Last week I ventured into London. I wanted to see it before everything opens up again. The train journey in wasn’t busy, nor was the station. Everywhere was really quiet, though there were a few joggers out. I walked along the River Thames on the south side down as far at Tate Modern and the Millennium Bridge, briefly walked to The Globe, and then came back and crossed the bridge. Along the north bank it was also quiet.
The Embankment gardens were occupied mostly with workmen taking breaks from whatever building they were working on behind the park. Temple Station appeared still to be shut. I came up to Embankment tube and then up to Charing Cross. There I crossed over and went to Martins-in-the-Fields, where a pretty empty Trafalgar Square was before me on the other side. What I was after was a photo of Oscar Wilde’s statue, which usually has someone sitting on it, or groups of people hanging around it. Today, it there was no one. However, road work barriers marred the shot. It’s like I’m not meant to get a good photo!
Walking back, I turned off to some side roads and then walked back over Hungerford Bridge, where there is a one-way walking system in place – very wise. By then I was hungry and weighing up my options. I decided to buy a sandwich from the station and go over to St John’s Churchyard to enjoy it. It was a nuisance having to keep putting my mask up and down to go in and out of the station. I admit I hate wearing a mask. Because I wear glasses, there is a knack to getting it just right otherwise every time I breathe my glasses steam up. It’s also hot and annoying! However, I’ll put up with it to get out and about again.
St John’s Churchyard (Waterloo) is one of my favourite places, and today it was almost empty. Normally it is buzzing with people. I sat on a bench to relax and eat my sandwich. As I was leaving I noticed the church was open, so I decided to go in for a few minutes. I’ve not been inside a church since February. At the door was hand sanitiser, and chairs spaced apart in a semi-circle. There was a lady at a desk keeping an eye on things, but otherwise I was the only one there.
My London+ 