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[Nov. 4th, 2005|08:16 pm] |
Busy day today. Left Portsmouth at 4.30am to arrive at London City Airport at 7am. Waved hubby off at 8am. (he's off selling toy soldiers in Antwerp) Then I went off to be a tourist in my own city.
Climbed Monument (Christopher Wren's design, built between 1671 and 1677 to commemorate the Great Fire of London of 1666) at 9.30am. (202 feet high, 311 steps to viewing platform) Oh the pain!
Onwards to St. Paul's Cathedral. Paid my respects to Wellington & Nelson. Took part in Eucharist. Lit candles & said prayers. Marvelled at the glittering mosaics in Wren's dome. Climbed to the whispering gallery and then went up higher. (85metres high, 530 steps to the Golden Gallery) My calf muscles are screaming!
Then I crossed the Millennium Bridge to the reconstruction of Shakespeare's Globe theatre, which looks so right amongst the modern buildings. Walked onto Borough market and bought some fresh rolls for later and had myself a falafel, humous & salad wrap. Could so easily have bought, olives, cheese, chorizo, game pie and a million other tasty morsels. I'll go again with Paul when he's back.
Next stop the Tate Modern, some very interesting installations, Rachel Whiteread's, "Embankment" was huge and it felt good to be dwarfed and engulfed by some art. Other goodness by the likes of Rodin, Picasso, Gilbert & George and a woman who's name escapes me - she had a series of short films of her mother's correspondance to her during the war in Lebannon read over nude pictures of her mother. (sounds bizarre but it was very touching)
Picked up Krispy Kreme doughnuts to nourish me once I got home. Made it home by 5.45pm. Fantastic day, but I'm totally knackered. |
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I /love/ the whispering gallery. When I was in London, I was almost seven months pregnant and they were so afraid of letting me climb the stairs (which I was determined to do) that they let me take the elevator. My husband went to the upper level and I waited at the lower one. While I was there, sitting against the wall, pregnant as all get out and breathing quite easily, up came these four university students looking like they were about to keel over. They took one look at me (all comfy and relaxed) and turned bright red. I didn't bother telling them I'd taken the elevator, just smiled and wished them a good day. *G*
By the way, have you been to Sir John Soane's museum? It was one of my favourites when we were there.
No, I always get sidetracked and end up somewhere else. Or by time I finish at one place I find it is too late to get there.
I envy you. I love London. It amazed us when we were there how many people lived right on the outskirts but never went into London or downtown per se to do anything. We have friends who have lived just outside London their whole lives and have never been to any of the museums or the Tower or anything.
I live on the outskirts of London and don't get into London often enough for my liking. The past couple of days I just decided to see places I have either never been to (Borough Market, Tate Modern & Monument) or ones that I'd not been to for years (St. Paul's Cathedral).
I'm actually planning a couple of similar excursions before Christmas, just need to rope some mates in too!
From: (Anonymous)
2011-09-29 11:02 am (UTC)
DRMtTniorEdtQUbXkb | (Link)
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H19pUw Can be also this issue because the truth can be achieved only in a dispute :D
From: (Anonymous)
2011-09-30 06:34 am (UTC)
KWfDsBJIeIVzGHo | (Link)
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6Gm7ZJ Last a few years has been to Ibiza, so met a person there whose style of presentation is very similar to yours. But, unfortunately, that person is too far from the Internet!... | |
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