The Monument

The Monument was built between 1671 and 1677 to commemorate the Great Fire of London. It's a 61 metre high Doric column designed by Christopher Wren, with inscriptions on three of the four sides of the plinth and a sculpture on the west side. It has a gilt-bronze flaming urn at the top, which looks fantastic on a sunny day (first pic not from today - the sky wasn't quite this blue!).

I walk past Monument about once a week, and I have been meaning to go up for years. As the weather had finally improved and it was a lovely day, I thought today might as well be the day. What I didn't realise is that there are three hundred and eleven (!!!) steps up to the top. This is not for a) those scared of heights or b) those who don't see the appeal in walking up a neverending narrow spiral staircase. 

However, if you are ok with heights and can put up with the stairs, the views from the top are amazing. I'm just a bit annoyed I couldn't get a decent shot of the Shard because of where the sun was. Still, at only £3 (!! View From the Shard is £25!) all this complaining is a bit churlish, so let's get on with the pictures. 

In case it isn't obvious, I highly recommend this activity. Preferably with some maltesers ready for when you get back down. 

More info: http://www.themonument.info/history/

20 Fenchurch Street

This is the building that is bigger at the top than the bottom, in case anyone's wondering which of the newest London skyscrapers I'm on about. I'd read about it and seen it from a distance, but today was the first day I got up close. I did this by going up The Monument, which is a MASSIVE bargain compared to The View From The Shard. Pics and rambling about that later. 
     
20 Fenchurch Street is also known as the Walkie-Talkie, and (surprise surprise) is quite unpopular. Possibly equally unsurprisingly, I rather like it. It's an odd addition to the skyline, but it has a sort of charm. The curve of the building does make it rather look like an optical illusion in real life. 

The Walkie-Talkie, which in fact looks more like a brimming pint glass, is the most incongruous thing to have appeared on the London horizon for some time – quite an achievement in a city that has recently seen the erection of the Strata, a three-eyed Mordor tower at Elephant and Castle with its trinity of rooftop turbines; and a giant shard of glass at London Bridge.

- from http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/architecture-design-blog/2012/dec/12/walkie-talkie-fenchurch-street-architecture

When it's open, the building is due to have a three-level 'skygarden' which will be open to everyone for free (looking forward to that already), so that's a big big point in its favour. There are the usual arguments about blocking views and buildings not being in keeping with their surroundings, but this is London. Nothing ever stays still for long. 

(there are other issues about companies building towers as vanity projects - I believe the Shard still doesn't have a single tenant - but that's a whole other issue)

London Ice Sculpting Festival

What I learned from the Ice Sculpting Festival:

a) it's pretty difficult to take decent photos of ice sculptures
b) apparently if you give ice sculptors the theme 'wonders of the universe', a fair few of them will go 'hmmm, I know, semi-naked woman'
c) it gets REALLY FRICKING COLD out at Canary Wharf
d) Balkan street food (specifically cepavi) is lush

We went on the day of the doubles competition, so sadly I don't have any pictures from the rest of the weekend. (countries that entered these pieces under the pics)

Hungary

Belgium

Bulgaria

Latvia

apparently failed to note this one so who knows?

Netherlands (I don't understand this one)

Spain (with model in the front!)

Another one I failed to note, but here's a picture of the judges looking at it

UK (this one won the competition)

USA

The website of the festival is here: http://www.londonicesculptingfestival.co.uk

There is a gallery at the site but it's not comprehensive enough for me to work out those two sculptures. I'll do a bit of searching tomorrow. 

Barbican

I have a few more photos to post from my trip up to the Barbican last week. 

The Barbican is a big arts centre/venue thing surrounded by various residential buildings (they're of a similar style but were built at different times). You can walk around a lot of the estate as well as the arts centre, and it's huge and usually very quiet at the weekend and excellent for pretending it's the end of the world. 

It's also very near the Museum of London - I don't have any photos but it's well worth a visit. 

Barbican Conservatory

So last week I was up in town to look at the steam train, and then I decided to go for a walk around Barbican, because it's the best place in London to pretend the world's ended and you're the only one left (just me? Oh). 

While I was wandering, I happened across the rather fabulous Barbican Conservatory, which is a tropical plant hothouse in the middle of the Barbican.  This was super exciting for me, especially as one of my favourite things to take photos of is giant plants (Eden Project ftw). Also it was warmer than outside, so that was nice. 

Excitingly, as well as over 2000 (!) species of plant, they also had fish and birds. I am very easily pleased. 

   

 

It's only open on occasional Sundays, and the next dates are:

Sun 20 Jan
Sun 27 Jan
Sun 10 Feb

...one of which is today. Aren't I helpful? Haha. 

http://www.barbican.org.uk/visitor-information/conservatory