DATE: Sunday 9 July, 1995
PLACE: London
WEATHER: Warm
REMARKS: Bryce stayed with a friend to enable an early start
to a visit in Hastings so we have to fend for ourselves. Still
not able to get away as early as I would have liked.
We take the Tube to Charing Cross (we're fast becoming experts
at this). From there to Trafalgar Square to get a Tour bus
and a day-long ticket. Excellent way to see a very crowded
area & find the significance of sites.
Leave the bus at St Paul's for a look inside. Truly stunning.
Glorious paintings on the inside of the Dome, but the most
amazing part was beyond easy viewing. The ceilings above the
Altar and Choir Stalls are decorated - evocative illustrations
with rich and vibrant colours, especially the blues and greens;
all magnificently accentuated by the glittering and liberally-applied
gold-leaf. Interesting too that so many of the memorials &
statues are to military exploits, heroes and events. Mute
testimony to the turbulent, warring and imperial past of Britain
- clearly still redolent in the lives of many today, even
in the current reduced circumstances of the nation.
Back on the bus and forward, now to cross and re-cross the
Thames as far as Tower Bridge, and the Tower. What I found
surprising was the diversity of the buildings and roof-lines
- echoed perhaps by Ian Athfield & Roger Walker? Also
the 'city within a city' feel of the area around the White
(inner) Tower.
The Crown Jewels allowed an interesting comparison with
queuing in Disneyland. More disorderly here with Europeans
(French?) ignoring basic courtesies. The jewels themselves
are presented in a way which .brings out stunning colours
in the rubies, emeralds, and sapphires.
The armoury includes fascinating Oriental daggers with odd
handles, exquisitely decorated German flintlocks, and medieval
armour most notable for its smallness. The Ravens are big
birds!
A lengthy wait for the right bus in which to complete the
tour to Parliament, Hyde Park, Lambeth Palace, etc.
The kids are fading fast until dinner at MacDonalds revives
them. Then home to bed & a busy morning departing for
Italy.
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