| [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. |
|