It has been many years since I was in St. Pau'ls so decided to visit again. Climbed about 500 steps to the very top of the Dome. Here is a view of the London Eye. The mural on the left is actually a printed fabric covering construction. Here are some intereting facts about St. Paul's:
604 St Paul's founded by King Ethelbert of Kent
1066 William of Normandy invades Englnd
1606 Four gunpowder plotters executed in St Paul's Churchyard
1666 The Great Fire of London devastates St Paul's
1981 Diana married Charles here
I then retraced my steps across the Millenium Bridge to visit Shakespear's Globe Theatre. I learned that it was rebuilt only because of an American Actor, Sam Wanamaker. He went to London in 1949 and all he found of the Globe was a plaque. He could hardly believe it and had a vision that he should rebuild it in the same manner of the original. It took many, many years to accomplish.
The Globe was modeled after Roman amphitheatres and Greek Theatres. The stage represents the world with two trap doors leading to Hell and the ceiling is painted to look like heaven. It has a thatch roof that is open to the sky in the middle. Do you remember the famous line: "All the world is a stage and all the men and women are merely players". I also learned that scenery wasn't invented by Shakespere's time. That is why he painted word pictures of what the scenery should be.
All the steps and walking today combined with the 8 hours yesterday on the heavy town bike are catching up with me. I'm leaving very early in the morning for Bologna, Italy so will get organized and hopefully, to bed not too late.
No comments:
Post a Comment