Though I had been to London twice before and visited many of its museums, I had never been to the Tate Modern Art Gallery in Southbank.   Set to finally visit this iconic gallery, I took the tube to Blackfriars Station and crossed the bridge to the south side of the Thames River*.  Though the river might be far dirtier than those I'm used to, I'm always happy when I'm near water.  I love the way cities are built around waterways and I enjoy taking in the atmosphere that surrounds it.

*Is this an okay time to mention my bafflement at the British pronunciation of the word Thames? Can someone please explain to me why it is said Tems? I honestly just don't get it.  And while we're at it, how are there only 2 syllables in the word Gloucester?          

One of my favourite things about England is that there is no admission cost to the public museums.  While there are special exhibits with paid entry, anyone can walk in off the street and view a huge selection of work at no cost.  The first installation to catch any visitor's attention is the large interactive piece in the atrium.  Commissioned by Hyundai and created by the trio SUPERFLEX, visitors are invited to submerse themselves in the world of swings in unique ways.       

Throughout the galleries there were many pieces that I connected with in different ways.  Some provoked emotion and made me think, others left me more informed about world issues, and some were just nice to look at.  There will always be modern art I don't understand, but a lot of it I really enjoyed.  

Another part of the museum that I particularly loved was the observation deck on the top floor of the Blavatnik Building.  It offers breathtaking 360 degree views of London - with no windows blocking my camera lens!  

Once I was all modern art'd out I returned back to the street for a few more photos of the river and Millennium Bridge.

If you're ever in London, remember to set aside some time to stroll along Southbank and take in the incredible artwork at the Tate Modern.