View of a City

I shall shortly be traveling to one of my favourite cities – that grand metropolis, dear old London. And, as always, I am looking forward to it immensely as its fascination is endless, and I never tire of it. And I tend to use my camera a lot there, for there is something of interest at every corner, and every cobblestone seems to exude masses of history. And it's a modern city too, of course, with a skyline that changes a little every time I get up high to observe what's new. One of the best views of London (and the City of London as opposed to the City of Westminster) is from St.Paul's Cathedral where this picture was taken, here looking up the Thames toward Westminster. Unlike some of the other popular high-up observation spots in London, here you are actually outside, on a rather narrow balcony that encircles the tower on the top of the famous dome. You're exposed to the wind and cold, and it's a long climb up inside the dome to get there, but what a thrill when you step out and see the magnificent city sprawled all around you, the majesty of the cathedral itself directly below, and the busy silver river beside you. Breathtaking. And no single picture really does it justice; you have to be up there to experience it for real. However,this didn't stop me from shooting away like mad in all directions as I recognised landmarks and buildings and saw the busy city going about its business. For though you are high up, you are still essentially part of the city, and its sounds waft up towards you; so the experience is much more visceral and immediate than for instance seeing a city from a plane window, or an enclosed observation deck. And when you get back down on the ground again, you will always look up at St. Paul's with greater familiarity, proudly saying to yourself every time you see it "I've been up there!" Location: London, England