Friday 11th August 2023
Oh where to start? A really busy day today.
But London, oh London. How you are surprising me. I know I shouldn't be as surprised with a city that has 9 million inhabitants and probably double that in tourists. Perhaps it's the fact that I no longer have one glimmer of fear about exploring the city. My first visit a long time ago I was petrified of the subway, the noise, the crowds... Now, I'm loving seeing a very brave woman put on her mascara on the rocking tube train- I'm scared of doing that in front of a well lit mirror. The doc Martin shoes and sundresses, the stunning women dressed up for a day out, and that's just all on the trains.
I didn't really know where I was going initially, so looked up some free museums and saw that there is a Roman ruin underneath a building which has a cave like temple. Yip, perfect. So I booked a slot and had to do some quick videos, (yet to be edited -argh) then jumped on a bus to the city. Oops, wrong direction, so I took the tube instead.
It's a remarkably clean city considering there's millions of people moving around. And I stuck my head in any open churches on my path.
The Mithraeum houses the archeological ruins which is so well preserved and presented. There's a great show with some clever lighting and sound and it is fascinating to think that the site was only discovered in 1954. It is just all so incredible. It's also quick tour so I Googled how to get to the Cutty Sark in Greenwich and set off.
I had to get on a DLR train and I wasn't sure what that entailed until I saw a driver-less train roll into the station. (It stands for Docklands Light Railway). We went on a route that showed me Canary Wharf and sooooo many places still to see. I might need a year here and I'd probably still not see half of the city.
I stepped into the town of Greenwich and it felt Friday festive. The lanes and Cafés and pubs all flowered up and pretty and around a corner, the first sight of the tall ship, the Cutty Sark. I was primarily there for the pedestrian foot bridge under the Thames though so I walked around the ship quickly. I spotted some gorgeous Navy buildings so that was a must see detour.
The pedestrian foot bridge was opened in 1902. Yip. That long ago. I was grateful for the cooler air down below as a bit of a respite from the London humidity. I used the lift 3 out 4 times of going down and up. The stairs were my first trip. The Greenwich side is far more lavish than the Southern side but I had to see both sides. Satisfied, I then decided to go look for the Greenwich time line in the large park nearby.
The view from the observatory level is stunning and London was basking in the adoration from afar. I didn't pay to go in the Observatory, and at the last minute saw a family taking an obscure way through a strange gate and followed them to the line in the path. No bells nor whistles, just a mark in a brick above. It was tricky getting a picture with being photo bombed so the guy in the background shared his crossing time and space with a stranger.
Happy at the events of my day it was time to make my way back to Brixton.
My insides are smiling.
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