Another day in London

In fact, it was mostly in Greenwich. I dreamed about this point since I was a schoolboy. Era of great geographical discoveries and the era of great sailing ships were this thing, what made my imagination worked hard. Ships named Clippers were culmination of sailing navy glory. Next step belonged to steam ships.

Cutty Sark is one of the most famous merchant fleet sail ships, so being so close, I had to visit her.

 

Greenwich is for many people a synonim of meridian zero. Visit in Royal Astronomy Observatory is only place, where one can stand in both hemisferes, eastern and western in the same time. I also can't miss such opportunity.

This is where navigators of ships had set their chronometers so as to later be able to determine longitude, upon the moment when sun reached its highest position at sky.

Nowadays new source of British welness is next to old source of glorry.

Marco had more practical approach to London's attractions. Soho and Covent Garden gave us a nice balans from seeing museums and VIPs (Very Important Places).

Nice trip, but next time I will focus only on one attraction. Seeing and visiting too much in too short time, made me dazed. I am afraid, that I lost many of details and possible emotions. London - see you next time, maybe somebody else will order my work here.

Last minute

This was really "last minute" opportunity. My business appointment, planned for Wednesday in UK, was cancelled on Tuesday. Wizz air tickets can't be returned, so they were going to be wasted. I didn't think to long; I asked my boss for two days off, packed my bag, and was ready to go.

My first stop was Victoria Station. When I was a schoolboy, Mr Brown from my English book, commuted from Bishopton to London every day by Victoria Station. Victoria Station was not only the place, where he changed his mean of transport, but also place, where I learned new words and grammar rules. I wanted to check, if Victoria Station I remember from pictures in this book really looks as I remember.

Unfortunately not.  Not only adverts and modern booths screen respectable walls, but also a policewoman asked me kindly, to not photograph security cams, but suggested me rather to go away. I saw only a few stone works, which may remember steam locomotives bringing Mr Brown to his office.

The next attraction was Westminster Cathedral. Build in roman like style, it is main catholic church in London. It is huge and impresive, but lighting of the church by candles for centuries makes naked walls above marble cladding contrasting dark, almost black. It creates impression, that since Henry the VIII, there was no significant improvements here.

Westminster Abbey is quite opposite. It is anglican, there is no free admission, build in gothic style and making photography there is prohibited. Abbey's magnificence clearly says, that cooperation with the authorities is beneficial. Wealth, lordiness and historical and cultural importance of this place is clear. I am really sorry, that taking photos there is prohibited.

Saint Paul's Cathedral is the third the most important church in London. It has monumental dimentions and even nowadays it still dominates above surrounding buildings. Unfortunately, funeral ceremony of Lady Margaret Tacher was organized on Wednesday, so I was able see Saint Paul's Cathedral only from distance.

It is difficult to predict how long St. Paul will be so dominant. London is growing up very quickly, and after another decade, today the dominant structures become quite modest.

Le Roi est mort, vive le Roi

• I used to work for CSBI, but they sold the business, so I kept working under Largotim logo.
• I used to work for Largotim, but they sold the business, so I kept working under TRW ISCS logo. 
• I used to work for TRW ISCS, but they sold the business, so I kept working under QAD logo. 
• I used to work for QAD, but they sold the business, so I keep working under DSR logo.

How should I explain to employer, that I'm not a jumper?

Two posts ago I wrote that it was my last QAD trip to Norway. Now I can write, that it is my first DSR trip to Norway. Le Roi est mort, vive le Roi.

There are the first announcements of spring in Stavanger. Open-air cafes become filled with guests,

... sailors start preparing their yachts in marinas,

... and clear sky allows to watch sunrise and sunset. Next month such views will require too much scarifice,

... and gulls prepare themselves for nesting.

But can I say, that nothing has changed?