Day 4 - London, day 3

Now that I know London wakes up early (rush hour in the tube is 7:30-9am) I’m not leave the hotel until 9. It’s going to be another fun day with lots of walking. Let’s get started.

St. Paul’s church	They have a pretty garden area	St Mary le Strand (built in 1222, rebuilt in 1714)

I was not expecting much from this small chapel but was amazed how beautiful it was.

Just a few steps down from this church is a hidden street and church belonging to the Temple Church.  This might be more commonly known as the church built by the Knights Templar.

I walked right past this “street” a half dozen times
You’re welcomed to go to the top of the church	Just make sure you’re not afraid of tight steps

Once leaving here, walk a few more blocks and then come upon this amazing structure, St Paul’s Cathedral. You’ll probably notice it doesn’t resemble the other chapels in London. Well that’s by design. The architect was trying to make a statement that this could be a place of gathering without it being relegated to only worship services. To do this he went back to classical shapes and columns… with just enough religious components to make the State happy (they were paying the bill for this after all).

Add caption	Monstrous doesn’t even come close to describing the view from within	The dome is 365 feet high, to coincide with the number of days each year

Upon entering you’re instructed that they prefer not photos or videos. Well that “preference” is more an absolute rule as I received a strong lecture from a 20yo girl after taking the above three photos. Do you think I listened to that dire lecture? I paid $25, of course I didn’t. I just became more sly about it. You can’t visit here and NOT take photos home.

See that large gold circle in the roof, we’re headed up there to get a better look at the ceiling. Sadly no one is allowed in the upper tiny ring. the Whispering Gallery is the name of that ring above the floor. It had an unexpected consequence of being able to have someone whisper against the flat of the wall and it will carry perfectly to someone on the other side of the ring.

	Just 259 steps

It’s been maybe an hour here, time to move on. If I had planned things better I would have ended here because there is a 5pm mass. Mass gets you in free AND they sing (9am mass too). Just imagine the sound that would be heard sitting in the upper ring during that.

It’s about 1:30 now. A lot has been seen but we still need to explore the other side of the river. Quick bite to eat then moving on.

Freshly made, cooked while I wait pasta from a small French family?	What of what to choose?!?	Sitting on the steps of St. Paul’s, eating like a local
		You can almost feel the shady stuff that went down here long ago
Southwark Cathedrial	Stone sculpturing school	Random street market
Our final destination	The Tower Bridge	An absolutely picture-perfect day

And now it’s about 4pm. Full day indeed. Calling it quits early so I can pack and be at the high speed train station to Paris in the morning.