Dickens…London…a man’s attempt to reconcile the everyday with his own imaginative pursuits Pete Orford, 2010

Good day…spent weekend shopping for trip and of course my 3 hrs at museum in Mt. Dora on Sunday. Dragging a bit today—ate something that didn’t agree w/me.

Main picture is a harbor in Chicago.

Dickens’ London….To counter observations of depravity with his faith in humanity–Pete Orford, 2010

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OK met two more Outlander Fans at Mt. Dora Museum on Sunday–we’re everywhere.

don’t watch

—MAYBE YOU SHOULD check out these reasons: http://www.tv.com/shows/outlander/community/post/why-you-should-be-watching-outlander-and-what-to-expect-season-2-146000224325/

and how you can stream it for less than $9.00 a month…plus lots of other programs directly from the source: http://deadline.com/2016/04/starz-introduce-standalone-streaming-service-app-1201732180/

“There came toward us upon the wind the voice of the deep and distant bell of St. Paul’s as it struck the hour of midnight” Charles Dickens

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As you are (I’m sure) aware (and probably are sick of hearing about—we leave for England in 18 days—many of those who know me—if any of my friends (besides Diane and Valarie) subscribe–have asked me more than once why do you keep going back to Britain.

My answer: There’s still so much to see, so much to do….just London alone…I mean I tried getting into to the Tower of London’s Key Ceremony==but it’s booked thru January 2017—-so see I’m not the only person interested. The ceremony is the turning over the keys and making sure the Tower is secure—and it’s very important to keep it secure–cause even though the tower is basically just the resident of the Beef Eaters now (retired military this is a status job and they have apartments in the rear of the huge walled structure )and no longer holds a royal residence (the body of Anne Boleyn–the first British Queen to be executed–the second is here two–Katherine Howard–both done away as part of Henry VIII’s marital disfunction, both reside in the Tower’s chapel, bur you have to be alive to be in residence.).

However there are a few things there that the Brits wouldn’t want someone to walk off with—The Crown Jewels--estimates of the jewels (not to mention gold punch bowls so large it takes 4 men to carry and much more) is in the billion (pounds even more in dollar) and that does not take into account their historical value which of course makes them priceless) being their main focus of interest.

“…into the quiet train of thought which such a place awakens paced the echoing stones like some old monk whose present world lay all within its wall.” Charles Dickens

And then of course:

There are the DRAGONS–This one is on London Bridge….Oh by the way

This is Tower Bridge as it is adjacent to the previously discussed Tower of London—but lots of Americans think it’s London Bridge as it’s the most famous. We took a tour of this last time in London and you can walk across that top span which is glass covered and gives a wonderful view.

While this very plain little number is actually London Bridge—but it makes up in age (at least the name) for what it lacks in visual affects…as there has been a bridge in this area or very close, since the Romans founded Londinium as part of its conquering Britian. Oh and to confuse you even more..this bridge was built in the late 1960s and early 70’s (opened in 1973 by Queen Elizabeth)…but wait the old bridge didn’t die

This older London Bridge was originally opened in London in the 1830s. It’s actually been dismantled and re-erected in Arizona. How’s that for re-incarnation?

“…..the great heart of London throbs in its giant breast.” Charles Dickens.

But wait a minute we got off the Dragon Subject: The dragon boundary marks are cast iron statues of dragons on metal or stone plinths that mark the boundaries of the City of London. According to Hidden London: Since the early 17th century a pair of dragons has supported the crest of the City of London in its coat of arms; and in the latter part of the 19th century ornamental boundary markers were erected at points of entry into the City, each surmounted by a dragon clutching the heraldic shield. I love the dragons and to me is a great symbol of an ancient nest of power on the Thames.

But least you say OMG that’s a lot of dragons, let me explain that the city of London isn’t what you think it is. It is only: Roughly one square mile of area, around and to the east of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London (UK) comprising almost entirely of banking, brokerage, insurance, trading, and other such firms and financial institutions. It employs about one half-million people and generates some 20 percent of the nation’s GDP. Also called The City.

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/City-of-London.html#ixzz46rUFXtoU

This little part of the huge whole contains the Roman city and in some places the walls or at least ancient portions thereof,, around it. It is here that London began an continued to grow. This is a city that basically grew within those wall…it is a city of ancient streets now blocked in by the modern development, and yet still holds the names that reflects the people and the products that once graced these thru ways that shadow their medieval size and shape–many only good for pathway of those who wander on foot about in this ancient dwelling place way too small for a modern motorway.

“Wealth and beggary, vice and virtue, guilt and innocence, repletion and the directest hunger, all treading on each other and crowding together, we gather around it. Dickens