24 Hours in London

"I'm sorry sir, that can't be done. I am sorry that you cannot fly earlier on standby to Charlotte." the checkin agent said.

"So, I can't take an earlier flight from Columbus so that I am assured to catch my flight to London.?"

"No, I'm sorry sir. That flight to Charlotte is considered a part of the International connection and due to hard-fast rules you can't change your flght. But, maybe if they have oversold, they might want to get you out of here sooner. Try at the gate."

I went through security and to the gate.

I walked up, ready to give the agent ample reason to want to get me out of town sooner rather than later.

"Can I leave early on this flight? I asked....expecting to have the agent quote international safety and security and anti-terror rules for NOT changing your flight time.

"Why certainly sir! Give us $75 and we'll let you leave now!

I did and I left.

And so it begins......

It's interesting how quickly a person arranges their surroundings to make themselves at home or to find comfort in a routine. After arriving at my hotel yesterday, I returned to the train station to find the Underground and immediately looked around for the nearest cafe and what time it opened in morning. I anticipated the cool morning air as I brought a jacket with me this morning.

I also anticipated that they would keep the doors wide open, but never thought that they might have the heat on also, nor that they would have pleasant (and not loud) music playing in the background. (Nor that every fly east of the English Channel would congregate around my blueberry muffin.)

This is just a 24 hour stop-over before I catch the train across England and Wales to the coast for a ferry to Dublin, Ireland.

Anticipating a dash across London in a jet-lagged fog, I listed a couple things to see...Including St. Dunstan in the East...a shell of an ancient church. I think it was bombed out in the War and left as is and then in the 1970's it was designed as an urban garden. Hence, you'll see several photos today of windowless  window arches surrounded by green vines (and pigeons.) I'll give props to the City of London for turning a war-relic into an urban jungle and respite from the frantic city pace...though I imagine few commuters and office workers congregate here...mainly a younger and tourist crowd I'm guessing. (Alas, I fall into the latter category)

Somewhere in the middle of the city are a dozen or more Christopher Wren churches...the result of Wren overseeing the building of countless churches destroyed by the great fire of 1666. I've been to probably a half dozen and I dropped into St. Michael Cornhill. As always...it's hard to be disappointed by a Christopher Wren Church. It was just me and a rather shady character admiring the place. I image the shady character is blogging this morning about sharing St. Michael's with and "old-white-haired-codger, who appeared to be jet-lagged.") Indeed, it was me.

THE Christopher Wren masterpiece is St. Paul's Cathedral, which is visible from countless intersections and Thames bridges and in countless works of art...and not-so-works-of-art.

I walked to my favorite London Church, Southwark Cathedral, which proudly proclaims that it is the oldest Gothic church in London (note: that does not mean it is the oldest...just the oldest Gothic style church.) 

Anyway....Southwark Cathedral (pronounced, I am told..."Suth-erk"....you're welcome...next time you ask a local for the church you can sound like a native.) The church claims, Gower, Chaucer, Shakespeare, Harvard (as in ... University....seems he was baptized here)....and Charles Dickens "are among those associated with this church."

I took note that it did not say that any of them attended or were members or contributed to the church expenses....but they lived nearby or walked past or drank at the Duck's Wing pub nearby or were possibly thrown in the neighborhood Clink jail. (Hence, the term Clink...associated with jail.)

There were a number of other names associated with Southwark Cathedral but I had not heard of them, and yet, I love that cathedral. I attended a Good Friday service there some years ago and took communion. But, they still wanted me to pay a fee for taking pictures. I used the place for a quick jet-lag nap....and cheerfully headed along the Thames on the south side of the river.

Sometimes the best of the views of the city involve looking up to see a 16th century church spire juxtaposed with an incredibly modern building. I note that the London skyline has changed radically in the past decade...it is great fun just to look at the architectural masterpieces dotting the skyline.

Another thing that is fun about London are the paths between the countless Underground trains and the passages between old and modern buildings....probably the result of ancient city alleys turned into modern urban residences. Speaking of turning the ancient into modern...my "hotel" room is the size of hall closet at home. No kidding....in order to towel off after a shower, you need to step out into the hall or you'll smash your elbows on the bath mirror.

Ahh.....above is the interior of St. Michael's Cornhill. 

Look around in London...Big Ben and Buckingham Palace are great to see but the quirky seems to catch my eye. And I'm sure it would catch yours too.

Next door to the Cathedral was a fish restaurant,  I ordered the "Fish and Chips" of course. The waitress prounounced that "a very good choice"...(was there any doubt?) Coupled with a local Pilsner, bottled, ...none on draft...I sat by myself but not alone as I listened to the bells of Southark Cathedral at 6 pm.

Time to catch the train to Wales and the ferry to Ireland. I'll be next to the windows and I invite you to look for me as the journey continues.

Peace,   Bob