Some might argue with my characterization of this concrete plaza in the midst of London. Certainly there are markets, parks, buildings that could lay claim to that title.
For me yesterday, though, that place was Trafalgar Square. We walked up from the British Parliament and Westminster Abbey, passing a few pubs (to stop at a cafe) along the way. I saw one of the red phone booths as well. You could see the Nelson Column for nearly the whole way.
The square itself is designated as the place that all of London came to celebrate a joyous occasion. Now it's the site for demonstrations, protests and other public gatherings. Yesterday, an enormous truck - made even larger by the fact that it was in London where vehicles are generally smaller than in America - pulled onto the square to pick up some metal gates that had apparently been in use over the weekend.
I've digressed a little. The square seemed to be the center of it all to me because it had everything. It had presence, from the towering Nelson's Column (looks taller than Big Ben from the square) to the fountains, the bronze lions, all in front of a backdrop of the national gallery.
In front of the square was one of those roundabouts, and bus after bus after taxi after taxi after motorbike after motorbike sped around the curves on their way to their destinations. There were people everywhere. So it had activity.
And stepping inside the national gallery was a treat. As the green marbled columns, arching ceilings and windowed ceilings swept the eye upward, the masterpieces on the walls anchored your gaze. No more was this true when I turned a corner and saw some of Monet's water lillies, then another corner to see Van Gogh's chair and sunflowers, Pisarro's dancers and so many more.
The ride home was more stimulating from a people watching point of view, but Trafalgar Square gave me that intangible thing that I came to London for.
A sense of place and also a sense of grandeur.
No comments:
Post a Comment