Central London, to me, has always had such a polished image. A place of beautiful, modern architecture brilliantly integrating with impeccably cleaned streets dominated by 18th and 19th century architecture and defined British culture. And once in a while, a piece of incredible street art.
On the other hand, Italy, where I spend much of my time, has been a place of older architecture, and older history. But last summer in London I really had a wake-up call in the form of an updated history lesson – Central London is seeping with history, and has even been referred to as the “Pompeii of the North” in reference to the significance of the archaeological digs taking place there. London is a place where the passage of time cannot be ignored.
As I explored the city on guided walking tours and just following my own curiosities, I was astounded that all it took was to pay attention just a little more, and suddenly all the clues to the stories that permeate these streets started to appear. History came alive, right in front of me, in the form of Shakespeare’s old haunts, including the church he attended, or an apartment he lived in.
Or the Roman Temple of Mithras that is literally in the heart of central London, and has been moved from its original location due to major construction projects in the area. Despite the modern and international image that London has, the significance of its history can’t be ignored, even when new developments have the potential to cover up the old reminders of its past.
I am writing this piece in response to this past week’s theme of time in the WordPress community, and a blogger I highly respect that is hosting this theme, Lignum Draco. The featured picture at the top was my inspiration for this post. It is a very modern perspective of London and the passage of time, but its very existence is representative of how far London has come since 43 A.D.. But really the scrawling of hopes and dreams for the future rooted in the past by so many people over the course of this public art installation, is time in and of itself. This piece of public art is on the South Bank, a beautiful neighborhood that has changed so much, and serves as another reminder of the passage of time and the long evolution London has gone through to bring it to where it is today.
Time spent digging under the surface reveals much you would otherwise miss. Plenty of history to appreciate.
Thanks for taking us there, and joining in the challenge. And thanks for the mention – truly appreciated.
My pleasure! 🙂 Exactly…thanks for your insights.
Lovely post! I love the first photo especially.
Oh thanks so much! 🙂 The feedback is really appreciated…
[…] Mary Job of Maria Job, Kakum National Park : https://blog.mariajob.me/2016/07/31/kakum-national-park-daily-post-photo-challenge/ Elisa Ruland of Eleven Summer Roads, Camera Shy : https://elisaruland.com/2014/10/23/photo-shorts-camera-shy/ Luann of Paint Your Landscape; What Draws Us to Nature? : https://paintyourlandscape.com/2016/08/16/what-draws-us-to-nature-to-the-wild/ Rommel of The Sophomore Slump, Beauty in the Mundane : https://thesophomoreslump2.com/2016/06/17/beauty-in-the-mundane/ Linda of Living with my Ancestors, Pastels : https://livingwithmyancestors.wordpress.com/2014/10/12/cees-fun-foto-challenge-pastels/ Walt of Rivertop Rambles, Spectacle Pond : https://rivertoprambles.wordpress.com/2016/08/29/spectacle-pond/ Jo of RestlessJo, Before and After : https://restlessjo.me/2016/09/14/before-and-after/ Helen C of HHC Blog, Another Stage of my Life : https://helenchen.ws/2015/09/10/another-stage-of-my-life/ Zee of Life Confusions, Broken Creatures : https://lifeconfusions.wordpress.com/2015/04/17/broken-creatures/ Zee of Life Confusions, Vibrant But … : https://lifeconfusions.wordpress.com/2016/01/29/vibrant-but/ Debra of Breathe Lighter, Aiming for a Week in Slow Motion : https://breathelighter.wordpress.com/2015/04/26/aiming-for-a-week-in-slow-motion/ Holly of House of Heart, because we still believe : https://aheartafire.wordpress.com/2016/03/17/because-i-still-believe/ Amy of The World is a Book, Jubilant Dancing : https://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2016/05/22/jubilant-dancing/ dunelight, Aurora Borealis Muskegon Harbor : https://dunelight.wordpress.com/2015/03/19/aurora-borealis-muskegon-harbor/ Slow Nature Fast City, Try to Look Up More : https://slownaturefastcity.com/2016/06/14/try-to-look-up-more/ hermitsdoor, Anniversary Date : https://hermitsdoor.wordpress.com/2016/01/21/poem-anniversary-date/ Shelley of Travel-Stained, February 2016 : https://travel-stained.com/2016/03/04/travel-stained-monthly-recap-february-2016/ Robert of Discovery and Wonder, On Turning 200 : https://discoveryandwonder.com/2015/11/25/some-miscellaneous-thoughts-on-turning-200/ Pam and John of Oh, The Places They Go!; Mountain Lakes : https://ohtheplacestheygo.wordpress.com/2015/10/20/mountain-lakes-near-bishop/ Alok of The Learning Curve, A place I can never forget : https://alok-singhal.com/2016/07/16/a-place-i-can-never-forget-incline-village/ Jude of The Writer in the Woods, First Post For Ages : https://thewriterinthewoods.wordpress.com/2015/12/08/first-post-for-ages/ Mona Liza of The Lowe’s Travel Adventure, A Wonderland of Rocks : https://lowestravels.com/2015/11/20/a-wonderland-of-rocks-prescott-az/ Allan of Modes of Flight, Contrast : https://themofman.wordpress.com/2012/03/10/weekly-photo-challenge-contrast/ Dalo of Global Sojourns Photography : The Fishermen’s Lore : https://dalocollis.com/2015/01/31/the-fishermens-lore-what-lies-beneath/ Yvette of In the Zone: Waking up … : https://inthezone2001.wordpress.com/2016/08/07/waking-up-summer-a-to-z-letter-w/ Eric Tonningsen of Awakening to Awareness, Today It Was About Me : https://tonningsen.wordpress.com/2014/11/23/today-it-was-about-me/ Grace of A Good, Gracious Life; To Live by the Beach : https://agraciouslife.wordpress.com/2016/05/01/weekend-wonder-to-live-by-the-beach/ Andrew of Have Bag, Will Travel; Split-Second Story : https://apetcher.wordpress.com/2014/06/01/weekly-photo-challenge-split-second-story/ Gayle Alstrom of Old Woman on a Bicycle, Seasons : https://gaylealstrom.wordpress.com/2016/02/19/weekly-photo-challenge-seasons/ campari of campari & sofa, Reflections on Cancer : http://campariandsofa.com/2016/03/14/reflections-on-cancer/ Madhu of The Urge to Wander, Solitude in Images : https://theurgetowander.com/2015/08/07/solitude-in-images/ Cardinal Guzman, Runner in the City : https://cardinalguzman.wordpress.com/2015/05/03/runner-in-the-city/ Colline of Colline’s Blog, Difficult Becomes Easy : https://collinesblog.com/2016/04/15/difficult-becomes-easy/ Sylvia of Another Day in Paradise, If crocs could fly : https://anotherday2paradise.wordpress.com/2013/12/02/if-crocs-could-fly/ Karen of Healing Your Grief, Unlearning : https://shamanismandhealing.wordpress.com/2016/04/27/unlearning/ Debra of Bagni di Lucca; Noto, Baroque Theme Park, Sicily : https://bagnidilucca.wordpress.com/2016/07/24/noto-baroque-theme-park-sicily/ DG MARYOGA of My Space in the Immense Universe : https://dodagrivas.wordpress.com/2016/06/08/unesco-2016-the-aristotle-anniversary-year/ Jet Eliot, California Quail : https://jeteliot.wordpress.com/2016/05/13/california-quail/ Edelweiss of Explore.Adventure.Discover; Day 92 : https://exploreadventurediscover.com/2015/07/24/365-days-of-typography-day-92/ Alexander Lautsyus of World in your Eyes, People of Paris : https://worldinyourimangination.wordpress.com/2015/07/10/people-of-paris/ Gilly of Lucid Gypsy, Parent Craft in the Ape World : https://lucidgypsy.com/2015/06/10/parent-craft-in-the-ape-world/ Peggy of Gracefully Global, Time in London : https://gracefullyglobalblog.com/2016/02/12/time-in-london/ […]
[…] Maria Job of Mary Job, Kakum National Park : https://blog.mariajob.me/2016/07/31/kakum-national-park-daily-post-photo-challenge/ Elisa Ruland of Eleven Summer Roads, Camera Shy : https://elisaruland.com/2014/10/23/photo-shorts-camera-shy/ Luann of Paint Your Landscape; What Draws Us to Nature? : https://paintyourlandscape.com/2016/08/16/what-draws-us-to-nature-to-the-wild/ Rommel of The Sophomore Slump, Beauty in the Mundane : https://thesophomoreslump2.com/2016/06/17/beauty-in-the-mundane/ Linda of Living with my Ancestors, Pastels : https://livingwithmyancestors.wordpress.com/2014/10/12/cees-fun-foto-challenge-pastels/ Walt of Rivertop Rambles, Spectacle Pond : https://rivertoprambles.wordpress.com/2016/08/29/spectacle-pond/ Jo of RestlessJo, Before and After : https://restlessjo.me/2016/09/14/before-and-after/ Helen C of HHC Blog, Another Stage of my Life : https://helenchen.ws/2015/09/10/another-stage-of-my-life/ Zee of Life Confusions, Broken Creatures : https://lifeconfusions.wordpress.com/2015/04/17/broken-creatures/ Zee of Life Confusions, Vibrant But … : https://lifeconfusions.wordpress.com/2016/01/29/vibrant-but/ Debra of Breathe Lighter, Aiming for a Week in Slow Motion : https://breathelighter.wordpress.com/2015/04/26/aiming-for-a-week-in-slow-motion/ Holly of House of Heart, because we still believe : https://aheartafire.wordpress.com/2016/03/17/because-i-still-believe/ Amy of The World is a Book, Jubilant Dancing : https://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2016/05/22/jubilant-dancing/ dunelight, Aurora Borealis Muskegon Harbor : https://dunelight.wordpress.com/2015/03/19/aurora-borealis-muskegon-harbor/ Slow Nature Fast City, Try to Look Up More : https://slownaturefastcity.com/2016/06/14/try-to-look-up-more/ hermitsdoor, Anniversary Date : https://hermitsdoor.wordpress.com/2016/01/21/poem-anniversary-date/ Shelley of Travel-Stained, February 2016 : https://travel-stained.com/2016/03/04/travel-stained-monthly-recap-february-2016/ Robert of Discovery and Wonder, On Turning 200 : https://discoveryandwonder.com/2015/11/25/some-miscellaneous-thoughts-on-turning-200/ Pam and John of Oh, The Places They Go!; Mountain Lakes : https://ohtheplacestheygo.wordpress.com/2015/10/20/mountain-lakes-near-bishop/ Alok of The Learning Curve, A place I can never forget : https://alok-singhal.com/2016/07/16/a-place-i-can-never-forget-incline-village/ Jude of The Writer in the Woods, First Post For Ages : https://thewriterinthewoods.wordpress.com/2015/12/08/first-post-for-ages/ Mona Liza of The Lowe’s Travel Adventure, A Wonderland of Rocks : https://lowestravels.com/2015/11/20/a-wonderland-of-rocks-prescott-az/ Allan of Modes of Flight, Contrast : https://themofman.wordpress.com/2012/03/10/weekly-photo-challenge-contrast/ Dalo of Global Sojourns Photography : The Fishermen’s Lore : https://dalocollis.com/2015/01/31/the-fishermens-lore-what-lies-beneath/ Yvette of In the Zone: Waking up … : https://inthezone2001.wordpress.com/2016/08/07/waking-up-summer-a-to-z-letter-w/ Eric Tonningsen of Awakening to Awareness, Today It Was About Me : https://tonningsen.wordpress.com/2014/11/23/today-it-was-about-me/ Grace of A Good, Gracious Life; To Live by the Beach : https://agraciouslife.wordpress.com/2016/05/01/weekend-wonder-to-live-by-the-beach/ Andrew of Have Bag, Will Travel; Split-Second Story : https://apetcher.wordpress.com/2014/06/01/weekly-photo-challenge-split-second-story/ Gayle Alstrom of Old Woman on a Bicycle, Seasons : https://gaylealstrom.wordpress.com/2016/02/19/weekly-photo-challenge-seasons/ campari of campari & sofa, Reflections on Cancer : http://campariandsofa.com/2016/03/14/reflections-on-cancer/ Madhu of The Urge to Wander, Solitude in Images : https://theurgetowander.com/2015/08/07/solitude-in-images/ Cardinal Guzman, Runner in the City : https://cardinalguzman.wordpress.com/2015/05/03/runner-in-the-city/ Colline of Colline’s Blog, Difficult Becomes Easy : https://collinesblog.com/2016/04/15/difficult-becomes-easy/ Sylvia of Another Day in Paradise, If crocs could fly : https://anotherday2paradise.wordpress.com/2013/12/02/if-crocs-could-fly/ Karen of Healing Your Grief, Unlearning : https://shamanismandhealing.wordpress.com/2016/04/27/unlearning/ Debra of Bagni di Lucca; Noto, Baroque Theme Park, Sicily : https://bagnidilucca.wordpress.com/2016/07/24/noto-baroque-theme-park-sicily/ DG MARYOGA of My Space in the Immense Universe : https://dodagrivas.wordpress.com/2016/06/08/unesco-2016-the-aristotle-anniversary-year/ Jet Eliot, California Quail : https://jeteliot.wordpress.com/2016/05/13/california-quail/ Edelweiss of Explore.Adventure.Discover; Day 92 : https://exploreadventurediscover.com/2015/07/24/365-days-of-typography-day-92/ Alexander Lautsyus of World in your Eyes, People of Paris : https://worldinyourimangination.wordpress.com/2015/07/10/people-of-paris/ Gilly of Lucid Gypsy, Parent Craft in the Ape World : https://lucidgypsy.com/2015/06/10/parent-craft-in-the-ape-world/ Peggy of Gracefully Global, Time in London : https://gracefullyglobalblog.com/2016/02/12/time-in-london/ […]
This post brings back happy memories of time spent in London. I particularly like the first image!
Oh I’m so glad! I wrote this from a great WordPress prompt. Glad it resonated with you. I always seem to make such great memories in London, too. What a city, huh?
It’s such a cool place and it feels like there’s an amazing landmark around every corner.
Totally!
Nicely put. After almost 16 years here I’m still discovering the hidden depths of the place
I can imagine! And then the Roman history, too. So much to learn. 🙂
I’m really enjoying your travelogues. Italy is somewhere I barely know yet have known and lived with Italians. The Stockholm one was great too, I’ve been in both winter and summer. It’s such a beautiful place. And the air is so clean!