Some Just Know It As 30 St. Mary Axe

London's most distinctive latter-day building is known as the Gherkin, or sometimes, Erotic Gherkin, and has been featured here a few times before, mostly from our vantage point up in Highgate. This afternoon, we took an "A Christmas Carol" themed London Walk (one of the best tourist values in London) to celebrate Boxing Day. Our guide was full of stories, many of which had nothing to do with the novel or Dickens. The best had to do with an alternate name for the Gherkin. But first, a little London history.

In 1851, London hosted the first World's Fair, known as the Great Exhibition. Now I'll let Wikipedia do a little talking.

The Crystal Palace was an iron and glass building originally erected in London's Hyde Park to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. More than 14,000 exhibitors from around the world were gathered inside to display examples of the latest technology developed in the Industrial Revolution. Designed by Joseph Paxton, the Great Exhibition building was 1,850 feet in length (560 m) and 110 feet (33 m) tall.

After the exhibition the building was moved to Upper Norwood where it was enlarged, and stood from 1854 until 1936. It attracted many thousands of visitors from all levels of society. The name Crystal Palace was coined by the satirical magazine Punch. The name was later used to denote this area of south London and the park that surrounds the site, home of the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.

The Crystal Palace burned down in 1936.

Now, returning to the present, the architect who built the Gherkin, Norman Foster, also built the new London city hall, which, because of its shape, earned the name "The Glass Testicle" after its completion in 2002. Upon seeing the completion of the Foster's work on the Gherkin two years later, the same wags who gave the London city hall its off-color name decided that "The Crystal Phallus" was fitting.

The Gherkin Is Your North Star

Gherkin rising

Random photo of one of London's most controversial signature buildings.

Movin' On Up, Part II

"Welcome to your new place, baby--it's fantastic! Garbage collection is Monday. If you want to throw out a box, you have to cut it up."


The lounge.

The view from the balcony. The tall building with the cylindrical top is Tower 42, and through the trees you can see the outline of the Gherkin. Just beyond the trees is Bunhill Field.


The steps. You enter on the top level, where there is a bedroom and bathroom, and then go downstairs to the lounge and kitchen.


The bedroom: King mattress, queen frame. That situation has been rectified.


It's been a whirlwind week, to say the least. We have belongings scattered in two flats, although that should be fixed by the end of the weekend. Oh, and did I mention I had surgery on Monday?

Even more things I missed

Tonight I met a good friend for dinner on the South Bank, near Waterloo station. She noticed that I didn't include friends on my short list of things I missed. So here's a shout-out to all my peeps in the big smoke! I DID miss you.

After dinner, it being a spring-like night, I decided to take the 20-minute walk along the Thames from Waterloo to London Bridge, where I caught a train home. And then I saw other things I missed: the gentle lapping of the river against the muddy beach; the glittering lights hanging like electric smiles from the boats laden with tourists, or drunkards, or both; the skeletal spire of St. Bride's; the Buddha-belly dome of St. Paul's; the modern entrants to the skyline, Tower 42 and the infamous Gherkin, which we can see (sort of) from our flat. I am one soul among millions who have taken this walk through the ages, with all or some or none of these sights to see, and yet I felt special. I felt like it was for me -- not for the lovers snogging on benches, not for the smokers huddled outside the pubs, not for the bike commuters or the skater boys. It's my city as much as anyone's, and I love it.

London Open House Weekend

This weekend is London Open House Weekend, when thousands pre-book to get into the Gherkin, and hundreds of other buildings of significant architectural interest are also open. Our church, St. Joseph's, is open, although shoehorned in between masses.





Mrs. Werbenmanjensen and I volunteered this afternoon to be docents for visitors, which also allowed us to get some photos (including from the organ loft, where we would otherwise not be allowed to go).

Friday Viewblogging (Special Tuesday Edition)

I went up to the High Street to pick up lunch and dinner supplies, and I had a bright sunny view of downtown. I return to the same spot 15 minutes later, and it's raining. Anyway, you can see the Gherkin from here.

Friday Viewblogging

View from the Archway Bridge.

The rocket-ship shaped building on the far left is the Gherkin, an ambitious building with a troubled past. The dome on the far right is St. Paul's Cathedral.

Back to work, back at home

Blogging may be lighter this week: I actually have an assignment people will pay me for. The good news is after hours of walking this weekend (and some frustration--more on that later) it appears we've nailed down a flat, in Highgate Village, home to Samuel Taylor Coleridge and the cemetery where Karl Marx is buried. I didn't photoblog it, other than to capture Dick Whittington's cat on Saturday while flat-hunting. It has a good panoramic view of downtown London, and you can even pick out the Gherkin from up there.

Read more about Highgate.