Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3 – Part 4 – Part 5
Up and out, got a coffee, and headed toward the Covent Garden tube stop. Hmm, lots of people trying to get on the elevator down to the train platform. I guess it’s Monday morning rush. No matter. I see the stairs down right here. I’ll just pop on down.
And down…
And down…
Down some more…
Down even more…
Ah, fuck, why did I do this?!
Aha! Reached the bottom! I wonder if it’s nighttime already.
Anyway, boarded the train, switched to a different line at Holborn, and was heading northeast now, out of central London again. Off at Stratford and navigated a whole outdoor shopping center, until I found my way out and into the park there.
Anyway, I’m heading up whatever this is.
It’s got an observation deck.
Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky swam there.
Usain Bolt ran and cauldron pieces came together in there.
Back to the bottom to head back up this thing another way, this time leaving most items in a locker in the meantime. The ArcelorMittal Orbit is not just an artsy observation deck for a bygone Olympiad… it’s a Super Fun Happy Slide!
Back up to the slide level, waiting in a short line as it was still early in the day and a Monday anyway. Finally it was my turn, and the operator was instructing me on getting into the big black pouch I’d be going down in. I gave some verbal indication that I understood, and he did a double take and said “Oh, you have an accent. Are you American?” I guess I’m far enough outside of the major tourist hubs to stick out.
I was ready and was launched down the winding tube slide. I clung to the handles while zipping and swerving down the tunnel, the clear window panels letting in intermittent light from the cloudy morning outside. I think it lasted a full minute at least, when at last I emerged at the bottom and coasted to a stop where the slide leveled out. I got out of the pouch and shakily stepped away. I retrieved my stuff from the locker and was on my way. That was, in fact, a Super Fun Happy Slide!
Back on the Tube the way I came and out in the City of London. I didn’t fit it in the other day, but I’ll head to US Capitol Doppelganger now.
Oh? Is this not an appropriate place for a half naked stone shepherd to lead his stone sheep?
I found the entrance and went inside the huge cathedral. Way in the back at the altar is this memorial to British and American fallen soldiers in World War II. Awww.
Time to head up to another high place. Up some very narrow stairs to here. The Whispering Gallery. Apparently, if I whisper across the way, anyone way over there could hear me. I stood directly across from some other people, but I didn’t hear them whispering, nor did they react when I whispered “can you hear me?” at them. Hmm.
Anyway, the ascent continues, on this narrow spiral staircase.
What a view!
“You have to see it to believe it” I don’t believe it because I can’t see what it’s referring to.
Hey, there’s that shepherd way down there!
Bridges and tall things.
I guess I’d better get on down and see the rest of this place. I wonder if there’s a way down.
Oh shit!
It was a harrowing descent I managed, after which I checked out the basement crypt for a bit, glanced at the gift shop, and was on my way.
Once again, I needed to find food. I needed to find food, eat it, and still get to my next destination in good time. Why did I schedule all this so tightly? Mansion House to Tower Hill on the Underground, and before going into Torture Fortress I had to get something to eat. I settled for a sandwich at a Pret a Manger with a Coke, ate and drank quickly, and then on into the place.
Had to get past the armor dragon guard.
Pleading winged lion?
Of course, if you manage to pass the dragon and lion, you next have to contend with these guys.
“Man, that is flagrant false advertising!” -a Baltimore football fan, probably
Here’s an old castle.
Great, thanks.
Haaaaaa.
Signal boost!
Uh oh. Another replica inside the thing it’s a replica of, another infinity glitch.
Cool. Mine has eight mines.
Yeahhhhh, one two, princes kneel before you, that’s what I said now… Too soon?
The place was closing soon, and it was about sunset, so I was on my way. Crossed the Tower Bridge and followed the Thames westward.
London Bridge seems to be staying up pretty well actually.
Tall Pointy Thing has been in the backdrop through this whole trip, but now, the third and final high point of the day, I’m going up!
On April 16, I went up the Sears Tower in Chicago in the morning.
On June 18, I went up the World Trade Center in New York at midday.
And now, September 26, I’m up the Shard in London at sunset.
Neat!
Cool!
Whoa!
Wow!
Whoa!
Amazing!
I stayed up there for nearly three hours, as so many other visitors came and went because they’re normal. I was there from still significant sunlight as the sky darkened into the city night.
Inside the building, actually, was open-air and green.
There’s flowers up here.
It even rained briefly while I was up there and the top level gets the rain. The open air also meant it was a little chilly, so I got a couple of hot drinks from the little cafe counter they have up there on one of the lower floors of the observation deck.
After some of those hot drinks and just all that time, I needed to use the bathroom. Wait, I don’t see one anywhere. Is that how they limit time? That there’s no bathroom up here so I have to go back down and leave to use one?
No, no, that’s right. The bathroom was by the elevator when I came up. I had come up the stairs from there upon arrival and have been circling the viewing floors so long I forgot! So I popped back down the little stairs and sure enough there were a bunch of doors to single unisex bathrooms along the wall.
Along the outer wall it seemed…
Okay, I’ll use one.
WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?!
Someone standing nearby noticed my reaction and pointed out that there’s a button in there to lower a screen over the window. Good. Still, though, in there doing what I need to do with a lovely nighttime view of the Tower and Thames and everything else even through the screen. Yikes. Much too high up to be visible, but still.
Finally, around 9pm, I pulled myself away and went down the elevator to the gift shop and bought a few things. Then on out looking for dinner. I found a Yo Sushi nearby and ate there, though it was near closing so their conveyor belt selection wasn’t the best. Oh, well, at least I ate something.
“More London”
So that was my last evening here, a high up view of the city. Now back to the hotel to pack up and prepare to head home tomorrow.
Better check in for my flight and select a seat. Damn. Only middle seats left. Looking like a long eight hours back to Dulles tomorrow.