On Thursday John had meetings all day, so we got up at a normal weekday time and headed east toward his London office. He’s the figure walking below, behind the parked car on the left. I then continued walking east toward St Paul’s Cathedral. There were several factors that went into choosing my Thursday activity, including proximity (ruled out a swim in Hampstead heath) and wanting to see a place that I hadn’t seen before.
It was about a 40 minute walk and it was hot already, so was good to arrive at St Paul’s! Note the railings around the base of the dome above the columns, and the railing at the top of the dome, which is considerably higher and smaller.
The inside is very beautiful. I did the audio tour which helpfully pointed out the painted main dome and many other features.
They chose to paint the main dome rather than use mosaic because it gave a more simple and less ornate feeling. It’s been an issue though, the paint needs much more upkeep. I decided to walk up the stairs to the listening gallery, which has a wonderful view of the cathedral. They don’t allow phones / cameras in the listening gallery and I’m a rule follower so apologies but no photos of that! Fun fact about the listening gallery: the architect of the cathedral, Christopher Wren, became tired of climbing scaffolding, so he was hauled up to the gallery in a basket!
Then I decided to go up another level, to the outside viewing deck that circles the big part of the dome.
The view was excellent! Note the bridge over the Thames with Tate Modern museum in the other side.
Then I thought hmmm might as well keep going, and I climbed to the top. The stairs were all different, with the top sets being very pretty spiral staircases.
More great views from the top! Then I walked back down all the way to the ground floor, then down another level to the crypt. Some of the more prominent people buried there include architect Christopher Wren. His stone is surrounded by people who had also worked on the building.
Memorial to the discoverer of penicillin, surrounded by other medical progress including the first professor of medical oncology. Yay for medical discoveries!
And poet William Blake, whose stone reads:
To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flower
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour
After that wonderfully cool and dark couple of hours, I headed back into the sun to cross the Thames and visit Shakespeare’s Globe theater and the Tate Modern museum.
From the bridge looking back toward St Paul’s there’s a bit of an optical illusion. Or maybe just a cool view!
My timing wasn’t right for a show or tour at the Globe but I did walk by it. Would love to see a show there sometime!
In the Tate Modern, which is a really incredible space – huge with the space built out of stark concrete – I decided to see an exhibit of Julio Le Parc sculpture and paintings. He was an Argentinian born artist who lived in France, and he explored abstract shapes, movement and light. Thus is one of his pieces, metal squares that twist in wires and reflect light into the adjacent wall.
This piece was similar but in a darkened gallery so had even more dramatic effect.
He also did abstract works with color.
It was time to head back to the hotel to start my work day, so I had a walk through southwark, grabbed a sandwich from the M&S GRAB and go area, then took the tube back to Piccadilly circus. John stopped by ‘my office’ after his work day was done and took this photo.
Then, finally, time for our reservations a NOPA, a restaurant owned by renown and very popular chef Ottam Ottolenghi. We have two of his cookbooks and have been really wanting to eat at one of his London restaurants so this was quite a treat!
This was probably the best dish (they were all amazing) – celery root roasted and in a chili oil sauce.
Cauliflower was also amazing.
And as a main we had fish (turbot) with capers and other delicious things.
Finish it off with a shared piece of malva cake, spongy and soaked in delicious flavors. Now, to try the celery root and more recipes at home!
The walk back to our hotel was short and very lively. Somehow I look all alone here but there were so many people around! Great trip to London, wish we could have done more but will try to get back before too long!
