Inside And Around St. Stephen’s Basilica
St. Stephen’s Basilica wasn’t far from the hotel.
I passed on the mulled wine, as I had just warmed up in the hotel.
Seville
The coach parked by the River Guadalquivir in Seville and I walked into and around the city centre.
In the past C and I have climbed the bell tower of the cathedral, which used to be the minaret of the mosque, that was rebuilt as the cathedral. But as it was Palm Sunday, the cathedral was closed
Uncommercialised Santiago de Compostela
The first port of call on the cruise was Corunna, where I went on an organised trip to Santiago de Compostela.
The trip across the Bay of Biscay had been a bit choppy, but that didn’t bother me, as I haven’t ever suffered seasickness since I went gluten-free. Before that, a couple of times, I had real problems, especially in small boats.
I took these pictures at Santiago de Compostela.
You will note that it wasn’t raining, but the weather couldn’t be described as anything but freezing. I was starting to regret, that I hadn’t brought more cold weather clothing.
What surprised me was how uncommerialised the city was. There was perhaps one stall selling trinkets outside the parador, but compared to some famous places, I’ve been it was refreshing to see so little junk on sale.
Admittedly, it was cold and March, so perhaps it had kept the vendors inside.
The main cathedral is magnificent and it is true to say that I like Romanesque and Norman churches, like St. Bartholomew the Great in Smithfield. They seem to have a certain dignity of a very old age. The London church is on my list of must see places in London.
One New Change
I said in this post yesterday, that I would go to One New Change to check out the views.
I did this morning and although the weather wasn’t good, the views from the top were stunning. I also had a pot of tea in Madison’s cafe on the roof, which did cost me £3.91. This was worth it, as I got two full cups, sat in very comfortable leather arm chairs and had magnificent views of St. Paul’s.
The charge to go to the roof is a big fat zero and for that you got a lift with views of the cathedral. Surely, if you want to have good views of London from above, this is even better value than walking to the top of Primrose Hill.
I think One New Change could be the prototype in London and other places for this type of development Only six floors high, but with a double basement, it mixes high-quality offices, shops, bars and restaurants, to create a working, shopping and visiting community. Read their ecological statement here. The building is so much better than that monstrous erection by London Bridge station; the Shard.
I know we won’t see it, as the plans are probably fully in place and approved, but wouldn’t a building with this ethos, fit well into the railway lands, between Kings Cross and St. Pancras, which will probablt be filled by more anonymous high-rise buildings.
Armchairs Outside St. Paul’s
As someone, who is getting on in years, I do like to see nice places to sit on the street. These chairs were outside St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Armchairs Outside St. Paul’s
I don’t think, I’ve ever seen single oak armchairs before. Sadly, it was so cold and miserable, I just walked on past.
Around And Inside Palma Cathedral
Tuesday was a sunny day and I walked down through Palma to the cathedral and explored it.
Although C and I went to Majorca about ten times, we probably never visited the cathedral on such a quiet, sunny day.
Farewell To Central London’s Biggest Eyesore
Years ago, I wrote a silly but quite funny love letter to C. At least she told me it was funny. In it I mentioned Battersea Power Station and how it was used as a last line of defence, with platforms on the chimneys. That must have been about 1966 or so, and in those days the power station was still generating electricity as it did until 1983.
It has not been a lucky building since!
London’s Biggest Eyesore
Like many power stations of the era, it was built for a short life and a productive one. I remember going over Cliff Quay power station in Ipswich, and being told that these buildings were built in brick without the soundest of foundations. Often though, like Battersea and Cliff Quay, they were designed by good architects and often featured decorative features inside. Strangely, the one building of this type, we have left, Bankside power station, doesn’t have an elaborate interior, although now it is the superb Tate Modern. Although according to Wikipedia, that could have gone to Battersea.
Scott’s other London power station is at Battersea and is widely considered a more iconic design, with its four towers. Battersea Power Station was proposed for the Tate Modern but, due to financial constraints and less dilapidation, the smaller Bankside building was chosen.
Scott was Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the designer of the red telephone box and the architect of Liverpool Cathedral. So perhaps it s fitting that one of his more utilitarian buildings is a home for modern art and design.
Does anybody know if there are any good examples of reusing power stations buildings around the world?
I can find two; one called The Power Plant in Toronto, Canada and another called The Power Station of Art in Shanghai.
But Battersea Power Station has not been served well by fate. It is almost falling down these days and I do wonder if it can be rebuilt economically. It seems to have disastrous affects on its developers.
But at least with George Osborne’s announcement of funding for the Northern Line Extension in the Autumn Statement, its days as an eyesore may well be numbered. But don’t uncross your fingers!
A Small Cathedral For A Big City
Birmingham’s cathedral is the third smallest in the country.
A Small Cathedral For A Big City
Surprising really, considering the size of the city.
The Catholic Cathedral That Wasn’t
I went over the new Liverpool Museum and they had the model there of Lutyens design for the Catholic Cathedral that was never built.
The Catholic Cathedral That Wasn’t
I’ve seen it some time before. But where or when I do not know. Perhaps it was shown, when they were building the present cathedral. I was in Liverpool at that time.
The Great British Stand-By
Around ten this morning I received an e-mail saying that the local party in the square will be held provided the weather is not too bad. If it deteriorates, it will be held in the crypt of the church. How very British to use the church instead.
There is also a rumour going around that if the weather gets worse the Olympics will be held in St. Paul’s cathedral.
The Anonymous Widower 