12 september 2023, London
We have continued our pattern of returning to sites we enjoyed previously and also finding new treasures. We’ve had more old-and-new experiences than I can report on coherently. This post is another semi-random collection, a reminder that you always want to have a camera with you.
After visiting St. Paul’s Cathedral, we walked across the Millennium footbridge, just to be sure that the massive Tate Modern and the reconstructed Globe are still where they were. Along the river, people have pledged their troth, apparently with purpose-made locks. We like Steve and DeeDee.
Every public building and all London transport has a clear statement about accessibility. This sign near the toilets at St. Paul’s confused me, though I guess it is polite to note the lack of accommodation for left-handed people.
Some of us remember the days in the previous century when going to Europe meant buying Travelers’ Checks beforehand, and cashing them in the local pre-Euro currency in each country you visited. Then life became simpler, and you just hit the ATMs to get cash. Now there is almost no such thing.
We brought both Euros and British pounds with us, left over from past trips. Dan hit a surprise on our arrival in London as he tried to buy a new street map at the train station, and was told that his old money was no good. We missed the news that the UK had upgraded its currency about five or six years ago. At a 15% commission, a change service was happy to give us new for old. Since then, we’ve been wondering what to use it for, as even the little grocery store selling juice and Snickers wants a card.
We also brought with us our old Oyster cards, good for bus and tube fares. Though they raised a smile because of their old colors and branding, the cards still work.
But why bother topping them up, when tapping your credit card works just as well? And what’s next — embedded chips that relieve you of cards and phones altogether?
I saw the answer in the Design Museum (highly recommended). These are fingernails in the current Oyster colors, hypothetically good for tapping in and out. Even better than your watch!
Wokeness is alive and well in London. Apparently all people, whatever their preferences or identities, are welcome to cross the street.
The MHB Foghorn 