The Shard has been beckoning from all points in London. Today was the day to seek it out. It reminded me of walking down New York streets looking up and occasionally catching sight of the Empire State Building. We were on the same mission. Came up to the surface at Monument Station and found out why that is what it is called. The monument is a Christopher Wren design built to commemorate the great fire of London in 1666. Flowers and notes have recently been left at its base in memorial to the Grenfell Tower fire.
Coming around a corner to London Bridge, there it was. All 111 stories! Once we crossed the bridge, we lost it again and wandered narrow streets catching glimpses and getting closer. Once at its base, we skirted the lineup for a
£39 view on the 69th floor and after a thorough security check, took the elevator up to the 31st floor, made ourselves comfortable in the bar with window seats and an adequate view. I checked off one other item on my wish list and ordered a Pimms. Pricey enough to make Bill quiver but completely wonderful! I'll be serving it all summer!
We wandered many streets of The City and south bank ending up at the Globe where we stopped at the box office for a ticket for Thursday's matinee of Twelfth Night. How good can it get??
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| Christopher Wren's Monument - increasingly hidden by new buildings |
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| Shard from across London Bridge |
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| View from 31st Floor - looking at north bank of Thames |
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| Looking easterly to Tower Bridge |
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