Views from the Shard + Poppies

[Pengi]

Last week, I was fortunate enough to visit the Shard   and also see the poppies at the Tower. The bad news was that it had been raining and rainy windows limited picture taking opportunities . However I did find a bit of the gallery that had fewer raindrops and took a few snaps and also dodged the showers to get some pictures of the poppies at the Tower.

A rainbow over London. There is a tube and mainline running across the center of the picture



The triangular junction that links Charing Cross (the line to the left), Cannon Street (the line to the right)
and London Bridge (heading downwards)



The view of the Tower and the poppy installation. The red 'smudge' in the foreground is the 'wave' part of the installation.



The 'wave' installation from ground level





The 'weeping window'



Every one a life

[Bob Tidbury]

  Thanks for posting them,
Bob

[Newportnobby]

Smashing pics, Pengi. Thanks very much for posting them.

[railsquid]

Nice! 

I suspect the Shard now has the best views of London, as they're the only ones which don't include the Shard

[Pengi]

I learned afterwards that it is best to visit the Shard on a cloudy day. Sunlight pings off the windows - even worse if it has been raining 

It was a shame because there are plenty of railway lines that I could not get a decent image of - and the EMUs really do look like worms from that height

The lifts is amazing, 6m/sec, which is 13 mph - and it is very smooth.

The poppy installation is amazing and very humbling. I remember whizzing past the war graves in France on Eurostar and unexpectedly getting very emotional - changed the way I think about things.

[bridgiesimon]

That display of poppies is one of the most spectacular things I have ever seen, just wish I had the opportunity to go and view it first hand. I know people who have and say that when you are there, it is shockingly emotional, much more than most peoplpe are expecting! Whoever came up with the idea is to be congratulated for such a stunning visual display.

Best wishes
Simon

[ColinH]

It is seeing the massed ranks of graves in the war cemeteries that really brings home the sheer numbers of men/boys who lost their lives in these conflicts.

The Tower of London poppy installation has the same effect - and remember that is just commemorating the allied forces who lost their lives. To that must be added all those lives of the 'enemy'- wonder how large a space would be needed for that.

Maybe that should be the art installation to mark the centenary of the end of the Great War.

[Bealman]

Excellent pics Jane. Thanks for posting. My daughter was over there in August and took some pics of the poppies, but they'd only just started putting them in and seeing the full display is impressive.

Thank you!