The Real St. Paul's Post

Well on Wednesday, my history of social London class took a tour to St. Paul's Cathedral.  We took the underground to Monument station, where we got off and saw this beautiful market place. Look familiar? It has been used in the Harry Potter movies as Diagon Alley. Cool, yeah? I think my friend Cait and I are going to be really nerdy, and go on a Harry Potter tour of London. Don't judge us!

 Outside of this market, you can Lloyd's of London.  It started off as a coffeehouse in the 17th century. Coffee houses were created because there was a need for common people to join and talk about their interests, politics, etc. Lloyds was, and still is, an insurance place.  They insure ships.  Hey Bee, notice that is kind of looks like the french Pompidou, with the pipes on the outside? Thats because they have the same architect.  Neato, right? 

 Sorry, tilt your head sideways. Ha!

Also in this area, is the Gerhkin. Yes, Gerhkin. Like a pickle. It's made out of glass, and I actually think its very beautiful. 

 If you're wondering, yes. These building are really new.  After the German blitz, many buildings were destroyed by the bombs and fire.  So amongst these really really old building, are the interesting modern ones.  


This monument is right on the same corner as well, and is dedicated to the Great Fire of 1666, which basically razed London.  It was designed by the famous architect Christopher Wren, who also did St. Paul's Cathedral and several other important building throughout London. 

I need to figure out how to flip these pictures! Sorry! You can't see, but at the top is this pretty gold flame, to remember the devastating fire. Wren was no dumby, the flame can be removed and the column was also used to test gravity, and as a telescope. Genius!


We continued on our way from here, walking towards St. Paul's.  We stopped here, which was the first coffee house in England.  Pretty historical, eh? 

 We also got a glimpse of the Bank of England, and this Market. The East Indian Trading Company used to set up shop here, there is a Tiffany's there now (cough, Kaity Gaskill!).

So finally, we were outside of the St. Paul's Cathedral. See this big huge gate:

This used to be one of the gates on the only 8 roads into London.  Then, because of the narrow entry way, coaches and things couldn't fit in. So it was moved to some rich guys home in the countryside, and then later moved AGAIN right outside of St. Paul's. 

And THIS, ladies and gentlemen, is St. Paul's Cathedral! 

Inside, I was not allowed to take pictures, it is a place of worship.  But let me assure you, it was absolutely breathtaking.  I think one of the coolest things was three stained glass windows, with a little window for each of the United States.  They added this after the second World War, to commemorate the American soldiers who died fighting to protect Britain. I found both Illinois and Missouri. 

Also neat was the crypts, where famous people are buried. Christopher Wren, The Duke of Wellington (the man who saved Britain from Napolean and was also Prime Minister), some poets.  There is a tribute to the nurse, Florence Nightingale. It was very cool.  If you're royalty, or a military-man, you can be married at St. Paul's. 

But the coolest thing ever about St. Paul's, was climbing to the very very top of the dome.  500 something steps to the very top. It was worth it. Here are some pictures: 

The top one of these four is of the London Eye, the second Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the third and fourth are parts of the Cathedral.

And now gang, I have exhausted this topic.  Time for a new heading I believe. Cheers!