I often write about how much I love far-flung places like Cambodia and Ireland and The States, but I often forget to talk about how much I love what is right on my doorstep. Isn’t it always the way? Shame on me. Well, on this Bank Holiday I found myself on my own because of family members’ other obligations, the sun was intermittently shining and a simple walk to buy some coffee became a two-hour excursion.
I walked from my flat on the south side of the Thames near the Millenium Bridge down along the river to Tower Bridge. This is a walk I often take and I didn’t think anything of it, except for the crowds. But when I came to Tower Bridge, I realised I had never actually walked over it, nor had I ever taken the River Walk back along the north side of the river. So I did.
First I crossed over Tower Bridge with it’s baby blue accents.
There were hordes of tourists, of course, but once I got across the river the crowds thinned out and I walked past The Tower itself and then in and out of tunnels and along various wharves and quays. The City is full of fantastic architectural features and so often we forget to look up and see them. Like this wonderful weathervane atop Billingsgate Fish Market.
It’s a fish!
From there, looking across the river, you can so easily be reminded of how much this once was a working industrial site, with cargo ships unloading containers from all over the world. And they still do, as you can see from Walbrook Wharf.
But, of course, most of the wharves have been changed into shopping malls and apartment/office blocks. Just look across the river and you see what was once Pickford’s Wharf and then behind it what we call The Razor Building.
But, not to be too snide about it, you can also see the magnificent Southwark Cathedral off to the left still standing strong and serving its community. Who knows the relationship between it and Harvard University, by the way?
And then, of course, you can’t help but stumble upon the newest tallest building in Europe, The Shard. “All Hail Lord Sauron”(as we like to say)
My walk then ended back where I began but on the other side of the river, and happily so, because I got to have another close long look at what has probably became my most favourite London landmark of all, St. Paul’s.
I’m lucky enough to be able to see its dome from my living room window. I’m looking at it now as I type this (that in itself is enough of a reason to have learned to touch type).
My two-hour walk ended with a dodge and weave across The Millenium Bridge, a circle around The Tate Modern, and then home.
I wish I was a better photographer, but as you can see the clouds were rolling in and out through my whole walk — but then again, this is London, after all. And I probably don’t say enough how much I love it.
I think, from somewhere in the dim past that there is a Harvard room/chapel in Southwark Cathedral? Though I don’t know why. I’m going to have to go look it up now!
Great photos of London, Sue and I never get tired of looking at this city, the good bits and the bad.