Whoops...Been so caught up with all the hullabaloo at work I forgot to finish posting the London escapades. I need to get myself to a happy place after the events of Thursday and Friday and what better locale than London? Can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be...maybe DC, San Francisco, Austin, N'awlins, anywhere but here...but I digress...
Beautiful and sunny day...again...is this really London? We wandered in the southeast section of central London. Many quiet streets and meandering lanes. Love it! So much mystery, your imagination can run wild with the things that have gone on and continue to go on in little places like that.
Found LOTS of churches - on my list of places to find and not on my list. Each one was different. St. Bartholomew the Great dates back to the 1200's and the entry to the churchyard is a Tudor beauty. Of course, we two dips didn't think that Sunday is not the best day to go church hunting, so we could not gain access to any of them. Unless we wanted to attend services... Awkward... I don't like to show up to anything in the middle...
No matter the condition of the church, the gardens around them are meticulous. They are havens of solitude, even in the heart of The City. It is amazing. The closest thing to these is the Grace Bible Church on B'way in the north Village in NYC - a place I have been drawn to for years. It seems the British realise that a church can be a peaceful place for all people of all denominations or none and they are so inviting. They just beckon you to sit a spell and relax. Then there are the creepy aspects - the lessons taught graphically in the architectural decorations, the war damage, and the various aspects of each building's history. The pictures I shot this day may all look the same to some - you've seen one church you've seen them all - but to me, they most certainly are not!
Then, we pass an old hospital that also has the Church of St. Bartholomew the Less within its walls. And those walls! I was immediately drawn to the sheer number of pock-marks in the thick stone walls. These were the result of the Blitz. It is just amazing the amount of damage this area sustained in WWII and that this building is still here. And to touch those deep recesses left by the bombs...scary. I just do not think the majority of Americans really understand the ramifications of warfare becuse the 20th century wars the US was involved in did not happen on our shores. Not that anyone should ever have to live through that...but things like visible damage are not so subtle reminders of what war really does.
Then we walk more and a turn here, a turn there, and there's St. Paul's Cathedral! Whoa! It looks so much better now that there has been a massive campaign to clean the exterior. Not finished, but under the bright blue sky, it gleamed. And I can't even express how huge it is. I could not fit the whole thing in the frame. I am not kidding. Went to a little cafe near there. Had a soda called Fentiman's. The flavour was dandelion and burdock. Now, I am not a soda person. I only like unique flavours - root or birch beer, ginger beer, sasparilla... This soda was so good! I had to take a picture of it! Delicious! And I found where to buy it in the US! Yippee!
Then Dave decides, we are so close to the Millenium foot bridge, let's walk across the Thames. I saw Tower Bridge! And there was a guy playing the accordion on the bridge! Perfect. Well, since we are right in front of it, we should go to the Tate Modern. Ingenious use of an old building. Don't tear it down and rebuild something with modern, inferior materials! Recycle your architecture. And the MoMA could learn a thing or two from the Tate. It just flows so nicely. And fabulous use of space. The museums in the UK - Manchester and London - just really seem to be for the people. All people, all ages. NYC could learn a thing or two...
Back across the Thames. There are guys standing on surfboards and rowing. Weird. But upon telling this story at home we find out that it's a new sport. No cable TV in Casa Vasa means we are out of the loop. I certainly would not want to have fallen into the Thames, though. It was real brown.
Walk Fleet Street past St. Bride's church. So beautiful. And the Halls of Justice. There was a great monument in the center of the street in front of the Halls. On top of the monument was a dragon. Fierce! Then walk to Aldwych Crescent. I can't believe I agreed to walk this much after the pain of yesterday...must not have been thinking clearly. Also really wishing I could have found those replacement Doc's. Like RIGHT NOW!!!
Dinner at Carluccio's - an Italian chain by a chef that also has a food market in the restaurant. Even the chain resturants here are more substantial and less offensive here. No Macaroni Grill or Olive Garden cr*p. The food is actually decent and edible and healthier. Quote from Dave - "This is the best pasta dish I have ever had!"
End the night at our local hangout, The Swan. I still don't understand Cricket and I have watched the highlights of it every night.
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