This was a crazy but incredible walk for me. I led this walk on Sunday evening, and I really feel like I could not have picked a better walk to lead. I read up on all of the history on the Tube as we went, so I was really able to contribute to the sites we discovered. A personal favorite of mine is tucked away to the left of the reconstructed Globe. It is a house with a small plaque indicating that Sir Christopher Wren lived here while he built St. Paul's Cathedral. While it cannot be proven, it was certainly worth the find. I loved Shakespeare's Globe, and I had already been there before to view All's Well that Ends Well. It is certainly one of my favorite places in London. Do not judge me, but I think I may have to go to at least three Shakespeare productions while I am here. There is no better place on earth to see them. We then wandered through the streets that were known as the "naughty district" in a royal proclamation in the 1500s. The nobility did not want to live near the rabble of the commoners, so they sectioned off this part of the city for low-class entertainment. Therefore, this district became known for brothels, bear and bull baiting, and theatres. In later additions, several debtors prisons were also located in this area. It was a fascinating walk, as many of these locations have now been cleaned up and have become tourist attractions. The Clink Prison Museum is one such example. We then discovered some heavy construction, so we had to be creative. Amazingly, we managed to find our way through all of the walk, including the Royal Hospital. Health officials in the city live right in that area. We then saw the HMS Belfast, one of the largest gun-carrying ships in the world. It was taken out of commission in 1963 and turned into a museum in 1971. It was quite the site. We also saw the unique design of city hall. It does not seem to fit with its surroundings, as the Tower Bridge and the Tower of London are so nearby. It is very modern, however, and reflects the changing city.
And then we made it to the Tower Bridge. I must admit, I have been waiting the entire trip just to cross this bridge. It was the most amazing experience, and it was very personal for me. I have dreamed of this moment since I was a little girl. I have always wanted to study in London, what I consider to be the most incredible city on earth. Since visiting for a short while when I was 12, London has been a dream for me. Walking across the Tower Bridge was that dream realized. I love London, plain and simple. It was also quite nostalgic for me to see the Tower of London so close. When I visited before, I celebrated my twelfth birthday while I was in London. My parents let me pick the place I wanted to visit most, and since I loved the history of the Tudors, I chose the Tower of London. With my twentieth birthday quickly approaching, it was really quite incredible to realize that I have made it back to this city I love so much. I will treasure the memory of this walk forever. It was beautiful to see the city lit up at night, and I honestly believe that I will not be able to top this walk. But London always seems to prove me wrong...:)
No comments:
Post a Comment