiny Cornish fishing port.
I had a very good reason to visit Par, my grandfather Sam Tippett was born there around 1900. We stopped in the pub and asked if anyone had heard of the Tippetts but sadly no luck. Seeing we were in Cornwall I ordered a pastie, it was the worst I have ever tasted & I mentioned this to the barman. He said “talk to the fellow beside you, his wife makes them”. 😳
My friend Bill Austin & I had a good laugh about this and I surreptitiously hid the rest of the awful pastie in a paper bag ready to throw it in the garbage.
David Herd & Bill Austin in Par
Notice the small oven on the right? That’s where the terrible tasting pasties are lying in wait for an unsuspecting customer. 😥
A typical street in Par.
I did visit Par way back in the 60s to meet Minnie, one of my grandfathers (Sam Tippett) sisters. Penzance to Par is 61 miles or about 1.25 hours by car. Obviously I had a good reason to visit Par, otherwise I can’t see any features worth going there for.
Pop Tippett’s sister Minnie.
This is Minnie, one of my grandfathers (Sam Tippett) sisters.
This was Minnie’s home in Par
I should have taken this photo with me because I’m sure somebody in the pub would have known its location.
Penzance Par one bridge too far
Par is quite a lonely part of the English coast.
Penzance main street.
Penzance is a town, civil parish and port in Cornwall, in England, United Kingdom. It is well known for being the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouthand 300 miles west-southwest of London.
Beachside
Penzance is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles (121 km) west of Plymouth and 300 miles (480 km) west-southwest of London. Situated in the shelter of Mount’s Bay, the town faces south-east onto the English Channel, is bordered to the west by the fishing port of Newlyn, to the north by the civil parish of Madron and to the east by the civil parish of Ludgvan.
Granted various royal charters from 1512 onwards and incorporated in 1614, it has a population of 21,168 (2001 census).
Main St Penzance
Luck was with us providing a beautiful blue sky.
Penzance Par one bridge too far
I can imagine it would be freezing cold in winter.
St Michael’s Mount
St Michael’s Mount meaning “grey rock in the woods”, also known colloquially by locals as simply the Mount) is a tidal island 366 metres (400 yards) off the Mount’s Baycoast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is a civil parish and is united with the town of Marazion by a man-made causeway of granite setts, passable between mid-tide and low water.
In prehistoric times, St Michael’s Mount may have been a port for the tin trade, and Gavin de Beer made a case for it to be identified with the “tin port” Ictis/Ictin mentioned by Posidonius.
Historically, St Michael’s Mount was a Cornish counterpart of Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, France (which shares the same tidal island characteristics and the same conical shape), when it was given to the Benedictines, religious order of Mont Saint-Michel, by Edward the Confessor in the 11th century.
St Michael’s Mount is one of 43 (unbridged) tidal islands which can be walked to from mainland Britain
In conclusion I guess I may be a little harsh on my description of Par, however travelling between Penzance Par you will find many interesting towns & villages worth a visit, St Ives for instance is a wonderful seaside village.
Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.
The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.
Here we are at England’s most westerly point. Wind levels in winter reach around 20-25 knots, which is windier than most of England. The highest temperature recorded is 28.9 °C, and the lowest temperature recorded is -3.4 °C.
Penwith House
This historic building dating from 1860 houses a hotel, a gift shop with maritime gifts, toys and confectionery. Coordinates: 50°3’56″N 5°42’51″W.
Beautiful old building
In 1987 Peter de Savary purchased Land’s End for almost £7 million from David Goldstone. He had two new buildings erected and much of the present theme park development was instigated by him. He sold both Land’s End and John o’ Groats to businessman Graham Ferguson Lacey in 1991. The current owners purchased Land’s End in 1996 and formed a company named Heritage Great Britain PLC. Attractions at the theme park include children’s playgrounds and recorded music. Twice a week in August there are firework displays. Nearby is the Land’s End Hotel. In May 2012, Land’s End received widespread attention as the starting point of the 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay.
Blue sky and lots of wind.
Land’s End is a headland and small settlement in western Cornwall, England. It is the most westerly point of mainland Cornwall and England. It is on the Penwith peninsula, about eight miles west-southwest of Penzance.
Rugged coastline.
This is certainly not a good place for a swim. 🙂
Lands End England’s most westerly point.
The sea pounds these rocks 24/7.
Lands End Hotel.
We were so lucky to have the beautiful blue sky, photos look so much better. What you can’t see in the shots is the howling wind that nearly blew us off our feet. 😆
Air Ambulance.
I guess this choppers working days are over. 🙂
Neihboring property
Not too inspiring realy 🙂
David Herd, intrepid traveller. 😎
Many thanks for visiting my Lands End post, please pass it on to your friends and Follow @David_Herd
Fabulous views, excellent restaurants & a very good room rate if you book through THIS LINK.
The building in the middle is the Holiday Inn, on the left is the Amari Hotel which is another very good five star hotel. Use THIS LINK to book for a very good room rate.
London pubs people food are favorite pastimes of mine, even though London is not famous for great cuisine you can find hundreds of terrific places to eat.
London pubs people food
This is the same restaurant as the Colbert, in 2009 it was called Grande Brasserie.
The Colbert
Like most of the restaurants in Sloane Square this is a great “people watching” place, one tends to go there for that reason more than the food. The food however is fine and the place is always busy.
London pubs people food, The Botanist
The Botanist is definitely one of the good London pubs, a great place to watch the super trendy crowd go through their mating rituals. It gets so busy the crowd spills out onto the footpath, sometimes it’s a struggle to get to the bar for a refill.
Did I mention the super trendy crowd?
Well here are three people that don’t fit that description, I am enjoying drinks at the Botanist with friends Teresa & Debbie.
Da Scalzo restaurant.
Good food, nice atmosphere and great music.
Great Jazz trio at Da Scalzo.
I went back just to hear the band again.
15 minutes walk from Sloane Square
Da Scalzo is a nice little restaurant about 15 minutes walk from Sloane Square at 2 Elizabeth St, London SW1W 9RB, Phone:+44 20 7730 5498. The food is good without being great, so don’t expect too much, however at weekends they have a very good jazz band playing all the old fashioned songs which really adds to the atmosphere. Have a look at them on the video below.
Aint misbehaving at Da Scalzo
OK, lets go upmarket
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
68 Royal Hospital Rd, London SW3 4HP
Fabulous food as you would expect at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay with a price to match. However lets face it, you need to spoil yourself every now & then and the food is great. Check out the menufor this rather special restaurant. I will be back in London in March 2014 and another visit is certainly on my agenda. 😎
Gordon Ramsay’s wine list 2009.
As you would expect it is rather expensive.
Cafe Rouge.
There is a chain of these excellent restaurants all over London, very good French food at a reasonable price.
Cafe Rouge French Bistro.
Definitely no complaints with the food. I also enjoyed their branch at Brighton.
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Courtfield London pubs Earls Court
Situated at 187 Earl’s Court Rd the Courtfield’s is one of the good London pubs, not very flash but the upstairs restaurant serves very good pub food at reasonable prices, worth a visit if you are in the area.
London pubs people food Mozzarella and More
Mozzarella and More Italian Kings Rd Chelseagood food & nice atmosphere, certainly worth a visit.
Jump on a London bus
A very good way to see this fabulous city.
Super travel tips. Great Britain has an excellent rail service, save up to 80% by booking your ticket before you arrive, just click here. London Underground’s Piccadilly Line provides the most cost-effective rail route between Heathrow Airport and the capital, so look for accommodation around Earl’s Court, Gloucester Rd or Knightsbridge. For more information click here.
This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposite the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.
Good English restaurants exist, many people think they are few and far between, but here are a couple to consider. The Westbeach restaurant in Bournemouth is certainly worth a visit, great location on the beach, with a good menu offering a nice selection. I first visited Westbeach December 2007 then returned in 2009 so things may have changed.
One of Britain’s Great Tea Rooms is in Bradford on Avon, the afternoon ritual of serving tea has been developed to a fine art here, and is so accomplished that the Bridge Tea Rooms has been recognized as excellent by the prestigious UK Tea Guild for many years. Delicate bone china, the finest leaf teas, and friendly staff in Victorian costumes serving home-made cakes, pastries and sandwiches. Housed in a former blacksmith’s cottage dating from 1502, the Bridge Tea Rooms positively oozes atmosphere, and the classical music playing gently in the background sets a tranquil tone.
One of Britain’s Great Tea Rooms
If you are ever in this delightful village make sure you visit this tea room.
MY LOVELY NIECE LOVED THE SCONES.
Laura really loved the scones.
My other lovely niece Elyssa preferred the sponge cake.
Either one would do me.
La Chateaux Du Vin in Brighton
Agnes, Paulo and Nikki at my favourite Brighton restaurant, La Chateaux Du Vin, open for lunch and dinner, if you go there please pass on my regards. Good English restaurants exist
Above is Smoked salon on Matzo which is an unleavened bread traditionally eaten by Jews during the week-long Passover holiday.
This is definitely not one of the Good English restaurants, worst Cornish pasties I’ve ever tasted were here. The reason I paid this town a visit was because it was the birth place of my grandfather Sam Tippett.
Thanks for visiting my Good English restaurants exist photo blog.
This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.
London pubs Harrods Thames, certainly one of my favourite cities, here I am enjoying a few drinks at The Botanist hotel in Sloane Square with Teresa Hamilton-Smith who was a favourite girlfriend of mine in Sydney in the early 80s. Her lovely friend Debbie joined as well. Here is a comparison of photos taken 31 years apart. The one below was Terry & I with Helen Burke another girlfriend of mine on my balcony at 72 Wrights Rd Drummoyne in Sydney in 1982. I often wonder in which decade did I have the most fun, when I see a photo like this I vote for the 80s, however when I think really hard about the question, the fabulous 70s win every time.
As I said in my first blog it seems to me you go to sleep one night, wake up the next morning, and 30 years have flashed by. No matter how many years have passed I will always remember the wonderful people and the great times we had together.
London pubs Harrods Thames Kings Rd Chelsea
Kings road is Chelsea’s main road. It was once a private road- used only by royalty seeking access to Hampton Court. Starting at Sloane Square, Kings Road stretches south-west and round Worlds End before becoming New Kings Road and crossing Putney Bridge. The Kings Road has always been synonymous with fashion and small clothes stores can be found all along the route. Such stores have been responsible for such fashion tends as the miniskirt and Vivien Westwood’s punk-inspired shop ‘Sex’ can be found here. Many of the original clothes boutiques have made way for more exclusive and corporate clothing labels in modern times. The Kings Road is also a treasure trove of antiques stores- the famous Chelsea Antiques Market for example. Many established stores such as Habitat, Heals and Bluebird have grown from the Kings Road.
Chelsea Bridge
Chelsea Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames in west London, connecting Chelsea on the north bank to Battersea on the south bank. There have been two Chelsea Bridges, on the site of what was an ancient ford.
The first Chelsea Bridge was proposed in the 1840s as part of a major development of marshlands on the south bank of the Thames into the new Battersea Park. It was a suspension bridge intended to provide convenient access from the densely populated north bank to the new park. Although built and operated by the government, tolls were charged initially in an effort to recoup the cost of the bridge. Work on the nearby Chelsea Embankment delayed construction and so the bridge, initially called Victoria Bridge, did not open until 1857. Although well received architecturally, as a toll-bridge it was unpopular with the public, and Parliament felt obliged to make it toll-free on Sundays. The bridge was less of a commercial success than had been anticipated, partly because of competition from the newly built Albert Bridge nearby. It was acquired by the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1877, and the tolls were abolished in 1879.
The bridge was narrow and structurally unsound, leading the authorities to rename it Chelsea Bridge to avoid the Royal Family’s association with a potential collapse. In 1926, with the bridge unable to handle increased volumes of users, caused by population growth in the surrounding area and the introduction of the automobile, it was proposed that the old bridge be rebuilt or replaced. Between 1934 and 1937 it was demolished and replaced by the current structure, which opened in 1937.
London pubs Harrods Thames The Albert Bridge
The Albert Bridge is a road bridge over the River Thames in West London, connecting Chelsea on the north bank to Battersea on the south bank. Designed and built by Rowland Mason Ordish in 1873 as an Ordish–Lefeuvre system modified cable-stayed bridge, it proved to be structurally unsound, so between 1884 and 1887 Sir Joseph Bazalgette incorporated some of the design elements of a suspension bridge. In 1973 the Greater London Council added two concrete piers, which transformed the central span into a simple beam bridge. As a result, today the bridge is an unusual hybrid of three different design styles. It is an English Heritage Grade II listed building. Built as a toll bridge, it was commercially unsuccessful. Six years after its opening it was taken into public ownership and the tolls were lifted. The toll booths remained in place and are the only surviving examples of bridge tollbooths in London. Nicknamed “The Trembling Lady” because of its tendency to vibrate when large numbers of people walked over it, the bridge has signs at its entrances that warned troops to break step whilst crossing the bridge.
Eaton Square Belgrave
Eaton Square Belgrave is just opposite this corner, and the photo below is Hyde Park. Beautiful, imposing Eaton Square lies at the heart of Belgravia, a superb discreet location bordered by Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Buckingham Palace, Pimlico and Hyde Park. Eaton Square is London’s prime residential square. Eaton Square is arranged around six private gardens, including a tennis court which is for the exclusive use of residents.
Eaton Square Belgrave
If money is not a problem then this is where you would live.
Wellington Arch Hyde Park
Wellington Arch, also known as Constitution Arch or (originally) the Green Park Arch, is a triumphal arch located to the south of Hyde Park in central London and at the western corner of Green Park (although it is now isolated on a traffic island). Built nearby between 1826-1830 to a design by Decimus Burton, it was moved to its present position in 1882-83. It once supported an equestrian statue of the 1st Duke of Wellington; the original intention of having it topped with sculpture of a “quadriga” or ancient four-horse chariot was not realized until 1912.
The London eye opened in March 2000 the EDF Energy London Eye and has become an iconic landmark and a symbol of modern Britain. The London Eye is the UK’s most popular paid for visitor attraction, visited by over 3.5 million people a year. A breathtaking feat of design and engineering, passengers in the London Eye’s capsules can see up to 40 kilometres in all directions.
Westminister Bridge & Big Ben
Westminster Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge over the River Thames in London, linking Westminster on the north side and Lambeth on the south side.
The bridge is painted predominantly green, the same colour as the leather seats in the House of Commons which is on the side of the Palace of Westminster nearest the bridge. This is in contrast to Lambeth Bridge which is red, the same colour as the seats in the House of Lords and is on the opposite side of the Houses of Parliament.
Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, and often extended to refer to the clock and the clock tower. The tower is now officially called the Elizabeth Tower, after being renamed in 2012 (from “Clock Tower”) to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The tower holds the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world and is the third-tallest free-standing clock tower. The tower was completed in 1858 and had its 150th anniversary on 31 May 2009, during which celebratory events took place. The tower has become one of the most prominent symbols of both London and England and is often in the establishing shot of films set in the city.
London pubs Harrods Thames, where does it all end? There are so many things to see and do in this great city.
The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
London pubs Harrods Thames Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge crossing the River Thames in London, between Blackfriars Bridge and Hungerford Bridge. The name of the bridge is in memory of the Anglo-Dutch and Prussian victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Thanks to its location at a strategic bend in the river, the views of London (Westminster, the South Bank and London Eye to the west, the City of London and Canary Wharf to the east) from the bridge are widely held to be the finest from any spot at ground level.
The Hungerford Bridge
The first Hungerford Bridge, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, opened in 1845 as a suspension footbridge. It was named after the then Hungerford Market, because it went from the South Bank to Hungerford Market on the north side of the Thames. The footbridge gained a reputation for being narrow, dilapidated and dangerous – it was the scene of a murder in 1999. In the mid-1990s a decision was made to replace the footbridge with new structures on either side of the existing railway bridge, and a competition was held in 1996 for a new design.
Trafalgar Square
This could be London’s most famous landmark.
Trafalgar Square
Here I am at Trafalgar Square in July 2009. Trafalgar Square, designed by Sir Charles Barry, was constructed in the 1840s on the site that was originally the Royal Mews for hawks and then royal stables. Barry was also responsible for the Houses of Parliament.
Trafalgar Square Lions
The children love the Trafalgar Square lions.
Prince Edward Theatre.
The Prince Edward Theatre is a West End theatre situated on Old Compton Street, just north of Leicester Square, in the City of Westminster.
London pubs Harrods Thames Jersey Boys
One of the best shows I have ever seen. Jersey Boys at the Prince Edward theater in London’s West End. Perhaps I liked it so much because I grew up listening to FrankieValli. It is on my list to see it on Broadway as well.
London’s West End
I must say I was a little disappointed in this show.
Porsche Panamera
The first time I saw the beautiful Porsche Panamera was outside Harrods in July 2009.
Good English restaurants exist
