Saturday, September 27, 2008

the giant staircase

Today was a beautiful day, even by London standards. It was sunny and warm which is unusual for his time of year. It is usually really cloudy and damp but I guess all the Americans brought the sun to the island! Today was our first official GSE outing. We went to St. Paul's Cathedral for a 1 1/2 hour tour. It was such an amazing day! Just thinking about how many people walked through the cathedral and how many people are remembered there is just staggering. It took over 35 years to build. Many of the people involved in the process got a little impatient and cut the designer's, Christopher Wren, pay in half until they saw progress. Wren has a tomb and a small memorial stone in the crypt of the cathedral. He doesn't have a monument or anything ornate like others in the church do. His memorial stone says that if you are looking for a monument, look around.
These next two pictures are taken from the very top of the cathedral. It took 409 steps to the top! Normally, that would be a bit of a hike, but with a blister on your foot, it was my Mount Everest! I made it though! And I think the view was quite worth it.

In the next picture, you can see a white circular building. That my friends, is Shakespeare's globe. Not the original, of course. It was burnt in a fire less than 14 years after it was built. The current Globe will soon be standing longer than original. The new Globe was built in the same manner as the old one. It was build without power tools and has the first thatched roof in London since the Great Fire. More will come about this fine historical building. I am going to see A Midsummer's Night Dream there next Wednesday!
The next two pictures are of the outside of the cathedral. Jess took the lovely picture of me in front of the big door. It makes me look huge...so NOT like me!


The blister is feeling better and I hope will be non-existence by tomorrow when I wear my boots to church! Did I mention I'm walking for a half hour to get there? Yikes!
P.S. I forgot to say I saw the John Donne memorial. I cried when our guide read this:

"No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee
."
I know. I'm such a lit geek :)

7 comments:

heelers said...

Enjoying your London insights.
Pix and quotes add to it.
James (in Ireland)

Diane said...

Great Pictures Laura, thank you so much for sharing your experiences. Love your new house, didn't realize you had so many rooms. FBC sleepover at your house? Praying for you, {{{{{{Laura}}}}} Love Diane

Anonymous said...

St. Paul's Cathedral! Shakespeare's Globe! John Donne's memorial! I'm crying, too, but for a different reason! Thanks so much for all the great pictures and commentary. Miss ya much! -PT

sharon said...

thanks for all the pictures, commentary, and "calls" home. it doesn't feel like you are too far away. enjoy it all for us! hope the classes are as much fun as the sight seeing has been. lots of love from mom

DebRiss said...

WOW! What a day. Try a band-aid over the blister. Always works for me. Stops the rubbing. The pictures are beautiful! I cant wait to hear how your first church experience goes!

mrsforeman said...

You DO have sneakers! Super. How'd the search for a church go? Can't wait to hear about the play. ~Heidi

Kris, Sarah, Evan, Isaiah, Elena, and Anna said...

Is Christopher Wren related to Christopher Robin?

Kris