Crazy Seventy Two

When you have only seventy-two hours to see London, you better pick the best of the best. I completely agree with Samuel Johnson who once said, “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; there is in London all that life can afford.”

We picked the map, marked the places and timed our visits.

London in nursery rhymes was all about the Pussy Cat going to meet the Queen but now the times had changed and the rhyme must also change with the postage stamps…

Teddy Bear, Teddy bear,
Where are you going,
I am going to London,
To see the new King.

Our first stop was to see the royal residence and, fortunately, it was also the day of ceremonial changing of the guards. The crowd had started gathering since early morning and we got pushed around from one peeping point to another. When the ceremony started, the crowds lunged forward and the foul mouthed Bobbies could do little other than utter racial and usual cuss words.

We walked out of the ceremony to breathe some fresh air and found ourselves in the beautiful St.James’ Park. This truly is what Charles Dickens said, “The parks be the lungs of London.” This is by far the most scenic spot in London with birds and animals walking freely, posing for pictures and picking food fearlessly from the hands of the tourists.

Next stop was Trafalgar Square via 10 Downing Street and Guards Home.

"Admiral Nelson, also, on a capstan of gun-metal, stands his mast-head in Trafalgar Square; and even when most obscured by that London smoke, token is yet given that a hidden hero is there; for where there is smoke, must be fire."- Herman Melville

Wonder why the national hero of England is perched so high… is it to hide his missing limb or eye or he had climbed up the pole to avoid the four lions sitting below? You often wonder why do these folks have lion in their coat of arms… to embrace the colonial world they once ruled? With the National Gallery in the background, this place is a great place to sit and admire the city going round.

The walk along the Thames seeing the sun go down and then taking a cruise on this lovely river with history lined on both sides is something to be savored for a lifetime. Thames truly is the life and soul of London and sailing under the multiple bridges illuminated differently, the eyes simply pop out. And when the lights illuminate both sides, its beauty truly becomes poetic…., “The Thames was beautiful, dark and swift beneath the billion yellow and white lights of the city.” 

Twenty bridges from Tower to Kew -
Wanted to know what the River knew,
Twenty Bridges or twenty-two,
For they were young, and the Thames was old
And this is the tale that River told:- Rudyard Kipling

Yeh dil maange more and we walked to the most beautiful structure, the Tower bridge, which people often mistake for the London Bridge which is much smaller and dull as compared to this majestic structure, that was filled with tourists and desi locals speaking in Punjabi more than in Queen’s English, and all were too busy clicking selfies.

Imagine a world without big Ben...It’s hard to. 

On the one end of Westminster Bridge is the flamboyant statue of the rebel queen Boudicca, in a scythe-wheeled chariot, who had fought Roman legions bravely though in vain. 

The London Eye offers a window into the heart and soul of London.

The Westminster Abbey leaves you completely speechless.

"A collection that embraces the whole world allows you to consider the whole world. That is what an institution such as the British Museum is for."

Above the players’ entrance of the Centre Court at Wimbledon is an inscription that reads, “If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two imposters just the same".

Wembley Stadium is the mecca for the football lovers and I was not one to give it a miss. Standing there is the legendary Bobby Moore welcoming you.

When in London, a visit to the Harrods is a must to give you a reality check to your personal Wealth-o-meter which tells you how little you have in your wallet. Even going to the bathroom here for a leak makes you fearful of the luxury and class that’s glaring down on you. The store’s motto is…Omnia Omnibus Ubique which in Latin is ‘all things for all people, everywhere.’ They better change it to ‘all things for some people…’.

Tower of London, where they used to chop off your head if the king didn't like you. 

“Always there have been six ravens at the Tower. If the ravens fly away, the kingdom will fall.” The way the ravens are cared for, they are truly the royalty in the Tower now.

We had heard of the Sunday Roast and were hoping to have it. We walked into a restaurant at noon at the famed Borough Market when someone asked if we had a reservation. We said no but were willing to wait. The lady politely said that she could book a table for us earliest at 6 pm! A walk around the Borough Market, rich in heritage, history and abundance of good food, makes your gastronomical juices pour out in excess. Even for a simple burger and pastry, there is a long queue to encounter.

Not one to miss the Shakespeare’s Globe on the South Bank of River Thames. While the original theatre got burnt down in early seventeenth century, the modern Globe was founded by American actor and director Sam Wanamaker in 1997.

We had often heard that you enter the temple only when the God invites you to his abode. We had time enough to see the St. Paul’s Cathedral from outside since we had no online booking to enter it. As luck would have it, it was Sunday evening and the Evensong Mass was about to begin to which all were invited. We walked into the majestic cathedral and attended the solemn mass and were blessed to see the beautiful interiors. Despite signs and verbal request to people not to take any pictures inside the cathedral, a mass of tourists simply went about clicking and taking videos.

“To walk alone in London is the greatest rest.” Said Virginia Woolf, but for me, I had my partner in crime and we walked 72000 steps in 72 hours and it was a pure delight....Crazy Seventy Two!

SS